Hello again
After a fairly quiet few weeks for the birds, things have livened up in our garden. Lots of young birds have 
appeared, including the tits – blue, great and coal of that ilk, plus chaffinches, dunnocks and sparrows. I’ll have to go out and fill up the feeders again.
As well as the more common birds above, we have been lucky to 
see three fairly uncommon species recently. The spotted flycatchers have paid regular visits, darting about in search of their insect prey. Also, a lovely blue and buff male nuthatch has been to see us. You do know that he descends the tree trunk head first, don’t you? I think the nuthatch is the only bird to achieve this feat! In addition, we’re still getting regular visits from our green woodpecker. It announces its arrival by its loud cackle, which is known to country folk as a ‘yaffle’.
Until the last few days, we have not seen many butterflies in the garden. So, I decided to pay a visit to Ashclyst Forest, to hopefully see a few good ones. I was not 
disappointed because there were fritillaries (silver washed) all over the place, plus white admirals. I’d not seen these lovely butterflies 
before, so it was great. There were also peacocks, brimstones and some other species there. Not many birds, but I did see passing overhead a large raptor – was it a goshawk?
I understand, from Libby at Tuck Mill, that a very rare bird has been spotted there. Only a wryneck! This is a member of the woodpecker family (I think). The only 
wryneck I’ve ever seen was in Crete, so I must keep my eyes open next time I’m down there!
Bye for now, Alan
