Garston Wood RSPB and Martin Down NR - Sun 13 Jun

We headed east today and drove out to Sixpenny Hanley and the RSPB reserve of Garston Wood just outside the village. We spent about an hour wandering around the wood in the summer sun. Unfortunately, the bluebells were well over and the dense leaf cover meant birds were heard rather than seen. We did hear several Chiffchaffs and a Garden Warbler, plus a Cuckoo was calling in the near distance. The wood has a bit of a reputation for butterflies, but we only saw a few Speckled Woods:

Plus a Humming-bird Hawk Moth and a Large White.
We then headed off to Martin Down NR, just ten minutes or so down the road and another good site for butterflies. As we walked south from the car park we were treated to a pair of Turtle Doves as they flew past us. We also heard another singing and soon saw that in flight too as well as a Cuckoo. Several Yellowhammers were in song and we also noted a couple of Linnets and Skylarks were singing in numbers.
There were a few people out and about looking for butterflies and moths and one chap led us to a resting Small Elephant Hawk Moth:

We also saw several Small Heaths and a couple of Adonis Blues and Common Blues. At least two Brimstones were on the wing and a single well-worn Grizzled Skipper was seen:

We left Martin Down and had a brief stop near Sixpenny Handley where I managed to add Corn Bunting to the year list. At 4.30pm we headed back home after another good afternoon out and about.
UK year list for 2010 now at 201 species.