Bodney and Little Cressingham 4 July 2025

 June and July are often said to be the quiet months of the year for birding, I say this depends upon what you are looking for.  With regard to migration, these two months may be considered quiet, however, July can be exciting with wader passage underway.  Songbirds are still feeding young in the nest or seeing to the needs of juvenile birds which have dispersed from the natal area.

Aside from birds, June and July is a great time for finding and watching insect species.  Butterfly species in our garden have been represented by Red Admirals, Peacocks, and Large White, but I have not seen Painted Lady yet.

We have had Hummingbird Hawk Moth visiting our buddleia, what a stunning species this is, the appearance, behaviour, and sound, all resembling a Hummingbird, and in fact, I wonder if those not familiar with this moth may indeed say they have seen a Hummingbird.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth in our garden 3 July.

4 July

This morning I was focussed on finding successful breeding evidence by our summer visitors, and I am pleased to say that I found Whitethroats, including juvenile birds, at three localities.  Having found these birds I actually spent much of this visit watching these wonderful migrant breeders.

I was watching habitats which comprised wide roadside verges with lines of young Scots Pines and ground covering scrub. Wide field margins of various wildflowers, weeds and grasses, would hold invertebrate prey.

Approaching a locality where Whitethroats were I could see some movement between cover followed by the distinctive "tschurrr" alarm of an adult Whitethroat, an alarm warning its young of my presence. I was lucky enough to see a number of juvenile Whitethroats including one showing well and allowing me to see a specific feature which ages the bird, most notably the dark eye which differs entirely from the adults eye which has an orange-brown iris and black pupil.   

Other species seen this morning showing evidence of successful breeding included Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit, and Coal Tit. 

Whitethroat (juvenile) Little Cressingham 4 July 2025.  Note the dark eye.

A number of Butterfly species were seen including Peacock, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, and Small Skipper.

Small Skipper at Bodney 4 July

Gatekeeper at Little Cressingham 4 July