BF Meet Lincs & S. Yorks

Nightingale

Belting it out
Nightingale
Fighting Male Adders

Male Adders Fighting

ditto

Near the climax

The rather drab (camouflaged) female

Drinker Moth Caterpillar

Unidentified Moth

Today's BF meeting went out of county to meet at Whisby near Lincoln. The 1st Nightingale was heard & seen very near to the car park, and then it flew down to feed on the ground. We sheltered from some very heavy rain, and then another Nightingale showed for a prolonged period & sang surrounded by Blackthorn blossom, but it was still very overcast. Also here was a pinkish-blushed Black-headed Gull, a Common Tern, my first House Martin of the year, Stock Doves, Bullfinches, Goldcrest, & some common ducks species. We went on to some nearby heathland where we added my first Yellow Wagtail of the year, many parachuting Tree Pipits, 2 Hobbies, a Buzzard, a large hawk, a Green Woodpecker, several Herons, a Common Sandpiper, and some Willow Warblers. John saw a cracking bird flying over, which it wouldn't be sensible to name on a public blog. Mark spotted the first Large Red Damselfly of the season, which was joined by at least 3 Brimstone butterflies, a few Peacocks, and my first Speckled Wood of the year. However, the highlight came after I heard a rustle in the bracken only to be confronted by 2 male Adders engaged in their fighting dance. This lasted for almost 5 minutes as they twisted and turned before one male retreated into the undergrowth. Some of went on to a site near Scunthorpe where we added a distant heard-only Cuckoo, a Lesser Redpoll & some Sand Martins. All-in-all a very good day was had by all.