winter butterfly

Another warm spell and noticed this tortoiseshell sunning itself on the west facing wall of our bungalow.

Herring gulls and swifts

For the last couple of days the herring gulls in the main nest site I have been following are preparing for flight. There has been a lot of wing flapping and wing stretching activity. One even jumped up and and down a few times.

The swifts are still performing ariel displays.

Shadow on the road as a swift screams overhead.

I will miss them when they leave for their winter home in Africa, usually in August.

Now that the young have fledged there has been a lot of coming and going from the nest site.

In the past this has been quite discreet, a single bird breaking away from the rest and making a low silent entry to the nest. Today there is a lot of screaming and almost a atmosphere of excitement.