First Butterfly

I was at Amwell this morning, and had a very interesting time. Last Sunday we had two Bitterns that were showing and one red head Smew remained, and the first of the Ringed Plovers had arrived. Apart from that spring seemed absent.

Both Bitterns seem to have gone now, as have most of the wintering duck apart from a few Teal. The Ring Plover remains, and there are now a number of singing Chiffchaff. Several people had brief sightings of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshells, but both eluded me. A small party of Sand Martins over one of the pools was nice, but even better were the eleven or more Buzzards being joined by one or two Red Kites, in addition to the usual Kestrel and Sparrowhawks. Unfortunately they were not in the same league as yesterdays two Osprey and Marsh Harrier.

No sign of any migrants apart from the Sand Martin-the weather is just too nice today.

I have just finished dinner, and looking out into the garden , I saw my first butterfly of the year-a Comma. While getting the camera out, it was joined by another before flying off.