A quick stroll around Swineham Gravel Pits this evening suggested that more Reed and Willow Warblers were on territory compared to this time last week, though singing Chiffchaffs were actually fewer in number. Good to find that a pair of Little Ringed Plover first reported earlier in the week were still on the flooded meadows near the pits - a tick for my 'walked from home' list. The pits looked quiet at first but a second scan revealed a 1st summer Little Gull hawking over the water. The flight is very tern-like though this bird was also paddling on the surface like a petrel. Perhaps the most unusual sighting, however, was an Orange Tip butterfly roosting on a bramble - it's an easy butterfly to see in Spring, but they always seem to be on the move and rarely settle. This one flew past me at about 1700 when it was still sunny, landed on the bramble, and was still there when I came back in overcast conditions at 1900. Pictures below.
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| Female Blackcap |
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| Black-tailed Godwits |
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| Little Ringed Plover - more brown in the breast band and face suggest this is a female |
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| Little Ringed Plover - male |
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| Little Ringed Plover - male |
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| 1st summer Little Gull with Black-headed Gull - the BHGs were constantly harassing the Little Gull |
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| Little Gull - note the pinky wash on the underparts |
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| Little Gull |
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| Little Gull |
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| Orange Tip - male |
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