Saturday 26 September 2020

Helice

On Orcombe today, in fine conditions with a northerly breeze - c50+ Meadow Pipit grounded, with many more overhead, 1 Tree Pipit, 3 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 4 Stonechat, 13+ alba wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 6+ Chaffinch, 1 Blackcap, 6+ Chiffchaff, 7+ Siskin, 1 Jay, 2+ Redpoll, 1 Snipe, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Common Scoter, 30+ Swallow, c20/30+ House Martin, lots of unidentified high-up hirundines and 7 Starling.

Off Mudbank - 123+ Brent Geese appeared to be mostly Dark-bellied birds, though at least 1 bird was a Pale-bellied. A flock of six Pale-bellied Brent Geese arrived a bit later on. Additionally - 6+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 13 Redshank, at least 64 Mute Swan, c8/900+ Wigeon, just 1 Pintail, 55 Shelduck, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Mediterranean Gull and a surprise Nuthatch briefly in the scrub.

I think this is Common Chickweed but despite a determined effort over summer to learn about flowers I never properly got to grips with this group. I'd appreciate any comments.


Female Small White

One of at least four Clouded Yellows on Orcombe this afternoon, one of which was the white 'helice' form - see below.

Clouded Yellow - 'helice' form.

Would have been nice to get this in focus - the two forms of Clouded Yellow side by side.

Bush Vetch

Greater Chickweed - hope I've got this right. Ten pinkish stamens and long, drooping pedicels.

Meadow Vetchling

Field Penny-cress - thank you for the id Dave!

Common Vetch

2 comments:

  1. The 'spurge' is Field Pennycress; the pea might be just Common Vetch? Dave

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  2. Thank you Dave - the Penny-cress is a new one for me. I thought originally that the 'pea' was Common Vetch but talked myself out of it - thought the leaves were too broad but see now they look ok. Saw a few Common Darters on Orcombe but no luck with the RVDs the other day on the commons. Good to hear from you. Matt

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