Alpe D'Huez

Arrived in Grenoble around midday after our short flight from Stanstead and collected hire car. On leaving the airport, the first bird was noted: A Black Redstart, one of many that would be seen over the next few days. The drive to Alpe D'Huez was uneventful, with only a Black Kite being noted on the way.

After a late lunch at Le Bourg d’Oisans at the bottom of the mountain we drove half way up to our chalet at Ribot. Around our chalet, Damon Blue butterflies could be seen, as well as the first of several Ravens. We then continued to the top (the village of Alpe D'Huez) where bird life seemed virtually nonexistent. I did manage House Sparrow (Italian looking; white cheeks and brightly coloured, but with just a small amount of grey on the cap), House Martin, Swallow, White Wagtail, Swift, Blackbird, Collard Dove, Woodpigeon, and Chaffinch, as well as a Hummingbird Hawkmoth (the first of several) that fed in the flowers by our table as we ate our evening meal.

Cambridge

The year's first Common Darters were in the Botanic Gardens, along with a number of fresh looking Painted Ladies. A Brown Hawker was flying not to far from the gardens along Hills Road.

Butterflies and Swifts

Showery weather again but during a sunny interval, a Holly Blue was seen in Cambridge. Large Whites seem to be everywhere this year, including the centre of town as well as the garden where there was also a Comma.

The Swifts appear to have left sometime yesterday. There are still about ten birds quietly flying around, but not ours.

Fowlmere

Just a single Green Sandpiper was all I could muster in the evening. Lots of Chiffchaffs calling. A Painted Lady was also noted and one was also seen in the garden earlier.

Fowlmere

Amazing flash storms at Fowlmere tonight but no birds were brought down. Just last week’s two Green Sandpipers and Turtle Dove were noted.

Bat Falcon

A Hobby chased Swifts around the church shortly before dusk. It was nearly dark and was very reminiscent of a Bat Falcon! One of 'my' Swifts had already roosted but I think the other was still involved in the melee. The Hobby failed anyway.

Also, about 300-400 Lesser Black-backed Gulls as well as a few Black-headed Gulls flew towards Cambridge. I'm guessing they may be roosting at Milton Country Park.

Garden Dip!

Five large waders flew north. They were too high to positively identify but were either Godwits or a Numenius species. A garden tick whatever.

Fowlmere

Two Green Sandpipers tonight and a Barn Owl perched in the open at close range in broad daylight.

Fowlmere

Went to Fowlmere in the hope that the very heavy lightning storms may have downed something. It had: A Green Sandpiper from the Reedbed hide. Also a very wet Turtle Dove was perched in the open.

Swifts

The Swifts in the bedroom are definitely feeding young now. Seems late but…

Dips!

The first was expected as the male Montagu’s around Sandon is only seen about once a week and the (presumed) female even less. Myself and Tom gave it about an hour on a Sunny morning but saw only four Buzzards.

Late afternoon we both went to Fen Drayton with Marcus Kohler for a summer plumaged White-winged Black Tern that had been present for a few days. Despite spending a couple of hours there, we continued to miss it on every pit we visited (normally by a few minutes.) A large number of Common Terns and a male Marsh Harrier were the only birds of note.

Gatekeeper

My second ever earliest (Amwell 1999 beats it by three days) seen in the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge. A worn individual at that.

Garden Moths and Fowlmere

A big catch that included five each of Privet (bottom) and Elephant Hawk-moth. In addition to what was caught yesterday:

Chinese Character
Buff-tip
Common Emerald
Common Wainscot
Lesser Cream Wave
Poplar Grey
Flame Shoulder
Marbled Beauty
Rustic
Uncertain
Shuttle-shaped Dart
Clouded Brindle
Dark Arches
Bright-line Brown-eye
Single-dotted Wave
Yellow-tail
Flame
Early Thorn
Mottled Pug
Buff Arches

In the evening at Fowlmere, a single Essex Skipper was found amongst the Small Skippers.

Garden Moths

Moth trapping overnight:

Privet Hawk-moth
Elephant Hawk-moth
Swallow-tailed Moth
Riband Wave
Common Footman
Buff Ermine
Scalloped Oak
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Smoky Wainscot
Clouded Silver
Burnished Brass
Small Magpie
Dot Moth
Heart and Dart
Dark / Grey Dagger
Dunbar
Large Yellow Underwing
Hebrew Character
Garden Dart
Apple / Orchard Ermine
Heart and Club
Common Rustic
Barred Yellow
Mother of Pearl
Willow Beauty
Emmelina monodactyla

 
Scalloped Oak and Apple or Orchard Ermine

Grass Snake

One swimming in the Botanic gardens in Cambridge showed for several minutes.