A hobby put in an appearance at Stackpole last evening. It was hunting bats near the Courtyard Flats just as it was getting dark. We don't see them doing this every summer but when they appear it is usually during horseshoe bat counts. Last night's bird looked like an immature. It might stay a while and so perhaps will be seen hawking dragonflies etc somewhere over the lakes during the day?
Crepuscular sparrowhawks on the other hand tend to be a bit more regular here, one is usually seen hunting and catching bats in most summers.
On route to St Govan's Head, a cuckoo flew across the road early last evening near Bosherston.
Out on the coast last evening it was also obvious that there are a large number of painted lady butterflies around, presumably a recent influx aided by the currently warm, humid weather conditions. In excess of 50 were estimated in no time at all during a walk to check up on chough families between St Govan's Head and Crickmail Point.
It seems to have been quite a good chough breeding season this year and jackdaws have also bred well too judging by the large numbers of fledged young around.
