We are currently starting a big butterfly count in the UK. Suitably inspired and anxious to see some birds as well, we ventured off to Horsenden hill, with the added bonus of Horsenden farm opening its new shop selling vegetables, breads, honey and microbrewed beers. The Gruffalo also always provides interest (to those who have not seen him before, he is rather BIG).
The meadows in the western part of the hill are where you can spot the butterflies and also a very good selection of raptors, particularly buzzards and kestrels. Here is a list of what was spotted (or heard) by Dave and Maria (thanks both!).
Swift, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Ring-necked Parakeet, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Swallow, Chiffchaff, Wren, Treecreeper, Starling, Blackbird, with Buzzard and Red Kite seen over Greenford back in Perivale park itself.
Butterflies:— Gatekeeper (very abundant), Marbled White (abundant), Great White, Common Blue plus one unidentified Skipper.
Certainly plenty of butterflies around when the sun shines. As you say Gatekeepers are particularly numerous at the moment. When I was in Perivale Park a week or so back I found 2 small colonies of Brown Argus- one in that excellent area near Coston Brook beyond the golf course gate where there’s varied mix of seeded annuals, Ox-eye Daisies, thistles. etc including a couple of dried out depressions. The other colony was east of the railway.
I’ve submitted 4 counts so far, including for the garden, but the web site is different this year. Frustratingly it doesn’t allow you to enter many less widespread species or any skippers this year.