Des sent me this picture of a Bee Orchid. Thanks Des. Today the Downs were beautifully quiet, no traffic, and the lights at the corner of Stoke Road even changed as I approached. A Mistle Thrush was busy on the grass beside Saville Road, and was still at it when I came round again 20 minutes later. Normally the bird would have been scared off by lots of people and cars. Today was the Race for Life, with thousands of ladies in pink running their 5kM around the Downs in support of cancer charities. The link is to Joanna's Pecsaetan Morris in Sheffield. They danced the 5 kM in 52 minutes, and raised £1600+ with their dancing. I stopped at 10am beside Sea Walls, and stayed to watch the Kestrel nest on the Black Rocks cliff. It was 35 minutes before the birds appeared, firstly the female appeared, hovered briefly, flew in circles, then disappeared into Walcombe Slade. She was followed a few minutes later by the male, he perched on the nest entrance then flew off, also to Walcombe Slade. I left as the runners started to pass in their hundreds, about 11.15am. There was no sign of the Kestrels returning. So how many chicks? If the adults are still about they cannot have fledged, also they don't seem too busy, so maybe only one chick? Can someone say?
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