I saw my first orange tip butterfly of the year in the garden this morning but I had to take myself to ANR to see my first comma butterfly. You can’t see it on this picture but there is a white comma-shaped mark on the underwing from which it gets its name.

Warblers are beginning to sound off all over the reserve. I say ‘sound off’ rather than ‘sing’ as these two examples are not melodious. This sedge warbler is a little bit in shadow but I could hear his scraping call which confirmed its ID.

I had several good views of chiffchaffs …

Finally – a bittern made itself known by repeatedly booming all afternoon – the first time I have heard this eerie sound at ANR.