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| American Golden Plover |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Rose-coloured Starling |
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| Rose-coloured Starling |
Saturday 13th October 2012
Friday 12th October 2012
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| Solitary Sandpiper |
Everybody got wet, i didnt get the Coal Tits, but we all saw the Spoonbill close up on Green Island, on the boat on the way back.
Wednesday 10th - Thursday 11th October 2012
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| Wren |
Although i did manage to see a Jack Snipe and 4 Common Snipe at Lower Moors, and even got a quick look at the Coal Tit along the track. Only my second sighting of Coal Tit on Scilly.
Tuesday 9th October 2012
I decided to try to photograph the American Golden Plover & Buff-bellied Pipit, on the Airfield this morning. The Plover was showing well, but too distant for decent photos, from the windsock. It was then flushed by a Helicopter landing, it flew down towards Porth Hellick. People were calling the Pipit, but nobody could actually nail it down, the one confusing factor was a very grey looking Meadow Pipit. After a good, but fruitless look for the Pipit, i was about to leave, when a juvenile Curlew sandpiper flew in calling. It flew around the airfield a couple of times, and then landed near to the turning circle. When it landed we all realised that the Plover was there too, it had returned unseen. A walk down towards the turning circle, and i managed a few better shots of both these birds.
I then decided to try and walk up to Penninis head to see if i could photograph the juvenile Dotterel, which was still there. When i got to the area it preferred, there were birders and bird photographers there already. I sat down with them and started photographing the bird. I stayed for about an hour and the bird came really close at times, as my photos prove.
Then walking back down King Edwards Road, i had the Richards Pipit fly over and land out of view in a field near the head. It was seen briefly again, a couple of times. Good day!
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| Curlew Sandpiper |
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| American Golden Plover |
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| American Golden Plover |
I then decided to try and walk up to Penninis head to see if i could photograph the juvenile Dotterel, which was still there. When i got to the area it preferred, there were birders and bird photographers there already. I sat down with them and started photographing the bird. I stayed for about an hour and the bird came really close at times, as my photos prove.
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| Dotterel |
Then walking back down King Edwards Road, i had the Richards Pipit fly over and land out of view in a field near the head. It was seen briefly again, a couple of times. Good day!
Monday 8th October 2012
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| Reed Warbler |
A fairly nice, sunny start to today. A wander around the outskirts of the campsite, saw a decent selection of birds. A Reed Warbler was near the bins, and along the track, through the middle of the campsite there were, 6+ Goldcrests, 2 Firecrests and a Yellow-browed Warbler. Sadly, i only heard the last one, and it had disappeared before i could manage to se or photograph it! Around the 'dead pine walk', the back of the pine belt around the campsite, i had a female Redstart and at least 3 Pied Flycatchers. There were still Swallows around, with them there were also a few House Martins and a Sand Martin. A friend, Paul, and I also had a small hirundine, which glided rather then flapped, and then when it flapped it was almost bat-like, before disappearing behind the trees and into the quickly thickening fog! Will remain unidentified im afraid. Returning to the campsite, the fog was still getting worse. I bumped into Spider, a local, Scilly, birder. As we were chatting a sharp call came from the fog, it was a Plover of some sort, we thought American Golden Plover, mainly because there was one already on the islands. The bird was also then heard and seen to land on Penninis head, but it was a Dotterel. Ah well, fairly easy mistake to make, especially in the fog, and as i haven't heard either call too often. Good bird though anyway.
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| Firecrest |
Sunday 7th October 2012
Tresco today for the Sykes Warbler, but we should have gone yesterday. The weather had changed again, wet and windy. The wind was blowing straight into the area where the bird had been showing yesterday. Really close pair of Pheasants and 5 Sandwich Terns, on the way over, were the best birds of the day.
Got really wet later!!!!
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| Pheasant |
Got really wet later!!!!
Saturday 6th October 2012
New day, new weather. Really sunny and a s light breeze, and DRY, bit different to yesterday.
Scillonian ferry crossing, didnt really produce too much.
Manx Shearwater (2)
Balearic Shearwater
Gannet, Razorbill and Guillemot (Lots of..)
Put our tents up, on a really wet campsite, all the time wondering whether we should have waited to do this, and gone to Tresco, to see the Sykes Warbler. We didnt, but we did manage a nice Lapland Bunting near the campsite, at Woolpack Battery accomodation block as compensation.
Scillonian ferry crossing, didnt really produce too much.
Manx Shearwater (2)
Balearic Shearwater
Gannet, Razorbill and Guillemot (Lots of..)
Put our tents up, on a really wet campsite, all the time wondering whether we should have waited to do this, and gone to Tresco, to see the Sykes Warbler. We didnt, but we did manage a nice Lapland Bunting near the campsite, at Woolpack Battery accomodation block as compensation.
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| Lapland Bunting |
Friday 5th October 2012
Work, pick up a friend from the train station, then travel down to Cornwall, as going to Scilly tomorrow!
Stopped off at Davidstow airfield, where there had been a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and a Curlew Sandpiper showing well for at least a week. We eventaully found the Buff-breasted Sandpiper in terrible rainy conditions. Also there were 5+ Dunlin and 8+ Ringed Plovers, but no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper. While there, there were pager reports of 1, then 2, then 3 and eventually 7 Red-rumped Swallows at Marazion, wow!
Stopped off at Davidstow airfield, where there had been a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and a Curlew Sandpiper showing well for at least a week. We eventaully found the Buff-breasted Sandpiper in terrible rainy conditions. Also there were 5+ Dunlin and 8+ Ringed Plovers, but no sign of the Curlew Sandpiper. While there, there were pager reports of 1, then 2, then 3 and eventually 7 Red-rumped Swallows at Marazion, wow!
Sunday 30th September 2012
Breakfast in Scarborough then the long journey to Holy Island, much longer than i thought too!!! We had to rush, as the causeway to Holy Island is only open while the tide is low enough to cross. We got there and had about an hour, maybe a bit less. There had been no news on the Arctic Warbler all morning. Which is about right for my 'bogey' bird. No sign while i was there, and i was told there had been no sign since yesterday evening!!! My heart quickened once, when i found a Warbler at th tops of the trees, but it was a late Willow Warbler! That makes 6 or 7 attempts to see these little buggers now, but this was the 'longest' dip by far. I have missed 3 on Scilly, 2 or 3 in Cornwall, and one i couldnt get to on Portland! Oh well, one day, i hope. We drove disappointedly back across the causeway, but did have a few birds to try and cheer us up. There were big flocks of Barnacle Geese and also Pale-bellied Brent Geese, flying from the mud into crop fields as the tide came in. Also feeding on the mud were a few species of waders. Bar-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Redshanks, Knot, Dunlin, Turnstones, Sanderling, Curlew, Lapwing, Golden Plover & Grey Plover (including one in full summer plumage, sadly didnt come close enough for photos). As the tide covered the main part of the causeway a few Eider arrived. Raptors were covered quite well too. Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and a Merlin were seen.
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| Barnacle Geese |
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| Pale-bellied Brent Geese |
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| Bar-tailed Godwit |
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| Curlew |
Saturday 29th September 2012
The draw of my 'bogey' bird, Arctic Warbler, in the far North-East, along with some other bits and bobs on the way, was too much. early morning saw me driving North. Decided to stop at Spurn, East Yorkshire, as there had been a lot of migrants around, including a lifer for my Dad, Red-breasted Flycatcher.
First stop was the Rose & Crown Inn car park and Kilnsea churchyard (right next door). It was nice and sunny, but really windy in the car park, but luckily the churchyard was protected by some large trees. The Red-breasted Flycatcher showed briefly a couple of times, but not well, missed by my Dad though! There were a couple of other birds in the churchyard, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, also a Lesser Whitethroat. There were also a couple of each, of Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers, also a few Red Admirals and Speckled Woods.
We decided to go to look for the Greenish Warbler, which was being seen near the Riverside Hotel, only a couple of hundred yards down the road. Very windy still, but eventually the bird showed well, if briefly.
We returned to the churchyard, to try and get better views of the Flycatcher. We eventually did, as it showed well and fairly close. Lifer for Dad! While searching the area, i found a Yellow-browed Warbler there. Sadly, it only showed briefly then disappeared back into the trees, it did call a few times though, just taking the Mickey!!!!
As there was no chance of getting to Holy Island today, we drove to Scarborough for the night.
First stop was the Rose & Crown Inn car park and Kilnsea churchyard (right next door). It was nice and sunny, but really windy in the car park, but luckily the churchyard was protected by some large trees. The Red-breasted Flycatcher showed briefly a couple of times, but not well, missed by my Dad though! There were a couple of other birds in the churchyard, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, also a Lesser Whitethroat. There were also a couple of each, of Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers, also a few Red Admirals and Speckled Woods.
We decided to go to look for the Greenish Warbler, which was being seen near the Riverside Hotel, only a couple of hundred yards down the road. Very windy still, but eventually the bird showed well, if briefly.
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| Greenish Warbler |
As there was no chance of getting to Holy Island today, we drove to Scarborough for the night.
Saturday 22nd September 2012
Choices, choices today, the weather forecast said today was best day, tomorrow was gonna be very wet!!! So do we give the Dowitcher another go, long drive to other side of London for the Baillons Crake, or last but not least, do we go to Steart for the White-rumped Sandpiper???????
Baillons, not really been showing too well and its the longest drive! The Sandpiper is a 25 minute walk, which my Dad was not really up for, so the Dowitcher it is!
Got to Lodmoor and walked along to the spot where it had been on the 8th. This time it was showing straight away, same distance as last time though, shame. But, at least the light was good today. Tried a few shots, with 2 convertors on, still rubbish though!!! After about 3 hours, walking up & down a 30 yard stretch of mud, the bird decided to go somewhere different. It headed across the water towards the sedges where it had hidden last time. Oh dear, its gonna go back in there to sleep again, or so i thought. Luckily i was wrong and it carried on walking. Ending up in a small fairly close pool, to the left of where we had been. Much better photo opportunities, it wandered around this pool for 1/2 an hour. Then it walked along the mud towards the watching people. I found an area where i could view the bird and photograph it. The bird kept going along the mud and stopped to have a preen and wash right in front of me. WOW!!!!!! As you can see below, i took full advantage of its generosity.
There were quite a few Med Gulls there again, a flyover Yellow Wagtail and a nice Marsh Harrier, and at the end of my stay a Whimbrel flew in calling. Even my first Clouded Yellow of the year flew past. But, they were all outshone by the Dowitcher im glad to say!!!!!
Choices, choices, for once i got the right one....
Hope you agree?
Baillons, not really been showing too well and its the longest drive! The Sandpiper is a 25 minute walk, which my Dad was not really up for, so the Dowitcher it is!
Got to Lodmoor and walked along to the spot where it had been on the 8th. This time it was showing straight away, same distance as last time though, shame. But, at least the light was good today. Tried a few shots, with 2 convertors on, still rubbish though!!! After about 3 hours, walking up & down a 30 yard stretch of mud, the bird decided to go somewhere different. It headed across the water towards the sedges where it had hidden last time. Oh dear, its gonna go back in there to sleep again, or so i thought. Luckily i was wrong and it carried on walking. Ending up in a small fairly close pool, to the left of where we had been. Much better photo opportunities, it wandered around this pool for 1/2 an hour. Then it walked along the mud towards the watching people. I found an area where i could view the bird and photograph it. The bird kept going along the mud and stopped to have a preen and wash right in front of me. WOW!!!!!! As you can see below, i took full advantage of its generosity.
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| Short-billed Dowitcher (Juvenile) |
There were quite a few Med Gulls there again, a flyover Yellow Wagtail and a nice Marsh Harrier, and at the end of my stay a Whimbrel flew in calling. Even my first Clouded Yellow of the year flew past. But, they were all outshone by the Dowitcher im glad to say!!!!!
Choices, choices, for once i got the right one....
Hope you agree?
Sunday 16th September 2012
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| Hobby (Juvenile) |
Chew today. Water level still really high, although Herons Green pool has lowered dramatically. Lots of Ducks, Great Crested Grebes and Coot about.. A lone
Black-tailed Godwit on HG pool, was slightly out of
the ordinary. There were 2 juvenile Hobby's showing really well at Stratford hide, again though, shame
about the light!!! Sorry moaning as usual.
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| Hobby (Juvenile) |
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| Grass Snake |
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| Grass Snake |
We then had a quick drive along the South shore of Blagdon lake. There were reports of a Black-necked Grebe there. We didnt see it. We drove a bit further on, and i noticed a snake in the road. It was a Grass Snake, about 3 foot long, but something was not quite right? Its scales along its back were not aligned properly and were stood up. It must have been run over. I was photographing it when its mouth filled with blood, sadly on the way back along the road, we found it had died. Shame for such a nice looking animal, even if you dont like snakes too much!
Just after that we saw a friend of mine and
a group of birders, they were watching the
Black-necked Grebe, which was showing quite well, nice bird.
Saturday 15th September 2012
A return visit to Greylake RSPB today, to see if the Spotted Crake would show again. As luck would have it, it did, but nowhere near as well as on Thursday. Not a lot else happening there!
We decided to go to Catcott to see if there were any Hobby's about. There were 4 all flying around together, sadly they never really came close enough for photos. I did manage some distant ones, in really poor light. Not even good enough for the blog though!
Next stop Westhay, hoping for Brown Hawker etc....only Migrant Hawker and Common Darters im afraid! While we were there, i did hear and then see a Redpoll, but not close enough to get it down to species. Then a Tawny Owl called, only mid-afternoon, bit early?
We decided to go to Catcott to see if there were any Hobby's about. There were 4 all flying around together, sadly they never really came close enough for photos. I did manage some distant ones, in really poor light. Not even good enough for the blog though!
Next stop Westhay, hoping for Brown Hawker etc....only Migrant Hawker and Common Darters im afraid! While we were there, i did hear and then see a Redpoll, but not close enough to get it down to species. Then a Tawny Owl called, only mid-afternoon, bit early?
Thursday 13th September 2012
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| Spotted Crake (August 2009) |
After work i decided to go to Greylake RSPB, Somerset, to see the Spotted Crake, which had been showing there. There had been one in exactly the same place in August 2009. I had photographed that one, so was hoping to get lucky again.
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| Spotted Crake (Today) |
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| Spotted Crake (Today) |
Sunday 9th September 2012
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| Hobby |
Saturday 8th September 2012
Had to wait 4 days to be able to get to Lodmoor, to see my 4th lifer of the year! A Short-billed Dowitcher had arrived there on 4th, but was first identified as Long-billed, it was reidentified from photos! Drove down, being told via text and pager messages, the bird was showing. When we arrived i was told it had flown behind the sedges and out of sight. Oh dear...........
We waited about 3 hours, no sign, people were getting glimpses of it, only when it lifted its head from its sleep! Luckily there were at least 6 Sandwich Terns, 12+ Med Gulls and some flyover Yellow Wagtails to keep us occupied while waiting!
We decided to go onto Portland to look for the Monarch, and then come back, hopefully when it wakes up!
Walking back to the car, a friend said they had the bird in their scope, and let me have a look. Tucked into the sedges asleep was the Dowitcher, a lifer, but not really satisfactory views, but a lifer none the less! As i walked away thanking the friend who had shown me the bird, a large Tiger type moth flew past me. Scarlet Tiger i thought, no its orange NOT red!!!! Jersey Tiger, a moth lifer! I told a few people and got them to pass on the news, as this is quite a rare moth, although getting more common, in the South of the country these days.
So, onto Easton, Portland. We got to the place where the Monarch had been seen. It was still there, along with quite a few Red Admirals, Large Whites, a Painted Lady (my first of the year) and 2 Silver Y moths. All of this on one Buddleia bush. Someone had told me there was also a Convolvolous Hawkmoth at the Obs. Luckily, we bumped into Martin Cade, the Warden, who said it had flown off, when the sun hit the part of the wall it had been resting on! Shame......
Then back to Lodmoor, this time we saw the Dowitcher feeding, but still distant and in fading light and always, it seemed, in the shade! I di manage a couple of really poor shots. But, i will not trouble you with them, not worth it, im afraid.
But, if its stays maybe next time i will get something worth showing........... 'til then, i hope you like the Monarch and Moth?
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| Jersey Tiger |
We decided to go onto Portland to look for the Monarch, and then come back, hopefully when it wakes up!
Walking back to the car, a friend said they had the bird in their scope, and let me have a look. Tucked into the sedges asleep was the Dowitcher, a lifer, but not really satisfactory views, but a lifer none the less! As i walked away thanking the friend who had shown me the bird, a large Tiger type moth flew past me. Scarlet Tiger i thought, no its orange NOT red!!!! Jersey Tiger, a moth lifer! I told a few people and got them to pass on the news, as this is quite a rare moth, although getting more common, in the South of the country these days.
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| Monarch |
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| Monarch |
But, if its stays maybe next time i will get something worth showing........... 'til then, i hope you like the Monarch and Moth?
Sunday 2nd September 2012
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| Great Diving Beetle |
Best thing seen was a Great Diving Beetle, walking along the roadside at Herriotts bridge.
Friday 31st August 2012
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| Red-veined Darter (Teneral Male) |
Monday 27th August 2012
North Norfolk coast today.
Starting at Cley Marshes. Common & Green Sandpipers, Black & Bar-tailed Godwits and a Marsh Harrier were the best of an otherwise quiet visit.
We headed for Titchwell, after a quick visit to Salthouse, sadly very quiet too. Got as far as the Island hide, which was where all the activity seemed to be. From here there were at least 20 Ruff, along with 50-60 Dunlin, all fairly close. A fair bit more distant, in fact probably as far away from this hide as you can get, were 10+ Spoonbills (a mixture odf adults & juveniles). A flock of 50+ Golden Plover flew in and landed on the freshmarsh. Redshank, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Snipe and Black-tailed Godwits completed the waders. Sadly, the weather had changed today and was rather dull, so started getting dark rather early today, and that was that!
Starting at Cley Marshes. Common & Green Sandpipers, Black & Bar-tailed Godwits and a Marsh Harrier were the best of an otherwise quiet visit.
We headed for Titchwell, after a quick visit to Salthouse, sadly very quiet too. Got as far as the Island hide, which was where all the activity seemed to be. From here there were at least 20 Ruff, along with 50-60 Dunlin, all fairly close. A fair bit more distant, in fact probably as far away from this hide as you can get, were 10+ Spoonbills (a mixture odf adults & juveniles). A flock of 50+ Golden Plover flew in and landed on the freshmarsh. Redshank, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Snipe and Black-tailed Godwits completed the waders. Sadly, the weather had changed today and was rather dull, so started getting dark rather early today, and that was that!
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| Ruff (Juvenile Male) |
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| Ruff (Juvenile Female & Juvenile Male in background) |
Sunday 26th August 2012
Now for some rare Dragons............hopefully anyway.
Wat Tyler country park in Essex, was the first stop, looking for Southern Migrant Hawker. They had been seen around the pools behind the new toilet block, we found the site fairly easily, but no sign sadly. Although we did have Migrant Hawker. Also there were 2 Holly Blues around the pools.
Next stop was Alton Water in Suffolk, for what should be the easier of the two rare dragons i was after. Willow Emerald was the target. They are only 'easier' because they have been around the area for the last few years and seem to have set up a decent colony there.
Luckily, this time i was right. We found some with 50 yards of the car park. On the return to the car park, we found them all along the edge of the path back!
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| Holly Blue |
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| Migrant Hawker |
Next stop was Alton Water in Suffolk, for what should be the easier of the two rare dragons i was after. Willow Emerald was the target. They are only 'easier' because they have been around the area for the last few years and seem to have set up a decent colony there.
Luckily, this time i was right. We found some with 50 yards of the car park. On the return to the car park, we found them all along the edge of the path back!
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| Willow Emerald (Male) |
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| Willow Emerald (Female) |
Saturday 25th August 2012
Somerset Levels today, Dragonflies mainly, plus whatever else turns up...........
Started at Westhay. Had Common & Ruddy Darters, Emperor, Common & Blue-tailed damselfly, Migrant & Brown Hawker. The last one was what i was after, i have been trying to photograph this species for a while now, without success. Got really close today, but failed again......
We moved onto Ashcott Corner, there were 2 Brown Hawkers right by the car park, so i waited. One landed about a foot away from me. Wow! But, into the sun, on the other side of a nettle stem. It was eating a Hoverfly of some sort. Take some pix then try for better, i thought. Got the one opposite. But, it flew off when i tried to get better.
Then i returned back to the car park, a bit gutted about not getting those better shots...again! In the car park there was a very brave little Harvest Mouse (i think), which was probably too brave for its own good really.. it will probably get run over if it does this too often.
Started at Westhay. Had Common & Ruddy Darters, Emperor, Common & Blue-tailed damselfly, Migrant & Brown Hawker. The last one was what i was after, i have been trying to photograph this species for a while now, without success. Got really close today, but failed again......
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| Brown Hawker |
Then i returned back to the car park, a bit gutted about not getting those better shots...again! In the car park there was a very brave little Harvest Mouse (i think), which was probably too brave for its own good really.. it will probably get run over if it does this too often.
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| Harvest Mouse |
Thursday 23rd August 2012
Had a text at work today, telling me about a new colony of Red-veined Darters locally. I went there after work. Well worth the visit. There must of been at least 50, all immatures. But, still really nice to see.
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| Red-veined Darter (Immature Male) |
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| Red-veined Darter (Immature Female) |
Saturday 18th August 2012
I had left it as long as we could, but the draw of the Black-crowned Night Heron at Pennington Marshes in Hampshire, finally got the better of me. Especially as my niece had said this was one of the bird she wanted to see. A Red Kite at the M4/A34 junction near Chieveley services was a good start. We got to Pennington, parked and went straight to the footpath, from here the Heron had been seen for quite a while, on & off. No sign, but it had been seen earlier in the day. At least its still about. We went off to the marshes to see what else we could find. Not a bad haul, as it turns out. We had at least 6 Wood Sandpipers, one of each of Green & Common Sandpipers, some Dunlin, Snipe, Redshank and a couple of Ruff too. Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard were seen. At the end of the track, the Solent, there were quite a few Turnstones and Common Terns. A group of Black-headed Gulls on one of the pools held one adult winter Med Gull too. Then back to see the Heron, but no sign again, what a pain......
Sunday 5th August 2012
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| Brimstone |
Large & Small Skipper, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Silver-washed Fritillary, Brimstone & White Admiral.
Then again onto the New Forest for Dragonflies. Crockford stream was our first stop, there were Small Red Damselfly, Southern Damselfly, Keeled Skimmer and Golden-ringed Dragonfly. Also there we had Silver-washed Fritillary and Silver-studded Blue.
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| Southern Damselfly (Female) |
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| Southern Damselfly (Male) |
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| Small Red Damselfly (Male) |
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