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.

Greenish Warbler

   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.

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.

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

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.

Hobby (Juvenile)

Grass Snake

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?

Thursday 13th September 2012

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.

Spotted Crake (Today)

As you can see i got very lucky!!!

Spotted Crake (Today)

Sunday 9th September 2012

Hobby

   Visit to Chew, produced some half decent birds for a change. There were 8 Sandwich Terns, not a common sight at Chew, they were roosting with Black-headed Gulls on the wall at Herons Green bay. They flew off not long after we arrived though. Only to be refound in the middle of the lake, a bit later, with at least 10 Common Terns. While watching them an adult Hobby flew over hunting Dragonflies.

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...........

Jersey Tiger

   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.

Monarch

   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......

Monarch

   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?

Sunday 2nd September 2012

Great Diving Beetle

   Late afternoon visit to Chew, was a bit of a waste of time really, too dull, too crappy!

   Best thing seen was a Great Diving Beetle, walking along the roadside at Herriotts bridge.

Friday 31st August 2012

Red-veined Darter (Teneral Male)

   Return visit to the Red-veined Darters. Must have been 100+ today along with various other Dragonflies & Damselflies. Still no adults though. They are still emerging, as i found some really immature (teneral) ones today.

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!

Ruff (Juvenile Male)

Ruff (Juvenile Female & Juvenile Male in background)

Sunday 26th August 2012

    Now for some rare Dragons............hopefully anyway.

Holly Blue

   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.

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!

Willow Emerald (Male)

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......

Brown Hawker

   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.

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.

Red-veined Darter (Immature Male)

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

Brimstone

   A return to Bentley Wood, in search of Purple Emperors again. I did manage to see a couple this time, high in the tree tops again though. Other Butterflies seen were:
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.

Southern Damselfly (Female)

Southern Damselfly (Male)

Small Red Damselfly (Male)

   Mill Lawn Brook was the last stop before heading home, hoping to find Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly. Sadly, no sign, but i did have Small Red Damselfly again.

Monday 30th July 2012

   Nothing birdy to report today, except to tell anybody who reads this blog, and who cares, that i have finally finished writing up my Scillies trip, which was back in May. I didnt think i could take so long, but at least i have it done now. You can find it either by going to the bottom of the page, and clicking on older posts. Or easier still, go to the Blog Archive, on the right hand side of the home page, and click on May 2012! If you do this, i hope you enjoy what you see and read.

    Thank you.

   Just need to catch up with the rest of July now!!!!!

Sunday 29th July 2012

Silver-washed Fritillary

   More Butterfly searching today. Alners Gorse, Dorset was today venue. Brown & White-letter Hairstreaks were the quarry. Sadly, but not surpisingly they both stayed at the tops of their trees, but at least they were seen again. Purple Hairstreaks were seen up at the tops as well. Only decent photos were of a Silver-washed Fritillary though.

Red Fox

 





   We moved on to Studland to look for Smooth Snakes. But, sadly couldnt find any. But, we did find an adult and a juvenile Dartford Warbler. A coupl of Grass Snakes and Slow Worms were also seen. Along with a very brave Fox. Other creatures of note were Keeled Skimmer and Grayling.

Sunday 22nd July 2012

White Admiral

   Visit to Bentley Wood, Wiltshire today, to look for Purple Emperor and White-letter Hairstreaks. Stood around in the car park looking for the Purple Emperors, sadly we didnt see any. As we left a chap said he had one flying around the tops of the trees. No sign when we went back. Had a good wander around the wood today, and we had Red Admiral, Large Skipper, Silver-washed Fritillary, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, 3 White Admirals and 4+ White-letter Hairstreaks. Sadly the Hairstreaks stayed at the tops of the Elms there.


   The last couple of hours were spent in the New Forest, mainly around the Shatterford/Beaulieu Road Station area. Had a few Silver-studded Blues, but the wind had got up by then, and it made it hard to follow anything flying!

Sunday 15th July 2012

Rubytail Wasp

   Another Butterfly day today. The Heddon Valley, North Devon was the aim. Looking for High-brown Fritillary. As it was we only found one really tatty one! But, we did have Siler-washed and Dark Green Fritillary's too, Large White, Small Tortoiseshell and Large Skipper. Also saw some interesting insects, including the stunning looking Rubytail Wasp (Chrysis ignita).

Saturday 14th July 2012

   Afternoon visit to Ham Walls RSPB today. We had sightings of 2 Great White Egrets and a Bittern, but little else.