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November 6th 2009 was a wet one! It was a day to stay at home and prepare my slides for a talk I am giving on the 20th of this month. Entitled by the organisers, "Wild in the Wear" .......... after the name of the Exeter suburb, Countess Wear where I am presenting....... the theme is how to encourage wildlife in to your garden and how to observe it. I will also talk about visits locally and what can be seen, with slides and photographs as well as video to accompany it all. It will be a fun evening! Last night on the BBC TV programme, Autumn Watch Unsprung, one of my images of a Jays eye was used in the competition which was nice. I had been contacted by a researcher who had seen the picture on the Internet and said that it was ideal for the competition. A fee was negotiated and last night, as I said it appeared. The presenter made a comment about what a great image it was which was nice. Here it is if you want to have a look.
Sat at home and working quietly, things were happening in the garden! For the last week or so I have been putting little bits of meat onto the bird table. I wanted to see if I could get the local Magpie closer and get some photographs of him. I quite like Magpies, they are extremely beautiful to my eyes but hated by people for their intelligent behaviour. They will eat a wide range of food, that is, they are "omnivorous". Carrion, birds eggs and chicks in the nest are definitely on the menu and this is why they are despised by people. Since a more liberal attitude and perhaps control of Gamekeepers, who used to, and still do to a lesser degree, shoot and trap them, they have become much, much more common. They are blamed for the decline in the garden song bird population. The RSPB however does not agree with this, and neither do I. Hey, I agree with the RSPB on something........ weird!!!!!
Anyway, back to the story. I popped in to the kitchen and a glance outside surprised me when I saw who was responsible for the meat eating. This magnificent, (yes I really do think this), Carrion Crow. I went up to the upstairs window and got some shots to record the event. We have Crows on the roof regularly, but I have never in 24 years seen one feeding on the lawn. They are extremely intelligent and this one had worked out that I was providing regular meals for him. I put a broken hens egg out later and he came back and ate that as well, this is when I managed ahalf decent photo. The Magpies are also becoming accustomed and at one time there was 3 all at once and here is one of them.
Sitting in the hide in attempt to get really close, the first garden Robin photo of the season was possible.
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Rock Pipit are a commonly encountered bird on any suitable shoreline here in Devon. As the name implies this is usually Rocky shores where they feed amongst the sea weed exposed at low tide. They will leap to catch flies and are resident throughout the year which provides some interest for bird watchers and photographers when other species are hard to find. Yesterday for example I went to Beer to look for Black Redstarts reported and had to be content with these more than adequate photographic replacements.(I did find a nice hen Black Redstart but just at dusk and as the rain lashed down).
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Having spent the afternoon with the best light for quite a while, waiting for the Kingfisher to show, the best I could come up with is this Grey Wagtail photo. So for Tammy who I chatted with just at the start of the session here is the photo as promised. Sorry it's not a Kingfisher but apart from a fleeting glimpse as I arrived, he didn't show......... nice to meet you again anyway!
Yesterday I recorded some footage of the Grey Wagtail singing and I thought it worth posting because I hadn't realised what a nice musical song they have. This song was in response to another bird that he could hear on his territory.
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I met with representatives of the Environment Agency this morning and we had a long, interesting fruitful conversation about the wildlife on the Brook, particularly the Kingfishers and how the bit of building work may or may not affect them. I must say I was extremely heartened by, not only the level of care being taken but also the depth of knowledge and concern shown.
I suggested, having watched the Kingfisher and noticed that he is more active at Dawn and Dusk that it might be better if the work took place after 9 and ended by 4. This would give the bird the chance to feed both at first light and before roosting without disturbance. It was agreed in principle that this would happen and, taken that the work has to take place , seems a good compromise. I have been pleased to be able to add my "tuppence-worth" and have my concerns listened to, all in all a very satisfying result.
I purchased a top of the range Panasonic HD Camcorder yesterday, my plan is to get good quality video of the Kingfishers and other wildlife from the Brook. I had a half hour play with it, almost at dusk. I took footage of the `Grey Wagtail which is of a real high quality and considering it is a new toy and I am not used to it yet, again very pleasing. The Kingfisher at one point perched right in front of me but he left just as I managed to get focused and press record, but there will be lots of other chances I am sure. The Grey Wagtail has now been joined by another, I haven't seen if it is the female back again, or another male, but it is a bit of a surprise. Also seen today was a Kestrel. He was hunting over the brook. He came down to take something, probably a vole or mouse. The new Camcorder takes still images and here is one just to see what the quality is like......... not special but will be a useful feature if you want a still image!
Posted at 10:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I went, before dawn to the hide to sit and wait hopefully, for the Kingfisher. I haven't seen him close for a few days apart from a quick fly by or two. It was just dawn when I got there and as the day started and the morning light started to brighten I was still unsure if he would show or not. Then after about 20 minutes I heard the unmistakeable sound of a Kingfisher still a way away but often enough for me to be sure that he was in my area. Then suddenly as is usually the case, he flashed past me in rocket mode and perched about 50 feet or perhaps more away. I still had sight of him and watched him twitching and very actively watching for prey. A few times he dived and then emerged unsuccessful and then I lost sight of him, but there he was right in front of me on one of my arranged perches. He quickly moved higher so that he had a better view and scanned the water looking for his breakfast.
So there he is, again as close as you can be to a Kingfisher. But, he wasn't settled and I think it was because he was having trouble getting a fish. He moved to a spot out of camera range and I watched him through a little hole in the hide. I could see that he was really scanning the water and from this position which was higher than before he had a better view. He obviously couldn't see anything and then he left, again like a rocket to an are further up by the concrete. I hadn't long got over the thrill when the resident Little Egret arrived. This is, in comparison a big bird and it was amazing to se it perched where the kingfisher had been expected. he was about to fish and I had to come in on the zoom lens to about 250 to get him all in the viewfinder! The legs and feet of these birds is really impressive but they are very hard to photograph because of the intense white which can deceive the cameras settings but I didn't do too bad.
This next one is hardly cropped at all, that is how close he was to me. I was hoping he would do some fishing and he started to, but was hidden just behind some weeds. Then all of a sudden he left........... something had disturbed him and it wasn't me.
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Just a quick post to record that today we had a Red Admiral in the garden. This is of no particular significance except that this time next year it is good to check what has been seen to make a comparison. Birds have included Collared Dove, Dunnock, Blackbird, Goldfinch and Blue Tit as well as a small group, (hardly a flock) of House Sparrows. in addition a Magpie was in the Apple Tree.
The weather has been bright and sunny all day. I tried, both at dawn and this late afternoon, to see a Kingfisher from the hide but unfortunately he was a no show today which was a shame as the weather was ideal.
Posted at 11:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Its been a good few days with my first success in a photo competition, in fact the Dartmoor Preservation Society competition. My picture of a Male Whinchat taken in June was judged as Highly Commended in the Dartmoor life category. I am pleased because as you can see it is a close up and the brief of the competition was to reflect the life of Dartmoor and this image, whilst taken in Dartmoor doesn't show this in any way.
All in all a pretty satisfying result. What the photo doesn't show is the week of sitting in the hide and the other 250 pictures that weren't up to the mark. I remember feeling really pleased with this picture as soon as I took it. Watching the bird and his mate for a week was as well, was very rewarding.
We have had some more rain and this raises the water level on my brook and I don't think this makes it the best habitat for the Kingfisher. However, I have sat in the hide both yesterday morning and again this afternoon, but no sign of him apart from a quick flash by yesterday. All we need now though is for the rain to keep off and the level to go down and I am sure we will be in business again. While I sat there this afternoon, almost with a wet backside in my built hide, a pair of Mallard came up the stream towards me. You know, these mallard are true wild birds and very wary, not park ducks prepared to take bread. So, it gave me a lot of confidence when they ignored the hide which is after all seemingly a collection of grass and reeds etc.well thats what its supposed to look like. Anyway here is one of the atmospheric photos taken.
Posted at 09:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The last couple of days has seen me continuing to try and get more and more views on photos of the lovely Kingfisher that I have been watching for almost the last month. I decided yesterday that the bird had begun to get a little bit suspicious of the portable hide. I decided to build a semi-permanent one with a camo tarp based around bamboo canes. It worked really well because I went first thing this morning and before 8 he was perched in front of me with a very large loach. The light was a bit dull but I did manage to get a few shots of him with the use of the flash. You can see how big this fish is and he really did struggle to get it down having several goes at it. Eventually it disappeared down the hatch.
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Ater he had finished I watched him sitting quietly in the very dim early dawn light and as he was sitting so still I tried some shots without the flash with a slow shutter speed which is never ideal. But I kind of like the result because it is atmospheric.
Who wouldn't be pleased with this one because I certainly am! After a while he flew over to the other bank nearer to me and as I moved to the right to look at him the hide started to show signs that it wasn't going to last! But I still got a few shots in the better light.
As he sat there I heard another Kingfisher calling and so did he! He wasn't too impressed with this and left to go and see what the intruder wanted. It is/was probable the female that I have seen before you may remember.
I sat there in the hide which was by now decidedly rickety, and tried to do a repair job. It didn't work and I was sat on a slant. I had just begun to think that I couldn't sit like this for much longer when he landed back and I struggled to get some shots of him doing his preening and bathing thing. This required me to lean even more to the left and then as I did I could feel myself tumbling uncontrollably. Being a "true-pro" I continued snapping........... I shouldn't have because the next thing I was almost in the water and saying,"I'm going in" I averted that ultimate but did finish up in a snotty heap with the hide broken around me and no sign now of the bird!
If you look closely at this photo, and the one below, you can clearly see pin-feathers around the face. I haven't seen this before on any of the other photos. Could this be a different male. I can also see noticeable dark markings on the feet which would indicate a young bird. Is this a different bird than the one I have been seeing?
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Posted at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
I always really enjoy my visits to Wales. It presents new bird and wildlife opportunities and new places to visit. There is always lots to see with Little Grebe seemingly common for example.. they are a favourite of mine by the way. I must say that my visit to the Newport Wetlands RSPB was really memorable, not just for the birds which were not particularly noticeable but it is such a friendly and welcoming place. The staff are just so lovely, very passionate and interesting as well as "interested" in what I have to say. This is very refreshing. The celebrity bird at this site is the Bearded Reedling or Bearded Tit. I am yet to see one on my visits here but I am pretty certain that I heard one. It was really busy though being a Saturday, kids everywhere and their behaviour to be frank is not really what you want in a nature reserve. There is a bit of a confusion between conservation and recreation here. If you encourage children to take an interest then it is quite important I think to teach them the etiquette and behaviour required. ...... my only complaint. In one of the tucked away areas there is an observation point that overlooks a drying pool. I was told that a Water Rail had just been seen as I arrived. I waited and eventually, after 20 minutes or so, it appeared and started to wander towards us feeding intently. Quite quickly it was quite close in front of me. I took loads of photos but this place is not good for photos, you can't use a tripod because of the construction of the screening so everything is hand held. It was probing in the mud and was a bit of a mess to be frank. For example you can hardly tell the colour of the beak because of the mud. I was chuffed with this sighting, I have a plan to get some decent shots of Water Rail, I know where I may find one and be able to put up a hide. This is well away from any reserve and by a public footpath which is hardly used
Also showing really well was this lovely little female Tufted Duck. I am quite intrigued by the eye colour which would be yellow if it was an adult so I presume that this bird is a first winter juvenile.
Tufted Duck are divers and I tried to get photos of this but it is hard to get it just right, I almost did it though.
Jay are a very intelligent bird that at times can be very hard to get close to. They are a very attractive well marked member of the crow family. We were staying with friends just north of Cardiff and from the bedroom window I noticed that Jays were flying from Oak tree to tree, obviously feeding on the acorns. I decided to get in to my car and move it closer to the trees and see if I could capture some good shots, it's not often that you can get close to them. It was too good an opportunity to resist.
I am pleased to report that we have now had visitors from 99 different countries. The latest is Syria, I wonder which country will be 100. It is incredible to think that visitors from so many countries have visited and read the blog.Posted at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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I was excited when I got out of bed this morning, the weather was fabulous and was set to be that way for the rest of the day. I just knew that I was going to have a good bird day. So, pretty soon after 9 I was sat in the hide in the Alphin Brook waiting, and hoping that the Kingfisher would come and perch. After what seemed just a short time I heard him, then saw him flash past me and I was disappointed for a few moments thinking, "Why didn't he stop here?" I needn't have worried because just a few seconds later he had! And there he was, right in front of me, smack in the sun, dazzling me with his beauty. He pretty much did everything you would want a Kingfisher to do, He posed in the sun, preened his feathers had a good scratch and then proceeded to dive in and out of the water to bathe. I tried to get good shots of that but I have to confess to being a duffer when it came to action shots. All of a sudden he got very excited and flew around in front of me and I thought that was it. No it wasn't because I heard a splash and he landed back where he was before butnow with a big fat minnow! I got very excited as I took photos of him beating the living daylights out of it. So much so that the minnow's stomach started to split open! I took photos of he action. He was with me for 20 minutes when all of a sudden another Kingfisher, probably the female, called in the distance. This really agitated him and he flew off calling angrily............... another wow is in order!
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I spent the weekend away in West Yorkshire visiting my Granddaughter and the weather was a little limiting to do anything other than enjoy their company. In the little village of Marsden the River Colne meanders through the centre. Feeding the ducks seems to be a favourite pass time and their was at least 30 pairs of Mallard doing very nicely by the small weir. Amongst them was a few Jackdaws that had learnt to take advantage of food source. I am quite attracted to this species because they are intelligent and very clever. I find them a little more interesting than Carrion Crows and of course Rooks who are frankly quite ugly. The eye of this bird is a real feature.
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After an appointment at hospital concerning my injuries I had finished by 3.30. The weather today has been fantastic, sunny all day, a real Indian Summer. I went out to Cockwood to see what was about. In the harbour there was 3 Black Tailed Godwits feeding in the harbour mud. One had a broken leg which was quite distressing to see as he hopped along.
In the early evening I returned to the Brook and set up an area in good light with a log lying down the bank and in to the water. There is a real shortage of suitable perches along the bank sides and my reasoning is if I provide a perch over the water then the Kingfisher will be attracted to settle there. I had only been sat in the hide for 10 minutes when the first Wagtail landed on this new log. This was the female and after she had moved on, the male arrived and gave me a real opportunity to compare the two. The female, as well as having a white throat also has a dull off white breast and belly. In winter plumage the male also has a white throat which is black in breeding plumage. In the photo below of the more brightly coloured male with a yellow breast, there is a hint of black remaining if you look careful.Posted at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Today is a very special one for me, if you have stumbled on the blog by accident, please read this. I served for 35 years as a musician in the Royal Marines Band Service and on this day 20 years ago 11 of my fellow musicians were brutally murdered by the IRA in a massacre at the Royal Marines School of Music. This incident changed my outlook on life forever, I live for the day and remember my good friends killed in such atrocious circumstances. The explosion occurred at 8.29 so imagine my thoughts when, sat in my hide and at exactly 8.29 the Green Sandpiper that I have spent 4 days and 8 hours waiting to catch. landed right in front of me. Here are some of those images. I must admit that my emotions did get the better of me as I snapped away, and I perhaps missed some of the best shots as I thought of Mac, a bird watching buddy killed on that day. Who knows, perhaps Mac sent the bird to me. The coincidence is a littl!e too much to take in.
Perhaps someone could explain to me why citizens of Ireland travelled to England and murdered 11 innocent young men. Musicians, fathers, husbands, bird watchers, sportsmen and good friends who represented the best that UK can muster. I am not in a position to forgive but I will never forget. I also hope that if you are Irish you may take some collective responsibility for the hatred that your religiously intolerant society created.
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Having had such an exciting encounter yesterday I decided to try and repeat it. I made my way back to the brook at around 7 and set up the hide quickly as usual and took my place. Things were looking good at this time. I had placed a broken branch from a nearby vandalised tree in a good place and my hide was placed strategically. Grey Wagtails immediately were on the scene but it was still not bright enough for a good photo. By now it was about 20 past 7 and I became aware of talking behind me and the Egret, as usual perched just a few feet away from in his favourite spot, flew off. The talking got louder and then more voices were heard. To cut the story short, eventually someone decided to throw a rock at the hide! Can you believe that? I quickly exited and the stupid men, because that's what they were, not kids, scattered like children. Eventually one showed his face and I asked him if he really was an idiot or was he pretending? He denied my accusation but being the "bolshy git" that I am, I proceeded to insult him even more, this made me feel a bit better but my Kingfisher watching was over for today. It seems that this is not going to be practical during the week because of the nearness to the factory behind. I came back home taking some comfort from knowing that I am free to do what I want for the rest of my life and these morons are stuck in a factory for at least another 20 years!! Perhaps if they thought it through a bit they would realise that if they were just a tiny bit more intelligent they could have adjusted their life to retire in their 50s like me.
So now back at home, stuck with no transport, the sun shining beautifully I took a sobering photo out of the Bathroom window of a Sparrow....... back down to earth a bit. But it's a nice bird and a nice picture. Great Tit, Robin, Blue Tit, Rook (on the roof), Collared Dove and at last a young blackbird Hen, really oddly the first Blackbird in the garden for weeks and weeks.
Posted at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
It would be very hard to put in to words what a great, great exciting, fulfilling and rewarding morning I had today. To start with I don't normally get up at the crack of dawn, I am not a morning person but I made an exception today. I set the alarm for 6 and by 20 past I was on my way to the nearby Alphin Brook. I thought that if I got in to my hide before dawn, then when the sun rose I would be in position and hopefully get a shot of the Green Sandpiper that I have seen for the last three days and I really would like to get a good photo of this species. So I approached the chosen spot and even in the darkness I disturbed a Grey Heron fishing in just the spot that I had planned to be. I quickly set up and within a minute I was tucked inside with a coffee poured. It was still quite dull at way past 7 and even though the Grey Wagtail was around my feet almost, it was too dim to get anything like the kind of photo I want. So, at around 7.40 I was pleased as the sun started to rise and cast a bit of light on proceedings. I was even more heartened when the Wagtail appeared to my left and I started to get a few shots of it............. then wow... wow .... wow....... just a few feet in front of me a Kingfisher appeared and my heart raced as I realised that I was going to get the best chance ever to photograph Britain's most attractive and iconic bird.
It bobbed up and down and cocked it's head on the side to search the water beneath it. It took absolutely no notice of the hide whatsoever. The camera settings were adjusted to try and get the very best photo. I still couldn't believe my luck and I took 20 shots before he flew over to the opposite bank, still only 15 foot away. After a while it flew off towards the football club and not down stream to the more wild area which was a surprise. I sat back and looked at the images on the camera and , well frankly I was elated. I remember seeing a Collared Aracari, a Toucan species, in Belize in the 1980's and the thrill that gave me. Frankly this encounter stands alongside that. I have also said previously that you can't really call yourself a wildlife photographer until you have a few good Kingfisher photos in your portfolio, and now I have! It got better though, the Egret came down right in front of me and did a bit of fishing and I managed even better shots of the Grey Wagtail.Posted at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
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I couldn't believe my eyes late this afternoon. Being stranded at home without transport, it was dull and overcast, there was very little going on in and around the garden. I decided to take a trip in to the City to organise a few things but diverted to the local trading estate to have a look at a new scooter.... but that's another story. I was literally stopped in my tracks as I crossed the Alphinbrook, at this stage a concrete eyesore that is constrained between high concrete banks at pavement level. You would think it about the least wildlife friendly place in the whole of Devon. There, in the water below, adjacent to Lidl's car park, was a Green Sandpiper! It was bobbing away in the shallow water which at this point trickles over solid concrete. If that was not enough, a Grey Wagtail was nearby. Perched above, only a few feet from the main road and pedestrians, was a Little Egret. Of course, I had no camera and I stopped a bloke, a total stranger in a BMW and told him about the bird and my need to get my equipment 2 minutes by car back in to the village of Alphington. He didn't even hesitate and gave me a lift back to get my gear. What a hero. As soon as I got back the Sandpiper, still feeding away, took to the air and landed down stream amongst an area that is a little more natural. after only a few minutes it came back to the original spot and I took just 2 photos before a dog walker disturbed it and it left again. Here is one of the photos.
I continued on my way to the bike shop and on my way back noticed that the Little Egret had returned to his/her original spot. I took a 100 or so shots getting closer and closer as I gained the birds confidence. Little Egret are a very, very noticeable bird in this part of Devon and they can always be relied on to give a good photo. This is, however the closest I have ever been to one out of a hide and I just had to share them with you.Posted at 07:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
We had a crazy few minutes in the garden at lunchtime. I sat quietly enjoying the sun watching the hoverflies when I heard, and then saw a beautiful little Coal Tit. Suddenly what seemed like a dozen or so Long Tailed Tits flitted over from the apple tree to the large Cotoneaster just feet from me. I remained stock still as one descended on to the feeder, it realised that I was there and then went back up to the safety of the tree and it's flock mates which also contained Blue Tits. Birds are definitely on the move again, we had a Goldfinch on the feeder yesterday for example. We had our first Robin for months yesterday and this morning I heard it again. But the crazy minutes went on......... a Comma Butterfly - Polygonia c-album, a garden first was by the top pond and then amazingly a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly zoomed around.
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This spider, a Long-jawed Orb-weaver, Tetragnatha species was in the garden on Sunday and is a juvenile I am told.
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A family trip to Wales yesterday ended up with a visit to Caerphily Castle, one of the largest in Britain. It is surrounded by a moat, obviously well established and a haven, or so it appeared, for waterbirds including Great Creasted Grebe, Mallard, Greylag and Canadian Geese, all (apart from the grebe) in quite large numbers.It was perhaps one of the sunniest days of the year and quite a sight. As we approached the drawbridge a few wagtails by the moats edge, caught my eye. I expected them to be Pied Wagtails - Motacilla yarellii but was very pleased when I realised that they were Grey Wagtail - Motacill cinerea. I was even more pleased when I realised that they would allow quite a close approach. They were around a sluice overflow, feeding and drinking. I shuffled down the steep bank trying not to slip. That would have been a diabolical disaster with a broken collar bone which is healing nicely now, but it didn't happen and I got myself safe and perched without coming to any harm.
I have honestly been waiting to photograph Grey Wagtail for a couple of years. I just haven't been able to get close enough, but I knew I would eventually. Here in this tourist attraction the birds were very used to human activity and didn't care that I was quite near. I did feel a bit odd though amongst the Japanese Tourists and babies in push chairs. I snapped away as they came and went and the light was good, if not a bit harsh. this photography lark is so unforgiving! I am really pleased with the results, the photo shows a female and if you look carefully you can see that she is in moult showing pin-feathers on her head.
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I have had a few nice days out over the weekend and today with a few wildlife opportunities presenting themselves.My damaged shoulder/collar bone aches like the proverbial, but I am trying to carry on regardless and get the most out of the late summer sun and the good company of my sister who I enjoy being with so much. She has an enquiring mind and takes an interest in everything that always appears to be a bit excessive, just like me!.
Yesterday we went to Teignmouth and had a look at the Rivermouth and beach. An immature Great Black-backed Gull was on the beach amongst the Herring Gulls and showed really well, it was good to compare the size of this bird compared to a Herring Gull. A very interesting piece of of behaviour was observed when a Third Winter Herring Gull flew low over head and dropped, in fact almost threw a cockle down on to the concrete path to break it open and get at the tasty flesh. I am sure that this is normal behaviour but never the less interesting and good to observe.
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I visited Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham this afternoon thanks to my wifes goodness, she dropped me off because obviously I am still unable to drive.
I was hoping to be able to see the Wilsons Phalarope that has been reported but the state of the tide meant that it was probably out feeding in the estuary. I was however very pleased to see and get some nice views of a Green Sandpiper which I havn't seen closely this year.
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Today's insect watching was productive yet again. It's been a funny day weather-wise with a reasonable bright and pleasant start which later turned into heavy dreary rain. I took the opportunity and my coffee into the garden and sat next to the productive mallow clump, seemingly so loved by hoverfly species. Having these broken bones has forced me to concentrate on my garden a little more than usual and I am pleased that this has been so productive. Yet another new species presented it's self today. Eristalis horticolis. Eristalis sp. are Droneflies and horticolis can be sperated from the others by the "shadow" markes on the wings. Other than that this species could be confused with the false Dronefly Myathropa florea. Another large but quite dull Dronefly is Eristalis Tenax, probably the most common Dronefly. I took this nice photo of a female.
You may remember that I blogged about Crab Spiders the other day? Well this morning looking into the undergrowth I saw an interesting occurrence played out in front of me.I noticed a small hover which seemed to have a grey abdomen but a quick look revealed a small hover being predated by a crab spider. Not sure of either the hover species nor the spider.
Here it is on the end of my thumb, you can see how tiny this little spider is and also note the stripy legs which I am sure I think is going to mark this out as different species.
Posted at 11:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
It has been an interesting yet frustrating month with Hoverflies and insets providing the bulk of interest and activity. August, particularly the early weeks are traditionally quiet days for bird activity.
Interesting sightings have included Osprey still at Powderham, Green Sandpiper on Exminster Marsh and of course the Great White Egret - Ardea alba in Somerset at Chard Reservoir. Further afield in West Yorkshire this months other noteworthy sightings were a Short Eared Owl, Grey Partridge and possible Twite (that doesn't go down as a sighting though). I think the Owl is possibly the most memorable because I discovered it for myself and it was an exciting spectacle.
Garden birds have been quiet to say the least but we have had a Wren, heard but not seen, Goldfinch,Coal Tit, Blue Tit,Dunnock, Collared Dove and Wood Pigeon. The garden highlight was a female Sparrowhawk that made a pass at the bird feeder and specifically a Wood Pigeon (unsuccessfully). Perhaps more notable though was the absence of several species. No Blackbirds seen for several weeks nor Robin for at least 3 months. The Herring Gulls have fledged and left the roof next door but the male continues to be present, making a nuisance of himself. Starlings are notably absent.
Several species of hoverfly in the garden have been great additions to my list. The most exciting was Xanthogramma pedissequem the Ornate Hoverfly But there have been others including yesterday, Myathropa florea - the False Dronefly.
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This is the story of a quaint little town and a Great White. An epic tale but not of a shark nor a town called Ammetty but a Great White Egret and a town called Chard. But first, why an epic? Well, 18 days ago I was knocked unconscious and broken by a careless bus driver rushing to get back to the depot after his shift. I can hardly afford to travel by bus and it is ironic that my life was almost ruined in a split seconds carelessness and lack of care by a man who travelled from Eastern Europe to improve his life and nearly ruined mine.
So having sat for endless hours waiting for the pain to subside and movement to return to my trigger finger (read shutter release), yesterday I had had enough.
My caring and loving wife Jenny got herself kitted out in my camo gear and prepared herself to lug my gear. She prepared a meal in the slow cooker for our return, made a flask of coffee put my socks on, did my shoe laces up and carefully arranged my sling before driving me the 30 miles or so to Chard to see if we could find the Great White reported tantalisingly on the day of my accident and every day since.
We got ourselves across the border in to Somerset and after a short while arrived at the nice little backwater town of Chard, famous for nothing in particular except just being a nice little place. It took us as long to find the bird hide and somewhere to park as it had to get from Exeter to Chard but eventually, more by luck than and skill at all, we found the right path. What a charming, picturesque place. Lots of woodland and meadow and a massive lake of 48 acres.
The hide was approached through a wooded path and then an enticing platform over the water for several yards and screened on either side by high fencing, emerging in to a metal shuttered building over the water, dark with tank-like slits to peer through. Peering through, you get a great view of the lake before you and a muddy, tree-lined shore line. Almost immediately I could see the Great White Egret, an impressive tall white heron, as big as a Grey Heron. Pictures speak a thousand words so I wont describe in detail, but note that this bird had a tiny black mark on the end of the beak. I would suggest that this specimen is a second year juvenile, but?
It is said that there are around 10 Great Whites annually in the UK so this bird moving and feeding so unconcerned just in front of us, was a rare bird indeed. I cracked off a few shots just incase it left but my day get even better when a Kingfisher decided to perch on the deliberatley placed "T" perch close to the hide. My luck got even better because it decided to come and perch in the willow tree just a few yard to my left. It was as if the bird knew that I had been cooped up for a few weeks and was welcoming me back, rubbish of course but that was my feeling. As he swayed in the willow to my left i just had to photograph him but it was a painful experience. I needed to point my camera almost over my left shoulder which stretched my broken collar bone. It literally brought tears to my manly eyes, Real agony and the joy of such a close encounter with Britain's most iconic bird mingled my emotions. But when he had left I had to brace myself and wait for the discomfort to subside.
Here is a sequence of the Great Wh
Post Script.
It turns out that there is a degree of confusion about this species. The Great White Egret - Ardea alba, is the same species that I have seen in the USA on numerous occasions. Formally it had a different latin/scientific name and I hadn't twigged that it was the same bird. In a way that is a slight annoyance, I thought that my list for the year was going to be increased by one new species but as I have seen this bird before in Florida this March then of course, no. It will be interesting to compare photos of birds from both continents.
Posted at 01:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
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