Wildlife in a Suburban Garden

Welcome

Welcome to my Blog, WILDLIFE IN A SUBURBAN GARDEN  where I share sightings from my Garden and nearby. Please leave me a comment or email me if you would like to communicate. If I can help point you in the direction of any wildlife in my area then please just ask. A Gallery of all my favourite images can be viewed by clicking on this link, WILDLIFE GALLERY, 

Carrion Crow - Corvus corone

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.

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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.

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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 - Anthus petrosus

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).

For what it's worth I enjoy seeing Rock Pipits and find them very photogenic. More photos of yesterday's outing here on my PBase Gallery.

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There can be some confusion with Meadow Pipit as they can at times be seen in the same locations, or more to the point Meadow Pipits may come into the more usual habitat of a Rock Pipit, on the shoreline. here is a photograph of a meadow Pipit taken in the summer and it makes a very useful comparison. It is quite easy to understand why confusions could occur. frankly though, I think that this is in reality unlikely as they are quite different if you see them alongside each other. However they are obviously very closely related along with Tree Pipit and Water Pipit, the two rarer members of the group.

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A note about the Flag Counter on the left...................... that's the display of flags. You might find it interesting to have a look. If you click on any flag you will be directed to an area that shows the list of visitors to the Blog from other countries. So far that list stands at 105. The latest Country to visit is Costa Rica. Having visited there myself in the past I know what a lovely country it is and what great birdlife they have. A country worth a visit and that's for sure.

Stonechat - Saxicola torquata

I discovered a new area to watch wildlife today. It is close to home but very quiet and unexplored. I am going to keep the exact spot to myself because it would pretty quickly become spoiled if it became busy. It is nowhere near Exminster Marsh but has as much potential and to be frank is a little gem. Also, it is very private and just what I like. Whilst there, just for an explore I did not have my camera with me and I bumped in to a lovely little pair of Stonechat that were perching on the top of these........... (well I have always called them Bullrushes but I don't think strictly that is the proper name). I came back home and got my hide and camera because there was also at least a dozen Snipe. When I returned 1 hour later the Stonechats were in exactly the same place and with the sun over my shoulder, but low in the sky, the lighting was just great. I took quite a few shots reasonably close and this is image is cropped to make it a better. I am going to return of course because there is so much to see. For instance there was Reed Bunting, Snipe, 6 Little Egrets, Kestrel, Buzzard, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Mallard, Magpie,Grey Heron, Crow, a Raven soaring high and Meadow Pipit. Quite a haul in just 15 minutes or so.I have a plan for both the Buzzard and Kestrel and also I am planning to sit it out in the hide and wait for one of the Snipe to come in to view. I would not be surprised to see a Water Rail either. I did my log turning trick to look for mammals and also found a lovely little nest and a Vole rushed out for cover. I quickly replaced the log because it is the Voles that are providing food for the Kestrel of course. In my garden today, a Magpie is becoming increasingly more common and I have actually seen him/her come on to the lawn and the log which serves as a bird table, to take chopped ham which I have put out for him. I am hoping to be able to get some close up photos of him feeding which will be good. On the Brook, the water level is still very high and I doubt that the Kingfisher is in the part of the territory where my hide is. The hide is still half submerged and we have just had another downpour so I suspect it will be days and days before the level goes down to what it was. I can then get back to some more Kingfisher study.
This picture didn't quite come off. I hadn't set the camera properly and unfortunately took this shot with a high ISO. When you then crop the image you are basically magnifying everything which also means that the grainy/noise on the image is also magnified and spoils what would have been a nice shot to say the least.

Alphin Brook evening update

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.

I know that the video quality is poor, this is an MP4 from You Tube, not the best but the sound is the most important thing.

Kingfisher video

The last week has been really interesting. Since the extension to the concrete slip-way got underway I have had to restrict my Kingfisher watching, photography and filming to early in the morning and late afternoon. At theses times the light is not as good as it would be in full sunlight obviously. The quality of the film has not been as good as it will be when the sun is shining. However, I have had some great views of the bird and captured some good footage. Here is a short excerpt for you to enjoy. have a look at the bathing behavior which is very interesting to observe. I have seen this on several occasions and I feel that when he enters the water he does it with a bigger splash than when hunting. He dives in repeatedly and returns to the same perch every time. This always takes place after a catch and then is accompanied by lots of preening. I have noted some interaction between Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher. To be blunt they don't seem to tolerate each other and when a Kingfisher hears a Wagtail he will call back and vice-versa. On one occasion I watched the Kingfisher fly at the Wagtail to drive it out of the immediate area. Also of real note, when the bird has successfully caught a fish it will always fly to it's favorite perch to deal with it. Small silver fish are swallowed almost immediately but large fish, that is as big as 3 inches are beaten repeatedly and then an attempt to swallow it will take place. On one occasion this took several minutes as I watched it repeatedly trying to get it down. Today, after a heavy downpour overnight, the Brook is in full spate. My hide is half submerged and I am waiting for the levels to drop before I can return to carry on filming.

Alphin Brook

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!

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Kingfisher disturbance

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.

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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.

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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.

I decided to leave, I could tell something wasn't right and as I left my hide, walked up the bank towards the gate I could see what the problem was. DEVASTATION....... There was a builders lorry unloading porta-cabins and building materials. I asked what was on and discovered that they are about to undertake some work to the concrete bank to facilitate easy access with a vehicle should there ever be a flood and they needed too. What kind of disturbance is that going to create, an immense amount for at least a couple of weeks. I have contacted the Environmental Agency and tomorrow I have a meeting on sight to discuss how we can mitigate the disturbance....... there words not mine. I hop I can arrange a positive conclusion to this, I have a plan! More news tomorrow evening.

Red Admiral

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.

Photo Success... well almost!

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.

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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.

 

Kingfisher Diary continued

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.

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As you can see, the colours of Kingfisher seems to vary dramatically. This is because the colour is created by iridescence and not pigment and depends how the feathers are reflecting the light back. The light improved quite dramatically and I took some cracking shots of him.

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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Weekend in Wales

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Kingfisher Diary

It was a dull cloudy day and I thought it would be a good one to try out Kingfishers and flash photography. In fact it would have been impossible to get any kind of photo at all without the use of flash. So very early on, in fact just befor 9 I was ready and sat in the hide waiting for some action. Unfortunately this morning was a blank, who knows why, he just didn't show. I did see the Grey Wagtail though, I hadn't seen him for two days and I was wondering if he had moved on but thankfully, for me, no he is still here.
Home for lunch and a bit of domestics. I watched another young Hedgehog looking for food on the garden. I may consider intervention with these hedgehogs if I see them again. I am pretty sure that they will not survive the winter unaided, they are not in the least bit big enough in my opinion. I returned to the Brook at around 1.30. I have arranged a little basket submerged in the water in front of the upright perch/log and I couldn't see how, if the Kingfisher settled on the log, he would be able to resist the free offerings of minnows in the basket. So, having got myself settled, I was starting to get just a bit bored. He suddenly appeared, yet again, right in front of me. He was no more than 10 feet away,probably nearer. I took some steady photos with flash hoping that he would not be phased by it....he wasn't thankfully. In fact he couldn't have cared less and quickly moved up to his log perch as you can see. He looked around him as I have watched him do before, obviously searching for something to catch and eat. Then he looked down and I knew he had seen the free offerings, I love it when a plan works! Within seconds he had launched an attack and emerged with a minnow which he quickly ate but not before I got this shot.
Then, he decided to do his preen, I watched him, really fascinated and entranced by his beauty. He did his diving to bathe thing where he splashed in and out of the water returning to a perch to clean himself off. Then I thought he had left but no, he quickly landed with this Newt which he swallowed very easily. This was a big surprise. I have now seen him with 4 different prey items, Minnow, Stickleback, Dragonfly Larvae and now a Common Newt. They are said to eat their own weight in prey every day and he does seem to be on the look out for food constantly. I was quite surprised that he ignored the minnows in the basket and went after the Newt instead
I probably missed a real opportunity for a great shot here but he settled on a branch obscured by another and it was really hard to get that great shot that I am craving. Here are the best of the rest before he left.

I decided to call it a day about 20 minutes later and as I emerged from the hide I was surprised to realise that he was perched just behind me and had been there all along. When he saw me he flashed down the stream following the contours and dodging the reeds and vegetation, swerving first left and then right.

Kingfisher Diary

My plan to get better images of the Kingfisher continued today and as it was such a bright morning, I was sat in place in the hide before 9. Yesterday in the late afternoon, I had arranged a very photogenic rotting log upright in the water by securing it in a pot which I then immersed in the water. When I had taken some test shots before I left, I knew it was going to be a good photo if a bird perched on it. So this morning at just after 9, there he was, perched right in front of me and then on the log as you can see.
Even though I have seen him several times now it was still exciting to be this close to a Kingfisher. I know that as birdwatchers and people interested in birds we know that they are quite approachable from a hide but please excuse my enthusiasm. He looked around and down in to the water obviously looking for prey.
Then he dived and came up with a tiny morsel, not a fish but it appears to be a Dragonfly larvae.
After a short while he flew off and even though I had been waiting for this to happen and had the camera ready to capture him in flight, this was the best I could come up with.

Hegdgehog in the garden

On the 5th July I discovered a mother Hedgehog in my Chicken House with young hoglets, about 4 days old. Have a look here So today I was chuffed, to say the least, to see one of the young hoglets, now almost grown up , foraging in the garden. On the face of it this is a good thing but thinking about it I am a little bit concerned. Hedgehogs hibernate and it is a bad sign to see them foraging during the day. Obviously this youngster needs to get himself well fattened up for his long sleep and he feels the need to be out and about during the day.
Elsewhere in the garden we have had numerous Drone Flies feeding on the Ivy flowers. This is a good source of food for insects at this time of year and insects, including Butterflies, love Ivy flowers. One good bit of advice to attract insects into the garden is to leave your Ivy well in to Autumn before you cut it back because this really is a good source of food. Butterflies have included Red Admiral and Speckled Wood today. Blue Tits have been in and around the garden. No Coal Tits so far but by this time last year we had them regularly. Out at the AlphinBrook, no photos of Kingfisher today but I saw him on three different occasions. I was pretty sure he would come and perch in the prepared photo area but it wasn't to be today. I did have a great view of him though as he flew down the brook weaving past the vegetation. I saw him for about 50 yards with his really bright rump flashing in the sun. At one time I could here him really loudly calling from just behind the hide and then I heard the tell-tale plop as he dived for a fish.

More from the Kingfisher

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!

 

A day in the hide.

We have had just magnificent sunny weather today and I spent most of it waiting in my hide for the kingfisher to show. It didn't perch unfortunately but it flashed past me on two occasions. The Grey Wagtail male was accommodating fortunately. Yesterday we had some very heavy rain and the brook was flooding through at around two feet higher than previously. I am sure that this is going to have some kind of effect on the Kingfishers feeding, the water is now the colour of weak tea and I can imagine that seeing prey must be difficult.

More Grey Wagtails - Motacilla cinerea

Sitting waiting for the Kingfisher for over two hours I was really glad when the male Grey Wagtail joined me in the "target-area", that is, the strategically placed perch. The Kingfisher didn't  show, that was a real shame but I took lots of shots and tried to capture something that showed the character of the bird.

Jackdaw - Corvus monedula

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.

I couldn't resist trying to get some good photos of the mallards and this is the best I came up with.

kingfisher female

My new perches set up yesterday paid off within 20 minutes this morning when a Kingfisher perched on it right in front of me and in reasonable light. I took lots of photos. I noticed quite quickly that this was a different bird that I had seen previously. The male photographed yesterday had an all black bill and was showing moulting tail feathers. This one was a spanking female, slightly less bright and with an orange patch on the bill as you can see. Then after she had left a wren came for a look around at this new perch!

Kingfisher update

This mornings encounter with my local Kingfisher was very frustrating, I could have done so much better but I let my guard down. The first I knew of his presence, right in front of me incidentally, was a tell tale splash and the sight of him emerging from the water. He was just 6 paces in front of me with a fish in his beak which he very quickly turned and swallowed. I was unfortunately drinking coffee from my flask at the time so with one hand I managed quickly, to focus and get just 3 shots of him. The first just as the fish was disappearing down his throat as you can see, just about! I am sure that the focusing of the lens and the shutter sound disturbed him a bit and he flew to the concrete opposite. I watched him, hoping he would do more fishing, but then I heard voices, and so did he. He flew away upstream. 30 minutes later, I watched him appear from my left and flash past me and then down stream at a speed that was almost unbelievable. It reminded me of a bright blue fighter plane. He was really agile in flight as he disappeared like a dart to me right. I have returned to the brook this afternoon and had a look for a more quiet peaceful spot. Having seen how quickly he flies it made me realise that his territory his presumably quite large. I think he perches where I have seen him, probably because of a shortage of suitable places to fish from elsewhere. I have placed a couple of branches in other suitable places and tomorrow I will stake out the new locations. They are in good light and aaway from the noise and busy road. I also discovered, by walking down the brook in the water, a very interesting hole which in all probability is a nest hole. Kingfishers are a Schedule 1 bird and specially protected by law. It is illegal to photograph Kingfishers in the vicinity of their nest in a manner that is likely to cause disturbance to them. This is something that I will have to be very careful of next spring when they are breeding. I am sorry if you are returning to my Blog in the hope of seeing some new species. I tend to be very obsessive when I know there are birds to photograph that I particularly like. It has been almost a lifetime's ambition to get close views of a Kingfisher, let alone good photographs. There are so many birds that I want to get shots of, they will come soon. In the meantime I am concentrating on this lovely spot where, not only have I got the possibility of some great Kingfisher shots, there is also the chance to improve my Grey Wagtail photographs. This morning I almost got a great Grey Wagtail photo.

Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum

Today we had the promise of good bright weather and I was hopeful of getting some good images of either the Kingfisher or Grey Wagtail but unfortunately that didn't happen. I had just decided to call it a day after 2 hours of waiting........ only so much you can take when nothing is happening. The expected, or should I say anticipated photo would have been so good.Folding everything down, this Common Darter landed on the log where I had been waiting for the Grey Wagtail who had refused to oblige even though he was up stream about 20 yards away for a while. A Black Headed Gull landed nearby and I couldn't resist taking a few photos.

Dunnock - Prunella modularis

I make no apology for posting this photo of one of our more common UK birds. Often overlooked and almost always taken for granted, to me Dunnocks are much more interesting than their first impression may suggest. In keeping with my quest to post the very best pictures possible, this picture certainly deserves to be featured. Dunnocks are in no way related to the House Sparrow but are quite often referred to as Hedge Sparrows They have a slender insectivorous bill but they will forage for seeds as well, usually on the ground. This bird is an adult, you can tell by the eye colour which is a rich brown in adults but in juveniles is olive coloured. In the spring they are very promiscuous and chase around constantly. They can have multiple partners. The males have a pretty song. I took this yesterday down by the Alphin brook as well as the Wren below but they were upstaged somewhat by the Kingfisher.

Kingfisher Gallery

A few of the Kingfisher photos taken yesterday.

As you can see this is a really built up area and also seen and photographed at this spot is Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail and Little Egret.

Wagtail Gallery

Kingfisher - Alphington, Exeter.

Since last Sunday when I discovered a Kingfisher, very close to home, smack in the middle of the city just yards from supermarkets and a builders merchants, I have spent around 14 hours in my pop-up chair hide hoping for his return. The Alphin Brook runs through the Exeter suburb of Alphington and is contained by a concrete culvert that emerges through the Marsh Barton Trading Estate and eventually spills in to the Exeter Canal and then the River Exe. It all started last Friday when I noticed a Green Sandpiper right beneath the pavement and I returned with my hide to eventually get some great photos of him/her. (See yesterdays post). So this morning my Kingfisher quest continued but even though I spent 3 hours, no hardship listening to radio (through earphones) and taking the odd shot of Grey Wagtails. In fact this mornings Wagtails were the best that I have got so far.

At around 5 o'clock the sun was shining and I decided to go back for a half an hour or so. it's only a few minutes away. I had a plan to actually seat the chair in the stream, (it is only a foot deep), and that way I had a great shot potentially to the strategically placed log at almost water level. After ten minutes or so, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the Kingfisher downstream and heading my way. Before he reached me he diverted in to the stream side vegetation and I thought that was going to be it. But then, very excitingly he landed just in front of me, not on my log but just behind and as you can see, on a dead dock stem. Last Sunday I had seen him on this very perch so I have perhaps discovered his favourite perching place which could be very useful. So, there he is perched in front of me and I took a few shots even though he was just slightly obscured by a branch just in front of him.

He was really close and he dived to catch something but was unsuccessful unfortunately for him and me! Then absolutely amazingly he few towards me and landed on my hide literally above my head. I could hear him only inches above and then he procedded to dive and fish from the top of the hide! The video shows him fishing, but not catching before he flew to me. After a short while he left because unfortunately a couple of doggie walkers saw him perched on my hide and of course, that was just too much for him. They must have thought it funny though, my camera sticking out the front of the hide and the kingfisher inches above.

Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus

Today's encounter with the Green Sandpiper has been really special. I am sure that it was made easier to get closer to this bird due to the quietness of the trading estate. If only the light had been slightly brighter, but hey, you can't have it all. I actually got so close to this bird by just moving the hide forward a few inches at a time. Eventually I got as close as 10 feet and the bird had no idea whatsoever that I was there and carried on acting naturally. He really has got himself a nice territory here. It may look a bit un-natural, it is basically a flood relief ditch, but it is safe, there is lots of food in the form of insect life and at the first sign of danger he can take to the air and fly to safety which he does as soon as any passers by look over from the pavement above. It was fascinating to see him feeding by trembling his legs at a rapid speed beneath the water to disturb insect life.. I am extremely pleased with these photos, the best I have taken of Green Sandpiper. They are a super bird, a bit rare but quite regularly seen around here from July onwards. The Green Sandpiper does not build its own nest. The female lays her eggs in the abandoned nests of other birds, mostly thrushes ( Song Thrush Turdus philomelos, Blackbird T. merula, Mistle Thrush T. viscivorus) and crows (Jay Garrulus glandarius, Carrion Crow Corvus corone) . Usually during the second day after hatching the chicks jump to the ground from the nest The parents lead them through the forest to a feeding territory, which is usually on the bank of a small forest brook or on the shores of a shallow pond covered with thick vegetation, most often reed-mace Typha sp. . The chicks respond to the warning calls of the parents by taking cover . After several days, the female leaves the family and the young remain in the care of the male until they become independent. Young birds are able to fly for short distances at the age of 18 to 20 days. Immediately after breeding, the adult Green Sandpipers moult their flight and tail feathers on their renesting sites (settling ponds of sugar factories and similar locations).

Cyanistes caeruleus

I started my wildlife day early and before 8 I was sat in my hide hoping for a Kingfisher experience. The Grey Wagtails have been giving me such great photo opportunities and I make no apologies for posting yet more photos of them. The great thing about wildlife photography is that every outing offers something different depending on the prevailing light and this morning, as the sun started to get higher there was a glorious brightness. My strategically placed log looked so inviting and it was only a matter of seconds really before the Grey Wagtail male was perched in my viewfinder so to speak. Seeing this pair of Grey Wagtails so often this last weeks has been a real treat. "Make hay while the sun shines" is an English proverb and I certainly am going to get as many shots of these "celebrity" birds while I can. When I first saw them last week it was just the female that I seemed to see. Then the male appeared but I didn't get many pictures of him at first. They are obviously paired up and call to each other constantly but only once have I seen them within a few feet of each other. I am using these wagtails as an opportunity to improve my technique and have tried with different lenses and settings as well as fill flash. However, bright light certainly makes photography easier.In this first shot today he left the log to look for insects amongst the streamside vegetation.

During this interesting session, the Little Egret did a spot of fishing and I watched him/her catch and eat a small fish but unfortunately he did not show well enough to get a good photo. There is also a resident pair of Mallard Ducks. I thought that this was an interesting shot of the drake bathing.

Later in the afternoon I went out to Dawlish Warren to try and find Sanderling to photograph but surprisingly I didn't find any at all. I probably arrived at the wrong time of the tide. Birds that I did see included, Greenfinch, Linnet, Northern Wheatear, Sandwhich Tern, greater Spotted Woodpecker and Chiffchaff. There are a several resident Magpie and I took a few shots of them. I quite like this species contrary to most other peoples opinions. They are intelligent and quite attractively marked but their habit of eating songbird eggs and chicks makes them unpopular. As a youth, my brother had apet Magpie which was a great character. It would mimic the dog barking as well as tease the dog by calling her. It also coughed like my mother who I remember had bronchitus at the time. It also pecked at you at any opportunity!

I took an almost brilliant image of a Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus. If only it had shown it's head.

Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Enough said about this image taken this morning of a Grey Wagtail perched on the strategically placed branch in the hope of attracting the resident Kingfisher to show himself. (Incidentally I am very confident that this will happen). I am so pleased with this image. I said to Jenny only yesterday evening that I wouldn't be happy with my Wagtail shots until I could get one that showed the feather detail around the eye, and you can on this one.

This is am update of the entry from the morning. 

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. 

A few more Wagtails from Alphin Brook

I am keeping a close watch at the Alphin Brook in the hope that the Kingfisher shows again. As you can see from the post this morning there is lots to see while I am waiting and who knows what else might show up. This evening the light was fading and I used a flash to get some shots.

Green Sandpiper

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. 

Motacilla cinerea

Having had the unfortunate experience this morning before 8, I gave it all a bit of thought and realised that the factory workers would be cooped up inside earning their crust for the majority of the day. So, after lunch I returned to the brook confident that there would be peace and quiet. I was right, and apart from a 10 minute period when they were allowed a "fag' break, they were slaving away indoors. My reason for return was to try and get closer to the Grey Wagtails and consequently better, crisper shots. It worked well and I did get closer. The light was not quite right but the standard of shots did improve. It was also very interesting as I got to know, not only this species but the individuals concerned. For instance, I am pretty sure that the bird above is a female and at one point another Wagtail settled opposite and called. This caused the hen to crouch. This was either an alarm call and the hen crouched to escape predation, or she reacted in a submissive way to the superior bird. I also watched her feeding on small flying insects, at times leaping up to take them on the wing. I saw her foraging in the mud for larvae, probably Drone Fly larvae which I know live in stagnant mud and breath through a "snorkel".

Sitting there I secretly hoped that the Kingfisher might put in an appearance, but no such luck today. I will keep looking though....... watch this space as they say. I was intrigued though, when a Carrion Crow landed in the water and began feeding on spiders that he delicately picked from the side walls. He gradually moved towards me. Engrossed in this activity, he got closer and closer till eventually he was right in front of me, perhaps 2 feet away, then he suddenly realised I was there and I got the impression he was disappointed with himself to be caught out like he was. Can you image, this photo was taken in what is basically a foul watercourse through an industrial estate but this photo looks like it was taken in some exotic location, Africa or somewhere like that.

He stopped to look and listen from time to time but still hadn't noticed me and at one time called out as you can see. My aim and ambition with this Blog is to post the very best pictures possible. I really am trying to turn myself in to the very best amateur wildlife photographer that I can. To get good shots of a Carrion Crow and make them look attractive is very pleasing for me.

Kingfisher latest

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.

Super Sunday

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.

Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

I went back to the Trading Estate this morning to look for the Green Sandpiper and sure enough there it was. I sat in the hide for an hour in the hope that it would return, I scared it wghen I erected the hide of course. it didn't return but this Grey Wagtail gave me some great photo opportunities. This series shows her... yes it is a female..... catching a gnat and then eating it.

Green Sandpiper close to home

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.

Comma - Polygonia c-album

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.

 

Ringed Plover - Charadrius hiaticula

Along with great sightings of the Bairds sandpiper posted eralier here are some ringed Plover photos that I am so very pleased with. This is a little bird that can be such a lovely little bird and very photogenic.

Bairds Sandpiper - Calidris bairdii

I am finally starting to get back to somewhere approaching normality. Today, after all the activities of the last few weeks which has included the birth of a granddaughter, my other son's wedding, a broken collarbone and subsequent operation and a visit from my sister from the USA, I was free to birdwatch. I decided after dropping my wife to do her shift on the neonatal unit, to travel to Davidstow Airfield to see if I could get a look at the Bairds Sandpiper seen there recently. It was just 50 miles from here so not too far. When I eventually got there, I drove on to the field which is now common land and searched the grass in between the defunct runways for even a sign of a bird. Needle in a haystack sprang to mind but after a bit of searching and detective work, that is basically asking other car inhabitants I found a little group of Dunlin and  Ringed Plover and was happy taking some great photos. Suddenly this group was joined by what was obviously a Bairds Sandpiper. lighter, more distinctly marked and well, just so clearly different to the Dunlins which I was afraid I would confuse it with.  Using the car as a hide I took shot after shot and got a few that made me happy. In the knowledge that a picture speaks a thousand words here a some of them. Take a peek at the map and you can see that the bird's usual range.

White Wagtail - Motacilla alba alba

This is a Motacilla wagtail seen with others on the cliffs at Branscombe today. I guess it could be a Pied Wagtail - Motacilla Alba yarelii but my instinct is White Wagtail. I know that they are confusing and hard to separate at this time of the year but it appears to be grey backed with a very white face. if you know either way then please let me know. I thought it would be good to post it after the Grey Wagtail over the weekend.I also saw Northern Wheatear and massive flocks of Swallow and Martins passing through on migration as well as a Kestrel and one Buzzard. If you are wondering what all the fuss is about Branscome then perhaps this picture will help you to appreciate why we all love  it here.

This spider, a Long-jawed Orb-weaver, Tetragnatha species was in the garden on Sunday and is a juvenile I am told.

 

Hoverflies in my garden

if I could achieve one thing with my blog it would be to inspire people to enjoy their surroundings as much as possible. This is a great time of year for hoverfly and when the sun is out in my garden there are lots of hoverflies to see. Lavateria are big blossoms and attract hoverflies like a magnet. I really enjoyed watching them and today among the 4 or 5 different species, two Hornet imitators, a male and a female Serrycomyia silentis were in the garden. If you haven't seen this species before then have a really good look for them this week because they are magnificent, as good as any bird. They are large and brightly coloured, twice the size of a wasp. They are totally harmless, they don't sting or bite and do not carry any disease. They feed on pollen and pollinate flowers and vegetables so are very useful. If you use insecticide in the garden then you are going to kill them and why would you want to do that? Eventually greenfly are going to be controlled by the larvae of the Hovers, but if you use insecticide it is going to kill indiscriminately the good and the bad!

Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

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.

 

Sericomyia silentis

I had a quick "scoot" around the garden this morning just to see what was about before I left for a family outing to Bigbury-on-Sea. The weather was bright and sunny, about the best day we have had for quite a while and there was a lot of activity around the flower bed. I was very excited to see a great example of Sericomyia silentis a Hornet imitator hoverfly. We last had one in the garden on the 26th Sepetember last year. Out at Bigbury, when we eventually got there, there was a shortage of birds to be seen. A Kestrel was hovering above me and then made a kill. I could see it on a hillock below, only a few feet from some walkers. had I have been there it would have been a first class shot. It flew up and past me carrying it's prey, and I just missed out on a great photo. I used my great little Bat Detector to listen for crickets and Grasshoppers and located a few which was, as usual great fun. The first is a Meadow Grasshopper - Chorthippus parallelus. The second one is not so simple and I suspect it to be a Lesser Marsh Grasshopper - Chorthippus albomarginatus. I also saw and this Painted Lady butterfly and noticed that the Butterfly Conservation UK are still asking for sightings to be reported and added to their interactive map. I have reported it and noted that my sighting is one of only 70 reported in the UK this month so far.

Dark Bush Cricket - Pholidoptera griseoaptera

We were out at Branscombe Beach this morning and enjoying the sun and the amazing view of Lyme Bay.... Seaton to our left and Torbay to our right. I decided to use my bat detector to listen for Crickets singing in the rough ground at the top of the beach, it was like a zoo, full of various songs and clicks from the assembled crickets singing away mostly unheard by the human ear but brought out by the High frequency detector which converts inaudible sounds in to a noise perceptible by the human ear. Homing in on one particular insect I eventually managed to find this insect which in fact is a female dark Bush Cricket and not the one singing of course....... only the males do the singing. This species is apparently common even though it is the first one I have seen I think. It was quite big about an inch long. The second photo shows the sickle-like ovi-positor which must be used to literally "cut" in to the earth to deposit the eggs. It is an impressive insect with amazing eyes as seen in this crop to get as close to them as possible.

Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus

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.

 

When I got home and looked at the piccies, I got excited for a few moments because I thought I was looking at a Ring Billed Gull a North American species that is seen on our shores from to time as a vagrant. But if you look close you can see that our bird has pinkish feet and a ring Billed has yellow. Compare the Herring Gull with a photo taken of a Ring Billed Gull in Florida earlier this year.

Wedding Day

Today is a special one, my son Peter is getting married. We have been joined by my sister from Florida and my 1 month old Grandchild is asleep next to me! I somehow feel that we wont be doing much wildlife watching today. yesterday as you may have read, I went to Bowling Green Marsh to try for the Wilsons Phalarope but didn't see it.A Green Sandpiper did show really well which was very rewarding, a species that i like. Also saw and photographed this barnacle goose, my first of the year so was a nice addition.

Green Sandpiper

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.

Eristalis horticolis

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.

Monthly update August

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. 

 

Myathropa florea - a new garden hoverfly

This little beauty was in my garden today and is an addition to my garden Hoverfly species list. I also saw Syrphus vitripennis today, another new species. I have probably seen Syrphus vitripennis before but today I managed a good look and got a photo or two. This makes a total of 21 hoverflies in my garden since I started to record them in November 2007. I have recently bought "British Hoverflies" by Stubbs and Falk, the bible of UK hoverflies. It is a great, complete guide to this fascinating group of insects that I find so interesting and attractive. Just going back to Myathropa florea. At first glance it appeared to be one of the Drone Fly species, (Esistalis sp.) but is much more richly marked and attractive and was not hard to ID with the Stubbs and Falk. I can thoroughly recommend this book.

Great White Egret - Ardea alba

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

ite.

 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.