An empty Dragonfly larval case in Peterborough garden
Friday, July 20, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
A slow start--A hectic end
Banded Demoiselle and friend
A morning visit to Deeping Lakes was so devoid of activity that I had to resort to taking pictures of Damselflies. The real excitement started mid afternoon when the presence of a DARK-EYED JUNCO was reported at Langham, Norfolk. Hour and a half later we were at house No.10 with about forty others standing like sardines on a very small patio designed for a family of four. One hour later we were still standing like guardsmen all looking into the sun onto a small lawn still looking for a small dark bird--oh to stretch out and move around. After a while you get fed -up with being prodded with scopes and banged with back-packs. All this was forgotten, however, when some one announced the The Bird was at No. 6. A mass exodus occured; even if you didn't want to go the crowds momentum carried us along.On arrival at No.6 which was as compacted as No.10 even before we arrived all we could see was a bank of very excited six foot birders. Even before we had chance to carve out a viewing hole one of the six foot birders pronouced The Bird had flown over the fence---ie back to No.10. Back we went, this time however we were at the back of the throng instead of in the front row. 'There it is' was the cry. So forgetting any etiquette or decorum we had to recall our rugby scrummaging technique and force our way to the front, yet again. And there it was the little dark drab beauty feeding on the lawn! Another life tick and a happy end to a hectic end of the day
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
What larks eh! ---pip lad.
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| AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER-APRIL 2008 |
Skylarks at Blackbush Fen
Friday, June 22, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Little Bittern
A record shot of the Little Bittern
A quick dash to Tichwell resulted in good but brief views( perching in the reeds and in flight) of the recently arrived Little Bittern. Our luck was in since we only waited for about 30min to see this minutive Bittern but unfortunately the luck didn't hold for we got absolutely saturated by a fierce Norfolk squall on the way back to the car.
Father's day at Flamborough Head
Gannets at Bempton Cliffs
Gannet
Gannets
Gannet
As a surprised treat for father's day my son, Aran,organised a day touring around the cliffs at Flamborough. Firstly a 3 1/2 h boat trip from Bridlington on the Yorkshire Belle took us to the 400ft high cliffs to witness the Spaghetti junction of the bird world with Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, Kittiwakes and Fulmars travelling at different heights between their nesting sites and feeding grounds---a spectacular sight. After retuning to port we then moved to Bempton Cliffs for an alternative view down onto the nesting sites.The day was brought to a welcomed climax when we connected , after 2h, with the Great White Egret at Tophill Nature Reserve, East Yorks.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
''CONGRATULATIONS''
Squacco Heron
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| BIRDWATCH MAGAZINE_JULY 2007 Squacco Heron |
Squacco Heron
Squacco Heron
May I be the first to congratulate myself on reaching 300 British List Species, not with the beautifully coloured Squacco Heron twitched at Erith Marshes, London on 4th June but with a Rose-ringed Parakeet(Ringed-neck Parakeet) which flew over us as we approached the Heron site. This success coupled with good views of the Marsh Warbler at Rainham Marshes later in the day further increased my life list.
A day in Norfolk
Blackheaded Gull
Shoveller
Mandarin
Although no decent photo could be had of the Booted Warbler at Blakeney Point the above were taken along the North Norfolk coast on 2nd June.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
A Birding week
Sedge Warbler At Minsmere
Avocet at Minsmere
Barnacle Geese at Minsmere
Greylag Geese at Minsmere
Purple Heron at Minsmere
The week started well with a visit to Tichwell to see Little Gull, little Tern and ,eventually, Temmink's Stint. Next location was Lakenheath where after four visits in three years we obtained superb views of two Golden Orioles along with a tremendous number of displaying Hobbies,around twenty in number, however we did dip on the Cranes which were keeping a low profile due to the high winds. An early morning visit to Over Fen on the 20th May also resulted in disappoinment as the short staying Semi-palmated Sandpiper had flown overnight. My disappointment was short lived since a visit to Minsmere was successful in witnessing two Purple Herons on the ground and in flight; also my first Turtle Dove of the year
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Hoopoe
Hoopoe greedily feeding this wet day on the playing fields at Grange Paddocks, Bishop's Stortford, Herts---10th May 2007
A Trip to County Durham and Northumberland
The main purpose of this short visit to the North of England was to witness the Black Grouse lek at Langdon Beck and to visit the Farne Islands. The most impressive part of the two separate leks, each containing about 16 male Black Grouse, was the far reaching'bubbling' sound emanating from the birds which could be heard as soon as the car door was opened. The surrounding moors contained many nesting Curlews, Lapwings, Redshanks and Red Grouse; many with chicks. Before moving on to Seahouses, our base for the Farne Islands, we spent a good half day at Turnstall Reservoir in Weardale which is surrouded by ancient Oak and Beech forest. Our target birds were Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher anf Redstart all of which were eventually heard and seen.
The Farne Islands
Shag
Shag
Shag
Shag
Shag
Shag
Shag
Shag
A five and a half hour trip was made to the Farne Islands on 2nd May 2007 stopping at Staple Island for 2h and Inner Farne for 2h. The weather was bright and the sea calm which heralded for a good day. We were not disappointed. Fantastic sights of Feeding Puffins, Cormorants, Purple Sandpipers, Turnstones, Shags, Guillemots , Kittewakes, Razorbills, Gannets and Eiders. A few Pock Pipits, Wheatears, Artic Terns and Sandwich Terns were also in evidence.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
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