The Early Birder

Cormorant and the unexpected.

2012-01-20T10:05:00.001Z

The Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a regular inhabitant on my local patch but is very wary and more often than not flies off when I get within range of the 70-300 lens. Fortunately on this occasion it had its back to me and was intent on watching elsewhere!

While I was trying to focus directly on the Cormorant I was totally unaware that it had his eyes firmly focused on a male Sparrowhawk (top left) that dashed across both our views!! The Cormorant was totally unfazed and just followed the fly past by twisting its head. I had to put the camera down and use the bins to search out the hawks location ..... only just focusing in on it as it decided to continue its journey further away. I have previously mentioned that birding (just using your eyes or with bins) verses bird photography quite often creates conflicting issues for me and this particular incident clearly illustrates that scenario. If I hadn't been squinting through the lens I would have seen the action unfold much more clearly.

I know that this species is not everyones favourite, certainly not fishermen or owners of fish farms, as they have a habit of killing more fish than they can actually consume but for me it provided a challenge on a drab day to try to capture the oily sheen when it spread its wings to soak up what little warmth the winter sun had to provide.
Have an enjoyable wildlife watching weekend, wherever you are ..... FAB.

Winter Ducks.

2012-01-17T18:03:00.000Z

On Monday I drove over the county boundary to Wraysbury Gravel Pits in the hope of seeking out a few of the migrant species that often frequent the various large lakes formed after the extraction of gravel to build the M25 motorway.

As I climbed over the style to access the footpath that would take me alongside the New Hythe Pit I was initially greeted with a flurry of activity as various species including Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird and Redwing dived for cover while overhead I could hear the distinctive chattering 'shack-shack-shack' calls from a number of Fieldfare. Both the Redwing and Fieldfare are winter visiting Thrushes and typically vary wary of any intruders so I had to wait patiently for them to settle high above me in order to snap a cropped record shot of both in the frame together.

Moving on I scanned the open water only to find that most of the ducks were typically too far away for the lens on the farthest side of he pit but I was delighted to spot that my quarry including 3 drake Smew and 8 Goosanders plus a number of Goldeneye were in fact on site together with the usual Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Grey Heron, Cormorants, Mute Swans, and Great Crested Grebes.

I eventually managed to capture a male Goosander (Mergus merganser) which had been drifting close to the bank but out of my sight and promptly decided to swim away to join its distant companions. The next two species, Goldeneye and Pochard were fortunately a little more obliging.

Male Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Male Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)

A few other species kept me company during my stroll including a small flock of Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits (constantly uttering their scolding call as I walked by) and the very noisy Rose-ringed Parakeets whose piercing screams nearly drowned out the constant background sounds from the nearby motorway!

My final quarry was the extremely shy and one of the smallest sawbills, the Smew. The males are often referred to as the 'White Nun' due to their distinctive white and black streaked plumage.

Male Smew (Mergellus albellus).

Every winter this dainty species migrates southwards from its northern boreal breeding grounds in Finland, Sweden and Russia. Small numbers can usually be found at regular overwintering sites from December until March throughout the southern counties of the UK. Unfortunately I couldn't get any decent views so had to dig out an image taken during a visit to this site from just a year ago. FAB.

Click here to link to WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY for more images from around the globe.

Stroll Alongside the River Mole.

2012-01-15T21:16:00.000Z

Last week having picked up reports that both Goosander and Little Egret had been seen on the River Mole at Leatherhead I decided to take a stroll and see what was still around. Soon after leaving the car a Kestrel zipped past me and disappeared into the woodland and it took a while before I heard the sounds of any other avian species.

Very occasionally the sun broke through the cloudy sky and the riverside vegetation took on a warmer looking hue but I was glad to be well wrapped up against the cold north-westerly breeze. At Thorneycroft Bridge I finally logged Canada Geese in a nearby field, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits plus Robin, Wren and Chaffinch but no sign of any Kingfishers.

A little further downstream couple of Mute Swan cygnets drifted over to check out the interloper. While high overhead there was the constant twittering from a small flock of Goldfinches hunting for the odd seed or newly emerged bud amongst the bare branches.

A Grey Wagtail perched briefly before continuing its journey upstream. After passing over Town Bridge and then under the railway bridges my route took me onto Common Meadow where my boots slowly got heavier and heavier from the accumulation of mud. Black-head Gulls twisted and turned overhead while the piercing screams from the local Rose-ringed Parakeets interrupted the silence but no sightings of any Goosanders anywhere on the river. I did however eventually get views of a distant Little Egret feeding but it decided to move on across private land before I could get close enough for any photos.

These two fellows provided an excuse to rest a while before I commenced my return journey and added Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Starling and Grey Heron to my day list.

When I arrived back at Thorneycroft Bridge the unmistakable short, sharp whistled 'zii' call of a Kingfisher got me searching every likely perching location .....

.... and I finally managed to focus on this very colourful fisherman as it patiently sat, partially hidden, amongst the Alders on the far side of the water. One day it will provide with an uninterrupted closer view .... until then this (heavily cropped) shot will have to do.

Have a good wildlife watching week ..... FAB.

New Beginnings.

2012-01-12T23:12:00.000Z

During the last few months of 2011 much of my time was taken up assisting my parents so blogging had to take a back seat. My father's deteriorating health and mobility problems eventually necessitated the amputation of his right leg (above the knee) but for an 87 year old everyone has been amazed by his recovery to date although daily life in a wheelchair is no fun for someone who was so active. He is so determined to walk again and following an assessment today at Roehampton he has just told me there is GOOD news .... they have agreed to make him an artificial leg and will teach him to walk again. A you might guess, he is delighted and ready for this new lease of life.

To celebrate here are are a few images of new life that I have seen over the past few days.

The garden is currently awash with the nodding white lanterns of Leucojums ...... in fact two clumps have been in flower since mid December .... the earliest I have ever known them to flower here.

Other garden delights include the Muscari, one Narcissus already in full bloom, the clusters of dark red buds on the Skimmia 'Rubella' plus a very early bud on a potted Exochorda 'The Bride' (Pearl Bush).

Many of the Helleborus orientalis hybrids are nearly ready to show their colourful faces and I found one already lifting itself towards the sunlight. I have no doubt that the forecated easterly winds and drop in temperature will slow down much of the early growth.

Finally a very young Fallow Deer gave me a very inquiring stare during a walk in the park last week.

It will take me some time to catch up with everyone but in the meantime enjoy your wildlife watching. FAB.

Looking back in time.

2011-09-17T22:54:00.000+01:00

This collage of the ruins of Cowdray Castle and surrounding buildings at Midhurst was taken some ten months ago when my father was far more steady on his feet. I have often thought about my family history and now that Dad is far less mobile I thought it was time that I delved into his memories and with the benefit of ancestral search facilities maybe I could fill in some gaps but didn't realise just how addictive this research would become!

The story begins at the Round House within the grounds of Cowdray Castle where my father was born and my paternal Grandfather, who died at the age of 39 from his war wounds when Dad was very young, was employed as a guide to visitors to the famous Cowdray ruins.

Earlier this year we paid a visit to The Royal Oak in Critchmere, Haslemere, which I rode past every day on my way to school for six years. My father lived here for a while before joining up (WW2) but far more interesting is its past history. Evidence pinned on the wall inside confirms that my Great Grandfather and Great Grandmother were landlord and landlady respectively during the years 1916 to 1953. However before them research indicates that the Licencee was my Great-great Grandfather who in the 1880's made what has been called the 'long trek' with his family from Sawston in Cambridgeshire a distance of 100 miles.

So the research continues and I just hope I don't ruffle too many feathers in the process. I will be back with some more wildlife images very soon but for a while my interests are elsewhere. FAB.

Circuit of Farlington Marshes.

2011-09-08T00:48:00.000+01:00

Last Friday I drove to the south coast and took a leisurely stroll around Farlington Marshes. As is typical of this coastal location most of the species were far too distant for the lens but it was great to be out on a breezy but fairly cloudless day. Due to construction work alongside the access road I had a longer than expected walk in order to get onto the reserve.

On my arrival it was still low tide but my first sightings from scanning the main pool produced long awaited views Curlew Sandpiper (2) and a single Little Stint. (All new sightings for 2011). Other inhabitants of the pool included Common Redshank, Lapwing, Grey Plover with many porting their black waistcoats, a large flock of Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff (4), Dunlin, plus Mallard, Gadwall, Moorhen, Coot and Shelduck.

Black-tailed Godwit.

By scoping the open mudflats I added Little Egret, Grey Heron, Curlew plus the usual gatherings of Black-headed, Herring and Common Gulls. Leaving the seawall behind I headed down alongside the stream where I watched the aerial acrobatics of large numbers of Sand Martins and Swallows busily feeding up prior to their southward migration. The bushes produced views of Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Wren, Blackbird and Reed Bunting. Scanning eastwards I located a Common Buzzard perched on a fencepost before heading back onto the southern edge of the seawall path.

A Clouded Yellow butterfly briefly perched on the grassy path before disappearing and only allowing me a single shot of its distinctive closed wings. At The Deeps I added Canada Geese and a very lonely Brent Goose plus small flocks of Oystercatchers calling as they flew way out into the harbour to gather on the distant shingle islands. There were a few Great Crested Grebes on the sea but I failed to locate an Osprey that had been seen during recent days. I did however manage to find a dozen or so Yellow Wagtails flitting around the hooves of the cattle on the inner

Northern Lapwing.

After a complete clockwise circuit I ended back at the main pool which was full of the mixed flocks of waders logged earlier in the morning but now included a single Whimbrel, a few Knot plus 20 Greenshank. This peaceful sight was soon disturbed by a male Peregrine Falcon who managed to grab a Dunlin and flew into a nearby field to consume its prey. When the waders eventually resettled I also spotted a male Sparrowhawk sitting very patiently on the rear edge of the pool but its attempt to catch a meal was unsuccessful.

Northern Wheatear before it disappeared into the grass!

This shot of one of the many ringed Black-tailed Godwits to be found at this site was taken in 2009. For more information and images from my previous visits to Farlington Marshes please click this link. FAB.

Around the Pond.

2011-09-06T00:10:00.000+01:00

At the end of August there were at least 36 Canada Geese on the Great Pond at Epsom Common all busily preening out their unwanted feathers but today the water was virtually empty apart from a female Mallard with two growing youngsters and a single Moorhen. As usual one of the resident Grey Herons hid amongst the vegetation well away from the camera.

A lonesome Black-headed Gull rested on one of its favourite perches (a wooden statue of a dragonfly) until an interloper arrived and they chased each other around arguing about territory rights!

Just had time to catch a single shot as one of the gulls passed in front of me with the sun shining through its fanned tail feathers clearly showing its terminal band.

Other species seen or heard included Green and Great Spotted Woodpekers, Nutchatch, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeons, plus two Stock Doves and a single Swallow passed through.

There were plenty of Speckled Wood butterflies on the wing plus a Small Heath and a Gatekeeper.

I also located a Bush Cricket with its extra long antennae (possibly a female) trying to soak up some of the limited sunshine.

A common sight when the sun shines is one of the 'Ninja' Turtles' (Red Eared Terrapin) basking around the fringes of the pond. These are not a natural species in the UK but have become very widespread following the release of imported pets. The final addition to todays limited bird list was a brief view of a Kingfisher as it wizzed across the Stew Pond and disappeared... a nice addition to this years patchlist as I haven't seen one here for at least 18 months. FAB.

Keeled Skimmer.

2011-09-02T23:52:00.000+01:00

As you have probably noticed I have been off the grid for a few weeks .... partly due to the lack of wildlife photo opportunities last month while I assisted my parents with hospital visits, shopping, gardening etc. so I decided to take an enforced rest from blogging.

To kick things off again I located some shots of a Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens) that I took during a wander around Thursley Common at the beginning of last month. The mature males are very distinctive with their tapered blue abdomen.

The females (see above) were less obliging during my visit, tending to hide away, whereas the males boldly perched out in the open

The above image clearly shows the long yellow pterostigma which on a similar species, the Black-tailed Skimmer is much smaller and dark brown/black.

Hope you all have a glorious wildlife watching weekend ... wherever you are. FAB.

Banded Beauty.

2011-08-05T23:35:00.001+01:00

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens). [ F11: 1/500: ISO 200: @ 300mm]

Wherever you are ... have a glorious wildlife watching weekend. FAB.

Black Darter.

2011-08-04T23:47:00.000+01:00

A couple of days ago I visited Thursley Common again but this time the conditions were far more promising .... muggy and slightly overcast with hardly a breeze so I headed out onto the acid heathland in the hope of finding something to photograph. Initially things were fairly quiet with just a brief sighting of a female Keeled Skimmer plus Brown Hawker and an Emperor busily patrolling their territories. As the sun broke through around midday the activity intensified with Skimmers and Darters zipping about erratically in every direction.

I eventually located a pair of Black Darters (Sympetrum danae) flying in tandem who decided to perch very low down above the board walk allowing a reasonably close encounter.

There was a certain amount of wing fluttering by the male as this pair struggled to maintain their composure.

Mature males are non-territorial and frequently settle on marginal vegetation to bask in the sun which provides a good opportunity to view its very distinctive colour markings including the three yellow spots enclosed within a median black patch on the side of the thorax. The black markings have a thermo-regulatory function so it adjusts its body heat by both perching at different heights and to reduce the surface area exposed in very warm conditions it will point its abdomen vertically towards the sun ... known as the obelisk position ... on this occasion it wasn't quite warm enough for that particular pose.

This is a northern species with a circumboreal distribution and fairly widespread throughout much of the UK although far more abundant in the north as it requires shallow, acid, nutrient-poor pools on heathland, moorland and bogs. FAB.

Hedgerow Hairstreak.

2011-08-04T00:08:00.001+01:00

This old wooden foot bridge on the edge of Bookham Common traverses a tiny stream that is often devoid of any water in the summer months. It has I'm sure been crossed by many, many feet that failed to stop and wonder what wildlife may be present. In the winter it is a very barren spot with very little vegetation and sticky mud that adds pounds to the weight of your boots but now there is an abundant mixture of weeds, brambles, nettles, grasses and various wild flowers growing freely on the heavy clay soil. In the past I have regularly found a pair of Bullfinch here plus twittering Goldfinch and Greenfinch are regular inhabitants. In mid spring it is alive with the sounds of Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Garden Warbler but on a very recent visit it was much quieter so I stood for a while to see what else might be using this wild habitat.

It wasn't long before my eyes rested on the distinctive shape and colour of a Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae). For me this is a fairly elusive species that spends most of its life high in the woodland canopy feeding on aphid honeydew. The males rarely descend from their lofty perches so I'm guessing this is a female (difficult to tell the difference just by the under wing pattern) feeding in between egg-laying. Their favoured larval food plant is normally the Blackthorn.

This individual provided me with the opportunity at long last to get some decent images as she moved to a thistle head to sup the nectar.

The removal of more than half of Britain's hedgerows over the past 60 or so years has caused a dramatic and widespread loss of colonies. Single brooded this species is usually on the wing from late July until the end of September.

Hopefully the scrubby thickets and hedgerows at this particular location will ensure the continuance of this delightful species. All shot using my Canon PowerShot S95. FAB.

I am linking this post to NF WINGED #6 where you will find more interesting images.

Getting Closer.

2011-08-02T23:16:00.000+01:00

Traditionally for me at this time of year bird photography is slim pickings and my efforts switch to Butterflies and various Odonata which was the reason for a visit to a well known Surrey lowland heath today. So while I sat waiting for any of the very active dragons to perch within range of the 70-300 my attention was distracted by a distant white blob on the water that began to get closer.

Mute Swans are normally quite inquisitive and this individual was no exception as it silently drifted straight towards me .... so an opportunity to capture something much bigger for a change.

It eventually stood directly in front of me, eyed me up and down and I got the distinct impression that despite the lack of any audible conversation between us I was being told that I was the intruder.

After a few more moments it uttered a single 'hiss' then turned around and floated away leaving me to return to my vigil of waiting for my intended quarry. Just another wildlife interuption. FAB.

For more images from around the globe please visit WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

Arundel WWT.

2011-08-01T16:53:00.000+01:00

Following on from my previous post I was delighted to find that the wheelchair, after being broken down, actually fitted into the boot of my car with just an inch or so to spare! So the next question to Mum and Dad was ... "Where do you want to go?" Typically the answer was ... "We don't mind ... it's totally up to you!"
So an hour later we arrived at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Arundel. After a very pleasant lunch at The Waters Edge Cafe we started on our very leisurely stroll around this fabulous reserve looking at species from all around the world.

It wasn't long before Dad was questioning me as to names of all the 'collection' species ... I'm not sure I got them all correct but that didn't seem to matter as both my parents were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Dad has always had a love for wild flowers and the reserve was awash with colour so we had fun trying to identify everthing we could find. It wasn't long before Dad had very close encounters with the Nene (Hawaiian Goose) who obviously wasn't too impressed that he had no free handout!

Other reasonably close encounters were with Mute Swan, Magpie Goose and three young Trumpeter Swans born a little earlier this year.

Adult Trumpeter Swan.

A visit to the Sand Martin Hide produced distant views of a Common Sandpiper and a family group of four Kingfishers ... the latter was definitely a big plus sighting through the bins for my parents. Regretfully only one of the many Mallard and Black-headed Gulls were close enough for any photos.

Our final stop was the Iceland Lake where we watched Long-tailed Ducks and Common Scoters before making our way back to the cafe for a very welcome cup of tea and some delicious cakes. All in all a wonderful day watching birds from around the globe without having to fly anywhere. FAB.

Some Summer Sights.

2011-07-29T23:31:00.000+01:00

Swallow.

Silver-washed Fritillary

My father has been housebound since his release from hospital as it is now very difficult for him to walk so tomorrow we are taking Mum and Dad out for a drive somewhere and hoping for some decent weather. If we can get his new wheelchair into the boot of my car then I'll definitely get some exercise providing I can find somewhere reasonably level.

Wherever you are ... have a great wildlife watching weekend. FAB.

Fallows in Velvet.

2011-07-29T01:09:00.003+01:00

After spending an hour or two wandering the tracks in Richmond Park and not finding much of interest to photograph my luck eventually changed just a hundred yards from the car park with a small group of around ten Fallow Deer bucks quietly feeding within feet of a very busy footpath. So I decided to sit down, rest my back against a fence and snap away at low level with the 70-300 lens.... so here are some of the results.

There was quite a mixture of ages ... check the different sizes of the antler growths.

There was also one very dark individual amongst the group.

At one stage a couple came so close ... they could have chewed my feet! At times like this I wish I had a second camera with the shorter lens attached rather that wonder about switching lenses mid session .. which I didn't as I'm sure I would have missed some of these shots.

In about a months time they will start to shed the velvet and expose the hardened antlers in time for the autumn rut when most of the bucks will disperse and begin their territorial battles.

At the moment these guys are happy and contented in each others company .... but it won't last. Hopefully I'll get a chance to return to monitor the next stage. FAB.

I am linking this post to Camera Critters and Behind The Camera.

Alongside the River Mole.

2011-07-26T20:08:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I took a very leisurely midday stroll alongside the River Mole on the outskirts of Leatherhead and eventually found a spot overlooking the water and fields to sit and soak up the peace and quiet.

A Grey Heron flew out across the meadow and a pair of Common Buzzards playfully flew overhead but too distant for a shot. On two separate occasions I heard the distinctive short sharp whistle call of a Kingfisher and then a blur of dazzling blue flashed by. I have seen Kingfishers along the R.Mole many times but never close enough for a really decent perched shot (they usually fly away while I'm trying to focus!) so I didn't have any expectation that one might stop by ... but you never know. So I sat patiently while other wildlife flitted around me including a Brown Hawker that also failed to rest during its continuous territorial circuits.

A very tatty White butterfly was taking a sip from the damp pathway.

A Grasshopper (not hopping for once) kept me close company for a while.

A Gatekeeper rested on the neaby ferns ... soaking up the sunshine.

A Hobby took me totally by surprise as it dashed down river and headed somewhere to hunt for its lunch and then while watching a Moorhen in the shows of the overhanging vegetation on the far side of the river I noticed a blob of colour amongst the branches ..... the Kingfisher was resting briefly in between its sorties.

I crept a little closer and managed a couple of record shots (both cropped) as the Kingfisher watched for any movement in the water before disappearing once again downstream.

When the cows trundled down into the water and disturbed the peace and quiet I knew it was time to head home with just the sounds of Jackdaw, Green and Great Spotted Woodies to keep me company. FAB.

The Gatekeeper.

2011-07-24T20:59:00.000+01:00

I have been patiently waiting to capture a Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) this year and although I have seen the odd individual flying during the past 14 days or so it was only during my recent riverside wander that I eventually caught up with an obliging specimen.

More often than not the only view we get is when our quarry is perched with wings closed .... so below are images of the two species that can be easily confused.

On the left is the Gatekeeper (two white spots inside the black on the underside of the fore wing) and the Meadow Brown on the right (with just a single white spot). It is worth remembering that there can be a wide variance in the colouring of the under wings, particularly on the Meadow Brown.

Now when I said this individual was obliging that was not totally true ... it only remained in one spot for a moment or two before moving to a different location but at least that provided a slightly different background for each shot using the Canon PowerShot S95.

I hope to get out and find some other colourful fliers to post in the near future. FAB.

Guarding the larder.

2011-07-22T19:33:00.000+01:00

When you find a good source of food you just have to protect it. A Blackbird stakes his claim to an abundant collection of hawthorn berries and is intent on protecting it from allcomers.

Wherever you are ... have a great wildlife watching weekend. FAB.

Patchwalk.

2011-07-21T23:14:00.002+01:00

Another day with overcast skies with a light breeze but feeling slightly muggy. My visit to Epsom Common for a circuit of the two ponds didn't start until just before midday. A few fishermen had staked out their places around the small pond where Canada Geese and one female Mandarin Duck was logged. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called from within the wood otherwise all seemed very, very quiet.

A Grey Heron was standing motionless at the edge of the Stew Pond and while I tried to creep closer without disturbing its concentration my attention was drawn to a shape floating overhead .....

... a quick shot was taken of a Common Tern doing one of several high circuits of the pond.

When I turned back to the Heron I had obviously missed the important part of the fishing action but just managed one shot of dinner being manipulated before being devoured. Shortly after it decided to fly off to another part of the pond. Typically for this time of day the birds were keeping out of sight but I did log Blue Tit, Jay, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Green Woodpecker and watched a tiny warbler (probably young Garden Warbler) feeding high above in the leafy oak canopy. Another female Mandarin was seen on the main pond but no evidence of any youngsters.

Alongside the pathways I logged various butterflies including Green-veined White, Silver-washed Fritillary, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper plus Ringlet and a few are shown below.

Large Skipper.

Gatekeeper.

Ringlet.

The recent run of damp weather is obviously helping the growth of fungi. FAB.

Please check out this link for more of our Winged Friends hosted by NatureFootstep.

Watery Wednesday.

2011-07-20T17:40:00.000+01:00

I didn't see much today ... overcast skies followed by the inevitable drizzle ... so a couple of images from last week.

Mrs Tufted keeping a very close watch on her new babies.

From memory this is the first time I have seen young Tufties on my local patch ... just hope they stay clear of any predators. FAB.

Long-tailed Tits.

2011-07-19T22:38:00.002+01:00

With the sky brightening late morning today I was thinking about going out when movement outside the window caught my attention ..... a number of very small bundles with long tails had descended upon one of the feeders .... unusually for me, the camera was not to hand so I had to go upstairs to recover it .... but would these tiny and infrequent visitors to the garden hang around .....

With camera in hand I gently opened the back door and quietly crept out to the edge of the patio while listening to the numerous twittering 'tsee..tsee..tsee' contact calls emanating from various leafy locations around the garden and estimated that around ten Long-tailed Tits (Aegithalos caudatus) had decided to bless me with their presence.

As far as I could determine most of them were juveniles and they constantly flitted from one perch to another as they sought out tiny insects from the foliage in the pittosporum, lilac and hawthorn.

With so much greenery at this time of year they weren't going to make it easy for me to capture their antics but time seemed to stand still as I turned first in one direction and then the other in an attempt to focus on the different individuals.

After feeding they all seemed to spend ages preening their shaggy coats.

To put their diminutive size into perspective they are only 13-15cm in length including their 7-9cm tails. Their normal habitat is both deciduous and mixed woodland with a well developed shrub layer plus farmland and heathland with scattered trees, bushes etc. Unlike many species the young don't leave the parents' territory at the end of the breeding season so it is quite usual to see a mixed flock of adults and their progeny together with unattached blood relatives of the adult male. As the season progresses it is usually just the females that defect to neighbouring flocks.

This young fluffy pair decided to perch high up in the open obviously enjoying the brief period of sunshine.

The youngsters will undergo a complete moult into adult plumage before their first winter and eventually look like their parents (see image above that I took on 1st April 2011) with their distinctive black, white, grey and variable pink colours. FAB.

Please check out WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY for more glorious images from around the globe.

White on White.

2011-07-19T00:18:00.000+01:00

During my waterside wander last week there were one or two white butterflies flitting through the lush green waterside vegetation but rarely stopping more than a second or so before moving onwards.

I eventually came across a Green-veined White (Pieris napi) perched in typical pose with wings closed amongst a small patch of bindweed. In the past my attempts to capture any white species have not been particularly successful so I wondered if I might have more luck this time.

The first three shots were taken using the 450D with the 70-300 lens [hand held] set on aperture priority (f/9 to f/11) and spot metering.

This individual eventually decided to open its wings presumably to soak up what little sunshine was available.

After moving around a bit it settled on a leaf, providing a much darker background, so I switched over to the Powershot S95 and grabbed a final shot using the macro setting and managed to get quite close without disturbing the subject. I am slowly getting to grips with the abilities of the S95 and I am very pleased with the most of the results. Now all we need is some sunshine so I can get out and do some more testing. FAB.

Linking up with Tammy's Photography Spot Behind the Camera # 9

Sunbathing Lizard.

2011-07-17T23:55:00.001+01:00

The sunshine has deserted us recently with several days of rain and the forecast suggests an unsettled weather pattern for the next few days so here are some images of a Common Lizard taken at Thursley Common two months ago.

The Lizards love to haul out onto the wooden boardwalk and are fairly tolerant of a close approach providing you move very slowly and quietly.

Tomorrow I will be hedge cutting at my parents home so I'm hoping for a few hours without rain! FAB.

Waterside Wander.

2011-07-16T23:43:00.000+01:00

Last week saw me taking a late morning stroll along the Wey Navigation towpath beside Stoke Meadows.

During a similar stroll during May I was fortunate to see a few juvenile Wagtails including a Grey Wagtail being fed by its parents amongst the overhanging vegetation on the far bank but two months later ....

... it is July and things are much quieter with very little activity around the lock. Wren and Blackcap called from within the woodland fringes and I had brief views of the vibrant coloured Demoiselles flitting over the waterside vegetation but they all failed to stop for a photo call.

A Black-headed Gull balances in the breeze before continuing its circuit around the main lake.

One of the Common Terns that has been using the raft on the lake will now be busily feeding up before commencing its long journey southwards to somewhere in Africa for the winter and hopefully return next year.

Other wildlife seen included Mallard, Egyptian Goose, Canada Geese, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Robin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit and an overflying Grey Heron while the bees collected pollen from the brambles.

A few butterflies were seen including Brimstone, Gatekeeper, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Comma .... I have kept back a few pics for a future post.

As I made my way back to the car a barge puttered by .... the pilot totally ignorant of my presence! FAB.

Garden Pollinators.

2011-07-15T22:37:00.001+01:00

I spent a few minutes in the garden yesterday enjoying the company of a few pollinators as they buzzed around the heads of the large clump of Echinops.

This chap was definitely well loaded with pollen! [All shot with Powershot S95 on macro setting.]

Wherever you are I hope you have an enjoyable wildlife watching weekend. FAB.

Dragon and Damsels.

2011-07-14T23:40:00.001+01:00

Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)

Resting inbetween his territorial flights.

A fearsome predator of many insects including Damselflies and Butterflies.

Azure Damselfly [Male] (Coenagrion puella)

White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes)

More of my 2011 images can be viewed here. FAB.

Please check out this link for more of our Winged Friends hosted by NatureFootstep.

Silent Sparrow.

2011-07-11T23:09:00.000+01:00

House Sparrow

One of this years brood decides it is safe to perch out the open. FAB.

No Ripples.

2011-07-09T00:26:00.001+01:00

A quiet moment or two with three juvenile Mallard from this years first brood as they floated by without disturbing the water.

Have a glorious wildlife watching weekend, wherever you are. FAB.

For more Critters of all kinds visit our friend Misty at Camera Critters.

Visiting Time.

2011-07-07T22:43:00.000+01:00

This week I have been racking up the miles .... unfortunately not wildlife watching .... but transporting my mother to visit my father in hospital which requires a round trip of 100 miles each time. He is in good hands and the medical team found a space in their busy schedule to undertake the first of two very necessary angioplasty procedures on his right leg early yesterday evening in an attempt to improve the blood flow to his foot. I am pleased to report that despite a reactive 'blip' which created some serious concerns after the procedure he was feeling a little more comfortable when I saw him today although his exile in hospital may turn out to be a lot longer than he initially expected.

As I will be back on the road again tomorrow with little opportunity to watch any wildlife here are a couple of images of our regular visiting House Sparrows ... views through the window due to all the heavy rainstorms!

Wherever you are ...... enjoy your wildlife watching. FAB.

Whitmoor Common Walk.

2011-07-06T23:34:00.004+01:00

Last week I took up an invitation to join a walk with the Butterfly Conservation Surrey and South West London Branch at Whitmoor Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), comprising heathland, woodland and grassland with some open water pools. With a total of 21 pairs of eyes it wasn't surprising that within the first few minutes at least 8 species were sighted around the fringes of the car park.

I won't bore you with images of all the species that I actually saw (mainly because I didn't or couldn't photograph them all) but here are some that I have not featured on the blog recently. [You can click any image for a slightly larger view].

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) [female I was informed] not showing any rings.

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo).

Beautiful Demoiselle .... just a little closer.

White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
For more images of this species - Click this link to FABirding.

The star species out on the open heath was the Silver-studded Blue (Plebelus argus) but

..... they were so active that I only managed a couple of record shots this time.

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni).

I believe the final tally for the group was around 18 species including fleeting glimpses of Purple Hairstreak flitting high above us and hiding in the Oak leaved canopy. It was very interesting to be out and about in the company of so many enthusiastic and knowledgeable people very ably led by Francis Kelly and assisted by his partner Helen. FAB.

Please check out this link for more of our Winged Friends hosted by NatureFootstep.

Growing Up Fast.

2011-07-05T20:58:00.000+01:00

I haven't had much chance to photograph birds during the past week so for todays submission to WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY I have delved into the recent archives to present the changes I have witnessed in the growth rate of one of the broods of Canada Geese over just a period of six weeks.

The first four frames were all taken on the 13th May around the edge of a local pond. As always at this stage the young goslings keep close to at least one of the parents who are very attentive and constantly monitor anyone in their vicinity.

Hey guys when will we be able to see where we are going?

All these shots were taken from a reasonable distance ensuring that there was no disturbance to their daily routine.

I even got a very polite wave 'goodbye'.

This image was taken just three weeks later .... not a vast difference although the plumage is a lot less fluffy.

A further three weeks on (a total of at least six weeks growth) and that fluffy, cuddly gosling is now nearly two thirds the size of its parents ..... just a gangling teenager!

Ruddy Darter.

2011-07-05T01:18:00.000+01:00

A Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) conveniently perched and remained absolutely motionless during a brief local walk today despite a freshening breeze and the somewhat fragile landing post. This species can easily be confused with the Common Darter but the Ruddy male (above) has a waisted abdomen with dark sides to the thorax (although on an immature they may be yellow) and the legs both on the male and female are completely black.

By way of comparison here is an image of a Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) taken in August 2010. Note the distinctive yellow patches on the side of the thorax and the yellow stripes on the legs.

P.S. Both our fathers are in hospital at the moment (one for planned surgery, the other definitely not) so it may take me a little while to catch up with everyones' recent blog posts and also respond to comments my readers have kindly left over the last few days but I'll do my very best in the time available to me. FAB.

Meadow Brown.

2011-07-02T00:22:00.000+01:00

Probably the most common and widespread of our butterflies in the UK is the Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) which has a fairly long flight period with the first males usually appearing from late May, in a single brood, and often seen into early October.

It is one of the few butterflies capable of flying on overcast days and their natural colouration provides superb camouflage from predators when they drop to the ground amoungst the leaf litter. Whilst the sexes are distinct, both having the single spot on each fore wing, [Not to be confused with the Ringlet which has two spots (on the male) and three spots (on the female) on the fore wings] and the amount of orange can be very variable.

Above is the slightly darker male mating with the lighter coloured female.

A typical closed wing view of a male showing signs of wear feeding on a thistle.

A female showing the distinctive orange patches on the fore wings.

Here we see the much lighter colour and pattern of the under wings of a female.

These last two images (taken with the Canon Powershot S95) of a copulating pair clearly show the different colour pattern and shades of brown on the under wings .... the male is much darker with its wings overlapping

the lighter coloured female again clearly showing the paler wing band.

Enjoy your wildlife watching ..... FAB.

End of month Patchwalk.

2011-07-01T01:10:00.002+01:00

My final patchwalk at Epsom Common for June wasn't particularly spectacular for the birdlife .... the Canada Geese families have joined up to babysit the ever growing youngsters.

One Grey Heron was stalking around the shallow water edge of the main island but not having much luck finding anything to eat. Two Common Terns flew in and did a circuit before heading off somewhere else (new addition to the year list for this site). Mallard and Moorhen were also present on the main pond plus a single Swift high overhead.

Heading off across to White Heath I added Goldfinch, Robin, Blue Tit, Jay, Chiffchaff (singing), Common Whitethroats still actively collecting food for their youngsters, Jackdaw, Magpie, Blackbird and Chaffinch.

The most common butterflies on the wing were Meadow Browns (I have kept some other images for a future post) and the lazy flapping Ringlet .... fortunately this one perched with its wings open for a short while.

A White-legged Damselfly posed a few problems as I tried to get close and focus on such a tiny object with the 70 - 300 lens without disturbing it .... these tiny creatures always seem to sense the slightest movements.

Quite a few Large Skippers on the wing and one female perched long enough for me to get close with the Canon Powershot S95.

Finally a Carrion Crow creeping through the meadow.

Wherever you are I hope you have an enjoyable wildlife watching weekend. FAB.

Orange Bonanza.

2011-06-29T21:43:00.000+01:00

For me it that time of year when birding tends to take a bit of a back seat as other flying wildlife becomes the target for the lens. During a very recent early morning walk around my favourite woodland glade at Hill House Wood on Bookham Common the action was initially a little slow but as the shafts of sunlight began to warm up the area orange coloured fluttering objects began to appear everywhere.

First up was a Comma (Polygonia c-album) initially resting with its wings closed but displaying that distinctive ragged-edge appearance with the mottled under wing pattern plus the white 'C'.

It wasn't too long before one settled on a fern with its wings open to soak up the warmth.

The next beauty was a Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) enjoying the nectar from the flowering brambles.

As expected at this time of year there were plenty of Large Skippers (Ochlodes venata) and again many soon settled onto the sunlit vegetation allowing fairly close encounters.

The star attraction however (in the absence of any sighting of a Purple Emperor) has to be any of the Fritillary species and I am fortunate to have a few locations near home where the spectacular Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) can easily be located from June through to early September. Like many species these have appeared slightly earlier than last year with my first sighting logged on the 8th June.

The females (see above) are much darker than the males and generally flutter about in the shadier areas of the open woodland.

The male which has four bold dark sex bands on the veins of each forewing is much brighter and far more conspicuous as it patrols large areas, twisting and gliding in the pursuit of a suitor, only resting briefly before continuing its aerial acrobatics.

A number of other species were also very active including White Admiral, Ringlet and Meadow Brown plus a voracious predator, the Emperor Dragonfly but I'll save their images for another post. FAB.

Cumbrian Lakes.

2011-06-29T00:34:00.000+01:00

A few more scenic views from our recent excursion to the Lake District.

I have driven over Kirkstone Pass and probably stopped at the same spot (top image) on many occasions to admire the view down into the valley that eventually leads to Ullswater. The only sound when I stepped out of the car was of running water! The lofty view from Whinlatter Pass (bottom left) overlooks the southern end of Bassenthwaite Lake where earlier the same day we were fortunate to see nesting Ospreys, albeit very distant through a scope, from the Dodd Wood view point.

A short stroll along the north-western shore of Bassenthwaite Lake with the Skiddaw range in the background. Daily views of soaring Common Buzzards are not uncommon anywhere in the Lake District.

Views across Ullswater from various roadside locations.

During our wandereings we often came across signs by the roadside indicating the possible presence of a species I have not seen in the wild for many, many years so it was a delight to find a single Red Squirrel enjoying a feast of hazel nuts at a forest bird feeding station. FAB.

In the shadow of Blencathra.

2011-06-27T00:59:00.000+01:00

Just in case anyone wondered why the blog has only featured a few scheduled posts during the past couple of weeks ... well we recently spent some time away in the Lake District. So here are some montages of the views we enjoyed every day.

Our campsite at Hutton Moor End was directly under the shadow of Blencathra (Saddleback), one of the most northerly mountains in the Lake District. Every day the views were slightly different depending on the level of the clouds and the length of the sunny interludes.

Typically the weather was very mixed with just a few days of sunshine when the highest point (Hellsfell Top) at 2,848 feet became visible from our watchpoint and the constant trend of daily rain showers didn't stop us from enjoying the local scenery.

The valley around the campsite was a patchwork of fields, small becks and damp meadows filled with a variety of wild flowers bordered by traditional dry stone walls and buildings constructed from the local stone.

The weather wasn't particularly helpful when it came to capturing the local wildlife but at least one of the daily visitors, Mr. Blackbird, struck a pose long enough for the camera! FAB.

Large Skipper.

2011-06-20T20:00:00.001+01:00

A few images of the Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata) which is our brightest and most widespread 'orange' skipper. Single-brooded and is on the wing usually from late May, reaching a peak in mid-July and disappears by the end of August. With the drier spring this year you may well have seen one much earlier.

N.B. This is a scheduled post and I will respond to comments when we return from Cumbria. FAB.

Just a few Damsels.

2011-06-16T20:00:00.001+01:00

To keep the blog ticking over while we are away here are a few of the different Damselflies that I have seen during May into early June.

Azure (Coenagrion puella) - a teneral male.

Common Blue (Enallagma cyathigerum) - Male.

Emerald (Lestes sponsa) - Immature female.

Emerald (Lestes sponsa) - Female.

Blue-tailed (Ischnura alegans) - Immature female probably form violacea.

This form can mature into into either the andromorph with male-like blue colouring or into infuscans-obsoleta with a brownish thorax according to my field guide.

White-legged (Platycnemis pennipes) - immature (f. lactea phase).

Please feel free to correct me if you feel any of the ID's are incorrect.

N.B. This is a scheduled post and I will respond to comments when we return from Cumbria. FAB.

White Admiral.

2011-06-12T20:00:00.001+01:00

Last week I saw my first Silver-washed Fritillary for this year, somewhat earlier than expected, flitting through a woodland glade but it was a male White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) that also made my day as it perched on a fern during a short sunny interlude.

N.B. This is a scheduled post but I will respond to any comments when we return from Cumbria. FAB.

Learning to Fly.

2011-06-10T22:20:00.000+01:00

During my recent trip to Rye Harbour N.R. I had the opportunity to watch a juvenile Black-headed Gull as it attempted one of its earliest flying attempts.

Flap .. flap ...

Do I dare leave the ground?

Up and away at last.

Whoops ... dodgy landing!

Next time I'll remember to keep my head up!

A series of images showing how this juvenile will grow up during its two year moult cycle can be found on FABirding.

Wherever you are, have a great wildlife watching weekend. FAB.

Adonis under blue skies.

2011-06-08T23:50:00.001+01:00

Just over a week ago I paid a mid morning visit to Denbies Hillside, a chalk escarpment on the North Downs. With the wispy clouds being brushed across the blue skies by a fairly stiff breeze I headed downhill through the rich wild flower grassland of Steer's Field.

There was plenty of insect life around my feet but the butterflies were less obvious due to the windy conditions although I did catch glimpses of Common Blue, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small Heath, and Meadow Brown.

Anyway I wandered the various pathways and tracks before finding a suitable location to rest the weary legs and waited patiently for my intended quarry while enjoying the fabulous panoramic southward views.

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus)

Despite my apprehension my luck eventually paid off and one male perched for a few moments allowing me just a couple of shots of this gorgeous blue butterfly with its distinctive white and black chequered wing edges.

There was plenty of other wildlife to keep me entertained including the various hoverflies, beetles and day flying moths (a Burnet Companion) plus I watched a hovering Kestrel, singing Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, Common Buzzard being harried by Crows and added a Raven to my Surrey year list as it flew overhead. I have made a mental note to return to seek out the other downland speciality, the Chalkhill Blue, sometime during July. FAB.

Rye for a Sandwich.

2011-06-08T00:01:00.001+01:00

Last weekend, during a very early morning visit to Rye Harbour N.R. on another sunny but extremely windy day, I appeared to be the only occupant on this extensive shingle foreshore. With high tide many hours away the peace and quiet was regularly interrupted by the distinctive, loud, grating 'kerrick ... kerrick' calls of one of the nesting Tern species as they headed offshore to hunt for a meal. I don't profess to be particularly adept at photographing white birds in flight ...... it is definitely a challenge .... but with time on my hands I felt it was worth waiting to see what might be possible.

Initial shots were like the one above with the birds returning from fishing but all too distant for the lens.... but eventually my luck changed as a few flew nearly directly overhead. However they constantly decided to either jink left or right before disappearing at an alarming rate of knots towards their nesting colonies on the adjacent inland pools. My patience was wearing a little thin but after trying numerous different settings .... success.

Sandwich Tern (Sternus sandvicensis) carrying a fishy meal.

[Shot at 1/1600; f.11; ISO 400 @ 130mm]

Not easy to pick out its distinct features from below but the complete black cap combined with the yellow tip on the long narrow black bill plus the large wingspan (typically 85 - 97cm) clearly says this is an adult in its full summer plumage.

This side on shot of another individual clearly shows the darker outer primaries ... this wedge shape will eventually darken with wear. The partial white forehead indicates that this is an adult but still showing signs of its winter plumage. FAB.

Check out WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY for more glorious images from around the globe.

Broad-bodied Chaser.

2011-06-07T00:49:00.000+01:00

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa). This male was very active as it patrolled a very shallow pool of water during a sunny but breezy day during a recent visit to Ashdown Forest. This species often perches for reasonable periods interspersed with periods of rapid flight but on this occasion it tested my patience by not returning to the same perch very often! FAB.

Windswept Wander.

2011-06-01T00:33:00.000+01:00

A week ago I took a wander around the lowland heath at Thursley Common in the hope of getting some images of maybe one or two of the specialist species that inhabit this landscape.

What I didn't bargain for was the ever present blustery wind which kept most species, including Woodlark and Tree Pipit, far too distant for the lens although I did enjoy some decent views albeit brief through the bins.

Even the male Common Redstart made life tricky as it flitted from branch to branch and then disappeared with its tasty morsel destined for a growing brood somewhere. Other species sighted included a pair of nesting Lapwing; a Common Buzzard hounded by Crows; a Hobby zipped past in purposeful flight and several Stonechats called from their windswept perches. Needing some respite from the blustery conditions I entered an area of mixed deciduous woodland and immediately my ears picked up the incessant calls of young Great Spotted Woodpeckers (Dendrocopos major) begging to be fed. I quickly located the nest hole and found a convenient resting place at the base of a nearby tree and waited.

Both adults share the very similar black and white plumage including the large white oval shoulder patches plus the saturated red vent and barred black and white flight feathers. The first adult to appear was the female distinguished by her totally black crown.

Some five minutes later the male, who sports a red patch on its hindcrown, eventually worked his way down to the nest hole ......

... and then one of the youngsters appeared and gratefully accepted a meal. This species produces one brood with a clutch of 4 to 6 eggs. After an incubation period of 14 - 16 days, mainly by the female, fledging usually takes another 20 to 24 days. As there is only room for one chick at the nest hole it is definitely a question of 'first come .. first served'. Unlike most other species the parents do not remove the fecal sacks so I guess the nesting cavity becomes a little rank over time!

I felt very privileged to monitor this constant feeding activity for over 30 minutes as both parents regularly returned with tasty insects for their new family before leaving them to their endeavours.

Back at The Moat pond Mrs Mallard was overseeing the movement of her recently fledged young through the knee high waterside vegetation and every so often raised her head to ensure that they were complying with her instructions to stay out of view. FAB.

For more images from around the world please check out WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

Brown Argus.

2011-05-28T00:19:00.000+01:00

A butterfly that is often found in the same habitat as the Common Blue and often confused with the females of several blue species is the Brown Argus (Aricia agestis).

Until the 1900s this species was declining through to the loss of its chalk and limestone grassland habitats due to agricultural improvements in southern England but it has subsequently increased it range and adapted to other habitats.

Once again the compact Canon S95 came into it own as this male decided to rest from its territorial battles with a Common Blue.

Wherever you are I hope you have an enjoyable wildlife watching weekend. FAB.

Common Blue.

2011-05-27T00:07:00.000+01:00

Over the past three weeks I have seen plenty of Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) flitting about with the males chasing each other from their respective territories.

Windy conditions are the worst scenario for attempting to capture these delightful flutters but on one occasion earlier this month a male (above) sat long enough for me to use the 70-300 zoom from a reasonable distance without disturbing the subject.

During another visit to the same location two weeks later with just a gentle breeze I was able to get far closer, sometimes within inches, and as I don't currently own a macro lens I used my compact Canon S95 to obtain these images.

This mating pair were otherwise engaged and totally oblivious to my close approach!

If all wildlife was this cooperative then close up photography would be far less stressful for both the watcher and the quarry. So do I still hanker after a macro lens for the DSLR .... silly question! FAB.

Greedy Parakeets.

2011-05-22T23:36:00.000+01:00

A fairly quiet weekend here apart from the constant need to top up the peanut feeder!

A small number of Rose-ringed Parakeets (Psittacula krameri) have taken a particular liking to all the feeders in the garden and are cleaning out this one on a daly basis .. greedy b*****s! FAB.

Still Feeding.

2011-05-21T09:14:00.001+01:00

The Blue Tits are still bringing tasty morsels to the youngsters in the box.

I hope you are enjoying a glorious wildlife watching weekend, wherever you are. FAB.

Breeding Update: We missed the important event!! When we checked the nest box this afternoon it was empty and although one of the parents has been spotted on the feeder there was no indication of where the fledglings are hiding .... probably well away from the inquisitive Magpie and Parakeets.

Garden Watch.

2011-05-20T01:12:00.001+01:00

Another day passed yesterday without the return of my 'wheels' so I spent a few more hours in the garden. In between a little bit of necessary pruning and watering (some of the plants are definitely showing the signs of drought intolerance!) I took up my usual position and watched the comings and goings of the local residents.

Not sure who was keeping tabs on who! ... "Shouldn't you have had a shave by now?"

Mr. Blackbird made a brief appearance to cast his eye over the neighbours garden.

The Robin wonders where all those little noises are coming from!

Someone else was also enjoying the flowers; Astrantia 'Roma' plus the new Clematis (C. texensis 'Pagoda' and C. Cezanne) and two of her favourite Roses (R. Compassion and R.Gloire De Dijon).

House Sparrow tries to play hide and seek behind one of the feeders .....

..... while one of the Blue Tits brings in another tiny morsel to feed a hungry little belly. FAB.

A Quick Peek.

2011-05-19T00:19:00.000+01:00

While the parents were out hunting I took a quick look inside the Blue Tit nest box and managed just one shot with the Canon S95 compact before carefully replacing the front door. Only one tiny body was clearly visable but there were other little bundles hiding deep underneath. From the look of this one and their constant calls for more food I guess it won't be too many days before we begin to see an open beak or two at the nest hole. FAB.

Arrival and Departure.

2011-05-17T01:17:00.001+01:00

After returning and recovering from the noisy but joyful weekend wedding celebrations it was good to spend some quiet time catching up with the Blue Tit nesting activities in the garden.

Both the male and the female share the feeding programme and are now flying in and out of the nest box with alarming regularity. During the early morning sessions they were returning with food with monotonous regularity about every minute but as the day wore on the visits became less predictable.

I have also noticed that unless there is any indication of other species in the vicinity or possible predators flying overhead (Magpie, Crow etc.) they rarely perch in the nearby Lilac but fly directly into the next box, often without even perching at the hole.

During this session I just sat in the garden chair and took a few pot shots (hand held) by focusing on the nest box plate and hoping for the best!

Capturing them leaving was a test of both patience and anticipating their departure schedule.

Once a head appeared I started to fire off a few frames but as usual most of the 2nd and 3rd shots were just a blank canvas as this little species launches itself into flight faster than I can say 'gotcha'!

Occasionally I was just lucky to find that these little torpedo's were actually 'captured in the frame' but often slightly out of focus.

I then tried picking a manual focus point in line with the nest box hole and increasing the shutter speed (anywhere between 1/1000 - 1/1600 @ F/4.5) but keeping the ISO under 800 even though at times the overhead skies were somewhat dull.

More practice is definitely required and I have no doubt that the use of a tripod and the remote release would probably improve on yesterdays efforts. Anyway it was fun watching this pair going about their rigorous daily routine. How many days before fledging? ... Your guess is as good as mine. FAB.

Please check out WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY for more avian activity from around the globe.

New Feathers.

2011-05-15T01:35:00.000+01:00

Over the past few days the resident House Sparrows have been particularly vocal as the adults have recently brought some youngsters into this world. Most of the time the young ones stay hidden in the Pittosporum or the Lilac and constantly ask to be fed but occasionally one pops out into the open.

As you can see from these images the downy fluff is slowly making way for this youngster's first set of real feathers.

Not sure this is the safest spot to be preening as we know a Sparrowhawk regularly passes over looking for a quick meal!

Time for some sunbathing while it waits to see if will get fed again. FAB.

Clematis.

2011-05-14T00:14:00.000+01:00

Due to the ineptitude of Blogger my planned wildlife posts have been put on hold plus my outdoor adventures have been slightly disrupted by the lack of wheels (the engineers have discovered that a mounting point for the rear axle on the chassis is very slightly out of alignment causing both the wear on the bearings and the excessive tyre wear - the car may be out of commission for at least a week!) so here is a mini garden update.

Many years ago while working for the RHS I made friends with a customer (who also just happened to be interested in bird watching) and he constantly reminded me that I was responsible for his wife spending far too much money on buying more and more Clematis plants PLUS one of my regular readers, Grammie G, also seems to associate me with Clematis, so here are some very recent images from our small back garden.

This is the first Clematis we every bought and for the life of me I can't remember its name but it might be 'The President' or something very similar. It scrambles its way clinging to the rampant Ivy that surrounds one of the old concrete washing line posts close to the house.

Next up is Clematis montana (possibly Elizabeth). This was a rescued plant and was kept in a container for a few years until it needed to be put in the ground. It is very vigorous and earlier this year I had to severely prune it as most of the growth was actually on my neighbours side of the fence. Despite the late cutting back it is producing some blooms at the moment.

Not in the ideal position this white variety (probably Gillian Blades?), now in a partly shaded part of the border against the fence, is performing far better than I have seen for some years.

This is the only one in a container, Clematis Cezanne, which will very soon be a mass of vibrant blue flowers just outside the dining room window.

I probably won't be posting again until Sunday or Monday as we are attending a family wedding tomorrow, so wherever you are, have an enjoyable wildlife watching weekend. FAB.

Blue Tit Breeding Update.

2011-05-10T15:34:00.000+01:00

During a break from gardening over the weekend I managed a few quickly taken shots to confirm that our pair of Blue Tits are now actively feeding their tiny youngsters inside the nest box.

On most visits with a juicy meal both the male and the female flew directly into the box and then reappeared more often than not with the usual 'poop' sack which they drop as far away as possible to ensure that there is no evidence near the nest site for predators to find.

Waiting for a call from inside the box before entering with another meal. As the chicks grow the frequency of visits will get very frantic.

I thought one of the pair was just topping up its own internal reserves from the fatblock feeder but it actually took some of this mixture into the nest box.

While all this activity was going on one of the Ring-necked Parakeets perched high up on sentry duty but was fortunately looking in totally the wrong direction .....

.... and the Pigeon just sat on the garden fence totally bemused. FAB

For more images from around the world please look in on WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

Walking Home via Horton C.P.

2011-05-09T21:36:00.000+01:00

I delivered the car for its annual MOT just after 9 am this morning and decided to walk home from Epsom via Horton Country Park. So with only my compact Canon S95 in my pocket I have put together a series of collages showing some of the sights throughout my two and a half hours leisurely homeward stroll.

After leaving the hustle and bustle of tarmac pavements behind I entered the park alongside Horton Park Farm where the noise of vehicles was quickly replaced by the calls of Wren, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Goldcrest and Crows. A few of the farm residents were enjoying the fresh green growth or just rooting around in the earth.

The nearby open pasture was a sea of white and yellow ... masses of Daisies and Buttercups plus the odd Magpie.

While listening to Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Great Tit and Robin my eyes turned to search out some of the much smaller critters hiding amongst the lush leafy wasteland close to the pathways including beetles, weevils, Wolf Spiders and plenty of Ladybirds hunting their favourite Aphid food.

The sun and very recent rain has helped the wild flowers to show off all their varied colours and forms including Red Clover, Vetch, Field Speedwell, Cranesbill and Wild Strawberry. (No doubt the experts will let me know if any of the ID's in this post are incorrect.)

As I skirted the Golf Course the local Whitethroats joined in the late morning sing-song together with a few Greenfinch and Chaffinches. The bright violet-blue of the Ground-Ivy shone out from amongst the verdant green carpet around my feet. I did momentarily consider blowing on the Dandelion globe but there was a sufficient breeze for its seed dispersal to happen naturally ... like the millions of others floating around.

A slight detour took me across the open grass meadow (Lambert's Mead) to Meadow Pond where I disturbed a very disgruntled Coot but not a Grey Heron who surprisingly was totally unfazed when two dogs entered the water for a swim! I didn't find any Damselflies but a very tatty Comma rested in a nearby hedgerow. Leaving the Irises and the sound of metal thrashing that little white ball behind I finally exited via Church Wood to the squawking calls of several Parakeets and cooing Collared Doves.

P.S. I won't mention what it finally cost me ( 2 new tyres etc) when I collected the car at 6 pm or the fact that I was stopped by the Police on my way home this evening (suggesting I had a wobbly rear wheel!) ... another visit to the service centre may well be on the cards very shortly!! FAB.

Bookham Common Sights and Sounds.

2011-05-08T01:00:00.000+01:00

Over the last two days I have made two visits to Bookham Common. The first on Friday was to meet up with two ex RHS colleagues and give them a guided birding tour around the various habitats which produced a tally of 35 species although many were heard but not seen. Yesterday Anita and I joined a Surrey Bird Club (SBC) field trip led by Alan Prowse whose knowledge of the common, its resident and migrant species is second to none.

During both visits the most conspicuous specie was the Common Whitethroat singing from their perches and during their brief display flights. We also caught up with the rattling 'tell-tell-tell-tell-tell' song of the Lesser Whitethroat and were fortunate to get some glimpses but not sufficient for the camera.

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) singing its repeated phrases.

Yesterday two male Cuckoos were seen in flight and we were able to confirm that they were indeed separate individuals from the different length of the second part of their calls. At one moment in time we were watching a Cuckoo while one of three Nightingales provided a background soundtrack with both Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Whitethroat also singing close by. As someone else commented "That experience has definitely gladdened my heart". Other songsters included Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Wren, Blackbird, Goldfinch and Greenfinch. Overhead we logged Cormorant, Grey Heron, Buzzard and Kestrel plus the usual corvids.

Cardinal Beetle.

The overnight rain certainly made everything look fresh and a few species of Butterflies found themselves in front of the lens.

Green-veined Whites lining up for mating.

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines)

The distinctive under wing pattern.

The ponds which have undergone a major clearance programme are slowly producing more sightings. Ours included Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Little Grebe, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and a pair of Tufted Ducks.I have no doubt that one day a passing wader will drop in.

One of a number of young Coot asking to be fed.

Just a few of the Mallard ducklings totally ignoring their parents.

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).

As the months go by the pond margins should produce a decent list of Dragons and Damsels. Our sightings on the second visit also included Swallow, House Martin and the first arrival of Swifts to give me a total of 42 species which has also helped to bump up my year list. FAB.

Broad-bodied Chaser.

2011-05-06T23:58:00.001+01:00

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) captured during a morning stroll around Bookham Common. [ISO 400; 1/200; f/10 @ 190mm and cropped] FAB.

Non Birdie Patchwalk.

2011-05-05T00:03:00.000+01:00

Whilst I enjoyed the very vocal songs of the Common Whitethroat and Garden Warbler yesterday my patch walk at Epsom Common today didn't produce anything new so I headed over onto Ashtead Common to check out for signs of any other life around The Rye ... a small stream that meanders through the grassland and woodland.

Initially it all seemed very quiet but a few flutters soon appeared including this Speckled Wood ...

.... and then a Holly Blue trying to remain hidden amongst the grasses.

I saw a Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) flying frantically around one of the muddy shallow pools just over a week ago but failed to get any pics. Today the conditions were much less windy and I watched a single male busily patrolling its territory and waited for it to perch.

Typical of this species as soon as you try to get too close (even from behind) they fly away. Anyway my patience eventually paid off although the strong overhead sunshine was rather harsh and he was soon off again chasing and catching up with a female.

The female hovered briefly just above the water and constantly dipped as she oviposited on the underwater vegetation and then promptly disappeared

Another find was this recently emerged teneral male Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula).

A Black and Red Froghopper (Ceropis vulnerata) paid a brief visit close to where I was resting. The froghopper is very conspicuous, its black body with red markings acting as a warning to predators that it is distasteful.

A few of the Flag Iris (I. pseudacorus) provided some additional colour to end my stroll. FAB.

Little Grebe.

2011-05-03T18:33:00.001+01:00

Although the sun is shining the high winds have meant that many of the local avian species are staying under cover so I have dipped into the recent archives for this weeks submission for World Bird Wednesday and Watery Wednesday.

A recent encounter with our smallest member of the 'Podicipedidae' family ... the Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as 'Dabchick'. This species is normally very shy and traditionally keeps to the reeds and sedges that surround its watery home but on this occasion it showed the inquisitive side of its nature.

During the winter the Dabchick wears a coat of dirty brown-buff and grey but as the breeding season approaches the adult colours change dramatically ... the cheeks and fore neck adopt the rich rufous hues plus that prominent pale yellow gape.

Just a brief encounter ... after a splash and a shake it was time to depart.

Eventually its whole coat will become much, much darker but one thing it does retain is that distinctive 'powder-puff' behind. FAB.

Dawn Chorus at Hatchlands Park.

2011-05-01T23:24:00.000+01:00

The alarm kicked off before 4am this morning and during our drive to Hatchlands Park N.T. in the dark we caught snippets of Robin and Blackbird singing plus a Tawny Owl flew directly in front of the car ... was this a good omen for the forthcoming event despite the cold and breezy conditions?

At 5am, with the darkness receding and a gathered throng of 28 including 6 children, Dan (Head Gardener) made the introductions for the Dawn Chorus walk with Great Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon and a distant calling Cuckoo providing the initial sounds for our ears. Just as I was explaining the reasons for the morning chorus a nearby Wren blasted out its alarm call and behind me a Tawny Owl flew into a tree uttered its 'kewick' call and immediately departed. During the next 30 minutes or so we saw a Common Buzzard and added the sounds of Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow plus Great Spotted Woodpecker knocking; the laughing 'yaffle' of a Green Woodpecker; the high pitched 'zree-zree-zree' of a Goldcrest, our smallest resident species; Chiffchaff singing its name from a very high perch and then the jittery chattering followed by melancholy flute-like notes of a Blackcap who was located deep in cover with a female in close proximity.

Male Blackcap.

As we crested the highest point in the park the views over the countryside opened up. A pair of Mandarin Ducks were disturbed from their overnight tree roost and promptly flew away. Mallard and Canada Geese were also spotted flying over the park as a Blue Tit constantly flew in and out of a nest hole in the tree above our heads with mouthfuls of caterpillars. Pheasant and Magpie patrolled the fence line of one of the woodlands.

The park is also home to a herd of Dexter cattle. We enjoyed the first of several encounters with this breed which originated from south-west Ireland and are descended from the predominantly black cattle of the early Celts and were introduced to England in 1882.

The breed comes in three colours, predominantly black, but also in red and dun. They are extremely hardy and can live outside all year round. As the smallest British breed of cattle they are very efficient food converters and are a dual purpose breed (milk and meat) with the average weight of a cow being about 300 kgs. and standing approx 36" to 42" at the shoulder. The youngster (bottom left above) is just over a week old and growing fast.

Our route took us through Little Wix Wood but as expected the carpet of Bluebells was looking somewhat jaded ... probably at its best some ten days ago but it was nice to get some relief from the strong cold easterly breeze. This link will show the views I saw on the 19 April. The repeated phrases of a Song Thrush emanated from within the shaded woodland.

Speckled Wood.

At the northern most boundary we listened to the scratchy call of a 'Nettle Creeper' - Common Whitethroat and located it as it moved along the hawthorn hedgerow. Despite careful scanning we didn't locate a Treecreeper but heard the 'chuitt - chuitt - chuitt' call of a Nuthatch while a small stream of Long-tailed Tits flitted overhead. Looking out over the nearby farmland also produced a Sparrowhawk flying away and the distant song of a Skylark.

At the pond we added Greylag and Egyptian Goose, Mallard and Moorhen before heading into the courtyard where Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Pied Wagtail were seen before entering the tea room for a welcome bacon sarnie and a hot drink.

My notes show that 41 species were heard and or seen during our leisurely early morning stroll and back at home we added Hobby, Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel flying over the garden. FAB.

New Life.

2011-04-30T00:38:00.000+01:00

A very young Coot and not particularly handsome at this stage of its new life ....

..... but at least its parents think differently.

Young Mallard however definitely have that 'ooh .. aah' factor. FAB.

Marital Tiff.

2011-04-28T00:02:00.000+01:00

During a recent patch walk I noted one pair of Canada Geese siting together at the waters edge but the peace and quiet didn't last long ......

The master raised his head high and began to bellow and honk .... I couldn't see any reason for this behaviour, which can often be witnessed when other pairs encroach on a territory, as there were no other individuals within view .....

Then he then lowered his neck and belted out his aggression on his partner who responded by flattening herself and perhaps this was a precursor to a bit of 'you know what' but she just turned aside and ignored him!

The ruckus was over in a matter of moments and all went quiet again ... just a marital tiff perhaps. FAB.

Patch Update: Sightings so far this week have included Yellowhammer, Hobby and Swallow to bring the 2011 total up to 66.

Sunny Stour Valley Walk.

2011-04-26T18:16:00.000+01:00

On Monday we drove south-eastwards into Kent to meet up with two more friends who were desperate for a relaxing day out birding as a break from their heavy work schedules.

The location was the Stour Valley and our day trek around Stodmarsh NNR which started from Grove Ferry where Anita and I listened to our first Nightingale of the day plus a distant calling Cuckoo that was to remain elusive despite Derek's optimism that it would perch close enough for a portrait photo! On our walk to The Ramp we also heard a single Turtle Dove, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff plus Sedge and Reed Warblers. Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Coot on the water with Common Terns noisily fishing and a male Marsh Harrier quartering the vast reed beds. Konik ponies are used to manage the damp pastures.

Male Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoenichus).

A distant male Marsh Harrier quartering the reed beds.

During one of our many rest stops as we circumnavigated this reserve we also watched another pair of Marsh Harriers and a minimum of 12 Hobby hawking for insects but regrettably too far away for the lens. Swallow and House Martis were also logged plus a swimming Grass Snake.

Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) singing its heart out.

Cormorant.

Throughout our circuit we were constantly bombarded by the close explosive and repeated calls from a warbler that shouts out its own name 'cetti-cetti-cetti' from a nearby hidden perch within a dense thicket before immediately flying onto its next hidden hideaway. Fortunately on one occasion my camera was pointed at the right spot when this compact warbler, red-brown above with its distinctive pale supercilium and eye ring, perched for just a few moments to provide a record shot.

Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) pauses briefly before flying to its next hidden song perch.

Another species that likes to sing its repeated, jittery song interspersed with various whistling notes as it slowly climbs up its perch within the reed bed is the [European] Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scripaceus).

[Northern] Lapwing patrolling his territory on recently created pool where we also logged two Common Redshank but didn't find the Green Sandpipers or Little Ringed Plover that has apparently been seen about 40 minutes earlier.

In the damp woodland a Robin was collecting a varied mixture of flies and caterpillars.

After a welcome cup of tea at the end of our walk we drove across country towards our friends home with a brief stop at the 1500 acre woodland at Kings Wood, Challock to view the impressive display of Bluebells.

Unfortunately when I loaded the 17-85 lens the zoom had become locked at 70mm so this was the best I could produce under the circumstances. A visit to the specialist repair centre is going to be needed very soon to hopefully sort the problem out! Our day ended with a relaxing meal at a very quiet riverside pub plus a large glass of well earned amber liquid.

I'll be heading to Stodmarsh again in 9 days time to go birding with another long-time friend so hopefully I'll manage to get some different species in front of the lens next time. FAB.

For more images from around the world, hosted by Springman, please go to

WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

A Day with Friends.

2011-04-24T22:47:00.000+01:00

Today we met up with Tony and Jean early this morning for a stroll around Bookham Common.

Initially the most prominent songsters as we wandered through the wooded areas were numerous male Blackcaps while we also spied nesting Jackdaw and Song Thrush plus Mallard on the pond. The most prolific wild flower was Ramsons plus one of the largest bracket fungi (Pycnoporus sp.) I have seen in a while at the base of a very old mossy tree stump..

Out onto 'The Plains' we spotted a pair of Bullfinch, the male looked just like a bright red ball hidden in the shrubbery while overhead a few Long-tailed Tits flitted silently through the branches.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker tried to be inconspicuous as it perched in a tangle of Blackthorn.

A distant calling Cuckoo was heard as we listened to Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, lots of Common Whitethroats and then picked up our first Nightingale singing strongly from within its dense nesting territory. A little later on at 'Nightingale Corner ( see the sign someone had scratched on a log slice in the top collage) we heard our second Nightingale although somewhat less vocal than the first. Jay, Wren, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Grey Heron, Blue and Great Tits and a single Willow Warbler were also logged.

After a relaxing alfresco light lunch in our friend's garden we took a mid afternoon stroll around their local fields. Unfortunately very little bird life but plenty of other things to admire. A very large Oak Gall, seed from Goat Willow being dispersed by the very welcome afternoon breeze, bird cherry blossom in the hedgerow and Yellow archangel flowering a bit earlier than usual. Quite a few flutters rapidly flew past us including the following:

Orange Tip.

Speckled Wood.

Peacock.

Tomorrow we are heading south-eastwards into Kent to meet up with some other friends so I guess I had better turn in a little earlier than usual and remember to set the alarm! FAB.

Anyone for Yoga.

2011-04-23T15:12:00.000+01:00

First find a solid perch ...

Then stand on one leg.....

Now bend your neck ....

And then twist your head as far to the right,

While keeping your eyes on the prize!

So how long can you hold this position?

I failed just after raising one leg .. lol. FAB.

Just Chilling Out.

2011-04-22T23:34:00.000+01:00

After all the miles trudged this week I decided to spend a quiet day just chilling out in the garden and surprisingly there was very little noise from either the local traffic or any of the neighbours ......

.... just the gentle sound of water droplets.

Most of the small specie Tulips are well past their best but here are some of the delights that are dotted

around the garden providing that important early spring colour.

Now it is the turn of the Alliums as the stems rise up high and their sheaths slowly unfurl to present their spherical balls of blue, purple and mauve hues. Over the years I have been trying to remove the non-native Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthiodes hispanica) but it continues to reappear and at least provides an addition to the blue palette at this time of year.

The Lilac that provides a hiding place for the Blue Tits before entering the nest box will soon produce a lovely fragrance as the clusters of blooms begin to open.

Even the avian activity today was fairly downbeat ... the House Sparrows hid from view most of the time; Parakeets made a late afternoon visit but refrained from gorging themselves on the recently stocked feeders; Greenfinch and Great Tit were close by with Woodpigeon, Collared Dove and Magpie but everything went deathly silent as a Sparrowhawk slowly drifted over at rooftop level. I recently refurbished an open nest box and today I noticed that there was a lining of moss and leaves so possibly the Blackbird who has been skulking in the border is starting to build for his partner ... only time will tell.

Blue Tit Nesting Update: I checked the box today and the female is sitting but I didn't disturb her to see what the egg situation might be. The male has been flying in and out at irregular intervals to feed her so all is well at the moment.

Wishing Everyone a Happy Easter. FAB.

A Mega Day.

2011-04-21T21:58:00.000+01:00

Started my patch walk this morning at 9 am and there were still plenty of species singing around the woodland car park. Amongst the sounds of Blackbird, Wren, Great Tit, Chaffinch and Blackcap my ears locked onto a new addition to the year list .. a Garden Warbler, high in the leafy canopy belting out its warble that can so often be confused with a Blackcap.

Mistle Thrush, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Jackdaws were spotted in the horse paddock while a Canada Goose was enjoying a late lie in at the pond. Moorhen, Coot and Mallard were also logged but no sign today of any Mandarin Ducks.

The Grey Heron was on its usual perch eying up a tasty morsel in the water below.

Heading out around the Great Pond I found another Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, plenty of Common Whitethroats, Long-tailed Tits still carrying nesting material (I thought they were early nesters?), male Reed Bunting calling from the waterside willows plus lots of Orange-tips and Brimstone on the wing. From here I entered the main woodland to find some shade while listening to Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Suddenly everything went quiet and I'm still not sure what prompted me to look skywards through a small gap in the leafy canopy but the size, shape, pale underparts and barring immediately triggered a certain species name in my brain. No time for a picture ... just get the bins up and confirm the supposition. This very chunky Accipiter slowly glided overhead, turning its head and allowed me to see the distinctive head markings plus the yellow base to the bill and its red eye glinted in the sunlight as it skimmed the tree tops. Yes ... an adult male GOSHAWK.

Tonight I located some illustrations from a recent birding publication that clearly show both the bulky view I saw (see above) and its similarity with a female Sparrowhawk (see below) with which this species is so often confused.

I quickly retraced my steps out of the wood to the open grassland but there was no sign in the sky just silence so obviously it had continued its purposeful journey somewhere .. probably eastwards.

Blue Tit sunbathing.

Back out across the grassland heath I listened to a single Willow Warbler but no sign or sound of any Lesser Whitethroats yet. Interestingly the numbers of singing Willows appear to have dropped considerably in the last week so maybe a few have moved on. Another addition the patch year list were Linnets.

About an hour after I returned home another 'mega' flew in via UPS from Texas, USA.

This is a most delightful framed coloured pencil drawing of a Blue Jay by texwisgirl, a talented artist, which I won in a giveaway on her blog The Run*A*Round Ranch Report. So once again many thanks Theresa for making this a special 'mega' day. FAB.

North Wall at Pagham.

2011-04-20T19:14:00.000+01:00

On the weekend after my trip to Pagham Harbour Anita intimated that she would like to have a paddle at the coast and suggested a visit to Pagham Spit. Once again the high tide wasn't until much later in the afternoon but with the sun shining we headed to the coast and while I sorted out my gear Anita carefully navigated her way over the shingle to find a spot to rest and read while waiting for the water to get closer.

I headed off towards the North Wall following the pathway and then the shoreline looking out initially on a very waterless landscape and most of the wildlife very distant.

A male Reed Bunting stopped briefly to say hello.

Looking inland at the North Wall the scene again appeared very quiet with little floating about on the pools.

However it wasn't long before Mrs. Mallard floated past with her ten little charges in tow.

I just wonder how many will eventually survive these early weeks of new life!

I then enjoyed the flying displays of several pairs of Black-tailed Godwits who have obviously decided to hang around and now sporting their rich breeding plumage.

I won't bore you with a list of the species seen but suffice it to say that I eventually logged a total of 51 including listening to Cetti's Warbler belting out its distinctive call from a hidden location.

The final poser was a [Common] Linnet and then it was time for me to respond to a text message ... return to the car ... collect the packed lunch ... and join Anita on her tiny patch of sand amongst the shingle. Sorry no pictures of the person paddling ... permission to publish denied. FAB.

Sightings Update: Nothing new locally so a visit early this morning to Staines Reservoir enabled me to add a very distant Velvet Scoter, Slavonian (Horned Grebe) in breeding plumage plus Common Terns to year list. This was followed by a very brief walk at Barnes WWT (crowded with visitors as expected) to watch the Sand Martins plus an attempt to photograph a Reed Warbler singing deep in the reed bed.

Bluebells at Hatchlands Park.

2011-04-19T21:46:00.000+01:00

If you want to see Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) don't delay a trip out to your favourite woodland location because here in the south-east (UK) they have flowered about two weeks earlier than last year as a result of the warmer, drier weather.

These shots were taken today at Hatchlands Park N.T. and the display is now at its best. The perfumed fragrance as I entered the wood mid morning during part of my bird walk was absolutely wonderful. FAB.

Gentle Reminder: For anyone wishing to join me on the Dawn Chorus Walk (5am on 1st May) at Hatchlands Park please make sure that you have booked your place by phoning 01483 222482.

Wonders of Witley Common.

2011-04-19T00:10:00.006+01:00

A foggy start to the day as I headed south-west to carry out some much needed garden maintenance for my parents ..... hedge trimming!

Knowing that I had time to spare before my expected ETA I paid a visit to the sandy heathland at Witley Common where a Jackdaw was patiently surveying the scene as the sun slowly began to break through and burn off the fog and eventually lift the temperature to simulate a summers day!

The common comprises a mixture of dry heath with Common and Bell Heather plus Gorse; wet heathland where you find Cross-leaved heath and ponds that often dry outin the summer; grassland and rich woodland consisting of Scot's Pine, Silver Birch, English and Turkey Oak, Willow, Sweet Chestnut plus Hazel, Elder and Aspen. A rich habitat that promises much in the right conditions. Check out this link or more information on Lowland Heath.

During my 90 minute stroll across part of the open dry heathland and surrounding woodland edge I logged the following species; Jay, Carrion Crow, Cuckoo, Linnet, TREE PIPIT, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Common Redstart, Blackbird, Wren, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Woodpigeon, Nuthatch, BRAMBLING, Stonechat, Common Whitethroat, Swallow, Pheasant, Kestrel and Yellowhammer. Most of my sightings were fairly distant so the following image have all been cropped.

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)

Obviously not the clear shot I would have preferred but sometimes you have to accept what is on offer. I watched this individual perform its distant display flight and parachute down to another lofty tree top perch unlike its close cousin the Meadow Pipit that generally lands on the floor at the end of its flight.

Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus)

I am usually alerted to this chat's location by its repetative throaty clicking call and today was no exception. As soon as I lined up the distant shot it moved to another favourite perch ... ah well, patience I say to myself, it will probably come back in a few moments ... and it did.

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

For once there were far more Willow Warblers around the heathland singing their descending verse than the Chiffchaffs on my local patch.

Three for the price of one ... Tree Pipit, Yellowhammer and Chaffinch.

Plenty of Brimstone on the wing in such lovely sunny weather.

So that was the easy part of my day, the following three hours wielding a hedge trimmer has left its mark on my arm muscles but tomorrow morning will hopefully be another relaxing few hours as I reconnoitre the landscape at Hatchlands Park in preparation for a 'Dawn Chorus' walk in two weeks time. FAB.

For more WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY images, please follow this link.

Garden Update.

2011-04-18T01:26:00.000+01:00

The recent spell of sunshine has had a dramatic effect on the garden plants with many flowers opening much early than expected.

In the main border (quite small in actual fact) Brunnera 'Jack Frost' continues to send up its dainty blue heads above the mass of architectural leaves and the Cammasia's have just started to open their blue stars while in a pot on the patio a rescued Exochorda 'The Bride' is performing the best I have ever seen it.

Large hybrid Tulips have produced some colour but I guess, as is typical when kept in pots, the performance tends to drop of each year. The 'Dusky Cranesbill' (Geranium phaeum) spreads itself freely around the garden so we should get a good succession of their small dark flowers; Euphorbia wulfenii providing contrast between the acid green bracts and the grey-green leaves; in the shade behind the shed there is a mass of pale-pink bleeding hearts (Dicentra 'Stuart Boothman') erupting above the finely divided grey-green foliage; the first Columbine (Aquilegia 'William Guiness) will soon be showing off its two-tone bloom and I have noticed numerous seedlings everywhere!

While I inspect the progress of fruit and veg (Strawberries, Carrots, Onions and Peas) in the new raised beds a local Pigeon wonders how it might gain access to this fresh greenery! Thank goodness it is all inside a well netted fruit cage.

Blue Tit Nesting Update: I have noticed that there have been a few searches on the blog recently regarding nesting and in particular querying "why have my birds built a nest and appeared to have disappeared?".

I believe our pair of Blue Tits completed the nest building about 9 days ago and since then activity at the nest box has been very sporadic. All species need to time their breeding to coincide with the relevant food source ... in the case of the Blue Tit this means insects and juicy caterpillars. If the eggs are laid too early then there is always the likelihood of failure either at the egg or nestling stage. I did see the male and female hidden in the Hawthorn today and Mrs.was fluttering her wings in the typical courtship display or possibly begging for food and a little later one of them entered the box for around 20 minutes. So.providing the conditions are right I expect she will start laying towards the end of this month. I'll keep you posted. FAB.

Weekend Visitor.

2011-04-17T00:30:00.000+01:00

[Common] Blackbird (Turdus merula)

A fairly regular visitor to the garden, especially when there are few others around, is Mrs. Blackbird. The natural habitat of this thrush species is woodland but they can be seen almost anywhere. They last nested in our garden many years ago but were constantly threatened by various local cats. We do have one open nest box in a partially secluded location and maybe sometime in the future she and her partner may grace our small patch once again. FAB.

An Aerial View.

2011-04-16T00:31:00.001+01:00

Have a great wildlife watching weekend, wherever you are. FAB.

Pagham Harbour on a moving tide.

2011-04-14T12:16:00.000+01:00

A visit at the end of last week to Pagham Harbour in the sunshine ... what could be better and what would the day hold in store for me?

I started at the Sidlesham Visitor Centre and took a stroll to the Ferry Pool [Point 1 on the map below]where there was very little action; Avocet and Coot both asleep plus Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall and Black-headed Gulls were the main occupants on the still waters. Heading onwards the view at the head of the harbour was one of low water levels and acres of intertidal mudflats with open farmland to the west.

Whilst there appeared to be only a few Redshank busily feeding I followed the elevated pathway [towards Point 2] as this passes the reed fringed Long Pool where I listened to my first Sedge Warblers and a couple of Little Grebe squabbling over something or nothing followed by a pair of Coot mating.

A male Tufted Duck was also enjoying a 'bubble' bath.

Both sides of the pathway were bordered by the massed colourful blooms of the Blackthorn and Gorse, a haven for many insects and ....

... a Small Tortoiseshell who stopped briefly on the Blackthorn for a quick pollen fix followed by my photo call with a male Chaffinch (see previous post).

With little else to view I drove around to Church Norton [Point 3 on the map] and wandered around the churchyard just in case any new migrants might be lingering. Nothing unusual, just Chiffchaff and Blackcaps.

A Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) didn't want to show off its spotty chest and promptly flew away! A search across the estuary produced a resting Peregrine plus the usual loafing gulls, Cormorants, Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe, lots of Little Egrets, Mute Swan plus Dunlin, Grey Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew and a few Knot. Very high overhead I watched a kettle of at least 12 Common Buzzards slowly migrating northwards.

After some refreshments I switched direction and headed out along the shingle shoreline towards The Severals [more reed fringed pools at Point 4] where a Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) monitored the sky overhead for a possible predator.

A single Common Buzzard starts to climb and soar on the very warm afternoon thermals.

A lonely Lapwing surveys the incoming tide.

Searching the shingle ridges along the beach I eventually located a Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) recently returned from somewhere in Africa and trying to stay unnoticed before continuing its journey northwards. (Sorry this pic is a bit grainy but I had to crop a very distant image).

As the tide encroaches into the harbour the previously muddy gullies become a patchwork of water and most of the wildfowl and waders move to shallower locations leaving just the gulls and Cormorants to sit it out on the slowly diminishing shingle islands. I also have to remember that on a very high tide the shoreline pathway no longer becomes viable unless you want to wade knee deep through or around the nearly impenetrable overhanging branches. Fortunately on this visit the alternative route was still accessible.

Finally a [Common] Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) enjoys a spot of afternoon sunbathing. So I have once again experienced the changing mood of this important tidal estuary habitat and although many of the wildfowl and waders have been distant observations I did still log 60 species and my spirit is suitably refreshed by the experience.

Now I only had to make the two hour drive home .... if only the coast was a bit closer!! FAB.

Chaffinch Challenge.

2011-04-12T22:49:00.001+01:00

I have often been heard to say that birding and wildlife photography regularly presents a conflict for me. When I'm out birding my natural modus is to use my eyes and ears plus the bins and sometimes the scope in order to both identify plus fully appreciate what I'm watching but a voice inside my head often says 'that might be a decent image to capture' and before you know it the moment is lost. Of course the alternative would be to dedicate oneself to just photography and chase a specific quarry but then goodness knows what else I might miss seeing! Of course, as we all know, many other factors conspire against us getting the image you really want to share; like the object it too far away for the lens (that happens more often than not); the lighting conditions and your quarry just won't sit where you want it for a clear shot, just to mention a few.

During a visit to a coastal estuary last Friday any efforts to capture images of any wildfowl or waders (the reason for the visit) was thwarted initially by the low tide and everything was just a distant speck.

Fortunately a male [Common] Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) came to my rescue but provided a challenge as it was perched in the top of a hawthorn bush directly facing the mid morning sun and the closer I approached more foliage obscured parts of my quarry. Anyway here are a few of the images.

The Chaffinch is probably Britain's second commonest species (after the Wren) which breeds in all types of woodland, parks and gardens so I have no idea what he was doing way out in the open expanse of a tidal estuary.

Just to provide me with added entertainment he started to sing. Please click here to listen to the regularly repeated short and somewhat dry descending trill.

Eventually he decided to move to an open perch on the very top of a flowering Blackthorn which enables us to fully appreciate the variety of colours that this very common woodland species sports in his full breeding plumage. Now if only all the LBJ's would provide this sort of photocall capturing a decent image would be so much easier! FAB.

Please click here for more WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY images from around the globe.

Patchwalk at ECP.

2011-04-12T00:41:00.000+01:00

I have had a busy few days enjoying the continued sunshine including two visits to the coast which I'll post about later once I have sorted through the saved images. Yesterday (Monday) I made a brief mid morning visit to my local patch at Epsom Common to see if anything would pose for the camera.

Blue Tit busily hunting for a late morning meal.

As on previous visits the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) males were very vocal as they tried to entice the females into their territories but only one male came out of hiding briefly and still wouldn't show me a decent side view!

My ears followed the scratchy calls and I finally added Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) to the year list. This particular individual was constantly being chased from a patch of bramble and hawthorn by a male Blackcap.

Singing its heart out was a Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) who again presented a challenge as it was perched some 45 feet above me! One day I might take the tripod with me to make my life easier.

Back at the Stew Pond I thought better of asking the Grey Heron if it had a valid fishing permit.

One species can always be tempted into allowing a close portrait ... Mr. Canada Goose. One pair of Mandarin's were very frisky today and three other males watched in anticipation that her partner wasn't up to the task ... sorry no pics.

I also made a visit to Bookham Common and whilst trying to chase down some butterflies I heard another first for the year, a Cuckoo calling some distance away. With any luck I may get a sighting over the coming weeks but don't hold your breath for a close up photo!! FAB.

Small is Beautiful.

2011-04-08T21:08:00.001+01:00

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is often one of the first flutters to appear after hibernation, usually on warm sunny days during March. Both sexes are alike although many individuals can be seen with various aberations; particularly reduced orange colouration and the dark spots fused together resulting from exposure to low or high temperatures during the last 24 hours of the chrysalis stage or the first 48 hours of the pupal stage. Click here at UK Butterflies for more information and a wide range of images for this species.

I enjoyed the company of this individual, who is already showing signs of wing tip wear, during a lengthy walk at Pagham Harbour today.

Wherever you are I hope you have a glorious wildlife watching weekend. FAB.

Scanning the Sky.

2011-04-07T22:52:00.000+01:00

Today I travelled a little further afield to wander along the pathways of another Surrey Common once again enjoying the mid-morning chorus of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Chiffchaff (see above) plus a few more Willow Warblers with a blue sky above and Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green-veined White and Peacock butterflies flitting and skimming purposely in every direction around my feet.

Today it was the turn of the Chiffchaff to present a rear view!

I made a detour through a woodland following the mewing 'piiyay' call of a bird of prey only to find an empty blue sky but a few Llama were feeding on the nearby property. On my return route I spotted an old friend who knows this area like the back of hand with his camera pointing into some bushes. After a brief catch up he showed me some images he had taken a little earlier and suggested that we ought to find a decent spot to do some raptor watching. During the next 45 minutes or so we scanned high in the sky to the west from two separate spots and eventually located 12 Common Buzzards and 2 Sparrowhawks.

The above images of a Common Buzzard have been heavily cropped as this individual was the closest I saw but spiraling higher into the blue. We watched a number of the distant Buzzards performing their display flight where they drop with wings folded and then complete a 'loop de loop'. Despite careful scanning we failed to locate anything resembling a Goshawk this time but at least Alan has a record of what he saw not long before we met up. As we both know distant flying shapes can be deceptive and something heading directly towards us that we first thought was probably a gull actully turned out to be a Lapwing .... lol!

The only other species that came close to the lens today was a acrobatic Blue Tit.

Once again an interesting few hours out in the sunshine and made even more pleasant by the unexpected company of a very knowledgeable friend. Thanks Alan. FAB.