1. Banded Demoiselle (female)
2. Common Blue Damselfly - I think?
3. Lime Hawk Moth
4. Anybody know what this is?
5. Banded Demoiselle (male)
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Bartley Wood (30th May)
Back over to Bartley Wood before the cup final kicked off!
The usual species but in larger numbers. There was a frenzy of Azure Damselflies ovipositing and saw my first Emperor Dragonfly of the year.
The usual species but in larger numbers. There was a frenzy of Azure Damselflies ovipositing and saw my first Emperor Dragonfly of the year.
Moor Green Lakes (30th May)
Went over to Moor Green Lakes to see the Grey Plover that had been reported (Berkshire tick). It was quite difficult to see hugging the close side of the new workings. It appeared to be nearly in summer plumage. On the main lake was a single Snow Goose and the Barn Owl was peering out of his box.
There were quite a few Banded Demoiselle and large numbers of Common Blue Damselfly. Also a few Large Red Damselflies.
There were quite a few Banded Demoiselle and large numbers of Common Blue Damselfly. Also a few Large Red Damselflies.
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Maidenhead Office Park
On returning from the Clubtail Dragonflies I got out of the car at work and there were a pair of Lime Hawk-moths on the wall of my office! (picture to follow shortly)
River Thames (at Wargrave)
A short walk at lunch time for Club-tailed Dragonfly. Managed to see 2 - a female/immature close up and and a probable mature male flying by.
Also here were about 10 Banded Demoiselles.
Also here were about 10 Banded Demoiselles.
Sunday, 24 May 2009
24th May (New Forest)
The only reason for this trip was to try and see a Wood Warbler. Success! One seen singing very close in the deciduous forest west of the ridge at Acres Down. Also here, a Redstart, a Woodlark and a pair of Crossbills flying over.
Now switched to dragonflies with a trip to Eyeworth Pond but the only species seen were actually by the car park, i.e. Large Red Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Saw a Cuckoo flying over which called its 'bubbling' call.
Last site was Ober Water where recorded the following species:
Broad-bodied Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Beautiful Demoiselle and my first Keeled Skimmer of the year.
Now switched to dragonflies with a trip to Eyeworth Pond but the only species seen were actually by the car park, i.e. Large Red Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly. Saw a Cuckoo flying over which called its 'bubbling' call.
Last site was Ober Water where recorded the following species:
Broad-bodied Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Beautiful Demoiselle and my first Keeled Skimmer of the year.
23rd May (Bartley Wood)
Similar species to the other day (Broad-bodied Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser) but also a Blue-tailed Damselfly.
23rd May (Thursley Common)
Decided on a another trip to Thursley Common for dragonflies. First impression was that were large numbers of Four-spotted Chasers and small numbers of Large Red Damselflies. The only other species was a Common Blue Damselfly.
Birds included Hobby, Restart, a couple of Woodlarks and 2 Tree Pipits.
Birds included Hobby, Restart, a couple of Woodlarks and 2 Tree Pipits.
Friday, 22 May 2009
21st May (Norfolk)
Decided to go for a 2 day trip to tick off the good birds in Norfolk. However, as most things had departed overnight it ended up being a day trip.
First stop, Wayland Wood, but no sign of any Golden Pheasants.
Second stop was Cley. After paying for my permit I first needed some sustenance so asked for ham sandwich and a coffee at the visitor centre. Oh! We don't serve sandwiches until 11.30 - 'forget it' was my polite response!
As the Collared Pratincole had been reported from North Hide I decided to walk directly there. Wrong move! Once I got to North Hide I managed to pick the bird up distantly on the scrape viewable very well from Daukes hide - grrr.
On the way to North Hide got some fairly good views of the 3 adult Spoonbills.
Continued to walk around the reserve which was somewhat lacking in variety of waders - the only one of note was a Greenshank on Arnold's marsh.
A good view of Bearded Tit was had on the way to the three hides but the Collared Pratincole wasn't showing from Daukes hide. An unusual site was a female Pochard with 9 ducklings - I'm not sure if I have seen Pochard ducklings in Britain before.
Birdline wasn't reporting anything interesting so I went to Titchwell but the only worthwhile thing to see was a female Red-crested Pochard with 5 ducklings. The water levels were too high for any waders.
Next stop was Weeting Heath which eventually yielded a distant Stone Curlew which was just identifiable in the heat haze. A nice bonus was 3 Spotted Flycatchers in the wood.
The last stop was Lakenheath Fen with pessimistic thoughts of seeing a Golden Oriole. I was right - possibly heard one but the only highlights were a Hobby and a briefly 'booming' Bittern heard.
First stop, Wayland Wood, but no sign of any Golden Pheasants.
Second stop was Cley. After paying for my permit I first needed some sustenance so asked for ham sandwich and a coffee at the visitor centre. Oh! We don't serve sandwiches until 11.30 - 'forget it' was my polite response!
As the Collared Pratincole had been reported from North Hide I decided to walk directly there. Wrong move! Once I got to North Hide I managed to pick the bird up distantly on the scrape viewable very well from Daukes hide - grrr.
On the way to North Hide got some fairly good views of the 3 adult Spoonbills.
Continued to walk around the reserve which was somewhat lacking in variety of waders - the only one of note was a Greenshank on Arnold's marsh.
A good view of Bearded Tit was had on the way to the three hides but the Collared Pratincole wasn't showing from Daukes hide. An unusual site was a female Pochard with 9 ducklings - I'm not sure if I have seen Pochard ducklings in Britain before.
Birdline wasn't reporting anything interesting so I went to Titchwell but the only worthwhile thing to see was a female Red-crested Pochard with 5 ducklings. The water levels were too high for any waders.
Next stop was Weeting Heath which eventually yielded a distant Stone Curlew which was just identifiable in the heat haze. A nice bonus was 3 Spotted Flycatchers in the wood.
The last stop was Lakenheath Fen with pessimistic thoughts of seeing a Golden Oriole. I was right - possibly heard one but the only highlights were a Hobby and a briefly 'booming' Bittern heard.
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Selsey/Pagham/Thursley
Woke up at 3am and decided to go sea-watching at Selsey Bill. Failed to see any skuas but there was a fair passage of Common Scoter (48 in all). Other birds of note were 5 Guillemots (w), 2 summer plumage Great Northern Divers (w) and a pair of Eiders offshore.
Little at Sidlesham but a few Black-tailed Godwits. A few Blue-tailed Damselflies there.
At Thursley one Four-spotted Chaser and a Large Red Damselfly. Birds included two male Redstarts, a Tree Pipit and a singing Woodlark.
Little at Sidlesham but a few Black-tailed Godwits. A few Blue-tailed Damselflies there.
At Thursley one Four-spotted Chaser and a Large Red Damselfly. Birds included two male Redstarts, a Tree Pipit and a singing Woodlark.
Monday, 18 May 2009
Dragonflies (Bartley Wood)
1. Four-spotted Chaser 2. Broad-bodied Chaser
3. Large Red Damselfly 4. Four-spotted/Broad-bodied Chasers
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Stodmarsh
An early afternoon visit to Stodmarsh and an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen flying over the A249 at Detling.
After finding the Marsh hide the Black-winged Pratincole was seen on the ground near a Greylag Goose. The reduced red on the bill and the tail shorter than the wings should eliminate Collared Pratincole.
Tried to find a Turtle Dove without success but did see a fly over Hobby (which some were calling as Peregrine!) and two drake Garganey from the viewing ramp. Also a Ruff there.
Then drove over to Oare Marshes seeing another Hobby over the M2 en-route. Very little at Oare - the highlight being Avocets and 5 Little Egrets.
After finding the Marsh hide the Black-winged Pratincole was seen on the ground near a Greylag Goose. The reduced red on the bill and the tail shorter than the wings should eliminate Collared Pratincole.
Tried to find a Turtle Dove without success but did see a fly over Hobby (which some were calling as Peregrine!) and two drake Garganey from the viewing ramp. Also a Ruff there.
Then drove over to Oare Marshes seeing another Hobby over the M2 en-route. Very little at Oare - the highlight being Avocets and 5 Little Egrets.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Dinton Pastures (again)
Another visit to Dinton (Lea Farm GP) on Wednesday evening showed that the 9 Black Terns were still present and hawking insects over the gravel pit. I think this is the largest flock I have seen in Berkshire (!)
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Little Marlow GP (lunch time)
There was a Little Tern on the spit and some waders flying around were 3 Ruff and 4 Dunlin. Also here were 2 Common Sandpipers and a fly-past Hobby.
Romania Birds (Sigma 50-500) + one animal!
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