Today's weather was much improved, and some long sunny spells were had during this afternoons walk. I walked over to the lake area, via the small holding and wet woods, then a quick circuit of Migrant Alley - my normal for this time of year. The small holding had 3 GREEN WOODPECKERS when I arrived, they took a disliking to me, and flew up into the large pear trees, and hid round the opposite side of the trunks, thinking I couldn't see them, little did they know I had already sneaked a photo of one of them :-).
There was also a loose feeding flock of GREAT TITS, BLUE TITS, a couple of TREECREEPERS and a NUTHATCH, as well as a BULLFINCH and half a dozen CHAFFINCH. In the wet woods I found 3 GOLDCRESTS and a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, the former were scanned carefully to make sure they weren't Firecrests, a species I have seen in the woods before.
The lake had just 3 CANADA GEESE, 2 MALLARD and a MOORHEN, which I flushed out from the bank, sending it ''running'' across the water. The MARSH TIT called from the scrub, probably the same one that visited my garden yesterday, its only 150 yards away as the ''Tit'' flies! A quick look round the rest of the scrub only produced the usual WREN, ROBIN, BLACKBIRD, SONGTHRUSH, more Tits and Finch's, but not the Redwing or Fieldfare I had hoped for, these winter thrushes seem to pass my patch and go straight for the orchards at this time of year.
I made my way over to Migrant Alley, passing through the tree nursery, but this had a work party in, so nothing was seen there. just before I climbed over the fence, to get from the Grenhouse complex to Migrant Alley, a butterfly flew past me and alighted on the edge of some polytunnels, it was a Painted lady, looking quite good for this time of year. At migrant alley I just had time for a circuit of the fields and paddocks, and a 20 minute skywatch. The large flock of LINNETS seen recently, had mostly moved on, just 2 remained, also 2 MEADOW PIPITS were flushed from the grass. PIED WAGTAILS were numerous - probably around a couple of dozen, and a YELLOWHAMMER posed on a fenceline for a photo. I looked back towards the Greenhouses, and saw a KESTREL hunting over the rough grounds there.
Taking my seat, by the tall hedge, for a skywatch, I found myself listening to a familiar trilling, for in the hedge was a foraging party of LONG TAILED TITS, around a dozen moved along the hedgerow, then upon reaching the end, flew out one at a time over to the small copse by the greenhouses. My actual skywatch didn't produce much, a few single SKYLARKS went over, 3 BLACK HEADED and a lone HERRING GULL, also a CORMORANT - only the second sighting of this species for the month.
Above: Painted lady, alomost a perfect specimen.
Above and below is the YELLOWHAMMER, this one looks to be a female, they aren't quite so yellow as the males.
Lastly, One of the Green woodpeckers, seen at the small holding
6 comments:
This is a nice butterfly and in perfect shape. No wing damage. I like the two bird photos too. Both are different from anything around here.
To answer your question, I am only confined to the house on days that I cannot get my breath outside. Too hot or humid or cold and I must stay inside. Also if there is any exertion like walking or working I have to be careful and usually would need oxygen. My lungs are not in good shape and I also suffer from astham and emphysema. One lung has collapsed twice already which is a horrible feeling of suffocation. And you would suffocate if you could not get your chest opened to suck the air out from the collapsed lung. Most of or perhaps 99 percent of my photos are taken in my backyard. But sometimes I do have my wife drive me to a different place but seldom for taking pictures.
Hi Warren.
Your a lucky man to have Marsh Tit's on your garden list. You don't see them very often.
Nice photo of what looks like a female Green Woodpecker.
Glad to hear someone had some decent light. It`s seemed like night time for the last 48hrs, up here.
Nice set of pics, Warren. Oh, and pleased that you`ve confirmed that you`re carrying on bloggin.
Nice! I'd love to see that green woodpecker, no such thing here. I did see a sapsucker today but couldn't get a photo, dang it.
Green Woody, your just rubbing it in lol, STILL would love to see one. :)
A great list of birds again Warren and a lovely set of photos the female Yellowhammer was posing beautifully! I love the trilling sound of LTTs, so pretty.
It does seem late to still be seeing butterflies and one in such good condition too!
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