Monday 3 May 2010

At last I've got a decent male Orange Tip Photo! This one was in my garden late this afternoon.


The walk this morning was far from being butterfly weather though. It was cloudy, with a cold northerly wind - very unpleasant. It was hard going finding any birds for the first hour, which was spent around Migrant alley, the College Grounds and the tree Nursery. Migrant species were few, up to 8 SWALLOWS braved the conditions, feeding over the paddocks, and 3 TURTLE DOVES were noted at the scrub at the north end of Migrant Alley. A WHITETHROAT sang from the hedgerow between the Tree Nursery and Ashes lane. Only one CHIFFCHAFF was heard at the College Grounds along with a single BLACKCAP. Of the resident species, SONGTHRUSH and BLACKBIRD were heard to sing, a MISTLE THRUSH collected food for its nestlings, and two GOLDCRESTS chased around a pine tree in the College Grounds.

It got a little brighter on the second part of my walk over to the Lakeside scrub, and the first sighting of a BUZZARD (54), flying low over as I left the house, with its attendent CARRION CROW tormenting it, was the first seen this month, and further along Ashes Lane a YELLOWHAMMER was singing. In the Small Holding, JAY, BULLFINCH, GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS as well as a SPARROWHAWK were added to the list, which was looking a little healthier now.

There was a bit more song heard at the Lakeside scrub, but not as much as should be heard for early May, the CUCKOO called, and it was good to hear the GARDEN WARBLER singing, more Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs also sang, and at last I added a GREAT TIT to the day list! A small group of LONG TAILED TITS were observed collecting food, and as I watched, the first TREECREEPER (55) of the month appeared, this took my attention, and I saw it fly over to a tree trunk and feed its mate.

Despite the cold conditions, I tallied up a daylist of 46, a little below par for a May day, but a short afternoon walk over to Migrant Alley saw me add SKYLARK to the list, and more interestingly SWIFT, of which 20 odd dropped down low from out of a big shower cloud that had just gone through, all migrants heading North.

This Robin above, was already on my skywatching seat over at Migrant Alley this afternoon, looks like it's doing some skywatching of its own.

Above is the Buzzard that flew over, with its tormentor. Whilst below is an attempt to photograph a swift - not an easy task!






17 comments:

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Still not had a treecreeper for the year warren and not for want of trying...will it be the embarrasing gap on 31st Dec?
I have got loads of shots of empty sky or blurred tail end of swift with lots of empty sky...not a bad effort!

Cheers

Davo
PS had to light the fire again this arvo absolutely freezing up here today!

Phil said...

Really nice Orange Tip shot Warren ditto the Robin. Weatherwise I think it can only get better:-)

Kelly said...
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Kelly said...
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Kelly said...

...Warren my post keeps deleting. Let's try again. The spring weather doesn't seem to be cooperating for you, but you did get a beautiful photo of the butterfly and robin,

Kelly said...

...it worked that time. I'm using an iPad for the first time so it was probably user error,

Warren Baker said...

I got the first message in my email in box kelly :-), thanks!

ShySongbird said...

Great Robin photo, Warren and also the Orange tip, I knew you wouldn't be happy until you got a shot like that! It has been really cold here today, we seem to have taken a step back since entering May :(

Speaking of Treecreepers, I was quite close to one the other day but the only photo I managed was a wing and a great big foot!

Well done also on adding two new birds to your month list yesterday despite the weather, I inadvertently missed your post.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Warren: I certainly agree with you about trying to capture a swift, they just move too fast.

Greenie said...

Warren ,
Spot on with the Orange Tip .
You seem to have avoided the hail showers today .

kirstallcreatures said...

A great pic of the Orange Tip, I never manage to catch sight of them other than on the wing. Cold, cold, cold (and overcast)here in Leeds today, the sun has only just got out. Linda

Kerry said...

Lovely shot of that Robin. It has been cold here today though once again we have been blessed with delightful sunny weather: makes walking a pleasure. Still got the woodburner roaring away though even with the sun. Not seen a single swift yet and very few swallows around, though the whitethroats are here in force now.

Ken. said...

Hi Warren.
That's a great orange Tip photo.
I know what you mean about trying to photograph Swift's, I attempted it last week at Stodmarsh.

Anonymous said...

You had better day than me Warren. Far too windy for the birds and far too cold for any butterflies. Talking of which, nice Orange Tip.

Dave Jordan said...

Hi Warren
Nice shot of the orange tip, what camera do you use?
Dave

Monika said...

Looks like the orange tip might be a butterfly species we have in common!

Nice shot of the swift - getting photos of swifts or swallows in flight is no easy task!

Ipin said...

Nice orange tip Warren!