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| Bluebells from the Wet Woods |
The early visit to the College Grounds didn't give me the Spotted Flycatcher I was looking for, but a whole host of regulars turned out including, BULLFINCH, COAL TIT, GOLDREST, PIED WAGTAIL, LINNET, CHIFFCHAFF, BLACKCAP, MISTLE THRUSH and GREEN WOODPECKER.
Walking back the way I'd came, across Migrant Alley, a YELLOW WAGTAIL was heard calling as it flew over, I just about picked it out against the blue sky, the first of two that were recorded going over today.
In the Scrubby Woods today I was at last rewarded for my persistence when I heard my first TURTLE DOVE (94,60) of the year singing, I tracked it down to an over head power cable, and had good views through my bins :-) I used to record up to 10 pairs here a decade ago, when the noise of their massed ''purring'' was quite something to hear! Although this year they have turned up two days earlier than last, the Turtle Doves are 13 days later than the 12 year Median average date, and are the second latest recorded in that 12 years.
Over on the adjacent lakes, I got to see two well grown young COOTS being fed by both parents, but apart from that there were 8 CANADA GEESE, 2 GREYLAG GEESE ( one still incubating), two male MALLARDS and the feral BARNACLE GOOSE.
My mid morning sky watch, from my favoured seat at Migrant Alley, was notable for a pair of MUTE SWANS that flew over, my third sighting of this species this month, normally that would be my yearly quota :-) BUZZARD, KESTREL, HERRING GULL, SKYLARK, another Yellow Wagtail, and a calling LITTLE OWL from over at the Greenhouse Copse were the best of the rest, making for a days tally of 49 species.
Not much action for the camera today, birds were not co-operating, and the Butterflies not stopping, but I did get to photograph this Large Red Damselfly from my garden :-)
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| Fresh Large Red Damselfly |
7 comments:
Very nice Damselfly Warren indeed, as for my Orange Tip mission, I think I have nailed it. On blog later.
I'll take a look later on then Marc :-)
Very nice shot of damselfly Warren. I was running after a little egret today, the 20th in Iceland but it does not want to show off when I'm looking for it..
Some nice birds showing up for you now :) Lovely photo of the damsel - I saw my first Large Reds today too, also first Blue-tailed. Summer's (nearly) here :)
Warren ,
Well done finally finding the Turtle Dove .
Your damselfly looks like a female of the form 'fulvipes' .
Lovely to see the Bluebells Warren and the damsel too. Well done on the Turtle Dove, so glad you have seen and heard one this time, perhaps there will be more to follow :-)
Yes of course I could guess what sort of book you were reading :-) I recently bought Tales of a Tabloid Twitcher, not that I'm into twitching, I don't know what it will be like and will be a while before I get to it as I have a towering stack of to read books!
Never enough time in the day is there Songbird ! :-)
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