Saturday 29 August 2015

Early cloud slowly broke up to give some sunny intervals this morning, when it felt very pleasant without any wind.

I spent a couple of hours around Migrant Alley and the Greenhouse Grounds first thing, where a few bits and pieces were found. The 50 + GOLDFINCH flock in the Greenhouse Grounds were joined by at least 8 GREENFINCH and 3 LINNETS, plus nearby, 3 CHIFFCHAFFS, 3 WHITETHROATS, 2 BLACKCAPS and a WILLOW WARBLER, only the third of the year, were all seen. The excitement for the visit though, was provided by the first Autumn sighting of a MEADOW PIPIT (74) the earliest Autumn arrival of this species for my patch, by 2 days  :-)


Immature Goldfinch


........and another

Overhead, notable flyovers from a single CORMORANT, a skein of 6 CANADA GEESE, a couple of HOUSE MARTINS, a HOBBY, 2 BUZZARDS, 1 KESTREL, 4 BLACK HEADED GULLS and 2 HERRING GULLS were seen.

As I left for home I came across this cracking Clouded Yellow Butterfly in the Greenhouse Grounds.


I didn't have my Macro lens on me, but the 100 -400 lens did quite a good job



The shorter patch visit made it possible for me to take time off and visit Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve, where I spent some time in the Willow Hide photographing a few bits, i'll put those up on later posts.

4 comments:

Marc Heath said...

Cracking Clouded Yellow. The lens certainly performed well here.

Warren Baker said...

Marc,
I'm pleased with the versatility of the 100-400mk2, not quite as good as the Macro, but then you wouldn't expect it to be :-)

Pete Woodruff said...

The Clouded Yellow....WOW. You make me sick Warren, you know that don't you!!

Warren Baker said...

Pete,
Sorry mate !