Sunday 28 July 2013

After last evenings rain, this morning felt fresher than of late in the SW breeze, but at least there were some sunny spells to be enjoyed during the 4 hour patch visit.
A view through the heart of Migrant Alley - no migrants here today though
Once again, I tallied up a fair few bird species this morning, 50 to be exact, a couple down on yesterday, as I didn't see Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Pheasant or Coot today, but I added HOBBY, one was seen hunting over the main Lake, and MANDARIN DUCK, an Immature, which was also on the Main Lake.

Everything else noted was the same as yesterday, flyovers from the three Gull species, LESSER BLACK BACKED, HERRING and BLACK HEADED as well as GREY HERON, YELLOWHAMMER and HOUSE MARTIN all helped the list along, as did the three other Raptor species seen - SPARROWHAWK, BUZZARD and KESTREL, the family of which continue to show at the Greenhouse Grounds, where once again the immature GREY WAGTAIL was seen. Over 100 GEESE were again seen at Migrant Alley 90% were GREYLAGS, with the rest being CANADA'S.
I cant resist photographing the Kestrels when they sit on the Greenhouse!
Kestrel
Not much song was heard today, just one BLACKCAP, one CHIFFCHAFF and a TREECREEPER were of note, although SONGTHRUSH, DUNNOCK, WREN and LINNET also did their bit, along with the efforts of COLLARED DOVE, WOODPIGEON, and STOCK DOVE, if their repetitive sound counts as a song  :-)

As yesterday, I spent some time at the greenhouses early this afternoon photographing the Butterflies, where I found Large and Small Whites, Large and Small Skippers, Meadow Brown, Gate Keeper, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Common Blue and Comma.
This is just the second Common Blue Butterfly on my patch this year
Common Blue
I found a newer Small Copper than yesterdays specimen
Good job it perched low down, as the wind today made for difficult photography
Small Copper
Small Copper

6 comments:

Greenie said...

Warren ,
Lets hope the second brood Common Blue does well , otherwise we might have to rename it !

Marc Heath said...

Top shots Warren, some of your best I would say. The underwing on the Common Blue and Small Copper are superb.

Warren Baker said...

Greenie,
Ive only got the one on my patch at the moment, reckon it wants renaming now!

Warren Baker said...

Marc,
Thanks mate, coming from you, someone who's photography I admire, thats a real compliment :-)

Alan Pavey said...

Your shots are consistently stunning Mate, nice to get the Common Blue, I have only seen one this year. 50 was a good tally, only managed around 30 at the castle it was very quiet!

Warren Baker said...

Alan,
Ive seen double the Common Blues you have then ! :-)