Sunday

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A very obliging Buzzard...


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Garganey

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Juvenile Little Grebe

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Lapwing

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AMENDMENT - Thanks to John - Migrant Hawker (Aeshna Mixta)

For more information on these lovely creatures and their relatives, please visit the link below:-

http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/aemix.html

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AMENDMENT: Thanks to John - Common Darter.

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My last Devon post :-

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You cannot go to Devon without seeing Branscombe (a pretty little village with lots of flowers and birds!), after which we went to Beer; then Seaton (where we should have gone with friends a few weeks ago, but I was working, and hopefully we will do that soon). Seaton was great. The hide is perfect for an all round view and great for seeing Kingfishers. We then went to Powderham, Cockwood and then finished the evening at Dawlish Warren. It was a beautiful evening and having chased a Kingfisher around the pool, and then a Wheatear around the beach we decided we were too tired to go looking for waders (although it would have been a perfect time as the tide was low and the light was fabulous). Instead, we sat on the beach and watched the sun set. These are the last of my pics (I think!)...

Wheatear on the beach at Dawlish Warren...


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Robin at Seaton...

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Robin at Dawlish Warren...

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Carrion Crow - Dawlish Warren...

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Stonechat (It was acting very strange - I thought it may be a Whitchat at first)...

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Llamas (I think). We passed a gateway and I spotted them and summoned the Abbot to turn the car around and go back :-)

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Dragon Fly at Seaton...

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I think this may be the result of a hatched Moth or Butterfly. Spotted at Dawlish Warren. I do find some strange things - I was intrigued by it :-)

Today and Devon

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We've been to Walmsley today (with a quick look at Par on the way home). Met up with DJ and Tara and had a very relaxing day. Walmsley is such a tranquil place. My head count was 53 with the morning garden head count added on. Even when I think I'm taking it easy with the camera I still seem to take too many and I've not sorted out all my images from Devon yet, so today will have to keep for a little longer.

More from Devon...

Small Copper & Comma Burtterflies...




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More from yesterday...

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Wandering around the grounds of Powderham Castle (you don't have to pay to do this - well we didn't anyway!). It was lovely. Lots of Dragon Flies around the lake, Butterflies, a Heron who poked his head up as I was glancing over a hedge (that was a surprise!). I spotted something in the corner of my eye. I don't know how mind as this little guy was so well camouflaged! I managed to get a few shots, but they move so fast. I've not seen many Treecreepers, so I was thrilled to get a picture too and they are so pretty close up. Sexing these is a hard one... I'm going for male!


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We had a really lovely day today, but I'm tired and I have to look after my sister's four children tomorrow so no time to stay up late fiddling! My head count for the day: 59 (with a life tick). I don't know where to start with my pictures. I really need to cut down how many I take! I shall start with these. There were two - 'Deer of them' :-)... They were just chilling out and snoozing!

It has been a busy day today, but I've been reflecting on the last year. I have learnt so much, but I still have a long, long way to go, and with little spare time. I'm in danger of becoming soppy now, so I'll move on SWIFTLY... as they have :-)
At lunchtime when I came home I was in the garden stocking the feeders and I heard something - very vocal as it flew across, as if it wanted to make it's presence known. I only got a glimpse. I ran to get my bins and fled from the front door (as it headed that way)... I lost it :-(
Having seen a number of Fieldfare in this vicinity last winter I listened to my bird song CD. It sounded like one, but its too early. Maybe just wishful thinking! Anyhow, this got me thinking about another visitor I had in the garden last winter so I thought I would put it up tonight. I've seen the odd Goldcrest throughout the summer, and we had a Goldcrest and a Firecrest visiting the garden through last winter so I'm hoping they return this year...

Goldcrest

Starling in the garden



Chaffinch in the garden



Dunnock in the garden



Little Egret on the Camel Trail



Hybrid/Escapee/? Bar Headed Goose at Par

Lackey Moth Caterpillar Tent? Taken yesterday. I've taken shots of small caterpillar tents at Par, but this one was huge and covered the whole bush.

ADDITIONAL NOTE 23.11.09 - Jowan suggested that this was "furze mite Epitetranychs lintearius". Many thanks.

Today the Abbot went off alone, in search of waders after dropping me in Wadebridge. I went for a walk with Derek, Sam & poppy (just under 6 miles along the Camel) and I know I will ache in the morning, but I need the exercise as I don't seem to have been getting much lately and Sam said she needed it too. Even Poppy was exhausted and pleased to get to the finish line! Anyway, my day list was: 55. The highlights for me were: Common Gull 1 (of which I have a bad quality shot). Derek asked me to name the Gull. I took a little prompting (pointing out the obvious!), but got it right and it was a relief considering earlier I'd been looking over some way in the distance at what I thought were Blackwits and Derek (after a short silence) informed me they were Curlew! I'm not sure there's much hope for me after that, but I was getting tired by this time. I've not seen a Common Gull since last year at Stithians (which was my first) so I was chuffed. We saw 9 Mediterraean Gulls too, and this week I think I'm going to leave the camera in the car, take the scope out and go looking for Meds. I don't take many pictures when I'm with Derek & Sam. I just enjoy watching and learning. Thanks again guys. Afterwards the Abbot and I went for a drive. I had a lovely view of a Goldcrest in a lane near Ninestones and a Sparrowhawk (99.999% anyway!). I also added a Raven to my day list - it was calling too so I had a positive ID. Further down the road I spotted a couple of Buzzards soaring, so we stopped. They were to my right and probably glad to be out of the limelight from what I then noticed to my left - a commotion between Corvids, a Magpie and 1 Gull. The Gull retreated before I got the camera from the car, but I managed to get some shots of the others, albeit bad quality, but it was fun to watch...

I think this is Carrion Crow, Rook & Jackdaw (However, I can't rule out the first one from being a Raven as I know they were in the area, but the tail is not wedged WITH A POINT???)
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Magpie & Crow?
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Magpie, Crows & Jackdaw?
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Today I stayed at home to do some work, while the Abbot went off merrily to Par :-(

Having done 'some' work I decided it was time to scrub the bird feeders. The birds waited patiently in and around the trees over the fence for about an hour, and I'm sure they appreciated it, as it was a free for all as soon as everything was re-stocked! :-)

I had an hour at Par this afternoon and targeted the Budlia in a place where I know it is still in flower, hoping for Butterflies as the sun was shining. We were not disappointed and even though I've not had much time, my "bird" day list is still an acceptable 39 with my Butterflies being 5!

Red Admiral






Speckled Wood



Painted Lady

Major repair works required!

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