Friday 29 August 2014

Migration in full flow.

 A very confiding Common Sandpiper was in the outflow. There have also been up to  5 Grey Wagtails and 4 Yellow Wagtails recently.

 Fly over Curlew.
 Two Swifts were over the res today 29th August along with all 3 hirundines.
 Little Egret in the top pool today.
A probable first winter male Redstart was a good find by John today, again in the popular location of Redstart Hedge! There were good numbers of other warblers including Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. There were also 4 Spotted Flycatchers in the fields below the dam. A Hobby was also watched chasing hirundines.
A Spitfire was also migrating!!

Sunday 10 August 2014

Common Scoter.

I managed to locate a female or possibly juvenile Common Scoter yesterday afternoon. It was frequenting the central area of the reservoir. It was constantly raising its head and seemed to be rather nervous. I tried to look for it this am ,but weather conditions made this difficult. There are still plenty of Tufted duck to sieve through!

Thursday 7 August 2014

Rough Butterflies today.

Butterflies tend to be easier to ID and these 3 posed nicely. There were several Holly Blues on the wing.
  I love Small Coppers. Little gems.
A wonderful Comma. Just wish I had a shot of the Clouded Yellow that was an all too brief visitor.

Clouded Yellow in Garden.

Another garden butterfly tick today in the form of a Clouded Yellow. First seen on a Buddleia in the garden and then on a Geranium at 1045. Annoyingly I did not have a chance to grab a photo before it flew up and away over the house. Perhaps we are in for an invasion this summer. There is also a SWF still frequenting the rough.

Monday 4 August 2014

Brown Hairstreak at last.

 A second trip to Grafton Flyford, just east of Worcester, was successful.
A total of 3 females were seen egg laying.
Well worth the wait and now one of my favourite butterflies, and definitely the top hairstreak. Nice that the females are so photogenic and happy to pose. Approx. 8 SW Fritillaries were also seen.