Marbled White.

Recently up to 13 Marbled Whites have been recorded at Bagworth Heath. Also present are Small Heath, Ringlets, Common Blue and Meadow Browns. Previously I had only seen Marbled White at Leire in Leicestershire, so an encouraging County record.

Thanks Billy.

We had a great guided tour of the top birding sites on the south shore of the Firth of Forth. A huge thank you to Bad Boy Billy Barber, ace birder, photographer, historian and wit!

 A dusting of Gannets on Bass Rock.

 Billy informs me that there are now 150,000 Gannets using the Bass Rock. This is a 24% increase on 2009. It ranks as the largest Gannetry in the world. Awesome.

Ben Lawers Delivers!

 Our recent trip to Scotland in search of Mountain Ringlet was a great success.

 Some wonderful mountain scenery was enjoyed and the weather was kind to us.

 A Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary was a nice find.

 Ben Lawers demonstrates what can be achieved when sheep and deer are excluded. More like what the Highlands should look like. A species rich gem.

 There is now a landscaped car park, but no visitor centre at Ben Lawers.

 We walked up the Edramucky Burn.

 At last the sun shone and we were rewarded with some great views of Mountain Ringlet.

 One individual was particularly friendly and seemed happy to warm up on me.

 End of a wonderful journey. My 58th British butterfly species.

 There were also Golden Ringed Dragonflies and some great flowers.

Dave Newlands book, Discover Butterflies in Britain has been a great help in our tracking down of butterflies in GB.
We stayed at Kiltyrie Farmhouse B and B, jane@bigshed.org.uk Thanks Jane for your wonderful hospitality. Stay here if you want easy access to Ben Lawers and the surrounding area. It is definitely now one of our favourite places.

June updates.

At least 2 Reed Warblers are in residence at opposite ends of the reservoir. One was seen carrying food on the 14th June. I have seen Red Kite on two occasions and hopefully they are breeding locally. Two Hobbys have also been seen hunting hirundines and dragonflies. On the 8th June a Broad Bodied Chaser was over the garden pond.
The sign explaining about the tern rafts has been installed. On the 18th a pair of Common Terns were sitting on the rafts and feeding over the reservoir. It would be fantastic if they decide to breed this year.

Kazakhstan Highlights.

 My recent trip to the deserts and mountains of Kazakhstan produced some great birds and also some stunning landscapes. Turkestan Shrike above.

 Crimson -winged Finch and Masked Wagtail-race personata.

 Azure Tit above and below.

 Below a smart Lesser Kestrel at the cemetery.

 It was a treat to watch male Pine Buntings on the mountain slopes surrounded by flowers and butterflies.

 Isabelline Wheatears were every where, possibly the most common bird!

Typical behaviour of a Desert Warbler and below a Whistling Thrush in the rain.

 Red-mantled Rosefinch in the Tien Shan mountains.

 Black-headed Wagtail above.
Below male Citrine Wagtail.

 Paddyfield Warbler below.

 Above a Saxaul Sparrow and below White winged Lark.

 Asian Grey Shrike.

 Demoiselle Cranes.

 Red Headed Bunting.

 Hume's Yellow Browed Warblers were everywhere,

 as were Spotted flycatchers.

 Eastern race of Chiffchaff.

 Red-backed Shrike, possibly a hybrid.

 Blyth's Reed Warblers were singing from every bush.

 Terek Sandpipers were the most common Wader encountered.

A Pallid Scops Owl was a great find.

Migrants from distant places.

 A single Arctic Tern was present on the 26th, having probably spent the winter in the Southern Ocean.

 This Lesser Whitethroat was one of three.

 One of my favourite birds and a visitor all the way from east Africa.

Other warblers present include Garden and Sedge.