Newton St Loe Patch Walk

Date: 29/06/2015

Location: Newton St Loe - Patch Walk

Observation: A beautiful day and on leaving the front door the male Bullfinch was on our tree, over the last week we've seen 2m 1f and and Juvenile.

Also late news Saturday night around 2am while wasting hours on the computer heard a Tawny Owl very close, on looking out window, right next to me it called again it was perched on top the feeder tree! Magpies were calling and squawking, after the female Tawny Owl yelped a few more time it flew of. That takes our feeder tree count to 34 not bad for a urban car park ! 

 Weather: Hot Temp 23c, Blue Skies + Bright Sunshine!

Other Species: Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Little Owl, Buzzard, Blackcap, Treecreaper, Whitethroat, Swifts, Barn Swallow, House Martins.

Butterflies: Red Admiral, Comma, Ringlet, Small Tortoise, Marbled Whites, Large Skipper, Small White.

 Comma Butterfly this must be second brood as not seen on patch since 6th April 2015.

Always a great looking butterfly the Small Tortoiseshell.

And the Ringlet never quite keeping still today.

After walking through Village saw a Buzzard looking and hoping no doubt that he could catch one of the many hundrines soaring over farm shop, out through church and to lakes few fisherman on Lake and the we heard the screech of a Little Owl couldn't locate but 100% first time heard or seen since April 16th. Fingers crossed they've had a good breeding year as last year saw 5! Also at Lake Mute Swan still with 4 youngsters few Dragonflies not stopping though.

Then the star a Male Kingfisher dived into lake giving me chance to get a bit closer I took the opportunity and stealthy waded through the grass.

Giving his sultry over the shoulder look !

On walking back saw his mate on lower lake, then at Fisherman's car park a Mrs Blackcap just popped up not 5m in front of me !! So intent on filling her beak up don't think she noticed us.

Lacewings and caterpillars cour de bleu  for birds ! :)

 Check Back Soon !

Hirundines + Cygnets!

Date: 27th June 2015 - 1PM

Location:  Newton Park Lake Circular

 Observation:  Went for a quick wander out to the Lake this morning, didn't have binoculars or camera on me (all pictures were from Thursday evening walk). I went the Lake way rather then through the campsite, as they were busy on site again. A Buzzard was being mobbed by a Crow up the Lane, the Buzzard joined another one above the field which was being cut by the farmer.

I then moved on to the Village and the Hirundines were out in full force catching flies, landing on the surrounding wires and picking up grit off the road.

At the Lake, the was no sign of the Little Owl (hasn't been seen since 16th April), it doesn't normally disappear around April time and return June, with chicks (after fledging the nest), I did hear a sound of young birds whilst walking around the Lake, just looked at young Owl calls and is very similar so fingers crossed they have been successful this year!

The Mute Swan family were doing well, with still 4 cygnets remaining, and they look like there doing well with both parents staying close, and the young feeding.

Weather:  Blue Sky, Hot, Sunny

Other Species: Swift, Barn Swallow, House Martin, House Sparrow, Buzzard, Kestrel, Crow, Jackdaw, Robin, Mute Swan (+4 Cygnets) - Of Note

Butterflies +  Dragonflies: Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, European Peacock, Broad-Bodied Chaser - Of Note

Thanks For Reading !

Patch Walk - Newton St Loe

Date: 23/06/2015

Location: Newton St Loe - Patch Walk 

Observation: Headed out from home, seeing 3 Bullfinch on our tree, M/F and Juvenile, then a Greenfinch landed nice start to the walk. 

Rather Smart Looking Eh ?!

Not had the Greenfinches much this year had 4/5 last year .

Out through the campsite, busy,noisy and dusty. On Dog Walk Wren, Blackbirds, Robin were chirping and hiding in now overgrown woodland path. 

While watching the Skylark soar spotted these caterpillars they are European Peacocks Caterpillars.

Large Skippers about I noticed them going into Japanese Knot weed flowers 

this one on Red Clover.

First one of the year Cinnabar Moth 

Meadow Browns around 5/6 and 2 Ringlets

After all the work at campsite thought we wouldn't see Marbled White again but further up towards Seven Acre woods there were 4 not stopping much but managed to capture this one, Nice !

After chatting with some other like minded people this Yellowhammer popped up surrounded by flies !

Out through Village into churchyard seen this Goldcrest thought at first Hummingbird !!

 but no punk rocker Goldcrest !

Lots of hidden Juveniles about just peeping out !

Grey Heron high on tree overlooking lake.

On Top Lake Mute Swan family seem to have lost one Cygnet only 4 left now .

Weather: Cloudy, Some Sunshine + Warm 

Other Species: Bullfinch, Kestrel, Buzzard, Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greenfinch, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Swift, Pied Wagtail.

Butterflies: Small Tortoiseshell, Marbled Whites x4, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Large Skipper.

Thanks For Looking ! 

Blue Skies + Some Butterflies

Date: 16/06/2015 - 18/06/2015

Location: Collard Hill & Greylake - Tuesday - 
Draycott and Black Rock, Cheddar - Thursday

Observation: Sunshine was forecast so headed to Collard Hill in search of Large Blue, but hardly any butterflies Marbled Whites and lot of Meadow Browns were the dominate species a few Common Blue and Large Skippers as well.

While looking for butterfly's looked up and there was a Kestrel in hunting mode. No one seemed to notice !

Small Heath's in small numbers

After a disappointing but lovely walk down ...then up... down ...then up again, felt like the Duke of York! Headed towards Greylake.

A Hobby was first spot hawking across reserve with Oystercatcher, Redshank & chicks in front hide. A lot of tall grass and reeds now. On Window was this Small Magpie Moth, looks like a marbled white butterfly !

Outside hide a beautiful Red Admiral perched nicely unusual I thought !

Then the Hobbies prey Dragonfly's only seen 3 but this one perched well.

  Four Spotted Chaser Female 

Walking day Wednesday check my other site out HERE

So Thursday more sunshine, Headed to Draycott second time here some great views nice place to sit and wonder ! 

Not many butterflies Marbled Whites, Common Blues, Large Skippers saw this Dragon near top its a Anax imperator or Emperor Dragonfly, latin better ! Superb thing against Green Grass !

Marbled Whites very mobile.

After couple of hours headed to Black Rock - Cheddar.

 Could hear Redstart's saw juvenile Wren scrabbling up bank and over head a Raven calling. 

On first sunny slope I came to this Dark Green Fritilary soared over grasses, Initially thought Silver Washed but Doh ! On looking its Dark Green Fritilary.

Still a cracking Butterfly only 2.

 Also Large Skippers, Small Heaths, Green Hairstreak and Grizzled Skippers here.

Then on way back a Redstart saw male and female superb looking bird, shame couldn't make the most of it camera setting clicked up to F29 ! 

I've no ideal ....0/30 shutter !

Weather: Warm, Sunny Skies - Temp around 20c 

Other Species: Kestrel, Meadow Pipits, Skylark, Hobby, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Linnet, Redstart, Raven, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk.

Butterflies: Dark Green Fritilary, Brimstone, Common Blue, Small Heath, Large Skipper, Marbled White, Red Admiral, Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper, Speckled Wood.

 Thanks For Looking :)

Painted Lady's at Seven Acre

Date: 15/06/2015

Location: Newton St Loe Patch 

Observation: Headed out through Campsite or Bath Mill Lodge Retreat still lots of ground works going on with grass being ripped up and trees being cut down, although planting more. Finished in August ! 

Carried on up to dog track with Robins, Wrens and Blackbird Fledglings bobbing around.

This Yellowhammer almost let me get a clean shot !

At Seven Acre 2 Buzzards circling and mewing above,

Also Large Skippers on track.

Then a Painted Lady flitted past ! My first this year and on patch, Nice.

Noticed it was lowering abdomen into thistle, when it took off there where small black dots on plant ? Eggs ?

Carried on along track and hid in field for 10 mins trying to get photo of Whitethroat !! 

That's the best i could do !

Village and walk to Lake not much else, but Mute Swan and 5 Cygnets seem to be well. Back along Newton Park Drive notice a juvenile Kestrel in field at distance squawking for Mum. 2 more Buzzards over Stanton Prior and home .

Weather: Blue Skies, Some Cloud 18c 

Other Species: Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Skylark, Buzzard, Kestrel + Many Fledglings.

Butterflies: Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White, Peacock, Large Skipper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown.

Check Back Tomorrow Butterflies Hopefully

In 19 Years Time

Date: 08/06/2015

Location: Slimbridge

Observation: Only a short visit as we were up that way, Lauren's first went to Slimbridge in 1996!

Lol me with hair !! Its all changed a bit ! 

Weather: Sunny + Blue Skies 

Other Species: Green Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Common Crane - Plus Many More 

But our first birding trip was 5 years ago. Today the 5th anniversary to the day, Almost. Avocet chicks, Shelduck chicks could be seen from most hides

like this Avocet chick. Looking back through the photos from 5 years ago it looks similar, although images a bit better !

  

The Caribbean Flamingo looking nice

The Greater Flamingos also had young .

Did you know ? 
The backward bending "knee" of a flamingo's leg is actually the bird's ankle. The actual knee is very close to the body and is not visible through the bird's plumage.

North American Otters waiting for dinner time

Nice shot laurz! Reed Warbler in umm... Reeds

The Male Ruff looked particularly Splendid !

Stunning in Summer, Breeding plumage

Also seen around 4 of these Broad Bodied Chasers about, this a female

 To end a lovely Hooded Merganser, Until the next time .

  

Until The Next Time !