Date:
May- June 2020
May- June 2020
Location:
Lockdown to short distances
Lockdown to short distances
Species Highlights:
Butterflies, Collared Pratincole, Bittern, Spotted Flycatcher, Honey Buzzard, Red-footed Falcon
Butterflies, Collared Pratincole, Bittern, Spotted Flycatcher, Honey Buzzard, Red-footed Falcon
Observation:
It's amazing how far behind we've got with Blog, been snapping so many things and what with Butterfly season and Mothing it all taken over!
But I'll start with some garden macro and this.
Blue Mason Bee in my Bee hotel.
Not just Bee's have been moving in a Zebra Spiders too, a pair has moved into the lower ground apartment!
The patch is looking great even if the birdlife is a bit scarce.
On 07/05/2020 I decided on a change of walk and walked down past Pheasantre wood and look what I found a Spotted Flycatcher, it seemed to be around a hole in tree so would keep an eye on him.
From here I travelled to Fovant Badges a new spot but a great spot, again weather was cold, cloudy and very windy but the Duke of Burgundy gave me great views.
Butterfly season well underway and next day Axebridge hill, Cheddar for Small Pearls and Green Hairstreak.
Back to birding a trip to the Somerset Level
the always present Marsh Harrier.
Then like buses two Bittern scrambling for position! it was a bit misty.
Back into the garden so much to see, this cracking Ruby-tailed Wasp.
An unexpected twitch, while out butterflying I looked at my phone and noticed 50 unread WhatsApp messages!! Collared Pratincole at Pilling Wetlands, quick dash home to get Lauren a lifer for Lauren!
More garden critters and another Jumping spider this one is Pseudeuophrys Lanigera.
The Spotted Flycatcher has a family 2/3 birds seen positive all darting around the small woodland. A totally different nest site for them, not seen any around lakes this year but with disturbance its no surprise.
A trip for Silver Studded Blue, in Dorset and Yellowhammer, singing away, I'll do a Butterfly Blog with all the ones I've managed this year, a surprising year!
From here it would be rude not pop into Portland and were glad we did, a UK life tick for us both a Honey Buzzard high over the Bill.
Even made a mention on Rare bird alert!
Back home a Greater Spotted Woodpecker has been visiting every 20 mins a fine looking chap.
Little Owl very close to Home, not a Newton St Loe bird, but close.
More macro and a beautiful Elephant Hawk Moth, one of Uk most colorful.
Even flies look great under the Macro lens.
A couple of weeks past and Radipole lakes for a Norfolk Hawker in Dorset 3/4 spotted here, a species normally only seen in Norfolk, on the move?
Radipole still and the lovely Mute Swan family.
Gotta be one of the strangest moth the Buff Tip, at first thought kids had been chucking ammo at trap but no a true beauty.
I was back at work now, a few hours sleep after a strange weekend back and Sunday Morning this Red-footed Falcon was down near Minehead, we couldn't miss this cracker.
It gave us amazing views zipping past and at times just feet above our heads.
A UK lifer for us both.
In the Garden we've got a couple of cheap webcams a look Hedgehog, not one or Two but Three seen, with mating behavior seen.
A rare sunny afternoon and arrival of Greenfinch with youngsters in tow.
Bullfinch making regular visits too.
Very Smart birds.
Another Patch Walk a Swifts over Top Lake open briefly, before it shut again for tree felling!!
Good Numbers of Whitethroat around the patch this year with at least 5 pairs scattered around.
So that was May and June plenty to see eh!
Join us again soon for the rest of the Summer months and eventually, it'll be up to date, I'll add a Butterfly Link and Moth links to the righthand side when I've caught up.
It's amazing how far behind we've got with Blog, been snapping so many things and what with Butterfly season and Mothing it all taken over!
But I'll start with some garden macro and this.
Blue Mason Bee in my Bee hotel.
Not just Bee's have been moving in a Zebra Spiders too, a pair has moved into the lower ground apartment!
A no-drive Lockdown walk to Lansdown, just a couple of miles away from Home and some decent birds were seen, Linnet
With Lesser Whitethroat, Wheatear, and even a number of Garden Warbler.
I mentioned the Moth'ing it very addictive and it giving me plenty to photograph the moths, well some are real poser!
Muslin Moth
Macro work in itself is great, you really get to see many unseen features, Wasp.
Still getting around the patch, but major works on the top lake have stopped most birds breeding this year, its even affected the Dragonflies, these taken and top little ponds, Large Red Damselflies
Really liked this shot, the plant has many names including Geranium robertianum, Herb-Robert, Red Robin, Storksbill, Fox geranium, Stinking Bob, Squinter-pip , Crow's foot, or Roberts geranium but the name I like for this beautiful little flower is Death comes quickly.
The patch is looking great even if the birdlife is a bit scarce.
On 07/05/2020 I decided on a change of walk and walked down past Pheasantre wood and look what I found a Spotted Flycatcher, it seemed to be around a hole in tree so would keep an eye on him.
Butterflies starting to emerge and Common Blue on Sunnybank despite them cutting the plant life back to within a 00.5 of its life!
My crawling around on Sunnybank was rewarded with a Tick!
So tiny but the macro lens making them look as scary as they are!!
The Moth Trap filling up with Cockchafers, when they pose like this you gotta love them
The Day lockdown ended and everyone was allowed to travel I made the most of it and a trip to Bentley woods for the Pearl Bordered Fritillary, it showed very well, temperature was cold and I was surprised how many I saw.
From here I travelled to Fovant Badges a new spot but a great spot, again weather was cold, cloudy and very windy but the Duke of Burgundy gave me great views.
On a roll, Cotley Hill on way Home and this my favorite hill racking up a few more species including Marsh Fritillary.
Butterfly season well underway and next day Axebridge hill, Cheddar for Small Pearls and Green Hairstreak.
Back to birding a trip to the Somerset Level
the always present Marsh Harrier.
Then like buses two Bittern scrambling for position! it was a bit misty.
Back into the garden so much to see, this cracking Ruby-tailed Wasp.
An unexpected twitch, while out butterflying I looked at my phone and noticed 50 unread WhatsApp messages!! Collared Pratincole at Pilling Wetlands, quick dash home to get Lauren a lifer for Lauren!
More garden critters and another Jumping spider this one is Pseudeuophrys Lanigera.
Another Patch walk and Butterfly alley has been cut down but this Blackcap didn't seem to mind.
The Spotted Flycatcher has a family 2/3 birds seen positive all darting around the small woodland. A totally different nest site for them, not seen any around lakes this year but with disturbance its no surprise.
A trip for Silver Studded Blue, in Dorset and Yellowhammer, singing away, I'll do a Butterfly Blog with all the ones I've managed this year, a surprising year!
From here it would be rude not pop into Portland and were glad we did, a UK life tick for us both a Honey Buzzard high over the Bill.
Even made a mention on Rare bird alert!
Back home a Greater Spotted Woodpecker has been visiting every 20 mins a fine looking chap.
Little Owl very close to Home, not a Newton St Loe bird, but close.
More macro and a beautiful Elephant Hawk Moth, one of Uk most colorful.
Even flies look great under the Macro lens.
A couple of weeks past and Radipole lakes for a Norfolk Hawker in Dorset 3/4 spotted here, a species normally only seen in Norfolk, on the move?
Radipole still and the lovely Mute Swan family.
Gotta be one of the strangest moth the Buff Tip, at first thought kids had been chucking ammo at trap but no a true beauty.
I was back at work now, a few hours sleep after a strange weekend back and Sunday Morning this Red-footed Falcon was down near Minehead, we couldn't miss this cracker.
It gave us amazing views zipping past and at times just feet above our heads.
A UK lifer for us both.
In the Garden we've got a couple of cheap webcams a look Hedgehog, not one or Two but Three seen, with mating behavior seen.
A rare sunny afternoon and arrival of Greenfinch with youngsters in tow.
Bullfinch making regular visits too.
Very Smart birds.
Another Patch Walk a Swifts over Top Lake open briefly, before it shut again for tree felling!!
Good Numbers of Whitethroat around the patch this year with at least 5 pairs scattered around.
So that was May and June plenty to see eh!
Join us again soon for the rest of the Summer months and eventually, it'll be up to date, I'll add a Butterfly Link and Moth links to the righthand side when I've caught up.
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