Newton-St-Loe Birding: Little Tern

Showing posts with label Little Tern. Show all posts

12 July 2019

Natures Jewels

Date: 30th June - 11th July

Location:
Weymouth, Bridgend, Newton St Loe, Sandpoint, Draycott, Savernake

Weather:
Blue / Mid 20's but cloudy and muggy.

Species Highlights:
Lulworth Skipper, Little Tern, Common Tern, High Brown, Purple/ White Letter Hairstreak, Yellowhammer, Hobby, Grayling, Essex Skipper, White Admiral, Emerald Damselfly.

Observation:
Its that time of year when butterflies our my main target, so first trip was for the Lulworth Skipper and Portland Bill, Very easy, park, 5 steps and Lulworth Skippers!
The Lulworth Skipper once you get your eye in are fairly easy to spot, flying slightly differently and the C marking making them stand out from the Large and Small Skipper.

This shot showing the tiny Skipper extracting Pollen from the Field Scabious.

But as usual plenty of birds around the Bill with Linnet.

Skylark looking for easy pickings amongst the Lulworth feeding grounds

From here we stopped at Ferrybridge to look for Little Terns, it was not long before we spotted them flying over Chesil Beach looking for food.

This Greater Black Backed Gull was on the prowl.

With up to 50 adults pairs lots of youngsters could be seen, keeping the adults busy.

When leaving we spotted the Kestrel feeding on what looks like a chicken Chick??

Lodmoor our next stop and Common Terns/ Black Headed Gulls making a right racket.

A constant stream of adults with Sand Eels and other small fish.

Plenty of squabbling looking spectacular!

That was Monday on Sunday with Allan Chard we headed over to Bridgend and Old Castle Down for the High Brown and Dark Green Fritillary. A seemingly perfect day but for some reason Dark Greens & Hg's not showing well making it very hard to get views of either.

After some 5 hours and 7 miles of walking the ferns these were my best efforts.
Dark Green Fritillary.

Stonechat keeping a eye on us.

I saw a few High Browns but this only picture, a poor effort, but this Thistle will feature again.

Head on Dark Green Fritillary

So Tuesday was at a end, not happy.
So Wednesday I went back only, didn't see a single sole there either which was a good job as I forgot my hat, but with a pink camera cloth on my head I managed my best ever views of this Yellowhammer who it seemed he couldn't see me, Camo??

Again walking and searching was thinking i'd never get views of the High Brown when I checked in on the thistle id seen a HG on yesterday.

A High Brown was on it, open wings so I waited for it to return, High Browns came back 4 times to this same thistle, all open wings was just about to give up after over a hour of waiting when I got the shot I wanted!

Thursday was patch walk day started off with Whitethroat and Blackcap in the lanes towards seven acre.

Was very pleased to see White Letter Hairstreak and Purple Hairstreak in their normal spot.

We had a response from the Duchy about the cutting down of almost all of Seven Acre. It was all done under Forestry commission licence.

"Tree's will be restocked: Oak – 50% / Small leaved lime – 10% / Beech – 10% / Mixed native broad leaves – 15% / Field maple – 5% / Hazel – 10%. These species will ultimately provide a more varied habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, avian, mammals and any other wildlife that will benefit."

So I suppose long tern this will be good but still a shock to see our forest cut down.

Very quiet on the bird front on my walk to Lake but Butterflies everywhere. But once at Lake and sitting down spotted what I thought was a Sparrowhawk.... Nope a Hobby hunting over top lake!!

Giving me fantastic views but photography was into the sun, but stunning to watch for a hour catching many of the Dragonflies which were hawking over the lake.

A dragon in each talon and one in beak!

Emerald Damselflies, Brown Hawker, Emperor, Black Tailed Skimmer plus many Common Blues Damselflies.

A good selection across lake.

Work for next few days but Sunday headed down to Sand Point NR. Weston Super Mare for a search for Grayling and Essex Skipper.

Once on the Point was astonished by the numbers of Marbled White and Meadow Browns they seem to be having a excellent year, I've even seen one in my garden this year!
But Grayling spotted whizzing across the landscape being chased by 2 more.

Essex Skippers too on the excellent rocks and Flowers.

No better place to be.

Saw at least 10 Grayling and 15 or so Essex Skippers.

ID tip looking at Essex Skipper from below, check for totally black tips to antenna, almost as though they've been dipped in Black paint, they also fly quicker than Small Skipper.

I dropped into Draycott for a early Chalkhill but nothing going on, maybe this week ?

Monday was suppose to be Purple Emperor day but with butterflying you never know and dispute checking out Savernake, Everleigh Ashes and Black Dog Wood we came away with very little.
We will try next week.

Tuesday I thought id stay local and headed to Lords Wood again the weather was very muggy and butterflies not really showing so turned my hand to Dragonflies/ Damselflies.

A Emerald Damselfly female

Male

So colorful.
You don't normally see the colors and details as they're usually zipping about.

But a 100mm macro lens and patients.

Loving my macro lens, all shots are handheld.

The only butterfly which landed was the stunner a Comma.

Walked about yesterday, Thursday and looking at the smaller things again.

Loved this Shot the Thick-legged flower beetle- Oedemera nobilis covered in Pollen.

Was almost home a this Stunning Crab spider caught my eye, I've never seen one with this red flash, this one called a Flower crab spider.

Nature's perfect.

2019 Butterfly Ticks - 52

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21 September 2018

Big Blog - Lots of Pictures

Date:
28/08/2018 - 20/09/2018

Location:
From all Over

Weather:
Assorted

Species Highlights:
Hobby, Tree Pipit, Lesser Whitethroat, Cattle Egret, Bearded Tit, Osprey, Sparrowhawk, Whinchat, Spotted Redshank, Little Tern, Grey Phalarope
Observation:

I can't believe it's been so long almost a month after the excitement from our Butterfly blog. It's back to normal, now well almost! With another round up.

Starting with a Migrant Hawker from Patch, it's all been a bit quiet around patch but every Thursday I've wandered around looking for anything good nothing as yet but still 3 months of the year left so anything could happen.

Next popped down to Chew Valley my favourite time of year to visit as the Hobbies the are about racing past the hides, a real challenge to get images, I took far to many pictures as normal but here's one I like. Also had a Greenshank and a Yellow Legged Gull.

Next off was Chipping Sodbury Common, Whinchat, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat all present.

Lauren very pleased with her first ever Tree Pipit.

Perfect Light on the Common great birds too!

The plan was to head up to Slimbridge after chipping and turned out to be a good idea with Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warblers from the Holden hides.

Next off and speeding through it was the Somerset Levels with Allan Chard, went to Westhay for a look for Bearded Reedlings but no sign, then headed to Catcott and shortly after arriving we were rewarded with a huge group of Cattle Egrets!

The Cattle Egret has had a excellent year with them turning up all over the county, getting common almost as common as the little and Great White Egret, Good News!

From Catcott it was Shapwick and Noah's hide the normally distant Osprey flew parallel in front hide, a real treat!

Everything else a bit distant so crossed the road to Ham Wall and had very close views of the Great White Egrets feeding on the now dwindling dragonfly population.

Checking around the hides we even bumped into 2 Bearded Reedling who darted across the path in front of us, job done! To end these Frogs near the car park.

On way home we popped in to Priddy ponds while looking for Dragonflies which we saw Migrant Hawkers and a few Black Darter.
This Small Heath noticed my achievement this year and hopped on my lens to say hello!

Next with my girls heading to Paris for a birthday treat I dropped them at the airport and dropped into the very close Barrow Tanks to capture this Grey Wagtail.

The rest of the afternoon I spent at Chew Valley Lake.
I Found a Hornet nest with lots of these buzzing in and out their hole in tree.

Hobbies again and this Sparrowhawk.

Monday morning came around after work and decided to have another look at Chipping Sodbury.

Pleased I did with the Whinchat putting on a good show.

From here again up to Slimbridge. Spotted Redshank in front the hide.

A group of around 10/15 Yellow Wagtail in with cattle, such smart little birds.

Never forget the common birds, always happy to pose at Slimbridge.

Been getting in to a bit of macro photography lately and this Red Underwing moth was good practice.

What better than one Spotted Redshank.....

Still more come! great to see almost a flock at Slimbridge.

With the Girls still away more play time for me and Tuesday so went back to Chew.
Managed very close views of this Marsh Harrier, photo not quite up to scratch but great to see.

Marsh rubbish picture but the Hobbies made up for it!

Up to 5 birds seen, these photos taken from Villice.

Another Patch walk and spotted I thought another patch tick, this bird with it's brownish colouring and neck mark thought it was a Sand Martin!
Still not sure any comments welcome... At the moment i'm saying juv House Martin.

Still a few Barn Swallow about, I think next walk they'll be gone till next year.

Girls home and Saturday arrived and Work but Friday a Grey Phalarope arrived at Cheddar reservoir and a quick dash down to photograph it, a bit distant...more to come on the Phalarope.

Still going for the #MY200BIRDYEAR There was a Ortolan Bunting in Hampshire and after 4.5 hours sleep Lauren and me headed down. The Ortolan bunting had not been seen all morning so we went to Farlington Marshes to see Dunlin, Yellow Wagtail and a small group of Starling murmurating but little else.

On leaving Farlington the next day a Little Gull, Bluethroat, and Pectoral Sandpiper were all seen !! Typical eh!!

Monday went went to Cheddar for Lauren to see here first Grey Phalarope again distant but another life tick for Laur.
Wednesday Another Grey Phalarope had turnned up in Huntspill so I arranged with Mr, Chard to go and parked at Cheddar Reservoir we popped in see anything was about, very pleased we did a Black Tern with about, feeding on Perch or Roach a real mouthful.

Giving us great views. With no reports that morning of the GP we headed down anyway.

We walked around from the Apex car park and the wind was blowing fiercely on the 1.7 miles walk we saw nothing of note but arriving at the very small puddle noticed another birder Penny, Anne, @fegwitch. We couldn't see bird as it was so close to her!!!

My 400mm lens was to long as the bird came to me and at times we at the end of my lens!!

The very strong winds this week have brought lots of these birds in to the country from Scotland to Devon.

Giving me and Allan our best ever views of this bird.

It may look like we were unnecessarily close but the very small puddle and the bird coming to us despite moving back a number of times. Phone shots and wet sleeves, amazing!

Mr. Chard & the Grey Phalarope.

After a brilliant day headed back to Cheddar the Black Tern still there and it even flew over our heads!

Almost finished and back on patch y'day with a very low count of 33 species.
Linnet and Kestrel being the highlights.

Did see this a first for me a Grey Squirrel and kit being carried.

She ran towards me keeping her eye on me, them almost at my feet dropped the baby and ran off? The baby squirrel then looked at me then also ran off looking for Mum ?! weird.