March round up

Date: 1st March - 24th March

Location: Slimbridge, Weymouth , Lodmoor, Radipole, Severn Beach, forest Of Dean, Newton St Loe.

Weather: 
Alsorted ending with Spring!

Species Highlights: 
Lesser Yellowlegs, Brambling, Lesser Scaup,Sparrowhawk, Spoonbill, Corn Bunting, Ring Necked duck, Marsh Tit, Wheatear, Chiffchaff.

Observation: 
Been a bit bit busy of late so really just a catch up of our travels in March so far.
4th March a trip to Slimbridge.

Pintail's from the Rushy hide always great to photograph.

A close up snipe.

Black Headed Gulls looking splendid.

I always like trying to photograph the Jackdaws, so quick, I like a challenge.

11th March we headed down to Weymouth. Lodmoor first and plenty to see.

The single Spoonbill stayed distant, shame.

But the Dunnock didn't !

Amazing feather detail.

After a couple of hours we headed around to Radipole and finally we saw the Ringed neck Duck my 4th attempt.

Not as close as we'd like but a year tick all the same.

Not much else about we headed but to Lodmoor and the Spoonbill was on the move.

The almost resident Lesser Yellowlegs showed extremely well in the excellent light from the west path.

The leucistic Ruff flew past not to be left out.

Not forgetting the Black Tailed Godwits.

But the LY looked great.

A beautiful Sparrowhawk.

Chiffchaff arriving now too.

On way home dropped into Maiden Castle not a bad spot for Corn Bunting.

A large flock of Golden Plover there too.

13th March just me and I headed to Forest of Dean, not a bad day managed a few year ticks.

Always showy the Nuthatch.

Saw a couple of Marsh Tits.

18th March stayed home managed a few on my feeders.

20th March  Blagdon Lake and a Lesser Scaup was showing, distant but nice to see.

Headed to Severn Beach after Blagdon and was not disappointed, Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and...

A super Wheatear, i'll take that tick !

On way home met up with Allan Chard in Eastville Park managed to spot this great little Goldcrest, posted picture on Twitter and Facebook it went wild with 252 likes 30 comments on Facebook and twitter 91 retweets- 584 likes- 13 comment , one of our best tweets ever!!

I posted the comment.  "Punk rock anyone? Goldcrest singing Anarchy in the U.K. I think "

Seem to go quite well !

Eastville park has got it all Kingfishers and Dippers.

23rd March Few more from our tree, Lauren this time.

Today 24th March
Headed up to Bath University to see if we could find the Brambling that had been seen, Lovely to see this Nuthatch enjoying the Spring Sunshine.

We found, Lauren found , the Brambling and they show quite well.

Darted to Blagdon for Lauren to tick the Lesser Scaup, it took some finding but we did. On way home popped into Newton St Loe for a WEBS count, very glad we did. Brimstone and Comma were seen, in fact 8 Comma, 4 Peacocks and 1 Brimstone plus Bee Flies.

While walking around the lower lake we spotted this great Toad.

Female on bottom male hanging on!

WEBS count done, we have a visitor on lake this strange looking Mallard a sort of Chilean Mallard hybrid?

 A lovely walk with not too many people about also worth a note this Hare climbing bank towards student residences.

So the final tally of our bird year listing is 
Wayne-134 
Lauren-127

Butterflies starting to add up now 
Wayne-5
Lauren- 4

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Large Tortoiseshell in Dorset

Date: 22th February - 28th February

Location: 
Newton St Loe, Chew Valley, Weymouth, Portland.

Weather: 
Blue Skies, Temps rising to high teens!

Species Highlights: 
LARGE TORTOISESHELL 
Lesser Yellowlegs, Chiffchaff, Marsh Harrier, Great Crested Grebes, Mediterranean Gull.

Observation: 
22/01
Our pond has been filing up with Frogs and spawn and Lauren took some excellent photos.

A short video.

Took her many attempts but worth it i think.

Monday was working from home so next outing was 26/02.
Chew Valley and it was extremely quiet from all the hides this Goldcrest was my only photo. 

With so few Birds around decided to go to Bristol Airport a coffee and sat on the roof of my van and watch some Iron birds.

Going through Twitter noticed a Large Tortoiseshell butterfly was found at Portland Tout Quarry....so that was my day sorted tomorrow.

27/02/2019 7:30am
Allan Chard arrived at my house and we drove down to Dorset, first we popped into Lodmoor, couldn't find the Penduline Tit but the light was fantastic and we walked around the reserve to see what was about.

Little Egret in the sunny blue skies.

 The long staying Lesser Yellowlegs was showing very well

Even a few Chiffchaff were around, but with my thoughts thinking i don't wanna miss the LT we headed up to Tout Quarry.

On arriving at Tout Quarry the normally small car park was almost full, parking up we started the hunt we saw European Peacocks plus a fleeting glimpse of a Small White but no pictures so I can't count, after 2 hours and scouring the quarry, chatting to many people we spoke to a non birder/butterflyer she said is this it ??? It was and we rushed over to the area she saw it. No sign, I wander over rocks looking, Allan and Merv stayed in that area and you guessed it it showed up right in front Allan! 
I headed back to see everyone's pictures AARRGGG!
Allan sat down Merv went, I carried on when suddenly I spotted 2 Peacocks fighting mid air asking another guy was that just Peacocks he said yes but seconds later he said no its here!!

My first picture some 20 ft away, but a Large Tortoiseshell.

Managed to scramble down for a closer look.

OOO nice, My 85th Butterfly worldwide and only second butterfly of 2019!

A comparison of Small & Large

Small Tort./Wingspan  Male: 45 - 55 mm-Female: 52 - 62 mm
Large Tort./Wingspan Male: 68 - 72 mm -Female: 72 - 75 mm

The Robin was wondering what all the fuss was about, a great day and great addition to my butterfly list.

My 3rd photographed species this year was a European Peacock, this takes me to 3 species and I have decided I'm gonna try for  60 UK/migrant species this year the hunt continues.

After that excitement we dropped into Radipole for another look for that Ring Necked Duck, no sign, but  a few other species looked great in the continuing sunshine.

Marsh Harrier

A Great Crested Grebe looking as always splendid.

Even a Mating dance although we lost view to the weed wiggle.

Herring Gull.

 This Dunnock almost at end of lens , no crop required.

We searched the Ring Necked Duck normal spots but only saw these beautiful Pochard.

On way home another visit  to Lodmoor and the gulls were coming into roost with a few Med Gulls.

2 Spoonbill dropped in just in view and a year tick.

The Yellowlegs was even closer.

It knows it a great looking bird, just checking out reflection.

The Yellowlegs always seem to be very close to it friend the Leucistic Ruff, what that saying.... different birds of feather flock together, well close anyway.

A fabulous week with my highlight obviously being the Large Tortoiseshell.

Wayne's Year total= 126
Butterflies = 3
Lauren's Year Total= 120
Butterflies= 2

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