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 !