tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19141768872138665452024-02-19T10:49:48.537+00:00 Keith Scovell's Wild Life
follow me @keithscovell3Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-18316597821425623962017-03-14T22:18:00.000+00:002017-03-14T22:18:27.981+00:00Med, Shrike and Otter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The rain was hammering down outside my house one Sunday lunchtime in March, and I was unsure whether I should visit Frodsham Marsh in Cheshire where a Great Grey Shrike had been seen the previous day. Would it still be there and how wet would I get tramping around the muddy lanes?<br />
I decided to give it a go, but first I was going to check a flooded field near my house at Leasowe that had looked promising for gulls when I ran past the previous day. <br />
The rain had eased off a little as I stopped my car near Leasowe lighthouse, but there were only half a dozen gulls on the flash. I wound down the car window and scanned the birds and was delighted to find a Mediterranean Gull in second winter plumage feeding alongside a few Black-headed Gulls. I leant my camera on the car door and proceeded to fire off a few shots. The bird moved closer and I was able to obtain some nice photographs, especially when it stretched and preened. I also took a few flight shots of this scarce British breeding bird. I know gulls aren't everyone's cup of tea but I love them, and I have a special fondness for med gulls.<br />
I left the site feeling well pleased and headed for Frodsham. The rain was getting heavy again as I joined the M56 motorway and an unexpected traffic jam almost saw me turn the car around and head home. Instead I left the motorway and drove the rest of the way on A roads via Helsby. I drove carefully along a pot-holed track on the marsh to the area where the shrike had been seen and yes, it was still there. I donned my waterproofs and wellies and made my way to the group of rain-soaked birders who soon put me onto the bird perched on a distant hedge. All shrikes are beautiful birds and the Great Grey is no exception, but in my experience they are quite wary so scope views are usually the norm. I managed a few record shots with my camera then hung around in the rain hoping it would come closer; and despite the inclement conditions it was busy feeding but it never really came close to the track. I was about to leave when another birder told me that an Otter was resting close to the road! I headed back down the path and was rewarded with my closest ever encounter with this elusive mammal. The female Otter stretched, rolled and scratched on the opposite side of a ditch within metres of a small group of admirers. Unfortunately, she appeared to have some problem with her eyes and this may explain her boldness. But otherwise she appeared perfectly healthy and it was a real treat to see her at such close quarters. A fabulous end to a great afternoon's birding on a soggy Sunday.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oVwJsicCFjRqbPmHgxpDhzOOwj6IR7Y4UhYV97lmC1cRc4joIk74P7MbNtWpRnDLOIduceEas238frFokjwRP7JrAmfZNG7H-ekaZ79jNQmiMIKffbWkYzUT2M3G9XRps3HfeANB-F_Y/s1600/med1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oVwJsicCFjRqbPmHgxpDhzOOwj6IR7Y4UhYV97lmC1cRc4joIk74P7MbNtWpRnDLOIduceEas238frFokjwRP7JrAmfZNG7H-ekaZ79jNQmiMIKffbWkYzUT2M3G9XRps3HfeANB-F_Y/s640/med1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02ZX3UunyzO2wBym-i66Q-zT862r02ECCclrasCBl_CTOeN28VEo0VWR9AVnjhBTC0fMETqUZl0WTpw_aFG8JFF5HRZq1QiU3C9YqlASEvThVziXXVsHixM3s1b3wyMncHivb_dAvQ4yH/s1600/med2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02ZX3UunyzO2wBym-i66Q-zT862r02ECCclrasCBl_CTOeN28VEo0VWR9AVnjhBTC0fMETqUZl0WTpw_aFG8JFF5HRZq1QiU3C9YqlASEvThVziXXVsHixM3s1b3wyMncHivb_dAvQ4yH/s640/med2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEZLJdxMP9bzSjxwAsINZQpWtdMeHBwdlpt-eNDPe2JQdogRw6pWKKJa94kvonpRhA4Xul_INtWqLiHHXYjYNNv7PYRNOch5lc3RYKq6gJf7BhZSeL-OcOf2ni9PKBjOzELBQ6NhPvVSW/s1600/med4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEZLJdxMP9bzSjxwAsINZQpWtdMeHBwdlpt-eNDPe2JQdogRw6pWKKJa94kvonpRhA4Xul_INtWqLiHHXYjYNNv7PYRNOch5lc3RYKq6gJf7BhZSeL-OcOf2ni9PKBjOzELBQ6NhPvVSW/s640/med4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3txLopBKmoQ6eq9JaLHf1vP2deiFhQk6_vDkmrNoyIJc-eEW6D0_zw9Ns6Mjpk-ITaSCoiBvSZwMsKqeNjmXqr9qzgcc0Bc5tQh0fUuY9EojakJDOoReNM-ZSt5ScL02HuTsAIZ-pHjnT/s1600/med5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3txLopBKmoQ6eq9JaLHf1vP2deiFhQk6_vDkmrNoyIJc-eEW6D0_zw9Ns6Mjpk-ITaSCoiBvSZwMsKqeNjmXqr9qzgcc0Bc5tQh0fUuY9EojakJDOoReNM-ZSt5ScL02HuTsAIZ-pHjnT/s640/med5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g46P1Rx61OixvoC8RESG96O4XQv4NV3djYQBgqCwn2VhDVT12i0OR_YKAjVuivVD1-1E_oZG7C0YnqF1YSCDLdJ1nLoAnTd9R1NaLx-q_feN_QKtxEskG-NmWsL0s77wKpfV9gP83_Ot/s1600/med6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g46P1Rx61OixvoC8RESG96O4XQv4NV3djYQBgqCwn2VhDVT12i0OR_YKAjVuivVD1-1E_oZG7C0YnqF1YSCDLdJ1nLoAnTd9R1NaLx-q_feN_QKtxEskG-NmWsL0s77wKpfV9gP83_Ot/s640/med6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMydt36x5uAdjwgsnFzZMnqg273r4dHQbvaVPl51mHggG_sJwgZqfrB8_DY1UVgTqo4K-xf1_FXxrH2jtwC0rtBfpC3aqUpvjcBLblNv7s7dunc9Td9Ymmj7AnwFC8bwNf7pltdiCzQdBQ/s1600/med7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMydt36x5uAdjwgsnFzZMnqg273r4dHQbvaVPl51mHggG_sJwgZqfrB8_DY1UVgTqo4K-xf1_FXxrH2jtwC0rtBfpC3aqUpvjcBLblNv7s7dunc9Td9Ymmj7AnwFC8bwNf7pltdiCzQdBQ/s640/med7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMatmpg72mX801cnHj2VUa4nyc2NyAVwgh0KY6VzRgnne3FFnjI3Oqy2_K0jzSi3FrJaF8hU_FSVvPo2XWRtR8aUf_LOOGyy17I1k8zLugiDa84_WBxFU-rRNLcTyGe0XuVBDnpyK5im6M/s1600/med8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMatmpg72mX801cnHj2VUa4nyc2NyAVwgh0KY6VzRgnne3FFnjI3Oqy2_K0jzSi3FrJaF8hU_FSVvPo2XWRtR8aUf_LOOGyy17I1k8zLugiDa84_WBxFU-rRNLcTyGe0XuVBDnpyK5im6M/s640/med8.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pwECryi4V2m6SIbm6-hUlupRrAkxqIADaJdK8kxTra4vKehDNszLegMzLEVBSlLjYE_1OJwRweNHKlBi4h082pbvm9qfRKzXbvfDZVh919oZsq6gBilBQ_nd6OmrAm7hINQQa4RI5t6r/s1600/med9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pwECryi4V2m6SIbm6-hUlupRrAkxqIADaJdK8kxTra4vKehDNszLegMzLEVBSlLjYE_1OJwRweNHKlBi4h082pbvm9qfRKzXbvfDZVh919oZsq6gBilBQ_nd6OmrAm7hINQQa4RI5t6r/s640/med9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYpngVTSAH4LgI29CJNksB0RF04yTbY3d159JHTYna8C3OETnP2dgqexVfcb1tkcUKHjD2Eh0ZM87EGFOhwhGCkvU998Tw-lruCFs69Uw0lym0DhSj6uNZD8SKOxwPyGh6QZfurVkxHwX/s1600/med10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYpngVTSAH4LgI29CJNksB0RF04yTbY3d159JHTYna8C3OETnP2dgqexVfcb1tkcUKHjD2Eh0ZM87EGFOhwhGCkvU998Tw-lruCFs69Uw0lym0DhSj6uNZD8SKOxwPyGh6QZfurVkxHwX/s640/med10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PZocV16Z7kJtU996KZjBZ9HvDfBy9wP6wmOwP04W-r1lmed4MN-C9VPSNcwilyPJG4ImSmCpMcmu4dUhguIxhtaNciLHvRiRbdlJabBnsONDW_ABGVR8eZLO6UEoeCnR8hBBPgAnmW_M/s1600/med11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PZocV16Z7kJtU996KZjBZ9HvDfBy9wP6wmOwP04W-r1lmed4MN-C9VPSNcwilyPJG4ImSmCpMcmu4dUhguIxhtaNciLHvRiRbdlJabBnsONDW_ABGVR8eZLO6UEoeCnR8hBBPgAnmW_M/s640/med11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpdKQdDD-mL71WYOtO4iPUM492wo0SJXFkSRf5FUZeaJu_wfrPa6T8VJf5Jz4XI-B85QN3GozykS8R9Ds9fF1kNhoQM-cWGjBaWfrd7p6_y2tyDAEKWNhfG_fbgxO84RnZJvCO4kYcXF6/s1600/ott1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpdKQdDD-mL71WYOtO4iPUM492wo0SJXFkSRf5FUZeaJu_wfrPa6T8VJf5Jz4XI-B85QN3GozykS8R9Ds9fF1kNhoQM-cWGjBaWfrd7p6_y2tyDAEKWNhfG_fbgxO84RnZJvCO4kYcXF6/s640/ott1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0RaFba8dt_l6ZmsVG8fhucunpmibltpS4wXt1j-zfvwxhyVl9qD_zud-bboEvGva826-dyM9X4kIiUYN-kW8oBVbj2rCN-voluL4ohYBTxQ2c_PCDaqIxCg7L6mB6k-_cPj9i6LgdkJz/s1600/ott2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0RaFba8dt_l6ZmsVG8fhucunpmibltpS4wXt1j-zfvwxhyVl9qD_zud-bboEvGva826-dyM9X4kIiUYN-kW8oBVbj2rCN-voluL4ohYBTxQ2c_PCDaqIxCg7L6mB6k-_cPj9i6LgdkJz/s640/ott2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1D6cAJxLs5MnfS4kV7VYuPkhOJnRny39f6Vqwoyh0i-xuieRK1QeVGZQTdZn6YRHqZP24H1FmzDd8JOs6sEF4Wh7mxc-Sd8gEoIsF3I0KgHoisS47AUsGHFY-Eke4d3Hz1C1y_Pbsb-F5/s1600/shrike2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1D6cAJxLs5MnfS4kV7VYuPkhOJnRny39f6Vqwoyh0i-xuieRK1QeVGZQTdZn6YRHqZP24H1FmzDd8JOs6sEF4Wh7mxc-Sd8gEoIsF3I0KgHoisS47AUsGHFY-Eke4d3Hz1C1y_Pbsb-F5/s640/shrike2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-30364237537645493562017-01-17T21:56:00.005+00:002017-01-17T22:05:14.933+00:00St. Asaph Waxwings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A day or so after Christmas, despite suffering from a heavy dose of "manflu", I couldn't resist travelling to St. Asaph in North Wales to look for a flock of waxwings that had been frequenting the area for a few days. They had been feeding on rowan berries in an area close to the river, but on my arrival all the trees there had been stripped of their fruit, but the birds were still present, roosting in the tall trees on the river bank. A few of them occasionally swooped down to snatch berries from the ground, or to drink from the rainwater puddles. But the main flock appeared to be feeding on the opposite side of the river. I scanned the area and found the berry-laden trees which were their latest food source. After alerting other birders to their presence, I hurried across a bridge and managed to obtain some nice images of one of my very favourite species of bird.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSg91vW6KXSaYT-1OIdrtWbgIAbkugUkqqGtu2_SlvyEHUjkssc1fti3j3YxtDncZmDW5pafzz9T1yzq2mniC-kOPp7smGdHBHh-xW0csLubpgQFR_NGDy_auuVXci10Wh-XogJmE7zF4/s1600/aa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSg91vW6KXSaYT-1OIdrtWbgIAbkugUkqqGtu2_SlvyEHUjkssc1fti3j3YxtDncZmDW5pafzz9T1yzq2mniC-kOPp7smGdHBHh-xW0csLubpgQFR_NGDy_auuVXci10Wh-XogJmE7zF4/s640/aa1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-AAk9Yt4b2NZ65CAJ7IRslMYBjVHmeSLKnZl8eVJ6P5Ag7PASL2MZaBKOsC33SeKlOetlVYsByqVRzbyj6QfP_K3XwXkjUZi3fBI3OOmaq9DXBTIIFAnkp3KhkJeVTsi32hVo9zxB7Bi/s1600/aa2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-AAk9Yt4b2NZ65CAJ7IRslMYBjVHmeSLKnZl8eVJ6P5Ag7PASL2MZaBKOsC33SeKlOetlVYsByqVRzbyj6QfP_K3XwXkjUZi3fBI3OOmaq9DXBTIIFAnkp3KhkJeVTsi32hVo9zxB7Bi/s640/aa2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8WbTioAuBQPnZAaQFLtarwPN4JXm65XATQ3cg89ArS8dQ76ZMwIV0Faowirs1kn3IFzJSoD3rTT3lhyqrJr5fR1p_kR8c2rAaAsaraAbC7DQyBQcrNljQ-0psK-TzaJukGZmGQHFphfc/s1600/aa3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8WbTioAuBQPnZAaQFLtarwPN4JXm65XATQ3cg89ArS8dQ76ZMwIV0Faowirs1kn3IFzJSoD3rTT3lhyqrJr5fR1p_kR8c2rAaAsaraAbC7DQyBQcrNljQ-0psK-TzaJukGZmGQHFphfc/s640/aa3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj698kxkD79yQBQIpytK5SJaPFBWVtUEtt1o5Tw3ImP8JafpGxreeNYMFIreRcdSNOLHjHF623aOgdfEFk3ta57BTKO3P1-Wli7rdfPE9ULOOqkQZyVph3tlDTaovh2Rm7MGVQ6o_uvq6kq/s1600/aa4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj698kxkD79yQBQIpytK5SJaPFBWVtUEtt1o5Tw3ImP8JafpGxreeNYMFIreRcdSNOLHjHF623aOgdfEFk3ta57BTKO3P1-Wli7rdfPE9ULOOqkQZyVph3tlDTaovh2Rm7MGVQ6o_uvq6kq/s640/aa4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmjYVhAgxYufFupS9pgNnZ_LKM4_wov8KgrIqlllWPU65CyqNPfwZhk62bhbjAZODYSGsjFeiK-hRf6buC6MEwNA9o4bo612EhcrlQiyPS6HVQwIxgC-k-MLyiYGlhV8YHJQuo3rtVo1r/s1600/aa5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmjYVhAgxYufFupS9pgNnZ_LKM4_wov8KgrIqlllWPU65CyqNPfwZhk62bhbjAZODYSGsjFeiK-hRf6buC6MEwNA9o4bo612EhcrlQiyPS6HVQwIxgC-k-MLyiYGlhV8YHJQuo3rtVo1r/s640/aa5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4NuX5oq6LWyIsbAwaW7vz8SyTpV6h9-1xVJwl0zcMBzIEYStA-cy0rjGE9tFlXuOPNuFVJUnjVGv7cu_sAKhjYcvANBpYLpBrYpDrDG0Je54GPEtpddoFlZ-_ZkdW0WQhtCwzwfFhR0r/s1600/aa6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4NuX5oq6LWyIsbAwaW7vz8SyTpV6h9-1xVJwl0zcMBzIEYStA-cy0rjGE9tFlXuOPNuFVJUnjVGv7cu_sAKhjYcvANBpYLpBrYpDrDG0Je54GPEtpddoFlZ-_ZkdW0WQhtCwzwfFhR0r/s640/aa6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPBKD5CX9NFUj-yVYteEED7sJ6ohYLds2nPoea1frpxmELhYtoSWE82BhHd5pYb7T7TyLTA_lJgBSFb5Udsg_a0CqYu7PSpZlwRiyQZfOqpw9dLgQQgg8MCFbpXkSVjdJOp6ztI7J3eE1/s1600/aa7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPBKD5CX9NFUj-yVYteEED7sJ6ohYLds2nPoea1frpxmELhYtoSWE82BhHd5pYb7T7TyLTA_lJgBSFb5Udsg_a0CqYu7PSpZlwRiyQZfOqpw9dLgQQgg8MCFbpXkSVjdJOp6ztI7J3eE1/s640/aa7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74u7_Ogno-kDOIQ4kbdlmMqqCMmFQjfPV_2YebB5YkNlblvXtAwIVs17jSCwuDY35RHQuBuw6C4zGWCCWymLXBJgTOaIyAIrj1fEkL15MsYQ6apaxsV_l0rwf30WNiw3aC9wXGalrB8fT/s1600/aa8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74u7_Ogno-kDOIQ4kbdlmMqqCMmFQjfPV_2YebB5YkNlblvXtAwIVs17jSCwuDY35RHQuBuw6C4zGWCCWymLXBJgTOaIyAIrj1fEkL15MsYQ6apaxsV_l0rwf30WNiw3aC9wXGalrB8fT/s640/aa8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNeLaNug5Th1iMU1sMdh2fqr_dh_XEstOx9fUjSYyljgaQY2yo0J8gI9tqVOiRejO_4E34ArgMOX12YURj7NOX2n126wOiiWohQJ5_7xh1yWzWbFdBqLgKJ2aKNm7ogT3lacnab2Ivu_D/s1600/aa9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNeLaNug5Th1iMU1sMdh2fqr_dh_XEstOx9fUjSYyljgaQY2yo0J8gI9tqVOiRejO_4E34ArgMOX12YURj7NOX2n126wOiiWohQJ5_7xh1yWzWbFdBqLgKJ2aKNm7ogT3lacnab2Ivu_D/s640/aa9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-16975928389826361752017-01-06T22:23:00.002+00:002017-01-06T22:25:20.975+00:002017 Farne Islands Calendar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last month I made a number of calendars as Christmas presents for friends and family based on my visits to the Farne Islands in Northumberland. The islands are a paradise for seabirds and provide the photographer with an inexhaustible source of subjects. It was difficult to chose 12 photos from the many I have taken over the past few years but I eventually settled on the following images.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpdZrqRxR-dEnY3guKuRx3TzcergxQkuOtFrvSAg5LIoAJJIoReR_QmGSFh-QF43vf2QEOFzOJKO-U01ECazK9JlKU64kgkWkEDJ9m4oA8rED2SuFv3s84q8WfKN2y4N3JxjH7dinmhCy/s1600/c2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpdZrqRxR-dEnY3guKuRx3TzcergxQkuOtFrvSAg5LIoAJJIoReR_QmGSFh-QF43vf2QEOFzOJKO-U01ECazK9JlKU64kgkWkEDJ9m4oA8rED2SuFv3s84q8WfKN2y4N3JxjH7dinmhCy/s640/c2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Guillemots</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhz20VKtT8veSURlgdVRZC3IDBDHRnBtZFS3gVPhcszfZ5BHvksNpOl3R6rMDY_AxodAmsYxh00rJJm8ljMsCYdl_dvzV6DDhIujqgx2VYaFT1pNBsQbmlgFfXdGGZpdyvlvFqRS-qVH9/s1600/c3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhz20VKtT8veSURlgdVRZC3IDBDHRnBtZFS3gVPhcszfZ5BHvksNpOl3R6rMDY_AxodAmsYxh00rJJm8ljMsCYdl_dvzV6DDhIujqgx2VYaFT1pNBsQbmlgFfXdGGZpdyvlvFqRS-qVH9/s640/c3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Puffin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFUIwdU-Qnt9WnBWl1SNfoPvS6FShVdc_n1gjm1DUygrwmXtTV3luYBV-DB8B4D4FCu2PN9WWpdEPjxOgSDw5zVq8iD0-8J3uTqc6fgYQEYxfHA8kY1YxZOqGftk3YF957OIN8kX7LUHX/s1600/c4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFUIwdU-Qnt9WnBWl1SNfoPvS6FShVdc_n1gjm1DUygrwmXtTV3luYBV-DB8B4D4FCu2PN9WWpdEPjxOgSDw5zVq8iD0-8J3uTqc6fgYQEYxfHA8kY1YxZOqGftk3YF957OIN8kX7LUHX/s640/c4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fulmar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0lIJUAHJXNjs9iPrT7iNrq1b2EwniA4b4V4KgrHFZFlaBDYbBkz2SEoQWiuJ3P6DMryScp43r1CDRnjt3rRiPbi9Qsba0Jq-EdEEw2ppfKJafkIBGnsbgl8hjInOv58o-kTedzBVHzsS/s1600/c5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0lIJUAHJXNjs9iPrT7iNrq1b2EwniA4b4V4KgrHFZFlaBDYbBkz2SEoQWiuJ3P6DMryScp43r1CDRnjt3rRiPbi9Qsba0Jq-EdEEw2ppfKJafkIBGnsbgl8hjInOv58o-kTedzBVHzsS/s640/c5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arctic Tern</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0MEzUAi78XuRDCnq76ce7s6p2licNOdUuOIyvojQVodPz9W-NkeSvojn5OxNarcOIci4GPe83tuwmFCdV4t_pY94ECtvba8Yk2fDTcS7jM9PvwfmdLVVY6_HaN-7WrmNUpweVzJ7kwo6/s1600/c6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0MEzUAi78XuRDCnq76ce7s6p2licNOdUuOIyvojQVodPz9W-NkeSvojn5OxNarcOIci4GPe83tuwmFCdV4t_pY94ECtvba8Yk2fDTcS7jM9PvwfmdLVVY6_HaN-7WrmNUpweVzJ7kwo6/s640/c6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grey Seal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-U8L8sumdDL7ea8cdf779irPMQklSngZLFtojXxD1HNSCML2ZybW_njK9TvOod-m9rvL0OkvzbUSoI2M9oArRy2I56x7fULM50JBmJiRoFjUym3Jtq5vLaPEDd5fZtoYwD9MaLGiAzgT/s1600/c7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-U8L8sumdDL7ea8cdf779irPMQklSngZLFtojXxD1HNSCML2ZybW_njK9TvOod-m9rvL0OkvzbUSoI2M9oArRy2I56x7fULM50JBmJiRoFjUym3Jtq5vLaPEDd5fZtoYwD9MaLGiAzgT/s640/c7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shag</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuOnvUSTCfE58YDOCf8dcUQLsqHz9rMfpemj9tAe_v6XEOW4A6NmqvkFoXiZnECqB0h1wXnzenoAuSFL8-R3Y8_93xzH65WFG51ebrU6yZ9RCbfRzEzemC3tFnQQgK2tuRLGVZtDMPV27/s1600/c9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuOnvUSTCfE58YDOCf8dcUQLsqHz9rMfpemj9tAe_v6XEOW4A6NmqvkFoXiZnECqB0h1wXnzenoAuSFL8-R3Y8_93xzH65WFG51ebrU6yZ9RCbfRzEzemC3tFnQQgK2tuRLGVZtDMPV27/s640/c9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Flying Puffin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJWunWZJLc1B53-18j_y7QPPP3IRaM9qBka6M7-1ZulhF7CN19ijRfl4Bn1rCVqX5MmKp5AWo2P04rG5FfsG_3u0IScylgWQY21iS4ByEiXoQ_eXgbtM_HtJr3jDEJZ_DfYVGcTJzwD_M/s1600/c9a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJWunWZJLc1B53-18j_y7QPPP3IRaM9qBka6M7-1ZulhF7CN19ijRfl4Bn1rCVqX5MmKp5AWo2P04rG5FfsG_3u0IScylgWQY21iS4ByEiXoQ_eXgbtM_HtJr3jDEJZ_DfYVGcTJzwD_M/s640/c9a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Razorbill</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnailFMAr7Cf3whNYLT2lseTkFw4NukQxl4jwAiT5bp1bQL5DHHe_5BwfpGva8OzFAUEuB0KEAdjEQrKkEhMUfHlDv27fUoONkz5L52QWXIcB4X5ZVbZqNYdxewC3Hu00h5seSExr8o3h/s1600/c10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnailFMAr7Cf3whNYLT2lseTkFw4NukQxl4jwAiT5bp1bQL5DHHe_5BwfpGva8OzFAUEuB0KEAdjEQrKkEhMUfHlDv27fUoONkz5L52QWXIcB4X5ZVbZqNYdxewC3Hu00h5seSExr8o3h/s640/c10.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arctic Tern</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-loownu5NrRsm_9tZlQyvTKZ-rWK_BWwG61QomrjjGnu53aEsf0u-xJJy9mpPe0FGcqQjRdXEhp-MYpys-17VLakmBO2gVDHU4t9zFrqSpGCA8DxMfuz7iXSqlukfXDGLgm8Bi3uJe7iL/s1600/c11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-loownu5NrRsm_9tZlQyvTKZ-rWK_BWwG61QomrjjGnu53aEsf0u-xJJy9mpPe0FGcqQjRdXEhp-MYpys-17VLakmBO2gVDHU4t9zFrqSpGCA8DxMfuz7iXSqlukfXDGLgm8Bi3uJe7iL/s640/c11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOnD0omiJX8cmPPmFzBspETWz3f9oazXzzJsJfZe5a6flK_ynNBwnjjMqrOQoMl5Ap3eMp-xu3Y2n7-c6awFtRD-8NLaW4QZr4rHlFeUmVWF9b8SE0yECLX3w7UQoYw4aANghxtzbwofY/s1600/c12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOnD0omiJX8cmPPmFzBspETWz3f9oazXzzJsJfZe5a6flK_ynNBwnjjMqrOQoMl5Ap3eMp-xu3Y2n7-c6awFtRD-8NLaW4QZr4rHlFeUmVWF9b8SE0yECLX3w7UQoYw4aANghxtzbwofY/s640/c12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMcn96WROKwFNWhJjsrnoYdg8_ptNocL3VuOX6_kYpOgI4vRBuFJ68msyjDFjdvL2YA7OHusZ_eQBaiprrna_iEHdgMSEk6MWysbhUidud5Eo6LhjU1ut1ZsgivE4T-Je_P_H_ALbYweM/s1600/c13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMcn96WROKwFNWhJjsrnoYdg8_ptNocL3VuOX6_kYpOgI4vRBuFJ68msyjDFjdvL2YA7OHusZ_eQBaiprrna_iEHdgMSEk6MWysbhUidud5Eo6LhjU1ut1ZsgivE4T-Je_P_H_ALbYweM/s640/c13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lZG7m2aY1bqu-1MwojbxSy0oi-gdpOtmYgd9ZLgjK6qKIcDALTJ6nKxqdPqoQRP1xGBPf_rsPSAXllGm5rEcDkrvqu3BGW5OQYcumA8Dolipq_r_yqRsbp708fq3oE84vA-eR2vR20Ks/s1600/p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lZG7m2aY1bqu-1MwojbxSy0oi-gdpOtmYgd9ZLgjK6qKIcDALTJ6nKxqdPqoQRP1xGBPf_rsPSAXllGm5rEcDkrvqu3BGW5OQYcumA8Dolipq_r_yqRsbp708fq3oE84vA-eR2vR20Ks/s640/p1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-80037520731189057552016-09-13T21:59:00.002+01:002016-09-15T21:22:23.503+01:00Return to the Farne Deeps.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Whales and dolphins are addictive. Once you have experienced the high of a close encounter with any of the world's cetaceans you are liable to become a marine mammal junkie and the next fix can't come soon enough! <br />
I had a very successful encounter with the North Sea's White-beaked Dolphins last July on a trip with the "sealdiver" himself, Ben Burville, and I was keen to return so my partner Jane could also witness this unique marine spectacle. But ocean going trips are always subject to the vagaries of the weather and I was gutted when I received a text from Billy Shiels Boats saying that due to forcasted high winds the pelagic was to be postponed from the Saturday afternoon to the Sunday morning. Our hotel had already been booked and the chances of finding somewhere to stay in Northumberland at the height of the summer holiday season seemed remote to say the least; and a fruitless hour spent phoning dozens of hotels in the area proved the point. <br />
I reluctantly phoned Billy Shiels boats to inform them of my decision to cancel, but was given a tip on where to find accommodation for the Saturday night in Seahouses itself, local knowledge is priceless.<br />
Saturday was spent on a seven mile walk around the beautiful Cheviot Hills. The remote rolling hillsides (we hardly saw another person all day!) and changeable weather (wind and rain) provided a challenging but rewarding excursion. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYC2x1t6Lno5Iso1AQF5yvJSAe7Ll4I67Boz942VhYYQdRcv6ZRoJNa8VkKajdR9lxR8X-c_DQZKSyXLp9FlZGmiYKICqGDmfCjF5BrNyHYWPsjpYxiX7MeFrDhAO0c6DzCp8KVtejrk7/s1600/IMG_0787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYC2x1t6Lno5Iso1AQF5yvJSAe7Ll4I67Boz942VhYYQdRcv6ZRoJNa8VkKajdR9lxR8X-c_DQZKSyXLp9FlZGmiYKICqGDmfCjF5BrNyHYWPsjpYxiX7MeFrDhAO0c6DzCp8KVtejrk7/s400/IMG_0787.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The iPhone takes a good snap, this could be a</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> cover photo for a country walking magazine</span>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Early Sunday morning found us at the harbour as the tide slowly edged closer to our viewpoint in the car-park, threatening to disturb the Eiders loafing on the rocks below. We made our way along the harbour wall and joined the intrepid band of potential dolphin-watchers being briefed by Ben. We donned our life-jackets and were soon speeding away from Seahouses on board the fast RIB, skippered by the experienced Alan Leatham.<br />
We were only a few miles out from Seahouses when we came across an unexpected sight. A large and well-scattered group of grey seals were to be seen bobbing in the water. Alan slowed the rib as we all took in the amazing view of myriads of seal heads bobbing in the water, most looking directly at us. Ben told us that they were there to hunt herring and, despite his extensive experience of this part of the North Sea, this was only the second time that he had witnessed this amazing phenomenon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDajKjsakQSv3vAXfcejv7UVZZIOBdjI-M09l4DJ7fWn1n8VL7vin64MrRjFe6l4oBg0x3-TRtO7lKCo6hL_oLT3l4_6nFFHwFpc9T-LXXbVPfkNnQ0cTenLJetzITb_wfryDWrmAX04bA/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDajKjsakQSv3vAXfcejv7UVZZIOBdjI-M09l4DJ7fWn1n8VL7vin64MrRjFe6l4oBg0x3-TRtO7lKCo6hL_oLT3l4_6nFFHwFpc9T-LXXbVPfkNnQ0cTenLJetzITb_wfryDWrmAX04bA/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVsfZtPrZNB3oiUe5pfbLhhsuz2oiNlnkgFjBVJT02BWaQMH4wdJHVMHPPY0uVK2-mZf_JaplvRzsDtPwuU2hR9bgoYkb8bZp3CIdK1aNoi8-lQN7OGPKgC9eN9_oJ6LhhNTwUp1JhTzR/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVsfZtPrZNB3oiUe5pfbLhhsuz2oiNlnkgFjBVJT02BWaQMH4wdJHVMHPPY0uVK2-mZf_JaplvRzsDtPwuU2hR9bgoYkb8bZp3CIdK1aNoi8-lQN7OGPKgC9eN9_oJ6LhhNTwUp1JhTzR/s640/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The seals were spread over a large portion of the sea so it was difficult to estimate their numbers, but there could easily have been over one hundred animals in the area. But they were not our target species, so after a few minutes we continued out to sea, being careful not to disturb the seals.<br />
The Farne Deeps is an area 20 miles off the coast and is one of the best places in the country to observe White-beaked Dolphins. But it goes without saying that the sea is vast and our first stopping point proved fruitless, but there were a lot of seabirds in the vicinity which is always a good sign when looking for cetaceans.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfpdJmQ0qThoWi5rKdGGrPsAAIFQ2nj0KWAAQtacbx3BQs9OoMUMEKZh8OMVqeH2j87vky2u_pw4aQ0RMo7w1MAK70HoKyFE-BXLCwGKWEpVsInMVvfdnrGbDgdWNSO3N3mxKoScCp-eM/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfpdJmQ0qThoWi5rKdGGrPsAAIFQ2nj0KWAAQtacbx3BQs9OoMUMEKZh8OMVqeH2j87vky2u_pw4aQ0RMo7w1MAK70HoKyFE-BXLCwGKWEpVsInMVvfdnrGbDgdWNSO3N3mxKoScCp-eM/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fulmar gliding past the boat.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAXNyXX2_QkO0iPlhwlRB_suRnde3dNqEXrHwGVuNqZbvAMWAp4YPR_R1fFoHjV7U1nTuStA3S8INCv8XkhWwtfcqs8jgWOC46sjttk7pCpeClwyOnTRLBGxjUW28hT3PypgCKlZD8ie7/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAXNyXX2_QkO0iPlhwlRB_suRnde3dNqEXrHwGVuNqZbvAMWAp4YPR_R1fFoHjV7U1nTuStA3S8INCv8XkhWwtfcqs8jgWOC46sjttk7pCpeClwyOnTRLBGxjUW28hT3PypgCKlZD8ie7/s640/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feeding Gannets can be a sign that dolphins are nearby.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We headed off again scanning the ocean intently for any signs of dolphin activity. Suddenly, Ben shouted out saying he thought he had seen splashing in the distance, a sure indication of dolphins; and he was right! Through my binoculars I could see splashes below the horizon, and they were moving closer. White-beaked Dolphins produce distinctive splashing as they "porpoise" through the water, so much so that at a distance the animals themselves are barely visible while the splashes they produce can be clearly seen.<br />
We waited with baited breath, but soon there were at least four dolphins zipping around the boat. Ben jumped in the sea to obtain film of these amazing animals while the rest of us attempted to take photographs, not an easy task as they moved through the sea at some speed. It is a real priveledge that the dolphins choose to be with the boat and, without wishing to be anthropomorphic, they clearly seem to enjoy riding the rib's bow-wave; this behaviour allows us to appreciate these wild animals within touching distance! But it's important not to disturb them so our time with any cetaceans is limited and rightly so. It was soon time to leave this group and go in search of more dolphins.<br />
And it wasn't long before we encountered another group of about eight White-beaked Dolphins. They are inquisitive animals with keen underwater hearing, and this group also made a beeline for the rib. Once again Ben entered the water to obtain video footage and did his best to point out the positions of the animals to the excited watchers on the boat. (N.B. Ben Burville has a special license to film the dolphins.)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZoxApTikAARXxQJHibYKrQ2iKfddHSYJIr0MkvsHYubDvt3w0BRpCTwQrF_qN3YMlhgPY_PXjpzqmW93BXQV5GUMMHx4m960WxKikLymDvXFp_4Y77fpNFTaBC5XkFXyJzSVYu4qEklg/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZoxApTikAARXxQJHibYKrQ2iKfddHSYJIr0MkvsHYubDvt3w0BRpCTwQrF_qN3YMlhgPY_PXjpzqmW93BXQV5GUMMHx4m960WxKikLymDvXFp_4Y77fpNFTaBC5XkFXyJzSVYu4qEklg/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">They went that way!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And again we obtained magnificent views of the dolphins riding the bow wave, and my partner Jane made use of a bathyscope to watch the dolphins under the water from the safety of the boat. This device, although sounding like some apparatus used by Captain Nemo on board the Nautilus, is in fact a wonderfully simple viewing scope that once placed in the sea eliminates glare and, depending on the clarity of the water, provides stunning views of the dolphins as they swim past below the surface of the sea.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVySq3nzNw9AVlWAhErKvpwMkFNWkEShxI7_5Gfuh0jJAdof0GCG9WeJQgXnHLL8xI34Zj3axNvXAe8IKV8K4W1GYD6DFJvtWpt3pZ2xOZ-VR_7x8SNLtzL5vzKe_Vi-Bz-fY92fbq6uP/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVySq3nzNw9AVlWAhErKvpwMkFNWkEShxI7_5Gfuh0jJAdof0GCG9WeJQgXnHLL8xI34Zj3axNvXAe8IKV8K4W1GYD6DFJvtWpt3pZ2xOZ-VR_7x8SNLtzL5vzKe_Vi-Bz-fY92fbq6uP/s640/02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiUm6DKp-hUCYtLhzraxCfq9Ts5H9iDgS55ILjTu9iPJ510uOpAUvfGrwVTPuDkDBgAUwU1hJ47Bsy8q7x_5FbQdmL7u4rAttxcWfZRyJrGZpRP88VX4g-9TJgf-AkqX1_SfDzXjriDWq/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiUm6DKp-hUCYtLhzraxCfq9Ts5H9iDgS55ILjTu9iPJ510uOpAUvfGrwVTPuDkDBgAUwU1hJ47Bsy8q7x_5FbQdmL7u4rAttxcWfZRyJrGZpRP88VX4g-9TJgf-AkqX1_SfDzXjriDWq/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO-JYPHb5NCUeTfL5ThvLy0pBBkfBBJ2t4WQmKJXZhk3F-zV5vv5grefBbNSQfTXXQwnxG_Ve12zm0E9_rpIiZSdFric5A_QPnBOmHJnFZoOCAo_xQgkR2dm2lBQ5KDafjyvIY7n38fsc/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO-JYPHb5NCUeTfL5ThvLy0pBBkfBBJ2t4WQmKJXZhk3F-zV5vv5grefBbNSQfTXXQwnxG_Ve12zm0E9_rpIiZSdFric5A_QPnBOmHJnFZoOCAo_xQgkR2dm2lBQ5KDafjyvIY7n38fsc/s640/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTXDKC1epktN-VZlZDXneJ5e5sTSuot8_t5DpjUA-ZqsUdMhVmempwSseAHnTY-GUtnmlLa6C1IkMOkl5KnWq2mfkIDiczdgih22E3mCpTvDGoj-6Kp81U3-lVVchIQ_DdAbUuF3HFKR-/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTXDKC1epktN-VZlZDXneJ5e5sTSuot8_t5DpjUA-ZqsUdMhVmempwSseAHnTY-GUtnmlLa6C1IkMOkl5KnWq2mfkIDiczdgih22E3mCpTvDGoj-6Kp81U3-lVVchIQ_DdAbUuF3HFKR-/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjY0gg39VYqYRLfz-vzPXu6K6H2hgvojX_7bmukbnJg1wevo6DxN2-MrUyoEy1WjFqDFJFo_KPwVe-NEIIuAV8fU1m9WV7N0GJXOMQWN_uvC6fTfY6jcxsLCyD14XvRjNvkEukNO0Ri2d/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjY0gg39VYqYRLfz-vzPXu6K6H2hgvojX_7bmukbnJg1wevo6DxN2-MrUyoEy1WjFqDFJFo_KPwVe-NEIIuAV8fU1m9WV7N0GJXOMQWN_uvC6fTfY6jcxsLCyD14XvRjNvkEukNO0Ri2d/s640/11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The dolphins played around the rib for about ten minutes, after which they swam away from us but were still visible in the distance as Ben explained about their biology and his own research. I continued to watch the dolphins through my binoculars and was amazed so see some of them leaping out of the water. Their acrobatics reminded me of similar behaviour that I have witnessed amongst the Bottlenose dolphins of Cardigan Bay when they are chasing fish. Alan turned the boat so we could obtain better views, but did not approach the dolphins so as not to cause any disturbance. One individual White-beaked Dolphin breached at least six times; an amazing sight to see, but the position of the boat and the distance of the animal precluded anything but record photos. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwBAAnrLHQi2Pra9gCu5J4uhOlPgn5D10IIOkxQoGnEydZbTSEqpB49MLNSk4hmAK5qlt_pNE5FoiDSCQYhqoc5Pn2h3lfrQ9mJFN_AKG9DKTnF-r7WOOXR8u3MjLKv2HhEt5blrqnnHJ/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwBAAnrLHQi2Pra9gCu5J4uhOlPgn5D10IIOkxQoGnEydZbTSEqpB49MLNSk4hmAK5qlt_pNE5FoiDSCQYhqoc5Pn2h3lfrQ9mJFN_AKG9DKTnF-r7WOOXR8u3MjLKv2HhEt5blrqnnHJ/s640/12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHc20LP50WV4dRLDSkEbLenthZCRrKoKSbIICp5tXyLNXer5O2KQnlZRyHa2b5waWBNYLRy8gRLgNubXUfoAYVBJXoP3JxIs88soXtF9vpCaIzOdcIuM3RMkyo3XRsRvzBTHYgL_Vutll/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHc20LP50WV4dRLDSkEbLenthZCRrKoKSbIICp5tXyLNXer5O2KQnlZRyHa2b5waWBNYLRy8gRLgNubXUfoAYVBJXoP3JxIs88soXtF9vpCaIzOdcIuM3RMkyo3XRsRvzBTHYgL_Vutll/s640/13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We were all more than satisfied by the day's sightings as Alan turned the boat to head back to Seahouses. But we kept our eyes peeled on the return journey and were rewarded with more sightings of the Grey Seals along with numerous Manx Shearwaters and an Arctic Skua. <br />
My craving for dolphins had been sated for a short while, but I'm sure I'll be back soon for another mind-blowing fix!<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-53628989902339447012016-06-25T21:27:00.000+01:002016-06-25T21:27:51.030+01:00Minsmere in May<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My son Adam and I spent a highly enjoyable few days in the lovely county of Suffolk in early May this year. His primary objective was filming along the coastline, while I took the opportunity to visit the RSPB's flagship reserve at Minsmere at every possible opportunity. <br />
I recorded 87 species of bird without much difficulty. The highlight was undoubtedly some of my best ever views of Bittern, along with sightings of two Cetti's Warblers, Barn Owl, Green Woodpeckers, lots of Bearded Tits and a personal favourite summer-plumaged Mediterranean Gulls. Non-avian highlights included intimate views of Adder, a Stoat attempting and succeeding to pull a large Rabbit through a tiny hole in a fence and butterflies including Brimstone and Small Copper. <br />
It's easy to see why BBC's Springwatch has chosen this site for their broadcasts for the past three years. Time precludes me from writing a more detailed post so just enjoy the photos. <br />
And do visit the area if you can, you will not be disappointed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqm28qaEpLehiRzSvofDMkJRpwQgNp-FakXKUn4SBY-sX_N2hx1XxFbdOI8XQQVO57VDB3XVkF9IvlCA4cJbekvN_y1XOWg2-jDmyGX49oaQI1I5Mt9bsYjm2ANGI0fvskONKqgZxzRWVS/s1600/b1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqm28qaEpLehiRzSvofDMkJRpwQgNp-FakXKUn4SBY-sX_N2hx1XxFbdOI8XQQVO57VDB3XVkF9IvlCA4cJbekvN_y1XOWg2-jDmyGX49oaQI1I5Mt9bsYjm2ANGI0fvskONKqgZxzRWVS/s640/b1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGMBUrPM6OvHGKDHGyQALzFa1TvlQRwELGZHGWESQ8L11hgv4MAXbzYrlJAEZNxP-UO1VwerelQgju6TEQ1LuVt_uhMwTXdVJL0JvPLJP30gJg9kF9lA6-peVYiC25asgNCj8agVhswpN/s1600/b2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGMBUrPM6OvHGKDHGyQALzFa1TvlQRwELGZHGWESQ8L11hgv4MAXbzYrlJAEZNxP-UO1VwerelQgju6TEQ1LuVt_uhMwTXdVJL0JvPLJP30gJg9kF9lA6-peVYiC25asgNCj8agVhswpN/s640/b2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauXHNPhDkBdt1IOMQG95jf6lMXp1r-Mm3isNYjF359SToW4pAZD66LHXUTu0SpAZacdWNQBLuXtm0QmkD7kmEaf2rOK8HAH0STRTH5T2FVa1lpzZYvh8JEpH_bfInLWMN6D_TCY0JxaDR/s1600/bit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauXHNPhDkBdt1IOMQG95jf6lMXp1r-Mm3isNYjF359SToW4pAZD66LHXUTu0SpAZacdWNQBLuXtm0QmkD7kmEaf2rOK8HAH0STRTH5T2FVa1lpzZYvh8JEpH_bfInLWMN6D_TCY0JxaDR/s640/bit1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MYwGMCQOg0uLKD9oswDWXpz3IDBGO4MizV2nz1NKMAJmkdMIbreTptdgw5VaDOzlm7z7pPqWQJSo0TMLgnANH8Wxa4DDikTeGCU2M7uxAdDF8484cdtY0lgD26_tC96lRqHzvcNMZrx/s1600/m1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6MYwGMCQOg0uLKD9oswDWXpz3IDBGO4MizV2nz1NKMAJmkdMIbreTptdgw5VaDOzlm7z7pPqWQJSo0TMLgnANH8Wxa4DDikTeGCU2M7uxAdDF8484cdtY0lgD26_tC96lRqHzvcNMZrx/s640/m1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifC0sjxgRGol_zKzi_YFTqmiMr1TlLQX5YFJJv0p54vJF9RKhaDipy7dj6ICHoLRqUAoimJkk9v6Zeh1Zozy2bOYGYjQOw7DERXU4YUEIa8SavpY0syW5Pia9SEYgo51uZA3KjEbDBud1/s1600/m2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifC0sjxgRGol_zKzi_YFTqmiMr1TlLQX5YFJJv0p54vJF9RKhaDipy7dj6ICHoLRqUAoimJkk9v6Zeh1Zozy2bOYGYjQOw7DERXU4YUEIa8SavpY0syW5Pia9SEYgo51uZA3KjEbDBud1/s640/m2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5aDWMJPwlKrAiSKYwTo_arqPfAQeYNVjvduKr6PO7BXstjaO0WPclz6jzoVcfo3HqBIs18zMryKZ7GYWOA-r9xRhsUIumJGY9sqdqi6N19gpuZ5EVxDESJJbt7h70iwbpq8Vn76vc0x-/s1600/m3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5aDWMJPwlKrAiSKYwTo_arqPfAQeYNVjvduKr6PO7BXstjaO0WPclz6jzoVcfo3HqBIs18zMryKZ7GYWOA-r9xRhsUIumJGY9sqdqi6N19gpuZ5EVxDESJJbt7h70iwbpq8Vn76vc0x-/s640/m3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMtgX5hFCmf8oSUUtPOtMMPmP5PpcwTq26uhllTp_6Uhp-fUWpPdQQAKxsryk41iJXq7IOnLW8ZHkeSrrrgpwYjIFOzmGE5rpNAviUgkW1qMhUsZEE7GFFMg_FFRZSD5al_X5Fh0UAvgE/s1600/m4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMtgX5hFCmf8oSUUtPOtMMPmP5PpcwTq26uhllTp_6Uhp-fUWpPdQQAKxsryk41iJXq7IOnLW8ZHkeSrrrgpwYjIFOzmGE5rpNAviUgkW1qMhUsZEE7GFFMg_FFRZSD5al_X5Fh0UAvgE/s640/m4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtW9E-P8J6UWXVCgT0i2oXEmwDBWWMMOlLBu4CVlfOnDr9tSqZ7hy3QrUjcsYK9i4mFO5ZC56-bE2w1BvvSmzMhw-TexqKOUzOiZCQobM6x6ESFgO3fjmOS_7RjdnyvXuBPcOS8_mCdxJ/s1600/m5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtW9E-P8J6UWXVCgT0i2oXEmwDBWWMMOlLBu4CVlfOnDr9tSqZ7hy3QrUjcsYK9i4mFO5ZC56-bE2w1BvvSmzMhw-TexqKOUzOiZCQobM6x6ESFgO3fjmOS_7RjdnyvXuBPcOS8_mCdxJ/s640/m5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuXOKlbHRpElABJ8e7F5UZXLs3bnbThhaphMbGzcuJn1R-SOa0hRJhSnlkJa_enZQuVY1TAaw6IF0ijS9c1jF9fzF9FPq7BddyMT9oP6FQ7CqHXkcgdZuqddhICFaGg8Fjqt9CT7AsHRG/s1600/m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuXOKlbHRpElABJ8e7F5UZXLs3bnbThhaphMbGzcuJn1R-SOa0hRJhSnlkJa_enZQuVY1TAaw6IF0ijS9c1jF9fzF9FPq7BddyMT9oP6FQ7CqHXkcgdZuqddhICFaGg8Fjqt9CT7AsHRG/s640/m6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnqiO8Gyy-RGM4y2b7PXE9w58OIEWrlCsF33yUgeT02GAknZNLLAtMJyA4QuDhfmN7A9E2Czb9ma8ffGOcZAssBuXML5WzY7v6Cl-k-4dHvHN7rUySJ5RJm1ktxhFNczexGHBiQFebK8I/s1600/m7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnqiO8Gyy-RGM4y2b7PXE9w58OIEWrlCsF33yUgeT02GAknZNLLAtMJyA4QuDhfmN7A9E2Czb9ma8ffGOcZAssBuXML5WzY7v6Cl-k-4dHvHN7rUySJ5RJm1ktxhFNczexGHBiQFebK8I/s640/m7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1i83Pg2M17gsl1HfMVANTsy4M6eX89LfqPso2KBhbebctRDqDe9tnFx92z3DAYLQZ5WjzrPPhN9ankPLbP301BQg-WiuBn85xLY-oapBtZEk7bTLA6dKyfBthh_6tyIZdre0alSp834V/s1600/m8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1i83Pg2M17gsl1HfMVANTsy4M6eX89LfqPso2KBhbebctRDqDe9tnFx92z3DAYLQZ5WjzrPPhN9ankPLbP301BQg-WiuBn85xLY-oapBtZEk7bTLA6dKyfBthh_6tyIZdre0alSp834V/s640/m8.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhClPIBVVsChptbDT40QLRkhfMjK9ReeJjg8u3d05puLx4qgcfCXf65sh1DqF4_RudhBA9HGH0n0_MJ3Lq7bbYhNTeVuH-NiNveOpjKywFKRW0OIntYeF4ifdBU2_e_SZp0bO_SCvvqSi/s1600/m9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhClPIBVVsChptbDT40QLRkhfMjK9ReeJjg8u3d05puLx4qgcfCXf65sh1DqF4_RudhBA9HGH0n0_MJ3Lq7bbYhNTeVuH-NiNveOpjKywFKRW0OIntYeF4ifdBU2_e_SZp0bO_SCvvqSi/s640/m9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmeQe6-0P_9pSc_e3iqjHPS9rtqc4xknAfmDxYS8JZRSh6h_Rhb6E1g9wfD-RA841IxhFvawbwEMgs1kWDTV3d6pXCmJDEwcENEyoQ41_hmo6_d6CkHAGwG1USvRq4wL9U5fuLAFrvgJW/s1600/m10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmeQe6-0P_9pSc_e3iqjHPS9rtqc4xknAfmDxYS8JZRSh6h_Rhb6E1g9wfD-RA841IxhFvawbwEMgs1kWDTV3d6pXCmJDEwcENEyoQ41_hmo6_d6CkHAGwG1USvRq4wL9U5fuLAFrvgJW/s640/m10.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfG2Xe81A1KopYEAfHV6Z7qxW5fIvTBQNZBfK1U33TeYcOg2r80EV9THlMu1bOtTe-UrOOFIoFkjPtCb1OKFv7BAQmpkAyYd63GXwgVGCM-6oSHYnhS9K8v7xvBnLV9NTBdmdAeqebBiC/s1600/m11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfG2Xe81A1KopYEAfHV6Z7qxW5fIvTBQNZBfK1U33TeYcOg2r80EV9THlMu1bOtTe-UrOOFIoFkjPtCb1OKFv7BAQmpkAyYd63GXwgVGCM-6oSHYnhS9K8v7xvBnLV9NTBdmdAeqebBiC/s640/m11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaoPIbumX-lp0dfC5fx0kdtT40l5jtKcxMWrkxfmh989VqDMihpWpzIwASpxnGmJXJpL-TEDNnwJ64vAFKlqen7hnqv1BtSptGiO-COxSF2qZEgQfLcdXnQagT3IiRjKehP3sqBpI-deg/s1600/m12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaoPIbumX-lp0dfC5fx0kdtT40l5jtKcxMWrkxfmh989VqDMihpWpzIwASpxnGmJXJpL-TEDNnwJ64vAFKlqen7hnqv1BtSptGiO-COxSF2qZEgQfLcdXnQagT3IiRjKehP3sqBpI-deg/s640/m12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-13185544894575286232016-03-20T22:00:00.000+00:002016-03-21T22:47:57.894+00:00Murmuration<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Made the short trip to Conway RSPB last night to try and catch the murmuration of thousands of starlings. We were told that the best place to stand would be on the top of a small raised area just behind the café. At 6 pm the first flock of about a thousand starlings began to circle overhead. This soon built up to a flock of an estimated thirty thousand birds, and we were right underneath! <br />
In the 1980's the metal band Slayer wrote a classic tune called "Raining Blood", but for the brave souls directly beneath the murmurating flock it was raining poo! The sound of the starling droppings was like a heavy rain shower; it was definitely an evening for keeping your hood up. And there were avian slayers present in the shape of two dynamic sparrowhawks. Their presence caused the flock to bunch and twist in a black ballet designed to confuse the would-be predators. As the flock coalesced their calls became incessantly louder; they could well have been shouting "sh*t, sparrowhawk!" And yes the poo rained down even heavier, although this could be a fear response, it might also serve to soil the sparrowhawk's plumage and act as a deterrent. <br />
At one point part of the main flock pealed off and dived towards the ground like a waterfall of oil; some birds took refuge in the trees and bushes while another part of the flock streaked along the footpath barely inches from the ground, all determined not to become a meal for the sparrowhawk. I have never seen starlings flying so fast! It was a breath-taking spectacle. But both sparrowhawks successfully caught starlings. The flock then reformed and after a few more sweeps over the reserve dropped into the reedbed like one vast organism.<br />
As the last vestiges of daylight disappeared a lone peregrine shot overhead and up the Conway valley, he was too late for a starling supper.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKFf6E8t-dm5rxq2JJtqEtrtd5s9w1Drd50_vBIk24t6G3-tsI9GCM6JNyH6eWoHzp0KHpjdXEQ1JlSm8QDgraCKYXCHVcYjKFCF6ZdTRJZc2sjzJrQyhGAwGRWgp_2D0Fy-5j0RtxbRA/s1600/s1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKFf6E8t-dm5rxq2JJtqEtrtd5s9w1Drd50_vBIk24t6G3-tsI9GCM6JNyH6eWoHzp0KHpjdXEQ1JlSm8QDgraCKYXCHVcYjKFCF6ZdTRJZc2sjzJrQyhGAwGRWgp_2D0Fy-5j0RtxbRA/s640/s1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ48ezoYnjh02Ez4kFXoKCNhWMI3n6UoOCI9kOv_TnGdtGfRQORmJyfhTW14el_nk29MCiZl9XaE3_3U1EHpYnMDyY8HmaODMVs6JIkk8TKZEsbq2RWZ6Cqk5B3kOaisCFKOgfvReeAG1Y/s1600/s2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ48ezoYnjh02Ez4kFXoKCNhWMI3n6UoOCI9kOv_TnGdtGfRQORmJyfhTW14el_nk29MCiZl9XaE3_3U1EHpYnMDyY8HmaODMVs6JIkk8TKZEsbq2RWZ6Cqk5B3kOaisCFKOgfvReeAG1Y/s640/s2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqt2DBqjICLNyfjJlWeif0_S7nFrHkuH8WW9E1b5v1dNzkMkzSGIt8BpA2jTJakNvRKrRVGM25wS0MRM-xNKlMij8idnNCWbYWv7-aXUp6udw4WVHWjv8DbIBhujhQHHSmzI4_NKSiLFIW/s1600/s3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqt2DBqjICLNyfjJlWeif0_S7nFrHkuH8WW9E1b5v1dNzkMkzSGIt8BpA2jTJakNvRKrRVGM25wS0MRM-xNKlMij8idnNCWbYWv7-aXUp6udw4WVHWjv8DbIBhujhQHHSmzI4_NKSiLFIW/s640/s3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sparrowhawk on the edge of the starling flock</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRKAWov6j4Lty2HTGmDzDtXPra-1TUsMXt0a-LWBRbYXBZ09Nf87D6braxy7RdoJGniAbDOAKRbbBABmu0_iJl4jAiGsPlhjBbrYEylAXrou6Gq1GkJnplj9d7YVLI_1bO7hCVsTnLW4q/s1600/s4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRKAWov6j4Lty2HTGmDzDtXPra-1TUsMXt0a-LWBRbYXBZ09Nf87D6braxy7RdoJGniAbDOAKRbbBABmu0_iJl4jAiGsPlhjBbrYEylAXrou6Gq1GkJnplj9d7YVLI_1bO7hCVsTnLW4q/s640/s4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aKvq3DZ4zfAIrLcB7X9YPl7LzJqD0iVoQQlnnYvUjtgbCm6XP3C4vlhpVpo_NlMXa0GobNloeB5FpxSoPfKpdyCmWl1E3F-wz9VflVAJ7MjgHWkZc_vDqWIyW-OUy_rA3xco2hjF8SW6/s1600/s5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aKvq3DZ4zfAIrLcB7X9YPl7LzJqD0iVoQQlnnYvUjtgbCm6XP3C4vlhpVpo_NlMXa0GobNloeB5FpxSoPfKpdyCmWl1E3F-wz9VflVAJ7MjgHWkZc_vDqWIyW-OUy_rA3xco2hjF8SW6/s640/s5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACdY0kOOV5axBxbiSZDK_f-XlVjJUFGJVu4aYilhKFlTYA8WviRyax0KttYvnshKh3ClbT3_8f4_as7XrxsjaZq3fIRi7k5k_c36yMw-mtG-YUEtWFjK4UR3O47OFFzsPv1jOmHbCxsok/s1600/s6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACdY0kOOV5axBxbiSZDK_f-XlVjJUFGJVu4aYilhKFlTYA8WviRyax0KttYvnshKh3ClbT3_8f4_as7XrxsjaZq3fIRi7k5k_c36yMw-mtG-YUEtWFjK4UR3O47OFFzsPv1jOmHbCxsok/s640/s6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-11158134690265087372016-01-03T20:36:00.000+00:002016-01-03T20:36:48.958+00:00New Year at Martin Mere<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
New Year's day 2016 dawned grey and cold but at least it wasn't raining! I ran an easy 6 miles along the Wirral coast and ticked off a pair of Stonechat at Leasowe Bay. After a quick lunch I headed for Martin Mere in Lancashire. The light hadn't improved much but I still rattled off a few photos. Highlights of a fabulous afternoon's birding were Tawny and Barn Owl, though neither were photographable, and four species of raptor; Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harrier, numerous Buzzards and a Kestrel. It was lovely to see good numbers of Tree Sparrow as well.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobO3KwtD05O9yumGOalcta-lf_wgS8OSj-I-1WqP3rV6NZF7Vo6eiUXdSdPtlHhncDIsa6FkIKujxrfExedElsRyjVoM7YCsuHpny6Oi_pATa1RceOQthndBHGOU5wLv8LiAIAOvz-MRK/s1600/m1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobO3KwtD05O9yumGOalcta-lf_wgS8OSj-I-1WqP3rV6NZF7Vo6eiUXdSdPtlHhncDIsa6FkIKujxrfExedElsRyjVoM7YCsuHpny6Oi_pATa1RceOQthndBHGOU5wLv8LiAIAOvz-MRK/s640/m1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wigeon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoExi6BGGQ5nSruSbkKC5jBc4FUyo2A91EXk_ALaaFiTz9Z5WANHTWFJnQsmt54O3sQRcCx43vWHCUzCxLqj4BWr0RAF_5-Ear9n5Dw1VPFns2KUY9aFo_9oRgC5bNVEUxMvMHO1cak2oG/s1600/m2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoExi6BGGQ5nSruSbkKC5jBc4FUyo2A91EXk_ALaaFiTz9Z5WANHTWFJnQsmt54O3sQRcCx43vWHCUzCxLqj4BWr0RAF_5-Ear9n5Dw1VPFns2KUY9aFo_9oRgC5bNVEUxMvMHO1cak2oG/s640/m2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whooper Swan</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYm6g2RfsB8VC2Ax-pOnMDNfKdgcRuCWs3szSEp9i8cEP8g0_bEM2kugbcc0pGWFryYqHjApGga3g5K0SE5znz5VMCmsbjMYwvmjca5mkXxuYHPoXMDE2-FExOn1uqzZTfwWUiLqR-DT9/s1600/m3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYm6g2RfsB8VC2Ax-pOnMDNfKdgcRuCWs3szSEp9i8cEP8g0_bEM2kugbcc0pGWFryYqHjApGga3g5K0SE5znz5VMCmsbjMYwvmjca5mkXxuYHPoXMDE2-FExOn1uqzZTfwWUiLqR-DT9/s640/m3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whooper Swan family</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L1UlFb6n7uQVQNVXtZNOOFdE0VWPsgVGT7s9Dw8Xr5x_dpzjDBbt08e_x8U51OMw-jWSHetgckdM04y05YTe3QEC71AU1u7fdqJly-ZT8Xax0FmOQwVMRY3AtQBcIKvXybwRk10vuqCI/s1600/m4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L1UlFb6n7uQVQNVXtZNOOFdE0VWPsgVGT7s9Dw8Xr5x_dpzjDBbt08e_x8U51OMw-jWSHetgckdM04y05YTe3QEC71AU1u7fdqJly-ZT8Xax0FmOQwVMRY3AtQBcIKvXybwRk10vuqCI/s640/m4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marsh Harrier</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO92GLXH1ppORKVKyuZXAMf9Pol_p9ZS01TWFXWuxXLelNcLegz-vUQuhejrBHxMjyVRbSS_CoQzgs51pPuuFPNs33iSTN7U6LFGd0GjJQr_PFFA2xIARMb-a9wEhQxkRsutC-Cg3160ik/s1600/m5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO92GLXH1ppORKVKyuZXAMf9Pol_p9ZS01TWFXWuxXLelNcLegz-vUQuhejrBHxMjyVRbSS_CoQzgs51pPuuFPNs33iSTN7U6LFGd0GjJQr_PFFA2xIARMb-a9wEhQxkRsutC-Cg3160ik/s640/m5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marsh Harrier</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyQ11IZiYjWyuyc4AxNRixvrSCj18jZLPIrojQgCJIj4jz1Cc-OTFd8lm_mWL_7CglvOulzs079QB_7yeh6ugBT8G-sN6tMgPTBiQPBeYVh2bgqTd2DiqFOxrh_2FZ6y2QgyPdLW_8s-G/s1600/m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyQ11IZiYjWyuyc4AxNRixvrSCj18jZLPIrojQgCJIj4jz1Cc-OTFd8lm_mWL_7CglvOulzs079QB_7yeh6ugBT8G-sN6tMgPTBiQPBeYVh2bgqTd2DiqFOxrh_2FZ6y2QgyPdLW_8s-G/s640/m6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tree Sparrows</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vQj2i7xcz0f8GOaUVv47CXQaTzgyYKWG2CLD3R67HzDUjUPAu-rHJgQZm1jvXiC9Z7quvihoOlNXo6sQKrZP1YSsrz3rykGGEIG6fCPCh9y2pOgKwNYDULmHVipR96wohObTdWAnHZdc/s1600/m7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vQj2i7xcz0f8GOaUVv47CXQaTzgyYKWG2CLD3R67HzDUjUPAu-rHJgQZm1jvXiC9Z7quvihoOlNXo6sQKrZP1YSsrz3rykGGEIG6fCPCh9y2pOgKwNYDULmHVipR96wohObTdWAnHZdc/s640/m7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pintail</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-76481624360286892282015-11-12T22:24:00.000+00:002015-11-12T22:24:00.016+00:00Stags and Stoats<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As the weak late-Autumn sunshine finally broke through the clouds, the blanket of mist nestling over the marshy grassland slowly began to rise and disperse. In a scene unchanged since the Pleistocene, a red deer stag's antlers appeared above the tall grass and were slowly swept backwards towards the animal's russet-coloured back, as it put it's head in the air and roared it's call. And, no doubt like my ancient ancestors, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I felt a pit in my stomach in response to this primeval sound. Then a Virgin Atlantic 747 cruised low overhead en route to Florida! I was deer-watching in Tatton Park close to Manchester airport.<br />
My girlfriend Jane and I arrived early on Saturday morning to try and catch some of the red deer rutting action in this beautiful park. We parked beneath the trees near one of the meres and as soon as we got out of the car a stag sauntered towards us. We stayed near the car as this magnificent deer strolled past only metres away; these testosterone-infused males can be unpredictable at this time of the year so we were taking no chances.<br />
We had spotted a group of red deer hinds across the road from the carpark as we drove in, so we set off to see if there were any stags with them. In the long grass quite close to road I saw a massive pair of antlers; what was clearly a defeated stag was lying down trying to recouperate from his exertions. He appeared exhausted, and was struggling to even keep his head off the ground, the rigours of the rut had taken their toll on this beautiful animal, so we left him in peace.<br />
We crossed the road and headed for a small piece of woodland where some red deer were currently grazing. So as not to disturb the deer we headed around the back of the trees, and as we did so a familiar "winking" call of geese prompted me to cast my gaze skyward just in time to see a flock of about 30 pinkfooted geese heading east in perfect v-formation. We watched as the lead goose changed positions with another member of the flock in a manoeuvre that would have drawn admiring glances from a well-drilled Tour de France time trial team! And the purpose is the same; drafting from you fellow team mate or flock member saves energy.<br />
We settled down on a fallen tree trunk in a perfect position to watch the deer. There was at least one stag who was staking his claim on the hinds and declaring his fitness for battle by constantly bellowing. But there were no challengers to his position as top stag. A few younger males made half-hearted attempts to usurp the alpha male but they were easily thwarted without the need for a clash of antlers; there was going to be no fighting today. And just as well, although I had my camera with me, most of the, albeit tame, action was taking place beneath the trees so any photos of the rut would have been obscured by tree trunks and branches.<br />
At about this time I noticed a grey squirrel perched on one end of our log with a sweet chestnut clamped securely in his mouth. He was obviously caching food in preparation for the leaner months ahead, but we were clearly sitting on one of his favourite highways! He glared at me and swished his grey fluffy tail in annoyance, but it was a perfect opportunity for me to grab a shot of this much-maligned alien. I rattled off a few snaps before he sprang from the log and bounced off through the long grass behind us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxOGZPZJe6HNj8g1Ne6iaL60KJL7xWBb_unJ8wgZu7vM2QKME14SD2BnlMK2WfL7NMFUWRL07Q7YJImy6Os1BVNxviWX-bLlJiycimxknIKBlcaCdFohmkqBu5qWQzu1PBtPRx4ZE30DE/s1600/t4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxOGZPZJe6HNj8g1Ne6iaL60KJL7xWBb_unJ8wgZu7vM2QKME14SD2BnlMK2WfL7NMFUWRL07Q7YJImy6Os1BVNxviWX-bLlJiycimxknIKBlcaCdFohmkqBu5qWQzu1PBtPRx4ZE30DE/s640/t4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxy1FxPwyaBV7a_Pq1bqsXThPSLUmOBQImp-tJ5Y9Ktlm6KXXu3KB5WFdiM0PTZVjOvlbQLz2Bv-L5itAsO36z6hBjyOZXPGG3-vdc1EPaup_J8SS0Db2lT61LdGrzDmOLYxZ4C3Wqhso6/s1600/t5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxy1FxPwyaBV7a_Pq1bqsXThPSLUmOBQImp-tJ5Y9Ktlm6KXXu3KB5WFdiM0PTZVjOvlbQLz2Bv-L5itAsO36z6hBjyOZXPGG3-vdc1EPaup_J8SS0Db2lT61LdGrzDmOLYxZ4C3Wqhso6/s640/t5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I took a few record shots of the deer before we decided to have a stroll back around the trees. As I approached the edge of the small wood I spotted what I thought was another squirrel dashing through the undergrowth; but hang on a minute, it was too dark, sleek and sinewy to be a squirrel. I raised my binoculars and was delighted to find myself watching a beautiful stoat! He shot around a tree and disappeared beneath a small pile of logs. I crept closer and crouched behind a tree whereupon the stoat started scrambling over and under the logs, pausing occasionally to glance in my direction. He was so close that I could see his dark brown nose twitching as he sniffed the air. Despite the poor light I managed to take a few nice shots, before the stoat once again dashed off, no doubt in search of rabbits. <br />
What an amazing encounter; it more than compensated for the lack of rutting action by the red deer stags.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IjHZCDDVWutySe7TPPSkL0_mgcv8iLnd5aUlEUnFwZrGgFYwBoJ-er_KblUH3ZAZgWQVWa3UR7kv8IgSfE97-o6qns5NqiG-RiX7B-2hN-1s_hn0ehkRB-TD7OnNDIedVkZ6SFMuuDXk/s1600/t1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IjHZCDDVWutySe7TPPSkL0_mgcv8iLnd5aUlEUnFwZrGgFYwBoJ-er_KblUH3ZAZgWQVWa3UR7kv8IgSfE97-o6qns5NqiG-RiX7B-2hN-1s_hn0ehkRB-TD7OnNDIedVkZ6SFMuuDXk/s640/t1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Roe Deer are also present in Tatton Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EXHfbH1OzwzOGfvqhuOtUTEMPacwcb1CWUe6Cfr57qTrCaqy0AAdEGYxu-GHeWToFczQBdXO9fj25JCoxO4bDRU9Cn2a76XZU9yZ6BcLd6xK3XMJ6xX_3djUQxrtMinwXi0lMKWSWDBz/s1600/t2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EXHfbH1OzwzOGfvqhuOtUTEMPacwcb1CWUe6Cfr57qTrCaqy0AAdEGYxu-GHeWToFczQBdXO9fj25JCoxO4bDRU9Cn2a76XZU9yZ6BcLd6xK3XMJ6xX_3djUQxrtMinwXi0lMKWSWDBz/s640/t2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeE8lgd2sJ4jS_fIeeOTIZq3jF0MyVxCn8fh7ePlI_LOC9ZVHC8R3fBLCyHGJ1A_gpdN1RoPOr3iVeQ4qP6lHTK9SS298eVZZsLugu-2C_4f63c5zvblEAXhRLGEmhU4PWXQF5P_asxSw/s1600/t3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeE8lgd2sJ4jS_fIeeOTIZq3jF0MyVxCn8fh7ePlI_LOC9ZVHC8R3fBLCyHGJ1A_gpdN1RoPOr3iVeQ4qP6lHTK9SS298eVZZsLugu-2C_4f63c5zvblEAXhRLGEmhU4PWXQF5P_asxSw/s640/t3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49ZWLt_fm_kluJAXx8A3LEg3buzdtCpMv1z1NL1iaNi2hHq-9-2imL-M2kmAzs_2dkBSgvaAxncXtVWY-XIlfkIoet7ZyqL2Nmd75hHdLarkggCgFnuklwcqt6Zb904cVwdL8dubmZIx7/s1600/t6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49ZWLt_fm_kluJAXx8A3LEg3buzdtCpMv1z1NL1iaNi2hHq-9-2imL-M2kmAzs_2dkBSgvaAxncXtVWY-XIlfkIoet7ZyqL2Nmd75hHdLarkggCgFnuklwcqt6Zb904cVwdL8dubmZIx7/s640/t6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWXudoewcMDRoO5Ybpcq4i4m49yTdIzID090muVOJ5rn5xeb3JsDdP1y9-8PvX7MSOWK4LDb1C9eEksGatGCFv1XCMfvHW35w6iJCgV8BrmBR4uDgOyUGWv30RsKM4H5jxQk4WBqC5BFM/s1600/t8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWXudoewcMDRoO5Ybpcq4i4m49yTdIzID090muVOJ5rn5xeb3JsDdP1y9-8PvX7MSOWK4LDb1C9eEksGatGCFv1XCMfvHW35w6iJCgV8BrmBR4uDgOyUGWv30RsKM4H5jxQk4WBqC5BFM/s640/t8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMg40f8Wl9XYwNyGEX4LcO8I-ryghbuI_bJszQuaGWSvMmNu0TbDOlk01QfVfJVv4s4g_WnaXAhk_SaSgzK-xXxwScSKuHP8rHroTXmu_Fv5pIkNBwTyNgTii9b7qIBOszgNu-SdN8uF3/s1600/t9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMg40f8Wl9XYwNyGEX4LcO8I-ryghbuI_bJszQuaGWSvMmNu0TbDOlk01QfVfJVv4s4g_WnaXAhk_SaSgzK-xXxwScSKuHP8rHroTXmu_Fv5pIkNBwTyNgTii9b7qIBOszgNu-SdN8uF3/s640/t9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWPAqUxYOYjbvLZc8rkT-7AkT4pKrih3HR9oOagZG4U61OsTnf_S50exNmwk5Oc8jfrwjiXlSVowXR08via8lHv-Rd1ClR-M9JtBYkMBi1ItXvqJCVf39cFfDhypS3qFP-jMq-NXv1M9J/s1600/t13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWPAqUxYOYjbvLZc8rkT-7AkT4pKrih3HR9oOagZG4U61OsTnf_S50exNmwk5Oc8jfrwjiXlSVowXR08via8lHv-Rd1ClR-M9JtBYkMBi1ItXvqJCVf39cFfDhypS3qFP-jMq-NXv1M9J/s640/t13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7KAqB5OXLxAJVG-K98WUi13xJTd-QCWuFY6NfLXqJkRHaGwGSyemFcAU-ZOKnaF0nUhz88O3OIBTGA0ERnJalZrUdfFdXxYbhie43WU3BJMOxJ-kuh5mdMDVjD3H6yH1_ro3N-7hqLuJ/s1600/t14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7KAqB5OXLxAJVG-K98WUi13xJTd-QCWuFY6NfLXqJkRHaGwGSyemFcAU-ZOKnaF0nUhz88O3OIBTGA0ERnJalZrUdfFdXxYbhie43WU3BJMOxJ-kuh5mdMDVjD3H6yH1_ro3N-7hqLuJ/s640/t14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrVfqk8L2lay6Tvq2C0jyZkiI4-KBaf5U2vQZPfTzLIp9l9DCVKWQLot6R55eRnvx8NOhJDaguth0HRu67jR5QZbDvvnj8XjzvGNtVjOur2Y-7Rk6tG58972A5HSOTbphIskGkfvcsN9j/s1600/t15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrVfqk8L2lay6Tvq2C0jyZkiI4-KBaf5U2vQZPfTzLIp9l9DCVKWQLot6R55eRnvx8NOhJDaguth0HRu67jR5QZbDvvnj8XjzvGNtVjOur2Y-7Rk6tG58972A5HSOTbphIskGkfvcsN9j/s640/t15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-28564927606850233272015-10-07T16:09:00.000+01:002015-10-07T16:09:04.584+01:00Llandegla Macro<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Despite being a keen birdwatcher I have also always had an inordinate fondness for insects, with dragonflies and butterflies being particular favourites. On a visit to Llandegla Forest a couple of years ago I managed to take some good photos of Black Darters, so a sunny day in September prompted me to make a return visit with my camera and macro lens.<br />
As a bird photographer I am used to lugging around a hefty 500mm lens, so it made a nice to change just to be carrying a small macro lens. I even forsook my binoculars, so I was really travelling light. This change of focus forced me to examine my surroundings in a totally different manner, and searching out subjects for macro photography opened up a whole new perspective on the forest.<br />
Unfortunately, I only found one dragonfly and that was a fly-past Common Darter, but as with all wildlife photography there is always something to try and capture, including Speckled Wood butterflies, a Silver Y moth and I even tried my hand at plant photography. The macro lens is quite versatile and can even take narrow landscape shots. <br />
But I didn't totally ignore the birdlife, my ears picked out Coal Tits, lots of Siskins, Raven, Goldcrests and I was alerted to the presence of a Crossbill by its "chip chip" call and looked up just in time to see a red bon-bon of a male torpedo between two stands of conifers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6b1p7pZYEEennNKYIyfsDSarPRhjHkBoIdjwhg9qeYXbL8MlE8e5sb0kxmVqJcIgbSa224ARjV7EJzubBDJVe8tuXIa7stmL8VXrv3tqyWvNeApX7tIwxVVJMvS6CQgNDJOvumBaHE7sT/s1600/l6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6b1p7pZYEEennNKYIyfsDSarPRhjHkBoIdjwhg9qeYXbL8MlE8e5sb0kxmVqJcIgbSa224ARjV7EJzubBDJVe8tuXIa7stmL8VXrv3tqyWvNeApX7tIwxVVJMvS6CQgNDJOvumBaHE7sT/s640/l6.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjUGfgyNdYCm2QnhpYetW055B6r9jQxufqDZzx9SL2hCEzt1mp2eU1C_BHJ_i9EcWwQuyzDLhKPBIbI4DbOpBXRMoBTVzhDGPV5GFjnlLBYo1_3ocbR2r-xvltiiJy7OLoqqOjA7c_zMO/s1600/l7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjUGfgyNdYCm2QnhpYetW055B6r9jQxufqDZzx9SL2hCEzt1mp2eU1C_BHJ_i9EcWwQuyzDLhKPBIbI4DbOpBXRMoBTVzhDGPV5GFjnlLBYo1_3ocbR2r-xvltiiJy7OLoqqOjA7c_zMO/s640/l7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkouCcAQVfzR4fo-mCU41sVP0dWIAg1PBtkg_75zGbfyb0ZQH3UlKpbO9B4rM8YJc1Qcn9Q2Kb1ssqfA98GiPEfRneBZyo18jYyMSiXdFviPgrvqkW0HsaGZjES2EGo3fgaiiS3fgcsOd6/s1600/l8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkouCcAQVfzR4fo-mCU41sVP0dWIAg1PBtkg_75zGbfyb0ZQH3UlKpbO9B4rM8YJc1Qcn9Q2Kb1ssqfA98GiPEfRneBZyo18jYyMSiXdFviPgrvqkW0HsaGZjES2EGo3fgaiiS3fgcsOd6/s640/l8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hoverfly <em>Syrphus ribesii</em></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUFHUtKKnx2p7RUsWcWCoTjsTYTINZF3DO0DG9vHuz6CGO1GQFhDrHlFDu8VRPiDCNPiCLWt9d6PXa7TC47koG8yQ7qnK7jEs4uNjk8FoVJg4B571Z0ngyucWo8BBtf8LWWzHqY_IF2bm/s1600/l10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUFHUtKKnx2p7RUsWcWCoTjsTYTINZF3DO0DG9vHuz6CGO1GQFhDrHlFDu8VRPiDCNPiCLWt9d6PXa7TC47koG8yQ7qnK7jEs4uNjk8FoVJg4B571Z0ngyucWo8BBtf8LWWzHqY_IF2bm/s640/l10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Silver Y moth</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6ujObTusShhIiEtfmYTC0p9CmD3fy_u5cNcwXjoKGLcX3q5uDrCDFcJ2V2TjGBj0Uy_RZjQsEeoeGulW4gcRY259cnCsaDbvUAUQ7SF_2ErGqSYX1knzVNYjijT92aca5UkwC8FmUU2y/s1600/l11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6ujObTusShhIiEtfmYTC0p9CmD3fy_u5cNcwXjoKGLcX3q5uDrCDFcJ2V2TjGBj0Uy_RZjQsEeoeGulW4gcRY259cnCsaDbvUAUQ7SF_2ErGqSYX1knzVNYjijT92aca5UkwC8FmUU2y/s400/l11.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp7TZMmUUS9AzVBxIHnB-0OMV6MhckbDQYVF6q2SiReUkBxaNsChI5qz0LOdpMvi_Ca4x2t0apjrjkyt0d-S6u5REME61H3Tj3imNV4JgVX5R8adQIm3_inePAvZIL2k8Bvsa_jiCvxWd/s1600/l12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp7TZMmUUS9AzVBxIHnB-0OMV6MhckbDQYVF6q2SiReUkBxaNsChI5qz0LOdpMvi_Ca4x2t0apjrjkyt0d-S6u5REME61H3Tj3imNV4JgVX5R8adQIm3_inePAvZIL2k8Bvsa_jiCvxWd/s640/l12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bilberry</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGY4G-IXQEGE1OD2PlPVw2k3HzHncQ8RDmnZcUb3CBZ4wFE3k3dqrFhJ2HAnqGVhRAlwa4-D3nQzjfnwll9Tnb86G1uRJWQkjqPtrZHBQoBgLqQAk1CGDafnoyk9G9J6h5AKnMW0RSMUQJ/s1600/l13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGY4G-IXQEGE1OD2PlPVw2k3HzHncQ8RDmnZcUb3CBZ4wFE3k3dqrFhJ2HAnqGVhRAlwa4-D3nQzjfnwll9Tnb86G1uRJWQkjqPtrZHBQoBgLqQAk1CGDafnoyk9G9J6h5AKnMW0RSMUQJ/s640/l13.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpA1N119DRPwXV8eNVoJhxrVjRadT5jMrWnFvYYW-rTR2kC4IIZrklUOdP7zLL8mcAen9GXn3s7h8pcxtBR3EBlAxHAJpyASPpt7HO_z-ayXuZBKmO_IP-F1RM21Hi7LI6FhQIEGxi3jzv/s1600/l14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpA1N119DRPwXV8eNVoJhxrVjRadT5jMrWnFvYYW-rTR2kC4IIZrklUOdP7zLL8mcAen9GXn3s7h8pcxtBR3EBlAxHAJpyASPpt7HO_z-ayXuZBKmO_IP-F1RM21Hi7LI6FhQIEGxi3jzv/s640/l14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The seeds of Rosebay Willowherb blew around like a September snowstorm</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNHeu5tXTebOYrohS1apvPQ0UxLhjDqPmI5Pw-9KOCOKweUzBt-n3Eu12kig7t6CIN4v7GWWB2WRLD6hqQ9LCST91DZSkLEXx0bjTyw57LSCRrLuUw3cWB9TFbvWPS845qhHDdgchg-Pi/s1600/l15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNHeu5tXTebOYrohS1apvPQ0UxLhjDqPmI5Pw-9KOCOKweUzBt-n3Eu12kig7t6CIN4v7GWWB2WRLD6hqQ9LCST91DZSkLEXx0bjTyw57LSCRrLuUw3cWB9TFbvWPS845qhHDdgchg-Pi/s640/l15.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYegHvEKa6prBloxqcYJnL-MZGUkCPkh5GCa48_M-SKRDG8y8J7wA_Ou93IV2oiDv-U503_yHzoCsr514pfcu-6050BeP4iP0QLat4RHbopw4VVRSsCT3WB5VNYsOUWBeOCtl4MYezktL/s1600/l16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYegHvEKa6prBloxqcYJnL-MZGUkCPkh5GCa48_M-SKRDG8y8J7wA_Ou93IV2oiDv-U503_yHzoCsr514pfcu-6050BeP4iP0QLat4RHbopw4VVRSsCT3WB5VNYsOUWBeOCtl4MYezktL/s640/l16.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-68543534481187665992015-09-29T22:43:00.002+01:002015-09-29T22:43:24.977+01:00Kites and Dolphins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Early in August my girlfriend Jane and I spent a weekend in the beautiful seaside town of New Quay in Cardigan Bay, with the intention of watching the Bottlenose Dolphins for which the area is famous.<br />
We visited the Dyfi Osprey project on our journey down and were mightily impressed with the new 360 hide from which we had excellent views of the adult Ospreys. Monty the male helped raise three chicks this year and they were still in the area at the time of our visit. Our last visit in 2012 coincided with some of the worst weather in a century and the road to the reserve was impassable due to flooding. Unfortunately only one of the three chicks that hatched that year survived to fledge and that was only due to human intervention to help with the feeding. But nature bounces back and this year Monty and his current mate Glesni have had a successful breeding season and at the time of writing this blog have both now headed south to Africa for the winter. <br />
Our second detour took us to Bwlch Nant Yr Arian, a lake and small forest not far from Aberystwyth where they have had a Red Kite feeding station since 1999, and boy has this area changed since my last visit some fifteen years ago. The forest has been felled in some areas, there is a fantastic visitor centre and café and there is an excellent hide from which to view the Red Kites which are fed every day. And for the outdoor enthusiast there are walking and mountain-biking trails. Raptors, bikes and great food; what more could I need!We only paid a brief visit to this area but vowed to drop in on the way home to try and photograph the Kites. <br />
The steep streets and seaside cafes of New Quay were bustling with summer visitors enjoying the sunshine when we arrived and checked into our B&B overlooking the harbour. A quick scan of the sea from our room didn't reveal the expected fins of Bottlenose Dolphins. But after checking in we were soon seated on the seawall scanning the blue waters for signs of Cardigan Bay's most famous residents. As usual, we were soon rewarded with views of an adult with a calf; time to crack open a beer and celebrate. After a delicious evening meal and good night's sleep we rose early to enjoy a hearty breakfast and then again walked the short distance to the harbour to settle down for some seaside wildlife watching. There were more dolphins present, but not as close as we've seen them in the past, but I did mange some record photos with my 400mm lens. Apart from the usual gulls and a few shags, seabirds were a bit thin on the ground (sea?). There were only a few very distant Gannets and this indicates that the fish shoals must have been some way from the harbour that day and along with them most of the area's dolphins. We did see the mother and calf again and the occasional distant dolphin leaping and splashing in the pursuit of fish. But I'm not complaining, it's always a treat seeing any cetacean from land. <br />
Suddenly an unexpected fin appeared in the water, it was more triangular than the falcate fin of a Bottlenose, and was that the swish of the tip of a tail in the fin's wake? Yes it was a Basking Shark! Not what I was expecting to see on that sunny Sunday. It too was quite distant, but I did manage to put some other dolphin watchers on to it to enjoy views of this rare visitor.<br />
The day was passing quickly so we decided on a return visit to Nant Yr Arian to witness the Kites being fed. On our arrival, there were over a hundred Kites circling on the thermals and perched in the conifers that dotted the hillsides of this natural amphitheatre. We made our way down to the lake where I photographed a smart Black Darter sitting in the reeds. Despite the food being put out on cue the Kites were somewhat reluctant to come down and feed, now doubt in some part due to the large and noisy crowd of holidaymakers that had gathered to view the spectacle. We returned to the visitor centre where a number of bird feeders were attracting House Sparrows, Greenfinches, various tits and gorgeous Siskins. After taking a few shots, we walked up the hillside where we were treated to stunning views of the Kites which were now descending to feed in peace as their audience had dispersed. A great way to end an excellent weekend of wildlife watching.<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_42902917"></span><span id="goog_42902918"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOktPwdKeO4w_6rH7cRsTj3OpGfXNA2AQGtGQ2nK29Y6S-OVt4w93F7uvMspjHo5TTLst2lWymDIpJ62oxKkOnkJcGOeL5v98AIb_TEBkVCJD7cHeR-rkm7g6EKKD82OI9FxffoXNprS3/s1600/d1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOktPwdKeO4w_6rH7cRsTj3OpGfXNA2AQGtGQ2nK29Y6S-OVt4w93F7uvMspjHo5TTLst2lWymDIpJ62oxKkOnkJcGOeL5v98AIb_TEBkVCJD7cHeR-rkm7g6EKKD82OI9FxffoXNprS3/s640/d1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVbq9BJyCYVBN1cayV4lE9ICYJNvi-B8A4zs3gXoRgbp_M-D2gu7sYRDNUzH6lCdRw9184MvoePf7PyniW29mrTaW15Xz2-jW0xUEEuAMzkSgyduoQ266kaipQwmK5gpcsfdPTqI_eQLj/s1600/d2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVbq9BJyCYVBN1cayV4lE9ICYJNvi-B8A4zs3gXoRgbp_M-D2gu7sYRDNUzH6lCdRw9184MvoePf7PyniW29mrTaW15Xz2-jW0xUEEuAMzkSgyduoQ266kaipQwmK5gpcsfdPTqI_eQLj/s640/d2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZABr1D6ndIFRsaGJp3BAAkrV4HCwdm1UEbTjrwxVwq8A_m_0iE3-BjgceIOxEzlPL6mlNnDiZptytdWCMT3rx8g9qJXaPfpl4SSdZ2RckidXuuJ3Xo5ebWKCjYZW8U-e5a7wWilg2hmv/s1600/d4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZABr1D6ndIFRsaGJp3BAAkrV4HCwdm1UEbTjrwxVwq8A_m_0iE3-BjgceIOxEzlPL6mlNnDiZptytdWCMT3rx8g9qJXaPfpl4SSdZ2RckidXuuJ3Xo5ebWKCjYZW8U-e5a7wWilg2hmv/s640/d4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Herring Gull profile</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIRoNU6id47mLT-sQSr8JkqJKxR5la7vrVgsLX2Mz5boU15i0KsIuPRZFLvazm4iQMEOmWz5TW04ZFQBL_T4saPo1yr0mhUWx5LjrLjPXgQlC86dxLLRdhIUKclSvnvQMV3OcNvFWJAOQ/s1600/d5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIRoNU6id47mLT-sQSr8JkqJKxR5la7vrVgsLX2Mz5boU15i0KsIuPRZFLvazm4iQMEOmWz5TW04ZFQBL_T4saPo1yr0mhUWx5LjrLjPXgQlC86dxLLRdhIUKclSvnvQMV3OcNvFWJAOQ/s640/d5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uDrMZ6KyYAJ3KznU1uE8kOh7LQOioE_Gf82Ii8rcHmRJCnWHovEQg9XoiAtAxd9nH9h63lEn55Vf8pqiwRks0KmkIG1JBsk0-xh43vroSh1cJyHlr-FV-F6aN0GYxSgunZwOgspfeWOq/s1600/dart1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uDrMZ6KyYAJ3KznU1uE8kOh7LQOioE_Gf82Ii8rcHmRJCnWHovEQg9XoiAtAxd9nH9h63lEn55Vf8pqiwRks0KmkIG1JBsk0-xh43vroSh1cJyHlr-FV-F6aN0GYxSgunZwOgspfeWOq/s640/dart1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black Darter</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9fgvxBQA_jcv9ywlZBLuRhtsKGxUZiZGPInD6rpraK9KKwD8Z-cC_7PAJTYSwIP8MYZHc5aL6H5QKi_yWJdP-DW7UUwnmz__IzAQUeXhMlY3V8rbMbLmae2xSWqoyvUcQfb9TJGSuhZK/s1600/k1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9fgvxBQA_jcv9ywlZBLuRhtsKGxUZiZGPInD6rpraK9KKwD8Z-cC_7PAJTYSwIP8MYZHc5aL6H5QKi_yWJdP-DW7UUwnmz__IzAQUeXhMlY3V8rbMbLmae2xSWqoyvUcQfb9TJGSuhZK/s640/k1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CCp2MQzaANiBGY-yALhlbGnzjup8YxEQGUNn83EKtZ7ydV0vCvxZs3hOo3Dx6aYCNW3TB13BRMhfcRhBLU0HV5KKIT7Fv14GOyTB0NlXeLjK00AqkyJLmkLZEpxoKgXDyzImbTUlG_l_/s1600/k2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CCp2MQzaANiBGY-yALhlbGnzjup8YxEQGUNn83EKtZ7ydV0vCvxZs3hOo3Dx6aYCNW3TB13BRMhfcRhBLU0HV5KKIT7Fv14GOyTB0NlXeLjK00AqkyJLmkLZEpxoKgXDyzImbTUlG_l_/s640/k2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red Kite playing at being an Osprey</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lrqzKzqx1KZAvaZbZWGwanj9WGVWhvQapZDJ9pc9vGHMAdFKYwhuytYU8SlDvrwdcKFAxGK7Zfv570_bK_eTF91NtQe8IaUyZKSavpSSjECGJyEdIzf03OLY1VszbRHtWlfTP8xhz9Cv/s1600/k3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lrqzKzqx1KZAvaZbZWGwanj9WGVWhvQapZDJ9pc9vGHMAdFKYwhuytYU8SlDvrwdcKFAxGK7Zfv570_bK_eTF91NtQe8IaUyZKSavpSSjECGJyEdIzf03OLY1VszbRHtWlfTP8xhz9Cv/s640/k3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2x6vTlX5hW0sJ2zqXbF0KEHPX1CIbwbdzRlYupufO_vsAYuKJBJgVr6AckBcSPJEnt3Mvlcyagk3Pb2IMALrk96z9n41wUJ_LFlvpHIXEquvOcNf_voxcX2CrcwH9YwYqPRER7aktdyeS/s1600/k4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2x6vTlX5hW0sJ2zqXbF0KEHPX1CIbwbdzRlYupufO_vsAYuKJBJgVr6AckBcSPJEnt3Mvlcyagk3Pb2IMALrk96z9n41wUJ_LFlvpHIXEquvOcNf_voxcX2CrcwH9YwYqPRER7aktdyeS/s640/k4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pcr4nH1LzSYRZhrHo3nDcleGETbS11AMJ9qLG6amSxftWparvz1idTEeIqUGkMkUXJt2g9ofFAlhyJJ3FgyX2JwW3pSKbd30qc9rio6lWveFowkzdlo_3roYwNTntPSWyeO_J6GUapn7/s1600/k8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pcr4nH1LzSYRZhrHo3nDcleGETbS11AMJ9qLG6amSxftWparvz1idTEeIqUGkMkUXJt2g9ofFAlhyJJ3FgyX2JwW3pSKbd30qc9rio6lWveFowkzdlo_3roYwNTntPSWyeO_J6GUapn7/s640/k8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLtaxR7XroS5iflPTXIhYNpEjKedtpQmb__VYCqiHz9DI68_T8CNm9T-6j_pUn2egRcIyZtHQFOJtWNxSPlmhx5f9ObI4yQ91kt57_zMJqJXs3KVBKxidoZXYWkYPTbAb6SmV8EvCn0EQ/s1600/k9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLtaxR7XroS5iflPTXIhYNpEjKedtpQmb__VYCqiHz9DI68_T8CNm9T-6j_pUn2egRcIyZtHQFOJtWNxSPlmhx5f9ObI4yQ91kt57_zMJqJXs3KVBKxidoZXYWkYPTbAb6SmV8EvCn0EQ/s640/k9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV6AsECoph9OEb5UblirwFtIJRH4FaWVviRYcnsJtA87qB9H0nlre9641tguuuCfaV8U36r6fKK7NgpOO29oLdmHJjaQ7fnVb9XnK8UJzWjO9SDXtyYCDeJ7aQKrtIzgFmZbFV-i0tLzm/s1600/k10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV6AsECoph9OEb5UblirwFtIJRH4FaWVviRYcnsJtA87qB9H0nlre9641tguuuCfaV8U36r6fKK7NgpOO29oLdmHJjaQ7fnVb9XnK8UJzWjO9SDXtyYCDeJ7aQKrtIzgFmZbFV-i0tLzm/s640/k10.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirrsO-wO_sT7nlmOc-A0d9LMV_5ouqUqnVUz1jpLGzgidxFaizKUdkNk-VW2tD7Nh4VKYXXVLYDdt-kNgmh1xl3PAL-1QbgqsTu5F4MUu4VzM2IHWWJJddGVEpPWWsriVuZcsPRJTK9Cm/s1600/k14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirrsO-wO_sT7nlmOc-A0d9LMV_5ouqUqnVUz1jpLGzgidxFaizKUdkNk-VW2tD7Nh4VKYXXVLYDdt-kNgmh1xl3PAL-1QbgqsTu5F4MUu4VzM2IHWWJJddGVEpPWWsriVuZcsPRJTK9Cm/s640/k14.jpg" width="508" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbcg5hF6lOXQuD_sVwfpZLqBG02lK0pKLnPHsGvudI1Kr9kAiNbNEYtscpqyN7-wOYrsKUWJLa370dyKmb2m1RQV1CyE18j7mfKNRWB_Pp1lHI-SEESUSDUaee79IjFjuLhdFvcFsSvdi/s1600/k16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbcg5hF6lOXQuD_sVwfpZLqBG02lK0pKLnPHsGvudI1Kr9kAiNbNEYtscpqyN7-wOYrsKUWJLa370dyKmb2m1RQV1CyE18j7mfKNRWB_Pp1lHI-SEESUSDUaee79IjFjuLhdFvcFsSvdi/s640/k16.jpg" width="510" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOBIWwSoadK6iMhHkt3MJeXQfLwDF0n3SvMO68yWUe-WIoNGdcA4sOxxEoO2hV4NGO5Pdjn6V8YYB7-JZtPeQeA0HkjN55akO9cVxlkEaJ1wpjANUgtAmGJo1di1NeuNM1Fo4tqSApfnK/s1600/k17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOBIWwSoadK6iMhHkt3MJeXQfLwDF0n3SvMO68yWUe-WIoNGdcA4sOxxEoO2hV4NGO5Pdjn6V8YYB7-JZtPeQeA0HkjN55akO9cVxlkEaJ1wpjANUgtAmGJo1di1NeuNM1Fo4tqSApfnK/s640/k17.jpg" width="510" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzurS2vqJPF_z34e29v76OiTzQ4PYulkmGLeKQ4snC-8hxz2NLuwBAjFUgY-Q5yxMclQOJFAmVxnK6Vn02RBrEedXoy_swssDAFTQ6dXP1Lh8C5oA-aPxtEJ1bUqjcLUB3qkbwAgwCPxSI/s1600/k18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzurS2vqJPF_z34e29v76OiTzQ4PYulkmGLeKQ4snC-8hxz2NLuwBAjFUgY-Q5yxMclQOJFAmVxnK6Vn02RBrEedXoy_swssDAFTQ6dXP1Lh8C5oA-aPxtEJ1bUqjcLUB3qkbwAgwCPxSI/s640/k18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDlJnjvLo3SFTHJXayscUxq10qOOiu5rJeJJgNT75yCOLoQRHbfP9Va0prdoPjPwrjw1oue1gVEqF8hV8idILIQOZAfcRfc1ESq1W9F5bUegzrKcfTk0uwreStC8drGrhHE2GCLaf2oRd/s1600/s1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDlJnjvLo3SFTHJXayscUxq10qOOiu5rJeJJgNT75yCOLoQRHbfP9Va0prdoPjPwrjw1oue1gVEqF8hV8idILIQOZAfcRfc1ESq1W9F5bUegzrKcfTk0uwreStC8drGrhHE2GCLaf2oRd/s640/s1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Male Siskin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjxewcQi69vfaCiw_0oAtI8EuAqp_TGEG5AUEmkK9Yk_hr5PT5io8L2lcPwNm4lKM4gEAUc8rYeZK6lzeY_J4i1ofcBfloE5ndC3OMfnRbglAB49Auw2xEmqS65plafZE53AWJodxkvJa/s1600/s2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjxewcQi69vfaCiw_0oAtI8EuAqp_TGEG5AUEmkK9Yk_hr5PT5io8L2lcPwNm4lKM4gEAUc8rYeZK6lzeY_J4i1ofcBfloE5ndC3OMfnRbglAB49Auw2xEmqS65plafZE53AWJodxkvJa/s640/s2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Juvenile Siskin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKYiGzUYfzzQ8i_BQ8_dy5IPdJmz5QYTofYV7IfTbDRP9atZTQTynP3_rlam9jktZAfPXeEuqPxoaajQFE-dx5BEETyBPpOtLvw_3XmJlMYd6vEuhUxn4dguuyLbuFejanqq8cdC9d_pP/s1600/s3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKYiGzUYfzzQ8i_BQ8_dy5IPdJmz5QYTofYV7IfTbDRP9atZTQTynP3_rlam9jktZAfPXeEuqPxoaajQFE-dx5BEETyBPpOtLvw_3XmJlMYd6vEuhUxn4dguuyLbuFejanqq8cdC9d_pP/s640/s3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL3YJF6O_HS3Aamg92lH0eDF5kk4rCewv3ECaucNsgpBEvXdmlHurLn04KjB342ZSJ6YVk13yEby1kQMnVL7qH6wL-29w1cRR9iTJVugZFfCHTEXFAIiTPOFPFxyjvK1NGvNHkTH-uU5B/s1600/s4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL3YJF6O_HS3Aamg92lH0eDF5kk4rCewv3ECaucNsgpBEvXdmlHurLn04KjB342ZSJ6YVk13yEby1kQMnVL7qH6wL-29w1cRR9iTJVugZFfCHTEXFAIiTPOFPFxyjvK1NGvNHkTH-uU5B/s640/s4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Greenfinch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-75045491750241305242015-09-03T21:40:00.000+01:002015-09-03T22:11:38.958+01:00Green Turtle Rescue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span lang="">Our rib edged closer to the turtle which was clearly visible on the surface of the sea due to the fact that it had a large white bag wrapped around its neck. A few more metres and we would be able to catch the poor reptile, but it dived before a rescue could be attempted. We stood forlorn on our small boat in the vastness of the blue Atlantic. Turtles can dive for up to thirty minutes at a time so the chances of it surfacing nearby were remote indeed.<br />
<br />
I had travelled to the popular holiday island of Tenerife with my girlfriend’s family for a well-earned break of sunshine, sea and, of course, wildlife watching. I had already caught up with some of the area’s endemic species such as Blue Chaffinch, Berthelot’s Pipit and Canary Island Chiffchaff and Canary Island Goldcrest, not to mention fantastic views of the resident Pilot Whales. But a local dive company was offering trips to snorkel with Green Turtles, a species I had never seen before, and I need little excuse to indulge my love of wildlife watching from boats so we booked four places.<br />
<br />
The fast rib boat left the beautiful harbour at Los Gigantes overlooked by the precipitous cliffs that give the area it’s name. These cliffs hold a few pairs of breeding Osprey which are unfortunately a declining species in the Canaries but we had been lucky to see one at close quaters the previous day over the sea at Los Christianos. The flat calm sea was perfect for cetacean watching and we had only been out for ten minutes when a small pod of Bottlenose Dolphins surrounded the boat. The skipper cut the engine and we all enjoyed the beauty of these graceful animals as they surfaced and dived within touching distance of the rib. But our main quarry, the Green Turtles where in a bay further to the west so we resumed our journey in the hot sub-tropical sunshine. <br />
<br />
I was on the lookout for seabirds when I saw something shoot into the air from the surface of the water; a flying fish! It flashed silver and blue as it sped over the flat calm sea before crash landing a considerable distance from its launch spot. This was one of many sighting of these remarkable and surprising fish.<br />
<br />
After half an hour we reached our destination, a quiet bay on the southwest coast of Tenerife. This area is a designated turtle sanctuary and any turtles that are caught in fishermen’s nets are released here. I was the first in the water and swam around most of the bay admiring the colourful fish that make this area their home. I have the skills to identify most birds but fish are a bit of a mystery to me, so I was happy to just enter their world and admire their colours and shapes without the desire to identify each individual. But where were the turtles?<br />
<br />
Mike, the group leader, had said that on his last trip he had seen at least four Green Turtles swimming in the bay so he was surprised that we could not find any. But in the style of a good tour leader, he used his strength as a swimmer and scoured the whole area for turtles. Soon, his frantic waving from an area of open water just outside the bay indicated that he had found something, but was it a turtle? Using my flippers to power my usually slow swimming stroke I managed to reach Mike and a couple of other snorkelers in time to see a Green Turtle gliding away underwater. Its grace and beauty in its natural environment as it flapped it flippers and disappeared into the deep blue was in stark contrast to my floundering in the water. Unfortunately, because the turtle was close to the open sea only a few of the members of our trip managed to see this individual. <br />
<br />
Time was pressing so we climbed back onto the rib and refreshed ourselves with fizzy drinks and crisps as we enjoyed the return trip along the coast.<br />
<br />
I continued to scan for seabirds as we travelled and was intrigued by a small group of Yellow-legged Gulls that were investigating something floating on the surface. As we sped past I could see a white bag, but on closer inspection saw that a poor Green Turtle was caught in this man-made noose and would succumb to a lingering death if it could not be rescued. <br />
<br />
The skipper turned the boat and Mike jumped in the water but unfortunately missed the turtle which naturally dived to escape capture. We sat on the calm waters for what seemed an age in the vague hope that it would resurface somewhere near the rib. And, miraculously it did just that, appearing on the surface less than ten metres away. Mike again readied himself for the attempted rescue, but as we got closer, one of our fellow snorkelers unexpectedly leapt into the water and executed a stunning capture. We helped him back onto the rib with his thrashing prize, being careful to avoid the frightened animal’s sharp beak. Once on board we realised that it was no ordinary plastic bag that had ensnared this turtle, but one composed of a synthetic mesh, like the type used in garden centres to hold soil or gravel, a robust fibre that would clearly have caused the demise of this reptile. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, despite extensive searching of the boat we had no items with us that were sufficiently sharp enough to cut away the bag. Yet again another intrepid member of the trip stepped forward and volunteered to bite his way through the offending bag! Naturally this took some time, and while our hero was nibbling away close to the neck of the turtle he quipped that normally he likes to take a girl to dinner before achieving that degree of intimacy! <br />
<br />
Eventually the Green Turtle was freed from its noose and photos were taken before it was released gently back into the clear waters of the Canaries. A happy ending for this animal but many others suffer slow and lingering deaths due to our overuse of synthetic materials in our everyday lives and our carelessness when it comes to the disposal of this deadly waste.<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHA7gTPkRB-9WLdqDG67ifGetNeT8y1inH6L6K-V14NF8vgzHlf5bgUyxIEvxG7eDayiec5aAjng12n-Wnsj0LXRwrNAuM4QBm2jXU964xf-dfOlpNRkmtnR0fQ7vJ1JDvcuiOABvXDPGI/s1600/turtle%252Crescue2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHA7gTPkRB-9WLdqDG67ifGetNeT8y1inH6L6K-V14NF8vgzHlf5bgUyxIEvxG7eDayiec5aAjng12n-Wnsj0LXRwrNAuM4QBm2jXU964xf-dfOlpNRkmtnR0fQ7vJ1JDvcuiOABvXDPGI/s640/turtle%252Crescue2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span lang="">
<br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang=""><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BFQN1NRIanfmWduHjNqh1OyoFUlONdKpzDg-Qy0Q7lHFrzuDVVrRq9yU_St_fJZm_iI4bjYzIfFmG-OH3HJCULWXmOk8HdPhuQ34v5_exgm52nX_Th_QPfzgh71f-PIsB47MUghF2K2d/s1600/turtle%252Crescue3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BFQN1NRIanfmWduHjNqh1OyoFUlONdKpzDg-Qy0Q7lHFrzuDVVrRq9yU_St_fJZm_iI4bjYzIfFmG-OH3HJCULWXmOk8HdPhuQ34v5_exgm52nX_Th_QPfzgh71f-PIsB47MUghF2K2d/s640/turtle%252Crescue3.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span lang="">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gcGHXOvbeLtoAfI90HXOzEdMLv4PA9Tq_eO-xMS5kYzTZRx50uS7TViIRL56kISufYqOQvFelEISPinePDYgfV2DghE-Bzk2YlamZMh6i5cVJaxAjF6W5ISdSyuWHIh6aJCPJuLLA3Eu/s1600/turtle%252Crescue1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gcGHXOvbeLtoAfI90HXOzEdMLv4PA9Tq_eO-xMS5kYzTZRx50uS7TViIRL56kISufYqOQvFelEISPinePDYgfV2DghE-Bzk2YlamZMh6i5cVJaxAjF6W5ISdSyuWHIh6aJCPJuLLA3Eu/s640/turtle%252Crescue1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You might also like:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://keithscovell.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Tortoise%20Rescue" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://keithscovell.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Tortoise%20Rescue" border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIOM4Ob4jOMLPiRCq0N7KZpXNVigs9IFuBV6XcGEuvWesZ35r1vrwIriQjFauiBz3MdVUGMwPOWDkMkOVcsXeXkiHpORzUvNTIdBoj_VqHtFMYPqG_-psBw-D8WZwi_Gv_ie4e-wheIFh/s200/tort1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tortoise Rescue</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="main-cap-bottom cap-bottom">
<div class="cap-left">
<div class="main-cap-bottom cap-bottom">
<div class="cap-left">
</div>
<a href="http://keithscovell.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Tortoise%20Rescue"></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://keithscovell.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Tortoise%20Rescue"></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-13451690583648730432015-08-18T21:46:00.000+01:002015-08-18T21:46:08.551+01:00White-beaked Dolphins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Planning a cetacean-watching trip can be a fraught experience. Will the weather be ok? You really need a calm sea to spot cetaceans, poor visibility due to mist or rain would really hamper things as well. And even if you feel bold enough to venture out to sea in rough weather the skipper of the boat might deem a trip too dangerous in such conditions.. Then there are the animals themselves; the sea is vast. I know that sounds obvious, but when you are looking for distant fins breaking the surface of the water or trying to distinguish the splash caused by a diving Gannet from that of a dolphin you begin to realise that the sighting of any cetacean is not going to be easy when you are bobbing around in a small boat some considerable miles from the shore.<br />
But with the dolphin-finding skills of expert Ben Burville and the boat handling skills of Alan Leatham the odds of finding something exciting increase dramatically. This was my second trip to the Farne Deeps on board the RIB (rigid inflatable boat) Ocean Explorer in search of White-beaked Dolphins. Last September I had ventured north to the beautiful Northumberland coast to join a group of like-minded cetacean watchers in the hope of finding this enigmatic species. Ben is licensed to swim with these dolphins as part of ongoing research with Newcastle University. My trip last year (<a href="http://keithscovell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/dolphin-watching-in-farne-deeps.html">click here</a>) failed to find any White-beaked Dolphins, apart from the decaying corpse of one unfortunate individual that was providing rich pickings for a few Fulmars. But we did see two Minke Whales and, amazingly, a pod of White-sided Dolphins which are reputedly rarer than the White-beaked Dolphins in this area.<br />
I took my place at the front of the RIB as I believe this is the best spot from which to view any wildlife as it has unhindered views in the direction of travel. But there is a downside to sitting at the front, in all but the calmest conditions, the boat travelling at some considerable speed smacks into the troughs between the waves and your backside and spine truly understand why the boat is called "rigid"! Despite the considerable skill of the skipper who managed to slow down enough to lessen the shock of some of the bigger impacts I did return to harbour with a few bruises, but this is a small price to pay for the chance of viewing some of the world's most beautiful dolphins. <br />
We cruised out of picturesque Beadnell Bay and then put the hammer down to reach the best areas for the dolphin search. After about half an hour Alan put the boat into idle and we eagerly scanned the sea for any signs of activity. Gannets were plunge diving in significant numbers a twelve o'clock from the front of the boat. The feeding activity of these magnificent Daz-white seabirds are always a good indication of the presence of shoals of fish, which in turn also attract cetaceans. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy2EA69DwOJ8DFMBB875vfCsjMP1zNBUGbOEhZVBawOeah5QnF6aGZbpnIVZ7WhvjgEdnIuEhlaJkrrkOfLr0WCshtKB5QUCySevDaRGK3_-ZXEMWX3eeVqOJnO7oLANw57_0CrWnByd7/s1600/w1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy2EA69DwOJ8DFMBB875vfCsjMP1zNBUGbOEhZVBawOeah5QnF6aGZbpnIVZ7WhvjgEdnIuEhlaJkrrkOfLr0WCshtKB5QUCySevDaRGK3_-ZXEMWX3eeVqOJnO7oLANw57_0CrWnByd7/s640/w1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And, right on cue, a fellow passenger spotted splashing in the distance; dolphins! And they were heading our way. I have seen plenty of dolphins before but never any species that create quite as much splashing as these. Ben confirmed that they were indeed White-beaked Dolphins; success! And wow did they come close! An estimated fifteen or so individuals swam straight towards us and began an amazing display all around the boat; bow-riding, diving, surfacing, blowing and zipping straight under the bow like black and white torpedoes. The markings of this species are stunning with a jet black fin contrasting markedly with blue-grey flanks, black back, a dark slate-grey saddle and a white patch behind the dorsal fin. This along with grey/white flank stripes and white beak make this a very distinctive and beautiful dolphin. Although, interestingly, not all members of the species have white beaks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlxWyEOZuQQ5v5HvIJvp0BpctO_iuux_eW2qfiduxfSMMZRfwBhxYBvw0ZF51-vVaIgX4CubFXADuPLvad9cpnKVQ4FQyaYR3l9TiySYjYqqVxXCcAxrAQrkGbkGlpjybAYpU9nhMZPXH/s1600/w17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlxWyEOZuQQ5v5HvIJvp0BpctO_iuux_eW2qfiduxfSMMZRfwBhxYBvw0ZF51-vVaIgX4CubFXADuPLvad9cpnKVQ4FQyaYR3l9TiySYjYqqVxXCcAxrAQrkGbkGlpjybAYpU9nhMZPXH/s640/w17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some species of dolphin such as Bottlenose can be individually recognised by having distinctive dorsal fin shapes, the various notches and nicks acting like the wavy lines of a fingerprint. Researchers photograph the fins and assign names to recognisable animals; this proves invaluable when it comes to conducting research. But White-beaked Dolphins create such a splash when they surface that photographing their dorsal fins is not an easy practice. Instead, Ben enters the sea with the dolphins and takes photos of them underwater. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURtO2D7yao7oym5pVYpL1nmCLJdqEteoZoQCNVRHGQtOQoaIESZ5nKV4LGykokkHd27y92sDgFgNUw5MJnk4Bu8hwIfESa_wweIyz8n0-Vlq6V9Z3LIN1hbN-txnv8wctrHikE2UP1_1Z/s1600/splash2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURtO2D7yao7oym5pVYpL1nmCLJdqEteoZoQCNVRHGQtOQoaIESZ5nKV4LGykokkHd27y92sDgFgNUw5MJnk4Bu8hwIfESa_wweIyz8n0-Vlq6V9Z3LIN1hbN-txnv8wctrHikE2UP1_1Z/s640/splash2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEb83fezueASNSFBHxheQtu3Zn7xc8ssWnBh7_ThPSpmlsaOZmo-4OVuuDirTdoKF30LZqaVAItQIiD6VeVI6W3bwfO5PxDi5uOFF-f0s-dMGgl-GWnfccgffP8sDsHlrK75izuhaT9L9y/s1600/splash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEb83fezueASNSFBHxheQtu3Zn7xc8ssWnBh7_ThPSpmlsaOZmo-4OVuuDirTdoKF30LZqaVAItQIiD6VeVI6W3bwfO5PxDi5uOFF-f0s-dMGgl-GWnfccgffP8sDsHlrK75izuhaT9L9y/s640/splash.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The splash of a White-beaked Dolphin may obscure the pattern of the dorsal fin</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">and may not be conducive to research, but it does create a very photogenic image.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some of the dolphins were clearly eyeballing us as they swept past underwater on their sides trying to get a better view as we hung over the sides of RIB snapping away with our cameras. But after about fifteen minutes they grew tired of us and headed away from the boat. This is apparently normal for White-beaked Dolphins. But there were big grins form all the occupants of the boat as we finally had time to take stock and appreciate our amazing encounter. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We spent the rest of the afternoon searching for more cetaceans but to no avail despite seeing numerous flocks of diving Gannets. But we were not too disappointed; our early encounter with these beautiful dolphins could surely not have been bettered. Thanks goes to Ben, Alan and the rest of the dolphin enthusiasts; what a great wildlife experience we all had!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_rFL3nsN5Aw/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_rFL3nsN5Aw?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlqOA6CRTGbvE8L4vf_xoTKCEj3zEoTruces4JiqvmaF69pVbdRP80KClnwZn_cmiT172HL28sDJv5C7kuSLq1lbcoXbaGBQua8BwE1Q_MMKvPe9uGgRtkbGt7WsUcQLCK5fLv1iPfy9w/s1600/w2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlqOA6CRTGbvE8L4vf_xoTKCEj3zEoTruces4JiqvmaF69pVbdRP80KClnwZn_cmiT172HL28sDJv5C7kuSLq1lbcoXbaGBQua8BwE1Q_MMKvPe9uGgRtkbGt7WsUcQLCK5fLv1iPfy9w/s640/w2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ7MlTW-3X_Fh5LUVl7fbLB-iQybe-ob9d3bjegv2fR9nE6_H4gVnPbaXVwWP0HRqJd2dYigNr0EH9VugSgXISGgOeMkwBK6s6vrunczU-eqlgWq2z3eerU-pt0oTuukogA1U8OhUKsIb/s1600/w3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ7MlTW-3X_Fh5LUVl7fbLB-iQybe-ob9d3bjegv2fR9nE6_H4gVnPbaXVwWP0HRqJd2dYigNr0EH9VugSgXISGgOeMkwBK6s6vrunczU-eqlgWq2z3eerU-pt0oTuukogA1U8OhUKsIb/s640/w3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq3QeN41kLxfAomtnPfXsqXaQ0PyFBm_7_MLc9Ues7eks-kHF91oXnNpMqsq8hf5lPZjD-IkMTcCGkHeFW1xAsiSEJmUMgJ7x-brHp2T_WE2eLXUyqzd6uMQEzx4Q-IHO86jUgFxk5j4v/s1600/w4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq3QeN41kLxfAomtnPfXsqXaQ0PyFBm_7_MLc9Ues7eks-kHF91oXnNpMqsq8hf5lPZjD-IkMTcCGkHeFW1xAsiSEJmUMgJ7x-brHp2T_WE2eLXUyqzd6uMQEzx4Q-IHO86jUgFxk5j4v/s640/w4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9wadpDzcqEAkJ2XYE42r4_6TczoRpnz5vdgb_ey6f9ixOIJwe7BEjsguWmey1m69-8r7hrASGr9Qa6wTQFWhgnE8GVYw9JznU3SA0U49Nd1Do0maFgCpt1Xx7k-Y3vIHyEr_moxspDuZ/s1600/w5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9wadpDzcqEAkJ2XYE42r4_6TczoRpnz5vdgb_ey6f9ixOIJwe7BEjsguWmey1m69-8r7hrASGr9Qa6wTQFWhgnE8GVYw9JznU3SA0U49Nd1Do0maFgCpt1Xx7k-Y3vIHyEr_moxspDuZ/s640/w5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCT_JpzUNoX6iz3nnz3lr0TLJuKPvwck3kcbuw94USbm6qHjVVYb3QcURvI7H8YnvTcHcGwruEjz9X2gbRVRuJlD7p36s3QpSaSUUd98f5CP4S4-S6R8nIoADBHMiAQ0ftjqJMmYlbyGM/s1600/w6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCT_JpzUNoX6iz3nnz3lr0TLJuKPvwck3kcbuw94USbm6qHjVVYb3QcURvI7H8YnvTcHcGwruEjz9X2gbRVRuJlD7p36s3QpSaSUUd98f5CP4S4-S6R8nIoADBHMiAQ0ftjqJMmYlbyGM/s640/w6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayn2xtP3kcao0hDYqiPlnhjw-Tr9eOiB2bzIYLAegaXerm6WUfcciFOUQbrJ2uHY8AZ9wU5-nu3xAzylG-NwqYL2Yz1OPhW4n6owR7zBX1ofwEMy0Iu9RUPeJUEC7io0aMaXrQqOS1ajT/s1600/w7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayn2xtP3kcao0hDYqiPlnhjw-Tr9eOiB2bzIYLAegaXerm6WUfcciFOUQbrJ2uHY8AZ9wU5-nu3xAzylG-NwqYL2Yz1OPhW4n6owR7zBX1ofwEMy0Iu9RUPeJUEC7io0aMaXrQqOS1ajT/s640/w7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h7LlDAW5fF481i1JgSTCYGq6Jo3jsO8PKAP3vF9aPJYEwSeTKOON9G4S1V3nn_NP1RiSbFWuIO3_t-j1RaA9hIETqxLqTw03exmRFlga5mvlLIViGTuDyoceO2cO4j8kOtbt8QtTMwZB/s1600/w8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9h7LlDAW5fF481i1JgSTCYGq6Jo3jsO8PKAP3vF9aPJYEwSeTKOON9G4S1V3nn_NP1RiSbFWuIO3_t-j1RaA9hIETqxLqTw03exmRFlga5mvlLIViGTuDyoceO2cO4j8kOtbt8QtTMwZB/s640/w8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJzqWoJKSn2XM_HqPqIyY5cvn0phuXGa9eAOiaZf56oHuLLHEukGeXul0mazvzl8yReuLHOCZEl9NXBQjeBCef4zBPPu2S1JlNr-_YK7sBKLz8cVWE5KfmtBoz_7pn-vz-efpM3eX7NYC/s1600/w9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJzqWoJKSn2XM_HqPqIyY5cvn0phuXGa9eAOiaZf56oHuLLHEukGeXul0mazvzl8yReuLHOCZEl9NXBQjeBCef4zBPPu2S1JlNr-_YK7sBKLz8cVWE5KfmtBoz_7pn-vz-efpM3eX7NYC/s640/w9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMAHpNGfg35jaEkfhimlLuCdWZJrXnWcXFjzQL-k21laIJtMGWW8DsMCFP4rfA94adtPp9UfC4O5h-WRTA1-GAQh7ooPb3eIB9HGUjn1ENwiXctLGNmh8-1so0LHqJTNeW955Fb1mtdsZ/s1600/w10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMAHpNGfg35jaEkfhimlLuCdWZJrXnWcXFjzQL-k21laIJtMGWW8DsMCFP4rfA94adtPp9UfC4O5h-WRTA1-GAQh7ooPb3eIB9HGUjn1ENwiXctLGNmh8-1so0LHqJTNeW955Fb1mtdsZ/s640/w10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6ZGbQLIXD6-lvLAG2KRTGya9_Md7jd_1xVxbtdk6Bsu-ev8ktXgeZ9a_olXCwCOrI_I9jEO0eTO9KyaIpLgMMC9M97yAnhylFypBvTo43309aVr7YU2itP2wo9VOKPmF6c9VryEb8cjV/s1600/w11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6ZGbQLIXD6-lvLAG2KRTGya9_Md7jd_1xVxbtdk6Bsu-ev8ktXgeZ9a_olXCwCOrI_I9jEO0eTO9KyaIpLgMMC9M97yAnhylFypBvTo43309aVr7YU2itP2wo9VOKPmF6c9VryEb8cjV/s640/w11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7Qs5WWrSfO4FPTRjUzgZvhuSosO_t_fNLHSMcZqOyCgX7ycCpp1BtIXIfkry7FLYGfETByaG8B06Hbfrze8NSs3eMbZWrwCTGUNcKBTwcgUER-c6zBc4NeKOP4KAX8-SBMbDAQeNN88_/s1600/w12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7Qs5WWrSfO4FPTRjUzgZvhuSosO_t_fNLHSMcZqOyCgX7ycCpp1BtIXIfkry7FLYGfETByaG8B06Hbfrze8NSs3eMbZWrwCTGUNcKBTwcgUER-c6zBc4NeKOP4KAX8-SBMbDAQeNN88_/s640/w12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYFhrMONTgT4ory3aMQ1rYzEWP8KjIdrhV9_l-IanQYDAy9REWuSg7j8P36lRz1TnSHC4ai8EH2vQ3do7Tsfta_PJjxUeHIDbovgCJ6U5gJcvCrkcmCXwHEDTDIB5rzyOsdbdpnrERuKc/s1600/w13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYFhrMONTgT4ory3aMQ1rYzEWP8KjIdrhV9_l-IanQYDAy9REWuSg7j8P36lRz1TnSHC4ai8EH2vQ3do7Tsfta_PJjxUeHIDbovgCJ6U5gJcvCrkcmCXwHEDTDIB5rzyOsdbdpnrERuKc/s640/w13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTMONLA6ltVI_lSvN3So5nzDhvM_PXbRfpvKtUypwvCdzumrLBJ-mj3cABwBm4_GPg5LD-mnGiqSvHq04pgr2mLttIA2zibb6gi7X5CilKTNfVXLEtFz6dzBnFFK1V6K-S-LFPtzvuaV6/s1600/w14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTMONLA6ltVI_lSvN3So5nzDhvM_PXbRfpvKtUypwvCdzumrLBJ-mj3cABwBm4_GPg5LD-mnGiqSvHq04pgr2mLttIA2zibb6gi7X5CilKTNfVXLEtFz6dzBnFFK1V6K-S-LFPtzvuaV6/s640/w14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteIIWDGRcRNPpo40bKtTAS5H9zfSbcX4O3FCYXHPxLmx6M5mrCiHVpElKvsqU0J12QJuhKt4NRyQJPSqlXbQC3zKIuYIpqDRvC5fbXxmMls7o6gJaC_7n384zx-DVBNuaOmf4J4oQJs2c/s1600/w15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteIIWDGRcRNPpo40bKtTAS5H9zfSbcX4O3FCYXHPxLmx6M5mrCiHVpElKvsqU0J12QJuhKt4NRyQJPSqlXbQC3zKIuYIpqDRvC5fbXxmMls7o6gJaC_7n384zx-DVBNuaOmf4J4oQJs2c/s640/w15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bunWz6IYYNFU0DQ9uWqn2tLHP2S-ozpsYfzcOSiWAHqSfXmHkcA2cDHWAFuvYGkp1Yno4hcCcphCAHhqyS_RIiMwuniJGZiA_2tIkCPgabp1bYaAJl49_ogXQATuurPutgPnb308ikmJ/s1600/w16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bunWz6IYYNFU0DQ9uWqn2tLHP2S-ozpsYfzcOSiWAHqSfXmHkcA2cDHWAFuvYGkp1Yno4hcCcphCAHhqyS_RIiMwuniJGZiA_2tIkCPgabp1bYaAJl49_ogXQATuurPutgPnb308ikmJ/s640/w16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-86669599146358662092015-08-09T21:11:00.000+01:002015-08-09T21:11:11.149+01:00Red-footed Falcon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last month I ventured over the Cheshire county border and into Staffordshire in search of an enigmatic and rare bird of prey, namely a male Red-footed Falcon. This dashing little raptor breeds in Eastern Europe but a few vagrants appear in this country in most years.<br />
I saw my first Red-footed Falcon at Hickling Broad in Norfolk in August 2003. It was a first-summer male, but it was so far away that even through a scope its was tricky to identify. Amazingly a few days later there was another (or possibly the same bird?) at Deeping Fen near Spalding in Lincolnshire. This bird spent most of its time perched on a distant fence, occasionally dropping to the ground to seize some invisible prey item. But I did manage to take a few shaky digiscoped photos of it as it shimmered in the heat haze, <br />
I was determined to see an adult male, and so when one was reported from Tophill Low nature reserve in Yorkshire in 2008 I interrupted my journey to the East coast, in search of Autumn migrants, to try and get some photos of this bird instead. Unfortunately this bird did not show itself until mid-afternoon, and then only distantly, but I did manage to take some "record" photos. Imagine my surprise a few months later when this bird was re-identified as an Amur Falcon, a closely related species that breeds in Mongolia and Siberia! My record shots were then of interest to the wider birding community and featured in articles on the bird in the journals British Birds (December 2011, Vol. 104, pp 694 - 701) and Birding World (Vol. 21, No. 10 pp 432 - 435). It was the first British record of Amur Falcon; for details of the plumage differences I would recommend those two journals.<br />
I still wanted some good photos of male Red-footed Falcon hence my trip to Staffordshire. I knew I was at the right location by the number of cars parked along the narrow road leading to a colliery. A lot of birders were leaving, which is never a good sign, but some were still looking through their scopes at some distant wires. Apparently the bird had been showing well in a nearby horse paddock but had flown off towards another field where it was giving occasional but distant views. I managed to spot the bird perched on the wires where it was being mobbed by a couple of magpies. Luckily these feisty corvids eventually chased the falcon back to the horse paddock where I finally managed to take some decent photos. This bird was identified as a first-summer bird so I still need to photograph an adult male! But I am not complaining, it was a stunning bird, and performed well for its many admirers, and it was not far from home either!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRsZbxX1R7f6W1tq1m1MB_64cJAnBTiduyFhwt9lGG7arQlWq_ckVNwy05pl9WZnDk0t4My1afMYkQwvtUhnefCpxWfdipSSjFw4O6u2Flvxp2emzSWyNkfzjuBu0xjSla9WD-8pNAmzB/s1600/r2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRsZbxX1R7f6W1tq1m1MB_64cJAnBTiduyFhwt9lGG7arQlWq_ckVNwy05pl9WZnDk0t4My1afMYkQwvtUhnefCpxWfdipSSjFw4O6u2Flvxp2emzSWyNkfzjuBu0xjSla9WD-8pNAmzB/s640/r2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCQO7WU0kAkCo5hJi6tbrxBFcqc5qYOiRN_MWJnbFhyphenhyphen7E6QSIwYyemJaWsitx1zzUdQNZjP2n5ZMdQ_1RemG7aDMqyhHEbr-1SjhK8hHnC7Sal6n4DrkvvAN8WKH7CQ0vtuOsnRjDTmJc/s1600/r8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCQO7WU0kAkCo5hJi6tbrxBFcqc5qYOiRN_MWJnbFhyphenhyphen7E6QSIwYyemJaWsitx1zzUdQNZjP2n5ZMdQ_1RemG7aDMqyhHEbr-1SjhK8hHnC7Sal6n4DrkvvAN8WKH7CQ0vtuOsnRjDTmJc/s640/r8.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDBHqhQGwg3nNe5u_gC0ZD2dbaNS72dFMuUQmML4WNltmk3a-AjdGXkcvw83YXWpIab-_y48TYzeCvVoQs8-dsQbwOF4ynRvYIVLYtg2kodHXrkgN8yTgdjBWVXwxMuHjIgMZVwPoH2pH/s1600/r9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDBHqhQGwg3nNe5u_gC0ZD2dbaNS72dFMuUQmML4WNltmk3a-AjdGXkcvw83YXWpIab-_y48TYzeCvVoQs8-dsQbwOF4ynRvYIVLYtg2kodHXrkgN8yTgdjBWVXwxMuHjIgMZVwPoH2pH/s640/r9.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcR9M83nbiawZUsvYq6y5uj1KVgsfkph1vLIsibKQbg2T-BqyympIN20mlMzdluHGB4IfFHp7coqIn1H7evb0WPzBI801G943IU08UTjFhMWjRvuSzTNam9iQC0-YJBK76bj4qmppKAI4p/s1600/r10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcR9M83nbiawZUsvYq6y5uj1KVgsfkph1vLIsibKQbg2T-BqyympIN20mlMzdluHGB4IfFHp7coqIn1H7evb0WPzBI801G943IU08UTjFhMWjRvuSzTNam9iQC0-YJBK76bj4qmppKAI4p/s640/r10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4rbLeR-73TCnBHQjdlFFpeBsa-bTcBjWGYxoyOHleTQnWeczo2efbmNbChnT8n7ricj1SA9_UA_PwoOK-nTQ44FGr0jNt2YpkI9fjupXn2lx3JEaKF3rC7BJj8iGOXfiTIfUt-OSvBsW/s1600/r11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4rbLeR-73TCnBHQjdlFFpeBsa-bTcBjWGYxoyOHleTQnWeczo2efbmNbChnT8n7ricj1SA9_UA_PwoOK-nTQ44FGr0jNt2YpkI9fjupXn2lx3JEaKF3rC7BJj8iGOXfiTIfUt-OSvBsW/s640/r11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhP8k-I5O0huxOx5yrYMH0kqOIgRxX6z9dphMbbbmTRAQwLIgpPyy6RTovect1DeZLCx_zlIpMVsASimfzvktzyCz-c3bkGGEs709hgJ7fjml8qaAjNUw0UtmOE_U0kTncjs5kt-mvf3k/s1600/r13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhP8k-I5O0huxOx5yrYMH0kqOIgRxX6z9dphMbbbmTRAQwLIgpPyy6RTovect1DeZLCx_zlIpMVsASimfzvktzyCz-c3bkGGEs709hgJ7fjml8qaAjNUw0UtmOE_U0kTncjs5kt-mvf3k/s640/r13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5ikFel7pmEfzN8d0__QL3yhAGXwsVOWkL-6HBVLjQhhbW25Z_2ydnG8r9SWVSGcG5zvI2Upy8LtNWddoC5kITaMifMz9advlDdu9meg0khj7cUxz95E7bNG7WMRUCNbmgVshICkLBvyG/s1600/r15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5ikFel7pmEfzN8d0__QL3yhAGXwsVOWkL-6HBVLjQhhbW25Z_2ydnG8r9SWVSGcG5zvI2Upy8LtNWddoC5kITaMifMz9advlDdu9meg0khj7cUxz95E7bNG7WMRUCNbmgVshICkLBvyG/s640/r15.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivclMjYO49bikrAlLTF0YtHFPGjqSYkUNk4Dj5nVQfqXbyomOv5Z0vWWdc9QaVxuGoDWtEpx4zWhcR5Cat_fIMGQ8eq5LjDCDgiDm28Cj0dAeFra-qjhqlR2ETnSFDbNNK608x6Tc_xKgq/s1600/r17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivclMjYO49bikrAlLTF0YtHFPGjqSYkUNk4Dj5nVQfqXbyomOv5Z0vWWdc9QaVxuGoDWtEpx4zWhcR5Cat_fIMGQ8eq5LjDCDgiDm28Cj0dAeFra-qjhqlR2ETnSFDbNNK608x6Tc_xKgq/s640/r17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ipt1M2wfYdzEFT7qALhcQHa2iN25QbSQokBEp9ZxKgMz2wdcBtBDzPLw54ZgaTGbdjeDrogoUWT2DFOw3HxpoeKk2UiTv4Ex_3AeOZKstwqh-mextP1uqSBy2OO9_gGl7zkwHuEit272/s1600/r18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ipt1M2wfYdzEFT7qALhcQHa2iN25QbSQokBEp9ZxKgMz2wdcBtBDzPLw54ZgaTGbdjeDrogoUWT2DFOw3HxpoeKk2UiTv4Ex_3AeOZKstwqh-mextP1uqSBy2OO9_gGl7zkwHuEit272/s640/r18.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTfTysBxOm7rs6BwWcJv_77xSALzolnZiHU816Ka69RXrFDJlzX-XNzrqqM3FIcBHRVc4zSG4bU4mcChAwFAcmmRbkAu02Mx-oKvXpBi7tN9AW9TaBZLHwO2nB54r9OjvFzHoKOfDx8X-/s1600/red2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTfTysBxOm7rs6BwWcJv_77xSALzolnZiHU816Ka69RXrFDJlzX-XNzrqqM3FIcBHRVc4zSG4bU4mcChAwFAcmmRbkAu02Mx-oKvXpBi7tN9AW9TaBZLHwO2nB54r9OjvFzHoKOfDx8X-/s640/red2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9mA1_RYqWwqPUBu1QbyciSr6yxzzX9uPDpgsQynp_0lAzqPlHLRpQlWCBaCco2JCHQECxgrxi-Yn-XivHJdoVIaYogL57a8JZU3O1aB3BI85gc0PyLsmiQekfGCMNP9uZdrenA-lq1HU/s1600/rtwit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9mA1_RYqWwqPUBu1QbyciSr6yxzzX9uPDpgsQynp_0lAzqPlHLRpQlWCBaCco2JCHQECxgrxi-Yn-XivHJdoVIaYogL57a8JZU3O1aB3BI85gc0PyLsmiQekfGCMNP9uZdrenA-lq1HU/s640/rtwit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHugFdi8jxA1n9rH-emMYLM60Byp-gK-ywTPhwfPZzLn-DUY1CxEn-boQxPWLwEgOKscULfvZRVrzF4dWIKsarl0fwg5WZQ1dB_r642lUeydOng0740PRyl29oBqIPYoC8rzdMYajD4iU/s1600/amur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHugFdi8jxA1n9rH-emMYLM60Byp-gK-ywTPhwfPZzLn-DUY1CxEn-boQxPWLwEgOKscULfvZRVrzF4dWIKsarl0fwg5WZQ1dB_r642lUeydOng0740PRyl29oBqIPYoC8rzdMYajD4iU/s400/amur.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amur Falcon, Yorkshire, September 2008</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-50781831097850261602015-07-20T21:54:00.000+01:002015-07-20T21:54:34.254+01:00Lady's Slippers, Dukes and a Ghost Deer.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In the north of England, on the borderland between Lancashire and Cumbria lies a hidden kingdom rich in strange wild creatures, exotic-looking butterflies and mythical plants. Known only to a few, but passed by many as they journey to the honeypot that is the Lake District. But if the weary traveller heading north to the land of mountains and lakes on the M6 were to accidentally leave the motorway a junction earlier they might discover this hidden land of reeds, mosses and limestone pavements and its abundant wildlife.<br />
Most well-known in this fabulous land is the RSPB reserve of Leighton Moss with its secretive Bitterns, squealing Water Rails and gliding Marsh Harriers. But venture further down the narrow winding roads flanked by dry-stone walls and you will find other natural wonders.<br />
My trip last May was to the Natural England reserve at Gait Barrows; an area of Carboniferous limestone pavement; rock formed before the great age of the dinosaurs. This beautiful area is home to scarce butterflies and some even scarcer plants. Not long ago the beautiful Lady's Slipper Orchid was on the verge of extinction in this country, so close that the only known site where it was found was a closely guarded secret; the site itself being closely guarded as well! But this beautiful plant has been part of a Species Recovery Programme and seedlings from the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew have been planted at various suitable locations, Gait Barrows being one of them. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_LRc3yT26pCfZ7K59JsB7dlpbIbgOiEBv8DqxLShG-Iv7xgLnvlIeIslK5fCw8XIc_SEFX1ujUrqxG3Go12vl2QcItiRR_nRSr5pWtjbGUWeJZ4NHe_T27tKbfTzVuU8vPjGmuVfEEBK/s1600/pave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_LRc3yT26pCfZ7K59JsB7dlpbIbgOiEBv8DqxLShG-Iv7xgLnvlIeIslK5fCw8XIc_SEFX1ujUrqxG3Go12vl2QcItiRR_nRSr5pWtjbGUWeJZ4NHe_T27tKbfTzVuU8vPjGmuVfEEBK/s640/pave.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gait Barrows' limestone pavement (iPhone photo)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The footpath from the small car park was signposted with images of the orchid so finding them was a piece of cake. Although the first plants that I photographed were a cluster of Herb Paris, an unusual-looking plant that was used by medieval herbalists to ward off witches. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNLjIhpYiSaWbuHDaBm2LCZ_hfI9JsUKAip2gTNll9rfm7aEXwIS5Pron3hiMBxdlDrU-feM2tB8GbsA1e3FI_PB6_qSxyqIwCMKV3tzc3a7NEoMfnowo-r4UzaRGluHKpu5WO5D3JUrM/s1600/o15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNLjIhpYiSaWbuHDaBm2LCZ_hfI9JsUKAip2gTNll9rfm7aEXwIS5Pron3hiMBxdlDrU-feM2tB8GbsA1e3FI_PB6_qSxyqIwCMKV3tzc3a7NEoMfnowo-r4UzaRGluHKpu5WO5D3JUrM/s640/o15.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Herb Paris</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hardly saw a soul at this gem of a reserve never mind any witches, but that might have been due to the dull overcast conditions, or maybe everyone had gone to the Lake District that Saturday.<br />
The Lady's Slipper Orchids were an amazing sight, their gaudy yellow "slippers" contrasting markedly with the claret-coloured petals and the dark green leaves. I took many (careful!) photographs and, I although |I know it is impossible to capture the true beauty of such a rare and exotic looking plant with a mere camera sensor, the images failed to do justice to these exquisite yet gaudy rarities. The clouds failed to clear and as I prefer natural light to flash I decided to visit nearby Foulshaw Moss and hope that the weather improved by the afternoon. <br />
Retracing my steps along the footpath I heard the breathless song of a <em>sylvia</em> warbler, and was pleased to confirm what my ears were telling me when I glimpsed a Garden Warbler secreted in the centre of some bushes; its song being very similar to that of a Blackcap.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fxnnDxiqScAmGqCdqJzyAWiHNPcD3PmQ7roh_J2WPaLiF-MCEdTbK3Q7Wr5jtx3pFNqn7D4peWmsOYhjU_zDw13kx7MPMOHfoWwxMc5AHabPagt_Xf69euWFpoat3IndWSfSBUH51YGl/s1600/o19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fxnnDxiqScAmGqCdqJzyAWiHNPcD3PmQ7roh_J2WPaLiF-MCEdTbK3Q7Wr5jtx3pFNqn7D4peWmsOYhjU_zDw13kx7MPMOHfoWwxMc5AHabPagt_Xf69euWFpoat3IndWSfSBUH51YGl/s640/o19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Garden Warbler</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fowlshaw Moss is an area of lowland raised peat bog and Cumbria Wildlife Trust are doing a sterling jobof restoring this habitat back to its former glory. They have introduced the rare White-faced Darter and Ospreys also nest on the reserve. From the raised boardwalk, with the aid of my 'scope I could see the two Osprey parents in trees near their nest. But what was that ghostly white shape moving through the reeds below the trees? Eventually the apparition moved into the open and revealed itself as a Red Deer, only it was white! I took a few distant record shots of this unusual animal. The warden later told me that this albino deer had been present in the area for a number of years and it had even shocked an unsuspecting motorist by dashing across the main A-road to Barrow; the driver thought he had seen a giant sheep!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ46ma7EGaOB6F2WlRBRrllbw7MWb7ZbClSael05y2ugJ-FGusPtXGb7YL7xWHIDGg8XApY_3sB47q6GK8HV0vBaN-e-UPROzGra2MkHRrtJysbiAxfkcKXt1MizlI6XiKaflYEdZI-0ei/s1600/o23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ46ma7EGaOB6F2WlRBRrllbw7MWb7ZbClSael05y2ugJ-FGusPtXGb7YL7xWHIDGg8XApY_3sB47q6GK8HV0vBaN-e-UPROzGra2MkHRrtJysbiAxfkcKXt1MizlI6XiKaflYEdZI-0ei/s640/o23.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red Deer at Foulshaw</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWOiO2W8ibklP3F2BY1h-Eemrep6hr1Hrby6iIhrYDWFqDbxq8RMj7Hd23-QRtGZ8md-5ZcQZSneF1QdUwrM0vIAfKecDus0O0n7P61eHu0NcXQfHl4FVRMFsDInoYkSPR84tDoChjj9t/s1600/o24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWOiO2W8ibklP3F2BY1h-Eemrep6hr1Hrby6iIhrYDWFqDbxq8RMj7Hd23-QRtGZ8md-5ZcQZSneF1QdUwrM0vIAfKecDus0O0n7P61eHu0NcXQfHl4FVRMFsDInoYkSPR84tDoChjj9t/s640/o24.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Willow Warbler</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O9ClPCB_4klTrWO-SXn6PGxCKmNyf9v5vpcpuJsrfyjZn8KDHUUCXD6ajWx9hPNTSgN_iG5mITiTmKFhLc4ljiCl7-CTGpgohFiHu6x_TrI34DJMlQEt4Br78jdBZ9WV55_kD7W4Bc4-/s1600/o21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O9ClPCB_4klTrWO-SXn6PGxCKmNyf9v5vpcpuJsrfyjZn8KDHUUCXD6ajWx9hPNTSgN_iG5mITiTmKFhLc4ljiCl7-CTGpgohFiHu6x_TrI34DJMlQEt4Br78jdBZ9WV55_kD7W4Bc4-/s640/o21.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Ghost" Deer</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The day was brightening up so after photographing a confiding Willow Warbler, I returned to Gait Barrows to try and photograph the orchids again.<br />
It was well worth the return visit as the sun was now shining and I managed some nice back-lit shots of the Lady's Slipper Orchids. Not only that, it was now warm enough for a few butterflies to emerge from their hiding places and tempt me to break out the macro lens.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrOfv2-sEFYJc_4mX4IJx9xva52MeJoP1Z3k0cs5bs4FvJjTjgQwTGsTQDmm8q9L6qQ-4RU2rklxoVMSfVo_oxpENBKRke98HRIVR7WPT0Qy6p0SufUlOfOwTj3fKsRT8uRQD66dotMj4/s1600/o14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrOfv2-sEFYJc_4mX4IJx9xva52MeJoP1Z3k0cs5bs4FvJjTjgQwTGsTQDmm8q9L6qQ-4RU2rklxoVMSfVo_oxpENBKRke98HRIVR7WPT0Qy6p0SufUlOfOwTj3fKsRT8uRQD66dotMj4/s640/o14.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROnXaog0zlga5pdtBBPGnpwLN0B_veXnupcJKlhpIP3aRW8OoMbq81Q5ESzr-0CxnY-y6-GU4vFGNp7I143mM598wZKbNOm2SAalDE85OsvO_klhL8jQN9bkmkK4i4z9w4v3-W5Gz0rNU/s1600/o17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROnXaog0zlga5pdtBBPGnpwLN0B_veXnupcJKlhpIP3aRW8OoMbq81Q5ESzr-0CxnY-y6-GU4vFGNp7I143mM598wZKbNOm2SAalDE85OsvO_klhL8jQN9bkmkK4i4z9w4v3-W5Gz0rNU/s640/o17.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xZ_VDOZLW5N_3xAkhPxuJ0cp290fzXZZuZckCLdCPRx8lzYh0YJqQvUGsfUlU3A61Vn5Vg2x-6ksjd4fdk-jKWl_YMLExfB6hKkgtm0zyHnYhTWDxjSWi8kbsYGrmbwcS1sUs-XzwqBm/s1600/o26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xZ_VDOZLW5N_3xAkhPxuJ0cp290fzXZZuZckCLdCPRx8lzYh0YJqQvUGsfUlU3A61Vn5Vg2x-6ksjd4fdk-jKWl_YMLExfB6hKkgtm0zyHnYhTWDxjSWi8kbsYGrmbwcS1sUs-XzwqBm/s640/o26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Gait Barrows is home to some rare butterflies including the beautiful Duke of Burgundy, which was once thought to be a fritillary but most authorities now place it with a group of mainly neotropical butterflies called the metalmarks. All this is beside the point because the Duke is a stunning little butterfly, and even better a few were feeding on flowers right by the footpath. The areas of the reserve which contained their caterpillars' foodplants were roped off to avoid trampling, and rightly so. But the adults were no respecters of safety and flew jauntily over the tape and gaily flaunted their checkered upperwings at all passers-by. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRns9loymY2L116BQeq5ZSO9zyVOCxZqZ1GtjZyoWHxxOke9BUuaX5gfhgBIiWB99CBN8FvlRJMBISSUcPvUgyPBpw2lgU6tn6SL1qlgh70TQvGE8MdJ5e-5wZqBcDEqjAWuheJDCAQgS/s1600/duke1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRns9loymY2L116BQeq5ZSO9zyVOCxZqZ1GtjZyoWHxxOke9BUuaX5gfhgBIiWB99CBN8FvlRJMBISSUcPvUgyPBpw2lgU6tn6SL1qlgh70TQvGE8MdJ5e-5wZqBcDEqjAWuheJDCAQgS/s640/duke1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidx6Y4dvwK7wZAutDQJzEkAB4zkA7boTRMQYu84x6BT5aaP5mdcWkIDWYE5TymMARDhS7k1gBxbMnwj4yAWLL9cq7teZtbvjSpWGwmBIoLcw_Z69nqAj7ldB83X_CnfFFG4HVxnPSFp-C/s1600/o7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidx6Y4dvwK7wZAutDQJzEkAB4zkA7boTRMQYu84x6BT5aaP5mdcWkIDWYE5TymMARDhS7k1gBxbMnwj4yAWLL9cq7teZtbvjSpWGwmBIoLcw_Z69nqAj7ldB83X_CnfFFG4HVxnPSFp-C/s640/o7.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Duke</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also found another sadly-declining species hunkered down in the leaf litter, a gorgeous Pearl-bordered Fritillary. It is named after the seven "pearls" that edge the border of its underwing. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNj3tDFyaQfmwUDL5s79HWmC6qGuiKVk3ssUzwQ_qVIgViO_Xc9gkR5boWXuU2419Yu0quYH0NEltOREdTBGacimPtbMGn7seC2bo6sk4SFh3n3cNuuHgsQS0kQHubvZvfjEVok31F3Llu/s1600/frit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNj3tDFyaQfmwUDL5s79HWmC6qGuiKVk3ssUzwQ_qVIgViO_Xc9gkR5boWXuU2419Yu0quYH0NEltOREdTBGacimPtbMGn7seC2bo6sk4SFh3n3cNuuHgsQS0kQHubvZvfjEVok31F3Llu/s640/frit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMN1DAGj2yVW_0HtAE4CMQLlZwPp3_NWpDBVlf3AaypZPl6foLAnKt3QujQ0WmJN8VAiXEIWv6m8ERHKneKZb8A0n8el8GLoLE6X48q4A8gu3xoFHcIC-fngcgV1Ij9e4GJ6n9Y7bObxa/s1600/o10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMN1DAGj2yVW_0HtAE4CMQLlZwPp3_NWpDBVlf3AaypZPl6foLAnKt3QujQ0WmJN8VAiXEIWv6m8ERHKneKZb8A0n8el8GLoLE6X48q4A8gu3xoFHcIC-fngcgV1Ij9e4GJ6n9Y7bObxa/s640/o10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pearl-bordered Fritillary</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU06t_nIIvrddkX_Kevrlb4yGIlw2NnE0lObG77NFUIbkcfiyjkbji0rhSW_GgCZkEpXte1dKgMKbr9_JcREDl5VTJ4rb9hjdtorfrJ2UWrzHz-BtRD6KSsEaHK6MvY5NguOQ6DyWsN1Fa/s1600/o11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU06t_nIIvrddkX_Kevrlb4yGIlw2NnE0lObG77NFUIbkcfiyjkbji0rhSW_GgCZkEpXte1dKgMKbr9_JcREDl5VTJ4rb9hjdtorfrJ2UWrzHz-BtRD6KSsEaHK6MvY5NguOQ6DyWsN1Fa/s640/o11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pearl-bordered Fritillary's underwing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And after a fabulous day enjoying the stunning wildlife of the area I finished off by photographing a singing Chiffchaff against the now blue sky. A fairy-tale ending after all.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY0et-0JaufriiOgfP_IuOBfYJNqVmnseT-JQtggjwEj_t8Ioi5-k-SDwtbC5SZELClcYo5vKOuRmSpB4A_UeVVSKcJ6-bLUwBeY6KyFnVIIgQTvpWkRHKn9u8R9eoacbJIBXYmj2Ki0h/s1600/o28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY0et-0JaufriiOgfP_IuOBfYJNqVmnseT-JQtggjwEj_t8Ioi5-k-SDwtbC5SZELClcYo5vKOuRmSpB4A_UeVVSKcJ6-bLUwBeY6KyFnVIIgQTvpWkRHKn9u8R9eoacbJIBXYmj2Ki0h/s640/o28.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chiffchaff</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-56788620575908222452015-07-09T21:23:00.000+01:002015-07-09T21:23:10.159+01:00Snowdon and Conway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In one week's time I will be taking part in the International Snowdon Mountain Race, a fell race that runs to the top Wales' highest mountain via the Llanberis path. Although I have competed in this race twice before I am not a pure fell runner and definitely need to train on the route, so last week I drove to beautiful Snowdonia and ran slowly to the summit.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE9p3D43Qck-yH7v71p5HydphbW1fpmtUHC-QCPbblQN0pYgLyOQM8bb7FGBrtzj73U3R_BbTh8he7AStOgkM9RGZo_e5uZy8IJunaIK7tPJbA8FG8Aq7BflMFofCoIM5wdpwjyC8Gjim/s1600/Snoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE9p3D43Qck-yH7v71p5HydphbW1fpmtUHC-QCPbblQN0pYgLyOQM8bb7FGBrtzj73U3R_BbTh8he7AStOgkM9RGZo_e5uZy8IJunaIK7tPJbA8FG8Aq7BflMFofCoIM5wdpwjyC8Gjim/s640/Snoo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View from the summit looking towards Llanberis (iPhone photo)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Despite it being a warm July morning there were not a lot of people on the mountain, which at times can be as busy as the proverbial Piccadilly Circus. The summit was shrouded in cloud so I had to pause for a few minutes to take a photograph, that's my excuse anyway! The run down was a breeze, and I was soon enjoying my picnic lunch overlooking the calm waters of Llyn Padarn.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had a number of options planned for the afternoon, if I had been very warm I had planned a wild swim in the plunge pools on the Watkin Path, but the skies had become overcast and the temperature had plummeted from the mid-week record breaking highs. Likewise, looking for Silver-studded Blues on the Great Orme or Keeled Skimmers near Betws-y-coed were both dismissed due to the lack of sunshine. So I headed for Conway RSPB reserve which is often a good place for seeing Stoats.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
By the time that I was pulling into the reserve carpark the wind had strengthened and rain was beginning to fall; not ideal conditions for watching wildlife. Undeterred, I strolled down the estuary path carefully watching for any signs of Stoat activity. The tide was in and there were plenty of waders roosting on the main reserve. From the hides I could see flocks of Oystercatchers and Redshanks waiting patiently for the tide to turn. A few Little Egrets were feeding on the pools; I remember when this bird was a real rarity. I travelled to Fford Bay near Caernarfon, not that far from Conway, in 1987 to see my first ever Little Egret, how times have changed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was not successful in my search for Stoats but an afternoon watching the birds was more than enough consolation.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkaTfFXOPHxeeYcypBJZ08JZHYwcZkuy9a01EPAwufxJn6GYAjFuxD4JWCTDvn42H4PLDHrnALKQ-_AXOj7F6SXtjD1fEs_KYYEMNxJWoihl5C0VEW8mSF8lJflGGlhE9LrOfJAZRSuiW/s1600/s6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkaTfFXOPHxeeYcypBJZ08JZHYwcZkuy9a01EPAwufxJn6GYAjFuxD4JWCTDvn42H4PLDHrnALKQ-_AXOj7F6SXtjD1fEs_KYYEMNxJWoihl5C0VEW8mSF8lJflGGlhE9LrOfJAZRSuiW/s640/s6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oystercatchers heading to the estuary</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iq8i3QQ63MhdCT19esZfa_mChSxal5Djx_h1RayrjhmCQ_R7P-7tr1TqN5-v-ubo5jTSczn-xpR_XyXDYRkfZbxO7eATffZ-iQ9FI0BPlCyMUbl8kc0FOFf_pKAtSIUsLsb_nkr_tqFl/s1600/s12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iq8i3QQ63MhdCT19esZfa_mChSxal5Djx_h1RayrjhmCQ_R7P-7tr1TqN5-v-ubo5jTSczn-xpR_XyXDYRkfZbxO7eATffZ-iQ9FI0BPlCyMUbl8kc0FOFf_pKAtSIUsLsb_nkr_tqFl/s640/s12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaZJuJDYUiQE3bE7b7_LAvGeFe13IyoKGCZPJRihiT8-oOUvtlg4eFe-NV53t4NHxJ9Egy6EfKPQH0ryf7y2COEDOr6RvFvTuPh1IUYFWNA24vvN4W8mOoHlQ364GAVoWJNLEiMaV35c-/s1600/s10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaZJuJDYUiQE3bE7b7_LAvGeFe13IyoKGCZPJRihiT8-oOUvtlg4eFe-NV53t4NHxJ9Egy6EfKPQH0ryf7y2COEDOr6RvFvTuPh1IUYFWNA24vvN4W8mOoHlQ364GAVoWJNLEiMaV35c-/s640/s10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shelduck (note the rain splashes on the lake)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA3jjjrF9Ivn0V8nqSwyclL06lSStZU37UlPUGV3rIWIUECUflxlOiLowDJUGeDHovhoi6d5ZpP-f1DvdFQmkkXUsI18pBFCcnVojgpafdXbr5fTkWYBosL7uvAQStpy8sBuuRmeL7F6u/s1600/s13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA3jjjrF9Ivn0V8nqSwyclL06lSStZU37UlPUGV3rIWIUECUflxlOiLowDJUGeDHovhoi6d5ZpP-f1DvdFQmkkXUsI18pBFCcnVojgpafdXbr5fTkWYBosL7uvAQStpy8sBuuRmeL7F6u/s640/s13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oystercatcher acquiring its white winter throat collar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMiLeDCoHVvWuESsehCURZyblbTgo8lR6vdEyISLIyEcv1fmr6PeGgZPpsfNo2AwOBbbcUhGIvByXvCjUJtlMwApBQq-D3OOdw9ZcUl0T_ZyTHGVtlW0gRr_U06KaQdIqUoc3t0TUk34p/s1600/ss1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMiLeDCoHVvWuESsehCURZyblbTgo8lR6vdEyISLIyEcv1fmr6PeGgZPpsfNo2AwOBbbcUhGIvByXvCjUJtlMwApBQq-D3OOdw9ZcUl0T_ZyTHGVtlW0gRr_U06KaQdIqUoc3t0TUk34p/s640/ss1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXKKEnYlMkhyK3y5HaagGq31dGdB-aNl5b_iKLPrYNqwT0yrhFbBCa1jIWihAIPTeoYJxkw_FAU6noQHPODwh0XDufd6ptitVZxvaQHlwDiUd8de9IyHYRp6HPfBEI2Hva_9NS3D1-0xI/s1600/ss5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXKKEnYlMkhyK3y5HaagGq31dGdB-aNl5b_iKLPrYNqwT0yrhFbBCa1jIWihAIPTeoYJxkw_FAU6noQHPODwh0XDufd6ptitVZxvaQHlwDiUd8de9IyHYRp6HPfBEI2Hva_9NS3D1-0xI/s640/ss5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNOJ9_ObU0Sdb-G95y_c7xOwD00p7RH5jDIqiA6egHfURs2nD6RFIbEcHqylxa19BbHCzwjAJdVg7SNUXLVxh8FqDPiG7Y8xHGewb-fDA-jYL649yaBM6LuRgz_s664jKNIBCp8acWDy8/s1600/ss2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNOJ9_ObU0Sdb-G95y_c7xOwD00p7RH5jDIqiA6egHfURs2nD6RFIbEcHqylxa19BbHCzwjAJdVg7SNUXLVxh8FqDPiG7Y8xHGewb-fDA-jYL649yaBM6LuRgz_s664jKNIBCp8acWDy8/s640/ss2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And just to prove there are Stoats at this site, here are two photos that I took two years ago.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5Fqgn8HD1VayrFrzhmTXhGgDBfhplIBf-GabSN2nfHmTjHnx_youHItrfScNx47KvQndoLVPgTBQexB6Toi880GpFBhr4qWeExgKs1uapIWPGbvUkcIlA5xPAU59mTQ6P7eESd9Euo9i/s1600/s6%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5Fqgn8HD1VayrFrzhmTXhGgDBfhplIBf-GabSN2nfHmTjHnx_youHItrfScNx47KvQndoLVPgTBQexB6Toi880GpFBhr4qWeExgKs1uapIWPGbvUkcIlA5xPAU59mTQ6P7eESd9Euo9i/s640/s6%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErE-_6MpHk-QbuJLIN-LhEs8IvJh1ggPUOqoV7vA0LSgaKeUkf12z0swA9nWtYrTN4QxZVkxBgVrjUwNb45wLI-3H0yQ30zEubFCGCXvA64CYtQrq0xige4henJ9XbXTIHnTzb9theYIs/s1600/s10%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErE-_6MpHk-QbuJLIN-LhEs8IvJh1ggPUOqoV7vA0LSgaKeUkf12z0swA9nWtYrTN4QxZVkxBgVrjUwNb45wLI-3H0yQ30zEubFCGCXvA64CYtQrq0xige4henJ9XbXTIHnTzb9theYIs/s640/s10%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-44624391502628502352015-07-07T22:16:00.006+01:002015-07-07T22:16:56.789+01:00River Dee Meander<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last week the country experienced some of the hottest days since records began, well, down south at least. So I thought Saturday would be a good day to catch up with some insects on the River Dee in Cheshire.<br />
I drove to Farndon where the Dee forms the boundary between Wales and England. This area had proved very productive for insects such as the Banded Demoiselle in the past and I hoped to take some photographs of this delicate riparian species.<br />
Unfortunately the weather was having other ideas as a strong breeze was blowing and the sunshine was intermittent to say the least. I struggled to find any damselflies and there were no dragonflies at all. I have seen the scarce Club-tailed Dragonfly at this site before but July is probably past the end of its flight period.<br />
But there were a number of common butterflies on the wing including Small Tortoiseshells, Meadow Browns, Large Skippers and a solitary Red Admiral. I eventually found a few Banded Demoiselles but they were a bit elusive in the breezy and frequently dull conditions. Highlight of the walk was a Spotted Flycatcher with a beakfull of insects that perched on the top rail of a wooden gate; if only I had had my other lens on my camera and not my macro!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJde-rLubXvXBINPFYYIgwHF2RiXyUUzYlTq939-foXhuvpmxCtr1e7mPAn_mr_c1NWEy5nQr9j9ahshVOgUZY_mFzW8MC7T25xfZMt2PdE3COP2DGKnTie6UaTPJM_peLUPbQ4iHqNBbE/s1600/d1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJde-rLubXvXBINPFYYIgwHF2RiXyUUzYlTq939-foXhuvpmxCtr1e7mPAn_mr_c1NWEy5nQr9j9ahshVOgUZY_mFzW8MC7T25xfZMt2PdE3COP2DGKnTie6UaTPJM_peLUPbQ4iHqNBbE/s640/d1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meadow Brown</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrtJ9F1LRftFeL5fCJ_s2GI_7AD1GSnqUzZBZuBLIQuLxJul5kgfJ6r46iJMBz6MUHQzSJ2SGKoO7B8opVpx3lQdHnEzxxU12qYhiO0O_i_Y9VzQ5Z5ONqryHdV3TnVZNuHrGBVNtle4J/s1600/d2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrtJ9F1LRftFeL5fCJ_s2GI_7AD1GSnqUzZBZuBLIQuLxJul5kgfJ6r46iJMBz6MUHQzSJ2SGKoO7B8opVpx3lQdHnEzxxU12qYhiO0O_i_Y9VzQ5Z5ONqryHdV3TnVZNuHrGBVNtle4J/s640/d2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-pIMioNo5Vt2bH6M_ds14ZgnuFsgB5RpLYmFuIvH3kI7ovAkXSwtq-MUurfnG8Qk8IrFvg0bhuUUl08kVsY8ij7vj7D9VMYaim5I_F-am33ImAtLddwQQ9bjprEddAEUAgs_WlKNPjDu/s1600/d3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-pIMioNo5Vt2bH6M_ds14ZgnuFsgB5RpLYmFuIvH3kI7ovAkXSwtq-MUurfnG8Qk8IrFvg0bhuUUl08kVsY8ij7vj7D9VMYaim5I_F-am33ImAtLddwQQ9bjprEddAEUAgs_WlKNPjDu/s640/d3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Large Skipper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknO59CKbG-VsJogYwuioLElnmnsEetQRh9vgOdXJrJxnTG7g9DpvDgbrDfjyJIyPXd2IOdU8D2ltZ_JsA30SXjbAOEOK9wZ5t7rxZ3Eu9Mj7wSbsZfwpIwhia48D5uBS6Imu9nQYE3f2Z/s1600/d4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknO59CKbG-VsJogYwuioLElnmnsEetQRh9vgOdXJrJxnTG7g9DpvDgbrDfjyJIyPXd2IOdU8D2ltZ_JsA30SXjbAOEOK9wZ5t7rxZ3Eu9Mj7wSbsZfwpIwhia48D5uBS6Imu9nQYE3f2Z/s640/d4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Small Tortoiseshell</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbUdImC15sR3tHH7362FY8ujmbLq2JZNmAwZrSpxdYBfXT9wOuqfIOYW4srA1ntGyXShwoU1NyGSw7j8YLIko3xdhVSj-YE_MU_Pztr0hsFPjtofaPhWOe-wUIUvWiKc75WmSPG31zQUl/s1600/dem1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-7sYCpJRf6JU9j8snqX1aI7UMM0KSxUwc0iCUY-lMJ5mDcFsaCsUK2PwNoVCuzYpd0o3LlUADSeLbHQge6c-Iq5Th0_MFTtQrAxm1_BnrVe36rFcQq7_e0fUZt0TMxnZRNcYElXp4bL1/s1600/d5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-7sYCpJRf6JU9j8snqX1aI7UMM0KSxUwc0iCUY-lMJ5mDcFsaCsUK2PwNoVCuzYpd0o3LlUADSeLbHQge6c-Iq5Th0_MFTtQrAxm1_BnrVe36rFcQq7_e0fUZt0TMxnZRNcYElXp4bL1/s640/d5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Male Banded Demoiselle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREd-xcjT2RpQP_ltLYX33p2cDgf6oBmB53ajfPm7Q234awWLIL-Zg8esGbOoWju7MQaOleVmFcRPC87e6VsPjp92W-u7TI9cei_bJuSLsajeU2sDoASWTedbLxPgDWkI8imzWZ22qT1BN/s1600/dem1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREd-xcjT2RpQP_ltLYX33p2cDgf6oBmB53ajfPm7Q234awWLIL-Zg8esGbOoWju7MQaOleVmFcRPC87e6VsPjp92W-u7TI9cei_bJuSLsajeU2sDoASWTedbLxPgDWkI8imzWZ22qT1BN/s640/dem1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Female Banded Demoiselle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-3941126290429199442015-06-12T23:10:00.000+01:002015-07-09T15:55:01.310+01:00Llandegla Forest (part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I visited Llandegla Forest in North Wales at the end of April with my girlfriend Jane (see previous post), and although we saw some fantastic birds there were a number of species that we missed so a return visit was definitely on the cards. An early start at the beginning of May saw us walking up the Offa's Dyke path and into the forest not long after sunrise. <br />
It was a great place for a dawn chorus. Common woodland birds including Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Robin, Wren and Dunnock provided a rich musical symphony as we made our way through the ranks of conifers and up onto the open ground adjacent to the Denbighshire moorland. As on our previous visit the arias of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were very much in evidence, along with the fruity songs of Blackcaps. On the open ground Tree Pipits twittered in parachuting display as Siskins and Redpolls flew overhead. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1uxlbiN3crZ9zkR2R8DN1eaKJtZNE_bKyg9Xk3BUqWgUok74WTjoStGou_dpqHQbvLBiD9Cx3Zahxs6ighxnpaE5TnKYoieeX0kaW67yr2UR1AQnXHcl2JyxsFWbrGgkeElCb_xlute5/s1600/ll1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1uxlbiN3crZ9zkR2R8DN1eaKJtZNE_bKyg9Xk3BUqWgUok74WTjoStGou_dpqHQbvLBiD9Cx3Zahxs6ighxnpaE5TnKYoieeX0kaW67yr2UR1AQnXHcl2JyxsFWbrGgkeElCb_xlute5/s640/ll1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhG2T89rwq8Lo9w368td5lFvDIwouMYv4uUNJZ6WFwKZGOtN8nxwa5w7UWyA8BZ7uHOzehATqK5_CECc-tizbAhWYiBRc-SSn-6zRXCBICxpagF2XnKuf02HrAEVnLPjRpxs6uIgNJkIMg/s1600/llan4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhG2T89rwq8Lo9w368td5lFvDIwouMYv4uUNJZ6WFwKZGOtN8nxwa5w7UWyA8BZ7uHOzehATqK5_CECc-tizbAhWYiBRc-SSn-6zRXCBICxpagF2XnKuf02HrAEVnLPjRpxs6uIgNJkIMg/s640/llan4.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Willow Warbler</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iBArhF8RToSq6qpXjHxPzPiOwLAuZMwgxbZTtpYJVlpa-8DYQboy7BK1FlNT_2OdIyR9rD8gVzB7SHnYVlbxlnLtUlrfzh9suxigndJRyDqHBxmON29S8yBR9xkxXzfCXbMFCAtcblA9/s1600/llan2chiff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iBArhF8RToSq6qpXjHxPzPiOwLAuZMwgxbZTtpYJVlpa-8DYQboy7BK1FlNT_2OdIyR9rD8gVzB7SHnYVlbxlnLtUlrfzh9suxigndJRyDqHBxmON29S8yBR9xkxXzfCXbMFCAtcblA9/s640/llan2chiff.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We made our way to the hide overlooking the moorland, it was here a few years ago that we were priveledged to see a male Hen Harrier quartering the heather, like some long forgotten spirit of the hills. It's remarkable how once you have seen a special bird in a certain place that you always expect to see that bird in the same place again; but that rarely happens, and today was no exception as far as the harrier was concerned. A Raven cronked in the distance and flapped lazily over a dip in the heather. We were too late in the year for the lekking of the Black Grouse but I did manage to scope two beautiful males feeding on the heather. Another good find was a male Whinchat perched sentinel-like on a small tree among the heather his peachy breast and pale supercilium clearly visible through the telescope, but he didn't come within range of my camera. <br />
A couple of Whitethroats were singing their scratchy songs close by but remained camera-shy. Not so a Redpoll which paused briefly near the hide and allowed a few record shots to be taken.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jr8DvVCgjoUVHU900JxtS6cJ8EmA4y-fukIJl4LG5QvCQ3UBjnyZ4BByqbu4bsRthFmJgWanNE4FPMxSpCgJ1ICShmwlKtB11lrFQyZ49Uw3Ghz1QT57GM0iFjYoveyhjGLJiD1Bdp9B/s1600/llan3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jr8DvVCgjoUVHU900JxtS6cJ8EmA4y-fukIJl4LG5QvCQ3UBjnyZ4BByqbu4bsRthFmJgWanNE4FPMxSpCgJ1ICShmwlKtB11lrFQyZ49Uw3Ghz1QT57GM0iFjYoveyhjGLJiD1Bdp9B/s640/llan3.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Redpoll</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A very obliging Willow Warbler fed and sang in willows and young conifers near the hide and allowed me to take some photos that illustrate the subtle beauty of this exquisite migrant.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy1BOQB7ze0cRG2__XNZvgaCF_WB3UT3tR1Dxp2laMt92iqea8TLUKynokVWoUqt5OdX5zT8q6j1HkGKpOdoHtZKEQY4e_GU2IEwDV3LMpg-0P49VNsRJjD_bbWDUgT2vzXeBc246q8v4/s1600/llan5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy1BOQB7ze0cRG2__XNZvgaCF_WB3UT3tR1Dxp2laMt92iqea8TLUKynokVWoUqt5OdX5zT8q6j1HkGKpOdoHtZKEQY4e_GU2IEwDV3LMpg-0P49VNsRJjD_bbWDUgT2vzXeBc246q8v4/s640/llan5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNPc0unwTvot7maZU42VUl3K6ggCfUEVGBU9ajhD3QqP98ReCPhdY1Nu0kjqpWsoIBDRVlCwiN7PKA3HUdtNNhyphenhyphenMarEQ-bLXa7qNQO7eyBzPJZLgORARpBglnouNRRuCqEnnMiDP3XtWe/s1600/llan6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNPc0unwTvot7maZU42VUl3K6ggCfUEVGBU9ajhD3QqP98ReCPhdY1Nu0kjqpWsoIBDRVlCwiN7PKA3HUdtNNhyphenhyphenMarEQ-bLXa7qNQO7eyBzPJZLgORARpBglnouNRRuCqEnnMiDP3XtWe/s640/llan6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3PCA-gTHp2MPkK-PfMhUp4tcxVM1sJ3Kr0uEaQt8mCxGUfXpbkgcZtpPwBephAXZoEJynp9kuASds5Y2Awp7iPNHk-tQ0HeYJMNoChjLL2cVYu3xdu2Voj7otJNLl0Il29vqyMAZpzVH/s1600/llanwill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3PCA-gTHp2MPkK-PfMhUp4tcxVM1sJ3Kr0uEaQt8mCxGUfXpbkgcZtpPwBephAXZoEJynp9kuASds5Y2Awp7iPNHk-tQ0HeYJMNoChjLL2cVYu3xdu2Voj7otJNLl0Il29vqyMAZpzVH/s640/llanwill.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
But, best of all, the distinctive disyllabic panpipe call of a Cuckoo had us hastily gathering our gear and marching smartly towards a nearby copse. Through my scope we could see the bird calling in the distance, but if flew into the forest and we could not relocate it. Nevertheless this enigmatic Spring icon was a very welcome addition to our dawn chorus list.<br />
We strolled down to the reservoir were a pair of Canada Geese were busy defending their area of water from another pair.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHfopeBHUaMdYCvULP_vTZ1do7bU8I87unyphFH3_8v7uifieK4mG8Hg1ZgxpZ8UYvT5AoJiEiJ3yWdb6aMVJ0hjBvAAcDMJs9f2CpkKT_JxKLGB5hBCSq8IrBtsNvPImUUd9XSKt9qLx/s1600/lan11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHfopeBHUaMdYCvULP_vTZ1do7bU8I87unyphFH3_8v7uifieK4mG8Hg1ZgxpZ8UYvT5AoJiEiJ3yWdb6aMVJ0hjBvAAcDMJs9f2CpkKT_JxKLGB5hBCSq8IrBtsNvPImUUd9XSKt9qLx/s640/lan11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A large shoal of Minnows was milling in the shallow bankside water, but there was no sign of the expected tadpoles. On the far side of the reservoir a bare patch of rock was hosting some sunning butterflies including Small Tortoiseshell and a few Peacocks.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ggesNXeqWcWWsWOkvKLbDyOKJNkZR5qsBFuGcWj0qU51oXCQf-C2SqN17FskfWWar6Eq44PQznyk4fU33cILHkJs8tcDAnVrsRcw1zStKo9g7nHvzFlIXnWNwDaHbc1hSj3dBoFqpbeM/s1600/lanb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ggesNXeqWcWWsWOkvKLbDyOKJNkZR5qsBFuGcWj0qU51oXCQf-C2SqN17FskfWWar6Eq44PQznyk4fU33cILHkJs8tcDAnVrsRcw1zStKo9g7nHvzFlIXnWNwDaHbc1hSj3dBoFqpbeM/s640/lanb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We continued our journey back to the visitor centre when the unmistakable call of a Crossbill was heard. Scanning the tops of the trees we located a beautiful green female Crossbill perched on the very top a the tallest conifer. A great bird and one that we had failed to see on our previous visit. And there was one last surprise as we made our way back to the car, I heard the fluty song of a Redstart and located this gorgeous bird in an oak by the road. With its red breast, quivering orange-red tail and black face crowned and mantled with a luscious silvery-grey, this is surely our most attractive songbird.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-5756840375181495632015-06-09T22:23:00.000+01:002015-06-09T22:23:20.904+01:00Llandegla Forest (part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
At the end of April I booked a day off work with the intention of visiting Bempton Cliffs RSPB in Yorkshire. Unfortunately I was a bit unwell in the morning so I didn't fancy the long drive from the Wirral, but I didn't want to waste my day and decided to go for a walk around Llandegla Forest in North Wales.<br />
Coed Llandegla is a commercial forest that opened to the public in 2005 as a mountain biking venue. But alongside the great biking trails are some fantastic wildlife habitats, indeed 50% of the Welsh Black Grouse population can be found within one mile of the forest, and in the summer the clearfell areas are home to Nightjars. Jane and I were too late in the day to witness the lekking of the grouse but we were happy to stroll around the forest in search of other wildlife. <br />
Warblers were much in evidence as we wandered the trails through the conifers. The cascading song of the Willow Warbler is definitely one of my favourite sounds of Spring and they were probably the commonest songster on our walk.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hhdcMqXzRzpjmthTVJ_T8zSbz_ShDMlqqysSOLddR9aAx-D8PkgcBvDyrZbkkyzajVIwMSXTHiW0h45jF3DPt2VPuEtoqLNyoptmo9zv4GaEulCMnvl70b2S2VKLKUOtTWmVbQVBnJ1H/s1600/lan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hhdcMqXzRzpjmthTVJ_T8zSbz_ShDMlqqysSOLddR9aAx-D8PkgcBvDyrZbkkyzajVIwMSXTHiW0h45jF3DPt2VPuEtoqLNyoptmo9zv4GaEulCMnvl70b2S2VKLKUOtTWmVbQVBnJ1H/s640/lan1.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We walked to the hide that overlooks the moorland where the Black Grouse lek in the early morning knowing we wouldn't see any but Ravens and Buzzards provided some consolation. It was quite a warm day and the willow flowers were a welcome source of nectar for foraging bees.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DrHH7OVa-o_J8-MAs9-HtJDpWc0h1FJzwD5YeWntbWkhCiP8XgyOhHgp0odI_oNOyDRKwB4ggHlw9fY_E1YWOpfOlg3tLI5aaTNyaQ4Xv2jF_XLuzsQXUSaDW1UfwAHTKklC-iYJg4zk/s1600/lan4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DrHH7OVa-o_J8-MAs9-HtJDpWc0h1FJzwD5YeWntbWkhCiP8XgyOhHgp0odI_oNOyDRKwB4ggHlw9fY_E1YWOpfOlg3tLI5aaTNyaQ4Xv2jF_XLuzsQXUSaDW1UfwAHTKklC-iYJg4zk/s640/lan4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
Chiffchaffs, Chaffinches, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes added to the mid-morning chorus, and the twittering calls of Siskin and Redpoll reminded us that the forest is a great habitat for these species.<br />
A very obliging Wren perched and sang on some conifer logs and provided me with some memorable images.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7sOeWKpTKKqkiYxR-KhvL-Dwgg3iDOhhF1_hXtkc_AcwbrjntON-5coNcBzph7-NXqy4r5FwRfnh0edUVR6KuZIDbLOkBvPs9Uyciejp1vx6eGohJWvaUst-N3d1D7cSSb5snawHdiw_/s1600/lan6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7sOeWKpTKKqkiYxR-KhvL-Dwgg3iDOhhF1_hXtkc_AcwbrjntON-5coNcBzph7-NXqy4r5FwRfnh0edUVR6KuZIDbLOkBvPs9Uyciejp1vx6eGohJWvaUst-N3d1D7cSSb5snawHdiw_/s640/lan6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNcvxKRnZnxCTp7soCKMpxXyHVWqnGTfXk7phTPLuB5IrtVxejek6wyK6BV5mx4Eytexjamh4h3qthxHZ3HVNZ3nZJrqsMEdIto4Rm-rlLGA3OG7xQH-AvNqfgbjYa_AWyu5VLUAuTWAI/s1600/lan12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNcvxKRnZnxCTp7soCKMpxXyHVWqnGTfXk7phTPLuB5IrtVxejek6wyK6BV5mx4Eytexjamh4h3qthxHZ3HVNZ3nZJrqsMEdIto4Rm-rlLGA3OG7xQH-AvNqfgbjYa_AWyu5VLUAuTWAI/s640/lan12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwyXhX8iZJuZbtcHJ9wwT2b8tzreLQeq6U4aVeOi8iuBuhapZIJhgI-vRWuMUT0EWe7a6Yp88LSAWgZL7TXuOV6h23wUSqwUK3G07hoWHsk7eNa-D6O5NX_PUedD8JKMWFblAF9RupHtL/s1600/llan66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwyXhX8iZJuZbtcHJ9wwT2b8tzreLQeq6U4aVeOi8iuBuhapZIJhgI-vRWuMUT0EWe7a6Yp88LSAWgZL7TXuOV6h23wUSqwUK3G07hoWHsk7eNa-D6O5NX_PUedD8JKMWFblAF9RupHtL/s640/llan66.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Walking up a broad forest track near an area of clearfell we saw a largish brown bird disappearing behind a stand of conifers. "Cuckoo" we both said, more in hope than anything else. We quickly walked to the other side of the conifers only to find that our 'Cuckoo' was in fact a Mistle Thrush! It was a lovely bird but Llandegla is one of our favourite sites for Cuckoo, but maybe we were too early in the season for this African migrant. <br />
We picnicked on a seat that overlooks Moel Famau, the highest hill in the Clwydian range. The hill is crowned with a tower which was built to commemorate the golden jubilee of George III in 1810. The tower gives the hill a unique profile that makes it easily recognised from some distance. <br />
I shared my lunch with an unusually shy Robin and then we set off back to the visitor centre. As we neared the carpark I thought I heard the call of a Crossbill as two finch-sized birds disappeared over the forest canopy. I could not be sure though, so it didn't make it on to the day list. Crossbills used to be a guaranteed sighting a Llandegla, to the point that one area of the forest was nicknamed "Crossbill Corner". But after a cold winter a couple of years ago they have become more infrequent. They are a mobile species anyway so an irruption might boost the numbers here in the future.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbdPRWeFPFmADWqcThvYvJnigQrsnhS-bF_FJwFkubdGuW1LWxOD-3VKGWfYapkAZqVr2b-6ExuCHV6uuTspiDKkfFWbIR_60dG85Pdwpa8SNwuk9M7QgvgeOE4DTdadgNh4pkBKzP0Ag/s1600/lan9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbdPRWeFPFmADWqcThvYvJnigQrsnhS-bF_FJwFkubdGuW1LWxOD-3VKGWfYapkAZqVr2b-6ExuCHV6uuTspiDKkfFWbIR_60dG85Pdwpa8SNwuk9M7QgvgeOE4DTdadgNh4pkBKzP0Ag/s640/lan9.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghX9bpd9auCMTlcUCoE1RqzGiQULewNTvkzHDmoGccjeMJED3kUAdvkcH4hP8OP0HGeibHvNhwuskHUFdWZOQzkxrO2DaSr34127b8KH91-OZr4UPWIKGbA4g7EH9yrfAtR9L9VIM8gE-s/s1600/lan8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghX9bpd9auCMTlcUCoE1RqzGiQULewNTvkzHDmoGccjeMJED3kUAdvkcH4hP8OP0HGeibHvNhwuskHUFdWZOQzkxrO2DaSr34127b8KH91-OZr4UPWIKGbA4g7EH9yrfAtR9L9VIM8gE-s/s640/lan8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-70388172028704613622015-05-29T16:19:00.000+01:002015-05-29T16:19:09.914+01:00London - dinosaurs, wetlands and a marathon!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
On the 25th of last month I travelled to London with my girlfriend Jane, to register for what is becoming an annual event for me, the London Marathon. Obviously running is my main reason for visiting the capital but there are plenty of wildlife watching opportunities to be had especially in the Spring.<br />
After registering at the Xcel Centre, we had pasta for lunch (what else?) then headed for one of my favourite buildings, the Natural History Museum. This temple of the natural sciences in South Kensington was designed in Romanesque style by the architect Alfred Waterhouse and is adorned with intricate carvings of plants and animals. But as any child will tell you the star attractions are the dinosaurs, and a new superstar had recently been unveiled and I was dying to make her acquaintance. Her name is Sophie and she is the most complete Stegosaurus skeleton ever unearthed. With huge plates along her spine and her spiked tail raised in a menacing fashion, Sophie dominated the Earth Hall. I fell for her hook, line and sinker and my girlfriend had to drag me away to enjoy the myriad of other fascinating exhibits on show, or maybe she was jealous of the attention I was giving Sophie! To be fair, palaeontologists are not sure of the sex of this 150 million year old cutie, she was named after the daughter of an unknown benefactor who made the acquisition possible.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqpNHpYx8H2USgpNs3vnMiHQH8fKGXp1rGiVfvO20SZr0e0t7p3uIbGglMCGnYa9B1XjcjyGpJNyLuUVElZ6DEcUIfiRCNyiSmNLTDMgdbiX84xur6yERoqhsJG5eGjjBqG8u-uLChVVf/s1600/l1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqpNHpYx8H2USgpNs3vnMiHQH8fKGXp1rGiVfvO20SZr0e0t7p3uIbGglMCGnYa9B1XjcjyGpJNyLuUVElZ6DEcUIfiRCNyiSmNLTDMgdbiX84xur6yERoqhsJG5eGjjBqG8u-uLChVVf/s400/l1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The gorgeous Sophie.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
We enjoyed a long sojourn around the whale hall, but it was soon time for dinner in the shape of more pasta. The day before a marathon is supposed to be one of rest, but London is naturally full of attractions and distractions, and I'm not one to do as I should anyway.<br />
After a good night's sleep I was soon on the train on my way to the marathon start at Blackheath. Many people are inspired to run a marathon by watching the coverage of the race on the BBC. But it is impossible to fully convey in words the emotions involved in this amazing sporting spectacle. The runners, the supporters, the charities, the camaraderie, the fleeting friendships, the noise, the music, the colour, the fancy dress outfits, the struggle, the will power, the support, the shared endeavour; to paraphrase something I heard, if the feelings surrounding the London Marathon could be bottled and shared around the world, life would be immeasurably better for everyone.<br />
I was on the blue start for a change and was able to spot a few celebrities including Jensen Button and Iwan Thomas. But the best sight was the runner dressed as a T-Rex! It was an enormous outfit with working articulated legs attached to the back of his own feet. He deserved a medal just for turning up. Apparently he had even trained near his home dressed in the outfit. Without a doubt it was the best fancy dress I have ever witnessed at a marathon and I was disappointed that there was not more coverage of him on the television.<br />
I had quite a good race and finished in 3 hours and 12 minutes, which means I get automatic entry for next year; maybe I could run as a stegosaurus!<br />
At the start of the race I had ticked off Ring-necked Parakeet for the year flying over the common, and there were plenty more of them to be seen in St. James's Park after the race, along with a motley collection of ducks including Red-crested Pochard. Although a tame Grey Heron was very approachable.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgSu47O7ORmS7RJLSbbOOHW0Pj7prtC2ujDP9g9uSDgcpY7YPKoOwsfjUG_taqqeMBNFusGHGPsZDcX9F6040hV5jxfhJFHcRGpmKjCxYFrVneKEFnqF-N3IG3SkGQkkciobC7FeuG8zY/s1600/l3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgSu47O7ORmS7RJLSbbOOHW0Pj7prtC2ujDP9g9uSDgcpY7YPKoOwsfjUG_taqqeMBNFusGHGPsZDcX9F6040hV5jxfhJFHcRGpmKjCxYFrVneKEFnqF-N3IG3SkGQkkciobC7FeuG8zY/s400/l3.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We were up early the next day to visit the Wildfowl and Wetland Centre at Barnes. This is becoming an annual pilgrimage as well; Spring is the perfect time to add a few migrants to my birding year list. We set ourselves the challenge to record as many species of bird as possible in the two hours that we had available to us. But we were distracted by the non-avian delights of this urban wetland. Foremost amongst these was a colony of Marsh Frogs that were calling rapaciously. These are non-native amphibians but are widespread across Europe and are distinguished from the similar Pool and Edible Frogs by their grey vocal sacs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kitxSI8aK6o/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kitxSI8aK6o?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
Other more ephemeral diversions were provided by sulphur-yellow Brimstone butterflies of which we saw at least five different individuals.<br />
But |I mustn't forget the birds. Naturally wetland birds dominated the list including Great-crested and Little Grebes, Common Terns and a couple of Little Ringed Plovers. Another photogenic Grey Heron posed outside one of the hides. Warblers that serenaded us along the lush trails included Willow, Sedge, Reed, Backcap, Chiffchaff and a quite showy Garden Warbler (if you can describe the drabbest-plumaged breeding warbler in Britain as showy!). Which is more then can be said for the Cetti's Warblers exploding into song at every opportunity but as usual remaining completely invisible; I'm sure they employ Klingon cloaking technology!<br />
We recorded a very creditable 50 species of birds in our all-too short time at this urban oasis, but we look forward to visiting again next year to try and beat our target. We celebrated our weekend with a free pint of London Pride given to all marathon finishers by Fuller's in the Euston Flyer pub, before we caught our train back to Chester. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgp4ww1BUgqw2P0S51NMPxrwGR5_gtolgskw9CPWOvDAVfSLWU0L3I_OysEiyqXj1bJl5p0luwPpZhKxiqO9WmiSHlmfEjM4ppWaDt8KEoeV99uW9ybFq1ilpyXewj8lj7_fLSeDm-b0-/s1600/l4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgp4ww1BUgqw2P0S51NMPxrwGR5_gtolgskw9CPWOvDAVfSLWU0L3I_OysEiyqXj1bJl5p0luwPpZhKxiqO9WmiSHlmfEjM4ppWaDt8KEoeV99uW9ybFq1ilpyXewj8lj7_fLSeDm-b0-/s400/l4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4O2PZfvgK6EPqR7_aF8hIUqBJCaTU7kIzhZOg47JPyLY3ONxEeNTX-4DN1W-bTB4ODqmRanI5YAFJ0W3UFCCuAjx3WAdukfgLFbpOIISWtYl3Cl7YOLxtF9XmqA4UlZzRq8dGxeyv07P/s1600/l5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4O2PZfvgK6EPqR7_aF8hIUqBJCaTU7kIzhZOg47JPyLY3ONxEeNTX-4DN1W-bTB4ODqmRanI5YAFJ0W3UFCCuAjx3WAdukfgLFbpOIISWtYl3Cl7YOLxtF9XmqA4UlZzRq8dGxeyv07P/s400/l5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGJ1BmAfhz5Bt0x77hZRP5gEOr8lATr-1rndQjw5Ugorbw1Oaw0gs9cMbSuhVbGI3jPzjSQ1eUjkpOoHNLYcS9Rwz7lkhjdcYN3K53eFBLGfnRvFa23uWDKG5cA7CGka9hd6DOrpgYxz4/s1600/l6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGJ1BmAfhz5Bt0x77hZRP5gEOr8lATr-1rndQjw5Ugorbw1Oaw0gs9cMbSuhVbGI3jPzjSQ1eUjkpOoHNLYcS9Rwz7lkhjdcYN3K53eFBLGfnRvFa23uWDKG5cA7CGka9hd6DOrpgYxz4/s400/l6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihh0KgfRFrm-SOFbJr-5wnpdWBV-HdnfOBgiJ42Ogp7gsNh3jlLPehkPVVp-kYUCviqEZTzBAhnU5TEE-1vasQbBNT-SnWLeZIXxQzgNuYrgLRNH8T-IPBXwl46NGRI3Za2FLETxVctaYp/s1600/l11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihh0KgfRFrm-SOFbJr-5wnpdWBV-HdnfOBgiJ42Ogp7gsNh3jlLPehkPVVp-kYUCviqEZTzBAhnU5TEE-1vasQbBNT-SnWLeZIXxQzgNuYrgLRNH8T-IPBXwl46NGRI3Za2FLETxVctaYp/s400/l11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzBweG7hKQ_qa7eCIvF_d-bCVo-2TxoHFQsKuWMr2_DU9-ZuLOph1fLjCeL6RVqH37oFlRGr6LYKy-uZBnmHDQRG4sfpa8w_xcx7n82hnwt11qUkL0CZd5x9sjDL3NgabcQzlrBopa6SI/s1600/l9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzBweG7hKQ_qa7eCIvF_d-bCVo-2TxoHFQsKuWMr2_DU9-ZuLOph1fLjCeL6RVqH37oFlRGr6LYKy-uZBnmHDQRG4sfpa8w_xcx7n82hnwt11qUkL0CZd5x9sjDL3NgabcQzlrBopa6SI/s400/l9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNLvlal-lL1n-lKfyDzklhW8P-91Da-WaJKXC71QCY8jC9apLoRh52eBp1sDnbxmxC7u2Uuamc1C9gCRaPrmPa2dvtzEQro6UdJibv9H6Wa8cff0NxUnbtBI2xDa8gjH25PkR7N0bbDsc/s1600/l8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNLvlal-lL1n-lKfyDzklhW8P-91Da-WaJKXC71QCY8jC9apLoRh52eBp1sDnbxmxC7u2Uuamc1C9gCRaPrmPa2dvtzEQro6UdJibv9H6Wa8cff0NxUnbtBI2xDa8gjH25PkR7N0bbDsc/s400/l8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviNg0Z-DJClLhpWKFDP3X8gi5RASlSyB6LNmavplYKUMnubuU7k7-yLQ3Rr4SpEUF8KBB5lED4OGyFpBok3fcN0Hhae5U5n-RiV4G3lSi-2vz_kRxw2M0qhjKRz-ay7zBxGbQ57JSplx5/s1600/l12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviNg0Z-DJClLhpWKFDP3X8gi5RASlSyB6LNmavplYKUMnubuU7k7-yLQ3Rr4SpEUF8KBB5lED4OGyFpBok3fcN0Hhae5U5n-RiV4G3lSi-2vz_kRxw2M0qhjKRz-ay7zBxGbQ57JSplx5/s400/l12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marsh Marigold</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBN-a6ZL2oYFYYFZMNcPIoQVusOiGAK8HnbuklVC0yFJuA9-FsQAZXIQr-SQjW-p52TBuJqnt9jDd7teUCiOc4W5EMZY_YGNlWdPPSCO7b-zCAM6-EboiQHwabNdBPvHv740H7y43ypkY/s1600/l13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBN-a6ZL2oYFYYFZMNcPIoQVusOiGAK8HnbuklVC0yFJuA9-FsQAZXIQr-SQjW-p52TBuJqnt9jDd7teUCiOc4W5EMZY_YGNlWdPPSCO7b-zCAM6-EboiQHwabNdBPvHv740H7y43ypkY/s400/l13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVncPjOSttzsqlq5ZeHATqzGg3vGWfq_DhBm0L8eJwohe64xi7PTBL724w9iwFH8_Gi9jxAkadN0QZsZTP6x50adCAOjUttEIXC4tsTP0D96226yDIi7HrrMwrJS5KOBnQTLsQnf-GSKbQ/s1600/l2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVncPjOSttzsqlq5ZeHATqzGg3vGWfq_DhBm0L8eJwohe64xi7PTBL724w9iwFH8_Gi9jxAkadN0QZsZTP6x50adCAOjUttEIXC4tsTP0D96226yDIi7HrrMwrJS5KOBnQTLsQnf-GSKbQ/s400/l2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Harry, Paula and me (in blue!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
N.B. all photos either Lumix compact or iPhone.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-77935700224799101822015-05-12T22:35:00.000+01:002015-05-12T22:35:19.777+01:00Local Migrants<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had a spare couple of hours last Saturday so I decided to explore a few local sites for Spring migrants. <br />
First stop was the Lighthouse at Leasowe where an obliging Wheatear posed for a few photos before being scared off by a dog-walker. In fact there were a lot of people out and about in the warm afternoon sunshine; it had been a cold and cloudy morning so it was unsurprising that people were making the most of a change in the weather. Crowds of people are not conducive to successful wildlife photography so I headed to Shotwick Lake in search Yellow Wagtails. I have had some success photographing this beautiful migrant at this site in previous years but there were none to be seen last weekend, but a male Swallow perched briefly on the fence of the boating lake allowing me to take a quick snap.<br />
I didn't want to head home early on a sunny May evening so I went to the nearby RSPB reserve at Burton where there were plenty of exciting migrant to be seen. The approach road to this gem of a reserve snakes its way through a small woodland where singing Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps serenaded visitors from the treetops above a sea of bluebells; I wish I had brought a smaller lens with me to capture this magical blue carpet.<br />
A male Garganey showed well but distantly from the visitor centre on my arrival. I walked the short distance to the Marsh Covert Hide were I spent the rest of the evening trying to get a clear shot of Reed and Sedge Warblers that were singing, feeding and flitting about amongst the stands of phragmites. The Reed Warbler's smooth incantations are a symphony in comparison to the jazz of the Sedge Warbler's breathless song; and both songsters are the proverbial music to my ears in Spring. Which is more than can be said for the guttural grunts emanating from the Little Egrets breeding in the nearby trees; they have to be heard to be believed, they sound as though they are thoroughly intoxicated to the point of bringing up their last meal!<br />
I finally dragged myself away from my beloved warblers and was enchanted by a family of Canada Geese; not many people's favourite bird but the goslings were adorable. And just to round off the day a family of Treecreepers were feeding in the carpark. I have never seen more than two together before so to see what must have been more than six at once was a real joy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0d0mFsGQu4iQEWvqTuokNCogOK-4dBcXrZLcHtFa_fHYtt-TEChftVL6-Ld8zXiHAJQ3WVJmD-xLtoZRurjx6QQyUeBXl0tDPjbE8ysi3gPwhm6ZBv5xU9edsFeaJ8Qty-TKqJIWXmiz/s1600/b2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0d0mFsGQu4iQEWvqTuokNCogOK-4dBcXrZLcHtFa_fHYtt-TEChftVL6-Ld8zXiHAJQ3WVJmD-xLtoZRurjx6QQyUeBXl0tDPjbE8ysi3gPwhm6ZBv5xU9edsFeaJ8Qty-TKqJIWXmiz/s640/b2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbzyDgWzoHdgywg3Rv3ZmKMtCparii_WRoPdnRZIiSK42vFmY4xKzb3pE1Sh-pjr_wmjsF3mxBNnOBmOsdL2n3GpNy2hzA_XwLrkWpVzNBiD35A7zL6Rxe5gpe2mNd0cdX-bZe7-u-G-r/s1600/b3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbzyDgWzoHdgywg3Rv3ZmKMtCparii_WRoPdnRZIiSK42vFmY4xKzb3pE1Sh-pjr_wmjsF3mxBNnOBmOsdL2n3GpNy2hzA_XwLrkWpVzNBiD35A7zL6Rxe5gpe2mNd0cdX-bZe7-u-G-r/s640/b3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Male Wheatear</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJAArE83Ikz4p56VLuQDOgXaKxfM5uFaJGT7ULgJMudIXztbBeJDsyoCLop6azkCIcHqVCwEC4ZbQYFu1_pcIdDPX7ID35k7q8XxCzackAFdae0S7AScWuH5_ge7Kawdwuz3lSNUXQ-cg/s1600/b4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJAArE83Ikz4p56VLuQDOgXaKxfM5uFaJGT7ULgJMudIXztbBeJDsyoCLop6azkCIcHqVCwEC4ZbQYFu1_pcIdDPX7ID35k7q8XxCzackAFdae0S7AScWuH5_ge7Kawdwuz3lSNUXQ-cg/s640/b4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybAxBSqf1tBQKKCIfTkqgMuAE-WVz6iNx_NdlBzjIUoXzOSSWL-4SuIfB4Jv8z8FynAvpj1HNwhFIky-LyC69UrJXU68eopcr5NbYVjl8ybaVoclB4uPRLFmOdIyJ_5VuoiuBMYLVb1lL/s1600/b5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybAxBSqf1tBQKKCIfTkqgMuAE-WVz6iNx_NdlBzjIUoXzOSSWL-4SuIfB4Jv8z8FynAvpj1HNwhFIky-LyC69UrJXU68eopcr5NbYVjl8ybaVoclB4uPRLFmOdIyJ_5VuoiuBMYLVb1lL/s640/b5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq8A0EOgpk4cIhgqHyjSKHYea2oBsmX4TF8HlvPcA5e8cK7FxmuW8JT_QwwBL7MQnyappUlINZjb97qXn61gchiC2B4FouyLy8z93zJR7g8NU4NP2xh8Qa8vM8exkCCT09NEjCv1wLCno/s1600/b6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq8A0EOgpk4cIhgqHyjSKHYea2oBsmX4TF8HlvPcA5e8cK7FxmuW8JT_QwwBL7MQnyappUlINZjb97qXn61gchiC2B4FouyLy8z93zJR7g8NU4NP2xh8Qa8vM8exkCCT09NEjCv1wLCno/s640/b6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sedge Warbler (shame about the reed!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpPSN8L7xigeVPFgXWybw_3FiSl-kdBHxzORvlVLkkQQfmjOTcdWVj3mREnxCzGufc9J7gxEQeOGXJXHLwkopMzhdx-mSIN5t1S6lPjttB-3lfTeM-jmLBLFCor4cqou5O1tCBA3btnQF/s1600/b7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpPSN8L7xigeVPFgXWybw_3FiSl-kdBHxzORvlVLkkQQfmjOTcdWVj3mREnxCzGufc9J7gxEQeOGXJXHLwkopMzhdx-mSIN5t1S6lPjttB-3lfTeM-jmLBLFCor4cqou5O1tCBA3btnQF/s640/b7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reed Warbler</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92YMtdO8yN0GRf18WymglQN_agcefQC-qKgGl0UNAW_RZRXlGbHrQwbPupKEeJ9p0x_LZh_tcTR7Q7wo25vhf3pLa_tnCVHDUSKFBF37IIAgTpJAipvtoIPBBUXsKjEpvj4WVQNBW8JPP/s1600/b8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92YMtdO8yN0GRf18WymglQN_agcefQC-qKgGl0UNAW_RZRXlGbHrQwbPupKEeJ9p0x_LZh_tcTR7Q7wo25vhf3pLa_tnCVHDUSKFBF37IIAgTpJAipvtoIPBBUXsKjEpvj4WVQNBW8JPP/s640/b8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXTagY00GzijmFJNNm6KweELCpZOvtUY9EwO-yIhOb2g9ueM4dtP7I2M2OClhm2Irz-N2KV59APQ8cYIO0gvrdobo30Ka1P137G_rjxrwjU2a5_IUneqDQwBXV_nk9YYmEOlMeTU6iijZ/s1600/b9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXTagY00GzijmFJNNm6KweELCpZOvtUY9EwO-yIhOb2g9ueM4dtP7I2M2OClhm2Irz-N2KV59APQ8cYIO0gvrdobo30Ka1P137G_rjxrwjU2a5_IUneqDQwBXV_nk9YYmEOlMeTU6iijZ/s640/b9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Canada Goose gosling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-3271584030841354562015-05-07T21:57:00.000+01:002015-05-07T21:57:02.180+01:00Not Strictly for the Birds<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span lang="">One bright May morning in the early 1990’s I found myself in a very crowded hide at the RSPB’s Leighton Moss reserve in Lancashire. As it was barely 6 o’clock there must have been a good reason for the crush in the, then recently constructed, Lilian’s Hide. After a seemingly long wait that reason revealed itself when a stunning male Little Bittern stepped out from the reeds into the bright morning sunshine. Unlike the Eurasian Bittern which breeds on the reserve this male was not endowed with the camouflaging <i>phragmites</i>-coloured plumage that makes its larger cousin so difficult to see; it had a black crown, upperparts and flight feathers that contrasted markedly with its beautiful rich buff underparts and buff white wing patches. And as for little; it was barely the size of a nearby Coot! <br />
<br />
The throng of birdwatchers admired this beauty for at least five minutes until it retreated once more into the reedbed. As the crowd drifted off my attention was again drawn to another animal that had kept me fascinated during my wait for the rarity; but it wasn’t a bird. Across the mere splashes and ripples and briefly-glimpsed snake-like curves of a largish mammal occasionally broke the surface. But this was no Loch Ness monster but a near-mythical creature equal rarity at the time; an Otter!<br />
<br />
In the two decades before the 1970’s Otter numbers in Britain had declined dramatically, but increased protection and improvements in water quality have led to a dramatic increase in this beautiful mammal in the past few years. During the 1990’s they were still a rare sight in England but now they have returned to every county, and RSPB reserves are among the best places to see them. In fact the Leighton Moss Otters are now so obliging that they were heavily featured in the BBC’s Autumnwatch programme last year. If you spend some time at Leighton Moss’s Lower and Public Hides you would be very unlikely not to see them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8ED9BiXlYEcZsRgsp2yeWA6ssqvJqEdeq59l2gT1ove2mTD7lIBr5F_oVBS-UDQ_hHBJLL2yi14VR4GVfAq9g5Fh1U4LBlhlGiul9d0lyYLcyY3kK26fYnG3hVwdh-mgKXqqaLGP2T_3/s1600/18-otter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8ED9BiXlYEcZsRgsp2yeWA6ssqvJqEdeq59l2gT1ove2mTD7lIBr5F_oVBS-UDQ_hHBJLL2yi14VR4GVfAq9g5Fh1U4LBlhlGiul9d0lyYLcyY3kK26fYnG3hVwdh-mgKXqqaLGP2T_3/s640/18-otter.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Otter at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Although inland Otters used to be mostly crepuscular with a lot of sightings around dusk and dawn, at protected sites they can be active throughout the day. I have even managed to photograph them on a sunny afternoon at Strumpshaw Fen in Norfolk. This reserve hosts many sought-after fenland birds such as Bittern and Marsh Harrier, but it has also become synonymous with very rare insects such as the beautiful Swallowtail butterfly, and the impressive Norfolk Hawker. The abundance of dragonflies at reserves such as this provide a welcome food source for breeding Hobbies. Sad though it is to think of these jewel-like insects being prey to this dashing falcon, it is all part of the natural cycle. Managing reserves provides suitable habitat for a myriad of invertebrates that form part of a chain that sustains apex predators such as raptors. And we can enjoy not only the insects and the birds but the scenic habitat as well! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliVQagOrYgeMCjBQik-Azh0ruayvM8V1Jm7PaRu0rurwJyPhiK9HUuC8p8H-tdfnVndBawC4CE9avOJFF_diJxXQNAhES2jytJZBTpIWvaQWVRq4HnprWxpbiyRKOkET_jkdBOhOJoMUm/s1600/15-wasp-beetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliVQagOrYgeMCjBQik-Azh0ruayvM8V1Jm7PaRu0rurwJyPhiK9HUuC8p8H-tdfnVndBawC4CE9avOJFF_diJxXQNAhES2jytJZBTpIWvaQWVRq4HnprWxpbiyRKOkET_jkdBOhOJoMUm/s640/15-wasp-beetle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wasp Beetle at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvcr35RKWvbQjd7dkmjSAKgw7D9aP4j-7cDvM0v_Ys1A1-IujtWKd7XBNq6-KebXe6HgK_AdQg8t3YqzaY7V2Ob6iXkDRnr1E0zBv0QQujVff7InAm7zLuPAgfcRnl-Qx-qnse-nJYDPo/s1600/8-broad-bodied-chaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvcr35RKWvbQjd7dkmjSAKgw7D9aP4j-7cDvM0v_Ys1A1-IujtWKd7XBNq6-KebXe6HgK_AdQg8t3YqzaY7V2Ob6iXkDRnr1E0zBv0QQujVff7InAm7zLuPAgfcRnl-Qx-qnse-nJYDPo/s640/8-broad-bodied-chaser.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Broad-bodied Chaser at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Not only does the RSPB manage its own reserves for the benefit of a wealth of wildlife, but it lobbies Parliament to try and improve the wider countryside, by for example promoting environmentally friendly farming practices to encourage more diversity and halt the decline in farmland birds. And of course healthier farmland bird populations rely on a diversity of wildflowers, insects and wetland areas.<br />
<br />
Many RSPB reserves have stunning displays of wild flowers during the Spring and Summer, so after you have enjoyed an early morning dawn chorus from the birds it is well worth taking a closer look at the colourful flora that is more than just a backdrop to the birdlife; it is an integral part of the environment that helps sustain the birdlife, and it is beautiful to boot! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2Vd-moTNDH_ELdffTK9aiT_tTe7_R26owg6Irrwlqes0aX6YwKvORBU-IUvlKw299sOFyHLWDEiGoAanAeny21U4bQ1UwT43PxZQ7VSwinV3vciNTpctGyBZ1_-nlOxIp46eeXzKG9_a/s1600/19-flag-iris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2Vd-moTNDH_ELdffTK9aiT_tTe7_R26owg6Irrwlqes0aX6YwKvORBU-IUvlKw299sOFyHLWDEiGoAanAeny21U4bQ1UwT43PxZQ7VSwinV3vciNTpctGyBZ1_-nlOxIp46eeXzKG9_a/s640/19-flag-iris.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Flag Iris at Valley Lakes RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KjbQNWD_44dHj9bS0PA2vJ9LpyN5Rx-LqMIbeo3dmmDFBm6cE9O9uONEVrC8Y4m0mFbyBFhYkRL8A4VATuoLavY0qX8KVEsyGb2odcK9UtrCqu_TjPzNgJQVuDuCuBgB5k4qRctYuMZv/s1600/17-southern-marsh-orchid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KjbQNWD_44dHj9bS0PA2vJ9LpyN5Rx-LqMIbeo3dmmDFBm6cE9O9uONEVrC8Y4m0mFbyBFhYkRL8A4VATuoLavY0qX8KVEsyGb2odcK9UtrCqu_TjPzNgJQVuDuCuBgB5k4qRctYuMZv/s640/17-southern-marsh-orchid.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Southern Marsh Orchid at Titchwell RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
South Stack cliffs in Wales are duly famous for their breeding seabirds and are also one of the best places in the country to see that tumbling coastal crow with its blood-red feet and curved bill, the Chough. This bird relies on the abundant insects that are to be found in pasture that has been carefully managed. The maritime heathland at the top of the cliffs is also a rich source of invertebrates. I can keenly remember a sunny May day when the heath was buzzing with Cockchafers; these large bumbling beetles were flying around in large numbers and occasionally tumbling around in the heather. Careful scrutiny, also revealed a few metallic Rosechafers for all the world looking like gaudy flying emeralds. The heath is also home to Tiger Beetles and later in the year delicate Silver-Studded Blue butterflies. <br />
<br />
There is a good reason for the abundant insect life and that is the profusion of Spring flowers; the heath is an Impressionist’s floral pallet. White Sea Campion flower heads bob in the breeze alongside delicate pink Sea Thrift and tall stems of purple Sheep’s Bit Scabious contrast with the gaudy yellow heads of Kidney Vetch. Naturally the flowers attract insects and in some years migrant Painted Lady butterflies from the continent appear in huge numbers and clothe the flowers with their orange and black wings while refuelling on nectar. The heather also provides cover for our only venomous snake the Adder. A few Summer’s ago I can clearly remember one slithering along the path near Ellin’s Tower, but it dived for cover in the heather before I managed to focus my camera.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JefII9K7eSkgmkeyTYMm1BT3p46AN5AUcxtqr907605hq80wlhz-YhDSZkpeOutde7sPTR18h5_TOUDWcQIoVaV5lP-xzkASsKXW9_mlhyphenhyphenkp2RmGBibS0Qx1t1qiDfqlWw9bQgzhHyc7/s1600/4-sheep's-bit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JefII9K7eSkgmkeyTYMm1BT3p46AN5AUcxtqr907605hq80wlhz-YhDSZkpeOutde7sPTR18h5_TOUDWcQIoVaV5lP-xzkASsKXW9_mlhyphenhyphenkp2RmGBibS0Qx1t1qiDfqlWw9bQgzhHyc7/s640/4-sheep's-bit.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sheep's Bit Scabious at South Stack RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJXYaCsDcZYLQsHL_EZ7DNu7pl0Rf0hVtO63YY5ZbamqgvDb9W6K2OFxGluNqGkgPt0R13z8Sk8fGjtX141OStrpLvlpJyjTbPGY2-Apqp1-k82pMJSZgJDo42dM9pI96cimKDUW32s9x/s1600/22-thrift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJXYaCsDcZYLQsHL_EZ7DNu7pl0Rf0hVtO63YY5ZbamqgvDb9W6K2OFxGluNqGkgPt0R13z8Sk8fGjtX141OStrpLvlpJyjTbPGY2-Apqp1-k82pMJSZgJDo42dM9pI96cimKDUW32s9x/s640/22-thrift.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thrift at South Stack RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3fU0Ya7gHoryykE7x2efPZTH2R1hb212llSdwVxZym7cgZdYiFJ0G2f0iN-72u2Zv64JErdVMleOlbIA6BUIsJ3JH_EcXU9tLhIf63aSp88yOoAPjhva3jKWdTbA1LwNRz_5L6CqBJyI/s1600/21-painted-lady-on-thrift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3fU0Ya7gHoryykE7x2efPZTH2R1hb212llSdwVxZym7cgZdYiFJ0G2f0iN-72u2Zv64JErdVMleOlbIA6BUIsJ3JH_EcXU9tLhIf63aSp88yOoAPjhva3jKWdTbA1LwNRz_5L6CqBJyI/s640/21-painted-lady-on-thrift.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Painted Lady on thrift at South Stack RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Butterflies are a firm favourite amongst birdwatchers as they are colourful and easy to observe. Last year’s heatwave was a boon for these insects after previous wet and cool summers. Near Llandegla in North Wales the RSPB manages heathland for the benefit of Black Grouse and the nearby forest is a superb place from which to view the Spring lek on an RSPB-led walk. In the summer the felled areas of forest also echo with the sound of churring Nightjars. The forest edge was full was teeming with common butterflies last year such as Peacocks and Red Admirals and it was lovely to see good numbers of Small Tortoiseshells which have suffered a decline in recent years. Later in the Summer the area is also home to Black Darter dragonflies and a careful wait on a sunny day might be rewarded with the sighting of a Common Lizard. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQHr2ibcr4tj-ewTnFd8qw1VUDjx7ev5HAYVHgB8J9390indHcSprwmd28pfrId9iz9WxGNV8eT9JsEmvem87Z8iLilqPHB_du-dkFHGxREkD2rxXdbhbn9F3ulD_D6CiazE-DUwkPRkm/s1600/2-peacock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQHr2ibcr4tj-ewTnFd8qw1VUDjx7ev5HAYVHgB8J9390indHcSprwmd28pfrId9iz9WxGNV8eT9JsEmvem87Z8iLilqPHB_du-dkFHGxREkD2rxXdbhbn9F3ulD_D6CiazE-DUwkPRkm/s640/2-peacock.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Peacock at Coed Llandegla</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqc0UMCtYNQWTmkO3rCiU2sG_5ys2sPoNpwp751s_ocafalaBcKghEiKQcHCBzgSytUBy2NWqJxD47_PkoB94muV1ZPC409jk8KtYaPGiWz1r_ATh2JeAEaUF-T37UvAVDhMRcHHBDO4A/s1600/3-red-admiral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqc0UMCtYNQWTmkO3rCiU2sG_5ys2sPoNpwp751s_ocafalaBcKghEiKQcHCBzgSytUBy2NWqJxD47_PkoB94muV1ZPC409jk8KtYaPGiWz1r_ATh2JeAEaUF-T37UvAVDhMRcHHBDO4A/s640/3-red-admiral.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red Admiral at Coed Llandegla</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i9_qaYdZggHW5i1rk9EJmERqDicB-PqGUp5TnKUoECquCs0smaoY5r0DUlrgxsYbd9w7cuCA7s7tEyhaNDpeyk8iTt2Li6mHxhnOi11LGAS-Xh4uSyAbLtYlnf5VeB1cU_XDFeptFN-o/s1600/6-blackdarter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i9_qaYdZggHW5i1rk9EJmERqDicB-PqGUp5TnKUoECquCs0smaoY5r0DUlrgxsYbd9w7cuCA7s7tEyhaNDpeyk8iTt2Li6mHxhnOi11LGAS-Xh4uSyAbLtYlnf5VeB1cU_XDFeptFN-o/s640/6-blackdarter.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black Darter at Coed Llandegla</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6bt8XvjICR6Oty234IsAoV9txj00SGZWYmTfrkzTqb1c7OBWK3jXiys8WYqanZ_gZ-7nBI8aY7l1eH4dYlzzVhPjzh5aeJPREs6sw54Mn64hT1V_qk9gTgvP6yf56B4aATSaOuBnqY8Q/s1600/14-common-lizard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6bt8XvjICR6Oty234IsAoV9txj00SGZWYmTfrkzTqb1c7OBWK3jXiys8WYqanZ_gZ-7nBI8aY7l1eH4dYlzzVhPjzh5aeJPREs6sw54Mn64hT1V_qk9gTgvP6yf56B4aATSaOuBnqY8Q/s640/14-common-lizard.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Common Lizard at Coed Llandegla</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Much further North, many birdwatchers visit Loch Ruthven in Scotland to see the rare breeding Slavonian Grebes in its red, black and gold finery. The tranquil birch fringed loch is also home to a population of Common Toads and Spring is the best time to see them as they return to the loch to breed and lay their toadspawn. Frogs, toads and other amphibians are abundant on many reserves but one RSPB reserve is home to all six species of our native reptiles; Arne in Dorset. Reptile rambles are held in the late Spring to search for these often elusive animals. It is one of only a few sites in the country where all six British species can be seen. Arne is also home to 22 species of dragonfly and was the first place that I ever saw the Small Red Damselfy. This species has a more restricted range in Britain than its larger relative the Large Red Damselfly which is found throughout the UK and at many RSPB reserves.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU692K6xAgtU7o1WC4qNlS4cxk4JvmY78bkhMpXWh7bvffgwKyLEhSEx4yBuuaXNlZqtpXc4dfhel3pMxEt64f94jj0Dn-4iZ9rWD8erIkod_7Ga5oKe9awJ4iUzIy0DR6w46aMcR8k1gv/s1600/26-toad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU692K6xAgtU7o1WC4qNlS4cxk4JvmY78bkhMpXWh7bvffgwKyLEhSEx4yBuuaXNlZqtpXc4dfhel3pMxEt64f94jj0Dn-4iZ9rWD8erIkod_7Ga5oKe9awJ4iUzIy0DR6w46aMcR8k1gv/s640/26-toad.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Common Toads at Loch Ruthven RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One species of invertebrate that I did see at Arne on a recent visit was the Raft Spider. A number of these large arachnids were found secreted around a small pond and I even photographed one feeding on a hapless damselfly. Amazingly, sitting at the centre of its web adjacent to the pond was a beautiful Wasp Spider, which as its name suggests, has striking yellow and black stripes on its abdomen. This is another large species and is thought to have only colonised the south of Britain in recent years, but it is a marvellous addition to our fauna.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJd3nUDr54xNDmHuAtyQeBD5v22949a6K5ezBcMFIZ6lp25b9SJC9-nCL_BY6P1duW50i4Lu01Zmp_gtuRbHQ0oyP8842Ao3cexHuVQMseVIaJXh7MzJWLb0IiZBCuE1rEHU1yDdt5mHu4/s1600/23-raft-spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJd3nUDr54xNDmHuAtyQeBD5v22949a6K5ezBcMFIZ6lp25b9SJC9-nCL_BY6P1duW50i4Lu01Zmp_gtuRbHQ0oyP8842Ao3cexHuVQMseVIaJXh7MzJWLb0IiZBCuE1rEHU1yDdt5mHu4/s640/23-raft-spider.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raft Spider with Common Blue Damselfly at Arne RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizq3mdGIbDMgK1ap0gvZXAvMSfRCAmocmxCYga7p3qTPloQ1KjHz1ra7bfUhGXwm33fy_eegsIdEW2ZhhDrhVrvZ8SJB9KXqaqtcQ-r9169OBAUcSfS0MvokUVVK2FnNa3NigGSRvm2Sb_/s1600/wasp-spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizq3mdGIbDMgK1ap0gvZXAvMSfRCAmocmxCYga7p3qTPloQ1KjHz1ra7bfUhGXwm33fy_eegsIdEW2ZhhDrhVrvZ8SJB9KXqaqtcQ-r9169OBAUcSfS0MvokUVVK2FnNa3NigGSRvm2Sb_/s640/wasp-spider.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wasp Spider at Arne RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Mammals on the whole are relatively difficult to observe, especially when compared with the ease with which we watch birds. But one RSPB reserve has become a magnet for those wishing to see the beautiful Stoat. The river estuary at Conway RSPB has been home to this voracious predator for some time, and a visit at the right time of year can produce breathtaking views of this elusive mammal. The mother Stoat secretes her numerous offspring along the rocky shoreline of the Conway River while she works tirelessly to satisfy her hungry brood. But like all infants, the boisterous young Stoats get up to all kinds of mischief while their mother is away; scrambling under, over and around the rocks, splashing through the mud and fighting and hiding amongst the Samphire. Last year as I stood on the footpath an adult Stoat even ran through the legs of my tripod! This was a great wildlife spectacle to rival anything in the country. And not to be missed at Conway at the same time are the gorgeous flowers of Bee Orchids that decorate the footpath margins.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikckoVWLRDA34EJh-GKfymO5waRLYIafIOi___h-dajWsjqXz7rYKyth4JATuonC-BINi4dmMQeklHziXCu-Hxwhf8QTNMDX-UQu0Vi-JtNix-7AqVq_C6n_RP35pkE7VvalWx4kTTWQKK/s1600/24-stoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikckoVWLRDA34EJh-GKfymO5waRLYIafIOi___h-dajWsjqXz7rYKyth4JATuonC-BINi4dmMQeklHziXCu-Hxwhf8QTNMDX-UQu0Vi-JtNix-7AqVq_C6n_RP35pkE7VvalWx4kTTWQKK/s640/24-stoat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stoat at Conway RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiy42iiFahgVzixWeqIfPMwrUwHAWVPV2XaHi_-nMC1RaEMyj3zdj6Dy1A9W777-Bce6abJjuPtLm4S2sX4igrivrkQw5fj5fppgWEkp4mawyjcR6RXIE2Nvsat2EX1CAD4V_I53X3jjS/s1600/16-bee-orchid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiy42iiFahgVzixWeqIfPMwrUwHAWVPV2XaHi_-nMC1RaEMyj3zdj6Dy1A9W777-Bce6abJjuPtLm4S2sX4igrivrkQw5fj5fppgWEkp4mawyjcR6RXIE2Nvsat2EX1CAD4V_I53X3jjS/s640/16-bee-orchid.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bee Orchid at Conway RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXyLZhopn2vdZrlYPKTabl6MGqWljlpqfs4V5YvTKDypvimnpYkZcYHKibneOJwrhZ1R3UIcpV33hVmf6r06iih5N7YdLRhdBm4VJn-lqwn9HHL8TlnJU3lkThR1VW2LQVswNLwaD9VFs/s1600/29-stoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXyLZhopn2vdZrlYPKTabl6MGqWljlpqfs4V5YvTKDypvimnpYkZcYHKibneOJwrhZ1R3UIcpV33hVmf6r06iih5N7YdLRhdBm4VJn-lqwn9HHL8TlnJU3lkThR1VW2LQVswNLwaD9VFs/s640/29-stoat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stoat at Conway RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
RSPB reserves are some of the best places in the country to see mammals, indeed, my first ever visit to the flagship reserve at Minsmere resulted in the amazing view of a Stoat climbing headfirst down a tall tree with a bat in its jaws! And a trip to the beautiful Caledonian forest at Loch Garten is not complete without seeing the Red Squirrels visiting the nut feeders.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUHT_71miu8uef6HNJ2bP8hKAdoFQ7nPHKeOflUwCMKesCfDMD6nkK94-2q-aZowjdWLtwEDgF_P2ssWpvUVvRfpSaPBXqRJys5Dtg4dw8wCCKRWn6kQkkow-X_Tu3In5s8GYUy3P-niL/s1600/27-red-squirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUHT_71miu8uef6HNJ2bP8hKAdoFQ7nPHKeOflUwCMKesCfDMD6nkK94-2q-aZowjdWLtwEDgF_P2ssWpvUVvRfpSaPBXqRJys5Dtg4dw8wCCKRWn6kQkkow-X_Tu3In5s8GYUy3P-niL/s640/27-red-squirrel.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red Squirrel at Loch Garten RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Larger mammals can still prove difficult to see, but Leighton Moss in Lancashire is a great place to see Red Deer. Although a lot of the rutting action takes place out of sight in the extensive reedbed, the roaring of the stags send shivers down your spine. But sometimes the males will break cover and charge after each other through the shallow pools. The reserve is also home to Roe Deer, and evidence of their presence in the form of tracks in the mud can provide a fresh identification challenge. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_dCh6bMAAUgJ0FKSZreNw5OnvMhXCabYxpzEIwFu5_ZG3V2kKbDBQs0-pGi_EtC1vusPfRvDxlNglCPWbW6UqWRXHUeqjH4ygvHww29EQzu_sy9ic3h0CuhBUTkFq47J4ZxitTrmzVJ2/s1600/10-muntjac-deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_dCh6bMAAUgJ0FKSZreNw5OnvMhXCabYxpzEIwFu5_ZG3V2kKbDBQs0-pGi_EtC1vusPfRvDxlNglCPWbW6UqWRXHUeqjH4ygvHww29EQzu_sy9ic3h0CuhBUTkFq47J4ZxitTrmzVJ2/s640/10-muntjac-deer.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Muntjac Deer at Titchwell RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There are even some reserves where, if you are lucky, it is possible to see marine mammals. The area of water just below the lighthouse at South Stack is often a good spot to see our smallest cetacean the Harbour Porpoise. But you have to have sharp eyes because, even though they can grow to about a metre and a half in length, they spend very little time at the surface. A glimpse of a dark dorsal fin rolling through the water is all you will see, and they are impossible to see in rough weather, but just knowing they are there is exciting in itself. And the occasionally the large head of a Grey Seal can be seen bobbing in the water at this site, they are as inquisitive about us as we are about them. I have even been lucky enough to see a Common Seal that had swum up a channel at Titchwell onto the main reserve.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyoVeTDV5C-dSSVEAxv01pF7DEM9AdY2OB2YmASXEhrtIyiS6DxNjS3p_-suIMc1zoMQQwWWmFEFpK6_EGvPxfLWxZBOWMa8cbofx5pkWKGWWEyM2MCOJRQ3_Iw3mFc2adr86u7EahEtF/s1600/5-brimstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyoVeTDV5C-dSSVEAxv01pF7DEM9AdY2OB2YmASXEhrtIyiS6DxNjS3p_-suIMc1zoMQQwWWmFEFpK6_EGvPxfLWxZBOWMa8cbofx5pkWKGWWEyM2MCOJRQ3_Iw3mFc2adr86u7EahEtF/s640/5-brimstone.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brimstone at Lakenheath RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtG4-wpzgg00NjQ-Gb_SP9fav7zvAC7LwMGCahNubKnkGZMmdTflAdXZgdT2aEA2XGnRI44NjATSmPVTxrrAfAAi42Cpz4YrWMmTLCi6BLGJE7K8x5GnYSLBmGoXhjH7WiMXcDVc2Piu-L/s1600/11-migrant-hawker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtG4-wpzgg00NjQ-Gb_SP9fav7zvAC7LwMGCahNubKnkGZMmdTflAdXZgdT2aEA2XGnRI44NjATSmPVTxrrAfAAi42Cpz4YrWMmTLCi6BLGJE7K8x5GnYSLBmGoXhjH7WiMXcDVc2Piu-L/s640/11-migrant-hawker.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Migrant Hawker at Titchwell RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8xFkW8BL4o251KOSlKmc3HFTpSKqWIGerqiO8gxbwJ9mrTsstXorLQr5HtWM32EG5Bmc20IIgBgrGPhtna78_XKprzv3BP5lxHGgzmb67OzYS4qIMH4iyhxs1wyfJGInS5I_0LDNwS_l/s1600/12-common-darter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8xFkW8BL4o251KOSlKmc3HFTpSKqWIGerqiO8gxbwJ9mrTsstXorLQr5HtWM32EG5Bmc20IIgBgrGPhtna78_XKprzv3BP5lxHGgzmb67OzYS4qIMH4iyhxs1wyfJGInS5I_0LDNwS_l/s640/12-common-darter.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Common Darter at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4s4O8AGb5i0zaGgPWxPgWsWr6e2J7yRTU_1VpdT8lUQnPUuGcKMX9eaY6WK_Hqxil1HFuXGH31JpqLU258TdhtzDSdVMv9X3OqLX96nVEmzNnSTUac_8wbOgB3MHR4A_VUxYgZvqx7Yg/s1600/y1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4s4O8AGb5i0zaGgPWxPgWsWr6e2J7yRTU_1VpdT8lUQnPUuGcKMX9eaY6WK_Hqxil1HFuXGH31JpqLU258TdhtzDSdVMv9X3OqLX96nVEmzNnSTUac_8wbOgB3MHR4A_VUxYgZvqx7Yg/s640/y1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Large Red Damselfly at Ynys Hir RSPB</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
For over a century the RSPB has been at the forefront of bird protection, guarding our avian heritage by buying reserves and promoting responsible environmental stewardship in the wider countryside. And, not by accident, this enlightened policy has been a real boon for a whole spectrum of other wildlife. This article has barely scratched the surface of our non-avian wildlife, there is so much to see, RSPB reserves are brim full of all kinds of wildlife, so get out there and enjoy it. Oh, and there are some great birds to be seen as well!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf2RjH_bdLhIOX9FP8Q7ZuDkxsNgQI3xVswMjgHmjkVQsiStsZ2CKbwssAWWACA5tp5J8-zj7D-MXP6eq918-oLE2gy987_aVLcl4tYk9Dffj3CGGUyI31B2FqgRQeToToyLvs5D3Luz1/s1600/34-leighton-moss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf2RjH_bdLhIOX9FP8Q7ZuDkxsNgQI3xVswMjgHmjkVQsiStsZ2CKbwssAWWACA5tp5J8-zj7D-MXP6eq918-oLE2gy987_aVLcl4tYk9Dffj3CGGUyI31B2FqgRQeToToyLvs5D3Luz1/s640/34-leighton-moss.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leighton Moss RSPB at dusk</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-75019206772455475022015-05-02T13:33:00.000+01:002015-05-02T13:33:20.225+01:00South Stack and Hoopoe Head<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
An unusual title for a blog post you might say; well South Stack is the well-know and truly amazing RSPB reserve on Holy Island, Anglesey, and a Hoopoe head is exactly that, the amazing head of an exotic rare visitor to our shores, but more of that later.<br />
I had driven to North Wales originally with the intention of visiting the Great Orme in Llandudno to try and see a Ring Ouzel. The males of this close-relative of our Blackbird sport a white collar that contrasts markedly with the rest of their black plumage and these are always a joy to see if you are lucky enough to catch up with one. A few of these migrant thrushes had been frequenting kale fields on the Orme and I was keen to try and photograph one. But as I travelled along the North Wales coast my thoughts turned to seabirds and I decided to visit South Stack RSPB instead; after all on a visit a few years earlier I had found my own Ring Ouzel. <br />
It was a beautiful sunny day so I shouldn't have been surprised by the number of people at South Stack, but the carpark by the café was full and there were a number of coach parties visiting this beautiful area. I decided to walk the less-frequented heath that extends towards North Stack in the hope of finding some Adders. My luck wasn't in, and I had even put a shorter lens on my camera in the hope of photographing our only venomous snake, which was a bit unfortunate when a Stonechat perched close by and a Kestrel flew overhead. But I did see some gorgeous male Wheatears and a few Swallows moving through.<br />
I then walked down the steps towards South Stack lighthouse where I had excellent views of the Guillemots and Razorbills perched precariously on the precipitous cliffs. The geology of the area is fascinating and the auks make the most of the giant folds in the rocks, using the ledges as nest sites.<br />
I also scanned the rafts of auks bobbing on the sea and was pleased to find a number of Puffins, these are quite scarce breeders in this part of Wales. <br />
The heady coconut scent of gorse flowers filled the air as I walked to Ellin's Tower. I once read that the famous Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus visited Britain just to see and appreciate our amazing gorse bushes; they are indeed an underrated plant.<br />
I returned to the café just as ace local birder Ken Croft was writing the word HOOPOE in large letters on the sightings board. A quick chat and I was soon on my way to the Range, an area of maritime heathland that is managed by the RSPB. Ken had only just found this exotic Mediterranean visitor so our chances of finding it again were good. A group of half a dozen birders gathered at the site of Ken's sighting but there was no sign of our target bird. So we split up and set off in different directions along the myriad of footpaths. After about half an hour of fruitless searching we regrouped at the original site just as Ken spotted the bird in the distance. I raised my binoculars and was pleased to see the bird feeding distantly in a depression in the heather. But I could only see its exotically coloured head; its long down-curved bill was the perfect counterbalance for the tightly-packed black-barred crest. It is no wonder that the great naturalist Gerald Durrell named his pet Hoopoe Hiawatha.<br />
But I was unable to study the beautiful plumage of the whole bird as it took off suddenly; I didn't even see it fly, which is a shame as such is its beauty it is sometimes known as the avian equivalent of a butterfly. <br />
Despite extensive searching for most of the afternoon by an increasing number of birdwatchers, the Hoopoe wasn't seen again that day. But I did take the time to pause at the west end of the Range and watch a raft of about two hundred Manx Shearwaters lift off from the surface of the sea and fly effortlessly South.<br />
The Hoopoe was seen again briefly later in the week and I returned to North Wales a few days later and caught up with a male Ring Ouzel on the Great Orme.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxhI9WDI_K8mN9kj_nXxe2y-xcQ5oxkx9cdoLasPQOr1zTQJ0HvCNyINw7-KlGoVhWHpcjMtyhD3HUd7YQXSgQPpEUiJ4CdBhIckD2NUEffPBXWjhfbxR882pTJ-62iXQSjI_yYAKRQXJ/s1600/stack9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxhI9WDI_K8mN9kj_nXxe2y-xcQ5oxkx9cdoLasPQOr1zTQJ0HvCNyINw7-KlGoVhWHpcjMtyhD3HUd7YQXSgQPpEUiJ4CdBhIckD2NUEffPBXWjhfbxR882pTJ-62iXQSjI_yYAKRQXJ/s1600/stack9.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3K4Wb8R1PE3HgySC9ucyugN_i8nWlINyW1rqsrw8cex3kkJUCEKAIKPWiS1uzMBftyjiBGnxMwtmOunD3SHLXFxhs0ZSOXOfaZBIA8AuW2olrXRGHSkljkZe1DFCKOpEwMyMch11YQ92/s1600/stack1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3K4Wb8R1PE3HgySC9ucyugN_i8nWlINyW1rqsrw8cex3kkJUCEKAIKPWiS1uzMBftyjiBGnxMwtmOunD3SHLXFxhs0ZSOXOfaZBIA8AuW2olrXRGHSkljkZe1DFCKOpEwMyMch11YQ92/s1600/stack1.jpg" height="298" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Guillemots on South Stack Cliffs.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jmRBP2EsATxvxfW0jWUCWWqDZeOH4InNwwW-dgE0TrqrPhsXMMwfBuW6GMUc_LiQwj-bEOpADYd8qXfsCEt_ezmKLOBevPmAjOYJaed2cCa_ZVN0mhd2kDt0bqg_IWACGzUMmImJUHOy/s1600/stack2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jmRBP2EsATxvxfW0jWUCWWqDZeOH4InNwwW-dgE0TrqrPhsXMMwfBuW6GMUc_LiQwj-bEOpADYd8qXfsCEt_ezmKLOBevPmAjOYJaed2cCa_ZVN0mhd2kDt0bqg_IWACGzUMmImJUHOy/s1600/stack2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gorse by Ellin's Tower.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWz-ot3rkFnYEyTtua34pf1DoUtgszqfb1qNyXaxL6TEkNDGT6rkqTNfmV1ZV0hvF291j-EJZ5ON8PZXLxs6TaPLAwMGKYi5MNVsJIpZkSbhFNNcZyKLKM41T1TV5tiDNi4WayUO1Nlo1/s1600/stack4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWz-ot3rkFnYEyTtua34pf1DoUtgszqfb1qNyXaxL6TEkNDGT6rkqTNfmV1ZV0hvF291j-EJZ5ON8PZXLxs6TaPLAwMGKYi5MNVsJIpZkSbhFNNcZyKLKM41T1TV5tiDNi4WayUO1Nlo1/s1600/stack4.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Record shot of Puffins on the sea.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuZXm-Szk_He2TzSBY3k7JCY41iZlZ_8nXBLINboOQOA1jpaG9j8gZUSNyDxuSEF45Xo4X61vYNiZx39HjnInAtTtBExqEEVtj70tuAgXGisp6CKreLCTSMAUuDmsy7nMWy2oaEuPWTuI/s1600/stack5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuZXm-Szk_He2TzSBY3k7JCY41iZlZ_8nXBLINboOQOA1jpaG9j8gZUSNyDxuSEF45Xo4X61vYNiZx39HjnInAtTtBExqEEVtj70tuAgXGisp6CKreLCTSMAUuDmsy7nMWy2oaEuPWTuI/s1600/stack5.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raft of Razorbills.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTx8cgY0wEvyyAsoEO9E9d4MvUWi-RakdY36VHjc5cjXoGl1DDFyk8KzI5XcIHfiGHoRmPR6Gr_77QueyX6sPywwsApcY0bXpT5h49xre9meCdjg3VT7EWqbT7ehmp0NF93mGnmuxxtcf/s1600/stack6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTx8cgY0wEvyyAsoEO9E9d4MvUWi-RakdY36VHjc5cjXoGl1DDFyk8KzI5XcIHfiGHoRmPR6Gr_77QueyX6sPywwsApcY0bXpT5h49xre9meCdjg3VT7EWqbT7ehmp0NF93mGnmuxxtcf/s1600/stack6.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Male Stonechat.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRI_cHz1X8RTU9N7zba8aRYtNLzIDifVY9hng89gDCmMmvx2jH_KNQLv6wIE9wxTHRJN-TvN3zAXkhv6ze6l20U9Ilw_CT7KBSh4aEdlKozlDjVHiXHa4EcjRCqT0DqVXGuZ0fmeZ0r7r/s1600/stack7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRI_cHz1X8RTU9N7zba8aRYtNLzIDifVY9hng89gDCmMmvx2jH_KNQLv6wIE9wxTHRJN-TvN3zAXkhv6ze6l20U9Ilw_CT7KBSh4aEdlKozlDjVHiXHa4EcjRCqT0DqVXGuZ0fmeZ0r7r/s1600/stack7.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kestrel</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y4c-y2J99-gRpIL7jQ8kARCJnMyrA9qSbZ1klLNUu5ZBcIP6lxaYYzRSFqvQZENA2AwWhCe8C10Mj5zPz1cRqM4Mo3QtWVjSqvlgpWA5KQuITeuBYwxd4H6mEksKf1XH7u0uM0pF4bbs/s1600/stack8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxkMEFbwuWWMCTjuGkQZZ1uqTJ7Y0z-nkeAtzTpqtQixXH9U-RpBT8P0KHDJdEDM0h6sk5bp6Qbhc7hmuX7cui8oCTgW7y9s5DMN-ycKVJruruYDQaXiu58mimUOVz6ySdMvhNeaUBh0v/s1600/stack13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxkMEFbwuWWMCTjuGkQZZ1uqTJ7Y0z-nkeAtzTpqtQixXH9U-RpBT8P0KHDJdEDM0h6sk5bp6Qbhc7hmuX7cui8oCTgW7y9s5DMN-ycKVJruruYDQaXiu58mimUOVz6ySdMvhNeaUBh0v/s1600/stack13.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meadow Pipit on Gorse, Great Orme.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: small;">The first Hoopoe that I saw in Wales was way back in 1990, and I saw another near Rhyl in October 2013, where I took the following photos:</span></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXgE3tHyrRhSbTSekuWOVJFDwT66APtRLiw32RKJfh1kZod4dBRi_YF0m5rntST9hWPNxPztSWZGw0T0mtnXJSWVE-7G6KOavMC0JkutnB6ijddFb3URqO2R49xyCVw9DxBQJrDTH1px9/s1600/H2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXgE3tHyrRhSbTSekuWOVJFDwT66APtRLiw32RKJfh1kZod4dBRi_YF0m5rntST9hWPNxPztSWZGw0T0mtnXJSWVE-7G6KOavMC0JkutnB6ijddFb3URqO2R49xyCVw9DxBQJrDTH1px9/s640/H2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6lo8kl4rUEcfwOWlISUTkl-_nJ04tXOUUEbB0Oq34MzCqG3cPpxBRjs9_5nse8EC-93UDZiLkGFr9cdnl7pxDJ5NtGDqPbZkHWf0DKnC4WiQJ1uNFYythLklfA7M98UB-zLtRIjXpmdf/s1600/H3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6lo8kl4rUEcfwOWlISUTkl-_nJ04tXOUUEbB0Oq34MzCqG3cPpxBRjs9_5nse8EC-93UDZiLkGFr9cdnl7pxDJ5NtGDqPbZkHWf0DKnC4WiQJ1uNFYythLklfA7M98UB-zLtRIjXpmdf/s640/H3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-24376614404947499192015-04-17T21:26:00.000+01:002015-04-17T21:26:17.096+01:00Chiffchaffs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On a recent lunchtime run I noticed that the Springtime clock had started ticking, "chiff chaff, chiff chaff..." With the arrival of the first migrating warblers the countdown to Summer and warmer days had begun. <br />
But try as I might I could not locate the tiny olivey warbler as I plodded up a hill. The Chiffchaff was singing somewhere in the tops of some trees across a field and birdwatching while running is never an easy prospect. So I contented myself with enjoying the metronomic song of this early migrant confident in the knowledge that I would see one quite soon. But this pattern repeated itself over the next few days as I continued my marathon training. Chiffchaffs were singing from nearly every copse and woodland, but I didn't even get a glimpse; this was getting silly. But last Friday I decided to venture out to my local patch on the Wirral coast, not for Chiffchaffs, but to try and see a Ring Ouzel; up to four had been reported during the day, how could I fail to see one? <br />
But these enigmatic collared thrushes had melted into the fields by the time I arrived and no amount of diligent searching was going to produce a sighting. Naturally, consolation was had by my first actual sighting of a Chiffchaff, although the grey skies were not conducive to brilliant photography. And another bonus was a small party of Wheatears in a horse paddock, these were also a "first" for the year for me, although too distant for even a "record" photo.<br />
Interestingly, the first Chiffchaff I saw last year was in January at Burton Marsh and was deemed to be a Siberian Chiffchaff. There were quite a few Chiffchaffs at that site early last year, some showing the full suite of plumage characteristics to be identified as "Siberian", but also one or two that were definitely Common Chiffchaffs. But the best diagnostic feature is the monosyllabic call. But birders love a good challenge and it is all part of a continuing learning curve for everyone interested in avian taxonomy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrPAr7Hnt2qXT88rwLS0YPRpbvM3ngLlsUPJQeX_iEJg_HgPp8avXP8X5jd83wwb1IE_YvDHWi04x4wgs0rmKkV-JBrk6ZHxloN5dV6KWFIgyOAU_SrIqnE58zdNtsTN5OZgfLekRuVYZ/s1600/c2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrPAr7Hnt2qXT88rwLS0YPRpbvM3ngLlsUPJQeX_iEJg_HgPp8avXP8X5jd83wwb1IE_YvDHWi04x4wgs0rmKkV-JBrk6ZHxloN5dV6KWFIgyOAU_SrIqnE58zdNtsTN5OZgfLekRuVYZ/s1600/c2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCGGRnIQMZSkFwKr0l7oGsnHaOJ70UKlXp_bi1cG624UBnyJXFG93Cx2XDoQgvJtUsyXx9U5xwT2-JJcAUehwdXb51BWO9kioBVe3Ct6LbDYBuAqOjf3485m1dr4jHYktNk-ve7l6Uoic/s1600/c3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCGGRnIQMZSkFwKr0l7oGsnHaOJ70UKlXp_bi1cG624UBnyJXFG93Cx2XDoQgvJtUsyXx9U5xwT2-JJcAUehwdXb51BWO9kioBVe3Ct6LbDYBuAqOjf3485m1dr4jHYktNk-ve7l6Uoic/s1600/c3.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Common Chiffchaff</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2WDSaTsjUvF4S8ws5Kj1fI15AIN77cFrArc_7jP71MJS2PvdtBGGHQnYKO-ex6ITr9Z5UxOmZj87H1Kk2DDObbSRZE3bKOLJdLWFh0DrwuoJCyjFmpO8vNc1rpe2eNtkwak40y_bx7AF/s1600/dchiff1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2WDSaTsjUvF4S8ws5Kj1fI15AIN77cFrArc_7jP71MJS2PvdtBGGHQnYKO-ex6ITr9Z5UxOmZj87H1Kk2DDObbSRZE3bKOLJdLWFh0DrwuoJCyjFmpO8vNc1rpe2eNtkwak40y_bx7AF/s1600/dchiff1.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Siberian Chiffchaff</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ilgcWBMkt1LLl6zwUBCNi9y4AmokhksmgFwLlB44jLwa9dAqgcEY1jyIZDpIDxFL_JxJKdShUG2dva1iyIdZfCpl_uuCepxrW8g3qmq2bizWshRGRxhH-0QbGw46ZcjiTJRq52gluF-H/s1600/dchiff2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ilgcWBMkt1LLl6zwUBCNi9y4AmokhksmgFwLlB44jLwa9dAqgcEY1jyIZDpIDxFL_JxJKdShUG2dva1iyIdZfCpl_uuCepxrW8g3qmq2bizWshRGRxhH-0QbGw46ZcjiTJRq52gluF-H/s1600/dchiff2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-64678184342270567732015-04-11T16:17:00.000+01:002015-04-11T16:17:12.900+01:00Snowdon via Watkin Path<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Over the Easter weekend I really ramped-up the marathon training; I ran 42.5 miles in three days and my "day off" involved a stroll to the top of Snowdon! Naturally time for wildlife watching was limited which is always a shame at this time of year as things begin to hot up; metaphorically and literally.<br />
But a walk in Snowdonia is not just about the breath-taking views, there is always wildlife to be enjoyed as well. It was always going to be busy on a sunny Easter Sunday, so Jane and I chose what is probably our favourite route to the summit, namely the Watkin Path. This is one of the least popular of Snowdon's many paths, probably because it starts at sea-level, but it is also one of the most picturesque. It starts in a beautiful oakwood with little wooden bridges that cross tumbling streams, before emerging into a craggy valley where waterfalls and plunge-pools distract walkers from their main purpose of reaching the top.<br />
The woodland held Blue Tits engaging in their Spring parachute displays, with a background chorus made up of Great Tits, Robins and a trilling Nuthatch. I was hoping to see an early migrant on the slopes of the mountain, maybe a Wheatear's white arse disappearing over a craggy outcrop or the distinctive whistle of a Ring Ouzel from a scree slope but it was not to be. But there were Meadow Pipits everywhere, sip sipping from every boulder and the males enchanted us with their graceful display flights and twittering song; they are clearly better parachutists than the Blue Tits. <br />
But there is one distinctive bird call that Jane and I always compete to be the first to hear, that of the Raven. And we were just passing Gladstone Rock (named after the Prime Minister William Gladstone who gave a speech their in 1892) when Jane heard the distinctive cruk cruk call of a Raven. It glided past us on its massive wings and we could easily make out its dagger-like bill and diamond shaped tail; a very charismatic bird and one that is truly at home among the crags. This was one of about half a dozen that we saw during the day and they never failed to delight us with their mastery of the mountain air.<br />
About two thirds of the way up Jane realised that the sole of her left boot was beginning to come away, so we assessed the situation and decided that it would be best if she didn't attempt to scramble up the scree slope that forms part of the path just below the summit. She was happy for me to walk to the top while she relaxed and enjoyed the views over to Crib Goch.<br />
The summit itself was like Piccadilly Circus, I had never seen so many people there, especially as the mountain railway was not yet taking tourists to the top. I took a few photos and quickly scrambled back down to where I had left Jane. We descended a little further then had a lovely picnic while being serenaded by the ever present Meadow Pipits. The other bird that is quite common at the summit is the Herring Gull, no doubt attracted by handouts from walkers' picnics. But lower down the slopes we were not attracting any avian attention.<br />
Although Jane had become a bit cold while waiting for me, the weather on Easter Sunday was excellent for walking. It had started off very foggy, but as that had cleared it warmed up enough for me to observe a Common Lizard tunnelling into a grassy tussock near the ruined miner's cottages. Unfortunately it didn't want to pose for a picture so we left it in peace.<br />
Further down the valley I removed by socks and boots and dunked my feet in a plunge pool. This was immensely refreshing but after a while I couldn't feel my ankles because of the cold! This was the very same pool that during the hot July of 2013, after a day in the mountains, I had stripped off and completely immersed myself in. On that day the water actually felt warm. Although I have swum in Llyn Lydaw in the adjacent valley in July and the water there was so cold that you would've thought that the ice age that formed these valleys was still in progress!<br />
My feet soon dried, and we enjoyed the gentle walk down the rest of the valley, stopping only to pose for photographs on a remarkable stone bridge over the stream. Not just a wildlife day, but a day of geology, history, and some of the best views anywhere in the world.<br />
(photos from compact camera and iPhone)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85Tx3-eEz83DaVXVLUfsL6vEr1sjQFRAf9h-Nmb0PNEEnGcxA-KHcrpd_VJ_eLo3h0VkqzS8rxDBDbBG4kC_HXXDQvuqVU6pqgGT3ReXLT18YH3sQilpY3euDY4kLGF5uPxbD3xJG_zAg/s1600/s1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85Tx3-eEz83DaVXVLUfsL6vEr1sjQFRAf9h-Nmb0PNEEnGcxA-KHcrpd_VJ_eLo3h0VkqzS8rxDBDbBG4kC_HXXDQvuqVU6pqgGT3ReXLT18YH3sQilpY3euDY4kLGF5uPxbD3xJG_zAg/s1600/s1.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Q99PBTWP-S5xcSLjm6gcuSubda8dUafQtlggO4zWfj_DMsMkszWfuzaPTZpyS0DUZtrT0uhw6R3KuiKvuemNFRG2pLSWdHdnyJSmDG46tg5VZd15ML_lda2wljExPm_bnmGgPo7Pk0qs/s1600/s2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Q99PBTWP-S5xcSLjm6gcuSubda8dUafQtlggO4zWfj_DMsMkszWfuzaPTZpyS0DUZtrT0uhw6R3KuiKvuemNFRG2pLSWdHdnyJSmDG46tg5VZd15ML_lda2wljExPm_bnmGgPo7Pk0qs/s1600/s2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View of the Miner's Path, Pyg Track and the mighty Crib Goch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaMyCLJQ7HCwOR4ejeJN7QJWAZitoKSnOS0oDvU_dAsjGXS0N7-3tNMxSybcOLm1T5JGE_MMqPb02JZ7M3_LxySMB-JXfJQdDYijpL9rWGENtI9Wclrki-uatvOCiWwr0D77TJMYfkeT_/s1600/s3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaMyCLJQ7HCwOR4ejeJN7QJWAZitoKSnOS0oDvU_dAsjGXS0N7-3tNMxSybcOLm1T5JGE_MMqPb02JZ7M3_LxySMB-JXfJQdDYijpL9rWGENtI9Wclrki-uatvOCiWwr0D77TJMYfkeT_/s1600/s3.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">South Ridge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBB8LD3fsXujhkjSI8s-eUtxP-YA882jV49FkBTJAsmo_9zHG_PA6hDrrdf721TCxNUmxF065IDLK7R4R7wQpeT83deTAjf3H6RyncHc63zKJb6xP7tmbqJjEcsQvHXfZmL3vcPcw07Hd/s1600/s4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBB8LD3fsXujhkjSI8s-eUtxP-YA882jV49FkBTJAsmo_9zHG_PA6hDrrdf721TCxNUmxF065IDLK7R4R7wQpeT83deTAjf3H6RyncHc63zKJb6xP7tmbqJjEcsQvHXfZmL3vcPcw07Hd/s1600/s4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HZ-2uZgAFkbbQqJDF_ukXf6zQ8N2-q8zVPJoQ8LaAdHTiZa0cVBwKZptPYF3-2yfloXir9G8ErrSL0LZjDrurlShARo1jqBoGMXl34d90uEBJj5_D1UO_KttPteyiGvLJIPcFpCFrQA_/s1600/s5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HZ-2uZgAFkbbQqJDF_ukXf6zQ8N2-q8zVPJoQ8LaAdHTiZa0cVBwKZptPYF3-2yfloXir9G8ErrSL0LZjDrurlShARo1jqBoGMXl34d90uEBJj5_D1UO_KttPteyiGvLJIPcFpCFrQA_/s1600/s5.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55t2i1YnFh3Z74lyzL3_oYwbSxbZyENYIvBtaemkJAhN1G-OWbJpy4xDVHhyOAq21JWV2JMMoG5w9gyd81ho0pedgLqG1RYdzbBdbx8DSW4gsKrUFZzy-Mk8idGrZrCBGgZM_PvaSuG7Z/s1600/snopan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55t2i1YnFh3Z74lyzL3_oYwbSxbZyENYIvBtaemkJAhN1G-OWbJpy4xDVHhyOAq21JWV2JMMoG5w9gyd81ho0pedgLqG1RYdzbBdbx8DSW4gsKrUFZzy-Mk8idGrZrCBGgZM_PvaSuG7Z/s1600/snopan.jpg" height="150" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">iPhone panorama, note the snow!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914176887213866545.post-705823805937740342015-03-29T20:49:00.000+01:002015-03-29T20:50:28.380+01:00Iceland Gull<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Bizarrely, Iceland Gulls do not breed in Iceland. They do breed in Greenland and Northern Canada, and more interestingly for us, a number of these enigmatic white-winged gulls turn up in Britain during the winter months. March is a good time to find one of these birds as they begin to migrate back to their breeding grounds. <br />
Exactly ten years ago I photographed two Iceland Gulls at Llandullas on the North Wales coast, so I was quite excited when a juvenile bird took up residence at Pensarn not far along the coast from where I last saw this species. Unfortunately, on the bright sunny day that I first visited the shingle beach where the bird had been, to use twitching parlance, "showing well" the gull could not be found. So I amused myself by photographing the local Black-headed Gulls. A week later on a really grey Sunday afternoon I returned to the site and had great views of the bird all to myself. The bird was aged as a juvenile, and was slightly smaller than the accompanying juvenile Herring Gulls. It had pale coffee-coloured barring on the plumage and white tips to the primary feathers. At the time of writing (end of March) the bird is still present. As is the Laughing Gull in New Brighton (see earlier post). It's a great time to be a larophile!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCmRuqoSSnDdouoVsstvxxEuDk3UKT_OhdPh8Z1RCUg2QzN-cq3mbzhIAPO9BOLPkZk3bRnXQkRW7JPQVwnulyYe-8GLUAdIXXqnGooov_qr3Nn5fLjE9nWwGVBacs98U3pxinKDrhv-E/s1600/g1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCmRuqoSSnDdouoVsstvxxEuDk3UKT_OhdPh8Z1RCUg2QzN-cq3mbzhIAPO9BOLPkZk3bRnXQkRW7JPQVwnulyYe-8GLUAdIXXqnGooov_qr3Nn5fLjE9nWwGVBacs98U3pxinKDrhv-E/s1600/g1.jpg" height="340" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black-headed Gull</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9PhW5ky4BmDTl2nNHnARBFOm5rfvXesDF6vxNr8nYGkhUUt7Tm65Z0DyQ5fjBk3THoJUFvqy8xL_L0N5ZwtObeQA2PANDTHuhzJpAaWkmye5kJ4BXXRsTaTcOHkexNBcBl5Xn6K2TFIU/s1600/g2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9PhW5ky4BmDTl2nNHnARBFOm5rfvXesDF6vxNr8nYGkhUUt7Tm65Z0DyQ5fjBk3THoJUFvqy8xL_L0N5ZwtObeQA2PANDTHuhzJpAaWkmye5kJ4BXXRsTaTcOHkexNBcBl5Xn6K2TFIU/s1600/g2.jpg" height="510" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQkMWXEYm19c0p73xyU8p2HQL4pwcX2OLRf_cdoEONPi5iYfcmN7-zDjMxP9OlHFooB_YpyCfusK1xFKWSJh7Wz4OUFEGNP8eyxPYN5zMAzIN9Y9x6fYGqSh_joUBd0r379Govhw_R0Qg/s1600/g3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQkMWXEYm19c0p73xyU8p2HQL4pwcX2OLRf_cdoEONPi5iYfcmN7-zDjMxP9OlHFooB_YpyCfusK1xFKWSJh7Wz4OUFEGNP8eyxPYN5zMAzIN9Y9x6fYGqSh_joUBd0r379Govhw_R0Qg/s1600/g3.jpg" height="510" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkvR0mbYfbwDr7dm3n5winHKt2Pd40iUSDqagD-8X4f3S61P9x7kT41df6eAoyg8t4if16oU4CmQupkzwqSd9xOkFaD23uRZx13iDF_7UDxcuhG0v40Kgm8tQpy2gKQZ3eom08fq1TYZp/s1600/g5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkvR0mbYfbwDr7dm3n5winHKt2Pd40iUSDqagD-8X4f3S61P9x7kT41df6eAoyg8t4if16oU4CmQupkzwqSd9xOkFaD23uRZx13iDF_7UDxcuhG0v40Kgm8tQpy2gKQZ3eom08fq1TYZp/s1600/g5.jpg" height="510" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE7POd_vXYlrv7J30Lp17nLbqmxILIUHPa2BbMfa58cyRmJr63QUw5kw81G9rLMF9QhICl9QL8SmUBkL12nsEcGgjzolEMUOyVOScsv6qWo5yb-ATjBBArJg4Wk0OV22ayfRtqD8G3HVb/s1600/g6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE7POd_vXYlrv7J30Lp17nLbqmxILIUHPa2BbMfa58cyRmJr63QUw5kw81G9rLMF9QhICl9QL8SmUBkL12nsEcGgjzolEMUOyVOScsv6qWo5yb-ATjBBArJg4Wk0OV22ayfRtqD8G3HVb/s1600/g6.jpg" height="510" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTIKgcV7LzLmQ_YQYOQ8WOqLAw6-N__zYaX6YURscrYH-kiJ58fGlx0GcRf5EVLha-bsaWiTkU8lntcrja17mzgRIP6agoaDzT1KtVu2VPt8pmhhPqLDPNZd-zeJxku6AS5Yn6u1HuAe7/s1600/g7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTIKgcV7LzLmQ_YQYOQ8WOqLAw6-N__zYaX6YURscrYH-kiJ58fGlx0GcRf5EVLha-bsaWiTkU8lntcrja17mzgRIP6agoaDzT1KtVu2VPt8pmhhPqLDPNZd-zeJxku6AS5Yn6u1HuAe7/s1600/g7.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewDgkHQHUP1EgiKXmcOZ1TgI3S6edmiiz33Y4y6k0vLjGxtmFNvI8VabvhUD75EK_6ktVouJRH1V-5IvSx_rVQWK5RB90tx9ushyphenhyphendss7GC6xF7MxOIkMddhHk2fnxiS17EGXTWWwfxnp2/s1600/g8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewDgkHQHUP1EgiKXmcOZ1TgI3S6edmiiz33Y4y6k0vLjGxtmFNvI8VabvhUD75EK_6ktVouJRH1V-5IvSx_rVQWK5RB90tx9ushyphenhyphendss7GC6xF7MxOIkMddhHk2fnxiS17EGXTWWwfxnp2/s1600/g8.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnSdPWiCQIluheYw7sjhoDP5u1RLB-Kg-sn3NQchPzJqfdZ4rHDpS91UoZE2DucQmLP1G-Z6c3n6bV0HNPULkMoNJI6FvtcG5TdzsnNack-cGEa1TJH_F2tMNVJJh17ItkMnjK91gscK5/s1600/g9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnSdPWiCQIluheYw7sjhoDP5u1RLB-Kg-sn3NQchPzJqfdZ4rHDpS91UoZE2DucQmLP1G-Z6c3n6bV0HNPULkMoNJI6FvtcG5TdzsnNack-cGEa1TJH_F2tMNVJJh17ItkMnjK91gscK5/s1600/g9.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDVpNREf-hY7tX7PwEZsDNYx0ytfMc5FnWhsEOG-j_xuQv-IBgPk8gwF8hW7bqwD2_dGDQYYay7PpPCVr-vKlK-Ph52sX0hYnA2fNCfgqkT8emmFwhHXEWCURmrnOSTnQWu-ZlIhnCQ8k/s1600/g10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDVpNREf-hY7tX7PwEZsDNYx0ytfMc5FnWhsEOG-j_xuQv-IBgPk8gwF8hW7bqwD2_dGDQYYay7PpPCVr-vKlK-Ph52sX0hYnA2fNCfgqkT8emmFwhHXEWCURmrnOSTnQWu-ZlIhnCQ8k/s1600/g10.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwpoKhV1D4qr2WjZcxQp2MHcSvmYK9rCnPYiHIzMTkFeAbFVEOHJt5pK6EhPlrKKnkS2fT2iALVBdBosz4wAbD6iP6axqSwrFBOM2ZNwHD4SizWyHmZ_zLPd_4vg9Chm66MYFLAjM5K8A/s1600/g11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwpoKhV1D4qr2WjZcxQp2MHcSvmYK9rCnPYiHIzMTkFeAbFVEOHJt5pK6EhPlrKKnkS2fT2iALVBdBosz4wAbD6iP6axqSwrFBOM2ZNwHD4SizWyHmZ_zLPd_4vg9Chm66MYFLAjM5K8A/s1600/g11.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PF3iZHkavj8OhLRoD5gN0TuxNhbRzJMa8yjT2xd1DepozLgSrI7I4U6NnK-WjVnDLvOv3fNebSmY6sp7pR7lF9JP4SJCqhn_2nBrNv8PZ0aCvePas4w70Ojqq4LUQ2fjqMtgcD-Avq9e/s1600/g12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PF3iZHkavj8OhLRoD5gN0TuxNhbRzJMa8yjT2xd1DepozLgSrI7I4U6NnK-WjVnDLvOv3fNebSmY6sp7pR7lF9JP4SJCqhn_2nBrNv8PZ0aCvePas4w70Ojqq4LUQ2fjqMtgcD-Avq9e/s1600/g12.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjRla_BB-ptS5HSlPMdS13hwxnMt2371XueyZrWXyGO9SWMUCy1dNsZ3WkH2n4FJie-Ud-G3azM1lDyKCAqWwUfhn-r5r9-Zs8knxYmRJeT7dtWEirrk22Tqu0JFOgh9ZnKSWi00urrfK/s1600/g13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjRla_BB-ptS5HSlPMdS13hwxnMt2371XueyZrWXyGO9SWMUCy1dNsZ3WkH2n4FJie-Ud-G3azM1lDyKCAqWwUfhn-r5r9-Zs8knxYmRJeT7dtWEirrk22Tqu0JFOgh9ZnKSWi00urrfK/s1600/g13.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Juvenile Herring Gull</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijq6uvke5pVw_CgAuta9p6YLkr8DRfTogJfH7cUQYargDsSFeBtg-kkSp6ouooBd1LG8bbOcnrTxr0qBaThdxcmCtySSDFNHRy9Wep9zm-Sv2b7hN3lm_ttls_GaTh4w_ys1-s5dxtQLJ/s1600/g14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijq6uvke5pVw_CgAuta9p6YLkr8DRfTogJfH7cUQYargDsSFeBtg-kkSp6ouooBd1LG8bbOcnrTxr0qBaThdxcmCtySSDFNHRy9Wep9zm-Sv2b7hN3lm_ttls_GaTh4w_ys1-s5dxtQLJ/s1600/g14.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06498821083509564603noreply@blogger.com0