Little Stint at Dorney

A pre work quickie to Dorney - quite distant 

Also a Wheatear

Little Stint on the flooded area at Dorney Common

Third time lucky - Short Billed Dowitcher pic from Lodmoor

As it was getting dangerously close to not being able to get to Lodmoor to see a clearer view of the SBD, due to hours of light, I chanced an after work trip.
A couple were watching out for it, with no luck. After about 30 secs I caught onto,it showing well, and got some nice shots and views through the zeiss.
Also a great view of a fly by after a very low flying buzzard spooked it out of the scrub

Then had an interview over the phone and a flat car battery!

Chuffed with some nice record shots of only the third Short Billed Dowitcher on record in the UK. Helped over here by an American hurricane.

Short Billed Dowitcher at Lodmoor

Mute Swan on the M4

Driving to work Monday morning - and a mute swan was sitting on the hard shoulder.
The signs were saying "slow down - Animals in road"
I thought I should let LGRE know just in case no one was doing anything.
Lee promptly rang me up and told me that the highways agency were on the case and would need to get the RSPCA
This is not an unusual occurrence when there is heavy rain - espescially in migration months. The swan thought the M4 was the river ! Also they can't fly off unless on water - they can't build up the speed or get the momentum going unless on water, so it would just sit there. They will need to net it,stick it in a van and take it to the river.

Wilstone life tick #248 - Great White Egret

Early morning visit to Otmoor looking for a merlin - saw a sparrowhawk and a kingfisher .
Whilst in the hide, a message came in about a dead (!) gannet at Startops End, and a GREAT WHITE EGRET at Wilstone - Steve, Lee, Lucy and Ian in attendance.
Life tick #248
Year tick #232

Great White Egret at Wilstone

Great and Little Egret

Wilstone early morning

A beautiful morning , and a trip to Wilstone.
A ringed plover was the only unusual wader on view, but a pintail from the hide wad a nice sight - and the first one I have seen at the ressie.
A pair of black caps, a pair of grey wagtails and a bullfinch - nice trip.

Pintail

Hemel BT Peregrine

Finally a view of the peregrine falcon on the old BT building on the magic roundabout at Hemel

Lunctime treat - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Dinton

Went to Sandford Lake at lunchtime to remember that life has fresh air and beauty - and to see if I could stumble across a LSW in 10 mins!

Walked straight in the park, saw a couple of birders hanging around the area I thought it may be - and BINGO!

Year tick at Eton wick -Pec Sand # 231

a lunchtime visit to Lavells produced a juv. redstart

Juvenile Common Redstart at Lavell's 

After work to Eton Wick for the PECTORAL SANDPIPER - Year Tic # 231 

Also shown amongst 3 Snipe 

Ron Bryant Hide at Lavells

Went for a quick look at the hide before karate. Very nice - even some sort of cushioned flooring !!
Nothing of note on view, but took a couple of pics anyways....oh except a kingfisher..

A posing cormorant

Egyptian Geese on the 'other side' go Lavells

Stanwick Lakes Trip - IBIS "NOL" #4

A trip to Northants to hopefully see a spotted crake reaped rewards of a non BOU (British Ornithology Union) bird.

This SACRED IBIS, of 'unknown origin' adds to my non official list (NOL) with Black Swan, Helmeted Guineafowl and Monk Parakeet - which I have seen and are not known as escaped birds .

No sign of the crake

Sacred Ibis 

Nice clear shot of a Comma butterfly en route

Comma butterfly

Rainham early morning 'Baillon'

A five o'clock start from home reaped rewards - and a very busy hide

Crippling views of the crake for about 20 secs and I also found a Water Rail with my Zeiss

Baillon's Crake 07:20 hrs at Rainham

Water Rail at Rainham

On the way back to the car...

Dragonfly hovering 

Trip to Stanwick Lakes in Northants

Finished work early and went looking for a spotted crake and a Sacred Ibis. Dip tastic! Nice venue lots of lakes and my Zeiss beauty scope!!

Red Admiral on my doorstep - Life Tick # 19

A RED ADMIRAL fluttering around near the car was a pleasant surprise

Red Admiral on Reece's bike!!

Wings closed

Lifer on my doorstep -Tawny Owl #247

I awoke at about 5:45 and heard the owl next door teasing me as usual... So I thought I would go and have a look as it was just before sunrise.
After about 10 mins playing tawny calls, a beautiful TAWNY OWL flew over my head and onto a branch the other side of the canal.
A wonderful sight. Maybe next time I will be more prepared and get it in focus!
Great to connect with a neighbour - and a lifer at that # 247

Tawny Owl from the canal in Berko by Turner Court

Ballion's Life Tick at Rainham #246

After a second attempt I connected with the BALLION'S CRAKE this evening at about half 6.

Life tick #246 - a rare bird indeed. Very elusive here and very pleased to see a full view rather than half a second about a foot into the reeds like some people's views.

Not the best of pictures but a memory of the colouring

Ballion's Crake - see the feather colouring behind the reeds!

Rainham Marshes RSPB Baillon's Crake Dip

Went to Rainham with Denz after camping with the Bowra family.

After a flat battery we got there - no luck but my lovely wife let me stay in the hide for a while longer, but still no sign.

Bumped into Nick T which was nice - who connected with the bird later... Nice for him!!

Little Grebe and Young

A packed hide on the twitch

Collared Doves at Rainham

Monarch Butterfly MEGA

A trip down to the south coast on a half day brought a fantastic sighting via bird guides
- A MONARCH Butterfly. Also further views of a distant SBD from the housing estate.

Monarch, taken 7th Sept 2012 at Easton, Portland

This species is the largest butterfly seen in the British Isles, and is also one of our rarest migrants. This butterfly is known for its ability to migrate across large distances. The migrations in north America are one of the greatest natural phenomena in the world - where the adult butterflies can migrate from as far north as Canada to the overwintering grounds in very specific sites in Mexico, the west coast of California and Florida.

Short Billed Dowitcher - # 245

A visit to Lodmoor after work produced a fleeting view of the SHORT BILLED DOWITCHER- not anywhere near a photo opportunity but a clear sight in flight before going into the reeds.

A nice pale yellowy complexion with slightly lighter wings colouring 

Brings my life total to #245 

Also a bunch of YELLOW WAGTAILS flew over the site 

254 miles round trip, average at 59.4 MPG = 19 litres @ 142p per litre = £26.98. 

Good job I've given up beer!

FMI 4.5 litres to a gallon.

Lodmoor Sunset

Berkhamsted Common

Sunset along Berko Common

Redstarts at last! Lavell's Lake NR

A visit after work in lovely sunshine brought a male and female redstart. The female being the first I have seen or got a picture.
Quite a distance away...

Male Redstart

Male Redstart

Female Redstart

Also a Whitethroat

Whitethroat

Invinghoe - Inchcombe Hole Redstart Dip ...again...

I went for a look for redstarts both sides of the car park  - no joy.

Places where Redstarts 'should' be!

Lavells Lake

Went for an early morning bird down the Loddon , and to see if the Garganey was visible on Lea Farm section of Lavells - didn't know this hide existed !

Lavell Lake hide - uncovered

In the Teal hide, nice video of Little Grebe