tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71588174478764099702024-03-13T10:41:13.004+00:00Bamber Bridge BirderMusings & photos from the nature around meUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-90439840165091834442014-06-17T21:56:00.000+01:002014-06-17T21:56:15.420+01:00Dragonfly Pond & Stags Lodge - Cuerden Valley Park - 14th June 2014<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With Emperor Dragonflies being reported I decided to head up to the dragonfly pond to see if they were flying locally. I counted 3 including a female oviposting, 20 four spotted chaser as well as blue tailed and azure damselfly. A single Buzzard showed overhead briefly and a Chiffchaff called near by. I only managed one butterfly in the form of a Large Skipper but picked up 1 Meadow at Wigan Lane car park and 2 Speckled Wood on Stags Lodge. A little disappointing for butterflies locally with numbers being very low (a walk around Stags Lodge tonight - 17th brought a single Meadow Brown)</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A walk back through Stags Lodge brought a Greater Spotted Woodpecker near to a previous found nest site. It seemed to be excavating a fresh nest, not sure if they have a second brood but I'll be sure to keep an eye out. Another Chiffchaff (no Willow Warbler at Stags this year) and 4 Whitethroat were the only wablers and 4 young Coot on the pond, not bad since they started with seven (I did see a Grey Heron on the pond quite a bit when they first appeared). A small number of Banded Demoiselle, Male and Female were on the River Lostock as well as a young Wren by the bridge no sign of the Dipper though<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V-TEQVu1kPQ/U6CoTEI_03I/AAAAAAAALp4/iuIrIEFmFSE/s1600/4+spotted+chaser+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V-TEQVu1kPQ/U6CoTEI_03I/AAAAAAAALp4/iuIrIEFmFSE/s1600/4+spotted+chaser+1.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Above & below four spotted chaser</span></h4>
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Above Blue tailed Damselfly</h4>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h4ZTJwOvMKY/U6CoYMHWoPI/AAAAAAAALqA/rb0Ol1BYQ2I/s1600/emperor+dragonfly+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h4ZTJwOvMKY/U6CoYMHWoPI/AAAAAAAALqA/rb0Ol1BYQ2I/s1600/emperor+dragonfly+1.jpg" height="341" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Above male Emperor Dragonfly below female</span></h4>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbV5gTwjYXY/U6CobRApgeI/AAAAAAAALqQ/wWxOXIlEZl4/s1600/emperor+dragonfly+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbV5gTwjYXY/U6CobRApgeI/AAAAAAAALqQ/wWxOXIlEZl4/s1600/emperor+dragonfly+2.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0i27ghalK8/U6CodDAjYAI/AAAAAAAALqY/dj8y5B19Zto/s1600/emperor+dragonfly+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0i27ghalK8/U6CodDAjYAI/AAAAAAAALqY/dj8y5B19Zto/s1600/emperor+dragonfly+3.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K0u3wzRleZM/U6CoYg-SsZI/AAAAAAAALqE/J3xJqexabCo/s1600/coot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K0u3wzRleZM/U6CoYg-SsZI/AAAAAAAALqE/J3xJqexabCo/s1600/coot.jpg" height="227" width="400" /></a></div>
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Above young Coot below Common Spotted Orchid</h4>
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Above & below Greater Spotted Woodpecker</h4>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u54_behFhRc/U6CojdlQYlI/AAAAAAAALq4/4H_DVbKWPFQ/s1600/large+skipper+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u54_behFhRc/U6CojdlQYlI/AAAAAAAALq4/4H_DVbKWPFQ/s1600/large+skipper+1.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></span></a></h4>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Above & below Large Skipper</span></h4>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IR0e5kITl94/U6ConhIak4I/AAAAAAAALrU/j-qYKWqXCxQ/s1600/meadow+brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IR0e5kITl94/U6ConhIak4I/AAAAAAAALrU/j-qYKWqXCxQ/s1600/meadow+brown.jpg" height="330" width="400" /></a></div>
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Above Meadow Brown below Speckled Wood</h4>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ9ICwnAhlM/U6CoqSlMVfI/AAAAAAAALrs/-wn5LOEY1D4/s1600/speckled+wood+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ9ICwnAhlM/U6CoqSlMVfI/AAAAAAAALrs/-wn5LOEY1D4/s1600/speckled+wood+3.jpg" height="381" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dttkCT5YSS8/U6Copintv9I/AAAAAAAALrg/Z68_nG87yZU/s1600/wren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dttkCT5YSS8/U6Copintv9I/AAAAAAAALrg/Z68_nG87yZU/s1600/wren.jpg" height="350" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Above young Wren</span></h4>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-32763189959759739332014-06-15T20:58:00.002+01:002014-06-15T20:58:30.174+01:00Great Skua (Bonxie) - Preston Docks - 15th June 2014<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">About half 9 I read a Facebook post suggesting there was a Great Skua lingering about Preston Docks so with the decision made not to wash the car (my usual Sunday morning chore) I headed out. On first arrival in the car park near to Morrison's there was no sign of the bird and I was going to give up on what would be a tick but with a further trawl through Facebook I decided to head out for a further look and the word soon went out it was at the bottom end of the docks. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The bird though looked in reasonable health was clearly not in a good way as it struggled unsuccessfully to get in to the air. As it neared to the side of the dock I noticed it was ringed and it eventually settled on some steps enabling better views of the ring - Left leg Red NZ, right leg possibly 50C with a definite ending 460 with Norway also stamped. If I get any further news I will update this post. The bird was picked up by the RSPCA at lunch time after a phone call from local birder Colin Bushell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LiRb8lVK_o/U534UcSd67I/AAAAAAAALmI/iQvc873hOOU/s1600/great+skua+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LiRb8lVK_o/U534UcSd67I/AAAAAAAALmI/iQvc873hOOU/s1600/great+skua+1.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Above the front end of the metal ring possibly 50C, below the obvious KZ ring and the rear 460 and Norway on the metal ring</span></h2>
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For those interested the car was washed and polished this evening by my own fair hands</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-3364572038200805192014-06-08T21:36:00.000+01:002014-06-08T21:36:03.652+01:00Buzzards - Cuerden Valley Park - May 2014<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It wasn't long ago these large raptors were scarce across Lancashire but are now seen regularly especially around the Stags Lodge area of Cuerden Valley Park. I have seen singles in recent years but recently I have seen up to 4 both over my home and at Stags Lodge. The local area is a perfect habitat with woodland and meadow fields which contains rabbits and other small mammals which is their favoured food.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Above a Buzzard being mobbed by a Carrion Crow Below a pair over Stags Lodge, Cuerden Valley Park</h4>
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-71143716271049329302014-06-08T19:50:00.001+01:002014-06-08T19:50:56.184+01:00New patch tick at Stags Lodge, Cuerden Valley Park - May 2014<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was wandering back home through Stags Lodge after a few hours out with the camera last month when I stood on the bridge over the River Lostock and thought 'what a great site for a Dipper' but not having seen one on this stretch (I have seen a breeding pair further up the Lostock in CVP grounds) I put the thought to bed and continued my trek home following the Lostock down stream. Having a quick stop to see if there were any Banded Demoiselle about I came across a preening Dipper! I stopped and watched it for about 10 minutes taking a few poor photos (still getting to grips with the new camera) in the light and shade. The Dipper moved down stream and I've subsequently seen it in 4 locations along the stretch of the Lostock between Church Walk Woods (Bamber Bridge) and Stags Lodge. I believe there is only a single bird and I've seen it on at least 4 visits in the past month so I think it is settled in the area for now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOyLIcF9QZE/U5SvmaBlKOI/AAAAAAAALVw/LT6e74B3qyI/s1600/dipper+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOyLIcF9QZE/U5SvmaBlKOI/AAAAAAAALVw/LT6e74B3qyI/s1600/dipper+1.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Above & below taken on the River Lostock, Stags Lodge</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OW4L7WHivOI/U5Svoixy9nI/AAAAAAAALV0/VA9Sq6EIQ4s/s1600/dipper+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OW4L7WHivOI/U5Svoixy9nI/AAAAAAAALV0/VA9Sq6EIQ4s/s1600/dipper+2.jpg" height="340" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Below feeding in the River Lostock taken on the stretch in Church Walk Woods</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MrlswLC1SVY/U5SvtAclhAI/AAAAAAAALWA/abh2wG4iGgw/s1600/dipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MrlswLC1SVY/U5SvtAclhAI/AAAAAAAALWA/abh2wG4iGgw/s1600/dipper.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-80751682202320220412014-06-07T22:18:00.000+01:002014-06-07T22:18:39.214+01:00Dragonfly Fest - Cuerden Valley Park - 31st May 2014<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Its that time of year when a trip up to the Dragonfly pond at Cuerden Valley Park starts to produce results with my favourite and probably the most photogenic Dragonfly starts to fly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been up a few times of late when we've had a little sun but today was the most productive with at least 6 4 spotted chasers on the wing, and with a little care I was able to get within 300mm of one at rest near to the pond.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8UmhcIl02oA/U5N5HXc3pFI/AAAAAAAALRM/roc2zGWdmgs/s1600/DPG_1195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8UmhcIl02oA/U5N5HXc3pFI/AAAAAAAALRM/roc2zGWdmgs/s1600/DPG_1195.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Anb_ZegGiE/U5N5PwhWp9I/AAAAAAAALRc/AITyr_Gdb08/s1600/DPG_1201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Anb_ZegGiE/U5N5PwhWp9I/AAAAAAAALRc/AITyr_Gdb08/s1600/DPG_1201.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kC11-xN5w8U/U5N5ItpRilI/AAAAAAAALRU/xHxEPlzMN88/s1600/4+spotted+chaser+pair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kC11-xN5w8U/U5N5ItpRilI/AAAAAAAALRU/xHxEPlzMN88/s1600/4+spotted+chaser+pair.jpg" height="290" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Above a record shot of a pair of mating 4 spotted chaser</span></h4>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UDMRmVVyXWE/U5N6l-j3XjI/AAAAAAAALRo/F9pzgBx1RDM/s1600/DPG_1213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UDMRmVVyXWE/U5N6l-j3XjI/AAAAAAAALRo/F9pzgBx1RDM/s1600/DPG_1213.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Though no other dragonflies were on the wing on my visit there were plenty of damselflies including Large Red, Common Blue and Azure.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_pqvMmdssfs/U5N80KJo0cI/AAAAAAAALSA/Uij26Bzhew4/s1600/mmf+azure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_pqvMmdssfs/U5N80KJo0cI/AAAAAAAALSA/Uij26Bzhew4/s1600/mmf+azure.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Above 2 male and a female Azure Damselfly below a Large Red Damselfly</span></h4>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VAMi-vlMCV8/U5N80aKGRoI/AAAAAAAALR8/Cti6YcMCcqU/s1600/large+red+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VAMi-vlMCV8/U5N80aKGRoI/AAAAAAAALR8/Cti6YcMCcqU/s1600/large+red+1.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stags Lodge Is also a good place to see Damselflies with Azure, Common Blue and Blue tailed around the Pond (Mainly at the side near the reeds, approach from the top meadow) and Banded Demoiselle along the River Lostock</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1u8OZ4Si7sg/U5N-BYBPnwI/AAAAAAAALSQ/TesQ47xVir8/s1600/female+azure+blue+form.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1u8OZ4Si7sg/U5N-BYBPnwI/AAAAAAAALSQ/TesQ47xVir8/s1600/female+azure+blue+form.jpg" height="320" width="268" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Above female Azure Damselfly (Blue Form) below male Blue-tailed Damselfly</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2-jTsJ0Qjbc/U5N-ED_C7jI/AAAAAAAALSY/JqkdCEMlV9I/s1600/male+blue+tailed+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2-jTsJ0Qjbc/U5N-ED_C7jI/AAAAAAAALSY/JqkdCEMlV9I/s1600/male+blue+tailed+2.jpg" height="299" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8idJscZ19Q/U5N-HvgVpaI/AAAAAAAALSg/7zMdrdcJDYo/s1600/male+blue+tailed+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8idJscZ19Q/U5N-HvgVpaI/AAAAAAAALSg/7zMdrdcJDYo/s1600/male+blue+tailed+1.jpg" height="320" width="286" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Above male Blue-tailed Damselfly Below immature Azure Damselfly</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFsPrF4SXoU/U5N-J9sG4rI/AAAAAAAALSo/_jphkp640dI/s1600/immature+azure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFsPrF4SXoU/U5N-J9sG4rI/AAAAAAAALSo/_jphkp640dI/s1600/immature+azure.jpg" height="320" width="287" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDrTTzdWq4Q/U5N-N8nUpaI/AAAAAAAALSw/bmBaOhr7Po4/s1600/male+banded+demoiselle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDrTTzdWq4Q/U5N-N8nUpaI/AAAAAAAALSw/bmBaOhr7Po4/s1600/male+banded+demoiselle.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Above male Banded Demoiselle below female</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g-9Dzsm8YFU/U5N-R_5RuKI/AAAAAAAALS4/NxoIxiB2tJU/s1600/female+banded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g-9Dzsm8YFU/U5N-R_5RuKI/AAAAAAAALS4/NxoIxiB2tJU/s1600/female+banded.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The blue form of the female Azure Damselfly only occurs in 10% of the population as was a nice find. I have only ever had one other species at the Dragonfly Pond, that being the Emperor and with some being reported on the wing I'm hoping it will feature in future blog posts </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-71238197829217403022012-06-05T20:55:00.000+01:002012-06-05T20:55:40.259+01:00A few sightings from the past week at Stags Lodge CVP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3mNF8h2IDA/T85eecl_f1I/AAAAAAAACSQ/Z2D03j3b1Hw/s1600/Buzzard+2905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3mNF8h2IDA/T85eecl_f1I/AAAAAAAACSQ/Z2D03j3b1Hw/s400/Buzzard+2905.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Buzzards can be seen quite frequently flying across the patch often being chased by a corvid or 3. A good place to see them is perched on the dead tree at the top of Stags Lodge.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sa0uMFs-RdU/T85eh4uiVKI/AAAAAAAACSY/pHb5mjRD6n0/s1600/Buzzard+2205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sa0uMFs-RdU/T85eh4uiVKI/AAAAAAAACSY/pHb5mjRD6n0/s400/Buzzard+2205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8o4ujibuMyc/T85ek6qyDaI/AAAAAAAACSg/p0rMorN8uB0/s1600/Chiffchaff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8o4ujibuMyc/T85ek6qyDaI/AAAAAAAACSg/p0rMorN8uB0/s400/Chiffchaff.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Warblers are a common visitor to the patch with up to 5 Chiffchaff (top) calling across the patch. Blackcap (below male) are a little harder to come across though I have seen up to 4 at any one time and mainly frequent the wooded area across the river lostock. I have only seen the Reed Warbler (bottom) twice on the patch with this one arriving on the 3rd July and hopefully staying longer than the week one stopped last year. It is very elusive but can be heard calling in the left reedbed next to the bench at the pond.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ5TVHqC8V0/T85enphZIQI/AAAAAAAACSo/xgy_IYtb3-Y/s1600/Male+Blackcap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ5TVHqC8V0/T85enphZIQI/AAAAAAAACSo/xgy_IYtb3-Y/s400/Male+Blackcap.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCEOQJTbdm8/T85eqeZa-BI/AAAAAAAACSw/Cl0IMYjlTJs/s1600/reed+warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCEOQJTbdm8/T85eqeZa-BI/AAAAAAAACSw/Cl0IMYjlTJs/s400/reed+warbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Reed Bunting (below) is a rare visitor to the patch with this male being only the second one I've seen here. I first saw it in the trees at the side of the pond and later in the reedbeds.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfSz2sbpUMw/T85evWjqZ3I/AAAAAAAACTA/rCGPCripFpo/s1600/Male+Reed+Bunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfSz2sbpUMw/T85evWjqZ3I/AAAAAAAACTA/rCGPCripFpo/s400/Male+Reed+Bunting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jwSTTT8eGa8/T85ezePozgI/AAAAAAAACTI/efS294nIaSU/s1600/female+Banded+demoiselle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jwSTTT8eGa8/T85ezePozgI/AAAAAAAACTI/efS294nIaSU/s400/female+Banded+demoiselle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dragonflies etc are a rare visitor to Stags with only a handfull of sightings throughout the year so when I came across these Banded Demoiselle (female above male below) hawking flies over the river lostock I was glad I had my camera with me. It's only the first time I've seen them on the patch though they may breed along the river somewhere as there are several sites suitable that are close to where I saw them. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ADO1Q4MQCqI/T85e3K0s6wI/AAAAAAAACTQ/Kocs7RfJdzs/s1600/male+Banded+demoiselle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ADO1Q4MQCqI/T85e3K0s6wI/AAAAAAAACTQ/Kocs7RfJdzs/s400/male+Banded+demoiselle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tit55PB86V8/T85e6fegMxI/AAAAAAAACTY/hhP-UBoZ-q0/s1600/Female+Orangetip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tit55PB86V8/T85e6fegMxI/AAAAAAAACTY/hhP-UBoZ-q0/s400/Female+Orangetip.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Butterflies have been low in numbers across the patch with numbers only reaching a handfull on any of my recent vists. The Orange Tip is currently the most common sighting (female top and below) with the much larger and stronger flying Peacock (bottom) seen in ones or twos.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fP_WOWmzkU8/T85e9k4y-kI/AAAAAAAACTg/CzSdYJfOHdU/s1600/Female+Orangetip+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fP_WOWmzkU8/T85e9k4y-kI/AAAAAAAACTg/CzSdYJfOHdU/s400/Female+Orangetip+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6dFOXwA1bo/T85fBDW3ymI/AAAAAAAACTo/mP64PLligJU/s1600/Peacock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6dFOXwA1bo/T85fBDW3ymI/AAAAAAAACTo/mP64PLligJU/s400/Peacock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-34113935731788034512012-05-06T15:21:00.002+01:002012-05-06T20:06:42.158+01:00Stags Lodge - 5/6th May 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8F3wiuWToDA/T6aH90vpuCI/AAAAAAAACRs/IvL5IDOHStw/s1600/Whitethroat+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8F3wiuWToDA/T6aH90vpuCI/AAAAAAAACRs/IvL5IDOHStw/s400/Whitethroat+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With
the sun being out I decided to take my camera out on both of the early morning
dog walks at the local patch. There was nothing like the patch tick of my last
post but a year patch tick of a Swallow (though only passing through) was nice
and the male Whitethroat that I’d heard back earlier in the week finally made
an appearance on Saturday and a female and a second male were around on the
Sunday. I’m pleased to see them back as they have bred successfully that I know
over the past 2 years and hopefully that success will continue this year. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XG_FExOaRYY/T6aIBG-kMHI/AAAAAAAACR0/01H-oXpxThU/s1600/Whitethroat+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XG_FExOaRYY/T6aIBG-kMHI/AAAAAAAACR0/01H-oXpxThU/s400/Whitethroat+2.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VI3r9SdJk2U/T6aIExkjqaI/AAAAAAAACR8/MF2qeCZG57k/s1600/Whitethroat+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VI3r9SdJk2U/T6aIExkjqaI/AAAAAAAACR8/MF2qeCZG57k/s400/Whitethroat+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>ABOVE MALE WHITETHROAT BELOW SONG THRUSH</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r8ZOXWpmYVw/T6aIJQc0HaI/AAAAAAAACSE/82IWJOhDuQA/s1600/Song+Thrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r8ZOXWpmYVw/T6aIJQc0HaI/AAAAAAAACSE/82IWJOhDuQA/s400/Song+Thrush.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Other
species around on both days was a singing Song Thrush, one of several on the
patch, at least 5 Chiffchaff and 2 Willow Warbler. Magpie and Blackbirds could
be seen regularly feeding on the meadows as well as Chaffinch <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Greenfinch calling throughout the
woodland. On the pond 4 Coot chicks as well as two adults, a single Moorhen and
3 Mallards which had bred with 8 chicks seen several weeks ago but those
numbers dwindled down over a week or so and now I haven’t seen any for a while.
As I was leaving the patch via the tunnel under the A6 a Jay flew out of the
woods at speed swiftly followed by a female Sparrowhawk, the Jay managed to
escape as the Sparrowhawk alighted briefly in one of the trees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*An update for Sunday evenings visit included 2 Greater-spotted Woodpecker, 2 Male & 1 Female Blackcap, Wren, Robin, Dunnock and an Oystercatcher over the patch.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-90184925500951000672012-04-15T15:44:00.000+01:002012-04-15T18:40:41.006+01:00Stags Lodge (Cuerden Valley Park) & On The Feeders - 14th April 2012<br />
The sun was out so I decided to grab the camera when heading out with the
dogs with the hope of getting a few photos of the current warblers on the local
patch. I heard a newly returned Willow Warbler on the edge of Church Walk Woods
and managed a few shots as it intermittently called and preened amongst the top
branches. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JfSyOr_icv0/T4rcj24L1cI/AAAAAAAACPY/3F_R98xr2Go/s1600/willow+warbler+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JfSyOr_icv0/T4rcj24L1cI/AAAAAAAACPY/3F_R98xr2Go/s400/willow+warbler+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PE3qSfH2ggw/T4rcmLCD9nI/AAAAAAAACPg/1X18C3NmCcU/s1600/willow+warbler+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PE3qSfH2ggw/T4rcmLCD9nI/AAAAAAAACPg/1X18C3NmCcU/s400/willow+warbler+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVJhxEdwdKY/T4rcoVOSIoI/AAAAAAAACPo/FOgbPpeAQ_0/s1600/willow+warbler+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVJhxEdwdKY/T4rcoVOSIoI/AAAAAAAACPo/FOgbPpeAQ_0/s400/willow+warbler+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-651tlBOodO8/T4rcqiMpiaI/AAAAAAAACPw/3oS2DhxiY2c/s1600/willow+warbler+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-651tlBOodO8/T4rcqiMpiaI/AAAAAAAACPw/3oS2DhxiY2c/s400/willow+warbler+4.jpg" width="400" /></strong></a></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><strong>ABOVE AND BELLOW WILLOW WARBLER</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etGD9VJdAiY/T4rcsEFAXMI/AAAAAAAACP4/MvfjQgOu8FU/s1600/willow+warbler+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-etGD9VJdAiY/T4rcsEFAXMI/AAAAAAAACP4/MvfjQgOu8FU/s400/willow+warbler+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
Heading around Stags Lodge I heard up to 5 calling Chiffchaff and 2 Willow
Warblers the first of which I’d heard on Wednesday evening. What I didn’t
expect was this Northern Wheatear at the top of the meadows which was soon
flushed by one of the many dog walkers making the most of the great weather. It
was easily relocated and I kept my own 2 away as I photographed it feeding up
before it moved on. For the hour I was there it relocated several times to the
trees surrounding the meadows, a great patch tick and maybe a first for Cuerden
Valley Park (David Beattie). For my up to date patch list for the year <a href="http://bamberbridgebirder.blogspot.co.uk/p/stags-lodge.html" target="_blank">Click Here</a> <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kONoWirxcjk/T4rdInsH3aI/AAAAAAAACQA/mUPl24Aef_s/s1600/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kONoWirxcjk/T4rdInsH3aI/AAAAAAAACQA/mUPl24Aef_s/s400/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rdJCZNdjdnQ/T4rdKQm_fwI/AAAAAAAACQI/XuhFyfPyki0/s1600/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rdJCZNdjdnQ/T4rdKQm_fwI/AAAAAAAACQI/XuhFyfPyki0/s400/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjDgEnaj_X0/T4rdNAuNj8I/AAAAAAAACQQ/PfeCS3HwWIE/s1600/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjDgEnaj_X0/T4rdNAuNj8I/AAAAAAAACQQ/PfeCS3HwWIE/s400/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rNLqUBpcKXE/T4rdOl98osI/AAAAAAAACQY/bitdEZtjr4g/s1600/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rNLqUBpcKXE/T4rdOl98osI/AAAAAAAACQY/bitdEZtjr4g/s400/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4W9J3imhG2g/T4rdTft8sVI/AAAAAAAACQo/Bo0EdvCWwBM/s1600/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4W9J3imhG2g/T4rdTft8sVI/AAAAAAAACQo/Bo0EdvCWwBM/s400/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-58osiUxvU-w/T4rdUKgLgeI/AAAAAAAACQw/l2lFKqN0fKA/s1600/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-58osiUxvU-w/T4rdUKgLgeI/AAAAAAAACQw/l2lFKqN0fKA/s400/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">ABOVE AND BELOW NORTHERN WHEATEAR</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mq_-mertsMY/T4rdU4nfG6I/AAAAAAAACQ4/lSDHa-2fkm8/s1600/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mq_-mertsMY/T4rdU4nfG6I/AAAAAAAACQ4/lSDHa-2fkm8/s400/Northern+Wheatear+Stags+Lodge+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Back at home the feeders seem to be very busy at the moment with both
Goldfinch and Greenfinch eating me out of house and home. Collard Dove and
Woodpigeon are also regular visitors along with the local Blackbirds, Dunock,
Robin, House Sparrow, Blue Tit and Coal Tit (the only place locally that I see
Coal Tits!)<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D7ZLctMirU8/T4rd3wq-iaI/AAAAAAAACRA/g3_cAvTNZrA/s1600/male+greenfinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D7ZLctMirU8/T4rd3wq-iaI/AAAAAAAACRA/g3_cAvTNZrA/s400/male+greenfinch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #ffd966;">ABOVE MALE GREENFINCH BELOW FEMALE</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WzI4GBMgudQ/T4rd58KMUeI/AAAAAAAACRI/KeLeG-B6XYE/s1600/female+greenfinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WzI4GBMgudQ/T4rd58KMUeI/AAAAAAAACRI/KeLeG-B6XYE/s400/female+greenfinch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dkHQeP97XQw/T4rd8NfqhvI/AAAAAAAACRQ/-x6S7USrtAg/s1600/goldfinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dkHQeP97XQw/T4rd8NfqhvI/AAAAAAAACRQ/-x6S7USrtAg/s400/goldfinch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #ffd966;">ABOVE GOLDFINCH BELOW COLLARD DOVE</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwLteY4gzSM/T4reBGRAUAI/AAAAAAAACRY/V0pq8HR2ONI/s1600/collard+dove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwLteY4gzSM/T4reBGRAUAI/AAAAAAAACRY/V0pq8HR2ONI/s400/collard+dove.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #ffd966;">BELOW COAL TIT</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DCCeFI2LuA4/T4reDBErXNI/AAAAAAAACRg/lJb-QW3QsYo/s1600/willow+tit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DCCeFI2LuA4/T4reDBErXNI/AAAAAAAACRg/lJb-QW3QsYo/s400/willow+tit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-21264275117528033792012-02-26T20:21:00.000+00:002012-02-26T20:21:11.073+00:00Meresands Wood Bittern - 20th February 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cl2F098784s/T0qQxqdbu7I/AAAAAAAACNg/WP-1TBIHVP8/s1600/bittern+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cl2F098784s/T0qQxqdbu7I/AAAAAAAACNg/WP-1TBIHVP8/s400/bittern+01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve taken quite a few visits up to Meresands Woods with the hope of photographing at least one of the 2 Bittern that are showing very well (at least for Bittern) from the Rufford Hide. Both were on show during my 2 hour visit though one only briefly and very hard to pick out in the reed bed. The second bird was very obliging throughout and I doubt I’ll ever get a chance to photograph a Bittern at such close quarters again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Un0GYRQJXdY/T0qQ2S8XbxI/AAAAAAAACNo/wX9vJx4Uz5o/s1600/bittern+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Un0GYRQJXdY/T0qQ2S8XbxI/AAAAAAAACNo/wX9vJx4Uz5o/s400/bittern+02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-afEETTMx0so/T0qQ6AqyZHI/AAAAAAAACNw/i9G41e6zYVw/s1600/bittern+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-afEETTMx0so/T0qQ6AqyZHI/AAAAAAAACNw/i9G41e6zYVw/s400/bittern+03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nAVKEAVFA0w/T0qQ95LtujI/AAAAAAAACN4/AVe0bGN88j4/s1600/bittern+04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nAVKEAVFA0w/T0qQ95LtujI/AAAAAAAACN4/AVe0bGN88j4/s400/bittern+04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-az8P4YYEi-U/T0qRJa2gEpI/AAAAAAAACOY/PQ-snBJu94c/s1600/bittern+08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-az8P4YYEi-U/T0qRJa2gEpI/AAAAAAAACOY/PQ-snBJu94c/s400/bittern+08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B63NjlF01Ec/T0qRGhFRo1I/AAAAAAAACOQ/j_xs3s12q0k/s1600/bittern+07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B63NjlF01Ec/T0qRGhFRo1I/AAAAAAAACOQ/j_xs3s12q0k/s400/bittern+07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZz8HUlX5GI/T0qRENSPq1I/AAAAAAAACOI/xvwBbEpIwow/s1600/bittern+06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZz8HUlX5GI/T0qRENSPq1I/AAAAAAAACOI/xvwBbEpIwow/s400/bittern+06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qwwniseqPq4/T0qRBT8njRI/AAAAAAAACOA/f3Y7C7uxH_c/s1600/bittern+05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qwwniseqPq4/T0qRBT8njRI/AAAAAAAACOA/f3Y7C7uxH_c/s400/bittern+05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o51jy1KXiC4/T0qRMEUEoRI/AAAAAAAACOg/3oVPc9cTHug/s1600/bittern+09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o51jy1KXiC4/T0qRMEUEoRI/AAAAAAAACOg/3oVPc9cTHug/s400/bittern+09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWVnx8WnLTY/T0qTJ3flx7I/AAAAAAAACO4/FTgrUSamzJo/s1600/bittern+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWVnx8WnLTY/T0qTJ3flx7I/AAAAAAAACO4/FTgrUSamzJo/s400/bittern+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UvuSYkBilSU/T0qTMB258nI/AAAAAAAACPA/1V3kIAIqq80/s1600/bittern+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UvuSYkBilSU/T0qTMB258nI/AAAAAAAACPA/1V3kIAIqq80/s400/bittern+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KZYcHLFk5to/T0qRPAmqPQI/AAAAAAAACOo/oQgln5Lz1q0/s1600/bittern+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KZYcHLFk5to/T0qRPAmqPQI/AAAAAAAACOo/oQgln5Lz1q0/s400/bittern+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-17491094198871997842012-01-14T21:44:00.000+00:002012-01-14T21:44:01.272+00:00Red Kites, Tetsworth, Oxon - 13th January 2012<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
M40 corridor north between Beaconsfield and Oxford is renowned for its large
population of Red Kites and I often marvel at their sight whenever I travel
along the route. On several occasions I’ve pulled off the M40 and travelled up
the A40 giving me chance to pull over and observe them at closer quarters. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wOj9HWOzj80/TxH1FIaF_aI/AAAAAAAACMo/B6wu4D1pFCc/s1600/Red+Kite+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wOj9HWOzj80/TxH1FIaF_aI/AAAAAAAACMo/B6wu4D1pFCc/s400/Red+Kite+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AxR_gcvT8s4/TxH1KKqcbUI/AAAAAAAACMw/g1NiPHCNhMs/s1600/Red+Kite+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AxR_gcvT8s4/TxH1KKqcbUI/AAAAAAAACMw/g1NiPHCNhMs/s400/Red+Kite+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">After
pulling in a layby on the way down from Aston Rowant NNR and observing 2 at
distance as well as a small flock of travelling Long-tailed Tit I decided to
continue north to Tetsworth, Oxon where I’ve watched small numbers of Red
Kites over the village green and also gives good opportunities to photograph
them. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8oznAtQ5bfI/TxH1keMf7yI/AAAAAAAACM4/M6eFgnCDpFc/s1600/Red+Kite+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8oznAtQ5bfI/TxH1keMf7yI/AAAAAAAACM4/M6eFgnCDpFc/s400/Red+Kite+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6rkQbN1K7v8/TxH1q5mEtsI/AAAAAAAACNA/doR_OTRcCfc/s1600/Red+Kite+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6rkQbN1K7v8/TxH1q5mEtsI/AAAAAAAACNA/doR_OTRcCfc/s400/Red+Kite+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">After
pulling up in a layby opposite the green I watched 10 Red Kite circling over
the roof tops and 2 over the green. Numbers for the day must have been around
the 100 mark with 3 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk adding to the raptor
numbers along the stretch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oat3B78VpCY/TxH2CI12BhI/AAAAAAAACNI/gGN2LE-LrsU/s1600/Red+Kite+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oat3B78VpCY/TxH2CI12BhI/AAAAAAAACNI/gGN2LE-LrsU/s400/Red+Kite+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;">Above Red KIte below one of a small group of travelling Long-tailed Tit</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Smjb0F_uSpY/TxH2FBgR_NI/AAAAAAAACNQ/oxRDBpWS3J4/s1600/long+tailed+tit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Smjb0F_uSpY/TxH2FBgR_NI/AAAAAAAACNQ/oxRDBpWS3J4/s400/long+tailed+tit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com614 A40, Tetsworth, Oxfordshire County OX9 7, UK51.7133759 -1.01358551.7084564 -1.0234554999999999 51.7182954 -1.0037145tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-87847438881803590172012-01-02T20:54:00.003+00:002012-01-02T21:24:58.322+00:00Glaucous Gull, Southport Beach - 2nd January 2012<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I spent my
first day birding of the year at Southport beach with the intention of
photographing the Gaucous Gull that has been reported from there for a while
now. Reading on the internet and chatting to a few local birders suggested that
the bird was ill but after catching up with it after a 2 hour search my
thoughts are rather different. I’d been told it was very approachable and as I
was able to get within 15m of the bird without causing it any due distress I’d
agree which would maybe suggest there was a problem with the bird. As the
photographs show the bill is rather red suggesting it has recently fed and
there seemed to be no problem with it as it took to the air joining a throng of
other gulls as an ignorant dog walker flushed it TWICE!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn’t mind but it was quite obvious that
about 10 birders with a variety of scopes, binoculars and cameras were looking
at a large Gull that was on its own sat on the grass as she trundled through
flushing the Gull and not satisfied with that she let her dog off within meters
of were the Gull had landed thus flushing it again! I don’t tar all dog walkers
with the same brush, most stayed away or even took an interest, and one couple
even photographed it with their phone. Rant over.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S30fQVl3biQ/TwIYOuHBJXI/AAAAAAAACKA/RTNW0DsASzw/s1600/Glaucous+Gull+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S30fQVl3biQ/TwIYOuHBJXI/AAAAAAAACKA/RTNW0DsASzw/s400/Glaucous+Gull+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">GLAUCOUS GULL - 2ND WINTER ACORDING TO MY HELM GUIDE</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s_9wCS_Ly_A/TwIYU7O6n_I/AAAAAAAACKI/71ZV0SO2xts/s1600/Glaucous+Gull+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s_9wCS_Ly_A/TwIYU7O6n_I/AAAAAAAACKI/71ZV0SO2xts/s400/Glaucous+Gull+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">BELOW TAKING FLIGHT FOR THE 2ND TIME</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nTRcCGZr3ac/TwIYk9liV7I/AAAAAAAACKc/mUBf_XemFjg/s1600/Glaucous+Gull+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nTRcCGZr3ac/TwIYk9liV7I/AAAAAAAACKc/mUBf_XemFjg/s400/Glaucous+Gull+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">BELOW BLACK-HEADED GULL</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lk00jd43E2c/TwIaNhJSUtI/AAAAAAAACK4/Cb17aWbvnGU/s1600/Black+headed+gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lk00jd43E2c/TwIaNhJSUtI/AAAAAAAACK4/Cb17aWbvnGU/s400/Black+headed+gull.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whilst
searching for the Glaucous I came across a single Sanderling which seemed to
have signs of oil on its underside. It didn’t seem to hinder the bird as it preened,
fed and flew without any signs of a problem.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPLUQdJHjEg/TwIalsN0rhI/AAAAAAAACLM/JJCqdUv2xVk/s1600/Sanderling+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPLUQdJHjEg/TwIalsN0rhI/AAAAAAAACLM/JJCqdUv2xVk/s400/Sanderling+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">ABOVE SANDERLING PREENING OIL PATCH, BELOW FEEDING</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3syoDRpPQ30/TwIapFYbxYI/AAAAAAAACLU/zQDLzP1fIcI/s1600/Sanderling+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3syoDRpPQ30/TwIapFYbxYI/AAAAAAAACLU/zQDLzP1fIcI/s400/Sanderling+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kXKEL0SJDPs/TwIbErVL_cI/AAAAAAAACLo/MsHIi7RErV8/s1600/Sanderling+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kXKEL0SJDPs/TwIbErVL_cI/AAAAAAAACLo/MsHIi7RErV8/s400/Sanderling+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I left a
large flock of Twite (some ringed) fed near to the Weld Road car park, I estimated
numbers of between 80 – 100 but have been corrected with a count of 122 by
another birder who was there at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLA43ZNRHFs/TwIfxYVY2XI/AAAAAAAACMU/W7jiJkJ-zho/s1600/twite+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLA43ZNRHFs/TwIfxYVY2XI/AAAAAAAACMU/W7jiJkJ-zho/s400/twite+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">PART OF THE LARGE FLOCK OF TWITE FEDING NEAR THE CAR PARK</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTnAxm9EBBs/TwIgHcbtwLI/AAAAAAAACMg/EFyK2EBB_Rs/s1600/twite+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTnAxm9EBBs/TwIgHcbtwLI/AAAAAAAACMg/EFyK2EBB_Rs/s400/twite+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-58139254645376576652011-12-18T15:31:00.000+00:002011-12-18T15:31:14.329+00:002 ticks and updates - 16th December 2011<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With 2 birds showing well in North Lancashire that I needed
for my life list I spent the first day of a long weekend off work in search of
them. The first stop was Leighton Moss RSPB and it didn’t take long to find the
Glossy Ibis feeding at the edge of a flooded field near to the car park
entrance of the Allens Hide. Scope views were good but only record shots were
obtainable as the autofocus kept picking up the branches when I tried photographing
it through a nearby hedge.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx5MaQHSMA0/Tu4EiaYTKWI/AAAAAAAACIk/Jtu3jZeAKbw/s1600/Glossy+Ibis+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx5MaQHSMA0/Tu4EiaYTKWI/AAAAAAAACIk/Jtu3jZeAKbw/s400/Glossy+Ibis+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">ABOVE & BELOW GLOSSY IBIS</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9uswxSz6MI/Tu4Ek8xLMvI/AAAAAAAACIs/PFFZ9OZO6jA/s1600/Glossy+Ibis+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9uswxSz6MI/Tu4Ek8xLMvI/AAAAAAAACIs/PFFZ9OZO6jA/s400/Glossy+Ibis+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pNkACBT52_g/Tu4EnWuTdbI/AAAAAAAACI0/5DcQrSlFop0/s1600/Glossy+Ibis+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pNkACBT52_g/Tu4EnWuTdbI/AAAAAAAACI0/5DcQrSlFop0/s400/Glossy+Ibis+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhVMzO1INCc/Tu4ErDtI1MI/AAAAAAAACI8/VIVxx16EkOc/s1600/Glossy+Ibis+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhVMzO1INCc/Tu4ErDtI1MI/AAAAAAAACI8/VIVxx16EkOc/s400/Glossy+Ibis+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next stop was Heysham Docks were a small number of Twite
were feeding in the usual place. As I pulled up on the north side of the
harbour. A quick scan along the edge as I walked up the entrance of the harbour
brought 2 juvenile Shag and a Turnstone on the walk back. I found the Glaucous
Gull at one of the outlets on the south side so views through the scope were
good but no chance of any photographs. These views were disrupted as a dredger
began work and I was unable to locate the bird for the remainder of my visit. 3
Little Gulls were a nice addition as well as c30 Kittewake.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fZCy-_Q_FR8/Tu4FQhmBP0I/AAAAAAAACJE/pQ_JYqGa4HE/s1600/Shag+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fZCy-_Q_FR8/Tu4FQhmBP0I/AAAAAAAACJE/pQ_JYqGa4HE/s400/Shag+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;"><strong>JUVENILLE SHAG</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lnPQplB3APg/Tu4FWZwxf_I/AAAAAAAACJM/p_j43u_07HU/s1600/Shag+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lnPQplB3APg/Tu4FWZwxf_I/AAAAAAAACJM/p_j43u_07HU/s400/Shag+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQjjMueCSaI/Tu4FaHSIhRI/AAAAAAAACJU/aU-XOfDpoMU/s1600/kittiwake+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQjjMueCSaI/Tu4FaHSIhRI/AAAAAAAACJU/aU-XOfDpoMU/s400/kittiwake+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">ABOVE & BELOW KITTEWAKE - NOT SURE OF AGES</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Y4DSAQ2ZgE/Tu4FjAp57kI/AAAAAAAACJc/_wu0YoFc1hU/s1600/kittiwake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Y4DSAQ2ZgE/Tu4FjAp57kI/AAAAAAAACJc/_wu0YoFc1hU/s400/kittiwake+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wGHw3vts2YA/Tu4FpcJZSGI/AAAAAAAACJk/Ze0kmST4vxA/s1600/kittiwake+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wGHw3vts2YA/Tu4FpcJZSGI/AAAAAAAACJk/Ze0kmST4vxA/s400/kittiwake+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEYlx7uSGCk/Tu4Fw71o5mI/AAAAAAAACJs/PDV5Be28TMU/s1600/kittiwake+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEYlx7uSGCk/Tu4Fw71o5mI/AAAAAAAACJs/PDV5Be28TMU/s400/kittiwake+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GClPP-DuOB8/Tu4F6ILVybI/AAAAAAAACJ0/uzRDKXWMHrY/s1600/kittiwake+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GClPP-DuOB8/Tu4F6ILVybI/AAAAAAAACJ0/uzRDKXWMHrY/s400/kittiwake+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even though the blogs been quite I have managed to get out
on a few occasions mainly to Crossens-out Marsh with the hope of getting some photos
of the Short-eared Owls but though I saw them the weather conditions made
photography difficult. A tick with 4 European White-fronted Geese made the
trips worthwhile. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Local patch additions included Fieldfare, Redwing and on the
17<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> December a flock of c20 Siskin which was a nice addition.
Buzzard have been showing well recently with 2 giving good views again on the
morning of the 17<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. The disappointment has been the lack of the
local Tawny Owl, it had been calling regularly up to a few weeks ago and I had
seen it several times at dusk and dawn but things have been quite of late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-74523417756290037402011-11-04T20:51:00.002+00:002011-11-04T20:56:13.731+00:00Wall Farm Nature Reserve, Shropshire - 4th November 2011<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A call on Monday from Mike Foley prompted this trip down to
Wall Farm near to Telford. A Steppe Grey Shrike had been reported from there
(firstly identified as a Great Grey) and Mike managed to get down on Tuesday and
as my work didn’t take me anywhere near I managed to take Friday off and take
the 2 hour drive down to this small nature reserve. I must say I was a little
worried as first as my trips to Shrikes have mostly proved fruitless over the
years and as Bird Guides had reported the bird before 8.00 most of the week and
it wasn’t until after 10.00 that it showed up on the report today. After
parking up in the farmer’s field and dropping my £3.50 (all being donated to
the British Legion) in the bucket I took the 10 minute walk down to the edge of
the ploughed field from where the bird could be viewed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was quite distant at first, approximately
600m and though well out of range for photography it was easy to pick up with
the scope. For the first 2 and a half hours it stayed at the bottom end of the
field but stayed mainly in view occasionally dropping to the ground before
returning to the hedgerow or to a high point on a bush or tree. Eventually it
started to move closer and spent about half an hour around lunch time at about
400m where I was able to obtain a few record shots. I must admit with these or
any other photos I’ve seen I’d struggle to distinguish it from the Great Grey
Shrike and even looking in my reference books and the internet I’ve failed to
gain any real knowledge about this species, a copy of Shrikes of the world is
on its way. After about 4 hours I decided to head home happy that I’d added the
Steppe to my Shrike list having only seen Great Grey and Brown I’ve still got a
long way to go.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8thOFTCWcKg/TrRO6lj0HSI/AAAAAAAACHw/88irwlD8HB8/s1600/2011-11-04+12.57.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8thOFTCWcKg/TrRO6lj0HSI/AAAAAAAACHw/88irwlD8HB8/s400/2011-11-04+12.57.46.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Above the ploughed the Steppe Shrike could be viewed from, it didn't even make it down as far as the two large trees in the centre of the photograph.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X002HnFJAlE/TrRO8UbBlQI/AAAAAAAACH4/DOUQe41kLHY/s1600/Steppe+Grey+Shrike+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X002HnFJAlE/TrRO8UbBlQI/AAAAAAAACH4/DOUQe41kLHY/s400/Steppe+Grey+Shrike+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b_Du5o9SAT8/TrRO-fDJa6I/AAAAAAAACIA/vrY6fzSVJXQ/s1600/Steppe+Grey+Shrike+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b_Du5o9SAT8/TrRO-fDJa6I/AAAAAAAACIA/vrY6fzSVJXQ/s400/Steppe+Grey+Shrike+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Above you can just make out the white wing pattern, much larger than on the Great Grey Shrike</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jfCWUxMODyI/TrRO_opaiuI/AAAAAAAACII/MO-O6fwenEk/s1600/Steppe+Grey+Shrike+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jfCWUxMODyI/TrRO_opaiuI/AAAAAAAACII/MO-O6fwenEk/s400/Steppe+Grey+Shrike+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OXhzAEYZ1o0/TrRPBEiy3UI/AAAAAAAACIQ/fQ2bjcS51Yk/s1600/Steppe+Grey+Shrike+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OXhzAEYZ1o0/TrRPBEiy3UI/AAAAAAAACIQ/fQ2bjcS51Yk/s400/Steppe+Grey+Shrike+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-8943072811501304752011-10-22T22:53:00.002+01:002011-10-23T11:02:49.093+01:00Banks Marsh & Marshside RSPB - 22nd October 2011<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another weekend trip up to the Ribble Estuary but this time my first visit to Banks Marsh where I met up with Nick Green. I didn't get far along but managed some nice species including a late Curlew Sandpiper.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o2b2HVowzyw/TqMy265M85I/AAAAAAAACE0/kciACITAdGI/s1600/curlew+sandpiper+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o2b2HVowzyw/TqMy265M85I/AAAAAAAACE0/kciACITAdGI/s400/curlew+sandpiper+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_DfkJ2H6mZg/TqMy6rNCUdI/AAAAAAAACE8/xyfdooGb_C0/s1600/curlew+sandpiper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_DfkJ2H6mZg/TqMy6rNCUdI/AAAAAAAACE8/xyfdooGb_C0/s400/curlew+sandpiper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rCJJ8kk0bI/TqMy7_KbWuI/AAAAAAAACFE/7uoWt5VC3_s/s1600/curlew+sandpiper+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rCJJ8kk0bI/TqMy7_KbWuI/AAAAAAAACFE/7uoWt5VC3_s/s400/curlew+sandpiper+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ca0BC0bfBfQ/TqMy-E6pfpI/AAAAAAAACFM/rN8u-NSsa_s/s1600/curlew+sandpiper+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ca0BC0bfBfQ/TqMy-E6pfpI/AAAAAAAACFM/rN8u-NSsa_s/s400/curlew+sandpiper+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrITAlAqMOw/TqMzAn6fGOI/AAAAAAAACFU/SO-eirgcsfA/s1600/curlew+sandpiper+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrITAlAqMOw/TqMzAn6fGOI/AAAAAAAACFU/SO-eirgcsfA/s400/curlew+sandpiper+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R26aug2ROB8/TqMzCpMNDLI/AAAAAAAACFc/vVVDtSDhVTg/s1600/curlew+sandpiper+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R26aug2ROB8/TqMzCpMNDLI/AAAAAAAACFc/vVVDtSDhVTg/s400/curlew+sandpiper+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ABOVE CURLEW SANDPIPER BELOW WITH A RUFF</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gM6EXrSvpDA/TqMzHEUwE8I/AAAAAAAACFk/4a7SU4ynZa4/s1600/curlew+sandpiper++and+ruff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gM6EXrSvpDA/TqMzHEUwE8I/AAAAAAAACFk/4a7SU4ynZa4/s400/curlew+sandpiper++and+ruff.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At times the Cirlew Sandpiper was as close as 20m even though dogwalkers constantly walked passed but it seemed to carry on undisturbed feeding at the pools edge in the company of a Ruff. A mixed flock of Black-tailed Godwit in the field behind were also accompanied by a few Ruff but soon took to the air when disturbed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Other birds of intrest included Golden Plover, Widgeon, Teal, Lapwing, 2 Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit and 6 Little Egret.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-njXF1fK7wYA/TqM1AyRucII/AAAAAAAACF0/mOFId8vmBlw/s1600/Black+tailed+godwit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-njXF1fK7wYA/TqM1AyRucII/AAAAAAAACF0/mOFId8vmBlw/s320/Black+tailed+godwit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3TYLwpKiMS8/TqM0-7UprjI/AAAAAAAACFs/xHkfBr3M_Rs/s1600/Black+tailed+godwit+and+ruff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3TYLwpKiMS8/TqM0-7UprjI/AAAAAAAACFs/xHkfBr3M_Rs/s320/Black+tailed+godwit+and+ruff.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TOP BLACK-TAILED GODWIT BOTTOM A FLOCK OF ABOUT 20 GODWITS WERE PRESENT WITH A FEW RUFF</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">After Scanning the area with the hope of getting a Short-eared Owl (none present today) e headed off to Marshside in perticular Nels Hide. Black-tailed Godwit were present in larger numbers and more dropped in over the hour we were there. 2 Drake Pintail showed well as well as a small number of Shoveler but Teal just about outnumbered everything across the pool. The odd Golden Plover were intermingled with the Godwit as well as numbers of Lapwing. 3 Little Egret flew across as well as a Grey Heron and there were several Gull species including Common and Greater Black Backed.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o_S1JsOq9Ic/TqM4D3iMTTI/AAAAAAAACF8/2O9JbOEFuWo/s1600/drake+Shoveler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o_S1JsOq9Ic/TqM4D3iMTTI/AAAAAAAACF8/2O9JbOEFuWo/s400/drake+Shoveler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ABOVE DRAKE SHOVELER BELOW FEMALE</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lRgFii-lQkE/TqM4JeKS9JI/AAAAAAAACGE/r2F-xKWpFSs/s1600/female+Shoveler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lRgFii-lQkE/TqM4JeKS9JI/AAAAAAAACGE/r2F-xKWpFSs/s400/female+Shoveler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mpq9C3vFkgE/TqM4MIAAZpI/AAAAAAAACGM/GkD3lf0vsu0/s1600/drake+teal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mpq9C3vFkgE/TqM4MIAAZpI/AAAAAAAACGM/GkD3lf0vsu0/s400/drake+teal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ABOVE DRAKE TEAL BELOW MORE BLACK-TAILED GODWITS</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1k7xteJlZdQ/TqM4SA8KUEI/AAAAAAAACGU/w9fXLdvFPaY/s1600/Black+tailed+godwit+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1k7xteJlZdQ/TqM4SA8KUEI/AAAAAAAACGU/w9fXLdvFPaY/s400/Black+tailed+godwit+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HHIAM6wdgwA/TqM7IbaKNqI/AAAAAAAACGc/4hvHjX0sKpg/s1600/Redshank+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HHIAM6wdgwA/TqM7IbaKNqI/AAAAAAAACGc/4hvHjX0sKpg/s400/Redshank+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ABOVE ONE OF SEVERAL REDSHANK ON THE POOL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the drive back a single Hen Harrier was out over Crossens Marsh but still no Shorties.</span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-30673503725856070762011-10-16T20:22:00.000+01:002011-10-16T20:24:10.896+01:00Hesketh Out Marsh to the River Douglas - 15th October 2011<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With the weather being so nice I decided to spend the day on the south side of the Ribble Estuary mainly at Hesketh Out Marsh but I did manage a walk down to the River douglas for the first time. A few passing Redwing passed over at HOM as well as numbers of Skylark and Meadow Pipit. 4 Little Egret were feeding on the nearby pools and 4 Snipe dropped in whilst I was watching with another 2 over. A Kestrel was hunting along the enbankment and I flushed 4 Grey Partridge as I walked west along the reserve. A worrying sight was a single Avocet which surely should have headed south by now, it was sat on the end of one of the nearby pools to the west of the reserve. Walking East towards I brought Linnet, Starlings a further 2 Kestrel, A Buzzard, Carrion Crow and on the walk back a Marsh Harrier and Merlin.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ry7laE5NuRc/TpsovAkUjII/AAAAAAAACEI/ygixHhFpSCY/s1600/snipe+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ry7laE5NuRc/TpsovAkUjII/AAAAAAAACEI/ygixHhFpSCY/s400/snipe+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKqQJQZlycc/TpsoyZMLGFI/AAAAAAAACEQ/XwtwYi8fxRs/s1600/snipe+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKqQJQZlycc/TpsoyZMLGFI/AAAAAAAACEQ/XwtwYi8fxRs/s400/snipe+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ABOVE SNIPE IF I HADDN'T SEEN THEM DROP IN I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN THEM AT ALL</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvXox_6dWck/TpsoqidNLtI/AAAAAAAACD4/QWMqidg-hzs/s1600/Little+Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvXox_6dWck/TpsoqidNLtI/AAAAAAAACD4/QWMqidg-hzs/s400/Little+Egret.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HxrVfG1c4lE/Tpsosw43uKI/AAAAAAAACEA/bVSZ9rq1Q9w/s1600/Little+Egret+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HxrVfG1c4lE/Tpsosw43uKI/AAAAAAAACEA/bVSZ9rq1Q9w/s400/Little+Egret+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ABOVE LITTLE EGRET AND BELOW A MEADOW PIPIT</span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5jzXyssUmXg/Tpso1Jor0lI/AAAAAAAACEY/qFigzWhtNQM/s1600/Meadow+Pipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5jzXyssUmXg/Tpso1Jor0lI/AAAAAAAACEY/qFigzWhtNQM/s400/Meadow+Pipit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My first visit to the River Douglas was a little disappointing as I was hoping you could get nearer the river and explore its embankments a liitle more. I watched what is the mouth of the river as it joins the Ribble with Curlew, Lapwing and Redshank in large numbers as well as well as Cormorant a mix of Gull species including GBB. A Buzzard tried to find the thermals in the distance and 2 Raven croaked as they passed over. As the tide came in a few fishing boats started to pass through flushing a large flock of Canada Geese which included a Greylag and a small number of Widgeon. The best view though and worth the wait was a Peregrine as it flushed the Curlew and Lapwing. I didn't see it at first but as the Lapwing rose into the sky as one I knew something must have flushed them and I watched for 2 minutes as it chased round dropping low over the Douglas chasing a Curlew. On this occasion it was unsucsessfull and I last saw it dropping low into a distant field further up the river.</span> </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hzMfEEXADs/TpstYA4WhrI/AAAAAAAACEg/23iQXmoAYgI/s1600/Widgeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hzMfEEXADs/TpstYA4WhrI/AAAAAAAACEg/23iQXmoAYgI/s400/Widgeon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ABOVE WIDGEON</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PAWQAhlqUg/TpstiNDnQgI/AAAAAAAACEo/NlModTExoPw/s1600/Peregrine+Curlew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PAWQAhlqUg/TpstiNDnQgI/AAAAAAAACEo/NlModTExoPw/s400/Peregrine+Curlew.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">NOT THE BEST PHOTO BUT I NEVER TIRE OF WATCHING PEREGRINE IN ACTION (click the photo to make it larger)</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-43761169236135576072011-10-08T23:38:00.001+01:002011-10-08T23:38:43.617+01:00Slavonian Grebe at Fairhaven Lake - 8th October 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpDI1MZfysU/TpDP2jAX-kI/AAAAAAAACC8/OctIsHv7Ts0/s1600/slavonian+grebe+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpDI1MZfysU/TpDP2jAX-kI/AAAAAAAACC8/OctIsHv7Ts0/s400/slavonian+grebe+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I saw my first Grebe at the age of about 12 on a lake (Mount
Farm I think) in Bletchley. It was a Great Crested or at least they were as
they went through their ritual dance and ever since then I found the species a
delightful one to watch and find them even in winter plumage a beautiful bird. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After missing out on the Solitary Sandpiper at Nateby,
Reeces rugby and a slight hang over on the Sunday and working from the office
for the rest of the week, I decided to head up to Fairhaven Lake to try and
capture some photographs in the poor light and rain of the Slavonian Grebe that
has been resident there for most of the week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Upon arriving there was no sign of it which happened the
last time I twitched (or dipped!) a bird at Fairhaven. Thankfully the bird was
just diving and soon appeared from around one of the boats moored at the side
of the lake about a meter away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
watched with several other birders in the slight drizzle not needing a scope or
even binoculars as it bobbed along on the choppy water</span>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oN0vqAqoBU/TpDQHuNGkiI/AAAAAAAACDA/Jh82gDqKGZI/s1600/slavonian+grebe+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oN0vqAqoBU/TpDQHuNGkiI/AAAAAAAACDA/Jh82gDqKGZI/s400/slavonian+grebe+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oHZ8Ct6IuQM/TpDQK-bS-dI/AAAAAAAACDE/YYm0-6yGBnM/s1600/slavonian+grebe+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oHZ8Ct6IuQM/TpDQK-bS-dI/AAAAAAAACDE/YYm0-6yGBnM/s400/slavonian+grebe+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4FEng2ur9Og/TpDQOGCJ9UI/AAAAAAAACDI/lCxWy2WlMSQ/s1600/slavonian+grebe+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4FEng2ur9Og/TpDQOGCJ9UI/AAAAAAAACDI/lCxWy2WlMSQ/s400/slavonian+grebe+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EamC6kIUNaI/TpDQR4oRjPI/AAAAAAAACDM/2DzUwspjh_E/s1600/slavonian+grebe+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EamC6kIUNaI/TpDQR4oRjPI/AAAAAAAACDM/2DzUwspjh_E/s400/slavonian+grebe+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AoqOYvXP9M/TpDQVYqYWaI/AAAAAAAACDQ/q4HnwAea5Wo/s1600/slavonian+grebe+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AoqOYvXP9M/TpDQVYqYWaI/AAAAAAAACDQ/q4HnwAea5Wo/s400/slavonian+grebe+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-79395408184996633392011-10-04T21:27:00.001+01:002011-10-04T21:27:46.759+01:00Brockholes LWT - 01st October 2011<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With the weather being so nice (26 degees in October!!) Reece and I decided to have a wander around Brockholes for a couple of hours to see if anything good was anjoying the sun. In birding terms a Little Grebe, 4 Buzzard and a single Kestrel were about all of interest that we saw but Dragonflies were out in force. There were more species seen on the day by others but the main species we saw were Common Darter and Migrant Hawker which I'd first identified as a Common Hawker and there were possibly some present as in flight they are hard to tell apart (at least for me). As shown in the photograph below the Migrant Hawker has a a yellow triangle at the base of the abdomen.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H71qRFIbWPU/TotpSqxJrcI/AAAAAAAACCo/FROdSgH7Is4/s1600/Migrant+Hawker+laying+eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H71qRFIbWPU/TotpSqxJrcI/AAAAAAAACCo/FROdSgH7Is4/s400/Migrant+Hawker+laying+eggs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">ABOVE PAIR OF MIGRANT HAWKERS EGG LAYING BELOW THE YELLOW TRIANGLE OF THE MIGRANT HAWKER</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bQ-KOK_6WJ0/TotpT5T1Z0I/AAAAAAAACCs/QRT66S53rkQ/s1600/Migrant+Hawker+yellow+triangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bQ-KOK_6WJ0/TotpT5T1Z0I/AAAAAAAACCs/QRT66S53rkQ/s400/Migrant+Hawker+yellow+triangle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Common Darters where in larger numbers both on the pools and sun bathing on the paths.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">ABOVE MALE & FEMALE COMMON DARTER IN A COPULATION WHEEL, BELOW MALE COMMON DARTER</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-44474970878436179782011-09-20T21:30:00.000+01:002011-09-20T21:30:19.671+01:00Grey Phalarope, Ribble Ribble, Preston - 20th September 2011<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It all started last week when I missed out on the Grey Phalarope at Fairhaven Lake. I'd been working away and didn't get chance to get over their until Friday afternoon at which time it had moved on (it had been reported on the RBA light map on Friday morning). A second Grey Phalarope was seen by Bill Aspin on the River Ribble in Preston from the A59 bridge (near Penwortham), a bridge I crossed on the way back from Fairhaven!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">With a busy weekend I wasn't able to get up to see it until tonight after seeing it reported at lunchtime on the Ribble Estuary facebook page by Colin Bushell.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I turned up about 18.00 parking in the car park by the alotments and headed upstream to where Colin had seen it earlier. Unlike other trips out to add to my life list I found the bird pretty much straight away feeding on the south shore about 100m infront of the bridge. I spent about an hour watching it as it drifted downstream towards the bridge before flying 300m upstream and returning back with the returning tide.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-37667724388595121202011-09-17T20:34:00.001+01:002011-09-17T20:36:51.593+01:00Adonis Blue at Aston Rowant NNR<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I haven't had much luck this year in adding to my Butterfly list but in the first week of September I called back in at Aston Rowant with the hope of seeing one of the most vibrant blues seen in the UK. The Adonis Blue is only seen in small numbers here and after switching on my camera on only to find the battery flat I wasn't holding out much hope. Most of the plants were putting to seed but there was a small patch were I found several mostly worn butterflies feeding and amongst them a Male Blue Adonis. Luckily my smart phone had packed in and I was using my trusty old sony C905 and with a 8.1M camera, with a little patience I managed to get a few shots. I counted 3 males during my hour visit along with 1 Siver-spotted Skipper, 6+ Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Painted Lady, Brown Argus and Common Blue. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf-LXAIK0Vw/TnT0UW5_J1I/AAAAAAAACBs/Qpcf7_EZWKM/s1600/Blue+Adonis+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf-LXAIK0Vw/TnT0UW5_J1I/AAAAAAAACBs/Qpcf7_EZWKM/s400/Blue+Adonis+3.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zlkGp57-bLc/TnT0SPhwIBI/AAAAAAAACBo/IWY4YXeYVLE/s1600/Blue+Adonis+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zlkGp57-bLc/TnT0SPhwIBI/AAAAAAAACBo/IWY4YXeYVLE/s400/Blue+Adonis+2.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-taI8JoqLzfI/TnT0P89hbPI/AAAAAAAACBk/L2ZbxxOI_O8/s1600/Blue+Adonis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-taI8JoqLzfI/TnT0P89hbPI/AAAAAAAACBk/L2ZbxxOI_O8/s400/Blue+Adonis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">Blue Adonis</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-buHSQdkN1EY/TnT1oorwbfI/AAAAAAAACBw/Uh4nMTexerM/s1600/Painted+Lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-buHSQdkN1EY/TnT1oorwbfI/AAAAAAAACBw/Uh4nMTexerM/s400/Painted+Lady.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUehQSewV_M/TnT1sPWWjSI/AAAAAAAACB0/N33gWwbzyZo/s1600/Painted+Lady+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUehQSewV_M/TnT1sPWWjSI/AAAAAAAACB0/N33gWwbzyZo/s400/Painted+Lady+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Above Painted Lady</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WT-BhLRP0Ic/TnT1tvEmq3I/AAAAAAAACB4/coAykoz2LVc/s1600/brown+argus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WT-BhLRP0Ic/TnT1tvEmq3I/AAAAAAAACB4/coAykoz2LVc/s400/brown+argus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Above Brown Argus Below Common Blue</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RCiibQbYilY/TnT1uxl_YdI/AAAAAAAACB8/4UXe2RuB7Qs/s1600/DSC02984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RCiibQbYilY/TnT1uxl_YdI/AAAAAAAACB8/4UXe2RuB7Qs/s400/DSC02984.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-19796478352685633122011-08-07T21:15:00.001+01:002011-08-07T21:16:45.310+01:00Aston Rowant NNR - 2nd August 2011<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I managed a second visit to this wonderful butterfly site in just over a week and what a difference. The temperature was around 25C with very little wind and though it was cloudy the number of butterflies was treble the amount I saw on my previous visit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Chalkhill Blue were flying in large numbers and were certainly the predominant species. Small Heath ans Small Copper numbers were up and I saw at least 10 Silver -Spotted Skippers which were not flying on my previous visit.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-duOXU0NidWk/Tj7sR0Z3GfI/AAAAAAAACAU/jkZrqMaRK0Y/s1600/Silver-spotted+Skipper+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-duOXU0NidWk/Tj7sR0Z3GfI/AAAAAAAACAU/jkZrqMaRK0Y/s400/Silver-spotted+Skipper+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uzho1aNxkwA/Tj7sMQ5Y_UI/AAAAAAAACAQ/HEVIx1knH9w/s1600/Silver-spotted+Skipper+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uzho1aNxkwA/Tj7sMQ5Y_UI/AAAAAAAACAQ/HEVIx1knH9w/s400/Silver-spotted+Skipper+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NC7SXXgYRuE/Tj7sUlAzgnI/AAAAAAAACAY/qGfVV0sZHVU/s1600/Silver-spotted+Skipper+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NC7SXXgYRuE/Tj7sUlAzgnI/AAAAAAAACAY/qGfVV0sZHVU/s400/Silver-spotted+Skipper+3.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Above the Silver-Spotted Skipper is common during its flying season at Aston Rowant and can be distinguished from other UK Skippers by the silver spots on its under wing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--FG_sd6HRw0/Tj7uD2egThI/AAAAAAAACAg/YOFDSYolbNE/s1600/Essex+Skipper+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--FG_sd6HRw0/Tj7uD2egThI/AAAAAAAACAg/YOFDSYolbNE/s400/Essex+Skipper+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Above Essex Skipper below Large Skipper</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dIQRRfp4FLU/Tj7uIfKpubI/AAAAAAAACAk/7ACCQUcqnYQ/s1600/Large+Skipper+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dIQRRfp4FLU/Tj7uIfKpubI/AAAAAAAACAk/7ACCQUcqnYQ/s400/Large+Skipper+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Large and Essex Skippers can be distinguished by the Essex Skippers black tip to the antenna.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TMv8d20v84g/Tj7vfJKa3VI/AAAAAAAACAo/5QWGfjnVSbQ/s1600/Small+Copper+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TMv8d20v84g/Tj7vfJKa3VI/AAAAAAAACAo/5QWGfjnVSbQ/s400/Small+Copper+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JgLqOor6b30/Tj7vhWzHg9I/AAAAAAAACAs/NCLRWJDerEk/s1600/Small+Copper+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JgLqOor6b30/Tj7vhWzHg9I/AAAAAAAACAs/NCLRWJDerEk/s400/Small+Copper+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Above Small Copper below Small Heath</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A71A_5JfiPg/Tj7vkS_mHgI/AAAAAAAACAw/SOQDsSVUPso/s1600/Small+Heath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A71A_5JfiPg/Tj7vkS_mHgI/AAAAAAAACAw/SOQDsSVUPso/s400/Small+Heath.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N5WRf_hM4dM/Tj7wmIVYOtI/AAAAAAAACA0/6pTzcjqA9L4/s1600/Common+Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N5WRf_hM4dM/Tj7wmIVYOtI/AAAAAAAACA0/6pTzcjqA9L4/s400/Common+Blue.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Above Common Blue, below female Chalkhill Blue, bottom male Chalkhill Blue</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02-P2GPETrU/Tj7woZgMXjI/AAAAAAAACA4/lSxXkSb3n48/s1600/female+chalkhill+blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02-P2GPETrU/Tj7woZgMXjI/AAAAAAAACA4/lSxXkSb3n48/s400/female+chalkhill+blue.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l63Dohh9wnk/Tj7wrD8EReI/AAAAAAAACA8/1DoPRiCIaYI/s1600/male+chalkhill+blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l63Dohh9wnk/Tj7wrD8EReI/AAAAAAAACA8/1DoPRiCIaYI/s400/male+chalkhill+blue.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l9dPBKlMlsE/Tj7xj5bgA8I/AAAAAAAACBE/wuu0too_3UU/s1600/small+tortoiseshell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l9dPBKlMlsE/Tj7xj5bgA8I/AAAAAAAACBE/wuu0too_3UU/s400/small+tortoiseshell.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XuG3wZ2QZj4/Tj7xniTE-tI/AAAAAAAACBI/iZFWmtVeHFk/s1600/speckled+wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XuG3wZ2QZj4/Tj7xniTE-tI/AAAAAAAACBI/iZFWmtVeHFk/s400/speckled+wood.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Top Small Tortoiseshell, above Speckled Wood below female Brown Argus</span></em></strong><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-38231740811830415272011-08-07T15:04:00.000+01:002011-08-07T15:04:45.209+01:00Ashdown Forest - Emperor Dragonfly - 1st August 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IuRIHVNJPBA/Tj6bTLNCTeI/AAAAAAAAB_8/kjm4GvFAG4c/s1600/emperor+dragonfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IuRIHVNJPBA/Tj6bTLNCTeI/AAAAAAAAB_8/kjm4GvFAG4c/s400/emperor+dragonfly.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MukUXyFQAXs/Tj6bW_5qoSI/AAAAAAAACAA/1aVEkk3g5Ek/s1600/emperor+dragonfly+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MukUXyFQAXs/Tj6bW_5qoSI/AAAAAAAACAA/1aVEkk3g5Ek/s400/emperor+dragonfly+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-45008868579891759592011-07-30T15:56:00.001+01:002011-07-30T15:58:40.535+01:00Bowdown Woods BBOWT - 29th July 2011<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I haven't had much chance to increase my Butterfly list that I started last year so when I knew I was working in Thatcham I couldn't resist in calling in at Bowdown Woods where 2 of my target species the Silver-washed Fritillary and White Admiral are currently flying. Unfortunately things conspired against me and after a phone call from the office I had to cut short my visit without seeing either. I came across a small glade where I saw most of the species which included an unusual marked Green-veined White (below) and thanks to Andy on the UK Butterfly forum for helping with its ID.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ6eB3ZucVE/TjQXKYbabVI/AAAAAAAAB_U/qb6g2Xn-_Ik/s1600/White+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ6eB3ZucVE/TjQXKYbabVI/AAAAAAAAB_U/qb6g2Xn-_Ik/s400/White+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SigFjer-ZZM/TjQXHtKfhoI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/ACbOx_7HKvw/s1600/White+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SigFjer-ZZM/TjQXHtKfhoI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/ACbOx_7HKvw/s400/White+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Green-veined White</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QHfrp7nJRo4/TjQXUeSL2CI/AAAAAAAAB_c/uMdwuIr6MT0/s1600/Speckled+Wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QHfrp7nJRo4/TjQXUeSL2CI/AAAAAAAAB_c/uMdwuIr6MT0/s400/Speckled+Wood.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Speckled Wood</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpOzhzJHU2Y/TjQXQ8YN1QI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/rrMykVRTrG8/s1600/Meadow+Brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpOzhzJHU2Y/TjQXQ8YN1QI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/rrMykVRTrG8/s400/Meadow+Brown.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Meadow Brown</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some luck was with me and I stopped to watch 2 Green Woodpeckers as finished my walk along the Bomb Site path I noticed an Oak Tree and knowing there are Purple Hairstreak reported I took a good look finding one high up and just within my lens range, though the quality wasn't to good with shooting into the sunlight.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQHaTTviX4c/TjQaENyjacI/AAAAAAAAB_g/QajKejEhhEw/s1600/Purple+Hairstreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQHaTTviX4c/TjQaENyjacI/AAAAAAAAB_g/QajKejEhhEw/s400/Purple+Hairstreak.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Purple Hairstreak</span></em></strong> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FsNE-P9V7Ew/TjQaF09_reI/AAAAAAAAB_k/9aedFCH94aE/s1600/Common+Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FsNE-P9V7Ew/TjQaF09_reI/AAAAAAAAB_k/9aedFCH94aE/s400/Common+Blue.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Xv66LfFAEs/TjQaHiJqlZI/AAAAAAAAB_o/txnyWwquL9A/s1600/Common+Blue+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Xv66LfFAEs/TjQaHiJqlZI/AAAAAAAAB_o/txnyWwquL9A/s400/Common+Blue+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NozogxsIhj0/TjQaJTuYt3I/AAAAAAAAB_s/jfgUr73pl-8/s1600/Common+Blue+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NozogxsIhj0/TjQaJTuYt3I/AAAAAAAAB_s/jfgUr73pl-8/s400/Common+Blue+3.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Male Common Blue</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i0ksE03T0pw/TjQaLzMc1vI/AAAAAAAAB_w/EjnYOdo3jUg/s1600/Female+Common+Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i0ksE03T0pw/TjQaLzMc1vI/AAAAAAAAB_w/EjnYOdo3jUg/s400/Female+Common+Blue.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Female Common Blue</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Georgia;">Other butterflies included Peackock and Gatekeeper</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-77331414672500863302011-07-30T15:23:00.000+01:002011-07-30T15:23:21.244+01:00Aston Rowant NNR - 26th July 2011<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Aston Rowant NNR is a great place for butterflies with 35 species recorded on the site and 20 recorded the day before my vist. The sun wasn't out and there was a slight wind so hopes of seeing a high species count on my visit were not very high but with at least 10 on show I don't think I did to bad.</span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywSZfEMA-Do/TjQM-RbrMeI/AAAAAAAAB-c/ayoMK6jmtb0/s1600/Chalkhill+Blue+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywSZfEMA-Do/TjQM-RbrMeI/AAAAAAAAB-c/ayoMK6jmtb0/s400/Chalkhill+Blue+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MyrnzTUT7HI/TjQNBEjfWVI/AAAAAAAAB-g/fo1-ta4jL1Y/s1600/Chalkhill+Blue+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MyrnzTUT7HI/TjQNBEjfWVI/AAAAAAAAB-g/fo1-ta4jL1Y/s400/Chalkhill+Blue+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IDo2bbPgk84/TjQNGkXGxjI/AAAAAAAAB-k/S4VPQ_AA1-k/s1600/Chalkhill+Blue+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IDo2bbPgk84/TjQNGkXGxjI/AAAAAAAAB-k/S4VPQ_AA1-k/s400/Chalkhill+Blue+3.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">Male Chalkhill Blue</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ycM1WXvULOA/TjQNJkd87qI/AAAAAAAAB-o/zXnDz-anMTU/s1600/Female+Chalkhill+Blue+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ycM1WXvULOA/TjQNJkd87qI/AAAAAAAAB-o/zXnDz-anMTU/s400/Female+Chalkhill+Blue+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Female Chalkhill Blue</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9nLJZn6DtQ8/TjQNLbCzzxI/AAAAAAAAB-s/R1r2Q6f_jVA/s1600/Female+Common+Blue+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9nLJZn6DtQ8/TjQNLbCzzxI/AAAAAAAAB-s/R1r2Q6f_jVA/s400/Female+Common+Blue+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Female Common Blue</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gkT1hWjlfFA/TjQNNG8FDmI/AAAAAAAAB-w/Qb6UAjBuTKc/s1600/Brown+Argus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gkT1hWjlfFA/TjQNNG8FDmI/AAAAAAAAB-w/Qb6UAjBuTKc/s400/Brown+Argus.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Brown Argus</span></em></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There were several species of Blue flying and along with Skippers I find them very difficult to identify until I get home and trawl through my photos. Chalkhill Blue were flying in large numbers and with it being the middle of their flying season and Aston Rowants chalk fields its main habbitat it wasn't a supprise.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RpTh0a3E7Ho/TjQQHsAN4GI/AAAAAAAAB-0/tAjSwMojih0/s1600/Essex+Skipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RpTh0a3E7Ho/TjQQHsAN4GI/AAAAAAAAB-0/tAjSwMojih0/s400/Essex+Skipper.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Essex Skipper</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zUNVzwwCh9g/TjQQJooEHLI/AAAAAAAAB-4/PrPPXheddRQ/s1600/Male+Small+Skipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zUNVzwwCh9g/TjQQJooEHLI/AAAAAAAAB-4/PrPPXheddRQ/s400/Male+Small+Skipper.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EARnV1mmVbc/TjQQLcxju-I/AAAAAAAAB-8/c4yG4ED47wc/s1600/Small+Skipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EARnV1mmVbc/TjQQLcxju-I/AAAAAAAAB-8/c4yG4ED47wc/s400/Small+Skipper.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Small Skipper</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40litBZsd6I/TjQRxxsx8hI/AAAAAAAAB_A/ytnWhJkFgDI/s1600/Gatekeeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40litBZsd6I/TjQRxxsx8hI/AAAAAAAAB_A/ytnWhJkFgDI/s400/Gatekeeper.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Gatekeeper</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-08RjrvrcUL4/TjQR0SsKcEI/AAAAAAAAB_E/4W_yvYY5gHo/s1600/Small+Copper+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-08RjrvrcUL4/TjQR0SsKcEI/AAAAAAAAB_E/4W_yvYY5gHo/s400/Small+Copper+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hq0IrhWy2ro/TjQR2rMqpRI/AAAAAAAAB_I/ssYUriakiMc/s1600/Small+Copper+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hq0IrhWy2ro/TjQR2rMqpRI/AAAAAAAAB_I/ssYUriakiMc/s400/Small+Copper+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Small Copper</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8g-XHZzrWRA/TjQR3uQVRSI/AAAAAAAAB_M/Q1PNT9PtXzk/s1600/Small+Heath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8g-XHZzrWRA/TjQR3uQVRSI/AAAAAAAAB_M/Q1PNT9PtXzk/s400/Small+Heath.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Small Heath</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Small Heath was both a difficult species to find and photograph with only 2 subjects seen on my visit and both deep in the grasses. Other species onsite but not photographed were Large Skipper and Meadow Brown</span></div><br />
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<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-71174484723324072662011-07-27T21:44:00.000+01:002011-07-27T21:44:38.235+01:00Black Redstarts, Preston Town Cente - 27th July 2011<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the second year running (as far as I know) a pair of Black Redstarts have successfully bred in Preston town centre. I was unable to locate them last year on several visits but an hour spent there tonight brought signs of a juvenile and though I didn't see the adults the male could be heard calling and both were seen later in the evening along with a second juvenile. Thanks goes out to Zac Hinchcliffe for putting out the information that they were back, check his blog for photos of the adult birds.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmhaaE2ebTQ/TjB4MNpB9RI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/mr1fmM8LVbs/s1600/juvenile+black+redstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmhaaE2ebTQ/TjB4MNpB9RI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/mr1fmM8LVbs/s400/juvenile+black+redstart.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d-0Jyk1tzS8/TjB4JaN93xI/AAAAAAAAB-U/vjBMeaPI_-Q/s1600/juvenile+black+redstart+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d-0Jyk1tzS8/TjB4JaN93xI/AAAAAAAAB-U/vjBMeaPI_-Q/s400/juvenile+black+redstart+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Od1TzxKDHuQ/TjB4Fdbg6CI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/dM077u3JZCU/s1600/juvenile+black+redstart+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Od1TzxKDHuQ/TjB4Fdbg6CI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/dM077u3JZCU/s400/juvenile+black+redstart+3.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7158817447876409970.post-7632104445804982252011-07-24T16:57:00.000+01:002011-07-24T16:57:58.372+01:00Brockholes Nature Reserve LWT - 24th July 2011<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I spent 3 hours in the sunshine wandering around the reserve with Howard Prescot looking mainly for the White-letter and Purple Hairstreaks that are seen in small numbers at this time of year. Though the sun was out there was no sign of them on this visit but there were many other species flying across the reserve.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hlur765QFEc/Tiw51dLedEI/AAAAAAAAB9A/88x8z9-aIgY/s1600/comma+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hlur765QFEc/Tiw51dLedEI/AAAAAAAAB9A/88x8z9-aIgY/s400/comma+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HNWP0fWceXo/Tiw57r48UrI/AAAAAAAAB9E/Pt5tCxAqOA8/s1600/comma+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HNWP0fWceXo/Tiw57r48UrI/AAAAAAAAB9E/Pt5tCxAqOA8/s400/comma+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Comma</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F2bVioYYyEY/Tiw5_6pL9WI/AAAAAAAAB9I/wCrI2O-E2AE/s1600/green-veined+white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F2bVioYYyEY/Tiw5_6pL9WI/AAAAAAAAB9I/wCrI2O-E2AE/s400/green-veined+white.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Green-Veined White</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M4QZy6J5wpA/Tiw6Iv8sppI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/qbYBPVH7ZXs/s1600/Red+Admiral+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M4QZy6J5wpA/Tiw6Iv8sppI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/qbYBPVH7ZXs/s400/Red+Admiral+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gS_uWyXYgko/Tiw6NHLfwMI/AAAAAAAAB9U/UV0gF_hYCp4/s1600/Red+Admiral+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gS_uWyXYgko/Tiw6NHLfwMI/AAAAAAAAB9U/UV0gF_hYCp4/s400/Red+Admiral+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Red Admiral</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4g9Za8cqFk/Tiw6QstBsiI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/KYk2MRMFo-Y/s1600/meadow+brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4g9Za8cqFk/Tiw6QstBsiI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/KYk2MRMFo-Y/s400/meadow+brown.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Meadow Brown</span></em></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Including the above there were also Peacock, Gatekeeper and Speckled Wood also Small and Large Skipper have been reported recently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">With the variety of flowering plants across the reserve is wasn't a supprise to see a great number of bumble bees including the 2 shown below.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b2Wa0Wk7HHE/Tiw8QgzdduI/AAAAAAAAB9c/eP37qnlhHLQ/s1600/Red+tailed+bumblebee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b2Wa0Wk7HHE/Tiw8QgzdduI/AAAAAAAAB9c/eP37qnlhHLQ/s400/Red+tailed+bumblebee.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Red-tailed Bumblebee</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2PQys8S9u3E/Tiw8TvvN-9I/AAAAAAAAB9g/MOm0gWE9yIg/s1600/Buff+tailed+bumblebee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2PQys8S9u3E/Tiw8TvvN-9I/AAAAAAAAB9g/MOm0gWE9yIg/s400/Buff+tailed+bumblebee.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Buff-tailed Bumblebee</span></em></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dragonflies and Damselflies were around in numbers including 6+ Brown Hawkers as well as those shown below.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5kqUHHCLy_Q/Tiw9-tlk_0I/AAAAAAAAB9k/dT_c2-9Yha4/s1600/Common+Darter+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5kqUHHCLy_Q/Tiw9-tlk_0I/AAAAAAAAB9k/dT_c2-9Yha4/s400/Common+Darter+1.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-15hc2Yjlu3k/Tiw-EVWIEPI/AAAAAAAAB9o/--9LzT95_CM/s1600/Common+Darter+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-15hc2Yjlu3k/Tiw-EVWIEPI/AAAAAAAAB9o/--9LzT95_CM/s400/Common+Darter+2.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xFncYhzFUkI/Tiw-J8WUSII/AAAAAAAAB9s/M369elyKI1w/s1600/Common+Darter+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xFncYhzFUkI/Tiw-J8WUSII/AAAAAAAAB9s/M369elyKI1w/s400/Common+Darter+3.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Common Darter</span></em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCKwPLBwT1M/Tiw-PHd99tI/AAAAAAAAB9w/3gsEqc9vMUI/s1600/female+Emperor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCKwPLBwT1M/Tiw-PHd99tI/AAAAAAAAB9w/3gsEqc9vMUI/s400/female+Emperor.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Female Empreror Dragonfly oviposting</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I believe the bottom photograph is of a newly emerged Common Darter as the wings are much more transparent. Whilst I was looking for the White-letter Hairstreak I came across this Common Toad amongst the undergrowth and quite a way from any of the pools.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hRCbQMZNNU/TixALOyS9LI/AAAAAAAAB90/JRmpTSA8MV0/s1600/Common+Toad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hRCbQMZNNU/TixALOyS9LI/AAAAAAAAB90/JRmpTSA8MV0/s400/Common+Toad.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Common Toad</span></em></strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Preston, Lancashire, UK53.769905796727414 -2.631342521679698653.743526796727416 -2.7036030216796987 53.796284796727413 -2.5590820216796986