Wednesday 31 July 2013

Another local BLACKWIT






This adult summer ICELANDIC BLACK-TAILED GODWIT was present on the marsh at College Lake BBOWT this morning, along with a Common Sandpiper, 38 Common Terns and 2 Common Swifts





It has been a great season for COMMON TERNS on the reserve with at least 17 juveniles fledging successfully



Two TUFTED DUCK families - one with four and another with twelve


A view from the Octagon Hide looking up towards the Information Centre





I met up with Francis Buckle, and then Mic & Jan Wells - all of us then walking over to Bulbourne to observe and count the 32 GREEN-FLOWERED HELLEBORINES growing there - a very localised plant





Monday 29 July 2013

CHALKHILL BLUES galore

Many hundreds of Chalkhill Blue butterflies are currently showing well on Ivinghoe Hills Nature Reserve - a selection of images I have taken recently below -:

















SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS

MONDAY 29 JULY
Continuing warm at around 22 degrees C but much fresher with SW winds. Some violent storms in the area, leading to localised flash flooding.
Had a good look around the farmland at ROWSHAM (BUCKS) but failed to locate any Common Redstarts (1-2 have been reported here lately including an adult male) - just Green Woodpecker, 3 Common Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer and 28 Barn Swallows noted.
Similarly at GALLOWS BRIDGE BBOWT (BUCKS), could not locate the Wood Sandpiper present there over the past two days but 3 Sedge Warblers and 4 Yellow Wagtails.
Meanwhile, my first visit to TRING RESERVOIRS (HERTS) in over a month resulted in a family party of SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS being seen in MARSWORTH WOOD. Goldcrests have bred successfully too with a family thereabouts, whilst the reservoir itself held 11 Great Crested Grebes, 74 Mallard and a family party of 4 Coot. A lot of Western Reed Warbler activity in the reeds by the sluice.
On neighbouring STARTOP'S, 7 Little Egrets on the mud, with 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swans, 66 Mallard and 79 Coot on the reservoir; TRINGFORD held just 18 Lapwing and the 7 Mute Swans (adults with 5 surviving cygnets)














Little Egrets and Western Reed Warblers

Sunday 28 July 2013

TURNSTONE

David Bilcock had a TURNSTONE briefly at Startop's this morning, as well as a juvenile MEDITERRANEAN GULL. A family party of SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS were in Marsworth Wood

Sunday 21 July 2013

Today's images - AVOCET and BLACKWIT

Some nice images of today's star waders taken by DAVE HUTCHINSON.......





PIED AVOCET at College Lake WWT

An interesting morning with a number of waders:-

Common Sandpiper on fresh marsh when I arrived at 09.20
and PIED AVOCET found soon after on far bank of deep lake which later flew into fresh
marsh to join an adult summer plumaged ICELANDIC BLACK-TAILED GODWIT which had arrived c11.00 and all three waders in scope field of view at once! A Common Redshank and 4 Oystercatchers also in view

A male sparrowhawk flew low over the fresh marsh as did a juvenile COMMON CUCKOO, both flying from left to right low.

Francis Buckle

Thursday 18 July 2013

And another selection from Francis - FROG ORCHIDS


Musk Orchid in full flower


And a nice Frog Orchid in equal splendour



Sadly, after Francis and I visited, this fine specimen was eaten by a Muntjac Deer ! - where was the caging on this one?


And what a year for Musk Orchids - 68 spikes of which I counted at this site


And Marbled Whites are out in absolute profusion at the moment