Common Blue

Spotted this little beauty on my way out of Center Parcs yesterday, posed long enough for a few images.

Back on the patch, the past few days have provided some great sightings including, Green Sandpiper, Barn and Short-Eared Owl hunting the main meadow, large numbers of Golden Plover, Tufted Duck with 5 ducklings and at least 6 Common Terns on the pond making use of the newly gravelled island (the most I've ever seen).

Unexpected in Salford

Today I've been down to the University of Salford for an interview. Once I'd finished I had a few hours before my train departed for Penrith, so I wandered off campus and along the River Irwell. The first thing to catch my eye as I headed down was a Kingfisher darting along the bank side ! Something I hadn't expected in pretty much inner city Manchester. Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Moorhen, Canada Geese, and Black Headed Gulls were all on the first bend.


The majority of the stretch I covered had flood defences either side, with large housing estates not far from the water. Adding Chiff Chaff Grey Wagtail, Stock Dove and a few Grey Squirrels I soon began moving out of the man made landscape and into a little wild corner, an area labeled on the map as the 'Irwell Sculpture Trail', it had the vibe of Plessey Woods. Another Kingfisher made it self known, along with a single Grey Heron, but as I made my way round the corner the most unexpected sighting of the day occurred, first the call, then a brief glimpse flying by, a Green Sandpiper ! Using the bank as covered I managed to creep along and watch it feeding along the shoreline.


Its amazing what urban areas can hide.

I love my patch, Part 2

August 3rd was my first evening back on patch, heading down quite late the aim of the night was to see how the Barn Owls had faired, I was extremely pleased to find 3 individuals, of which 2 I think are this years fledge chicks. Moving on to the Dene a Tawny Owl family could be heard calling, the first young I've heard calling on patch. BD text me informing me of a Green Sandpiper, which I could just make out in the failing light, along with a lone Redshank and 4 Snipe.


Back the next day to find Joe's Spotted Redshank, which was showing extremely well, joined by 2 Green Sandpiper. BD joined me later, but with a lack of Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank made a brief appearance but didn't hang around. We headed up to the North Pool, and were rewarded with an adult Barn Owl, Joe arrived not long after this, but the Shank still wasn't present, just as we turned to leave it came plummeting out of the air, presumably from the Beehive Flash.


The next morning I arrived at Holywell for 04:00am with the plan being to photograph some of the passage waders, kitted up I headed for my chosen site, getting into position before the light began to break. As the light began to build I could pick out both Greenshank and Green Sandpiper, it was now a waiting game. The time passed relatively quickly with the whirring of ducks close over head, and the very close proximity to a Moorhen, I began snapping, firstly distance objects then steadily closer as the light grew. Following the Greenshank it gradually moved closer and closer towards me, until it was literally 30cm from the lens, to close to focus, happily feeding. The feeding must have been good as the Green Sandpiper soon joined it, and I sat watching both birds for a good while before they began moving into range, stopping to the noise of the shutter, then continuing on. The chance of great light and better shots was lost when a female Sparrowhawk flew from the North Wood, where her family could be heard calling.


A Grey Wagtail family and a lone Dipper were down the Dene that morning as well.


It wasn't long before I was back, picking Brian and Stephen up at 17:30 in search of the waders and the reported juv Black Necked Grebe. It proved to be an exciting and busy evening at Holywell, with Stephen picking up 4 lifers, including a juv Med Gull. Bumped into John down there as well.


Here's some photo's from the night, but my best images are below this post.

Juv Med Gull

Two leggy birds (Ruff and Greenshank)

Black Necked Grebe

This post was planned to be published yesterday, but I had an unexpected visit, and over night stay to the Hospital. I was discharged this morning, not wanting to waste the rest of the day my Dad and I headed for Whitburn in search of the Humpback, unfortunately we didn't connect with it, but it was good to get out.

Tonight I've been rearranging my blog, I'm planning to post my better images as the size below from now on, but as always with the smaller images, double click for some more detail. Any feedback on the new layout would be great, especially its causing any problems or difficulties :)

And finally I have a new blog to plug, a volunteer from SLS, she's now in South Africa and proving to be a challenge to keep up with ! 

http://ladyhollysiddons.blogspot.com/

I love my patch, Part 1

Greenshank

Green Sandpiper

A few images from this mornings session, cut short by a passing Sparrowhawk.

Part 2 (the text to accompany this post) will follow.

Geltsdale, Bishop Middleham, then Holywell

On Thursday I had an invite from Ewan, to his patch and home, Geltsdale. Arriving at about 10:30 we had a couple of hours to burn before Gary was due to turn up. Before heading out into the fells Ewan took me for a wander round his neighbours garden, looking for Spotted Flycatchers, unfortunately it wasn't to be. Out on the fells with the dogs we soon picked up two Short Eared Owls quartering the ground. Also about were a number of Kestrels, Meadow Pipit, Curlew, a male Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Roe Deer, Rabbit, and Brown Hare.

When Gary arrived at about 13:30 we headed straight to Longtown in search of Yellow Wagtail, at the location we picked up two birds amongst a number of Pied Wagtail, 8 Goosesanders were also in the area. The rest of the day was spent back on the fell, where more Short Eared Owl, and a Barn Owl were seen. A great day in a beautiful place.

Today I've been to Bishop Middleham with Brian, check his blog for the update, I'll just leave you with some pictures, another good day with a lifer of a Corn Bunting.

Carline Thistle Carlina Vulgaris

Ringlet Aphantopus huperantus

Five-spot burnet Zygaeana trifolii

Fragrant Orchid

Red Helleborines Epipactis atrorubens

To finish the day off I took my sister and a friend down to Holywell, we stopped firstly at the Public Hide, two Green Sandpiper were feeding on the scrape, then we moved on to find the Barn Owl, and it showed giving us some brilliant views.