Quick trip to Swinemoor on the edge of Beverely this evening after escaping work early. Best described as dire!!!
A couple of Little-ringed Plover the only birds of note present.
The quick trip was aborted early to find something more worthwhile to do.
Monday, 11 April 2011
Other than the Purple Heron
Moving on from the much-appreciated Purple Heron enjoyed by many on Sunday at Tophill Low NR prior to doing it's vanishing act, I took the opportunity to enjoy the sun and play with the camera. I did bother with the Purple Heron... easily viewable on North Lagoon over the hedge for someone my height!
Slightly more showy later-afternoon that the Heron was this elusive Water Rail.
Popping in before leaving and heading north, up to 3 Pink-footed Geese were present over the weekend.
While this Willow Warbler was one of many summer arrivals singing and showing well in the afternoon sunshine.
Unfortunately, I missed the late-afternoon Common Crane but I decided to stop back until late and take in the wagtail roost at the south end. Three Yellow Wagtails the highlight and 33+ Pied Wagtails roosted. I'm still yet to see a Wagtail showing characteristics of Motacilla alba alba this spring despite a few being mooted to be around - everything I've seen so far is M. a. yarrellii. Maybe it's my eyes, or maybe I might see more than a few in the next few weeks.
Also around was a Greenshank flying up and down the site most of the afternoon and 2+ Buzzards were rather showy for most of the time I was there.
Slightly more showy later-afternoon that the Heron was this elusive Water Rail.
Popping in before leaving and heading north, up to 3 Pink-footed Geese were present over the weekend.
While this Willow Warbler was one of many summer arrivals singing and showing well in the afternoon sunshine.
Unfortunately, I missed the late-afternoon Common Crane but I decided to stop back until late and take in the wagtail roost at the south end. Three Yellow Wagtails the highlight and 33+ Pied Wagtails roosted. I'm still yet to see a Wagtail showing characteristics of Motacilla alba alba this spring despite a few being mooted to be around - everything I've seen so far is M. a. yarrellii. Maybe it's my eyes, or maybe I might see more than a few in the next few weeks.
Also around was a Greenshank flying up and down the site most of the afternoon and 2+ Buzzards were rather showy for most of the time I was there.
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Purple patch
Everything that was great was purple today at Tophill Low NR.
During a conversation with Doug Fairweather on the problems of photographing Groundhoppers in the field, I mentioned 'Oh look there goes a Purple Heron!' The conversation continued 'Bloody thing won't... yer what???' Then we both watched the bird lazily flying south overhead before heading to Watton Nature Reserve and appearing to land. Hot-footing round O res the half mile to the hide, Doug and me found Keith Rotherham sitting comfortably, perhaps a little bemused... until the bird, which was completely out of view, took off and headed back NE over Tophill... the record pics of it in flight in case it vanished!
Nice way to see a great bird... idiot free!
Eventually, it appeared late-afternoon and took up residence on North Lagoon for folk to see. Another record shot of it below.
I'm sure many big lenses will be out tomorrow for better pictures. The 3rd I've seen at Tophill and the first I've found there... (albeit unknown to us, Derrick Venus had it several minutes before on North Lagoon briefly so credit to his eyes)
I have to admit I've not seen a Purple Heron fly over 2 Pink Feet and a White Front before, but that happened today at WNR. I guess I won't see that happen again! On the plastic front, a female Wood Duck was also present.
The best of the other birds included two Common Terns. 2 LRPS, and a Sedge Warbler on the site. A Peregrine flew north late afternoon.
Back to the theme purple. I'm lucky in that I've been allowed, over the last decade or so, to be able to use the moth traps at Tophill. And for all the dull ones I have too catch... now and again you catch your favourites.
Not the best set of pictures... but 'a perfect' Purple Thorn to view is absolutely stunning... my pictures don't do it justice, but it was pretty smart.
However, it was a cool night so not many moths were trapped. The best of the rest included The Streamer
While the first Powdered Quakers and Early Greys of the year appeared in the traps.
The Lepidoptera theme continued for most of the day, with many on the wing. The count as taken from the notebook involved 34 Peacock, 5 Speckled Wood, 8 Green-viened White, 7 Comma and 6 Small Tortoiseshell.
For the latest Tophill news, check out the Tophill Low blog
During a conversation with Doug Fairweather on the problems of photographing Groundhoppers in the field, I mentioned 'Oh look there goes a Purple Heron!' The conversation continued 'Bloody thing won't... yer what???' Then we both watched the bird lazily flying south overhead before heading to Watton Nature Reserve and appearing to land. Hot-footing round O res the half mile to the hide, Doug and me found Keith Rotherham sitting comfortably, perhaps a little bemused... until the bird, which was completely out of view, took off and headed back NE over Tophill... the record pics of it in flight in case it vanished!
Nice way to see a great bird... idiot free!
Eventually, it appeared late-afternoon and took up residence on North Lagoon for folk to see. Another record shot of it below.
I'm sure many big lenses will be out tomorrow for better pictures. The 3rd I've seen at Tophill and the first I've found there... (albeit unknown to us, Derrick Venus had it several minutes before on North Lagoon briefly so credit to his eyes)
I have to admit I've not seen a Purple Heron fly over 2 Pink Feet and a White Front before, but that happened today at WNR. I guess I won't see that happen again! On the plastic front, a female Wood Duck was also present.
The best of the other birds included two Common Terns. 2 LRPS, and a Sedge Warbler on the site. A Peregrine flew north late afternoon.
Back to the theme purple. I'm lucky in that I've been allowed, over the last decade or so, to be able to use the moth traps at Tophill. And for all the dull ones I have too catch... now and again you catch your favourites.
Not the best set of pictures... but 'a perfect' Purple Thorn to view is absolutely stunning... my pictures don't do it justice, but it was pretty smart.
However, it was a cool night so not many moths were trapped. The best of the rest included The Streamer
While the first Powdered Quakers and Early Greys of the year appeared in the traps.
The Lepidoptera theme continued for most of the day, with many on the wing. The count as taken from the notebook involved 34 Peacock, 5 Speckled Wood, 8 Green-viened White, 7 Comma and 6 Small Tortoiseshell.
For the latest Tophill news, check out the Tophill Low blog
Friday, 8 April 2011
And the view from the window
So the best day of the year so far and I find myself doing overtime in the office instead of being out in the field enjoying the sun!
However, the plus point was that I was sat near the window and was able to count 4 Holly Blue and a Brimstone in the staff car park while the Ashes Park in Howden played host to an Orange Tip and another 3 Holly Blue.
The rest of the week has seen me in the office, other than Red Kites on the way into work and numerous Barn Owls on the way out of work it has been rather dull.
My mate and blog contributor, Neil Hart, had a better week connecting with both the Slavonian Grebe at Tophill Low NR and the nearby Osprey at Arram which is proving popular with the 'dudes'. Twitching Ospreys... look up when you are out then you might see!!!
It has been rather warm on an evening of late and I've got a few moths at the window. The Streamer collected tonight is presently chilling in the fridge ready for photos as it is a garden tick, and this, which I think is Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, was taken at light during the small hours of Thursday morning.
However, the plus point was that I was sat near the window and was able to count 4 Holly Blue and a Brimstone in the staff car park while the Ashes Park in Howden played host to an Orange Tip and another 3 Holly Blue.
The rest of the week has seen me in the office, other than Red Kites on the way into work and numerous Barn Owls on the way out of work it has been rather dull.
My mate and blog contributor, Neil Hart, had a better week connecting with both the Slavonian Grebe at Tophill Low NR and the nearby Osprey at Arram which is proving popular with the 'dudes'. Twitching Ospreys... look up when you are out then you might see!!!
It has been rather warm on an evening of late and I've got a few moths at the window. The Streamer collected tonight is presently chilling in the fridge ready for photos as it is a garden tick, and this, which I think is Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, was taken at light during the small hours of Thursday morning.
Sunday, 3 April 2011
What appears when everyone goes home
A late trip out to Tophill Low NR tonight. Not wanting to sound unsocial but happiness is an empty car park. The Sunday rush had gone and just one regular was around.
A short tour of the south end of the site turned up a Yellow Wagtail which roosted with 26 Pied Wagtails, while 2 Whooper Swans came in from Leven Carrs at dusk and pleasantly trumpeted for several minutes. A Green Sandpiper was calling on SME while a couple of Redshanks, several Oystercatchers and 3 Little-ringed Plovers hurtled around the marshes.
Hiding from a heavy shower, this Long-tailed Tit made up the the photogenic highlight before taking cover from the worsening weather!
A short tour of the south end of the site turned up a Yellow Wagtail which roosted with 26 Pied Wagtails, while 2 Whooper Swans came in from Leven Carrs at dusk and pleasantly trumpeted for several minutes. A Green Sandpiper was calling on SME while a couple of Redshanks, several Oystercatchers and 3 Little-ringed Plovers hurtled around the marshes.
Hiding from a heavy shower, this Long-tailed Tit made up the the photogenic highlight before taking cover from the worsening weather!
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Favourable conditions allow us to be busier than usual
The early morning grey clouds and showers didn't spoil a busy Saturday at Tophill Low NR. A lot of things to see, identifications to sort and plenty of signs of spring - even when the sun wasn't out!
Plenty of moths in the traps. Highlights included Early Thorn (pictured above and below) and a Pine Beauty among the regular expected species.
Pine Beauty
Diurnea fagella was a site first last week. This (below) one of several encountered in and around the traps. Some rather rough surveying uncovered 49 today when we searched both the traps and the trunks of the oak trees at both ends of the site. Unsurprisingly, we didn't find any of the flightless females but it would appear that the species is present in small numbers.
Finally caught up with a 1st summer Little Gull when one appeared on D res early afternoon. Either the same bird that has been appearing or another moving through. Certainly, whilst looking through the gull roost twice this week (Tues and Fri), no Little Gulls have been present, so maybe there are a few going through. A few more migrants in, with singing Willow Warblers, many Chiffchaffs and up to 80+ Sand Martin and a handful of Swallows over D. A few Bramblings remain and a light passage of Meadow Pipits involved a minimum of 20-30 birds moving north from 9.15-10.30 as I birded by ear waiting for fellow moth trappers to arrive!
A few folk obviously turned up for the drake Scaup that has been on D for a while. It was present there around 9am but then disappeared... cunningly hiding away on South Marsh East with assorted Aytha and spending the majority of the time asleep!
Though it did wake up on occasions.
Doug Fairweather and me have had a one Hevella conundrum over the last week. Between us, last weekend we found a number of specimens in new areas of the reserve after finding one last year and they didn't look quite right. Pretty certain though, after collecting and comparing specimens, that they are all Sooty Cup - which means we don't need to send a parcel down south - but if anyone thinks different then please comment. All constructive help appreciated.
A few other nice bits around. This stand of Wood Blewits are showing well by one of the gates, but will be missed by many.
The Scarlet Elf Cups still remain... albeit a little passed their best
The best of the rest, well the only others we found were a small stand of Sulphur Tuft and some St George's Mushrooms.
Many other insects are now on the wing. This Bombylius major pictured by Doug was one of up to 10 we encountered around the site.
Add in up to a dozen Grass Snakes - none which posed, numerous spiders (Doug seems to be on their case at the moment - 'haps I will blog his new photography pot) and a semi-exhaustive search (note emphasis on semi!) for Large Red Damselflies - 15 days 'til they might be out and the only way to break your earliest date is to look earlier - then it turned out to be a busy day.
A lot of fun, but to be honest... did we really see that much? Season is just starting!
Friday, 1 April 2011
Time with the camera
With the week in the office complete, and not much on the pager locally, I opted for an afternoon with the camera at Tophill Low NR. I work on the idea of the more I practice, the better the pictures might become! Hopefully!
Surprise on arrival as a Greenshank flew north over the car park and D Res calling. Best start checking Swinemoor on an evening when time allows.
Little on show on North Marsh other than the Little Grebes making occasional sorties close enough to the hide to be photographed.
The spring sunshine prompted two Peacocks to bask on the path in sheltered spot. On the way in, a Brimstone was being blown through Watton after venturing out into the wind.
A couple of cracking Slime moulds Enteridium lycoperdon are just passing their best on dead pines just before the middle hide of D Res.
No sign of the drake Scaup on D early evening, though a drake Goosander was again present. A Barn Owl put in an appearance at North Marsh and a Corn Bunting was singing occasionally to the east of the river.
A relaxing start to the last long weekend for a couple of weeks.
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