Early morning at Fen Drayton

-

 A calm bright sunny morning was the perfect weather for a walk at Fen Drayton looking for warblers. I joined Paul and Phil at 630am and we were immediately serenaded by  bird song,  Unfortunately although we had a good number of sightings, many were only brief and not really suitable for photographs especially when you are with other people. 

I was however, pleased to record my first sightings this year of willow warblers, garden warblers, reed bunting, cettis warbler, swifts, bullfinches and the sound of a cuckoo.  There were also plenty of whitethroats, blackcaps, and a flock of several oyster catchers also flew overhead.

Walking back to the car about 8am I was surprised to find an early riser orange tip butterfly warming itself up with spread wings although I didnt think the air was particularly warm myself! 

NB Later in the day, I had a call to go over to our very local wading hot spot just outside Hilton to see a Temmincks stint!    Too far away for a photo but identifiable through a telescope.

 







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Warblers at Ouse Fen

-
Image
 A sunny morning, free day and reports of a Great Reed Warbler seen at Ouse Fen found me visiting the reserve this morning. The carpark was busy which was a good indication that this rare visitor was still there and I soon got into conservation with a gentleman who was also about to walk down to where it had been seen.  It wasnt long before we saw a group of birders ahead of us on a viewing mound which had been trampled down and a kind person offered me a view through his telescope as as we arrived where it was in full song.  I was soon able to locate  in my binoculars and camera and noticed its  striking red throat when singing.   Once I was satisfied with photos I headed off round the reserve where reed buntings, sedge and reed warblers and whitethroats were very visible and I also saw my first painted lady butterfly of the season.  Great Reed Warbler Can you see me? Reed Bunting Whitethroat Sedge Warbler
Read more

three counties butterflies

-
Image
 A few weeks ago when the weather was warm and sunny I made a few trips looking for the summer butterflies in Norfolk, Northampton and Cambridgeshire. Our Norfolk trip was to Strumpshaw Fen where for the past few years we have tried, to spot the beautiful but elusive swallowtail but only managed short glimpses due to cloudy or windy conditions or being too early or too late in the season!  However on 16 June this year the weather and flight window seemed perfect so we were very hopeful  of success this time. On arrival we checked in and immediately saw a group of people with telescopes at the reception hide where they had spotted a bittern amongst the reeds, Someone kindly offered us the use of their telescope where we had a quick sighting before it disappeared into the reeds again. We then made for the area known as the 'Doctors garden' where swallowtails are most often seen nectaring and several people standing in the area told us they had just had a close up of one on nearby
Read more

Group visit to Therfield Heath

-
Image
 I have been to Therfield Heath a few times over the past years but I received an email notification that a guide led visit was scheduled for last Tuesday - at a time I was free so decided to book and see what I could learn from others.  The starting point was at the main Therfield Heath carpark, which I didnt know existed as I always parked at the other end of the Heath so that was a new place for me. As I waited for others to arrive, I saw a good number of meadow browns,  ringlets and large skippers amongst the grasses near where I parked my car. Soon I spotted a few others arriving so  I went over and joined the group where we were introduced to our leader, Nick who said he only lived a few hundred yards away and was a Conservateur of Therfield Heath.  He lead us round the edge of the eastern side of the Heath, an  area I hadnt explored before, we saw all the usual grass loving butterflies including a good number of Marbled white and skipper butterflies including the Essex skipper. 
Read more