karen's country calendar

I don't often see woodpeckers in the garden so decided to record this great spotted woodpecker on video, strangely although taken through a window , the video came out clearer than the photos!

The morning dawned rather dull and cloudy with light rain forecast so I decided to keep an eye out over an hour in the morning  whilst carrying on with household chores.   I filled up  my feeders yesterday in the hope that might entice a few more species. First to arrive were a group of three long tailed tits which have started to visit the garden regularly.  Then a robin, bluetit and dunnock followed shortly after.   I noted three wood pigeons sitting up in the trees, with one venturing down to the  feeders later. Not much else  around for the rest of the hour except for a jackdaw that rather likes the  fat balls.  So a bit disappointing but  the dreary weather probably didn't help much. Anyway a  few species to enter on the birdwatch form so worth doing.

The weather didn't look very promising, misty and dull but at least not cold, wet or windy.  Being the only available day for a visit to the Wildfowl Reserve at Welney and the knowledge of a good meal available in the restaurant, we decided to make the trip anyway.  Our fears were realised when  the fog seemed to come down as we got nearer and we really wondered if we would see much at all but just as we approached Welney, it lifted into a mist and the visibility was reasonable. The heated Observatory provided a warm viewing spot though the glass in the windows did not allow for very clear photos.  However all the usual ducks were present (teal, mallard, tufted, shelduck, pochard, wigeon and pintail) together with Mute and the Whooper swans for which Welney is known and Canada and Greylag geese. We also managed to see a number of waders including black tailed godwits, dunlin, lapwing, snipe and a curlew which was the final species for this years list. A...

It was a sunny but slightly breezy  morning when we arrived at Frampton Marsh to check out the waders which had been widely advertised in the RSPB magazine!  We spotted a few butterflies on the walk  from the visitor centre to the main 360 hide and from there saw a good number and  variety of waders particularly large flocks of black tailed godwits and dunlins. Several new birds for this years list included the above plus spoonbills,  avocets and a sandpiper.    We had a good view of a little ringed plover from the hide which obligingly spent most of the time pecking about on a sand bank just in front of us.  A large number of sandmartins were also present flying around near the nest holes.  green veined white    peacock   common blue    large flock of black tailed godwits and dunlins    common sandpiper little ringed plover spoonbills    avo...

A very unimposing entrance (layby next to a gate) was the entrance to this butterfly hotspot near Woodwalton.  A grassy path with wildflowers  either side provided my first sighting this year of a Silver Washed Fritillary and a ringlet.   At the end of the path was another gate with Monks Wood sign and map so we knew we had reached the right place!  Although a bit breezy and not as sunny as we would have liked, we still saw plenty of meadow browns, fritillaries, ringlets,  gatekeepers and red admirals.  silverwashed fritillary  red admiral speckled wood   meadow brown    ringlet     silver washed fritillary

Having visited Therfield Heath at the end of last summer and thinking it would be better to visit earlier in the season, I made a return trip today when it was sunny and warm.   I was looking for chalkhill blues for which the Heath is a known hotspot and I wasnt disappointed. I didnt have to walk far to find a good  number of little blue butterflies fluttering about at low level and round my feet.  They landed frequently enabling photos and seemed to particularly like to congregate on dog's poo that some irresponsible owners had not cleared up!  I also saw a couple mating but unfortunately my camera battery had given up by then as I forgot to check its charge before I went!  However I got enough photos to satisfy me including some of the numerous gatekeepers and meadow browns together with an unidentified moth!  chalkhill blue     chalkhill blue     rather  tatty meadow brown  gatekeeper ...

A beautiful still and sunny morning was ideal for the wildlife boat trip we had booked this morning from St Ives along the Great Ouse.  There were 7 early risers plus the boat owner and a volunteer from the local wildlife  trust.    Plenty of birdsong heard and birds seen along the route as we glided alongside the banks and into backwaters.  Sightings included a kingfisher flying past, two cuckoos in the skies above us and glimpse of reed warblers among the reeds.  45 in total and 4 new ones for this years list. St Ives Bridge, early morning   Two swans in the morning mist   Swan cloud formation   brief stop at Hemingford Lock   Heron on river bank A local seal   Reed bunting