karen's country calendar

 When my sister comes up to stay we usually spend a day out birding together looking for birds she doesnt see in her area and adding to my list as I dont get out birding much on my own.  Yesterday was no exception and we decided to do a round trip of three reserves with different habitats starting with Eldernell by the Nene Washes where our aim was to see some owls.  There were a few other birders there also looking and once we had identified the area for the tawny sighting, my sister managed to spot it sitting in it usual hole deep in the woods.  We heard that the long eared owl normally seen there, was not in its usual place in the hedge so I wondered along looking to see if it was anywhere else. Suddenly my sister called out, "there's an owl" as something shot out from near me and flew across a field to a distant bramble bush.  We trained our binoculars on the brambles and could just make out the head of a short eared owl.  Another tick.  Sadly we d...

  Pencil and paper at the ready, binoculars and camera to hand, I sat down in the Conservatory ready to start my Big Garden Birdwatch for 2023.  My eyes went immediately to the feeders where I expected to see most of the activity ..... Nothing!     I scanned the tall trees and noted 3 woodpigeons,  which over the hour increased to 5 and with the addition of a magpie and collared dove.  Back to the feeders and  a great tit made a dive for the peanuts then back to the nearby bush where it proceeded to enjoy its breakfast.   Movement at the base of the feeder showed me a female blackbird busy pecking the titbits that had fallen from above,    Two male blackbirds then joined with one keen to chase the female round the garden till she flew off.  A pair of greenfinches flew in to a nearby bush from where they hopped onto the feeders and stayed for a while gorging on the sunflowers. A single goldfinch joined them and a ...

 Having been unable to visit Woodwalton Fen last year due to a broken ankle, I decided to try this year in search of the Purple Emperor butterflies so I duly set off yesterday morning early. I got to the turning down to the centre but signs all indicated that the road was shut and a diversion was in place so I duly followed the diversion which was about 10 miles  However I was frustrated to find it was also shut that direction so decided I had better return home but as Monks Wood wasnt far I stopped off there on the way.  I was pleased I did as I had a very obliging silver washed fritillary and a sighting of a White Admiral, my first for the year.  I also met a photographer with whom I discussed my morning frustration and he told me I should have ignored the first signs as the road was only shut after the the centre!  I should have zoomed in on the googlemaps before I came which would have shown me.   I decided to have another attempt today although th...

 A visit from my sister usually means we can go out and about bird and butterfly hunting together.  Our original plans to search for the beautiful Swallowtail butterfly were shelved as it is near the end of the season and chances of seeing them were getting slimmer so we elected to visit Minsmere on the Suffolk Coast which was a first visit for my sister.  There was plenty to see although not as many waders as expected.  We did see a variety of gulls and terns with a Mediterranean gull and Kittiwake playing "Where's Wally" amongst the many blackbacked gulls and providing me with two new ticks for the year. There were numerous sand martins nesting in the purpose built bank and in the popular Bittern Hide we were treated to a several Bittern fly pasts and a view of a kingfisher perching in the water channel.  Dragonflies were also seen including an ovipositing female Emperor Dragonfly and the large green eyed brown Norfolk Hawker patrolling up and down a ditch. Af...

 This time of year, I usually visit Therfield Heath to see the marbled white butterflies which are in  abundance and today I wasnt disappointed.  It was a warm sunny morning and as soon as I arrived I could see many white butterflies flying amongst the long grass but only rarely settling on the few flowers amongst the grass  and usually a distance from the path so it was not easy to get close or the waving grasses were in front making focusing difficult.  However, I managed a few shots.  I also saw about a dozen Dark Green Fritillaries flying fast over the meadow or crossing the path in front of me but not close or slow enough to see clearly and certainly none showed the slightest intent of settling!   However they are usually still about in July when  I plan  to next visit to see the Chalkhill blues so hopefully I may get a photograph then particularly if there is a bit of cloud floating around to give the occasional shade. I also saw t...