Friday, May 23, 2008

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Swift

Ringed Plover



On the shore at Gunwade Lake, Ferry Meadows, 13.5.08. (DSLR)

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Scarce skippers


Grizzled Skipper



Dingy Skipper
These shots were the only ones I have so far managed to rescue from a corrupted SD card (big thanks go out to Bob Martin from Practical Photography for his time and skills employed to retrieve my pics!). The insects were at Old Sulehay quarry, and Jas, Ed and I had a lot of fun trying to get decent images of these two gems of scarce local butterflies.
(Canon PowerShot A640)

Monday, May 12, 2008

Peewit composite


When I was a child, I thought the Woodcock was the Peewit – somehow the name suited the extraordinary appearance of this most charismatic of our waders. You could still sort of argue that that is what they squeak between croaks in the magnificent roding display flight.
I had a joyous evening at a site near here on Friday, watching multiple roding Woodcocks, including a pair chasing each other with short excited clipped notes. Grasshopper Warblers were everywhere, Nightingales trying to out-dominate them. Tawny Ows hooted and a Barn Owl screeched repeatedly, while an angry Chinese Water Deer barked out its evil warning.
But best of all was a duetting pair of Long-eared Owls, with one bird even indulging in a spot of wing-clap display.
Pure summer joy for the lover of the glorious, crepuscular gloaming.

Wag


I would call this bird a White Wagtail (M. a. alba), but you may disagree...
It was at March Farmers, the eastern part of the Nene Washes, on 11.5.08.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Minx





Temminck's Stint, Maxey pits, 10.5.08 (digiscope). We've been waiting for one of these for a while now. There was report with sketch from last year, but this is the first time multiple observers have connected with one of these cute creeps at the 'new' site at Maxey. Still presetn on 11.5.08.

Woodcock

Black Tern



We've had a great passage of Black Terns this spring, including this bird, one of at least 20 through Gunwade Lake, Ferry Meadows in teh last week.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Hebridean dreams


Returning first-summer Corn Crake, Cambs, April 2008 (digiscope).

Little Gulls



There were six Little Gulls at Gunwade Lake, Ferry Meadows CP, this lunchtime (7.5.08): five first-winters and a second-winter. Here is one of the first-winter types (DSLR).

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Friday, May 02, 2008