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Showing posts from September, 2013

Black Redstart & Wheatear at Leckhampton Hill plus Upton-on-Severn

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Saturday 28th September 2013 Black Redstart The Black Redstart was still at the derelict Hill Farm, Leckhampton Hill, in the morning. It was very elusive at first in a cool easterly wind, but showed nicely as the wind dropped and short glimpses of hazy sunshine broke through the cloud. The bird made a couple of excursions towards the car park and was on power lines near my car later. Also a Wheatear at the farm briefly, which soon moved SE and then flew off, plus a charm of 35 Goldfinches . Wheatear The Black Redstart shows off its red start Hill Farm, Leckhampton Hill In the afternoon I went to Upton-on-Severn, Worcs, with Linda and Tansy (the daughter not the plant). On a pleasant walk along Upton Ham I saw two Kingfishers , also three Common Darters , two Migrant Hawkers , and an Angle Shades moth and Comma Butterfly. Also some Tansy (the plant not the daughter) in flower. Male Common Darter Female Migrant Hawker Angle Shades Tansy flowers

Buff-breasted Sandpiper at WWT

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Saturday 21st September 2013 Buff-breasted Sandpiper The BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER showed well at the Dumbles edge over the high tide in the morning. A good range of other birds included Dunlins , Ringed Plovers , two Curlew Sandpipers , four Little Stints , a Golden Plover , a Bar-tailed Godwit , two Common Terns , Yellow Wagtails with the cattle, and last but not least a COMMON SEAL , my first in the county. Less cropped photo Juvenile Ringed Plover Buff-breasted Sandpiper (right) in front of a Dunlin, & Curlew Sandpiper (right) Nice work James! Also at Slimbridge, the wild 2nd yr Common Crane was in a field to the east of Van de Bovenkamp hide, the female Ruddy Shelduck was with collection birds again in the Asia Pen, and at Zeiss Hide a Spotted Redshank , two Greenshanks and ten Ruff . Common Crane Ruddy Shelduck

Common Crane & Ruddy Shelduck at WWT

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Saturday 14th September 2013 Common Crane The wild 2nd-year Common Crane was showing really well this morning at the back of the Asia pen at WWT Slimbridge; much closer than my views on Thursday. In front of it on the water was the unringed and fully-winged Ruddy Shelduck showing down to a few feet. Female Ruddy Shelduck A walk along the Holden/summer walkway earlier produced a Redstart , a Whinchat , a Wheatear , two Lesser Whitethroats , two Willow Warblers , at least 15 Chiffchaffs , c20 Meadow Pipits , a Sparrowhawk , and a Brent Goose out on the estuary.

Wild Common Crane at WWT

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Thursday 12th September 2013 Common Crane - 2nd c.y. bird, no rings and with complete wings A wild Common Crane turned up today among the collection cranes at WWT Slimbridge, later moving to the Top New Piece. Following a mad dash after work, I managed to get to Zeiss Hide in time to see it for a long overdue county tick. I didn't have time to take much else in, but saw a Buff-tip caterpillar on Willow in the grounds on the way back to the centre. Buff-tip moth caterpillar, WWT And now for a bit of a catchup. On 25th August I went to the Brown Hairstreak open day at Grafton Wood, Worcestershire. The Brown Hairstreaks showed nicely with several females seen along a long section of Blackthorn hedge, egg-laying. I made full use of the photo-opportunity: This female has just laid an egg - top centre in the photo The western perimeter ride at Grafton Wood, with the Blackthorn hedge on the left On 28th August, it was pretty quiet at WWT. I walked dow