Recent Sightings - WWT and beyond

Monday 21st August - Sunday 2nd September 2012
Green Sandpiper, WWT
This Green Sandpiper was coming very close to the hide on the Rushy on Sunday (2nd September), giving a great photo opportunity.

Video here.

Here are some other highlights from recent days, including my week-and-a-bit leave:

22/8/12
Two Willow Warblers were in the front garden early morning. Hidcote Manor Gardens was teeming with butterflies later, on a warm, sunny day. Lots of Peacocks and Red Admirals especially but also a Holly Blue, a Brimstone, a Comma, and Large, Small, and Green-veined Whites. Also a Migrant Hawker and a Brown Hawker.
Holly Blue, Hidcote
Holly Blue, Hidcote
Peacock, Hidcote
Late afternoon a Common Darter was in the garden.
Male (not fully mature) Common Darter, garden
23/8/12
No sign of White Storks at Whit Moor - they had moved on to Dorset and beyond, but I found a Great White Egret along with 32 Little Egrets and c50 Grey Herons. At Shapwick Heath I saw the Great Whit Egret nest, with one adult (presumed female) and one fully-grown young. Also an Osprey here.
Great White Egret, Whit Moor, Somerset
Osprey, Shapwick Heath, Somerset
24/8/12
At WWT again, four Common Cranes from the release project were in a roadside field; a first-winter Mediterranean Gull was briefly on South Lake; two Little Egrets, the Wood Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and six Green Sandpipers were on the Tack Piece; five Green Sandpipers and two Stock Doves were in the Rushy.
Common Crane, WWT
Stock Dove and Green Sandpiper, WWT
26/8/12
Mark got me on a nice local male Redstart opposite Haywicks Farm at Hardwicke.

28/8/12
Three visits to WWT included an evening visit which produced good views of the South Lake SPOTTED CRAKE between 7.00 and 7.30pm (my best efforts were beyond Photoshop though!). Earlier highlights involved an adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was on South Lake, plus three Greenshanks, three Ruff, two Green Sandpipers and the Long-billed Dowitcher; a LITTLE STINT was on the Top New Piece; and three Green Sandpipers on the Rushy. A Large Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar was rescued from the path outside South Lake hide.
Adult winter Mediterranean Gull, WWT
Large Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar, WWT
1/9/12
Around 30 Swallows were in Slimbridge village. Over the morning high tide the Top New Piece hosted the Long-billed Dowitcher, a Greenshank, a Knot, two Ruff; and the juvenile Marsh Harrier caused a stir as it passed through. The four released Common Cranes were in their usual roadside field.

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