Paul's Birding Diary

Tuesday 30th September 2014 Pisaura mirabilis (Nursery Web Spider) - quite a few of these around at the moment As I contemplate the repair estimate for my scope - an accumulation of wear and tear culminating in a fault on the focusing - my attention has turned of late to Spiders. My curiosity has been sparked by Collins Field Guide: Spiders - Britain and Northern Eurpoe, a recent birthday gift, and a desire to try and identify the local Araneae (a low-scoring scrabble word that). The author, Michael J. Roberts, isn't big on common names, but I've included here those used elsewhere. I must add, it is an excellent book. Anyway, here are a few pics from the garden and local environs. Pisaura mirabilis (Nursery Web Spider) Pardosa amentata (Spotted Wolf Spider) - several in the canal area but I haven't yet seen one in the garden Meta segmentata (Autumn Spider), male (left) and female (right) Meta segmentata (Autumn Spider), male Salticus scenicus...

Saturday 6th September 2014 Three of the Curlew Sandpipers At WWT Slimbridge this morning with Mike and Mark a good selection of birds around, including a GARGANEY , five CURLEW SANDPIPERS , five Ruffs , a Spotted Redshank , five Little Stints and 20+ Black-tailed Godwits from Zeiss Hide, six Common Cranes (presumed GCP birds but too distant to confirm), six Ruffs and six Green Sandpipers from Robbie Garnett hide and a Greenshank from Holden Tower. The pics here were taken with my S4 phone through Mark's scope - my own scope decided to play up and is being sent to the scope hospital. Spotted Redshank among Lapwing and Common Redshanks It was a good birders meet last night at the Fromebridge with a good crew and lots of merriment on the occasion of Andy J's 50th. Below is Jeremy's pic shortly before mass high-fiving the local crew in a random act of bonding.