I’ve not had much time for birding recently as I seem to be spending an inordinate amount of time clearing my old house out in Chester.Nonetheless, I have made a few much needed sorties to the nearby River Gowges in order to stop going stir crazy and to give my neglected hound a little bit of exercise.
Birding is very quiet at the moment, so it has been an excellent opportunity to watch a few of the smaller critters. Having said that it was still a bird – a humble House Sparrow – that created the most interest this morning.
Crashing through the reeds – I’m sure to the amusement of the local and more dextrous Reed Buntings – I was completely unsure as to what the bird was trying to achieve.
After a few minutes all was revealed as the male passerine emerged from the undergrowth with a Banded Demoiselle. The lure of protein to feed its chicks was obviously enough to compel the Sparrow into making him look like a cumbersome fool!
The spell of hot and sunny weather has been excellent for the local butterflies, so it is no surprise that the last few days has yielded my first Large Skipper and Meadow Brown of the year.
Small Tortoiseshell have been absolutely everywhere and I have had to employ some pretty nifty footwork to avoid stepping on individuals sunbathing on footpaths.
Dragonflies have been less conspicuous with a lone riding male Migrant Hawker having the run of the river near Stamford Bridge.
Until later.
Hi Paul
ReplyDeleteServes you right for harbouring too much Junk !!!
I not so sure that it's quiet on the Birding front at the moment,it really depends on where you go,for example,Anglesey.
There is some quite superb Sea Watching to be enjoyed at the moment,with Penmon Point,Point Lynas,and Cemlyn Bay,being 3 of many fine examples.
If you set up your scope on Penmon Point you will be treated to superb views of Puffin Island and it's Sea bird colonies,which are a joy to watch with the "Non Stop" comings and goings.
On Point Lynas it's a very different type of Sea Watching,with a choppier sea,and a complete uncertainty as to what may pass by the Headland, birdwise,but also an excellent chance of seeing some Harbour Porpoises quite close to the Headland.
And at Cemlyn Bay,you really can "Fill Your Boots",with Terns of all descriptions,and Ringed Plovers,Dunlins,Mergansers,Gulls,and sometimes numerous types of Birds of Prey,and if your a luckier Birder than me,you stand a brilliant chance of seeing something rarer.
CHEERS DENZIL
P.S
GOOD LUCK WITH THE HOUSE MOVE.......
Hi Paul
ReplyDeleteWe took a trip to a place called Llyn Helyg,Nr Holywell today.
It's basically a fishing lake surrounded by some very extensive mixed woodland,but if you visit here in early Spring you can build up a reasonably good count of most of the most commonly expected species.
In fairness our visit today only yielded the birds expected for this time of year,so the highlight of the day,was the tremendous amount of different types of Dragonflies,and also lots of little baby frogs.
LLYN HELYG
28-06-10
COMMON BUZZARD 2
GREY HERON 4
COOT 5
JAY 1
BLACKCAP 2
WILLOW WARBLER 2
GARDEN WARBLER 2
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER 2
CHIFFCHAFF 3
TREECREEPER 3
NUTHATCH 2
BULLFINCH 2
CHEERS DENZIL
Hi Denzil, that's a stone's throw away from my new house - not been there yet, but will have a butchers sooner or later.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Paul.