BITS AND BOBS AT FARMOOR

There was a good list of birds seen at Farmoor reservoir on Thursday in the damp weather so with a wet morning on Friday I thought it might be worth a trip over there once it had dried up to see what was still around.

On arrival, the orange wind sock was drooping as a result of the windless conditions, and the water was millpond-like. A disabled persons' sailing group had just finished  so I wondered if that would affect the birds present.  The twenty or so black terns from Thursday had vanished, though I was pleased to spot a single sanderling and a couple of dunlins on the causeway. The greylag goslings are also growing quickly and there was another brood of mallards on the water. 

I ventured down to the Pinkhill hide, where there was just a heron and a coot to be seen, then wandered down to the river where a reed warbler came into full view at quite close proximity to where I stood. 

I got into conversation with someone who told me how to get to a second hide on the site, which I visited, only a few mallards on the water but lots of  warblers singing in the bushes and shrubs surrounding it. I didn't stay for long as it was becoming quite humid and there was a threat of thunder showers - which didn't actually materialise -  but it was time to get home anyway. 

dunlin above and below

sanderling

reed warbler

MORGAN'S HILL BUTTERFLIES

Another trip out in the sunshine to add more butterflies to my year lists while the weather lasts. There was a bit more in the way of breeze at Morgan's Hill near Calne, so it was necessary to find some more sheltered areas in order to see my target species, namely the Marsh Fritillary which is just emerging. 

Another birder from Swindon was just heading up to the slopes so I caught up with him and he told me what he thought would be around today. Apparently one marsh fritillary had been seen so I hoped I would find it! 

path to the main part of the reserve

On the path a dark butterfly flew past which he informed was likely to be a wall brown, which indeed it was, although it hardly stopped for a second before moving off very quickly along the path in front of us, where it circled for a while with a second individual and then they separated out of sight.  That, at least, was one to tick off for today. 

A few whites were around and a brimstone, none of which stopped, then I headed off alone down to a sheltered corner where I knew butterflies often can be seen. Here, I spotted a dingy skipper, then to my surprise, a small copper which, before I could get my camera ready, was disturbed by... a marsh fritillary. I hardly knew which to follow, but opted for the marsh fritillary. In the end I spotted at least four marsh fritillaries, which were only too willing to pose for photos, whilst I never did see the small copper again!    There were good numbers of dingy skippers , also some brown argus butterflies all quite active in this sheltered corner of the reserve.

dingy skipper

marsh fritillary

Heading back to the path leading down to the carpark, I found a rather tatty green hairstreak, and spent a while chasing wall butterflies up and down the path eventually one did settle long enough to photograph with wings shut, the best I could manage!

Back at the car park I spotted a couple of common blues amongst the long grass by the picnic area.

With three butterflies added to my list today, it now stands at 21. I reached 46 last year , so with a bit of careful planning I aim to increase that this year.

ROUGH BANK BLUES

With the unusual spring weather we've  had,  its hard to predict which butterflies will emerge next and when.  However, with new species being seen each week, my year count is gradually increasing and I added a couple more today.

I went over to Butterfly Conservation's reserve at Rough Bank where I've previously seen plenty of small blues and common blues. On arrival, I soon found a number of common blues and dingy skippers, but little else apart from a solitary orange tip and a few whites. I scoured the hawthorn bushes for green hairstreaks, but they seem to have had their day and after watching more common blues I was ready to leave. However,as I passed through  another area of the bank, I  came across some brown argus including a mating pair,  and finally a single small blue. 

common blue

brown argus

mating pair of brown argus

go away!

small blue

RE-VISITS AND MORE BUTTERFLIES

Perfect weather for butterflies still, so I decided to re-visit some sites I went to recently. I started off at Rodborough Common and headed for the area I found the Duke of Burgundy. More around than last time, and posing well for the camera today. Surprisingly I didn't see any green hairstreaks,  but I did find small heath  (including a mating pair) and brown argus, as well as dingy skippers and a number of non- stopping whites! 

brown argus

Duke of Burgundy

Dingy skipper

small heath

Oakley Wood being not far away, I thought it might be worth trying to get a shot of a Pearl Bordered Fritillary again.  On my arrival, the sun was slightly hazy and I could see none at all, but it then cleared and I managed to see a couple of these butterflies, one of which eventually stopped with its wings spread open. 

A SUCCESSFUL DAY

Last year I saw my first Pearl bordered fritillaries at Oakley Woods near Cirencester, so having had a few sunny warm days, I guessed that they would be just emerging there again this year about now.  I was right....heading straight for the area where I saw them last year, I soon saw a few around,  though very reluctant to land.   I did, however, manage to spot one individual who posed with wings closed, showing the beautiful 'pearls' on its undersides; it didn't, however, show its open wings fully so to get that shot it looks like I shall have to return another day.

Yesterday I didn't get to see the black necked grebe at Farmoor Reservoir, so with a bit of time to spare, I headed over there next. The bird had been seen from the causeway that morning, so that is where I went first. Meeting a couple of people returning, I asked if them if they'd seen it, and they shook their heads. 'But did you go round the whole of the F2 reservoir?" I enquired.   Apparently not. I thought it would be worth checking seeing as I'd come all that way and that was where it was seen on previous occasions. 

Half way along the western bank I spotted it!  Only 10 metres or so from the shore, diving regularly.  No one else was watching it so I spent a little while taking photographs, following it as it reappeared each time  slightly further along the bank back towards the way I'd come. Then suddenly it took flight and flew low over the water a bit further out. By this time I was deciding which was the quickest route back to the car.. and decided to go the way I'd come. 

I stopped off at the corner where there is a kestrel nesting box, looked up and noticed the male kestrel sitting preening itself outside the box. A few photos later, the female appeared at the entrance hole before disappearing again inside. 

All in all a satisfying afternoon. 

THE ELUSIVE GARAGANEY

With another sunny day forecast I had intended to visit Slimbridge but then an entry on a local birding blog caught my eye, a garganey had been seen at Standlake Common. 

This being a species I've not yet manage to see ,I quickly made a change of plan and headed there straight from work. From the first hide, it was a peaceful scene, some canada geese and their young brood of goslings, a grey heron, oyster catcher and inevitable blackheaded gulls.  But no garganey here.

From the Langley Lane hide a coot was nesting right in front of the hide, some common terns popped in close by, and teal and egyptian geese were also noted.   A close look through my binoculars showed a sleeping duck which in my view looked very much like a drake garganey, although when I got home, apparently there had been no sign of it this morning. What do you think? 

garganey?

canada goose family

coot on nest

common tern

grey heron

Leaving Standlake, I headed for nearby Farmoor Reservoir. Here there were more broods of goslings and ducklings, a dunlin,   a little egret from the hide, but annoyed I missed the black necked grebe in the far SW corner! GRrrr.!

more coots eggs

dunlin

GARDEN SIGHTINGS

A lovely sight in my garden recently.. a vixen and her two cubs on my back lawn.  They came back and forth under the hedge to my neighbours several times 8 - 9pm, all three then later the cubs individually, not sure if the same cub twice though.  I wonder if they have a den nearby. 

A couple of visits to the bird box by a great tit yesterday, maybe still incubating, as not the regular activity I'd expect if feeding young.