Tried birdwatching at New Passage but driven back by the rain. Only achieved one photo – a greenfinch (only 1.7 million breeding pairs in UK!)
There was plenty of drama though later in Eastville Park with Black-headed Gull trying to snatch Moorhen chick – the chick survived. The resident Grey Heron watched all the action placidly. Plenty of butterflies and damselflies too.
A week’s holiday in Bergerac in the Dordogne Valley in France gave little opportunity for nature photos, especially as I was restricted to a “tourist” camera and lenses. However; I wasn’t going to waste any opportunities and captured the Black Redstart in the garden, Pied Wagtails on the river and a few butterflies,damselflies and dragonflies.
Also saw Hoopoes, a Golden Oriole and Crag Martins on the Dordogne.
Ham Wall Somerset Levels
The highlights of this trip were juvenile Marsh Harriers, Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret and Great Crested Grebes.
Giant hogwood, nettles in flower, wild raspberries in fruit, blackberries forming, Indian Balsam and lots of other interesting flora. Damselflies (Beautiful Demoiselle mainly).
Two sightings of Kingfisher. More ducklings on the lake and lots of interesting colours of the Mallards moulting. Thanks to Nigel for pointing out the hook feather on the drake. Grey Heron as spectacular as ever.
Folly Farm Chew Valley
No photographs of birds at all – in fact didn’t even see many birds. However, some butterflies and other insects to challenge my photographic skills.
My favourite was the Six-spot Burnet, a day-flying moth.
WWT Slimbridge – Slimbridge Wetlands Centre
I used to be very bored when I went to Slimbridge as a kid. How views can change! I still have some reservation about the birds in captivity but do recognise how important all of this is.
Highlights were the Avocets, Ruff and Redshank in their own pen (safe from the Black-headed Gulls – I’m sure they have enough else to feed on), the otters and a glimpse of a Buzzard from the Kingfisher hide.
Sand Point near Weston Super Mare
3 months after breaking her femur my wife Wendy visited her consultant this morning in Weston General Hospital (5 x-rays and consultation all completed in 30 minutes – it would take that time to park at Southmead!) and then walked out to Sand Point.
Dunnock, Bullfinch and Stonechat best of the birds.
Also a a Marbled White at a distance.
Snuff Mills
There were not many birds to see on a morning walk through Snuff Mills. Only a Blackcap of note (no photo – I was just too slow) and a family of Mallards growing up.
A Speckled Wood butterfly was worth a photograph.
Some beautiful flowers near the Snuff Mill. The volunteers do a fabulous job.
Eastville Park
It was great to have an evening walk around Eastville Park – our first walk together to the park from home since Wendy broke her leg.
It was quite astonishing to see how much everything had grown. There were places where we couldn’t get anywhere near to the river and the River Frome was quite dark in places with the trees laden with leaves. Difficult to see many birds though, although the bird song was quite a delight but sometimes a din with the crows at full blast.
What a delight too to see a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail (sadly no photo though). I nearly didn’t take my camera out of the bag until we saw a wonderful damselfly.
The ducklings on the lake didn’t seem too perturbed by predators (not a gull in sight). Good to see Swifts too.
RSPB Minsmere
Following a walk on Dunwich Beach where we saw and heard Sky Larks we made our final visit to RSPB Minsmere.
There, we only managed one hide as there was so much action that we had to grab a cup of tea before the café closed.
Before we could take a seat in the Bittern hide we saw two Marsh Harriers at close quarters and before they disappeared two Hobbies were on the scene catching dragonflies. Then a Bittern was spotted and before I could focus it took off and flew right in front of us and landed so that we had a close view as it fished for its supper.
The Bittern was not the only successful fisherman as a Grey Heron grabbed a big fish and flew off before a Little Egret dashed in and grabbed a few smaller fry.
If that was’t enough a Jay flew past and perched close by and a Cetti’s Warbler entertained us with its loud call. There was probably other activity but we couldn’t keep up.
On the way back to the café we had further entertainment from a Stoat and its kits.
Phew! There was so much excitement that I was not too disappointed by a malfunction from my lens (as can be seen from the photos which are the best of a bad bunch). Hope to rescue some more photos later.
RSPB Minsmere
The early bird catches the worm! All of this below before breakfast. I thought it was going to be a good day when we saw a peacock on the way to Minsmere.
Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Grey Heron, Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Spoonbill, Stonechat, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Swallow and so much more.
Bacon butty in the café and then home by 10 o’clock ready for a swim.
Walberswick, Dunwich Heath and RSPB Minsmere
A fabulous day – but very frustrating from a photography point of view: a Robin and a Pied Wagtail on the lawn of our lovely holiday home in Walberswick; a great deal of effort spent trying to photograph a Dartford Warbler (with very little success) and a female and male Stonechat on Dunwich Heath; a quick tour of RSPB Minsmere watching Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Bearded Tits, Marsh Harriers, Bitterns, Terns fishing and a Linnet (I think), and searching unsuccessfully for a Stone Curlew. All great fun and some good views but very poor photographs. As someone dear to us once said: “The world is not all about birds”. Certainly true today! Luckily the weather was good and we really enjoyed the swim at 9 o’clock this morning, the walks in the beautiful Suffolk countryside and the meal at the local pub this evening.
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 