#also the Canada geese are always here but mallards have started to show up which is lovely <3 I love ducks

[monopeptide]

can u tell us about a cool thing u saw outside? thanks

YES it is spring here and I have been spending so much time watching the birds. here are my observations:

1. house sparrow courtship dances are so silly looking. the first time I saw a sparrow doing one I thought he was injured but it’s just like that. I don’t think the girl sparrows seem to like it very much

2. the other day I found a flock of pigeons in a cemetery and i was so surprised at how close they let me get! I just sat down and hung out and they seemed happy. there was one bossy one that wouldn’t let the others get too close to me though

3. I have been seeing a new type of bird occasionally by the river and I thiiiiink they’re black crowned night herons? They are like stouter great blue herons. It’s so fascinating bc I’ve been rowing for almost 7 years, 3 of them on this river and all in this state, and have never seen them before this year!

[northamericanbirder]

Birding Hotspot: Shelby Park and Bottoms, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Links: [illustrated eBird hotspot page]

[Nashville.gov - Shelby Park]

[Google Maps]  

  Another prime birding spot in the Nashville urban expanse, the Shelby area is a large greenspace (1200 square acres) along the Cumberland River. Effectively split in two by a railroad bridge, the Shelby Park side contains picnic shelters, baseball fields, and a man-made lake, and up the hill there is a community center, basketball and tennis courts, a playground, and dog park; the Bottoms features a greenway (very popular with joggers and bicyclists), and unpaved nature trails.

The Shelby area comprises 9 separate eBird hotspots, and for data precision, it's best to select the one closest to you when starting off. The most popular ones are Shelby Bottoms Nature Center (which contains the observation field, Froggy Bottoms, and Hidden Pond), Sevier Lake, and Cornelia Fort Airpark.

Hotspot amenities: The Bottoms is where you'll find the nature center. There are restrooms (the ones in the building itself are kept very clean), and there is plenty of parking all around, though the occasional 5k run or baseball tournament will take place and things can get quite busy. Next to the nature center is a sandy play area for kids.

There is a one-mile loop trail that takes you from the nature center and around to the observation deck. The path is paved, and the deck is wheelchair accessible. The paved greenway continues northward for a few miles toward the other areas of the park.  

  Observation Field - In the summertime, this is a vibrant location, as wildflowers have taken over the field, drawing butterflies, bees, dragonflies, and plenty of wedding photographers. Various warblers (especially Common Yellowthroats), Eastern Bluebirds, American Goldfinch, Indigo Buntings, Summer Tanagers, and Orchard Orioles are all common at this time of year. Over the winter, the Red-Shouldered Hawks remain, typically holding fort in the trees lining the field, and occasionally American Kestrel and Wild Turkeys will show up. Look up above you, and you'll definitely see Black Vultures circling around—sometimes they'll gather in the nearby electrical towers by the dozens.

There is a one-mile loop trail that takes you from the nature center and around to the observation deck. The path is paved, and the deck is wheelchair accessible. The paved greenway continues northward for a few miles toward the other areas of the park.  

  Froggy Bottoms (zig-zag bridge) - Not too far from the observation deck (and part of the one-mile loop) is an area of swampland created by local beavers (the trails used to follow around a stream, but that was blocked up and the area flooded). The dead trees host woodpeckers (most commonly Northern Flickers). Wood Ducks and Blue-Winged Teal are known to nest here, and you might see them swim by with ducklings in tow.  

  Hidden Pond - Adjacent to the observation field, this is a beaver pond that can be at dramatically different levels based on the season; summers have been quite dry the last few years as we've seen drought, and the pond nearly dries up; in wintertime it will be full. Ducks, Great Blue Herons, Green Herons, Belted Kingfishers, Pied-Billed Grebe, and the occasional small shorebird will make an appearance. Sparrows will also be plentiful. You'll see plenty of evidence of beavers—their lodges, and trees they've chopped down—and possibly the beavers themselves (including pups).  

  Sevier Lake - This is a small man-made lake on the Park side that is stocked for fishing. Phoebes and Swallows will be seen darting out over the lake, you'll catch a decent variety of ducks, often a Double-Crested Cormorant, almost always a Great Blue Heron, along with resident populations of Mallards and Canada Geese (and over the last 2 years or so, a resident population of Fish Crows has developed). You may also see an Osprey hanging out in the sky above, especially after stocking. In the marshland at the end of the pond, you'll find Red-Shouldered Hawks. The hills on the community center side are known for warblers.  

  Cornelia Fort Airpark - At the North end of the Bottoms is an old municipal airfield that is no longer operational—its runways are now used by walkers, joggers, rollerbladers, bicyclists. In the grasses along the runway, Eastern Meadowlarks are likely hiding. Blue Jays will be occupying the trees. In recent year, Bald Eagles have been nesting (look up into the tallest tree at the corner of the farmer's field and you should see the nest; it's massive). Hawks are common, and the occasional Northern Harrier will scan the fields. Waterfowl (ducks, geese, herons, shorebirds) can be found in the ponds past the cow fencing.

[Update: The farm is no longer operational, electric fences have been removed, and the land is now available to the public. At the moment there are no restrictions to the area, but there may be an effort to restrict or buffer certain grassland, shore, and wooded areas for nature preservation purposes (e.g., nesting birds, including the Bald Eagles). Already, two sparrows very rare to the Nashville area have been sighted and photographed by birders—Henslow's Sparrow and the Grasshopper Sparrow (by me!).]  

  (all photos by @everydayesterday)

[dansnaturepictures]

11th April 2021-Barn owl, snow, snipe and more along the Titchfield canal path 

We came back to the Titchfield Canal path today where we came on Easter Monday with the barn owls we needed to see this year reported again. We arrived at the canal path Titchfield end and walked the short distance along to the split tree where the owls can often be seen and we had seen them before. Above the white droppings stain on the tree trunk that had momentarily excited us in our fruitless quest for this bird on Monday, we were thrilled to spot one of the barn owls in the hole! We then spent a glorious few minutes watching this stunning and such a beautiful bird. I took the record shot the first picture in this photoset of this bird. I felt so honoured again to see this species, and so lucky I was so in aw of the bird. A brilliant view of on of our greatest species, with either January or February sightings of them the past few years here I had waited a little bit longer to see this species this year. What’s more this is the first time ever I have seen barn owl as a favourite bird of mine as I made it the 31st member of my list of favourite birds in March.

This was bird 131 of my year I continue to be thrilled with my resurgence and how I have started the month with getting year ticks and the calibre of what some of the birds have been and barn owl fitted in so well with that. It means I have seen three owl species in a year this year for the third year running. What’s more 2021 now has the prestige for me of being the first year I have seen both barn owl and tawny owl in which I am so thrilled with to see these iconic species of one of my favourite families of birds, both among my favourite birds. Little owl is the other owl we saw on 2nd January this year and we have never seen four species in a year. So you can be sure, possibly depending on how the pandemic goes from now and any required reapplying of restrictions down the line, that we’ll be trying very hard to see another of my favourite birds and the only other owl species we’ve seen short-eared owl as the year goes on. After our last tawny before this year’s March sighting three weeks ago yesterday in 2015, we saw the other three in one year in 2016 then 2017 and 2018 we saw two species the barn the only constant with the other swapped from short-eared to little between the years so I wondered if there was to be some sort of rota in a weird way obviously until 2019 and 2020 when I saw all three of the others to tawny so I wonder if we can see all four or if there is a new rota as some kind of weird imagined rule. All four of the birds I always think we are very lucky to see whenever we do they are all super birds so you cannot take them for granted and I know this is a big challenge what we are trying to achieve still but its great to have challenges. 

I took the second and third pictures in this photoset of a view and blossom and greenery in a smashing bit of sunshine as we walked down the path. Afterwards we got the fairly unusual for so far up the canal path away from Titchfield Haven national nature reserve at the other end and delightful sight of two shelducks flying and settling in a neighbouring field which looked great. As the walk continued we enjoyed spotting the snipe in the fourth picture in this photoset in a field. It was fascinating to watch its head down with its beak persistently drilling into the grass with great force. A wonderful piece of behaviour to see for a bird you don’t always get too close to or necessarily see for so long as they are - like one of a few brilliant and varied people we got to have fantastic conversations at a safe social distance today on wildlife, weather and other current topics an aspect of the walk I really enjoyed said - secretive. 

I took the fifth and sixth pictures in this photoset of great wooded views along the canal as we walked on I have loved taking in beautiful woodland views a lot this weekend. I also enjoyed seeing the varied daffodils nestled in the woods the other side of the canal which I took the seventh picture in this photoset of. A beautiful scene and one of a few beautiful flowers it was great to take in today it really was a good walk for flowers. I took the eighth picture in this photoset of some coltsfoot which I loved seeing, very kindly identified during #Wildflowerhour’s #WildflowerID for me on Twitter tonight after I couldn’t quite seem to make it match on the PlantNet app as I continue to learn flowers. The coltsfoot glowed, shone and looked very beautiful in a touch of sunshine they are such beautiful and quite glossy flowers, similar in appearance to the familiar dandelion. I had seen some two weeks ago Tuesday at the fairly similar habitat wise river Itchen where I found them so beautiful and striking too so it was great to see them again. I saw and photographed as I tweeted nice nettles here today too. 

We walked on and the threatening dark clouds passed over us, not bringing (in the most part anyway) the not so expected rain but the even less expected (by me anyway) snow shower which really did immerse us. I saw a little bit of light snow at Lakeside last Tuesday but nothing like this for how heavy it was, its the first serious snow I’ve ever known in April my Mum does always say it can snow in April thinking back to her childhood more and its been proved that it still can happen this year. It really was such a breathtaking and memorable scene I just knew whilst I was getting my camera safely back into the dry of my backpack I just had to capture this too so I did get it back out for a few photos as the shower really engulfed us this included the ninth picture I took today in this photoset. A stunning and memorable moment.

After the shower we were thrilled to see another snipe in soggy grass behind the fence which I took the tenth and final picture in this photoset of. Seeing two seperate snipes in a day that were clear and long enough views for a photo was smashing stuff and quite something I loved seeing them. I had only taken a handful of pictures of snipe before not so many at all. This was a great moment too and behind the snipe were two gigantic by comparison Canada geese with some of the other side of the canal from here too which was quite interesting to see with them flying around too and it was these birds and the snipe we showed them they had seen the geese which prompted the conversation with two of the wonderful people we talked to today. I took a picture of a snipe at Titchfield Haven nearby in 2016, its where I have taken and possibly over my life seen most snipes, and around that time I created a new playlist for music I listen to. The time I listen to music most is on car journeys so I have a few playlists named after the places we are going or animals/species, I have New Forest and as we go there so much an Alternative New Forest playlist for example. So inspired by the recent experience then I named that one my snipe playlist which is one of the ones I use when we travel east from home as this is where Titchfield Haven is and I was listening to it today on the way there and back so it was fitting I had a smashing day for snipes. 

As the sun re-emerged we left feeling very satisfied by another brilliant and quite packed day of birdwatching, wildlife and photos on a really good walk. We did get a brilliant moment seeing swallows so clearly right over our heads getting cracking views of these wonderful spring migrants. By the Posbrook flood area earlier on as we did on Monday we saw lots of swallows and a sand martin flying over which was great. I saw and photographed great birds, flowers and sky scenes at home today too as I tweeted on Dans_Pictures tonight it was great seeing a house sparrow on a hanging basket in the garden I’d not seen any perch on one of these before. Today brought to an end another brilliant and relaxing weekend, I hope you all had a good one. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary at the Titchfield canal path: My first of one of my favourite birds the barn owl this year, three more of my favourite birds the buzzard, shelduck and little egret we saw them well today too, shoveler, gadwall, mallard, black-tailed godwit, redshank, moorhens seen very nicely, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, magpie, woodpigeon, blue tit, long-tailed tit, great tit one of the birds of the tit species nearly flew right into me at one point too another great intimate wildlife moment today, robin, great view of a dunnock, wren, swallow, sand martin and I heard another of my favourite birds the green woodpecker. 

[dansnaturepictures]

23/03/2021-Snake’s head frtillaries and more at Lakeside and home: Part 1 of 2 - 5 pictures in this photoset are different to the ones I tweeted tonight and they are the first, third, fourth, seventh and ninth in this photoset 

This blog has most of the story of my day and 10 wildlife photos I took and then my next post shortly has 10 landscape and other pictures all exclusively to the Tumblr post from today as I took just over 40 pictures again so it was a way to post 15 exclusively on Twitter. 

I took the second and third pictures in this photoset of a lovely flower and greenery in our front garden as I went out for my lunch time walk. It was nice to take in blossom and buds again as I walked into Lakeside at the north eastern kissing gate entrance and along into the area north of the steam railway station. My mission today for something I might be able to see at Lakeside on the walk was one I had had for a few days trying to see if the snake’s-head fritillary flowers that I was taken aback by the past two years were here. The past years as I learnt these flowers the first ones I saw was 24th March in 2019 and the second 29th March in 2020 so I knew the time was coming. Today I walked from the area north of the steam railway station into the fenced off nature reserve area (the one of the two you can walk through) where these flowers seem to be, the most notable group had lurked on a sort of slope in a wooded area here. I had originally planned to walk south of the fenced off area along the path north of the car parking area and use my binoculars to see if they were there and then walk over through the other gate to the south if so. I think they are further up the slope than I remembered, so I am glad I didn’t do this as I might not have seen them today. 

In reality today once in the nature reserve fenced off area instead of going all the way round to the other side of the trees where this slope is I walked on a subtle path through the trees. As I walked in I was astonished and overcome with joy to see a group of snake’s-head fritillaries on the floor. Numbering probably well into the 20′s at least including some that had not quite yet developed/grown the bell shaped flower fully. I just loved taking in this beautiful sight, they really did adorn and add a splash of colour to the small patch of woods as I saw them do the last couple of years. They really are the most splendid and magnificent of sights. They’re what the festival of colour and life that is spring is all about, and I just loved seeing them and spending time to really take them in to the beautiful backdrop of a Great Tit calling and a Robin or Blackbird singing. I took the first, fourth, fifth and sixth pictures in this photoset with my macro lens of these really stunning flowers. 

And I mention it was with my macro lens, the closeup lens so probably something quite obvious, for a couple of reasons. When I first ever noticed these in March 2019 a flower I had never seen before it was the day my original macro lens which I’d had for eight years and really got me into the macro side of photography and capturing insects especially mainly butterflies and then fungi and flowers started to go wrong and do something where it wouldn’t focus for ages for no apparent reason. I missed the chance to photograph a Small Tortoiseshell on blossom earlier on in a walk with both dogs back when we had Ruby two years ago tomorrow as my Mum and her husband were in Scotland. So I sort of worked out what was happening with my lens by seeing this flower and successfully trying for the picture. And then last year I took a photo of a white snake’s-head fritillary that I was really pleased with and it made my calendars its on one of my calendars beside me right now that I make out of my photos this month and that was the start of me being stunned by the quality and detail my new macro lens offered which I have said so often as this went on all year to a degree and this year so far too. So this is an important flower for this integral lens for me. 

But the other story is with it cloudy when I left for my walk and me not knowing I would definitely see these I very nearly didn’t bring my macro as its the sunnier days I know I am likely to go for insect pictures or flowers and some others which I need the macro for. I was going to go just with my big lens as I quite often only bring the one lens on these brief lunch time walks. But the pockets on my tracksuit bottoms had both fallen through and were just massive holes so I needed a backpack for my phone and keys. So I brought my macro lens just in case because if I had a bag I may as well have another lens in it. So I was so glad I brought this as yes I’d have got a picture with my big lens I would not have resisted the urge but it would have then been a case of making sure I did have the macro in a future day to use the proper lens on them I may still take more these flowers this year as I showed with daffodils and the crocuses I found a few weeks ago I have taken pictures again and again of flowers, and I just feel I was glad I could get the right lens on and take the pictures at the same moment of getting that inspiring first taste of spotting these beautiful flowers. As it happened the sun came out as I was watching them, so I was very glad. 

These flowers really did enchant the woods in a way a fly agaric mushroom does in the autumn, they just looked so beautiful and I could not take my eyes off of them. I have well documented my year of revelation of learning flowers a lot more helped by these times, I started the journey with this species a year previously even if I didn’t know what they were the first year and my interest in flowers is so different and way more detailed compared to when I photographed the snakes-head fritillary this time last year. And I have also always documented for a birds, butterflies, dragon/damselflies and mammals when I make additions to my list of favourites and B lists for two of them. I don’t have an official list of favourite flowers but its always been the star of summer the foxgloves as one of the first flowers I really knew and photographed. I love them very much and all they represent but I think its high time I start saying that the snake’s-head fritillary is a favourite of mine too. Nicely reaffirmed by this very exiting moment which I wanted to see soon today. But in honesty both this and the bee orchids I found at Lakeside later in the year in my first year of working from home (its been a year today, a post I shared from my Instagram earlier and tweets I did today marked my thoughts on the important and much needed day of reflection) have gone to my heart and have become favourites before today. I was so in aw of these flowers today and what a fantastic way to connect to nature. 

My big lens was straight back on as I finally left the snake’s-head fritillaries behind to walk through the nature reserve to the lakes, as with the sun well and truly out just like last Thursday when I saw the butterfly I was guessing which I would see first out of it and the snakes-head fritillary flowers (the Peacock) I could hear a Ring-necked Parakeet. Then two flew two this time over and I just noticed one as it did last week fly into tall trees behind the railway station. This looked great, and I walked over to that area and saw them fly back out with their emerald glow looking dashing against the bright blue sky and in a fairly hazy light in the sunshine. They then flew over the nature reserve area towards our house really and called their eccentric high-pitched sound as they went and I went back that way just in case I could see them again but I couldn’t. But still fantastic to see them again today, just like last year where I saw them from my room once and then again and then possibly at Grantham Green another part of our town its turning into a little run of seeing them. And I have said before there are obviously differing opinions and positives and negatives of these non-native birds regular around London for years as I have enjoyed so much colonising here, but I certainly find it quite exciting and a nice thought to have them around regularly I am a fan of the birds and its been a lot more surreal seeing them waking around Lakeside then hearing them from my room and seeing them fly past the window last autumn interestingly. A brilliant time with these beautiful and special birds today. 

As I walked round to the lakes I took the seventh, eighth and ninth pictures in this photoset of Greylag Geese and a returning Mute Swan still going well here and a lovely Magpie it was brilliant to get close to in the area between the lakes. At this area too I enjoyed hearing another Great Tit and also with it to be able to tell the calls apart nicely the similarly sounding Chiffchaff. As the first Chiffchaff I have heard at Lakeside this year its quite important, and its about time as well actually as they inspired me so much with their constant singing in those first few weeks of working from home and lockdown as nature really comforted and inspired me at that time a year ago. I look forward to hopefully enjoying them more this year. I liked seeing the violets and daffodils in the area between the lakes which I had noticed before. I took the tenth picture in this photoset of a Collared Dove in the aging afternoon’s sun a nice angle of light I tweeted on Dans_Pictures a picture of one and a Woodpigeon getting nicely shadowy on the roof visible from my room which I enjoy doing too. I shall do my next post with more photos from today shortly. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary: One of my favourite birds the Great Crested Grebe, Ring-necked Parakeet, Mallard, Tufted Ducks nicely again, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, lots of nice Feral Pigeons together, Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Blue Tits in the garden this morning which was nice, very nice views of a Long-tailed Tit for a second day running, Jackdaw, a nice few Magpies today and I heard Chiffchaff and Great Tit. 

[dansnaturepictures]

08th February 2021: Jack Snipe and so many other amazing birds and more on a memorable Lakeside lunch time walk for birds: 5 of these pictures different to those I tweeted tonight the second, third, fifth, sixth and eighth in this photoset 

The light snowdrops had begun to fall as I took my lunch time daily exercise walk at Lakeside and I took the first picture in this photoset of one of a few Starlings in the garden before I left for it today. I got to Lakeside and was delighted to see a Green Woodpecker soon into the walk going down the path between the two fenced off areas always an exciting moment that I’ve had the pleasure of so often this year already, and quickly see two thrushes fly across the northern fenced off area to some tall trees beside the railway track and I could see these were Redwings thanks to a camera zoom in.

As the snow continued to fall and lightly line the gravel of the path I was thrilled to see a wading bird dart across the path in flight. It settled briefly beside a flooded area in the nature reserve area and I saw it again walk across this field and could just about make out it was a Jack Snipe! This was an exceptional bird to see at Lakeside another going on that illustrious list of top species of bird I have seen on these walks since working from home coming so soon after Goosander last week was great. But this one I had seen at Lakeside before in 2018 and its a story that makes me happy. This was during the beast from the east the heavy snowfall that year which many have likened this week’s upcoming weather to. I saw my first Jack Snipe of the year on a walk at a different location at the weekend. I said after we saw it I bet I will see a Jack Snipe at Lakeside now as it had been one of my targets here since the start of the year with me having the time and space in the daily walks to look for one whilst walking as such which I maybe didn’t in past years. And I especially thought that because I knew it was getting colder and I associated that ultimately cold weather with the one Friday on a work snow day we saw some here. Just like the different species of gulls on the main lake where loads go beach lake I’d predicted this sighting but for it to happen on the Monday after for me to have seen two Jack Snipes in three days fantastic! And unprecedented for me for the species. I took the second, third and fourth pictures in this photoset as I walked on the fourth showing that ever so slight laying of the snow. The sixth picture in this photoset showing the flood that I’ve noticed here since October I believe frozen over like a lot of Lakeside once more today. 

Next I got to enjoy that delightful array of gulls on the lake some more, but not before spotting two Canada Geese here building on the one on Friday on the lake behind it. A bird that is making me feel whilst bitterly cold today spring like as they are only here at Lakeside in spring and into summer when they nest here. I took the fifth picture in this photoset of the pair. And on the theme of birds I only usually see in spring I was delighted to spot the Lesser Black-backed Gull shown in the eighth picture in this photoset. This added so nicely to the bird I saw as my first Lesser Black-backed Gull of the year from my bedroom window nearby last week it may have been the same one as there do seem to be two regular birds in the season. I was delighted to see the striking yellow legs and sweet slate grey back of this bigger gull than the constant flock of Black-headed Gulls which I have nicely become so familiar with. It was a slice of gull heaven I think for a local country park right next to the house in an urban area as I spotted a third species, the mid-way between the Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed size wise Common Gull. There seems to have been a regular one overwintering here which I’ve seen so many times. Its interesting that a year ago I would have said hands down lesser is way more common than common - so called more so for where you are likely to find them than their status - but I’ve had an unbelievable local start to my 2021 for this species seeing Common Gulls nearly everywhere I’ve been able to go in Hampshire really and have become so used to this wonderful and beautiful species that lesser seemed like more of the find today. Both common and also here Mediterranean Gull a few weeks ago beat lesser onto my year list which was interesting. It was obviously fantastic to see both of these quite different gulls for me and ones I like so much and celebrate them both today. 

Catkins had been visible more and more and present in my photos the past month or so and today I noticed how they’d overcome the landscape, giving a great slight emerald glow to the grey affair another sign spring is approaching. They stood out in the view over a lake in the seventh picture in this photoset that I took today. 

I carried on seeing brilliant avian sights as the walk went on, Great Crested Grebe on two lakes by an interesting gush in the water of a quite full lake, a Mallard pair and a close view of Tufted Ducks such as the female in the ninth picture in this photoset. I had not seen a female well lately. As I rounded beach lake to the north of it I got really close Goldfinch views of them in trees maybe a more wild location to see them than our feeders whilst I love and get so much out of them being at home, and after flying over after a Coot squeaked noticeably and loudly the other side of the lake I caught up with the Lesser Black-backed Gull a star of today on a buoy which I tweeted pictures of tonight on Dans_Pictures as I have photographed before. I enjoyed seeing it up close again and seeing it on the fishing jetty as I took in the three types of gulls one last time. Standing beside a miniature reed bed I was thrilled to see a little Wren which I took the tenth and final picture in this photoset of flitting in and out and sitting on posts a great experience to be so close to this delightful bird. As I got back up towards the entrance the Lakeside bit of the walk ended as it had started with a flash of greens darting across of the Green Woodpecker. 

This was definitely one of my most memorable daily exercise whilst working from home at lunch time walks for birdwatching yet. I don’t know whether the cold weather brought a lot in and allowed it to be visible to this urban country park or not some species it probably did others it didn’t make a difference but I just saw so many species and so many of them were the most exciting and special ones. A brilliant way to escape within my lunch time walk I had so much fun watching so many great birds today this day will stick in my mind forever. As I mentioned in this tweet: https://twitter.com/Dans_Pictures/status/1358838837749944321 and a butterfly a day one which I am loving doing as a lockdown daily past photo tweeting thread for the third time that followed this day last year was one of my best of the year and one of my most unforgettable partly because of the sheer amount of species I saw and I think today more locally rivaled that. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary: Two of my favourite birds the Great Crested Grebe and Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Redwing, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Wren, Robin, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Jack Snipe. 

[dansnaturepictures]

20th December 2020-Marsh Harrier, Lapwings, Barnacle and Brent Geese and more on Pennington to Keyhaven walk and pictures before: 10 more new pictures to the ones tweeted tonight 

I had a nice photo session in the sunshine at home before we left to go out today this morning/early afternoon quite rare for a weekend day lately, enjoying some garden birds especially Starling and House Sparrow which I tweeted pictures of on Dans_Pictures and some of the many lovely looking still flowers on the balcony out the front which I photographed I took the first picture in this photoset of some and I enjoyed some in the back garden too and I also took the second picture in this photoset of a view out the front in the sun. 

At Pennington and back at Keyhaven after last Saturday when we went which we walked to and back today from the Lower Pennington Lane car park it started very sunny with just the one shower fairly heavy whilst we were out. This created nice rainbow opportunities again this weekend and lately so there were plenty of landscape photo opportunities and really nice sky scenes today. I took the third-ninth pictures in this photoset of views here today the seventh showing a rainbow. 

Bird wise we were looking for the Tundra Bean Geese which had been about, a bird we had only seen once before at Keyhaven along a footpath at the back of Keyhaven and fishtail lagoons where there are some lakes and fields. We looked here today as this is where they had been seen. It was just nice to do this route along the back of the place not along the sea front for a change it is a beautiful and varied area too which some great bits of habitat for birds and other wildlife. In one of the fields, one a rainbow adorned which I tweeted a picture of whilst checking the Canada Geese we were delighted to spot a decent sized flock of Barnacle Geese. A very special bird species which we had certainly never seen here before. So this was nice a real standout moment and I liked seeing large groups of birds in fields today, in a field at the campsite at the start of the walk I was delighted to see many Brent Geese, Curlews and Oystercatchers a nice variety of birds all using the field which was great to see. 

A nice view of a Rock Pipit on the shore was a great sight at Keyhaven a very iconic sight of Keyhaven nature reserve really which I tweeted a picture of as I did with both barnacle and brent geese today. I’ve very rarely seen brent and barnacle geese well together in one day before the barnacles are ones its an amazing sight to see on the west coast especially in Scotland in massive numbers flying in a truly well renowned wildlife spectacle in this country, around Hampshire and Slimbridge where I have seen them before a lot the barnacles are only in small numbers but I fell in love with Brent Geese for similar reasons the huge numbers at places like this so this making me really proud of Hampshire as its quite unique to this southern country with the Dark-bellied Brent Geese as I said in my 10 wildlife/photography highlights blogs second edition on 2nd December  about seeing my favourite birds so this was a nice moment. 

I saw Lapwings very well throughout the trip today with lots flying against a bright blue sky always nice to see. On the way back I saw why the latest group was up as a delightful Marsh Harrier was in the air putting the Lapwings and other birds up in the air. I took the tenth and final picture in this photoset of this bird today as well as another that I tweeted. This was beautiful to witness to the backdrop of a quite crescent moon that had come out which I tweeted a photo of which I took when I got home today. The Marsh Harriers are a stunning looking and strong raptor. I always enjoy it when I see them they are very special birds for sure. This was a smashing view of one today, I have had a top year for these birds. This sighting and the two geese today definitely stood out as one of my bird moments of the year and moments of the year for wildlife seen at this nature reserve I love so much I talked through this in my 2020 wildlife/photography highlights posts about my New Forest adventures in 2020 which posted on 10th December. The whole day generally joined in with yesterday would definitely have got a mention in my highlights blogs somewhere as one of my standout weekends this year I really did have so much fun and do so much for this my main hobby and other things in my life had I not finished writing them now. We saw a Pheasant very closely from the car on the way home coming down the lane, ending well a fantastic and wild weekend. I hope you have all had a good weekend and I wish you and your families all the very best going into this Christmas week.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: Nice still and flying views of two of my favourite birds the Little Egret and Brent Geese, Marsh Harrier, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Robin, Pheasant, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, lots of nice ducks including Mallard, Tufted Ducks, lots of lovely Shovelers today, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Curlew. When looking at the rainbow picture I tweeted earlier I noticed some Roe Deers in a field within it which I hadn’t noticed when out there a strong species for this area. I enjoyed seeing some sloes with raindrops on which I tweeted a picture of tonight too a great moment.

[dansnaturepictures]

09/04/2021-Speckled Wood and more at Lakeside and home (10 different photos in this post to those I tweeted tonight) 

I took the second picture in this photoset of one of a few nice and bright sky scenes and general scenes out the back today especially this morning. On my Lakeside lunch time walk I went in by the tarmac path along the properties and took the third picture in this photoset of some of the sweet looking white daffodils by the railway track at the Monks Brook Halt platform when I got into the country park. I enjoyed walking into the deep woods to the west of the site, deviating from the path through it a little and I loved seeing the bright yellow lesser celandine still going strong after a fair few weeks since I spotted my first of the year now and began seeing them here and elsewhere and adorning the forest floor of course. As I walked down around Concorde lake and through the middle of the lakes I was enthused to notice both the Canada and greylag geese nesting in the woods on the island. I had never actually seen where the geese species nest at Lakeside whilst their goslings are always such a key part of the strong Lakeside nesting festival of life each year so this was really interesting. I think some cutting of the trees on this island has allowed us a slight glimpse into where they nest. The Great Crested Grebes showed well on the lakes again as did the Tufted Ducks with brilliant views of them the females especially looking really beautiful in a special colour both on the water and on a bank of the island too. I also enjoyed as I tweeted a picture of on Dans_Pictures a Mute Swan the returning birds here of late quite close. 

My Mum had said on a walk with Missy to Lakeside before my lunch break today that she had seen a Speckled Wood butterfly one of the next butterflies I needed to see. I entered the southern fenced off area just going through on the way back as I wanted to use my macro lens which I had with me today to take pictures of some of the newer groups of snake’s-head fritillary flowers on the ground in this area I had noticed. When at the point I had seen my first Speckled Wood of the year walking through last spring, I spotted a butterfly the right size and colour for one and I was pretty sure it was this butterfly. I walked on hoping for a better look, when I heard the exciting cackle of the Green Woodpecker as I had done a lot at lunch time and it was an honour to then see this emerald delight dashing into the almost as bright green landscape. I heard a beautiful and loud Chiffchaff and saw Woodpigeons flying off too and as the the sun really started to come out from behind the clouds I saw another butterfly I believe a Peacock it was a red one I didn’t get the best look of it and I saw another one too. Then I was thrilled to see the Speckled Wood again, as it flew on and then slowed down even settling on the bright blossom which looked wonderful and I could beyond a shadow of a doubt tell that this was a Speckled Wood now as I made out its sweet brown markings. It flew up now and again and then came back to blossom, I loved enjoying and taking it in such a beautiful sight. I couldn’t quite get my macro lens out in time to take a macro picture but I got the first picture in this photoset as well as one other I tweeted of this butterfly with the other lens I had my big lens. I was delighted when looking down on the ground following this butterfly to notice yet more snake’s-head fritillaries first hidden in trees behind and then more I could see on the ground. This meadow is teeming with them, and its a picture of a perfect spring and a vibrant, rich and colourful piece of grassland and few wooded areas I can never tire of these. I took the fourth and sixth pictures in this photoset a view with the snake’s-head fritillary visible over the meadow and snake’s-head fritillaries and another brilliant flower around lately at Lakeside the cowslips and fifth picture of a view in the area that gave me some glorious spring moments. 

That’s now four of my year lists running that Speckled Wood was seen by me for the first time in a year either at Lakeside or on the green just outside, the last time I got Speckled Wood as a year tick at a place other than Lakeside was four years ago today in fact at Acres Down in the New Forest. There were more nice connections as I saw this one at the exact same bit of Lakeside I did for the first time last year and like last year its butterfly number seven of my year. I am only one butterfly behind how many I had seen last year and 2019 my two highest ever butterfly year lists which is promising in the early stages. I am five ahead of how many I saw in 2018 at this stage my now third highest ever butterfly year list a record for me at the time but admittedly that one did have a famously slow start thanks to the beast from the east. I was thrilled to see the Speckled Wood today. It came up in my last run of a butterfly a day tweets on Twitter this week I now have just two days left of them and including all 46 species of butterfly I’ve ever seen and photographed in them so its quite sad that an activity through lockdowns and times I needed the days to pass a bit, the original animal I focused on is coming to an end but I also reflect on the immense good it has done for me and being able to still feel happy. The spring ones in this run as last year a bit too definitely served to excite me for when I would hopefully actually see them and its not bad that I waited only two days after it was featured to see a Speckled Wood this year. The Speckled Wood a true highlight of my day and week.

When nearly back home at lunch time I took the seventh picture in this photoset of more great dandelions lately and some of the purple flowers that are commonplace on the green out the front. With it a brilliant bank holiday last Friday today I got the first chance since lockdown eased slightly, with it now also light late in evenings to do a second walk after work with me usually finishing work a bit earlier on a Friday. I did do that but not a Lakeside or camera one, instead a walk around the area outside around the block you might say a quick one. In the still evening air it was great to be serenaded a little by a babbling and gushing Blackbird and hear the beautiful screech of a Green Woodpecker again. As well as taking in as I had noticed earlier in the day and photographing as I tweeted a spider by the front door when I returned I also took the eighth picture in this photoset of daffodils in the front garden after the walk. I then went on this evening to take the final two pictures in this photoset of a moody lit Jackdaw on the roof out the back and a sky scene with just a little bit of red visible from the sunset. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary: My first Speckled Wood butterfly of the year, Peacock, bees its interesting how when trying to see the Speckled Wood a second time suddenly my eyes were so focused on everything little and flying so I enjoyed bees well I am having a great spring for them so far, two of my favourite birds the Green Woodpecker and Great Crested Grebe, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw, Great Tit and Robin seen both singing very nicely together in the woods on one tree, great Goldfinch views at home again from my window, House Sparrow, Starling and I heard Blackbird. I also loved seeing some perwinkle beside the neighbour’s house on both my walks today. 

I have made no secret where I’ve felt it relevant before that I do have another Twitter to Dans_Pictures and another Tumblr to this one where I post about other interests of mine and general life both nationally, globally and personally and these are my profiles to focus on my birdwatching/butterflies/general wildlife watching and photography interest which I put most of my time into. There are sometimes things though that happen that are more about that general, but they are so big, important and all-encompassing that I want to give them a mention on my more focused to my main hobby and interest social media pages which has been common over the last year or so. Today I must say rest in peace Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, what an extraordinary life he had. I send my deepest condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and the rest of the family. On the more topical side to these social media presences from me I celebrate the Duke of Edinburgh award and all its done for getting youngsters outdoors and active. And it was interesting to hear Sir David Attenborogh talk about someone he was clearly very close to bringing things topical for these social media pages of mine. I also want to say today, rest in peace DMX and my thoughts at this difficult time are with his family and friends.

[dansnaturepictures]

3/10/20-Nice sky, geese and more at Farlington Marshes 

As the rain surprisingly perhaps cleared up as today went on we headed to Farlington Marshes on another Saturday visit there this year or more so from June onwards really we have been here so often on a Saturday. We were in pursuit of a Grey Phalarope a bird we needed to see this year and some other notable species that were about. We did not manage to catch up with the phalarope today. 

But we did have a really nice walk around, as the sun came out but stormy weather never stayed far away with dark skies in places which were really quite dramatic to see. In fact of the 28 pictures I produced today 24 were landscapes and I don’t think there’s one of them which doesn’t have a dramatic sky scene within it. I tweeted all my pictures from today on Dans_Pictures and the fourth-ninth pictures in this photoset are of views I took today. So this made this one of my best ever days for taking pictures with nice skies in I think which made me feel really good. It was interesting then to have a bit a theme running through my photos today which helps define the day in my head a bit. Having done so many Saturday visits here over these few months there is overlap between the landscapes I take in each one but so many of these today were unique we did do a slightly different route to other visits today. Such a memorable afternoon because of that. There was also more nice autumnal colour in the landscape a strong theme on our walks lately. The fourth picture in this set that I took today shows that particularly. 

As we walked through the field area at the back I was delighted to notice on the pool area near the cottage where we saw the Curlew Sandpipers here last month among Canada Geese two odd individual geese that hang around here we had seen them here before and they fly between here and Baffins Pond in Portsmouth, a Barnacle Goose and a white goose which is generally considered to be a type of Snow Goose and I have enjoyed seeing here before. I took the first three pictures in this photoset of them today. They are both birds that there may be debate about exactly where they came from and that but I always enjoy seeing them. I saw them at Baffins Pond right at the start of when I began birdwatching in 2007 I believe it may have been a different Barnacle/s which is a lake you can get nice and close to birds in the urban area but this was definitely the best view of these birds I’d ever got at Farlington Marshes and it was just really lovely to see them up close and make them out and things. Two very nice looking birds which I did enjoy seeing today. 

It became a good goose day as we walked on as from the path area by the deeps I had the always exciting autumn moment of seeing my first Brent Geese of the autumn/winter season to come as I saw a few flying over the sea towards Hayling Island. One of my favourite birds and this spot was where I had my first amazing experience as a boy with them when hundreds flew over my head noisily which made me fall in love with them. Farlington Marshes as I’ve said so often is one of if not the best place in the country for Brent Geese there are so many around in the season and it’s so good for them. I read a bit today how important the Brent Geese are to the local area as their presence has stopped a lot of development proposals in Portsmouth over the year including Portsmouth Football Club’s desire to leave their Fratton Park home to build a new stadium at a site at Farlington near to the marshes. So it reminded me something I am passionate about just what a special place this is and what a special bird this really is in Hampshire as a whole.

I also loved in the world of waders seeing so many by the spit and island nearby to the shore including masses of Ringed and Grey Plovers and some Little Stints. The latter of my best birds to see in recent weeks. That view of my first Little Stint of 2020 was an injured one in a man’s hand at RSPB Snettisham in Norfolk two weeks ago tomorrow so it was nice to see some going about their business. I also saw another star bird of Farlington the Oystercatcher in the tenth picture in this photoset. A very pleasant Saturday afternoon walk we were lucky with the weather in the end. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary: Four of my favourite birds the Brent Goose, Shelduck, Little Egret and Great Crested Grebe with a fifth a Buzzard seen in numbers beside the motorway with one still and three flying together, Barnacle Goose, Snow Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Stonechat, Meadow Pipits and Linnet seen nicely bathing, Robin, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Speckled Wood butterfly, a dragonfly I couldn’t quite see what and more lovely craneflys. 

[dansnaturepictures]

20/04/20-Sky and 21/04/20-Pictures from home and Common Tern, Great Crested Grebe, Small Copper and more on Lakeside daily exercise walk 

Last night I took the first picture in this photoset of another lovely sky scene after I’d logged my laptop off, the first I had photographed for over a week though with the sun rather setting behind some buildings when viewed from my room now and some grey days the last few days others very blue skied ones so not many clouds for the sun to light up and colour well when it sets. This morning I just felt after a lower yield yesterday you could say I would take many photos today, as I snapped the second and third pictures in this photoset of one of the young trees I keep seeing out the window looking very green and the two regular Feral Pigeons that visit the garden. This time though both were here and I first noticed the darker one. This one we hadn’t seen for weeks and didn’t know if it was still around so it nice to see it again and see both together. 

I set about my daily exercise walk at lunch time going to Lakeside Country Park and had planned a route close to the lakes to see if some goslings were around as I had heard some had hatched and Greylag and Canada Geese are about the park in really big numbers of late really. I didn’t manage a gosling view today. I took the fourth picture in this photoset of a beautiful Black-headed Gull by the main lake. I then walked to an extensive path area going between two lakes and on this main lake and the one further around by the visitor centre I enjoyed fantastic Great Crested Grebe views again here. I saw some on all three lakes whilst walking around today and it looked to be teeming with them really it was brilliant to see so many of this one of my favourite birds around and get some very close views again too. It felt great and I took the fifth picture in this photoset of one. 

As I walked around between the main lake and the one to the west of it where I saw the Great Crested Grebes last week it soon became apparent that maybe I was meant to come this way today. I had tweeted earlier about a Common Tern I’d seen among Arctic Terns on the Farne Islands last summer. I scanned over the main lake here and lo and behold a Common Tern was sat on a buoy in the lake! I took the sixth picture in this photoset a bit record shot like I must say. This was my first seen this year to take my bird year list to 142. Like every year tick I’ve been getting of late it seems birds and butterflies its a bird I didn’t know when or if I would see this year but I easily do normally due to the restrictions around the coronavirus pandemic. I had it in my head though that I might be lucky enough to see a Common Tern on these inland lakes purely because I had seen one here before when I was quite young. So I just had a feeling I should look out for one here. 

It was something else to actually see one though and especially striking considering I’d thought, looked at past photos of and tweeted about the one last June. I found this quite fascinating and like it was fate really. But thinking about it logically, with this being a bird I normally see by the coast or Blashford Lakes - both out of bounds under current restrictions -, Lakeside was really the only place I was going to see one if I was to see one soon. This is because actually its a great little habitat for attracting terns I know Black Terns have been seen her too before and it is a little oasis to be able to see a Common Tern inland. Today I managed to see it and this main lake here has such a great calibre of species with the Lesser Black Backed Gulls around again today too a special bird I always find sitting on buoys too and all the other water birds there today. It just goes to show that there’s certain species I see elsewhere and are quite common that I can actually see very locally to me where perhaps they are less common but in other years I just wouldn’t need to look or have the time to walk here so regularly to notice in our usual working life and the way we watch wildlife. So that’s one good thing that has come out of the virus as I’ve said before is the focus on everything very much around you. 

On that note after I took the seventh, eighth and ninth pictures in this photoset of the lovely lakes here and the landscape looking nice and green I headed off into the woods. On the grassland before where I had seen one near here before in 2017 I spotted a Small Copper butterfly which I took the tenth picture in this photoset of. I was thrilled to see it fly and land right in front of me with its lovely red colour, such a beautiful butterfly to see as my 12th butterfly species this year. Just like its fellow B list of favourites butterfly of mine Green Hairstreak that I saw for the first time in 2020 on Sunday its the earliest sighting I’ve ever had of one in a year. It isn’t quite the Green Hairstreak story that I’d never seen one in April before but its only my second ever April sighting of one I believe so nearly there. I was very happy to spend a great few minutes with it. 

My butterfly year list is only one behind how many I had seen at this stage last year and double what I had seen two years ago today although the beast from the east did mean I had a slower start to 2018 for butterflies. My 2017 butterfly year list was also on 12 three years ago today. All of these year lists finished very highly in terms of butterfly year lists for me’s totals so I am happy with how many I’ve seen this year so far. Bird wise too my year list is still keeping up quite well with what I had seen on this date in past years with my very best totals. I’m a little bit behind where I was at this stage in 2018 and 2019 my two highest ever year list totals for birds but I’m third behind them at the moment and around the figures I had seen in 2017 and probably 2016 too around this time so I am keeping pace despite the lockdown causing an obvious slowing down in year ticks. Regardless of the numbers I had such great fun today seeing two species in particular and others that really put a smile on my face and I just found myself so excited by and engaged in what I have seen today and I did just find it a very delightful walk and I felt very lucky to see the species I did do. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary: My first Common Tern and Small Copper of the year, one of my favourite birds the Great Crested Grebe, one of my favourite butterflies the Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Magpie, Jackdaw, Bee and I heard Chiffchaff.

[dansnaturepictures]

07/01/2020-View from the cottage and Slimbridge again

This morning I took the first picture in this photoset one of a few I took of the really nice view from the guest house we are staying in the same one we did last year when we came on this trip at this time of year at Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire. Today as I did yesterday which I posted about here: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/190105802507/06012020-slimbridge-wwt-for-twitter-friends I went into WWT Slimbridge this time with my Mum all day whereas her husband went in yesterday too whilst she had the dogs and we did separate walks around the place for the most part. It is my birthday today which is the occasion and this was an absolutely perfect thing to do on my birthday as it was when we came on 7th January last year. I had another amazing day in there getting four more bird year ticks more than I expected after I saw so many of the key species in there yesterday and others and it took my year list to 103. It was a really good end to my few days staying here and with us travelling home tomorrow and me at work again Thursday maybe or maybe not stopping somewhere on the way home wildlife/photography wise tomorrow possibly a great end to a phenomenal few days off since 1st January for me.

As we looked in the first few hides from the Peng observatory up until the fabulous estuary tower it was great to get to see again some of the key species I saw yesterday. This included Bewick’s Swan one shown in the second picture I took in this photoset, Pochard, Shelduck, Pintail and many more ducks and waders. I also took the third picture in this photoset of a few of the birds together. As we looked in the willow hide I was also so happy to see not one but two Water Rails today really getting to watch one move about a lot as I did yesterday. I took the fourth picture in this photoset of one. Not a bad bird to get close to on my birthday and I have been spoiled seeing these beautiful birds and stunning species the past two days. I also saw a lot of the key species yesterday well again throughout today.

As I reached the Knot hide I quickly saw a raptor flying through a Sparrowhawk, always a great one to see for the first time in a year. This brought up the big milestone already as my 100th bird of 2020 a pretty good species to be that for me. This was the earliest ever date I have reached 100 birds on in a year six days earlier than last year the previous earliest when I reached 100 at Blashford Lakes right at the end of my week off. I cannot believe I have done this well really and I feel so happy that I have got here seeing so many top birds along the way.

We then got up to the estuary tower which I was really impressed with yesterday and met a kind WWT guide and some nice fellow watchers. We looked in the guide’s telescope and saw some White-fronted Geese one of the key Slimbridge species which I missed yesterday. We saw them quite far off in the fields which reminded me of how we saw them when we first ever did here and our early few sightings of them here. Between here and two other locations I have seen this species six times now. I felt very lucky to see it today one of my birds of the year so far I just snuck in seeing it I felt.

We then went into the Zeiss hide a view from it shown in the sixth picture in this photoset via the south lake discovery hide and a walk across the reserve I took the fifth picture in this photoset of many feeding water birds. Here we met the guide again who had had word that a Cattle Egret was now showing from the estuary tower. I had read this one had been spotted on Twitter on the Slimbridge sightings account earlier. So we rushed back with him to the tower and were delighted to see it behind a fence not too far away. It was a great view and I thought a beautiful bird this is to see and really a rare one too. I always try to see this bird every year now though and this is only the seventh time I have ever seen one but I have seen them six years running now. They are such amazing birds and this was an absolute bonus of a bird to see here I love it when you go to these reserves and see birds you don’t really expect to. I was happy to see it a standout bird this week and year already. I got the record shot the seventh picture in this photoset of this bird.

Whilst in this hide again I was also delighted to spot a Fieldfare flying into a tree my first this year another bird I did need to see so a key year tick for me today. This tower hide has certainly provided a lot of brilliant chances to see top birds this time around. It was a very nice view of this bird.

We then resumed our hide journey I took the eighth picture in this photoset a view from Kingfisher hide and also spent some precious time with the huge array of captive birds from around the world here one of my favourites in the North American section the Wood Duck shown in the tenth picture I took today in this photoset. I also took the ninth picture in this photoset of Jackdaws going to roost always a fantastic sight here I have found over the years. 

We then saw the always spectacular feeding in the evening at the Peng observatory and hide next to it as it was getting dark. It was wonderful to see masses and masses of water birds wanting to feed following the wheelbarrow the WWT staff member was towing with the food in and throwing it out. It was great to hear him do the whistle which tells these wild birds that food will be coming and his commentary beforehand. It was a brilliant end to this 2020 journey in this reserve and possibly my whole time off. I saw so many incredible species here, everything on a great scale and intimate moments were really present as well. This was all for a good cause the WWT as such with our entrance feeds and I just had so much fun away supporting the rest of my sensational week off of birds so well. Thanks for all your support from the start of the year days up until today it really does mean so much to me.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: My first Sparrowhawk, White-fronted Goose, Cattle Egret and Fieldfare of the year, three of my favourite birds on my birthday the Shelduck, Pochard and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bewick’s Swan, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Egyptian Goose, Barnacle Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pintail, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall, Coot, Moorhen, Water Rail, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Jackdaw, Rook, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Robin, Blackbird and Grey Squirrel.

[dansnaturepictures]

07/01/19-WWT Slimbridge 

As planned we came into this Severn estuary wetland haven on my birthday, and I could not have enjoyed myself more with so many amazing birds seen and people met. I got 19 more year ticks, making it my second highest amount of year ticks seen on one day this year after New Year’s Day, made possible by so many common species seen today which I hadn’t yet as well as some rarer ones so this will probably remain as my second most productive day for amount of year ticks this year like the second day of my Scotland trip did last year the present for my 21st birthday. Today my year list is on 75, one more than my record year list of last year was on at this stage and makes it my third highest ever year list after one week behind my 2017 and 2016 so in great company with all of these year lists records of mine at the time. 

So I will say all my year ticks today in my Wildlife Sightings Summary but I will talk through now some of the highlights. The first super bird I saw today for the first time this year was a Bewick’s Swan as shown in the first picture I took today in this photoset. I saw so many of this beautiful birds throughout the day, getting to see them so well and hear their enchanting call. I also saw more flying than I ever had here today and for a bird it’s 50/50 if I’ll see at home in a year it was nice to see them so easily. 

Early year ticks in the observatory on the day were my two favourite ducks Pochard and then Shelduck. As I’ve so often said it was wonderful to see them side by side as two of my favourite birds with a Shelduck chasing a Pochard at one point. I had a great birthday moment getting so close to a Shelduck later on I took the seventh picture in this photoset of this bird. In one of the next hides I visited on route to the Holden Tower (I then went around most of them in the day going all the way to Kingfisher, then back to the tower hide and back across to Kingfisher hide again) I got to see my first Golden Plovers of the year a big bird for me today seeing so many throughout and they looked nice. 

When at this hide all of a sudden hundreds of Lapwings, Wigeons and other birds came up together which looked and sounded amazing with the wing beats. I saw this a few times throughout the day capturing it in the fifth picture in this photoset later on. I imagine the great Sir Peter Scott would have seen scenes like this himself as he founded this wonderful reserve and organisation. What this mass flight helped me to see were two more year ticks, firstly I spotted some different looking geese and saw they were White-fronted Geese. These were a true star of the day as I saw loads and they looked so beautiful, it was a bird I really admire and my first species seen this year that I didn’t see at all last year. I probably saw them better and clearer than ever today overall. I got the second picture in this photoset of them. Also exposed by the birds going up were a group of Ruff as shown by the third picture in this photoset which I always like and was very happy to see. I took the fourth picture in this photoset of another star of the day as always the Pintail. 

At the Holden Tower itself I saw what probably got the birds up, a Peregrine Falcon. Five raptor year ticks in three days I am thrilled with. Also here I was delighted to see several Barnacle Geese fly into a lake in front, perhaps seeing these better than I had before too. I photographed them as well, in the sixth picture in this photoset. 

After the trip to the other side of the reserve I met up with my Mum who was splitting coming in today with her husband and we saw in another hide on the run up to Holden Tower another bird I had come for the Common Cranes as shown in the eighth picture in this photoset. Another bird I did not see last year I was reminded how gigantic they look compared to anything else in my fifth ever sighting of this bird. It really did seem like my birthday next as we got out of this hide, looked in the reedbed and feeding station one opposite and got cracking views of two Water Rails. This year tick was on my “maybe, just maybe” list for today so what a bonus to see it. I took the ninth picture in this photoset of it. My form for seeing them of last year showing no sign of letting up. 

I am still in my Water Rail paradigm. This is a little game I have with three elusive habitual reedbed species Bittern, Bearded Tit and Water Rail. I often think the luck you often need to see them means you can only be seeing one consistently well at once. I saw them all early on into my birdwatching first of all. Then 2013 and 2014 became the Bittern days with us seeing so many, albeit I did see a Water Rail late in the latter. I didn’t see any of the three in 2015, but into 2016 and 2017 and the Bearded Tit era was upon me. I did see all three in the latter though, and in 2018 whilst I saw a late Bittern this time it was the Water Rail’s year with them seen four times by me which was quite something. Today’s rivaled for closeness the most intimate of those at Titchfield Haven with a juvenile in July. 

We did some hides and wandered around next where it was great to see a Black-headed Gull feeding frenzy shown in the tenth picture in this photoset, the lovely Otters they have here and as I did early on in my 2014 here hundreds of Jackdaws noisily going to roost. We then watched the feeding of the waterfowl back at the observatory and saw Canada Geese fighting this time and savoured some of the star birds one more time. This brought to an end a very memorable birthday and a top start to my weekdays off. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary: My first Tufted Duck, Pintail, Bewick’s Swan, Pochard, Shelduck, Golden Plover, Snipe, Curlew, Redshank, White-fronted Goose, Ruff, Shoveler, Peregrine Falcon, Barnacle Goose, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Crane, Water Rail and Lesser Black Backed Gull of the year, another of my favourite birds the Buzzard, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Robin, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull and Herring Gull.

[dansnaturepictures]

4th June 2021-Great Friday of birds at home and Lakeside 

I took the first seven pictures in this photoset today at Lakeside for my lunch time walk of blossom, leaves with some looking autumnal starting to show strangely, a Greylag Goose gosling from the first family I noticed now not looking very much like a gosling anymore with some adult feathers which is fantastic to see that they’ve done so well, landscape dominated by the lovely cow parsley which is around a lot, a sky scene, an emerald headed male Mallard and a view of the westernmost lake after taking a photo which I tweeted on Dans_Pictures tonight of a lovely Woodpigeon at home. I did enjoy seeing the gaggle of varied age Greylag Goose goslings with Canada Geese ones too and some adorable Mallard ducklings on the shore of beach lake. And not for the first time on Concorde lake with the Mallards I saw them shacking which was interesting and I got some quite rare I suppose close Coot views I tweeted a picture of one with that diving which was very interesting to see quite close up. I saw geese flying at home today too as I have a couple of times this week as they so often do out of the breeding season whilst not always being at Lakeside much out of breeding season which reminded me that soon the goslings will move on. It feels like yesterday I noticed my first goslings of the year here time really does fly and its been a brilliant journey with both geese species right from noticing they were coming back to Lakeside until now. But I couldn’t help feeling things were a little quiet in terms of birds around the lakes, with the Great Crested Grebe chicks which brought a lot of people here to see and photograph them not making it that’s a key character as such lost. 

But as I rounded the westernmost lake I got some exciting avian moments in the way that nature does so splendidly, always likely today with my long zoom lens for my DSLR getting its turn in my lunch time one lens challenge this week as the main things I take with it. Firstly I saw the pleasing group of mostly male navy blue and bright white but some female beautifully brown Tufted Ducks on this lake, I took the eighth picture in this photoset of two males and tweeted another tonight too. 

Then as I reached the north west edge of the westernmost lake near a bit of a fence I was delighted to see a brown ball of joy of my fist young Moorhen which chirped charmingly this year. My mind instantly turned to a picture and swimming underneath trees overhanging the water and being behind a bit of grass it was going to be a challenge. But I was paitent and waiting for it to swim in to a clear area with some more light and whilst also walking along branches it did and I was thrilled to get the ninth picture in this photoset of it and I tweeted another tonight. I think it like the goslings, ducklings and Peregrine Falcon chicks on Winchester Cathedral I was so lucky to see on Tuesday lunch time when taking my turn in the going into the office rota raised my spirits after the disappointment of the grebes not making it. I really was so captivated by this stunning baby bird, my first of the year adding so well to my spring time and breeding bird journey at my local Lakeside this year which has been special. The first Great Crested Grebe nest I noticed this year nearby was taken over my Moorhens and I did see some deceased either Moorhen or Coot chicks nearby later on so it was great to see this quite well grown chick around. A perfect focus of another day of being transfixed and uplifted by watching nature for 30 days wild. 

Whilst watching this the relentless high pitched onomatopoeic call of the Jackdaw sounded out from the lush woodland. It wouldn’t surprise me if they have young around. And the high pitched chorus was added to by another special bit of time hearing a Ring-necked Parakeet as some sun started to surface today. 

I messed things up a bit in terms of getting a second Friday walk to make the most of the early finish at work on a Friday as I did work on a bit later and had something I’d recorded to watch on TV before something else I watched so I ran out of time for another walk. After doing some rare indoor exercise to still get me a bit more to what I did at lunch time, to supplement the fresh air element I stuck my head out the window. And I was stunned to see how colourful and well grown the hanging baskets and similar was looking in the garden one hanging basket in particular looking amazing as I tweeted a photo of. I did take the tenth and final picture in this photoset looking down into the garden which I liked seeing. Before another brilliant evening enjoying BBC Springwatch, such an amazing programme I am enjoying to celebrate British wildlife, learn a lot and also share in observing the sights and highlights of the season with so many others too I am getting so much from this series with phenomenal wildlife featured this year from a very dedicated an fantastic team on and off camera and I always seem to see the sun setting at one or some of their three wild and fantastic host locations Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk, Alldale in Scotland and Northern Ireland’s WWT Castle Espie with it setting about as the show ends currently around 9:00 then go and look for a sunset out my sunset arena what I nickname my room myself and tonight was the same with a marvelous looking one which I tweeted a picture of. Things I think I will remember this spring fondly by. I hope you all have a nice and safe weekend and thanks for all your support this week. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary: One of my favourite brids the Great Crested Grebe, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull, House Sparrow, Robin and Blackbird nicely near the Moorhen chick, Blue Tit well, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Starling, Carrion Crow, Magpie, top views of bees again with one flying and I heard it buzzing so close to me on vegetation by the front door and I heard Jackdaw and Ring-necked Parakeet.