I had a day off today and decided to try for a walk from Shuart to Chambers Wall via the embankment. 3 Blackcap were in good voice when I arrived at Shuart, joined by all the regulars in song. I saw 2 Red-legged Partridge from the top path and another two in the sheep field. They are handsome birds.
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| Red-legged Partridge |
I could hear a Cuckoo calling very nearby as I walked down the track and hoped to be able to catch up with it but a large tractor coming down the track put paid to that as, once the tractor had gone, I could hear the Cuckoo still calling but this time from much further away. Still, it was lovely to hear it. As I had just come up to a gap in the hedge I had a look down and a female Pheasant had popped her head up to check what all the noise was about, as the tractor moved through, before she continued down the furrow in the field.
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| female Pheasant |
The tractor turned off and as it crossed over a dyke into the next field it flushed a Green Sandpiper. 2 Yellow Wagtails called as they flew over. I could hear a Mediterranean Gull calling and had a single bird flying west. Within a short space of time this was followed by another 2, and a group of 4 all moving west.
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| Mediterranean Gull |
There had been rain threatening at times and a light shower passed over as I reached the embankment. Luckily it did not last long and had the advantage of leaving the gift of a partial rainbow as it cleared. However hard things might be at any particular time seeing a rainbow always lifts my spirits.
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| Rainbow |
I took a short detour to the stables, and enjoyed listening to the 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat before retracing my steps and heading along the embankment. Whitethroat were singing away and there was a pair of Shoveller on the large patch of water in the field together with a Mute Swan. A Peregrine came down to the water for a drink which made the Shoveller disappear in double quick time. I hoped when it flew it might come my way but unfortunately it flew towards Shuart. I was still lucky, though, as I was able to get some photos, even if they are quite distant.
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine |
I saw a pair of Mute Swan that were busy nest building. The regular male and female Marsh Harrier were busy hunting with the male regularly displaying in between.
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| male Marsh Harrier |
A smart Tortoiseshell butterfly poised very nicely. Unfortunately while I had the camera in macro to take that a Cuckoo chose that moment to fly past and I did not manage to focus properly on it. Still, it makes a good memory shot.
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| Tortoiseshell Butterfly |
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| Cuckoo |
An Orange Tip Butterfly was very active despite the wind having picked up a lot by now. It did pause briefly on some blossom flowers enabling me to grab a shot. The underwings are beautifully marked. There was also a Squash Bug which I think is a Dock Bug. They are striking insects.
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| Orange Tip Butterfly |
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| Squash Bug - Dock Bug |
As I neared the railway crossing for Chambers Wall I had a Common Carpet Moth.
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| Common Carpet Moth |
I could hear a Cuckoo calling as I approached the railway crossing and could see one perched on top of a bush on the other side, presumably the same one that had flown past me. It made a nice end to the visit.
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| Cuckoo |
Birds seen this visit include: 7 Blackcap, 3 Common Buzzard, 7 Wren, 3 Robin, 5 Dunnock, Wood Pigeons, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Red Legged Partridge, 2 Sparrowhawk, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chaffinches, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, 15 Whitethroat, Stock Dove, 3 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackbird, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Sedge Warbler, 1 Jay, Herring Gulls, 4 Cetti's Warbler, Skylarks, 6 Mute Swan, 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Mediterranean Gull west, 7 Reed Bunting, 1 Pheasant, 2 Mallard, 2 Magpie, 11 Goldfinches, 16 Linnet, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Pied Wagtail, 7 Swallow, House Sparrows, Starlings, 2 Collared Dove, 2 Shoveller, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Peregrine
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