As walking still wasn't a strong point today, I headed back to Marshside for a bit of from the road birdwatching. I am lucky that it is a good spot for that. It was sunny when I arrived but with building cloud and the visit finished with heavy rain showers.
A Blackcap was singing away and a Reed Warbler's repertoire included mimicking the very first part of the call of a Cuckoo. I caught sight of a Common Lizard basking in the sun. Its tail was tucked mainly in the undergrowth but when it did show it briefly it looked as if it had lost the tip of it quite recently. Though it could clearly see me it did not seem too concerned as long as I stayed very still.
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| Common Lizard |
A Common Carder Bee was active while a Cranefly gave the opportunity for a photo. Common Nettle-tap Moths were plentiful and lived up to their name today as I saw them mainly on nettles.
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| Cranefly |
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| Common Nettle-tap Moth |
I saw a female Mallard with 10 ducklings and further on caught up with the female with youngsters I saw the other day. Unfortunately she only had six ducklings left out of the nine I saw on Tuesday, which was a real shame. I hope that the six can manage to do well.
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| female Mallard and ducklings |
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| female Mallard and ducklings |
I came across a caterpillar on a silk thread. It was being blown around by the wind which made it hard to get a photo but it showed how strong the silk thread is. I am not sure what caterpillar it is, perhaps a Sawfly of some sort.
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| Caterpillar on silk thread |
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| Caterpillar on silk thread |
The sunshine meant that there was more insect activity today and I enjoyed seeing what I came across. A Red-and-black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata was resting on some Ivy leaves, taking advantage of the warmth from the sun. It was a striking insect.
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| Red-and-black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata |
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| Red-and-black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata |
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| Red-and-black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata |
There was also a resting male Mosquito which had beautifully intricate antennae
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| Mosquito |
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| Mosquito |
In the same area I saw a couple of spiders that I think are Tetragnatha - Stretch spiders. I think the one on the reed is a Tetragnatha striata and the one in the web Tetragnatha extensa but I could be wrong.
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| ? Tetragnatha striata |
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| ? Tetragnatha extensa |
A Kingfisher flew past carrying food and then a little while later I saw it fly back before, once again, it came back past carrying food. I hope that all goes well for them. They are beautiful birds and a joy to watch. I did try for a photo as it flew past but only managed a blurry one. Hopefully I may have more luck another time. A Moorhen showed its fluffed up white under-tail feathers well.
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| Moorhen |
A Reed Warbler had collected some nesting material and paused to call before moving to the edge of the reeds. Its mate came out to meet it and to inspect what it had got before they both disappeared into the reeds.
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| Reed Warbler |
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| Reed Warblers |
I came across an insect that I think is some sort of Cephidae Sawfly. I am not sure which one though. A female Great Spotted Woodpecker settled onto the top of a telegraph post before spotting me and carrying on. A Common Buzzard was circling high above.
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| ? Cephidae Sawfly |
I could hear 2 male Cuckoo's calling and a female also called. A short while later I had 3 Cuckoo's fly past, 2 were one behind the other and the 3rd was rapidly catching up. I could not get a good enough view of the first two birds to see if one of them was a female, but the rear bird certainly appeared to be a male.
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| Cuckoo |
I did well for raptors, during the visit, seeing Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and Marsh Harrier. A Cormorant spiralled high above and I liked the silhouette it made with its tail feathers fanned out.
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| Cormorant |
I saw a lot of Squash Bugs many of which were mating. I also saw several Helophilus pendulus.
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| Dock Bugs Coreus marginatus |
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| Helophilus pendulus |
I enjoyed listening to a Reed Warbler that was singing away. I kept getting glimpses of it through the reeds but never managed to get a clear shot. But I was pleased to be able to get a memory shot. He sang repeatedly with only short rests and appeared very aware of another male that was singing nearby.
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| Reed Warbler |
I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker fly up into a tree and it had obviously just been having a bath which must have been a very enthusiastic one as it was absolutely soaked. It spent the next 7 minutes extensively preening and gradually drying off in the sunshine at the same time. As it wing stretched and tail fanned it gave a good opportunity to see the wing and tail pattern. I felt really lucky to be able to watch it.
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
When I came on Tuesday I had listened and looked out for a Turtle Dove but without any success so I was very pleased when I heard a distinctive purring song. It is a lovely sound and I was well chuffed as it is my first Turtle Dove (140) of the year. A little while later I had it display right above me briefly and I tried for a photo. I also managed to get some distant views of it perched. It is amazing how much it puffs up its throat when it is purring.
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| Turtle Dove |
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| Turtle Dove |
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| Turtle Dove |
I broke off from admiring the Turtle Dove as a Grey Heron did a very low flypast over the top of me giving some great views as it did so.
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| Grey Heron |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Grey Heron |
I could hear a strange booming call and I could not work out what was making it. I could see white though the hedge and looking through a gap I could see a pair of what I think are either Ostrich or Greater Rhea, I am not sure which, and they appeared to be displaying to each other. I think that the call was coming from one of them.
A Kestrel flew past and its flight feathers appeared very worn.
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| Kestrel |
It had been good to just see what I could see but with the rain showers becoming very heavy and very frequent it was time to head for home.
Birds seen this visit include: 4 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 9 Whitethroat, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, 3 Wren, 2 Greenfinch, 3 Cuckoo, 1 Pheasant, Robin, 6 Mallard and 16 youngsters, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzard, 5 Moorhen, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 5 Cormorant, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Swallow, 5 Sand Martin, Starlings, 2 Mistle Thrush, 5 Song Thrush,
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