Spotted and Pied Flycatchers Encounter - Chambers Wall 25/08/19

I paid a visit to Chambers Wall after work to see what I could see. It was a beautifully fine late afternoon with a gentle easterly wind and very warm. The visit started very well as the first bird I saw was a gorgeous Spotted Flycatcher (148) in the bushes by the car park. It really was a little beauty. I froze as soon as I saw it and apart from very slowly lifting the camera I did not move and was treated to some incredible views from a very obliging bird as it sat looking around. I think that it is the best views of a Spotted Flycatcher that I have had. It had pale edges to its greater coverts and tertials so would that make it a first winter bird? I could see a second Spotted Flycatcher atop some bushes further along.

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

I caught sight of something fly catching on the other side of the hedge and heard a bird calling so I inched away from this little fella, so as to not disturb it, and had a peep around the other side of the hedge. A Pied Flycatcher (149) was sat calling away. I don't think that I have heard one call before. It was a fair way down from me and appeared fairly agitated and looked as if whatever was upsetting it was above it but whatever it was I couldn't see it from where I was. After a few moments of calling etc it moved off into the bush.

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

I had a wander back round to the other side. The Pied Flycatcher was still calling and was very mobile, moving from bush to bush then over to the bushes by the river and back again. It finally settled for a little while before moving off again.

Pied Flycatcher

I headed down the track towards the railway crossing and could see a Whinchat ahead of me. Unfortunately a dog walker was coming up the track so I grabbed a quick distant shot just before it flew up and disappeared to the other side of the hedge.

Whinchat

A Hummingbird Hawkmoth settled momentarily before continuing up the track. I could not manage to get the camera onto it quick enough, which was a shame, as it would have been nice to have been able to have got a photo of it settled as it is not how I usually see them. Linnets and Goldfinches were flitting around. A couple of Whitethroat were working their way through the hedge and a Common Buzzard called from above. Common Darter and good numbers of Migrant Hawkers were on the wing. I came across a Spotted Flycatcher again but I think it is likely that it was one of the two that I had already seen as I had seen the more distant one head in this direction. I also saw a couple of Pied Flycatchers in the same area one of which was also likely to be the bird I had already seen.

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

I carried on down and had another Pied Flycatcher much further along, by the river and a Green Woodpecker was on the ground. I think it highly likely that there were more than 3 Pied Flycatchers but as there was a chance of counting the same bird twice I only counted the ones I could be certain were different birds. As I crossed the railway line I could hear at least 2 Common Sandpiper calling and the calls appeared to be coming from the direction of the river. There were several Yellow Wagtail around the path as I approached Coldharbour. Coldharbour itself remained quite quiet with a Redshank and a few Black-headed Gulls. There was a also a Common Sandpiper workings its way along a muddy margin with another calling from cover. I had a seat on the sea wall for a while and could see a roost of 75 Oystercatchers and 7 Ringed Plover.

Common Sandpiper

Roosting Oystercatchers

I headed back up to towards Chambers Wall. A few Meadow Pipit were on the path and a Willow Warbler was working its way through a bush much to the disgust of a male Reed Bunting who promptly saw it off. A Latticed Heath Moth flew up and then settled back down again. They are handsome moths. A Lacewing was also enjoying the last of the sunshine.

Latticed Heath Moth

Latticed Heath Moth

Lacewing

I could hear a Grey Partridge calling from the other side of the hedge. A Sparrowhawk shot through, literally brushing the bush that a flock of roosting Linnet were chattering away from sending 80 roosting Linnet wheeling up into the air. It chased, twisting and turning after a bird but did not manage to catch it and then carried on through. The flock circled around several times before dropping back into the bushes.

Linnets

It was time to head for home but it had been a bonus to be able to have some time out and I had enjoyed my visit and thoroughly enjoyed my encounter with the Spotted and Pied Flycatchers.

Birds seen this visit include: 2 Spotted Fycatcher, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 109 Linnet, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Common Buzzard, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff, Blue Tits, 1 Moorhen, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Skylark, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Magpie, Carrion Crow, 1 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Sandwich Tern, 75 Oystercatcher, 7 Ringed Plovers, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Turnstone, Cormorant, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Swallow, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Coot, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Robin, 2 Wren, 2 Mallard,

Damselflies and Hairy Dragonflies - Chambers Wall to Shuart 15/05/19

As I had a day off today I thought I would try for a walk from Chambers Wall to Shuart. It was beautifully sunny but with an increasing east north easterly wind. Luckily the wind never increased beyond a little breezy although it was fairly cool. A couple of Yellow Wagtail were alongside the road and Skylarks were singing away. A Common Buzzard was circling high above. I was hoping for some Damselflies today and I was pleased when I came across an Azure Damselfly as it boded well. I saw a couple of Holly Blue Butterflies and a Large White Butterfly but they were very active and did not settle where I could see them for a photo.

Azure Damselfly

A male Blackcap was singing away and I stood for a while just listening and enjoying the beauty of its song.

male Blackcap

I was surrounded by bird song as I walked down the track with Blackcap, Wren, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warblers all singing away and a Cuckoo repeatedly cuckooing. Blue Tit and Great Tit were active and 5 Swallow's were hawking for insects over the fields. I came across a Squash Bug that looked different to the other ones that I have seen. It had a narrower abdomen and very pointed shoulders and I think, from looking it up, that it is a Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus.

Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus

In a sheltered area from the wind I came across several Damselflies and enjoyed looking though them. Azure appeared to be the most common. I saw a smart male Variable and he allowed some good views. The thoracic stripes were very broken in this male and the thick black wine goblet on S2 and the bar between the eye spots showed very well.

male Variable Damselfly

male Variable Damselfly

I also saw a male and female Red-eyed Damselfly.

female Red-eyed Damselfly

male Red-eyed Damselfly

In the same area there was also another couple of Variable Damselfly, both of these being female blue forms.

female blue form Variable Damselfly

It was lovely walking down the path. It seemed that, in every sheltered area in the sunshine, there were good numbers of damselflies. It is the first time this year that I have seen so many together at the same time. It was great to be able to have a slow wander along, just admiring all that I saw. I had an insect I did not recognise but, from looking it up, I think that it is a Dance Fly - Empis tessellata. I also had a couple of Common Blue Damselflies, neither of which wanted their photo taken and a couple of Blue-tailed Damselflies, one of which was slightly more obliging.

Dance Fly - ? Empis tessellata

Blue-tailed Damselfly

I finished off the walk down to the embankment with another male Variable Damselfly and a male Red-eyed Damselfly.

male Variable Damselfly

male Red-eyed Damselfly

On the embankment I came across a very smart looking beetle which I think is a Common Malachite - Malachius bipustulatus. For the length of the embankment the air was so full of song from Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warblers that I decided to just enjoy listening to them rather than worry about counting them, while looking out for insects, as any count was likely to be inaccurate anyway as I kept getting distracted by what I was seeing.

Common Malachite - Malachius bipustulatus

Common Malachite - Malachius bipustulatus

A Sparrowhawk passed overhead causing a Yellow Wagtail to shoot across, alarm calling like mad. I saw a dragonfly whizz past, which looked like a male Hairy but unfortunately it disappeared from sight. However a little further along I saw another dragonfly that appeared to go down a little way ahead. Once I reached the spot I searched for it but without any success when suddenly it flew in and settled in front of me allowing some really lovely views. I was well chuffed to see it.

female Hairy Dragonfly

female Hairy Dragonfly

female Hairy Dragonfly

 I was pleased when I saw my first Small Heath of the year and ended up seeing 5 during my visit.

Small Heath Butterfly

 I heard several Reed Bunting singing and a Grey Heron gave a flypast. I caught sight of something and saw a beautiful Latticed Heath Moth - Chiasmia clathrata. It looked stunning in the sunshine.

Latticed Heath Moth - Chiasmia clathrata

Latticed Heath Moth - Chiasmia clathrata

The embankment was fairly quiet for damselflies and I only saw a few Azure dotted here and there. Some Holly Blue butterflies were active and one allowed a photo.

male Azure Damselfly

Holly Blue Butterfly

As I passed one of the dykes I could see a male Tufted Duck tucked in fast asleep whilst there were a couple of Lapwing and a Hare in one of the fields. A Cetti's Warbler exploded into song almost next to me but I couldn't manage to see it at all. A male Hairy Dragonfly was much more obliging and flew in and settled in front of me. It only paused briefly before setting off again but long enough to enable me to grab a shot so I was very lucky.

male Hairy Dragonfly

I came across a couple of things that I am not sure what they are at the moment and will update if I get any further forward with them. I saw something that appeared to be almost fluorescent orange on a Wild Rose. It looks more yellow orange in the photo than it did in real life. I thought it must be some kind of gall and the only one that I have been able to find that it might be is Orange Rose Rust but I am really not sure. I also saw a moth that I have not been able to identify either. It was very worn but I have not been able to find anything that looks like it.

? Orange Rose Rust

I saw a Dance Fly again but this time it was mating while the female was eating what the male had caught for her. The male was supporting his, the females and the preys weight holding onto a branch with just two legs. Apparently the female will not mate with the male unless he brings her something to eat and she has to approve of the gift before she will allow him to mate. I love being able to take macro photos as it enables me to see things that I might not be able to with my naked eye otherwise.

Dance Flies mating and prey - Dance Fly - ? Empis tessellata's

The patch of water in the field is drying out and was quite a lot smaller today. There was a Lapwing and a Yellow Wagtail at the waters edge but otherwise it was quiet. Sanfoin was in flower and what I think was a Large Red-tailed Bumble Bee - Bombus lapidarius seemed to favour it as it moved from flower to flower.

Sanfoin

Large Red-tailed Bumble Bee - Bombus lapidarius

I saw a beetle I have been unable to identify at the moment and a Spotted Cranefly showed just how strikingly marked they are.

Spotted Cranefly

A smart Orange Tip Butterfly also paid a visit to the Sanfoin and another Cuckoo flew past.

Orange Tip Butterfly

At Shuart there were good numbers of Azure Damselfly and I also saw a Blue-tailed and Common Damselfly. I did not see any Red-eyed Damselflies but I did see several Variable Damselflies. Marsh Frogs were singing away. I saw 1 Hairy Dragonfly as it shot past me.

Variable Damselfly

I disturbed 2 Common Lizards, that I had not seen, from the path which scurried across as I approached. I caught sight of a caterpillar and I thought that I had a different type but when I looked closely it appeared to be a particularly bright Drinker Moth Caterpillar. Perhaps the younger they are, the brighter they are. 2 Mute Swan were down one of the dykes.

Drinker Moth Caterpillar

While watching some Azure Damselflies I had a striking beetle crawl into view. I looked it up when I got home and I think that it is a Tortoise Beetle - Cassida vibex.

Tortoise Beetle - Cassida vibex

Tortoise Beetle - Cassida vibex

I finished off the visit watching a Mistle Thrush family. I only saw one adult but there could easily have been another one and I saw 2 youngsters. The youngsters were beautifully marked. They made a lovely end to the visit.

young Mistle Thrush

young Mistle Thrush

 Birds seen this visit include: 5 Yellow Wagtail, Skylarks, 3 Common Buzzard, Whitethroats, 4 Blue Tits, 2 Great Tit, 3 Wren, 3 Blackcap, Wood Pigeons, 9 Chaffinch, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, 5 Mute Swan, 6 Goldfinches, 3 Cuckcoo, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Corn Bunting, 13 Swallow, 6 Magpie, Herring Gulls, 3 Cetti's Warbler, Carrion Crows, 5 Reed Bunting, 5 Linnet, Cormorants, 2 Dunnock, Grey Heron, 1 Tufted Duck,  3 Lapwing, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Mallard, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 House Sparrow, 2 Chiffchaff,