The lone lapwing

Just the one.
All on his tod.
Refusing to slow down for a decent photograph.
I tried!

Lapwing

Recent Photos

Some recent photos from The Orchard Centre and thereabouts:
Firstly this caterpillar cluster

Lackey Moth Caterpillars

 This kestrel clearly can't read. That's a Barn Owl box mate!

Nesting Kestrel

Whinchat

 And as my old grandad used to say to me.... "It'd fetch ducks of water"

Mallards in flight

Back on familiar turf

Back to the Orchard Centre today.
I thought I may have seen everything I was likely to here, so lately I have been frequenting other haunts.
62 species on a small, inland patch like this seemed quite respectable but........ you should never say never!
Sat in the hide today, I was very pleasantly surprised at the numbers of House Martins - at least 30 and probably nearer 35. But I was absolutely chuffed to see 3 Sand Martins mixed in with the throng.

And then there in right in front of the hide was a gorgeous male Mandarin Duck. "Bang tidy!" as Keith Lemon would say. And that's 64 for the patch list. (Photo by the Lone Birder's daughter).

Mandarin

Other birds seen today included 2 Ravens, 5 Swallows, 3 Stock Doves, 2 Coots, and a handfull of Mallards.

Female Mallard

If the cap fits.......

Now here's the thing: I normally like to keep my birding list inside the broad, but somewhat restricting confines of Gloucestershire. I know, I know...... get a life mate!
Anyhow, having strayed across the border today into the equally gorgeous and farmer friendly county that is Herefordshire I put another tick on The Lone Birder's year list.
My first Blackcap!
That unmistakable, scolding "Tacc! Tacc!" and there the little blighter was, fliting around the tree tops, doing his darndest to avoid having his photo taken.
Too bad little fella, gotcha!

Male Blackcap

Q: When is a willow warbler not a willow warbler?

A. When it's a chiffchaff. When these two birds don't sing they are very difficult to tell apart (for me at least). I usually rely on leg colour and the dark colour of this birds legs tell me it's a chiffchaff.
But I'm open to debate.

Chiffchaff - it's all in the legs!

30 March 2014

It's been a while since I had a good mooch around The Orchard Centre at Hartpury and I had a feeling in my water today so I got myself down there pronto.
Right decision (and not just a bladder infection).
A patch first today: Green Sandpiper. Unmistakable with that white rump. The only downside was that when I flushed it, it flew off so fast that I didn't get time for a photo. No matter, I'll have a look again later in the week. See if I can sneak up on the little blighter and get a couple of polaroids for the family album.
Still, all was not lost. I managed a few shots of some of the "regulars" and great to see that the Mallards had produced a first brood too.

Well it is Mother's day!

Mallard Chick

From ducks to raptors: and what a devilishly handsome brute that buzzard is!

Buzzard

Kestrel

Stock doves can be somewhat overlooked, but in truth they too are quite handsome birds (no idea why this one is rolling his eyes though. Makes him look slightly simple).

Stock dove

Saturday 29th March 2014    Ashleworth Ham

A late afternoon visit resulted in a couple of photos.
Firstly, a group of Little Egrets. Thee were nine in all but I only managed to get 5 in the photo.

Little Egrets

Three Grey Herons were also in attendance and this one delighted me with a fly-past.

Grey Heron

Other birds seen; 6 Lapwing, 18 Shovelers, 40+ Wigeon and around 30 Linnets coming into roost with a small flock of Chaffinches.