Friday, 19 April 2019

Mandarins

Friday 19th April

And about time too, warm from the off and got warmer, quick walk up to the pool, but very quiet there.
Off we then went to Catherton Common, hazy sunshine but very nice, very surprised to spot three Curlew, managed some distant record shots, also saw few buzzards, meadow pipits, stonechats, mistle thrushes, ravens, lots of pigeons, but unlike last visit we did not see any Red Kites.
Kestrel very active but couldn't get close to it.
Heard a Cuckoo calling several times from different places, does that mean Summer is on it's way.
Few moths and butterflies also flitting about.
Just a few minutes before we left a couple of swallows flew low quite near to us.
All in all a very enjoyable day, don't even mind that I never got any decent photos, was great just to see and hear the Curlews.

Curlew, heavily cropped

As above

Distant Kestrel

As above


Thursday 18th April

Misty but warm start to the day, mist cleared to leave some lovely sunshine, but late morning early afternoon it clouded up a little, but still nice and warm.
The heron was in action on Captain's but apart from a couple of skylarks over the cornfield it was pretty quiet.




Small grass snake

Canada Goose egg, decimated by a crow.


Insect wise a lot more action,  saw lots of male Orange tips, holy blue, small tortoiseshell and a peacock.
Male Leucozona lucorum

Record shot Holy Blue

Bumble Bee

19.00 tonight


Wednesday 17th April

Very warm day, hardly a cloud in the sky.
School holidays so Grand daughters here all day, so not much wildlife watching.
Been to Severn Valley Country park at Alveley today, lots of orange tip butterflies about.

Had a few minutes up the pool, but very quiet there, managed couple of photos of insects in the garden.

Hay fever been active for week or so but today it has really kicked in, oh dear, will have to see how it goes.

Large Bumblebee

Hoverfly - Male Epistrophe eligans


Tuesday 16th April 2019

Dull cloudy start with just the odd spot of rain.
Had an early walk up to Captain's, very quiet up there as there was a work party going on.
Popped back out later on and was quiet over the fields and the reserves, 2 male Mandarin ducks on Captain's and that was the only highlight. GC Grebe still sitting on the nest.



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