Meetings all this week, both in Plymouth and London so, yet again, no chance to get out so nothing to report. In Glasgow most of next week but back in time for the weekend so I am hoping against hope that the weather will be decent next weekend and I can get out and get a few photos under my belt (all batteries now charged).
Weather has also been atrocious in this part of the world so not much insect life around. BDS site seems to back up a quiet start to the Dragon season with few sightings.
Just think how much worse it would be if we weren't in a drought!
I have been spending more time indoors and on trains etc so have had time to look properly at the Dragonflies & Damselflies of Britain & Ireland app by Bird Guides for my ipod. The more I use it the better it seems. It is also much easier to carry around with you then a reference book as it is much smaller and lighter and so takes up less space in your camera bag. £10 well spent if you already have an ipod.
There will always be real potential for confusion on many UK Dragons and Damsels as there are a number with very similar characteristics and I am certainly not an expert and rely on reference books and the ipod app for confirming identification from my photos. It is also essential for rarities such as when my brother casually asked me to identify a Dragon photographed in his garden and I still recall the envy I felt when I realised it was a Vagrant Emperor.
And him a birder to - life is so unfair!
Off to dip the pond before it starts raining again.
Saturday, 28 April 2012
Saturday, 21 April 2012
Reality check
No posts this week as I have been doing grown up stuff (Sales Conference) so have been in "Buzz Word Mode" all week. No fresh air and endless exposure to gibberish have not made for a pleasant time, although my own hour long presentation delivered after 3 hours sleep with a raging hangover must have been an interesting experience for all present.
I was supposed to be up and out early this morning but to thwart this wife has arranged for electrician to fix a malfunctioning RCD today which means power off all day, so no computers or internet for me and can't leave the house. Only bright side, no power so no DIYing.
Hopefully next post will have something interesting to say.
I was supposed to be up and out early this morning but to thwart this wife has arranged for electrician to fix a malfunctioning RCD today which means power off all day, so no computers or internet for me and can't leave the house. Only bright side, no power so no DIYing.
Hopefully next post will have something interesting to say.
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Whimbrel
As promised suicidal Whimbrel tries to swallow a BigMac(kerel)
Imagine how the fish felt!
Early Morning Exercise
Up early this morning to pick up Graham and drive to Bovisand for a walk along the coastal path towards Heybrook Bay. A nice bracing walk in the usual mixture of hot sun and cold shade, but quite a lot to see although nothing earth shattering.
Highlights were a couple of Whimbrels flying past us, and a female Wheatear on the rocks just below where we were stood. The last Whimbrel I saw was in Costa Rica where I stood transfixed on the beach as a Whimbrel of little brain tried to choke itself by swallowing a fish twice as wide as it's throat. I will look out the pictures and post them.
It was also as they flew by that I realised the battery I had only put in the camera the night before was dead, as was the spare I had with me as a result of them both being picked up from my "to be charged pile". Still we were out on a gorgeous morning in the best county in England so it would be churlish to complain. Also think about the exercise value of humping a large completely redundant camera plus lens around on your shoulder for 3 hours.
Otherwise loads of Chiff Chaffs, a pair of very cute Long Tail Tits and I will resist the temptation to make gratuitous comments about the numerous Shags we saw.
In all 27 birds ticked off and a solitary Speckled Wood along the brambles by the path.
The only other thing of note was one of the Torpoint Ferries being towed by a ridiculously small tug past the Breakwater on its way to a refit at Falmouth Dockyard. Not a lot of shipping movement otherwise, the Brittany Ferry went out as were walking back and the RFA Bay Class Landing Ship Cardigan Bay was at anchor off the Breakwater.
Highlights were a couple of Whimbrels flying past us, and a female Wheatear on the rocks just below where we were stood. The last Whimbrel I saw was in Costa Rica where I stood transfixed on the beach as a Whimbrel of little brain tried to choke itself by swallowing a fish twice as wide as it's throat. I will look out the pictures and post them.
It was also as they flew by that I realised the battery I had only put in the camera the night before was dead, as was the spare I had with me as a result of them both being picked up from my "to be charged pile". Still we were out on a gorgeous morning in the best county in England so it would be churlish to complain. Also think about the exercise value of humping a large completely redundant camera plus lens around on your shoulder for 3 hours.
Otherwise loads of Chiff Chaffs, a pair of very cute Long Tail Tits and I will resist the temptation to make gratuitous comments about the numerous Shags we saw.
In all 27 birds ticked off and a solitary Speckled Wood along the brambles by the path.
The only other thing of note was one of the Torpoint Ferries being towed by a ridiculously small tug past the Breakwater on its way to a refit at Falmouth Dockyard. Not a lot of shipping movement otherwise, the Brittany Ferry went out as were walking back and the RFA Bay Class Landing Ship Cardigan Bay was at anchor off the Breakwater.
Saturday, 14 April 2012
First Swallow
First Swallows of the year seen on the way home last night driving through Roborough Downs, 3 in total, which cheered me up nearly as much as the fact it was a Friday evening meaning no work for 2 days!
Rebuilt the drystone wall and tidied up the trees and bushes on top of it which form our back hedge today. Also replaced a couple of plants choked by the everpresent Ivy we can never seem to get on top of. Still the Wrens love to hide in it so it's not all bad.
Got rid of all the muck on the ponds as well and bought some more pebbles to tidy up the edges and hide the liner which keeps making an appearance. Had a dip and there are a few Southern Hawkers looking like this will be their year for taking flight. Last year was our best year with a total of 17 Hawkers emergening, 14 of which were successful. I supplied most of our friend's kids with Exuvia which was very popular with the kids but not their Mums.
Only one Damsel last year, but the pond is very popular with Newts and I suspect a combination of the Newts and the Southern Hawkers exacted a heavy toll on the Damsel Larva. i expect this year will be the same.
Looking forward to a spell of decent weather to justify getting the Macro out again and hopefully get a few decent pictures. There will be local competion this year as my brother, having moved back to the South West is in the course of building a pond which could be used as an olympic swimming venue. Expect an outbreak of Pond Envy to break out shortly in the Plymouth area.
Rebuilt the drystone wall and tidied up the trees and bushes on top of it which form our back hedge today. Also replaced a couple of plants choked by the everpresent Ivy we can never seem to get on top of. Still the Wrens love to hide in it so it's not all bad.
Got rid of all the muck on the ponds as well and bought some more pebbles to tidy up the edges and hide the liner which keeps making an appearance. Had a dip and there are a few Southern Hawkers looking like this will be their year for taking flight. Last year was our best year with a total of 17 Hawkers emergening, 14 of which were successful. I supplied most of our friend's kids with Exuvia which was very popular with the kids but not their Mums.
Only one Damsel last year, but the pond is very popular with Newts and I suspect a combination of the Newts and the Southern Hawkers exacted a heavy toll on the Damsel Larva. i expect this year will be the same.
Looking forward to a spell of decent weather to justify getting the Macro out again and hopefully get a few decent pictures. There will be local competion this year as my brother, having moved back to the South West is in the course of building a pond which could be used as an olympic swimming venue. Expect an outbreak of Pond Envy to break out shortly in the Plymouth area.
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Back to Work
First day back at the office today, which was hard work, after the extended Easter break. Suggested that a standard weekend was not long enough to my boss and offered to be the Guinea Pig for a 3 day working week trial but he seemed remakably unsympathetic. No people skills at all!
Had lunch at Harrowbeer Airfield but not much there apart from a couple of Wagtails and the usual Jackdaws.
Sat in the Study at home early evening watching 3 Goldfinches having a drink at the pond watched by a solitary Song Thrush. I see a lot more birds in our small enclosed garden since I put in a second shallow pond which I would recommend, particularly to plonkers like me who build the first pond with steep sides all the way round.
Couldn't get a decent picture of the Goldfinches but tried the Lumix FZ35 (OK for landscapes not recommended for birds or insects)and got the backend of a Pigeon! Perfect metaphor for today,noisey and a bit out of focus. Hopefully weekend will be better and might catch a few early Damsels.
Had lunch at Harrowbeer Airfield but not much there apart from a couple of Wagtails and the usual Jackdaws.
Sat in the Study at home early evening watching 3 Goldfinches having a drink at the pond watched by a solitary Song Thrush. I see a lot more birds in our small enclosed garden since I put in a second shallow pond which I would recommend, particularly to plonkers like me who build the first pond with steep sides all the way round.
Couldn't get a decent picture of the Goldfinches but tried the Lumix FZ35 (OK for landscapes not recommended for birds or insects)and got the backend of a Pigeon! Perfect metaphor for today,noisey and a bit out of focus. Hopefully weekend will be better and might catch a few early Damsels.
Monday, 9 April 2012
Badgers
Following an unsucessful earlier attempt I was taken to a Badger Sett in the Burrator area on Saturday evening by one of my eldest and longest suffering friends accompanied by my equally put upon elder brother.
Having drawn a blank last time I decided to travel light with just my bins and a bridge camera. As usual this lead to the first Badger arriving only 10 minutes after we arrived and a total of 5 in all cavorting in front of us.
No useable pictures (a lesson to be drawn here) but a memorable experience and we managed to walk back to the car without falling down any holes. To make up for the lack of Badger shots here is a herd of Elephants in Sri Lanka instead!
Having drawn a blank last time I decided to travel light with just my bins and a bridge camera. As usual this lead to the first Badger arriving only 10 minutes after we arrived and a total of 5 in all cavorting in front of us.
No useable pictures (a lesson to be drawn here) but a memorable experience and we managed to walk back to the car without falling down any holes. To make up for the lack of Badger shots here is a herd of Elephants in Sri Lanka instead!
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