I have not been able to get out to the usual haunts yet which has been frustrating as the reports of Large Red Damsels and Hairy Dragons are starting to roll in. A combination of work and looking after the elderly has rather got in the way.
Easter approaches, however, which gives me at least a couple of days to get out and about and see what is around. Pond dipping at home has revealed a few Large Reds and Southern Hawker nymphs in the depths, although there seem to be far fewer than previous years.
Last year saw the fewest number of emergences for a long time although the hot summer did mean we had a lot of Large Reds egg laying but I didn't see any Dragons doing the deed at all.
I really should drain the pond and get rid of all the accumulated debris in the bottom, but life being the way it is that will probably have to wait until retirement beckons and I have more time on my hands.
Hopefully I can report a successful foray into the great outdoors shortly once I have taken the camera out of mothballs.
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Fingernail Moon
Up at 5.30 this morning to open the office for the early shift. Despite cursing my bad luck as I staggered outside into the cold my early start was rewarded by good views of the crescent shaped moon enhanced by a very bright Venus appearing beside it.
The moon is on the wane, i.e. getting smaller and I think the term applying to it's current phase is a "waning crescent". All I know is it looked spectacular until it disappeared behind a cloud.
All down hill from here I am sure!
The moon is on the wane, i.e. getting smaller and I think the term applying to it's current phase is a "waning crescent". All I know is it looked spectacular until it disappeared behind a cloud.
All down hill from here I am sure!
Wednesday, 12 February 2014
COTSWOLD WATER PARK
Debbie and I took advantage of me having an early meeting in Bath on Monday by driving up to South Cerney in the CWP for the weekend.
Enjoyable break with too much food and drink, but our usual walk along the towpath towards Cirencester by the disused canal was thwarted by flooding and the path being closed.
We did manage to get a decent walk in but this was curtailed by me managing to tweak a muscle I didn't realise I still had. Thus forced to put my feet up and drink wine whilst watching the Rugby. Life is tough!
Not much around by way of birds, just the usual suspects, Crows, Sparrows and Tits (Great, Blue and Coal) aplenty and one field was packed with 50 plus Redwings.
On the lakes and flooded fields Mute Swans, Mallards, Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Ducks, Pochard and Moorhen. We had a room overlooking one of the lakes which was ideal so most of the birds were spotted from there!
A nice relaxing break, we should do it more often.
Flooded Winchester next weekend, I wonder what that will be like?
Enjoyable break with too much food and drink, but our usual walk along the towpath towards Cirencester by the disused canal was thwarted by flooding and the path being closed.
We did manage to get a decent walk in but this was curtailed by me managing to tweak a muscle I didn't realise I still had. Thus forced to put my feet up and drink wine whilst watching the Rugby. Life is tough!
Not much around by way of birds, just the usual suspects, Crows, Sparrows and Tits (Great, Blue and Coal) aplenty and one field was packed with 50 plus Redwings.
On the lakes and flooded fields Mute Swans, Mallards, Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Ducks, Pochard and Moorhen. We had a room overlooking one of the lakes which was ideal so most of the birds were spotted from there!
A nice relaxing break, we should do it more often.
Flooded Winchester next weekend, I wonder what that will be like?
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Brixham
In my role as another set of eyes I accompanied Graham to a surprisingly sunny and pleasant Brixham for a days birding. Well it's something to do until the return of the Dragon!
I usually operate inland so under Graham's patient tutelage I am getting better with these birds but the coastal mob defeat me. I thought Dragons & Damsels could be awkward to tell apart but Gulls and Divers are in a different league!
The downside to the better weather was that the various rare Divers had mostly left the sheltered harbour and headed out to sea. We resorted to our usual plan - luck!
Whilst answering a call of nature away from the prying eyes of the numerous scopes on the breakwater I noticed a bird out in the surf and drew Graham's attention to it and after much scoping it was revealed as the Slavonian Grebe. I then followed that up shortly afterwards with a request along the lines of "What is that scruffy looking black and white bird over there" it was a Black Guillemot and Graham commented "You will probably never see another one." this is true and even if I did I probably would not recognise it again!
In all my notebook reveals a total of 24 birds including several lifers and a better understanding of what I am looking at.
Nice surroundings, good weather, a hot peppery pasty and a patient tutor, all in all a good day.
I usually operate inland so under Graham's patient tutelage I am getting better with these birds but the coastal mob defeat me. I thought Dragons & Damsels could be awkward to tell apart but Gulls and Divers are in a different league!
The downside to the better weather was that the various rare Divers had mostly left the sheltered harbour and headed out to sea. We resorted to our usual plan - luck!
Whilst answering a call of nature away from the prying eyes of the numerous scopes on the breakwater I noticed a bird out in the surf and drew Graham's attention to it and after much scoping it was revealed as the Slavonian Grebe. I then followed that up shortly afterwards with a request along the lines of "What is that scruffy looking black and white bird over there" it was a Black Guillemot and Graham commented "You will probably never see another one." this is true and even if I did I probably would not recognise it again!
In all my notebook reveals a total of 24 birds including several lifers and a better understanding of what I am looking at.
Nice surroundings, good weather, a hot peppery pasty and a patient tutor, all in all a good day.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Where have all the birds gone?
Picked Graham up at the very civilised time of 9.00 am and we decided to head inland for the moors and Soussons Wood near Postbridge.
Two hours after arriving and following a complete circuit of the plantation (made more interesting by the gloopy mud, deep puddles and fallen trees) and a number of forays up the various rides and paths around the place we had seen precisely 4 Robins, a Crow, a pair of Ravens and two Roe Deer.
As a result we retreated back to Burrator which proved a bit more birder friendly with too many Goldcrests and Coal Tits to count and good views of 14+ Teal and a pair of Goosanders and the star of the show a Dipper by the weir.
Not a great day in terms of stuff seen, day list totalled only 15 different birds, but it was good to be out again without being blown off our feet.
Two hours after arriving and following a complete circuit of the plantation (made more interesting by the gloopy mud, deep puddles and fallen trees) and a number of forays up the various rides and paths around the place we had seen precisely 4 Robins, a Crow, a pair of Ravens and two Roe Deer.
As a result we retreated back to Burrator which proved a bit more birder friendly with too many Goldcrests and Coal Tits to count and good views of 14+ Teal and a pair of Goosanders and the star of the show a Dipper by the weir.
Not a great day in terms of stuff seen, day list totalled only 15 different birds, but it was good to be out again without being blown off our feet.
Friday, 3 January 2014
Lunch
Had my lunch of incredibly hot (spicy) vegetable soup parked in a dispersal bay at the old wartime RAF station at Harrowbeer near Yelverton today and was rewarded by a display of formation flying by the around 40 of the local Starlings. I would have enjoyed it more had my eyes not been streaming due to the effects of the chili in my soup. I am hoping it was a misinterpretation of the recipe and the amounts of spice involved rather than an assassination attempt by a disgruntled wife.
I also saw my first Mistle Thrush of the year hopping around right in front of the car. As usual the camera was in the boot so didn't bother trying to get out of the car to get it, partly because of the noise scaring the bird and partly because it is the Canon G10 whose innards I rearranged on holiday last year and keep in the car for grab shots until it finally gives up on me. The zoom range is such that unless the bird lands within a couple of feet it is the usual anonymous blob.
It did provide me with very good views and was very successful in pecking some poor invertebrates out of the sodden turf in the area.
Other than that just the usual cast.
Back to the office for the rest of the afternoon to day-dream about a good weekend.
I also saw my first Mistle Thrush of the year hopping around right in front of the car. As usual the camera was in the boot so didn't bother trying to get out of the car to get it, partly because of the noise scaring the bird and partly because it is the Canon G10 whose innards I rearranged on holiday last year and keep in the car for grab shots until it finally gives up on me. The zoom range is such that unless the bird lands within a couple of feet it is the usual anonymous blob.
It did provide me with very good views and was very successful in pecking some poor invertebrates out of the sodden turf in the area.
Other than that just the usual cast.
Back to the office for the rest of the afternoon to day-dream about a good weekend.
Thursday, 2 January 2014
NEW YEAR BLUES
Survived the festive season, hopefully with liver etc intact, and am now contemplating the usual 4/5 months lack of Dragons by joining elder brother on a few birding trips to get his 2014 year list going. Who knows, I might even start one myself.
I did anticipate using the Xmas break to sort out my ever expanding Lightroom Catalogues and back them up in some semblance of order but as always my good intentions were overtaken by events (otherwise known as alcohol).
I will sort out a few images from the last year and post them on the blog as, despite the relative lack of variety, we did get some good shots during the course of the last 12 months. Stay tuned for the results when I finally get round to it.
I did anticipate using the Xmas break to sort out my ever expanding Lightroom Catalogues and back them up in some semblance of order but as always my good intentions were overtaken by events (otherwise known as alcohol).
I will sort out a few images from the last year and post them on the blog as, despite the relative lack of variety, we did get some good shots during the course of the last 12 months. Stay tuned for the results when I finally get round to it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)