tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59458403713661949222024-03-13T13:41:52.030-07:00wallpaper hd starslife Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-74182359210797365192018-07-28T03:25:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:37.183-07:00 Norfolk Specialities - on 28th and 29th June, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Ever since last year, when my wonderful wife Lindsay bought me a Moorcroft dish featuring a Swallowtail butterfly as part of my Christmas present, I promised myself that this summer I would head to Norfolk to try and find the actual butterfly. I've seen Swallowtails in mainland Europe, but the English Swallowtails are different (they're darker) and I'd never seen one. Here's the dish that was the inspiration.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5XOzpHw5GTg/W1jXRF07v7I/AAAAAAAAc84/eDt4r7qqfFYF4UkIU1h8GfC5GFdk8mAiwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1693-001-Swallowtail%2BDish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5XOzpHw5GTg/W1jXRF07v7I/AAAAAAAAc84/eDt4r7qqfFYF4UkIU1h8GfC5GFdk8mAiwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1693-001-Swallowtail%2BDish.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Moorcroft Swallowtail Dish</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I booked a room, in advance, at the Travelodge at the edge of Acle for the night of 28th June, safe in the knowledge that, if the weather forecast turned bad, I could cancel without penalty right up until mid-day on the day of arrival. As it happened, the weather forecast was rather good!</b><br /><br /><b>My objectives for the trip were, in addition to the Swallowtail butterflies, to find Norfolk Hawker and possibly Scarce Chaser dragonflies. The original intention was to go the the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Hickling Broad, but an enquiry I made via Twitter, came up with suggestions for the RSPB's Strumpshaw Fen, and I decided to try this first. </b><br /><b><br /></b><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Thursday 28th June</span></b><br /><br /><b>Checking my possible routes, I found that, according to my satnav, the 'eco-route' would take me around 4 hours whilst the 'quickest route', which was about 40% longer in distance, would take around 3 hours. I decided that I needed to maximise my opportunities, and took the 'quickest route'. As it happened, the satnav, didn't take into account the extensive roadworks on the A14 by Cambridge until I was already committed to that road, and it didn't foresee the vehicle fire on the A11 which shut that road for nearly an hour. It took me well over 4 hours and I arrived at Strumpshaw Fen at around 12h30.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>After a quick picnic lunch I set off down Tinkers' Lane towards 'the Doctor's house'. This had been recommended to me, but the current situation was uncertain as the good Doctor had, sadly, passed away a couple of years earlier.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>As I wandered down the lane, keeping my eyes peeled, I met a local gentleman who was passionate about the wildlife here. He told me that the Doctor's garden was now 'out of bounds' but that the best place was a bit of rough ground just before the Doctor's house. We entered this area and immediately spotted a Swallowtail flying high. It then came down and settled!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I managed to get a shot in before it took off again.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ROGhLu0knw/W1sNf8gJplI/AAAAAAAAc9Q/YYs-D-l9yCYy7kHOABozCDQSAxcRC8HnQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7780-003-Swallowtail..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ROGhLu0knw/W1sNf8gJplI/AAAAAAAAc9Q/YYs-D-l9yCYy7kHOABozCDQSAxcRC8HnQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7780-003-Swallowtail..jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Swallowtail <i>(Papilio machaon britannicus)</i> - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Immediately it took off I noticed a Norfolk Hawker which settled. Sadly it had most of one of its wings missing so I'll not show the photos. I had, however, seen two of my targets (2 'lifers') in approximately 10 minutes! What is more, the Swallowtail, which had been flying around above me, settled briefly again before departing.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jjfj9zckOzk/W1sNnmG3SwI/AAAAAAAAc9g/EyzLsBw_L24M96OQQmGNTCL30usOMkDhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7804-012-Swallowtail..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jjfj9zckOzk/W1sNnmG3SwI/AAAAAAAAc9g/EyzLsBw_L24M96OQQmGNTCL30usOMkDhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7804-012-Swallowtail..jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Swallowtail <i>(Papilio machaon britannicus)</i> - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I spent a while in this area, hoping for the return of a Swallowtail, but it didn't happen. I did, however, get a different Norfolk Hawker and got some shots. This one was a female, which was very pleasing as, typically, females of dragonfly species are harder to find than males.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KKgcA8Ex59A/W1sNnuj7fNI/AAAAAAAAc9k/BU6W5XGOZTkH0ETDb20jfsU5OQes3XXUwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7812-004-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KKgcA8Ex59A/W1sNnuj7fNI/AAAAAAAAc9k/BU6W5XGOZTkH0ETDb20jfsU5OQes3XXUwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7812-004-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Norfolk Hawker <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Aeshna isoceles)</i> (female) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>It was time to enter the reserve itself, so I went to the visitor centre, paid my dues, and asked the warden for an update on the dragonfly/butterfly situation. Swallowtail sightings were now sparse, plenty of Norfolk Hawkers, but the only Scarce Chaser reported recently was one the previous day - which was a disappointment.</b><br /><br /><b>I set off to wander the trails, starting with the Woodland Trail as there had been sightings of White Admiral. I was not seeing too much that was exciting at first. Here are a few items:-</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p2j506QHaRg/W1sUbQ7X0BI/AAAAAAAAc9w/lccyHBqJeJsmkXrR05e5qbeAzs0Zch7FACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7835-007-Comma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p2j506QHaRg/W1sUbQ7X0BI/AAAAAAAAc9w/lccyHBqJeJsmkXrR05e5qbeAzs0Zch7FACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7835-007-Comma.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Comma <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Polygonia c-album)</i> - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MOZZ6pKGyYM/W1sUbASa4TI/AAAAAAAAc98/K8ptt9MPHpEs85OmOZuFbcWqf8kix9mRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7860-006-Comm%2BSpot%2BOrchid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MOZZ6pKGyYM/W1sUbASa4TI/AAAAAAAAc98/K8ptt9MPHpEs85OmOZuFbcWqf8kix9mRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7860-006-Comm%2BSpot%2BOrchid.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Spotted Orchid <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dactylorhiza fuchsii)</i> - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwV30iL1Xhc/W1sUbUgoomI/AAAAAAAAc-A/rTANhucwkAcmf4UK-PXwSmKkvo1YRExdgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7890-006-Azure%2BDamsel%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwV30iL1Xhc/W1sUbUgoomI/AAAAAAAAc-A/rTANhucwkAcmf4UK-PXwSmKkvo1YRExdgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7890-006-Azure%2BDamsel%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Azure Damselfly <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Coenagrion puella)</i> (male + female 'in cop') - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IgP8Nm7VKBg/W1sUcPZrEyI/AAAAAAAAc-A/82uNwm0q7tEjheVSnNe01bvSh7bvVUPlgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7912-003-Ruddy%2BDarter%2B-im.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IgP8Nm7VKBg/W1sUcPZrEyI/AAAAAAAAc-A/82uNwm0q7tEjheVSnNe01bvSh7bvVUPlgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7912-003-Ruddy%2BDarter%2B-im.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ruddy Darter <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sympetrum sanguineum)</i> (immature male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>At one point, a few of us had gathered to watch the White Admirals that occasionally showed, but at great distance and not settling. I gave up after about an hour, and continued along the path, seeing virtually nothing until I reached the River Yare - then I started seeing Black-tailed Skimmer dragonflies in significant numbers although, most of the time, they settled in particularly unphotogenic places. </b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0x84HhrO6Co/W1sY7rwcd6I/AAAAAAAAc-I/NAUATcmb-20EobdZbpGxmBbTGKW-W-X8gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7949-002-Bl-tal%2BSkimmer%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0x84HhrO6Co/W1sY7rwcd6I/AAAAAAAAc-I/NAUATcmb-20EobdZbpGxmBbTGKW-W-X8gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7949-002-Bl-tal%2BSkimmer%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black-tailed Skimmer <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Orthetrum cancellatum)</i> (male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Along this stretch, I met Richard Knisely-Marpole and his wife (sorry - I don't remember a mention of your name!) and we stuck together for a while. It's now confession time! It wasn't until I got to my hotel that night and was looking at my photos that I realised that I'd actually photographed a couple of male Scarce Chasers! My excuse is that I've only ever seen an immature male of this species (they're orange), and I'm not that familiar with Black-tailed Skimmers, and I'd taken all my sightings to be of Black-tailed Skimmers. Shortly after I made this discovery, I had a text message from Richard to say "Checking my images, I have male scarce chaser from 10 minutes before 3 tortoisehell butterflies!" - so I wasn't the only one to miss it at the time!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xD1HGwr1BI/W1scn0uLLPI/AAAAAAAAc-Y/byBudCbKauEXWWkSFrDknExPFXHnsftewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7961-004-Scarce%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xD1HGwr1BI/W1scn0uLLPI/AAAAAAAAc-Y/byBudCbKauEXWWkSFrDknExPFXHnsftewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7961-004-Scarce%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4OQEybyMjqY/W1scntGhfgI/AAAAAAAAc-U/2xmri1d1MpsjVAdwRj_2FBLzmpqiBqjkwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8006-007-Scarce%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4OQEybyMjqY/W1scntGhfgI/AAAAAAAAc-U/2xmri1d1MpsjVAdwRj_2FBLzmpqiBqjkwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8006-007-Scarce%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Scarce Chaser <i>(<span class="w8qArf"></span></i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Libellula fulva)</i> (male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-apPLyoQEiOs/W1sd6lj3UcI/AAAAAAAAc-o/_tDDp4NTwGgaziOen2kXkMqyOoGINZGewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8013-010-Sm%2BTortoiseshell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-apPLyoQEiOs/W1sd6lj3UcI/AAAAAAAAc-o/_tDDp4NTwGgaziOen2kXkMqyOoGINZGewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8013-010-Sm%2BTortoiseshell.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Small Tortoiseshell <i>(</i><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><i>Aglais urticae)</i> - Strumpshaw Fen</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Richard mentioned that he'd seen patrolling Norfolk Hawker in a channel not far from the river, and kindly showed me to the place. One was soon spotted, and quite some time was spent trying to photograph them in flight - in my case without much success, but one did, eventually, land.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H2d5Q98P9bU/W1shJ6qF7bI/AAAAAAAAc-4/mw1zpjVF-N4p9bxNEpq24Bz3Y9ujwWDjwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8055-010-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H2d5Q98P9bU/W1shJ6qF7bI/AAAAAAAAc-4/mw1zpjVF-N4p9bxNEpq24Bz3Y9ujwWDjwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8055-010-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nO8vZKXIat4/W1shJrqxIvI/AAAAAAAAc-0/9TPV6SMkpj0w0F1rm39wlrhnKqaZ77jVwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8068-022-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nO8vZKXIat4/W1shJrqxIvI/AAAAAAAAc-0/9TPV6SMkpj0w0F1rm39wlrhnKqaZ77jVwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8068-022-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-59ocHkUe2yw/W1shJ2fKGCI/AAAAAAAAc-8/La0r1qs1viIgUSJvoN5rXkdO8y1DdL2RACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8072-024-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-59ocHkUe2yw/W1shJ2fKGCI/AAAAAAAAc-8/La0r1qs1viIgUSJvoN5rXkdO8y1DdL2RACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8072-024-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Norfolk Hawker <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Aeshna isoceles)</i> (male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Richard had to depart as he was in the overflow car park which was locked at 17h00, and I stayed on a bit longer in the hope of getting better images, but things were quietening down a bit as the sun went in. </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D5Ww9Why_GQ/W1siVsCJcKI/AAAAAAAAc_U/FxENswxRxCwlfdp-hyITxNwUkR6vnti6gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8074-026-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D5Ww9Why_GQ/W1siVsCJcKI/AAAAAAAAc_U/FxENswxRxCwlfdp-hyITxNwUkR6vnti6gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8074-026-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYaMfsYMv-I/W1siVn0MnUI/AAAAAAAAc_Q/UuLsQ9UTueAnTKL--PKTGgvODXDByOhAQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8077-028-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYaMfsYMv-I/W1siVn0MnUI/AAAAAAAAc_Q/UuLsQ9UTueAnTKL--PKTGgvODXDByOhAQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8077-028-Norfolk%2BHawker.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Norfolk Hawker <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Aeshna isoceles)</i> (male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I set off back, as I wished to have another try for the White Admirals. I took a few shots on the way.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5uQZDqBhl2Y/W1si9ThUHJI/AAAAAAAAc_g/w-EJzpsUTdIO5b4x0Ud8ocd14o7HzWZ7gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8111-014-4-spot%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5uQZDqBhl2Y/W1si9ThUHJI/AAAAAAAAc_g/w-EJzpsUTdIO5b4x0Ud8ocd14o7HzWZ7gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8111-014-4-spot%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Four-spotted Chaser <i>(Libellula quadrimaculata)</i> (male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTYiFGu3UIc/W1si9es3MzI/AAAAAAAAc_s/LkMfDtH3NU8eujoogEsUqkWRcs6TiM67gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8151-009-Ruddy%2BDarter%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTYiFGu3UIc/W1si9es3MzI/AAAAAAAAc_s/LkMfDtH3NU8eujoogEsUqkWRcs6TiM67gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8151-009-Ruddy%2BDarter%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ruddy Darter <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sympetrum sanguineum)</i> (immature male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Back on the Woodland Trail, I'd almost given up on the White Admirals when one came and briefly perched close to the path a couple of times!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uacUttoEDdM/W1skI7l0FWI/AAAAAAAAc_0/G7pcpv5zd_8XS4Q1bgYAHyFABAE4sTHvgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8164-007-White%2BAdmiral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uacUttoEDdM/W1skI7l0FWI/AAAAAAAAc_0/G7pcpv5zd_8XS4Q1bgYAHyFABAE4sTHvgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8164-007-White%2BAdmiral.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YtdZZUTHmwQ/W1skI3uAwXI/AAAAAAAAc_8/3OxjQSAlGq0A29IpMqGsbD8Z1QXjCj8SgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8183-026-White%2BAdmiral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YtdZZUTHmwQ/W1skI3uAwXI/AAAAAAAAc_8/3OxjQSAlGq0A29IpMqGsbD8Z1QXjCj8SgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8183-026-White%2BAdmiral.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wcr6XwK8Dlo/W1skI2gJ3aI/AAAAAAAAc_4/ef4lqpjKyDYwMALKPrU2PNSJvz-JtxfmwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8185-028-White%2BAdmiral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wcr6XwK8Dlo/W1skI2gJ3aI/AAAAAAAAc_4/ef4lqpjKyDYwMALKPrU2PNSJvz-JtxfmwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8185-028-White%2BAdmiral.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">White Admiral <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Limenitis camilla)</i> - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>On my way back to the car, I found a dragonfly exuvia which I only just managed to reach without falling in the water! At first I was excited as I thought it was of a Norfolk Hawker, but I now think that it's probably of a Southern Hawker (although I didn't see a Southern Hawker during my two days there) - the location was wrong (pond instead of dyke) and the labial mask looks too long for Norfolk - your views would be appreciated.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h71Yf8SbC3U/W1snTEhLYRI/AAAAAAAAdAQ/X9QB9vveQu09hVrjC_sg_aB8HIQ5MvRegCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1697-001-prob%2BSthn%2BHawk%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h71Yf8SbC3U/W1snTEhLYRI/AAAAAAAAdAQ/X9QB9vveQu09hVrjC_sg_aB8HIQ5MvRegCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1697-001-prob%2BSthn%2BHawk%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U413Q17m224/W1snTA5wM1I/AAAAAAAAdAM/IFt7M6GWiXANeFibjAyq82gQmdY_TsvAwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1702-003-prob%2BSthn%2BHawk%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U413Q17m224/W1snTA5wM1I/AAAAAAAAdAM/IFt7M6GWiXANeFibjAyq82gQmdY_TsvAwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1702-003-prob%2BSthn%2BHawk%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FeO4HIs4VHY/W1snTFuUURI/AAAAAAAAdAU/6NVTeXXbzTE_bW3LIESo453lNYm2UD9EACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1707-005-prob%2BSthn%2BHawk%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FeO4HIs4VHY/W1snTFuUURI/AAAAAAAAdAU/6NVTeXXbzTE_bW3LIESo453lNYm2UD9EACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1707-005-prob%2BSthn%2BHawk%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">probable Southern Hawker (exuvia of female) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I got back to the car park to find that Richard had moved his camper van into the main car park, so reported my sightings to him before setting off for another look at Tinkers' Lane. This proved to be very worthwhile as I found a mature female Scarce Chaser there.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_lVJkew-Qc/W1spPGndD0I/AAAAAAAAdAs/xlwLHY5wP2MxUZyjm0Aq2WmGZTTW_7ILwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8231-018-Scarece%2BChaser%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_lVJkew-Qc/W1spPGndD0I/AAAAAAAAdAs/xlwLHY5wP2MxUZyjm0Aq2WmGZTTW_7ILwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8231-018-Scarece%2BChaser%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3OcsEsZHoNM/W1spOyTN2aI/AAAAAAAAdAo/Rw_jcx8epFkVXE5sOPQL3cQga7QVjfpNwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8304-042-Scarece%2BChaser%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3OcsEsZHoNM/W1spOyTN2aI/AAAAAAAAdAo/Rw_jcx8epFkVXE5sOPQL3cQga7QVjfpNwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8304-042-Scarece%2BChaser%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkpv1YIvyvg/W1spPaqxwGI/AAAAAAAAdAw/LjzsGUwTzhQtVkjb_h4nM_HJeM1OYCR7ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8313-048-Scarece%2BChaser%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkpv1YIvyvg/W1spPaqxwGI/AAAAAAAAdAw/LjzsGUwTzhQtVkjb_h4nM_HJeM1OYCR7ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8313-048-Scarece%2BChaser%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Scarce Chaser <i>(<span class="w8qArf"></span></i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Libellula fulva)</i> (female) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Heading back to the car, I gave this update to Richard, but he failed to find this specimen later.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I had intended to go out to eat that night, but I'd been conscious of an intense irritation round both my ankles. I was quite alarmed to find that I'd got several deep-red hard-edged patches on my lower legs about 6-7 cm across - looking a bit like red birthmarks! Whatever had got me had done so through my trousers and/or my socks! There was an M&S foodstore opposite the hotel so I got a sandwich and a few bits and bobs, including some rather special cider, and settled for an evening in.</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Friday 29th June</b></span><br /><br /><b>I'd slept very badly that night, partly due me being 'in a strange bed', but mainly due to the discomfort of my legs and ankles. I popped over to the M&S for some cold milk to have with my cereal and fruit that I'd brought from home and then set off for a return to Strumpshaw Fen, arriving shortly after 07h30. The previous day I'd only experienced the southern end of the reserve and my intention was to spend the morning at the northern end of Strumpshaw Fen reserve and then head off to Hickling Broad.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I set off down Tinkers' Lane taking my time looking for anything interesting, without much luck. I then crossed the railway at the level crossing and soon started seeing a few things. </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>A few dragonflies were seen, but too distant and fast to identify, so at first it was butterflies.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJGkpKQ_9lI/W1s-VRkfgbI/AAAAAAAAdBI/Oh0s2qmGuxoHxuJAzJg4nkMNYWzAvV8BQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8325-002-Large%2BSkipper-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJGkpKQ_9lI/W1s-VRkfgbI/AAAAAAAAdBI/Oh0s2qmGuxoHxuJAzJg4nkMNYWzAvV8BQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8325-002-Large%2BSkipper-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Large Skipper <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ochlodes sylvanus)</i> (male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AT2uX6Fog7U/W1s-Vc_kWZI/AAAAAAAAdBE/oWOq1gs9ZxEfwFC4fUBA6z6A_bRS6bmGACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8339-005-Red%2BAdmiral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AT2uX6Fog7U/W1s-Vc_kWZI/AAAAAAAAdBE/oWOq1gs9ZxEfwFC4fUBA6z6A_bRS6bmGACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8339-005-Red%2BAdmiral.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red Admiral <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Vanessa atalanta)</i> - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Soon I was starting to see Black-tailed Skimmers too. The second specimen, below, seems to have a rather broad abdomen for the species.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nh9Bs7fJzqI/W1s_xYjIxdI/AAAAAAAAdBY/0OGqn7VN6s8qIb--06UxQl6XdjbnhZXQQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8358-001-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nh9Bs7fJzqI/W1s_xYjIxdI/AAAAAAAAdBY/0OGqn7VN6s8qIb--06UxQl6XdjbnhZXQQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8358-001-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-teuB76LmZnM/W1s_yPVMKwI/AAAAAAAAdBk/Wm4Vh3g1rF0yZLwCay7WdUcrYilWR5L5gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8493-069-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-teuB76LmZnM/W1s_yPVMKwI/AAAAAAAAdBk/Wm4Vh3g1rF0yZLwCay7WdUcrYilWR5L5gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8493-069-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black-tailed Skimmer <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Orthetrum cancellatum)</i> (male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>There were even some perched females too!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-svl8KxJgiEE/W1s_xlypDiI/AAAAAAAAdBc/sY2D3pj-mvMrHA0qptmEC2CZtPXXbcEkgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8368-003-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-svl8KxJgiEE/W1s_xlypDiI/AAAAAAAAdBc/sY2D3pj-mvMrHA0qptmEC2CZtPXXbcEkgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8368-003-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBCmF67AzkU/W1s_xwVA4QI/AAAAAAAAdBg/uyAVVd3-J7Y_9mR7A8VAyJuSnK4Sl1qCQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8454-043-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBCmF67AzkU/W1s_xwVA4QI/AAAAAAAAdBg/uyAVVd3-J7Y_9mR7A8VAyJuSnK4Sl1qCQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8454-043-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black-tailed Skimmer <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Orthetrum cancellatum)</i> (female) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>As I continued along the path towards Lackford Run and then headed west along the dyke I was seeing more and more Black-tailed Skimmers and not even bothering to try and photograph those that were on the ground rather than on vegetation. I'd got so blasé about the numbers of these that I completely missed it when the skimmers gave way to Scarce Chasers, which then became the norm!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hCJZ_8HPMBY/W1tEGuzxRzI/AAAAAAAAdB4/POVMyaPhsjYT5mn9J1LXQySV5iHZiRUuwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8515-006-Scarce%2BChaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hCJZ_8HPMBY/W1tEGuzxRzI/AAAAAAAAdB4/POVMyaPhsjYT5mn9J1LXQySV5iHZiRUuwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8515-006-Scarce%2BChaser.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PV_0C_XTRXk/W1tEG7iumHI/AAAAAAAAdB8/TPQf3OQSQxQwTfrv7YjURNDd5D--hl_bgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8525-011-Scarce%2BChaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PV_0C_XTRXk/W1tEG7iumHI/AAAAAAAAdB8/TPQf3OQSQxQwTfrv7YjURNDd5D--hl_bgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8525-011-Scarce%2BChaser.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oRypPAeO5_8/W1tEGzZGtAI/AAAAAAAAdCA/SlS9YJCelwgXWLmGyXuoQIf27FPxcRRKQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8581-032-Scarce%2BChaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oRypPAeO5_8/W1tEGzZGtAI/AAAAAAAAdCA/SlS9YJCelwgXWLmGyXuoQIf27FPxcRRKQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8581-032-Scarce%2BChaser.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycpTL9x3vno/W1tEHKW0jPI/AAAAAAAAdCE/pNxvAwbMWGsphz3jc_fj-2TodvEvEUixQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8639-045-Scarce%2BChaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycpTL9x3vno/W1tEHKW0jPI/AAAAAAAAdCE/pNxvAwbMWGsphz3jc_fj-2TodvEvEUixQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8639-045-Scarce%2BChaser.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pSKojeN3IPo/W1tEHjssnXI/AAAAAAAAdCI/gVxZnB1pka4PT3YktL-s-JsfLPX5J5EJgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8650-054-Scarce%2BChaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pSKojeN3IPo/W1tEHjssnXI/AAAAAAAAdCI/gVxZnB1pka4PT3YktL-s-JsfLPX5J5EJgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8650-054-Scarce%2BChaser.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Scarce Chaser <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Libellula fulva)</i> (male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Although I'd seen a few Norfolk Hawkers in flight already, they were not in photographable situations, and I'd almost got to the point where the Lackford Run joins the Yare before I watched one land. Maybe it was that time of day, but I spent the next hour or so watching Norfolk Hawkers land - some, where I could actually photograph them! The last two images below are of the same specimen, the penultimate image showing just how tatty some of these were becoming.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBWJ-CdXck4/W1tGzu2C_YI/AAAAAAAAdCg/zWc4ibvFnQ47-AkHgKfDwa8CRUdnBxYugCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8749-026-Norfolk%2BHawker%2B-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBWJ-CdXck4/W1tGzu2C_YI/AAAAAAAAdCg/zWc4ibvFnQ47-AkHgKfDwa8CRUdnBxYugCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8749-026-Norfolk%2BHawker%2B-.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Norfolk Hawker <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Aeshna isoceles)</i> (female) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PxK9icSX4sw/W1tHKQfuksI/AAAAAAAAdCs/phY2zk8Gy_oH2C4hckEcF-ZuZIieooWzQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8694-003-Norfolk%2BHawker%2B-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PxK9icSX4sw/W1tHKQfuksI/AAAAAAAAdCs/phY2zk8Gy_oH2C4hckEcF-ZuZIieooWzQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8694-003-Norfolk%2BHawker%2B-.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bp4SEqbx1cg/W1tHKrXEfeI/AAAAAAAAdCw/TOp_2bqo3zMfWj0S7fx87FmSTw8uL97kwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8797-048-Norfolk%2BHawker%2B-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bp4SEqbx1cg/W1tHKrXEfeI/AAAAAAAAdCw/TOp_2bqo3zMfWj0S7fx87FmSTw8uL97kwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8797-048-Norfolk%2BHawker%2B-.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nl4Owc26h5Y/W1tHKQkUBYI/AAAAAAAAdCo/Rs05ekkGGDIdqUlzKtBUkhCoVxTUDkKygCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8955-054-Norfolk%2BHawker%2B-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nl4Owc26h5Y/W1tHKQkUBYI/AAAAAAAAdCo/Rs05ekkGGDIdqUlzKtBUkhCoVxTUDkKygCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8955-054-Norfolk%2BHawker%2B-.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-643vhxs0uto/W1tHLt71rwI/AAAAAAAAdC0/WZOhFuYyn_4rMGWha4jzd6jFT6QRehYCQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8975-062-Norfolk%2BHawker%2B-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-643vhxs0uto/W1tHLt71rwI/AAAAAAAAdC0/WZOhFuYyn_4rMGWha4jzd6jFT6QRehYCQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8975-062-Norfolk%2BHawker%2B-.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Norfolk Hawker <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Aeshna isoceles)</i> (male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>There were also a few Banded Demoiselle alongside the dyke.</b><br /><b></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd_qFzp0IYU/W1tKi0T6Q5I/AAAAAAAAdDI/i7laSFQ0zis7Ypt8JKCx-VFUIcVPKSQ4ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8658-024-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd_qFzp0IYU/W1tKi0T6Q5I/AAAAAAAAdDI/i7laSFQ0zis7Ypt8JKCx-VFUIcVPKSQ4ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8658-024-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ch19L57-18w/W1tKiy4NQ1I/AAAAAAAAdDQ/5VqJGOqM2gADBnfuAH9HqGvamIRVwoYJgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8626-021-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ch19L57-18w/W1tKiy4NQ1I/AAAAAAAAdDQ/5VqJGOqM2gADBnfuAH9HqGvamIRVwoYJgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8626-021-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Banded Demoiselle <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Calopteryx splendens)</i> (male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pKWYQtAnNTk/W1tKi3f9LRI/AAAAAAAAdDM/HbnTDsuYs_ACOvp0MHD6cAk0Sdb4_XF7wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8928-046-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pKWYQtAnNTk/W1tKi3f9LRI/AAAAAAAAdDM/HbnTDsuYs_ACOvp0MHD6cAk0Sdb4_XF7wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8928-046-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5rQXV7GfR0Q/W1tKjZP7_0I/AAAAAAAAdDU/yXwmkq34HzoAljBaeh2vW_g2EGjKleuAwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9015-070-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5rQXV7GfR0Q/W1tKjZP7_0I/AAAAAAAAdDU/yXwmkq34HzoAljBaeh2vW_g2EGjKleuAwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9015-070-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Banded Demoiselle <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Calopteryx splendens)</i> (female) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span><b><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>It wasn't just the dragons that were catching my attention. At one point a distant Marsh Harrier ventured a little closer. I think this was a young female</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L3h8Lhf5qtU/W1tLohw-eTI/AAAAAAAAdDo/LwZ0oK40TrISlejUNnnhcqTTNldZp2gJwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8703-001-Marsh%2BHarrier%2Bjf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L3h8Lhf5qtU/W1tLohw-eTI/AAAAAAAAdDo/LwZ0oK40TrISlejUNnnhcqTTNldZp2gJwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8703-001-Marsh%2BHarrier%2Bjf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPWqnrvjP70/W1tLo4uKEvI/AAAAAAAAdDs/kD_A4RlY61U2gNc14oHM8G9ov3ue1zbUQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8706-004-Marsh%2BHarrier%2Bjf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPWqnrvjP70/W1tLo4uKEvI/AAAAAAAAdDs/kD_A4RlY61U2gNc14oHM8G9ov3ue1zbUQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8706-004-Marsh%2BHarrier%2Bjf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Marsh Harrier </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Circus aeruginosus)</i> (female) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I'd stopped to chat with a few people, including Richard and his wife who were heading in as I was heading out. I also chatted with a couple who were looking for Swallowtails and I explained where I had seen one the previous day. They wandered off, saying they'd have a look later. </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>On my way out I took a couple more shots of Black-tailed Skimmer.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dXiuhVY6wH8/W1tOE0AaXgI/AAAAAAAAdEA/9bKFSXCtgoMiv2xkeqxESYInz1GCwtIcQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8913-104-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dXiuhVY6wH8/W1tOE0AaXgI/AAAAAAAAdEA/9bKFSXCtgoMiv2xkeqxESYInz1GCwtIcQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8913-104-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black-tailed Skimmer <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Orthetrum cancellatum)</i> (female) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jjflf4reDcE/W1tOE-POODI/AAAAAAAAdD8/qC1hm3zHGvYiSdMH5t_T5o6Qa0YLmb01gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9016-108-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jjflf4reDcE/W1tOE-POODI/AAAAAAAAdD8/qC1hm3zHGvYiSdMH5t_T5o6Qa0YLmb01gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9016-108-Black-tailed%2BSki.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black-tailed Skimmer <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Orthetrum cancellatum)</i> (male) - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I just had to call in again at the the place I'd seen the Swallowtail the previous day, and I spent quite some time here in hope. I was contemplating leaving when the couple that I'd told about the place earlier arrived. so I stayed with them for probably another half hour before setting back to my car. </b><br /><br /><b>I hadn't gone more than 20 metres down the lane before I spotted a Swallowtail flying around high up in the hedgerow. I gave the couple a shout and the butterfly flew over the hedge and towards them. They had spotted it and taken photos before I arrived back on the scene. I managed to get some rather poor shots through the vegetation before it departed high over the trees. Sadly, it was a rather tatty specimen.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y70Pn2rj0cM/W1tQBnvfo0I/AAAAAAAAdEM/Iml39RinRakYWAoQPe-wkEg9WuMZwS4LwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9041-009-Swallowtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y70Pn2rj0cM/W1tQBnvfo0I/AAAAAAAAdEM/Iml39RinRakYWAoQPe-wkEg9WuMZwS4LwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9041-009-Swallowtail.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUfUr4PaGAM/W1tQBljUdvI/AAAAAAAAdEQ/AH-jLRCeBmcoeoaOe172NIXeIoumOLfbACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9043-011-Swallowtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUfUr4PaGAM/W1tQBljUdvI/AAAAAAAAdEQ/AH-jLRCeBmcoeoaOe172NIXeIoumOLfbACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9043-011-Swallowtail.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Swallowtail <i>(Papilio machaon britannicus)</i> - Strumpshaw Fen</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I headed back to my car, totally amazed - Swallowtail in my first ten minutes one day and again in the last ten minutes on the next day, and no sightings in between!</b><br /><br /><b>By now it was mid-day and the lack of sleep, early start, hot weather, and discomfort of my lower legs had got the better of me. I gave up all ideas of visiting Hickling Broad and headed for home, only stopping at 'the Scottish restaurant' for a quick lunch on the way. I took the 'eco route' which, in spite of some hold-ups on the way, took somewhat less than the 4 hours prophesied!</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Conclusions:</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>I'd had a splendid time in Norfolk, and achieved my objectives as far as sightings were concerned. There is still, however, a great deal of room for improvement in the photographic aspects!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>All things being equal, I shall return next year, possibly a week or so earlier than this year, and will stay for 2 nights to enable me to get more out of the visit for the same amount of travelling!</b><br /><b></b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Thank you for dropping by. I am relatively sure my next post will be very much shorter than this one!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-24701867857746236832018-07-23T08:44:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:37.702-07:00To Moth, or Not To Moth? - That Is The Question!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZYWQH0OUd8/W1W5PIoe76I/AAAAAAAAc7w/i1gI0mNc5vwspzbwKg7ZRfX1QicHfzuewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0936-002-Purple%2BThorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZYWQH0OUd8/W1W5PIoe76I/AAAAAAAAc7w/i1gI0mNc5vwspzbwKg7ZRfX1QicHfzuewCLcBGAs/s200/PEG_0936-002-Purple%2BThorn.jpg" width="198" /></a><b>The Black to Green Project, for which the main remit is to return local disused coal workings into havens for wildlife (see here:- <a href="http://www.blacktogreen.org.uk/"><cite class="iUh30">www.blacktogreen.org.uk/</cite></a>), were hosting a moth event on Friday 8th June at Moira, which is just down the road from us. Lindsay and I were lucky enough to get a place on this event. The arrangements were that we would attend a talk and demonstration on the Friday evening, and would then be issued with a moth trap to set up in our gardens. We would then return on the Saturday morning for a 'breakfast' and examine the contents of our respective traps.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I had to think long and hard before booking to attend this event. I'd been resisting getting involved with moths for some time as I was sure that there was every chance that I'd get hooked. However, I felt that this event would give me the chance to 'try moth-ing on for size' without a financial outlay and commitment.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We were very lucky that the event was not cancelled as Adrian Russell (the County Moth Recorder) who had been engaged to present the event had done some serious damage to his leg prior to the event and was in great pain. He did, however, give us a splendid presentation which was extremely interesting and entertaining.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I was somewhat surprised when, at the end, those of us that were resident in 'The Heart of the National Forest' (as we are) were issued with brand new moth traps, expertly manufactured by Adrian to a great, and economic, design!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>That night, the weather was fine, the trap was set up in our garden, and we eagerly awaited the next morning.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vNou5JTOto0/W1NJE5G-8rI/AAAAAAAAc2o/liCGhN6sjYc8tv3wM6p7kStKZmbCIF-BwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1198-007-Moth%2BTrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vNou5JTOto0/W1NJE5G-8rI/AAAAAAAAc2o/liCGhN6sjYc8tv3wM6p7kStKZmbCIF-BwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1198-007-Moth%2BTrap.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The Russell Moth Trap</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The following day we were up early and blocked off the entrance to the trap. We could see we'd got a few moths, but did not know what. Assembling in Moira at 08h30 Lindsay and I were far too excited to think about breakfast. Adrian took us to tables outside and went through the seven traps one-by-one, identifying and recording each species as he delved inside. We all got a chance to look at everyone else's catch. Our turn came near the end of this process. and I managed to photograph some of our moths. To the best of my knowledge, no one had caught anything rare, but there were some beautiful moths.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Adrian was recording the finds on a small voice recorder and promised to email us all with the results.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The biggest surprise was yet to come! Adrian then told us that we were free to borrow the traps until the end of the season!!! But this was not all we got - he also presented each of us with a brand new copy of the Waring and Townsend field guide (he'd managed to get copies of the earlier 2009 edition, signed by Richard Lewington - the illustrator - at an advantageous price!) and these too were ours to borrow until the end of the season!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Please note: </span>It is conventional to record the date of catches in traps as being the date that the trap was deployed.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Friday 8th June, 2018</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Our trap, in a suburban garden, had the lowest species count (13) of the 7 traps. I suspect that most of the other traps were in a more rural location. We did, however, rank 4th in 'numbers caught' (31). The highest in terms of numbers and species was from a trap in Oakthorpe (73/26).</b><br /><br /><b>Here are a few from our trap:-</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvtPJU0FbjE/W1NKE0JAc-I/AAAAAAAAc20/PleBCqK-WDIF-Azx1Ouip6N4_OvLGC3IwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5778-002-Snout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvtPJU0FbjE/W1NKE0JAc-I/AAAAAAAAc20/PleBCqK-WDIF-Azx1Ouip6N4_OvLGC3IwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5778-002-Snout.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snout <i>(Hypena proboscidalis)</i> - on 8th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ItJ-Dm2lXk4/W1NKFBPeNWI/AAAAAAAAc3Y/Z8VcK4fCdbEjdu3bP-fD1hKMGM0YxNHnwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5798-002-Cochylis%2Batricapitana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ItJ-Dm2lXk4/W1NKFBPeNWI/AAAAAAAAc3Y/Z8VcK4fCdbEjdu3bP-fD1hKMGM0YxNHnwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5798-002-Cochylis%2Batricapitana.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Cochylis atricapitana)</i> - on 8th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0uTd7Fu9Gh0/W1NKE4xpg9I/AAAAAAAAc3U/_JOkVd_CsSE2neBUDRKLeYaCi5xrbxMKgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5800-001-Middle-barred%2BMinor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0uTd7Fu9Gh0/W1NKE4xpg9I/AAAAAAAAc3U/_JOkVd_CsSE2neBUDRKLeYaCi5xrbxMKgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5800-001-Middle-barred%2BMinor.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Middle-barred Minor <i>(Oligia fasciuncula)</i> - on 8th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gV5w-O4HxG0/W1NKFvXB4JI/AAAAAAAAc3Q/Ub54CsIInkg-I38elikE0Q1ZdPlREHhMgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5809-006-Small%2BClouded%2BBrindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gV5w-O4HxG0/W1NKFvXB4JI/AAAAAAAAc3Q/Ub54CsIInkg-I38elikE0Q1ZdPlREHhMgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5809-006-Small%2BClouded%2BBrindle.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Small Clouded Brindle <i>(Apamea unanimis) </i>- on 8th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-70tz0NYwQcU/W1NKFt1en-I/AAAAAAAAc3U/whu5C-HV3C46BtNwQMI7T77v8nuBVh4aQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5829-006-Buff%2BErmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-70tz0NYwQcU/W1NKFt1en-I/AAAAAAAAc3U/whu5C-HV3C46BtNwQMI7T77v8nuBVh4aQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5829-006-Buff%2BErmine.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Buff Ermine <i>(Spilosoma luteum)</i> - on 8th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpwNgzWpM88/W1NKF7OAgxI/AAAAAAAAc3Y/gCc8kX9nQcc2CdZk7nibL1jN3K2C1AaxACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5863-004-Chrysoteuchia%2Bsulmella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpwNgzWpM88/W1NKF7OAgxI/AAAAAAAAc3Y/gCc8kX9nQcc2CdZk7nibL1jN3K2C1AaxACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5863-004-Chrysoteuchia%2Bsulmella.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Garden Grass-veneer <i>(Chrysoteuchia culmella)</i> - on 8th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Saturday 9th June, 2018</b></span></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>The following night, the trap went out again. I didn't mention, above, that part of the kit that Adrian had supplied us with was a selection of eight specimen pots. My plan was to try and get the moths into the pots (I had an extra 30 pots of my own to add to the 8), then put them in the fridge for a couple of hours to slow them down, and then take them out one-by-one to photograph them. </b><br /><br /><b><b>We had a reasonable haul of moths, but I managed to lose quite a few, unidentified, before I could get them into the pots and lost a fair few more (notably the smaller ones) before I could photograph them, when I extracted them from the pots.</b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b>In these early days, by far the most numerous species I was catching was Heart and Dart. We have also been getting two forms of Riband Wave. That day I managed to record 19 moths of 13 species. Here are some of them.</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fI-zvzD-9Po/W1NTgLb4o-I/AAAAAAAAc3g/_g0pJnR_4iQmZ6ty9s8zDQ6uMLmvyesSgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5923-009-%252301%2BHart%2B%2526%2BDart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fI-zvzD-9Po/W1NTgLb4o-I/AAAAAAAAc3g/_g0pJnR_4iQmZ6ty9s8zDQ6uMLmvyesSgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5923-009-%252301%2BHart%2B%2526%2BDart.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Heart and Dart <i>(Agrotis exclamationis)</i> - on 9th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D2bZehF513o/W1NTgAiYn_I/AAAAAAAAc4E/8C_--Y3G7tYevYIWb0pRNhFAAbtqubYmgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5950-006-Timothy%2BTortrix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D2bZehF513o/W1NTgAiYn_I/AAAAAAAAc4E/8C_--Y3G7tYevYIWb0pRNhFAAbtqubYmgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5950-006-Timothy%2BTortrix.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Timothy Tortrix <i>(Aphelia paleana)</i> - on 9th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pGkiHVJAxCk/W1NTgYEcuiI/AAAAAAAAc4Q/-CpXUZlyREUhvxEbCMzhm66fSh8ufI0iACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6068-017-Marbled%2BMinor%2Bagg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pGkiHVJAxCk/W1NTgYEcuiI/AAAAAAAAc4Q/-CpXUZlyREUhvxEbCMzhm66fSh8ufI0iACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6068-017-Marbled%2BMinor%2Bagg.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Marbled Minor agg. <i>(Oligia strigilis agg.)</i> - on 9th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sfec8YwmLA/W1NTggpCNbI/AAAAAAAAc4I/Q6Tg_tS2F48OhbVePxC82wqNASMN5ecOQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6071-003-Double%2BSquare-spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sfec8YwmLA/W1NTggpCNbI/AAAAAAAAc4I/Q6Tg_tS2F48OhbVePxC82wqNASMN5ecOQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6071-003-Double%2BSquare-spot.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">Double Square-spot <i>(Xestia triangulum)</i> - on 9th June</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BgTMcZNKdZ8/W1NTgqbCJII/AAAAAAAAc4M/TZM_Rhj9kgwS13Vs0-SZjCdEut-i8Rm1gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6094-008-Riband%2BWave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BgTMcZNKdZ8/W1NTgqbCJII/AAAAAAAAc4M/TZM_Rhj9kgwS13Vs0-SZjCdEut-i8Rm1gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6094-008-Riband%2BWave.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Riband Wave <i>(Idaea aversata)</i> - on 9th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mmOGcPoAUPA/W1NThDfkdHI/AAAAAAAAc4Q/PDp-eQ4Jse4PWZFI7Mi8bTK9ecsBqtirwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6143-016-Ingrailed%2BClay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mmOGcPoAUPA/W1NThDfkdHI/AAAAAAAAc4Q/PDp-eQ4Jse4PWZFI7Mi8bTK9ecsBqtirwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6143-016-Ingrailed%2BClay.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ingrailed Clay <i>(Diarsia mendica mendica)</i> - on 9th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m_9sdhsgv8E/W1NThUuCuqI/AAAAAAAAc4Q/kaJ_aIkDY_sGXQbcfGJXFLty7f7bNqf7ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6176-002-Peppered%2BMoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m_9sdhsgv8E/W1NThUuCuqI/AAAAAAAAc4Q/kaJ_aIkDY_sGXQbcfGJXFLty7f7bNqf7ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6176-002-Peppered%2BMoth.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Peppered Moth <i>(Biston betularia)</i> - on 9th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>Not everything caught in the traps has been a moth. We get a few other things, with plenty of mayflies, and the occasional Sexton Beetle (complete with mites) - we have even had a Water Boatman!</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5SJ3Iuk9z24/W1NTgDKBo-I/AAAAAAAAc4A/l4UCy_IeOJcF-1ip2Vy10A9QaXtcaDVTQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5924-001-%252302%2BBlack%2BSexton%2BBeetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5SJ3Iuk9z24/W1NTgDKBo-I/AAAAAAAAc4A/l4UCy_IeOJcF-1ip2Vy10A9QaXtcaDVTQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5924-001-%252302%2BBlack%2BSexton%2BBeetle.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black Sexton Beetle <i>(Nicrophorus humatore) </i>- on 9th June<i><br /></i></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><b>Saturday 16th June, 2018</b></b></span></span><br /><br /><b><b>The next deployment of the trap was a week later. I'd spent well over a full day sorting out the catch from the previous week so had decided that once a week was just about acceptable.</b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b>I'd come to the conclusion that using flash for my moth photography was, perhaps, not the way to go as I was getting 'flattening' of detail. I'd also decided that it would help if I had a measuring scale alongside the specimens when I photographed them. In the event, the results were less pleasing and I reverted to the use of flash, and abandoned the scale, at the beginning of July!</b></b><br /><br /><b><b>This time I managed to record 28 moths of 16 different species. I'd also become resigned, by now, to losing, maybe, 30% of the catch before identifying them. The first image, shot through the specimen tube (it escaped as I tried to extract it) was initially identified by a moth authority as being Toadflax Pug (an extreme rarity in the county), but subsequently identified by the County Recorder as being Foxglove Pug (common).</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z6B-OXWEMg0/W1S9cT--dpI/AAAAAAAAc4w/hfCkMbMdnR0PJM8msQF194pCyTnQb6gHACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7379-012-Foxglove%2BPug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z6B-OXWEMg0/W1S9cT--dpI/AAAAAAAAc4w/hfCkMbMdnR0PJM8msQF194pCyTnQb6gHACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7379-012-Foxglove%2BPug.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Foxglove Pug <i>(Eupithecia exiguata exiguata)</i> - on 16th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PINRA0RVvLM/W1S9bCW8skI/AAAAAAAAc48/_RdFfVjQbqoSAUfCmtRlCm_67Eu9Y880ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7040-009-Small%2BMagpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PINRA0RVvLM/W1S9bCW8skI/AAAAAAAAc48/_RdFfVjQbqoSAUfCmtRlCm_67Eu9Y880ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7040-009-Small%2BMagpie.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Small Magpie <i>(Eurrhypara hortilata)</i> - on 16th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwrQoeH6KvE/W1WSAx5S9oI/AAAAAAAAc5Q/SHGh1Kz6lYY4jc0HeMhv9Fk5kaCT88GUQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7006-001-Green%2BPug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwrQoeH6KvE/W1WSAx5S9oI/AAAAAAAAc5Q/SHGh1Kz6lYY4jc0HeMhv9Fk5kaCT88GUQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7006-001-Green%2BPug.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Green Pug <i>(Pasiphila rectangulata)</i> - on 16th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lCuzUHlVjBg/W1WSBFxORFI/AAAAAAAAc5s/kYZy2XLLrb4c3PRelZgZY-E6nF9C4HG-wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7091-015-Anania%2Bcoronata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lCuzUHlVjBg/W1WSBFxORFI/AAAAAAAAc5s/kYZy2XLLrb4c3PRelZgZY-E6nF9C4HG-wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7091-015-Anania%2Bcoronata.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anania coronata</i> - on 16th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/---x81XwViZA/W1WSBxH7LTI/AAAAAAAAc5w/Rc-sd4dKPywKmKo3it8anS7BpqJEquhRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7267-002-ID%2BAncylis%2Bachetana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/---x81XwViZA/W1WSBxH7LTI/AAAAAAAAc5w/Rc-sd4dKPywKmKo3it8anS7BpqJEquhRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7267-002-ID%2BAncylis%2Bachetana.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ancylis achetana</i> - on 16th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qe72SFILs4c/W1WSBakU06I/AAAAAAAAc5o/Y_kPAO2CpNMkyYxfDtPU3Hwp06AB6rP0QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7130-012-Beautiful%2BGolden%2BY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qe72SFILs4c/W1WSBakU06I/AAAAAAAAc5o/Y_kPAO2CpNMkyYxfDtPU3Hwp06AB6rP0QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7130-012-Beautiful%2BGolden%2BY.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful Golden Y <i>(Autographa pulchrina) </i>- on 16th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Sunday 24th June, 2018</b></span><br /><br /><b>This night, I only managed to record 27 moths of 11 species. Here are a few of them - they included the delightfully named 'Uncertain' (a common visitor to our garden) and possibly my favourite catch so far, the Buff-tip :-</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jllHs9Jl9NY/W1WY74AtfSI/AAAAAAAAc54/H9iXAE1vexABWBIZ3uHorUHNUlrLMX0ggCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7596-009-Uncertain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jllHs9Jl9NY/W1WY74AtfSI/AAAAAAAAc54/H9iXAE1vexABWBIZ3uHorUHNUlrLMX0ggCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7596-009-Uncertain.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Uncertain <i>(Hoplodrina alsines)</i> - on 24th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdPxDozH6AY/W1WY8Hagm_I/AAAAAAAAc6E/47LuGCD_ZdIjT99D8MwLOm-P4NrFSaEpgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7652-005-Mottled%2BBeauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdPxDozH6AY/W1WY8Hagm_I/AAAAAAAAc6E/47LuGCD_ZdIjT99D8MwLOm-P4NrFSaEpgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7652-005-Mottled%2BBeauty.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Mottled Beauty <i>(Alcis repandata repandata)</i> - on 24th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KeNfYr5nj2M/W1WY8H_cuFI/AAAAAAAAc6M/hXsDCCrQYYkC6Ids3osiSik9uYuU13INQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7678-001-Buff-tip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KeNfYr5nj2M/W1WY8H_cuFI/AAAAAAAAc6M/hXsDCCrQYYkC6Ids3osiSik9uYuU13INQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7678-001-Buff-tip.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Buff-tip <i>(Phalera bucephala)</i> - on 24th June</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Monday 2nd July, 2018</b></span><br /><br /><b>This deployment resulted in the identification of 33 moths 17 species. I'd reverted to the use of flash on the camera, although it is something I'm not practised at. The absolute highlight for me was trapping an Elephant Hawkmoth - a quite common moth, but absolutely beautiful, even if it was a bit tatty! The Riband Wave, shown below, is of <i>forma remutata</i> - we get far more of these than the nominate.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k_2XlKgnymg/W1WdGhLfAfI/AAAAAAAAc6Y/diF9P7Pf_t4gTFWBTnWfDPuBMKmgwdbGwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9933-001-Common%2BWainscot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k_2XlKgnymg/W1WdGhLfAfI/AAAAAAAAc6Y/diF9P7Pf_t4gTFWBTnWfDPuBMKmgwdbGwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9933-001-Common%2BWainscot.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Wainscot <i>(Mythimna pallens)</i> - on 2nd July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jse2y4Hdk9I/W1WdHWwhaZI/AAAAAAAAc6w/e0mLK8-WLMgTkTGPapz2gPftpAhJDz2kQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9993-001-Willow%2BBeauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jse2y4Hdk9I/W1WdHWwhaZI/AAAAAAAAc6w/e0mLK8-WLMgTkTGPapz2gPftpAhJDz2kQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9993-001-Willow%2BBeauty.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Willow Beauty <i>(Peribatodes rhomboidria)</i> - on 2nd July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZiYpfAs9PE/W1WdG00mDtI/AAAAAAAAc6s/Y9mUYuO97OsoKQH5MLhYtfjDK5Y-JB_CgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9963-002-Riband%2BWave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZiYpfAs9PE/W1WdG00mDtI/AAAAAAAAc6s/Y9mUYuO97OsoKQH5MLhYtfjDK5Y-JB_CgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9963-002-Riband%2BWave.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Riband Wave <i>(Idaea aversata f. remutata)</i> - on 2nd July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxolkYL7N90/W1WdGeDxSmI/AAAAAAAAc6s/A0PyCzm5TzIymxa7_6mpwtI1F8lWuFyBQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9903-005-Elephant%2BHawkmoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxolkYL7N90/W1WdGeDxSmI/AAAAAAAAc6s/A0PyCzm5TzIymxa7_6mpwtI1F8lWuFyBQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9903-005-Elephant%2BHawkmoth.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Elephant Hawkmoth <i>(Deilephila elpenor)</i> - on 2nd July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Monday 9th July, 2018</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>We did a little better this day, with 46 moths of 21 species being recorded. It was also noticeable that the mix of species was changing. We had our first of several Scalloped Oak, and I'm rather fond of the colour-form of the Large Yellow Underwing we had that day. The Ermine species is one that is, I understand, virtually impossible to fully identify without dissection!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7NvOQg3dBI/W1WuXs5i5TI/AAAAAAAAc64/2x-A7NzuUtAq53SgiNApX0dfGd1opgCHACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0602-003-Shuttle-shaped%2BDart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7NvOQg3dBI/W1WuXs5i5TI/AAAAAAAAc64/2x-A7NzuUtAq53SgiNApX0dfGd1opgCHACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0602-003-Shuttle-shaped%2BDart.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Shuttle-shaped Dart <i>(Agrotis puta insula)</i> - on 9th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JrDur8tTsCQ/W1WuXwmz7dI/AAAAAAAAc7U/p3XdShf8Z1UAzeScBLqdXGDzJLGIwXrrgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0729-005-Double-striped%2BPug%2B%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JrDur8tTsCQ/W1WuXwmz7dI/AAAAAAAAc7U/p3XdShf8Z1UAzeScBLqdXGDzJLGIwXrrgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0729-005-Double-striped%2BPug%2B%2B.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Double-striped Pug <i>(Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)</i> - on 9th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-JHgkAxF0o/W1WuX6_TxVI/AAAAAAAAc7c/Fgwbg6e8E684uyN2LtKGgWhuOJzm5aLxwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0744-025-Scalloped%2BOak%2B%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-JHgkAxF0o/W1WuX6_TxVI/AAAAAAAAc7c/Fgwbg6e8E684uyN2LtKGgWhuOJzm5aLxwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0744-025-Scalloped%2BOak%2B%2B.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Scalloped Oak <i>(Crocallis elinguaria)</i> - on 9th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-anzW2W8Wyf8/W1WuYOZmGAI/AAAAAAAAc7Y/S8n9csLeGmw9EOd0iosc768uBuwhKI4bQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0764-011-Pos%2BLge%2BYel%2BUnde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-anzW2W8Wyf8/W1WuYOZmGAI/AAAAAAAAc7Y/S8n9csLeGmw9EOd0iosc768uBuwhKI4bQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0764-011-Pos%2BLge%2BYel%2BUnde.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Large Yellow Underwing <i>(Noctua pronuba)</i> - on 9th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSbbTk-f3aY/W1WuYcSAb_I/AAAAAAAAc7g/qxnDdV7QLwUrG24ut512C-oQPTzei39RACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0793-006-Ermine%2Bspecies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSbbTk-f3aY/W1WuYcSAb_I/AAAAAAAAc7g/qxnDdV7QLwUrG24ut512C-oQPTzei39RACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0793-006-Ermine%2Bspecies.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ermine sp. <i>(Yponomeutidae sp.)</i> - on 9th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jy3xPrF7pFU/W1WuY_QcSgI/AAAAAAAAc7g/JTtiusW--WAJoHmCgAZ9DOVdyhUeLMFvACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0807-025-Dark%2BArches%2B%2B%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jy3xPrF7pFU/W1WuY_QcSgI/AAAAAAAAc7g/JTtiusW--WAJoHmCgAZ9DOVdyhUeLMFvACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0807-025-Dark%2BArches%2B%2B%2B.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Dark Arches <i>(Apamea monoglypha)</i> - on 9th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQR8bc2FaZ8/W1WuZL9xRtI/AAAAAAAAc7c/aqxXMDj-TC0NTEDacURDtaY9mixDWt9dwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0811-003-Marbled%2BBeauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQR8bc2FaZ8/W1WuZL9xRtI/AAAAAAAAc7c/aqxXMDj-TC0NTEDacURDtaY9mixDWt9dwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0811-003-Marbled%2BBeauty.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Marbled Beauty <i>(Cryphia domestica)</i> - on 9th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Sunday 15th July, 2018</b></span><br /><br /><b>I managed to record 51 moths of 28 species from this session, so our best to date. The star of this session was the Purple Thorn, although it went before I could take any pleasing shots.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wpqy--c8IJ8/W1W5Re2VOnI/AAAAAAAAc8E/rbQHPZvhJUoVPUE_9XqsxqWqy-Wfs_HRwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1060-005-Wax%2BMoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wpqy--c8IJ8/W1W5Re2VOnI/AAAAAAAAc8E/rbQHPZvhJUoVPUE_9XqsxqWqy-Wfs_HRwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1060-005-Wax%2BMoth.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wax Moth <i>(Galleria mellonella)</i> - on 15th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8CD-O9q9IPk/W1W5Rm-vo1I/AAAAAAAAc8I/rC9iDfLMXS8ZLHWDMOxH9jb5Q-UPvbt0QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1129-012-Scarce%2BFootman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8CD-O9q9IPk/W1W5Rm-vo1I/AAAAAAAAc8I/rC9iDfLMXS8ZLHWDMOxH9jb5Q-UPvbt0QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1129-012-Scarce%2BFootman.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Scarce Footman <i>(Eilema complana)</i> - on 15th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2awu4JF4nA/W1W5O2zD0kI/AAAAAAAAc7o/aksTv2--wjU4-3AJvw6EypeutfWl2KMawCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0915-002-Yellow-tail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2awu4JF4nA/W1W5O2zD0kI/AAAAAAAAc7o/aksTv2--wjU4-3AJvw6EypeutfWl2KMawCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0915-002-Yellow-tail.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Yellow-tail <i>(Euproctis similis)</i> - on 15th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pwiIUhsRa2g/W1W5PY3kF9I/AAAAAAAAc70/uaxmjFDS_SQJMJVv-7hQSZvPZ6qfZktggCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0948-006-Silver%2BY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pwiIUhsRa2g/W1W5PY3kF9I/AAAAAAAAc70/uaxmjFDS_SQJMJVv-7hQSZvPZ6qfZktggCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0948-006-Silver%2BY.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Silver Y <i>(Autographa gamma)</i> - on 15th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSuAavE2y2I/W1W5PuZ4rMI/AAAAAAAAc74/yTJwSjZBaFoCKC5v0f9kRBruv-KKdc4xQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0981-004-Flame%2BShoulder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TSuAavE2y2I/W1W5PuZ4rMI/AAAAAAAAc74/yTJwSjZBaFoCKC5v0f9kRBruv-KKdc4xQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0981-004-Flame%2BShoulder.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Flame Shoulder <i>(Ochropleura flammatra)</i> - on 15th July</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5xvT0mXVS0Y/W1W5QJIgwJI/AAAAAAAAc78/7RNVsahEqowK2XtrDoEsNbQ_Vx_TxZdcgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0986-005-Clouded%2BBorder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5xvT0mXVS0Y/W1W5QJIgwJI/AAAAAAAAc78/7RNVsahEqowK2XtrDoEsNbQ_Vx_TxZdcgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0986-005-Clouded%2BBorder.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Clouded Border <i>(Lomaspilis marginata)</i> - on 15th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc3z7aM4T_o/W1W5Q7uwKcI/AAAAAAAAc8A/2yC_uj2bZUIKyGIESGdrGiQ5nmYx5rmkwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1008-009-Pale%2BProminent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc3z7aM4T_o/W1W5Q7uwKcI/AAAAAAAAc8A/2yC_uj2bZUIKyGIESGdrGiQ5nmYx5rmkwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1008-009-Pale%2BProminent.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Pale Prominent <i>(Pterostoma palpina)</i> - on 15th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vks-rcKtQEs/W1W5PJdk3ZI/AAAAAAAAc7s/2mXu7aorZYAIGpGwKcrS_ccreIWwVNC_QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0941-014-Brimstone%2BMoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vks-rcKtQEs/W1W5PJdk3ZI/AAAAAAAAc7s/2mXu7aorZYAIGpGwKcrS_ccreIWwVNC_QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0941-014-Brimstone%2BMoth.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Brimstone Moth <i>(Opisthograptis luteolata)</i> - on 15th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZYWQH0OUd8/W1W5PIoe76I/AAAAAAAAc7w/i1gI0mNc5vwspzbwKg7ZRfX1QicHfzuewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0936-002-Purple%2BThorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZYWQH0OUd8/W1W5PIoe76I/AAAAAAAAc7w/i1gI0mNc5vwspzbwKg7ZRfX1QicHfzuewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0936-002-Purple%2BThorn.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Purple Thorn <i>(Selenia tetralunaria)</i> - on 15th July</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Conclusion</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>On the question posed in the title to this blog post, the answer is that the jury is still out on this one. I am finding the subject of moths rather fascinating, but extremely time-consuming. The matter of extracting the moths from the trap is typically taking less than an hour. However, the photography is probably taking up to a couple of hours, processing the photos is 2 or 3 hours. Identifying the moths and logging them is, however, taking a huge amount of time.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I need to reduce the time spent on moths as it is detrimental to my other interests. It's not been too bad for the last couple of weeks as I have been unwell and unable to go out, and the moths have kept me occupied. I'm sure that the time spent on photography, photo processing, and identification will reduce significantly as I get more familiar with the subject. I will also possibly be more selective about what species I photograph and record - micromoths are very difficult!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I currently intend to put the trap out again on Tuesday night (24th July). </b><br /><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>I expect that there could be a few errors in my IDs above - if you notice any, please let me know. </b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>My thanks to Adrian Russell for a brilliant introduction to the subject, and the extremely generous loan of a 'complete kit'. I hope that the leg is better soon and out of plaster, Adrian, and that you become fully functional again. My records will be on their way to you when you are able to deal with them.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>My thanks, also, to the unknown person who is behind @MothIDUK. Your assistance in the identification of numerous moths has been very much appreciated. I hope that, as I gain experience, my calls on your help will diminish!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>To my reader(s) out there, my apologies for this not being a short post as intimated at the end of my previous post - I suspect that any future posts on the subject of moths will be reserved for 'interesting finds' - thank you for dropping by!</b><br /><br /><b>I'm expecting my next post to largely feature butterflies and dragons seen on a visit to Norfolk - and good is was too! </b><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-75981526256650988112018-07-15T01:56:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:38.069-07:00The Outer Hebrides - Pt.2 - 29th May to 2nd June, 2018 <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQsKZzaAl-A/W0pU2PO3G3I/AAAAAAAAc1s/MIkelwpgvyURMrCuxrVQdGqN4htXqvxuwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5267-094-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="800" height="161" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQsKZzaAl-A/W0pU2PO3G3I/AAAAAAAAc1s/MIkelwpgvyURMrCuxrVQdGqN4htXqvxuwCLcBGAs/s200/PEG_5267-094-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bm.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Herewith, the second part of my account of the holiday my wife (Lindsay) and I had, based on North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. You can find the first part <a href="http://bing.com/2018/06/the-outer-hebrides-pt1-24th-to-28th-may.html" target="_blank">here</a> .</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Tuesday, 29th May Berneray and Balranald</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We were booked to take the early ferry from Berneray to Harris on the Wednesday, so thought it might be a good idea to check out the situation at Berneray in advance. Setting off after breakfast we crossed the causeway that connects North Uist with the small island of Berneray. As we crossed the causeway we noticed a small flock of birds on the water to the west and so, headed off that way. As we approached the water we found the inevitable Redshank on a post!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMUMImmjrtI/W0h15O2m_oI/AAAAAAAAcoo/NEW8j4SO_2A6kAeSmsnRx1P-O8jSpVRvQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2087-001-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMUMImmjrtI/W0h15O2m_oI/AAAAAAAAcoo/NEW8j4SO_2A6kAeSmsnRx1P-O8jSpVRvQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2087-001-Redshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa totanus)</i> - Berneray</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The 'flock of birds' turned out to be a group of Red-breasted Merganser that seemed to have found a shoal of small fish that they were catching.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-txFD1FEdcOc/W0h15XLgZYI/AAAAAAAAcos/nnvy0PUgI0koMkJpgJg8SvNYbTyK2STzwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2107-010-R-b%2BMerganser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-txFD1FEdcOc/W0h15XLgZYI/AAAAAAAAcos/nnvy0PUgI0koMkJpgJg8SvNYbTyK2STzwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2107-010-R-b%2BMerganser.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red-breasted Merganser </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Mergus serrator)</i> - Berneray</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Mergansers slowly made their way out towards deeper waters, presumably following the fish, and we continued to explore Berneray.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The road that headed west from Borgh was an interesting one with a beach at the end. This was probably the most crowded beach we saw during the whole of our stay in the Outer Hebrides - there must have been at least five people on it, including Lindsay - there were even human footprints on it! </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VGf5ZV-zabM/W0h-rRSmonI/AAAAAAAAco8/DKIrRnYoFasV7Q2V23qJdvdCE_206O5dwCLcBGAs/s1600/20180529_105023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VGf5ZV-zabM/W0h-rRSmonI/AAAAAAAAco8/DKIrRnYoFasV7Q2V23qJdvdCE_206O5dwCLcBGAs/s1600/20180529_105023.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Beach to the west of Borgh - Berneray</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I explored the land behind the beach, where there was a memorial to Angus Macaskill, said to be the tallest man in the world at 7ft 9in (2.4 metres). It seems he was not just tall, but of 'normal proportions' - in effect, built like a brick outhouse! Incidentally, that's Lindsay, and our car, in the background of the first image.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T3gHnoKNMKc/W0h_FswZhVI/AAAAAAAAcpM/kp7su-uu3n4YI0DNsqNc7e7Gx-baLfw5QCLcBGAs/s1600/20180529_110808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T3gHnoKNMKc/W0h_FswZhVI/AAAAAAAAcpM/kp7su-uu3n4YI0DNsqNc7e7Gx-baLfw5QCLcBGAs/s1600/20180529_110808.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gtsWFYK2eBU/W0h_HStoC9I/AAAAAAAAcpY/3t2-oPyNj74vSUpnJq0lxhpzxkTW2PcigCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2232-004-Angus%2BMacaskill%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gtsWFYK2eBU/W0h_HStoC9I/AAAAAAAAcpY/3t2-oPyNj74vSUpnJq0lxhpzxkTW2PcigCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2232-004-Angus%2BMacaskill%2B.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Memorial to Angus Macaskill - Berneray</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Here a a few of the birds I found in this area.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wP62XxHO9uY/W0h_FjCKNjI/AAAAAAAAcps/sn4Y_34l6GI1rnmo5tghmRNB40s1SXieACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2137-001-Ringed%2BPlover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wP62XxHO9uY/W0h_FjCKNjI/AAAAAAAAcps/sn4Y_34l6GI1rnmo5tghmRNB40s1SXieACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2137-001-Ringed%2BPlover.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ringed Plover <span id="goog_388060196"></span></span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Charadrius hiaticula)<span id="goog_388060197"></span></i> - Berneray</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EfZ2fHcQze4/W0h_FmYUKWI/AAAAAAAAcpk/h-Zgzc2SsO8eoNNoP16IDI2Udc2Ksh1iQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2153-002-Oystercatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EfZ2fHcQze4/W0h_FmYUKWI/AAAAAAAAcpk/h-Zgzc2SsO8eoNNoP16IDI2Udc2Ksh1iQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2153-002-Oystercatcher.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Oystercatcher <i>(</i><b><i>Haematopus ostralegus)</i> - Berneray</b></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0R2OJtZdq24/W0h_GyN7O5I/AAAAAAAAcps/quHu9pqUkDUj8VcErKg_Snyjg6-dNvZAQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2219-018-Lapwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0R2OJtZdq24/W0h_GyN7O5I/AAAAAAAAcps/quHu9pqUkDUj8VcErKg_Snyjg6-dNvZAQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2219-018-Lapwing.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgr7gD21D9Q/W0h_GYZ47xI/AAAAAAAAcpw/6P8WDzdS0yc3_TD9y6OSoAIHcw18sdnbwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2200-010-Lapwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgr7gD21D9Q/W0h_GYZ47xI/AAAAAAAAcpw/6P8WDzdS0yc3_TD9y6OSoAIHcw18sdnbwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2200-010-Lapwing.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lapwing </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Vanellus vanellus)</i> - Berneray</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oPmv5Q1PiAk/W0h_HxnnS-I/AAAAAAAAcp0/Py6oO6e0tdIfei4BvdDYqIGBsjQkL966ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2238-002-Linnet%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oPmv5Q1PiAk/W0h_HxnnS-I/AAAAAAAAcp0/Py6oO6e0tdIfei4BvdDYqIGBsjQkL966ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2238-002-Linnet%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9kapg_3E6k/W0h_IZ3WiqI/AAAAAAAAcp0/VcsoozwcbX88XRMxMhkq4nqju4ehV41PwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2241-004-Linnet%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9kapg_3E6k/W0h_IZ3WiqI/AAAAAAAAcp0/VcsoozwcbX88XRMxMhkq4nqju4ehV41PwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2241-004-Linnet%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Linnet <span class="st"><i>(Linaria cannabina)</i> (female) - Berneray</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>After some time here, we crossed over to the east side of Berneray, and Beasdaire beach. Although there were a few cars parked on the grass above the beach, the beach itself was virtually deserted. I focused my attention on the area around the rocks that you can see just above the centre of the image below.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXmi0B1VRz4/W0juqIKoIFI/AAAAAAAAcp8/dsGRcbUwea4kiC9bjm-xL3yYpzFbyeWtQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180529_124731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXmi0B1VRz4/W0juqIKoIFI/AAAAAAAAcp8/dsGRcbUwea4kiC9bjm-xL3yYpzFbyeWtQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180529_124731.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Beasdaire beach - Berneray</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>There was the usual mix of waders here, but I mainly concentrated on the Sanderling.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nA8y_CNdS9E/W0juqYl0skI/AAAAAAAAcqc/AGU5FLgmWQgLvDjvpGw-mkL9hG1bPteNwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2319-011-Ringed%2BPlover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nA8y_CNdS9E/W0juqYl0skI/AAAAAAAAcqc/AGU5FLgmWQgLvDjvpGw-mkL9hG1bPteNwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2319-011-Ringed%2BPlover.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ringed Plover </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Charadrius hiaticula)</i> - Beasdaire beach, Berneray</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uifKGXFh3Ck/W0juqdrcKaI/AAAAAAAAcqU/1lMjr7NQz6so6Fal-z21kUXZtnYM_nObQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2325-020-Dunlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uifKGXFh3Ck/W0juqdrcKaI/AAAAAAAAcqU/1lMjr7NQz6so6Fal-z21kUXZtnYM_nObQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2325-020-Dunlin.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Dunlin <i>(Calidris alpina)</i></span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> - Beasdaire beach, Berneray</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b><br /><b></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-snnnh1xl8/W0jurJDTvqI/AAAAAAAAcqg/KSYQhlffw8EjZKG1cAgij1YPILPtHnJ8QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2495-028-Sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2-snnnh1xl8/W0jurJDTvqI/AAAAAAAAcqg/KSYQhlffw8EjZKG1cAgij1YPILPtHnJ8QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2495-028-Sanderling.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLYsw0-3sek/W0jurbFwRuI/AAAAAAAAcqc/1P4tHxC4AigzM8RXOaUGphvXM4nXAvJDgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2496-029-Sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLYsw0-3sek/W0jurbFwRuI/AAAAAAAAcqc/1P4tHxC4AigzM8RXOaUGphvXM4nXAvJDgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2496-029-Sanderling.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AjDew1mtC4w/W0jureUXjOI/AAAAAAAAcqY/NIfCQXxP8PcoPcimVkrbZ52mJpA02sq6ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2504-033-Sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AjDew1mtC4w/W0jureUXjOI/AAAAAAAAcqY/NIfCQXxP8PcoPcimVkrbZ52mJpA02sq6ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2504-033-Sanderling.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Sanderling <i>(Calidris alba)</i></span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> - Beasdaire beach, Berneray</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Having visited the small museum on Berneray we headed back to North Uist, and paid another visit to Balranald. The tide was out, and here I adopted a different tactic. The waders were down at the water's edge, and I positioned myself on the landward side of some low rocks further up the beach. I sat there quietly for about an hour and a half as the tide slowly came in and brought the waders to me. Again, I concentrated mainly on the Sanderling as these delightful birds were in various states of plumage.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oCbEwLj2Thc/W0jzL83TNsI/AAAAAAAAcqw/B3cHP7BeQKU3Eb9Ad5zD3XXeisTLZKT0ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2697-023-Sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oCbEwLj2Thc/W0jzL83TNsI/AAAAAAAAcqw/B3cHP7BeQKU3Eb9Ad5zD3XXeisTLZKT0ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2697-023-Sanderling.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTXOch7S7-s/W0jzL4nx_XI/AAAAAAAAcqo/B5XEivm40QsreZZvNIe1X0kPVDfqTHcRQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2879-052-Sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTXOch7S7-s/W0jzL4nx_XI/AAAAAAAAcqo/B5XEivm40QsreZZvNIe1X0kPVDfqTHcRQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2879-052-Sanderling.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-otEqlNFcnR4/W0jzMhPfwwI/AAAAAAAAcq0/Hh2jOg39luMBzgSihaUuW1e2uSJJjzGmwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3029-100-Sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-otEqlNFcnR4/W0jzMhPfwwI/AAAAAAAAcq0/Hh2jOg39luMBzgSihaUuW1e2uSJJjzGmwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3029-100-Sanderling.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LWe57C5f2Dw/W0jzMzFgDZI/AAAAAAAAcq4/SNOLdEgTWzgqqcy7bR4DyMQ_9QLOGx3mACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3059-102-Sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LWe57C5f2Dw/W0jzMzFgDZI/AAAAAAAAcq4/SNOLdEgTWzgqqcy7bR4DyMQ_9QLOGx3mACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3059-102-Sanderling.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KewZ2YieUAY/W0jzL46kGnI/AAAAAAAAcqs/ijNr8PrL9Mc-K7ONMb5ysA_Bjsm3gLAAQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3018-091-Sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KewZ2YieUAY/W0jzL46kGnI/AAAAAAAAcqs/ijNr8PrL9Mc-K7ONMb5ysA_Bjsm3gLAAQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3018-091-Sanderling.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Sanderling <i>(Calidris alba)</i></span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> - Balranald, North Uist</span></b></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>After this we returned to base for another wonderful seafood tea, after which I headed out to check on the Committee Road.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>As I approached, a Redshank was out on a rock - time for another Redshank image!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ebf-vn7SvI/W0j1LDGLV9I/AAAAAAAAcrQ/FmdKkSt7OiEphyNMBmC1M4r70g1Ezo9twCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3098-004-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ebf-vn7SvI/W0j1LDGLV9I/AAAAAAAAcrQ/FmdKkSt7OiEphyNMBmC1M4r70g1Ezo9twCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3098-004-Redshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa totanus)</i> - near Solas, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>There must have been rather special conditions of weather and time, as I started seeing Stonechats virtually as soon as I got on to the Committee Road. I'm rather pleased with the last shot.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F88qxFrHL7k/W0j2Zs6EQ6I/AAAAAAAAcrc/n7WsL8cxgoQTFRWuYNdHmh3JTHZy9jESgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3131-010-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F88qxFrHL7k/W0j2Zs6EQ6I/AAAAAAAAcrc/n7WsL8cxgoQTFRWuYNdHmh3JTHZy9jESgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3131-010-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GM7lWnbGfDc/W0j2Z8P_oBI/AAAAAAAAcrk/zd4beeJ0tgMhAuM5u7W3LDx0ouQ-VJbCgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3152-029-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GM7lWnbGfDc/W0j2Z8P_oBI/AAAAAAAAcrk/zd4beeJ0tgMhAuM5u7W3LDx0ouQ-VJbCgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3152-029-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMdAl3_EXro/W0j2ZpEyPEI/AAAAAAAAcrg/9KYpzsnShh8qMq90s0GVWU9QDBT9IGm-gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3155-032-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMdAl3_EXro/W0j2ZpEyPEI/AAAAAAAAcrg/9KYpzsnShh8qMq90s0GVWU9QDBT9IGm-gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3155-032-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Stonechat </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Saxicola rubicola)</i> (male) - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I did a pass to the far end of the road and then returned to the viewpoint at the summit. From here I had some delightful, but distant, views of a female Hen Harrier. A couple of times she did a 'skydance' and I was so mesmerised that I neglected to record it!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FWlQLKIoAr4/W0j32ZqQ6DI/AAAAAAAAcr4/nk-1NXiuDIcmQ44cMEhF7jPCHUd_bC1hwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3163-005-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FWlQLKIoAr4/W0j32ZqQ6DI/AAAAAAAAcr4/nk-1NXiuDIcmQ44cMEhF7jPCHUd_bC1hwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3163-005-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RbOoh7ouBtw/W0j32pNFAJI/AAAAAAAAcsA/mnJK5I4rKi0v-uHqRwfKyrMOEdLtFZNgwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3201-019-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RbOoh7ouBtw/W0j32pNFAJI/AAAAAAAAcsA/mnJK5I4rKi0v-uHqRwfKyrMOEdLtFZNgwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3201-019-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fM1owIV4kAY/W0j32TRmjbI/AAAAAAAAcr8/9Q8VJqv7mJgmepch98Au0Lm3q80OgJuRgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3241-034-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fM1owIV4kAY/W0j32TRmjbI/AAAAAAAAcr8/9Q8VJqv7mJgmepch98Au0Lm3q80OgJuRgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3241-034-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HxucHru8uMM/W0j328vf_wI/AAAAAAAAcsE/yKhC3hcs2C4DYnAPEBh0wTA_EEgV4YDqQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3248-036-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HxucHru8uMM/W0j328vf_wI/AAAAAAAAcsE/yKhC3hcs2C4DYnAPEBh0wTA_EEgV4YDqQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3248-036-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hen Harrier </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Circus cyaneus)</i> (female) - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>As I returned to base after sundown, the full moon created an atmospheric scene.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HCRm1hWSZo0/W0j8EnC3WzI/AAAAAAAAcsU/pzP3DEnfUD8AH3KvOyu0i2ZR_L9IkdT6QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3410-004-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HCRm1hWSZo0/W0j8EnC3WzI/AAAAAAAAcsU/pzP3DEnfUD8AH3KvOyu0i2ZR_L9IkdT6QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3410-004-view.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Full Moon from North Uist</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Wednesday, 30th May Lewis and Calanais Stone Circle</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>Lindsay has a thing about stone circles, and our visit to the Outer Hebrides was conditional on her having the opportunity to visit the famous stone circle at Calanais on the Isle of Lewis. We'd booked in advance for the 10h00 ferry from Berneray to Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris, and there would then be a fairly long drive though Harris and up the west coast of Lewis.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I got up fairly early and was rewarded with the sight of a distant Snipe on a rock in the field behind the garden, and a Meadow Pipit on the garden fence - look at the length of those hind claws!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sOUlbah8Dng/W0j_BtgkzZI/AAAAAAAAcso/qXyWvv1pUQo0bH6N4C_Yt1soE9ZnMnssQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3422-002-Snipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sOUlbah8Dng/W0j_BtgkzZI/AAAAAAAAcso/qXyWvv1pUQo0bH6N4C_Yt1soE9ZnMnssQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3422-002-Snipe.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snipe </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Gallinago gallinago)</i> - Tigh na Boireach, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1LdezIl6aYM/W0j_D4qBotI/AAAAAAAAcss/PeCzfhKlPqYjkLGnLg_kl1si7cS5imrOACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3441-010-Meadow%2BPipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1LdezIl6aYM/W0j_D4qBotI/AAAAAAAAcss/PeCzfhKlPqYjkLGnLg_kl1si7cS5imrOACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3441-010-Meadow%2BPipit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Meadow Pipit </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Anthus pratensis)</i> - Tigh na Boireach, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We set off after breakfast and just before the causeway to Berneray found a young Buzzard on a fence fairly close to the road.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jj_YGlLKSYk/W0kBYbsUH1I/AAAAAAAAcs0/6G5LnrNhq04SlWpeVBn91BDnYIb5GsyoACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3474-016-Buzzard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jj_YGlLKSYk/W0kBYbsUH1I/AAAAAAAAcs0/6G5LnrNhq04SlWpeVBn91BDnYIb5GsyoACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3474-016-Buzzard.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Buzzard </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Buteo buteo)</i> (immature) - near Berneray Causeway, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>While we waited for the arrival of the ferry, I went to the far end of the harbour wall. A pair of Little Tern showed briefly but I failed to get a shot. I did get a passing Oystercatcher.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-efqTeonw3O0/W0kHF4qJ7lI/AAAAAAAActE/OMi_niW-XEMj7D0fJTsA7mTovvpxhDKkgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3488-002-Oystercatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-efqTeonw3O0/W0kHF4qJ7lI/AAAAAAAActE/OMi_niW-XEMj7D0fJTsA7mTovvpxhDKkgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3488-002-Oystercatcher.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Oystercatcher <i>(</i><b><i>Haematopus ostralegus)</i> - Berneray Harbour</b></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Eventually the ferry (MV 'Loch Portain') came into view. As it appeared through the sea mist, the scene reminded me of J.M.W. Turner's 'The Fighting Temeraire' - I suspect the lower right buoy added to this impression</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PKSoZnZQgsU/W0kHF8YrnCI/AAAAAAAActI/NkayBIdeg4QBJXztUfpXPm_hY-PZGshngCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3497-003-ferry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PKSoZnZQgsU/W0kHF8YrnCI/AAAAAAAActI/NkayBIdeg4QBJXztUfpXPm_hY-PZGshngCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3497-003-ferry.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">MV 'Loch Portain' approaching Berneray</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The one-hour voyage through the Sound of Harris was great, and it helped that there were several of us keeping an eye out for birds and marine life. A fine assortment of birds was seen (sorry, but some of the following will just be 'record shots'!), but the real highlight for me was the Arctic Skua which, I'm delighted to say, I was the first to spot.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LiPaixLF2hQ/W0nVP8RGbHI/AAAAAAAActY/XrqCqw8TpIc2a3JAoVlG-FN6-T6b-pEYwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3590-025-Gannet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LiPaixLF2hQ/W0nVP8RGbHI/AAAAAAAActY/XrqCqw8TpIc2a3JAoVlG-FN6-T6b-pEYwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3590-025-Gannet.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gannet <i>(</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Morus bassanus)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--lcgk-U0pU8/W0nVPzdthJI/AAAAAAAAcuk/e8my5cgzfaUhF79g6d4TaqCrjW9zwKYOQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3600-012-Red-throat%2BDiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--lcgk-U0pU8/W0nVPzdthJI/AAAAAAAAcuk/e8my5cgzfaUhF79g6d4TaqCrjW9zwKYOQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3600-012-Red-throat%2BDiver.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red-throated Diver <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Gavia stellata)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CAwKC9S6rUw/W0nVP7X2CFI/AAAAAAAAcuU/yKnfl0LCnTMCepUaHacj26DLaerxqdspACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3656-002-Arctic%2BSkua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CAwKC9S6rUw/W0nVP7X2CFI/AAAAAAAAcuU/yKnfl0LCnTMCepUaHacj26DLaerxqdspACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3656-002-Arctic%2BSkua.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PwTnl1btvrs/W0nVQrC-46I/AAAAAAAAcug/ylIApiuMl8MZ5l88Nygm9vx0bzpsDd3bwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3678-017-Arctic%2BSkua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PwTnl1btvrs/W0nVQrC-46I/AAAAAAAAcug/ylIApiuMl8MZ5l88Nygm9vx0bzpsDd3bwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3678-017-Arctic%2BSkua.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A_fo6nqDOyY/W0nVQ0lfwFI/AAAAAAAAcuY/6qYPClnLPwsSdU6ctZCCfd8armRFy4NLQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3680-019-Arctic%2BSkua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A_fo6nqDOyY/W0nVQ0lfwFI/AAAAAAAAcuY/6qYPClnLPwsSdU6ctZCCfd8armRFy4NLQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3680-019-Arctic%2BSkua.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96hAXggskdI/W0nVQwRQYWI/AAAAAAAAcuc/bCg6HEoJUkYv3UQ8U_BebCA9xF2KkOL7ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3684-022-Arctic%2BSkua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96hAXggskdI/W0nVQwRQYWI/AAAAAAAAcuc/bCg6HEoJUkYv3UQ8U_BebCA9xF2KkOL7ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3684-022-Arctic%2BSkua.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X369oiCjKJ4/W0nVRDHPvTI/AAAAAAAAcuU/12BnBna8mXw8mjGuJOAGTI_9NbOrkw3fACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3685-023-Arctic%2BSkua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X369oiCjKJ4/W0nVRDHPvTI/AAAAAAAAcuU/12BnBna8mXw8mjGuJOAGTI_9NbOrkw3fACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3685-023-Arctic%2BSkua.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Arctic Skua </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Stercorarius parasiticus)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JC-wPYPInXk/W0nVRr-cX5I/AAAAAAAAcuc/L9agR7vD8-UWyOcU8qpS5v2oDefHvzWqgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3727-039-Black%2BGuillemot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JC-wPYPInXk/W0nVRr-cX5I/AAAAAAAAcuc/L9agR7vD8-UWyOcU8qpS5v2oDefHvzWqgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3727-039-Black%2BGuillemot.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UM513MBHWq8/W0nVSA0Q9lI/AAAAAAAAcug/u4VwBpgD0ZcbwaXNFJJXc3HmdjNQzapNQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3734-043-Black%2BGuillemot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UM513MBHWq8/W0nVSA0Q9lI/AAAAAAAAcug/u4VwBpgD0ZcbwaXNFJJXc3HmdjNQzapNQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3734-043-Black%2BGuillemot.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HeXlu0iPWAE/W0nVUiYhf_I/AAAAAAAAcuk/P7IPRKCXkF8XbGfjVM5a87VWHVlEH8JrQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3823-050-Black%2BGuillemot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HeXlu0iPWAE/W0nVUiYhf_I/AAAAAAAAcuk/P7IPRKCXkF8XbGfjVM5a87VWHVlEH8JrQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3823-050-Black%2BGuillemot.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black Guillemot </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Cepphus grylle)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UGd2opMMzzU/W0nVSo-HT5I/AAAAAAAAcuY/JPUYfnlGCx4nBFZr44Hrt3R7GMTNXLc-ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3762-002-Razorbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UGd2opMMzzU/W0nVSo-HT5I/AAAAAAAAcuY/JPUYfnlGCx4nBFZr44Hrt3R7GMTNXLc-ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3762-002-Razorbill.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Razorbill </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Alca torda)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UJ6ExxsXBsg/W0nVTANYQzI/AAAAAAAAcuY/SZDtVwsD4_8niH-UdPoskez5p3FqKyX3gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3778-001-Kittiwake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UJ6ExxsXBsg/W0nVTANYQzI/AAAAAAAAcuY/SZDtVwsD4_8niH-UdPoskez5p3FqKyX3gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3778-001-Kittiwake.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kittiwake <i>(</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Rissa tridactyla)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5zOK-X4pIrA/W0nVTgOdrzI/AAAAAAAAcuc/GlNxKgo90YEB_c9T869CA8N-LN8TtTxMACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3785-004-Shag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5zOK-X4pIrA/W0nVTgOdrzI/AAAAAAAAcuc/GlNxKgo90YEB_c9T869CA8N-LN8TtTxMACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3785-004-Shag.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Shag <i>(</i></span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><i>Phalacrocorax aristotelis)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-htgadno98VI/W0nVUNI203I/AAAAAAAAcug/67M4dv7XBMIgLl6g-CtUVGhxsj67yL8EACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3801-024-G%2BN%2BDiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-htgadno98VI/W0nVUNI203I/AAAAAAAAcug/67M4dv7XBMIgLl6g-CtUVGhxsj67yL8EACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3801-024-G%2BN%2BDiver.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Northern Diver </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Gavia immer)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ea3rL2r9b8/W0nVVJWZbII/AAAAAAAAcuk/mU1uJI73C8wh6NAKt8ZLufwZ2J7KjkUTgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3866-022-Guillemot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ea3rL2r9b8/W0nVVJWZbII/AAAAAAAAcuk/mU1uJI73C8wh6NAKt8ZLufwZ2J7KjkUTgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3866-022-Guillemot.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Guillemot </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Uria aalge)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>All too soon we were approaching Harris.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAy6BfgKht0/W0nkxEP9nzI/AAAAAAAAcus/pXyeNwoK7YEAWsc5XxxytjwihSGqnQw6gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3889-002-arriving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAy6BfgKht0/W0nkxEP9nzI/AAAAAAAAcus/pXyeNwoK7YEAWsc5XxxytjwihSGqnQw6gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3889-002-arriving.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Harris, from MV 'Loch Portain'</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>Someone called that there was a seal on the starboard side. It was quite close, and dived as we came alongside.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-q5DwIAsOY/W0nkxXpXgaI/AAAAAAAAcu4/es7ivSFEVPg5nFYQxVaif6Cu7U2N79DVgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3909-013-Seal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-q5DwIAsOY/W0nkxXpXgaI/AAAAAAAAcu4/es7ivSFEVPg5nFYQxVaif6Cu7U2N79DVgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3909-013-Seal.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYESG0KKDZU/W0nkxU2QsxI/AAAAAAAAcu8/rzZEwlbC7Dg_J72iH8HzrG6vymi2RpZ-QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3912-016-Seal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYESG0KKDZU/W0nkxU2QsxI/AAAAAAAAcu8/rzZEwlbC7Dg_J72iH8HzrG6vymi2RpZ-QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3912-016-Seal.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Grey Seal <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Halichoerus grypus)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We were quickly off the ferry, and were somewhat focused on getting to the main objective at Calanais, so didn't take in much of our surrounds as we travelled, although realising that there was some fabulous scenery.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>On arrival at Calanais we had a picnic lunch before visiting the stone circle. There are, actually, three sites here, but we confined our visit to the main site - Calanais I. It was impressive, but not very photogenic with so many people and vehicles in view.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nzDx9avdkgI/W0npfZhzR2I/AAAAAAAAcvE/Ygzme8qUCxw7dNmpFWCJysMpQedgzEc5ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3921-001-Calanais%2BI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nzDx9avdkgI/W0npfZhzR2I/AAAAAAAAcvE/Ygzme8qUCxw7dNmpFWCJysMpQedgzEc5ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3921-001-Calanais%2BI.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Calanais I - Isle of Lewis</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>There was a small art studio and gallery by the visitor centre, and I had a chat with the lady in charge. This proved to be most interesting as the lady (Yvonne Benting) is the County Bird Recorder for the Outer Hebrides, and I picked up some useful tips - thank you!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>On our way back to Leverburgh we had plenty of time to spare and so could take in more of the scenery. I'm not sure where this next image was taken from (I wish I'd used the GPS on my phone) but I think its of Loch Seaforth near Aird a' Mhulaidh (please excuse the lack of accent on the 'A').</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iWp0hqsbxgk/W0ns9uV4h4I/AAAAAAAAcvQ/44r867_oItU-x7OvuIrPRnihaa87y_vMgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3951-003-Loch%2BSeaforth%2B-%2Bview%2Bfrom%2Blaybye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iWp0hqsbxgk/W0ns9uV4h4I/AAAAAAAAcvQ/44r867_oItU-x7OvuIrPRnihaa87y_vMgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3951-003-Loch%2BSeaforth%2B-%2Bview%2Bfrom%2Blaybye.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Loch Seaforth near Aird a' Mhulaidh?</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We were getting near to Leverburgh with plenty of time to spare, so diverted off to the rather fine Temple Café at Northton, Isle of Harris. We enjoyed tea and cake sitting out on the terrace, with fine views over the water.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TdvhawTTA0w/W0nvKh0u3_I/AAAAAAAAcvg/Iy4sTQNjNSEsbY9qQ5SMzlTWM86RNlIlACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3977-002-view%2Bfrom%2Bcafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TdvhawTTA0w/W0nvKh0u3_I/AAAAAAAAcvg/Iy4sTQNjNSEsbY9qQ5SMzlTWM86RNlIlACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3977-002-view%2Bfrom%2Bcafe.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">View from Temple Café's terrace, Isle of Harris</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sBGNXtn9wyc/W0nvKuKpn7I/AAAAAAAAcvk/jjjz7sxdjoI3boc5qPiJ8laR7devcPP3ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3975-017-Ringed%2BPlover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sBGNXtn9wyc/W0nvKuKpn7I/AAAAAAAAcvk/jjjz7sxdjoI3boc5qPiJ8laR7devcPP3ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3975-017-Ringed%2BPlover.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Ringed Plover </span></b></span><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Charadrius hiaticula)</i> </span></b></span></span>- from Temple Café's terrace, Isle of Harris</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>It was a very pleasant return ferry crossing, although not quite as productive as the outward crossing. At one point, a lady who I'd been chatting to about the birds (it turned out that they were staying in the other blackhouse, only 150 metres from ours!) asked "what's that big bird on the rock?". It took a while for the penny to drop - it was a White-tailed Eagle, and we must have passed quite close to it without me seeing it!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ilYhIL_N9m0/W0nyutCxAsI/AAAAAAAAcv4/W1WDeqsJZP4csaxkde0DHJUX1UP99yepwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4143-006-W-t%2BEagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ilYhIL_N9m0/W0nyutCxAsI/AAAAAAAAcv4/W1WDeqsJZP4csaxkde0DHJUX1UP99yepwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4143-006-W-t%2BEagle.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">White-tailed Eagle </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Haliaeetus albicilla)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VL4twYwBq0o/W0nyufzlYcI/AAAAAAAAcwI/vrHlyyKtNH8DpZ_3hykLF08xS5qSeG7RACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4104-002-Red-throat%2BDiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VL4twYwBq0o/W0nyufzlYcI/AAAAAAAAcwI/vrHlyyKtNH8DpZ_3hykLF08xS5qSeG7RACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4104-002-Red-throat%2BDiver.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red-throated Diver <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Gavia stellata)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-In7ckc-L8fg/W0nyuYYPabI/AAAAAAAAcwA/wtf29s2u3l8v6H1doLblZGGu-LZF5kiDQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4132-008-Black%2BGuillemot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-In7ckc-L8fg/W0nyuYYPabI/AAAAAAAAcwA/wtf29s2u3l8v6H1doLblZGGu-LZF5kiDQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4132-008-Black%2BGuillemot.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black Guillemot </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Cepphus grylle)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ8ZZhdbgsA/W0nyu9ENIxI/AAAAAAAAcwI/Oq-o5JQupcQaIKYJS6HJrjVRb9a2m37mQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4182-001-Gannet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ8ZZhdbgsA/W0nyu9ENIxI/AAAAAAAAcwI/Oq-o5JQupcQaIKYJS6HJrjVRb9a2m37mQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4182-001-Gannet.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gannet <i>(</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Morus bassanus)</i> - Sound of Harris</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We were back at base by 20h30 and had a relaxing evening after dinner, having first released the Wren that we found in the bedroom!</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Thursday, 31st May Baleshare and North Uist</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>I had my usual pre-breakfast amble round the property, and took a few photos. It was a pleasant change to find a Redshank on dewy grass, rather than on a post or rock!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-etlv5gzx6PU/W0n5QiqGSDI/AAAAAAAAcwQ/Iea63ODEWx0vNRjRwritbq9rJTJ2AM0FwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4311-012-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-etlv5gzx6PU/W0n5QiqGSDI/AAAAAAAAcwQ/Iea63ODEWx0vNRjRwritbq9rJTJ2AM0FwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4311-012-Redshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa totanus)</i> - Tigh na Boireach, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>After breakfast we realised that we'd never been up to the end of the road which passed the property we were in, so we set out to put that right. There was disappointment in that we found two long-dead corvids that had been strung up by their feet on the fence at the far end of the road. This was the only sign of acts against wildlife that we saw anywhere during our stay.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>We did, however, have a rather delightful encounter with a Skylark on this road - Lindsay had to sit back so that I could shoot through the window on her side of the car!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yQzF96OILD4/W0n7Iu7rk8I/AAAAAAAAcwg/yYI-7oZu688l99n2YxaJGEaO-Bm7TbqqACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4392-010-Skylark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yQzF96OILD4/W0n7Iu7rk8I/AAAAAAAAcwg/yYI-7oZu688l99n2YxaJGEaO-Bm7TbqqACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4392-010-Skylark.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GuDW3PcUTKw/W0n7Ep3yEnI/AAAAAAAAcwc/Yh_TXdEoyWIML85u6frpoAvx7UqOY02KgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4406-021-Skylark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GuDW3PcUTKw/W0n7Ep3yEnI/AAAAAAAAcwc/Yh_TXdEoyWIML85u6frpoAvx7UqOY02KgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4406-021-Skylark.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Skylark </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Alauda arvensis)</i> - road beyond Tigh na Boireach, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>Lindsay wanted to visit the island of Baleshare. This island, with a total area of 9.1 km² </b><b>rises to the impressive height of 12 metres asl.!</b><br /><br /><b>We travelled via the Committee Road - the only Short-eared Owl seen, being at a great distance with no sensible photos achieved. </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>The only diversion we made was to follow a sign to a 'road-end sculpture' by Carnach. This turned out to be a delightful community project, but not very photogenic. I did get a shot of a Meadow Pipit with its lunch, however.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4FZLp5JqyQQ/W0oFnoxr9NI/AAAAAAAAcws/akg1IwsyxMQHDRy3g7Xm9KXNsAEcE4aJACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4437-006-Meadow%2BPipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4FZLp5JqyQQ/W0oFnoxr9NI/AAAAAAAAcws/akg1IwsyxMQHDRy3g7Xm9KXNsAEcE4aJACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4437-006-Meadow%2BPipit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Meadow Pipit </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Anthus pratensis)</i> - Carnach, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Having crossed the causeway that connects Baleshare with North Uist, we found a beach which was totally deserted. There were many Oystercatchers here, on the beach and behind the beach, and other birds too, although nothing of great note.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T6y74S1R21k/W0oHFBtY6hI/AAAAAAAAcw8/IS2V0KdNNrEOuNrlHV9R18TKnEP6zfwTQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4456-002-Oystercatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T6y74S1R21k/W0oHFBtY6hI/AAAAAAAAcw8/IS2V0KdNNrEOuNrlHV9R18TKnEP6zfwTQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4456-002-Oystercatcher.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5Qi-B1SURI/W0oHFNPW5TI/AAAAAAAAcw4/VND0alcUyYo1lcitHs-B0bHjIZ9gW370ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4497-022-Oystercatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5Qi-B1SURI/W0oHFNPW5TI/AAAAAAAAcw4/VND0alcUyYo1lcitHs-B0bHjIZ9gW370ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4497-022-Oystercatcher.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Oystercatcher <i>(</i><b><i>Haematopus ostralegus)</i> - Baleshare</b></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWlKXfPipck/W0oHq8R9TjI/AAAAAAAAcxI/ZseRxiGrWyIze9G7QX97QLrc2dePUL64ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4449-007-Meadow%2BPipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWlKXfPipck/W0oHq8R9TjI/AAAAAAAAcxI/ZseRxiGrWyIze9G7QX97QLrc2dePUL64ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4449-007-Meadow%2BPipit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hZQcrHDazwE/W0oHqlM5xmI/AAAAAAAAcxE/djf-oVva2IAzhir1Z2xBjij8M8WOtH5pACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4600-022-Meadow%2BPipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hZQcrHDazwE/W0oHqlM5xmI/AAAAAAAAcxE/djf-oVva2IAzhir1Z2xBjij8M8WOtH5pACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4600-022-Meadow%2BPipit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Meadow Pipit </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Anthus pratensis)</i> -Baleshare</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5czG9fjt2WU/W0oH9I9MyxI/AAAAAAAAcxU/nXo9ATtkwQgEPza3sIKvVR6xxlVIzJJiACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4514-003-Dunlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5czG9fjt2WU/W0oH9I9MyxI/AAAAAAAAcxU/nXo9ATtkwQgEPza3sIKvVR6xxlVIzJJiACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4514-003-Dunlin.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Dunlin </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Calidris alpina)</i> - Baleshare</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Yes, there was a noisy Redshank too!</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FQW8BwtLnc/W0oIbDRQ4yI/AAAAAAAAcxc/VgJgd2wHlMEzzavU14LkLHtXQHZivqZmQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4618-016-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FQW8BwtLnc/W0oIbDRQ4yI/AAAAAAAAcxc/VgJgd2wHlMEzzavU14LkLHtXQHZivqZmQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4618-016-Redshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa totanus)</i> -Baleshare</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>As we were about to leave the island there was a Swallow perched on a farm gate on Lindsay's side of the car. Sadly neither the perch or the backdrop were photogenic but, although I see plenty of Swallows, I rarely get to photograph one, so here goes!</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ur26Yt5HBU/W0oJPY9nluI/AAAAAAAAcxo/j28sVzRuMrAUISeIVMmJk8svMonEmQPdQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4630-009-Barn%2BSwallow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ur26Yt5HBU/W0oJPY9nluI/AAAAAAAAcxo/j28sVzRuMrAUISeIVMmJk8svMonEmQPdQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4630-009-Barn%2BSwallow.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Barn Swallow </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Hirundo rustica)</i> - Baleshare</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>As we crossed the causeway to North Uist there was a distant Curlew. This might have been the only one we saw all week.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gQmisXq4ClA/W0oLUOxBFTI/AAAAAAAAcx0/7N6Jaud6jPAwglnDKGkBeDt8XJTYYkubwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4640-002-Curlew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gQmisXq4ClA/W0oLUOxBFTI/AAAAAAAAcx0/7N6Jaud6jPAwglnDKGkBeDt8XJTYYkubwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4640-002-Curlew.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Curlew <i>(</i><b><i>Numenius arquata)</i> - from Baleshare causeway</b></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We found a place with a great view to stop for a late picnic lunch on the way to Grimsay. I'm not sure where this was, but it might have been at Cladach Chairinis</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-51OhQzBJoao/W0oMeH5Al8I/AAAAAAAAcyA/u6XnLq4BD-QOswPC8Qykj5ao6j7Oe8TcwCLcBGAs/s1600/20180531_125111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-51OhQzBJoao/W0oMeH5Al8I/AAAAAAAAcyA/u6XnLq4BD-QOswPC8Qykj5ao6j7Oe8TcwCLcBGAs/s1600/20180531_125111.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Our picnic lunch stop</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We then continued onto the island of Grimsay, stopping for refreshments at the recently opened Namara café, owned by Kallin Shellfish.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Our journey back took us along the Committee Road once more, but little of interest was seen.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Back at Tigh na Boireach I couldn't resist a short of this Starling that was gleaming in the late afternoon sun.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NRL1wsry_Jg/W0oRizkDbaI/AAAAAAAAcyM/I4QEQ6a7CukfDz34Dz06kyl_r8RKaRoQwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4745-001-Starling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NRL1wsry_Jg/W0oRizkDbaI/AAAAAAAAcyM/I4QEQ6a7CukfDz34Dz06kyl_r8RKaRoQwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4745-001-Starling.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Starling <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sturnus vulgaris)</i> - Tigh na Boireach, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We had another excellent seafood dinner that night, after which I took a stroll a short way along the road from the property.</b><br /><br /><b>I'd been hearing Corncrake and our neighbours who we'd met on the boat said that they'd seen one. I had to try! As is usual, it was easy to hear them, but trying to pinpoint their whereabouts is extremely difficult - even when they are quite close.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Between spells of hearing Corncrake calling I started to take shots of Redshank - not more of them sitting on posts, but flight shots. It kept me quite busy.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZM_XriPcAI/W0oTW-Ep4dI/AAAAAAAAcyk/1w-NYOCO6-sHWOyiflZDWjFF9hdB5p9cgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4833-030-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZM_XriPcAI/W0oTW-Ep4dI/AAAAAAAAcyk/1w-NYOCO6-sHWOyiflZDWjFF9hdB5p9cgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4833-030-Redshank.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sC72pnlaZoM/W0oTW9HsszI/AAAAAAAAcyo/PyUBKopx7D0Yd1lU_9wBWpKScvTi6XAEwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4835-032-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sC72pnlaZoM/W0oTW9HsszI/AAAAAAAAcyo/PyUBKopx7D0Yd1lU_9wBWpKScvTi6XAEwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4835-032-Redshank.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8pqa6unFMnc/W0oTWpvQtQI/AAAAAAAAcyg/twf0tA635IcdPqqOVc7eeJdg_jaWWXPpACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4839-035-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8pqa6unFMnc/W0oTWpvQtQI/AAAAAAAAcyg/twf0tA635IcdPqqOVc7eeJdg_jaWWXPpACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4839-035-Redshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa totanus)</i> - by Tigh na Boreach, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I was checking an area where I'd heard a Corncrake several times that evening, when I suddenly spotted a movement - bingo! Checking on Google Earth, I can see it was about 65 metres away and focusing through grass was not easy, but I did manage to get just one recognisable shot before it disappeared.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8APmkip22Lk/W0oU7vd0I0I/AAAAAAAAcy8/JHx7iZvg2cAamDc4OvHWYngptXwyfD4twCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4860-003-Corncrake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8APmkip22Lk/W0oU7vd0I0I/AAAAAAAAcy8/JHx7iZvg2cAamDc4OvHWYngptXwyfD4twCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4860-003-Corncrake.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Corncrake </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Crex crex)</i> - by Tigh na Boireach, North Uist.</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>It was time to call it a day, but I went to bed a happy man!</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Friday, 1st June Red-necked Phalarope on Benbecula</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>In my travels that week, I'd heard mention that there were Red-necked Phalarope on the Isle of Benbecula. This was to be our last day in the Outer Hebrides, and Lindsay kindly agreed that we'd go and see if we could find one.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Before breakfast I took a shot of one of the Wrens that were constantly round the property.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2pP88nuIlE/W0oY1m17emI/AAAAAAAAczI/-FhVITJTW4MVHViVej_RzLNudSje9PbMgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4941-012-Wren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2pP88nuIlE/W0oY1m17emI/AAAAAAAAczI/-FhVITJTW4MVHViVej_RzLNudSje9PbMgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4941-012-Wren.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wren <i>(Troglodytes troglodytes)</i> - Tigh na Boireach</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The Committee Road yielded little of interest and we made haste to Griminis on Benbecula. I'd been given excellent directions as to where to look, and found the area without difficulty. </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>My first sighting of interest was a Ruff. I have never seen a Ruff in summer breeding plumage before and, although the bird seemed to be in not full breeding state and did not display for me, it was a rather exciting find.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VPdKyOTP7as/W0oad7ZKsBI/AAAAAAAAczY/Njf1s0D1gKAr4Ju9YplH6gN4fz2ncqycwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5028-018-Ruff%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VPdKyOTP7as/W0oad7ZKsBI/AAAAAAAAczY/Njf1s0D1gKAr4Ju9YplH6gN4fz2ncqycwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5028-018-Ruff%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELko-HJDwkA/W0oad0felLI/AAAAAAAAczU/UjYtObMp0XYRnIApNHVaV6sA2hlWMVq4wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5033-023-Ruff%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELko-HJDwkA/W0oad0felLI/AAAAAAAAczU/UjYtObMp0XYRnIApNHVaV6sA2hlWMVq4wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5033-023-Ruff%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ruff </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Calidris pugnax)</i> (male) - Griminis, Benbecula</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I was interested to see these moths which had congregated on Silverweed.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NSuW6TKRPHo/W0obk8CSvLI/AAAAAAAAczo/Mnkr1qDTQC8v7UFQ4cML-ySRZFPqFO1kgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5162-006-Silverweed%2B%252B%2Bmic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NSuW6TKRPHo/W0obk8CSvLI/AAAAAAAAczo/Mnkr1qDTQC8v7UFQ4cML-ySRZFPqFO1kgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5162-006-Silverweed%2B%252B%2Bmic.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cocksfoot Moth <i>(Glyphterix simpliciella)</i> - Griminis, Benbecula</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Eventually a pair of Red-necked Phalarope appeared in a distant channel.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrbkdA90qy4/W0ocl1CsSFI/AAAAAAAAcz0/KBdTnjNryIw6oRtzFdDfuFyHT0uWvBzPACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5090-019-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrbkdA90qy4/W0ocl1CsSFI/AAAAAAAAcz0/KBdTnjNryIw6oRtzFdDfuFyHT0uWvBzPACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5090-019-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red-necked Phalarope </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">(Phalaropus lobatus) (male + female) - Griminis, Benbecula</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I waited patiently (as did Lindsay - in the car!) and eventually they both came a little closer. I was quite amused at one point as I received an alert on my phone that a very rare bird for the county had been seen at Rutland Water - a Red-necked Phalarope!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-mehq_xc7w/W0oec2-DSPI/AAAAAAAAc0Q/PbGbQedNje4ik3h9tKL6IuvpBHIv6rX2wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5137-051-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-mehq_xc7w/W0oec2-DSPI/AAAAAAAAc0Q/PbGbQedNje4ik3h9tKL6IuvpBHIv6rX2wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5137-051-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zUw5LHIAWds/W0oehf5B8oI/AAAAAAAAc0U/Aivgnnn-On89ya_WZ9mW95VJVB2rBJUDwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5205-067-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zUw5LHIAWds/W0oehf5B8oI/AAAAAAAAc0U/Aivgnnn-On89ya_WZ9mW95VJVB2rBJUDwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5205-067-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HhYO_kG1z5E/W0oehgReqAI/AAAAAAAAc0Y/buCfZAAzdD0UPkmY4pDnSqfcuVxZak3BwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5232-080-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HhYO_kG1z5E/W0oehgReqAI/AAAAAAAAc0Y/buCfZAAzdD0UPkmY4pDnSqfcuVxZak3BwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5232-080-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red-necked Phalarope </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">(Phalaropus lobatus) (female) - Griminis, Benbecula</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_gDOqihSR4o/W0oe9IuiLXI/AAAAAAAAc0o/Dm8Tcp8gq7kdsj_mGT5_D_o3OdyfbOwBgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5249-083-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_gDOqihSR4o/W0oe9IuiLXI/AAAAAAAAc0o/Dm8Tcp8gq7kdsj_mGT5_D_o3OdyfbOwBgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5249-083-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-choAo15BOCo/W0oe86DR1qI/AAAAAAAAc0k/hnIfma8bhgQiQVqhkwIIJjEuX2wYn8lLQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5267-094-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-choAo15BOCo/W0oe86DR1qI/AAAAAAAAc0k/hnIfma8bhgQiQVqhkwIIJjEuX2wYn8lLQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5267-094-Red-necked%2BPhalarope%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red-necked Phalarope </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">(Phalaropus lobatus) (male) - Griminis, Benbecula</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I'd have liked closer shots, but these were 'lifers' for me.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>On the way to Grimsay I got my best views of the week of a Wheatear.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOG23W4gmN0/W0ohIy0cfiI/AAAAAAAAc04/069x7t-txVAD_PIFx4iW2Iz3k-ektWo-gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5305-009-Wheatear%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOG23W4gmN0/W0ohIy0cfiI/AAAAAAAAc04/069x7t-txVAD_PIFx4iW2Iz3k-ektWo-gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5305-009-Wheatear%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffSQuI7RgVs/W0ohJNpIDKI/AAAAAAAAc08/gtg52UWd9xQwlfcijtx6_PCE7qVUMR0kgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5314-018-Wheatear%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffSQuI7RgVs/W0ohJNpIDKI/AAAAAAAAc08/gtg52UWd9xQwlfcijtx6_PCE7qVUMR0kgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5314-018-Wheatear%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wheatear <i>(</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Oenanthe oenanthe)</i> (male) - Grimsay</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We'd decided to have lunch at the Grimsay café that we'd stopped at the previous day, and my crab on toast was absolutely delicious. Lindsay had traditional fish and chips which she said was also excellent.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>The Committee Road did give us a distant Hen Harrier on the way back north but my photos barely count as record shots.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>We looked at the map and found that there was one significant road on North Uist that we had not travelled, and that was the long road which led to Cheese Bay. At one point we had the impression that some people were sleeping rough in derelict vehicles beside the road.</b><br /><br /><b>I think this juvenile bird was probably a Stonechat, but I'd be delighted for any views you might have on this. </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5-SFVor4aY/W0onqewVzqI/AAAAAAAAc1M/Xo4fX20XugsQy5711VWjxIH4tcSBUWhzwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5480-005-poss%2BStonechat%2Bj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5-SFVor4aY/W0onqewVzqI/AAAAAAAAc1M/Xo4fX20XugsQy5711VWjxIH4tcSBUWhzwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5480-005-poss%2BStonechat%2Bj.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">possible juvenile Stonechat - near Cheese Bay, North Uist</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>That night we had to pack ready for our departure early next morning. We had a light seafood meal beforehand. </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>It is usual for us to say that, at the end of a week away, we are ready to come home. This time, neither of us wanted to be departing. I felt I needed a last turn round the garden, which reinforced this feeling. I was going to miss those Redshanks, and it was if they'd gathered to say goodbye.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WvIMmhDCHbo/W0opPBARUZI/AAAAAAAAc1Y/T2WLHSeo-NMX50dKr1qMOJyVnHr8da1xwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5492-005-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WvIMmhDCHbo/W0opPBARUZI/AAAAAAAAc1Y/T2WLHSeo-NMX50dKr1qMOJyVnHr8da1xwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5492-005-Redshank.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qXNnKq_zGJQ/W0opPPqhpOI/AAAAAAAAc1c/hKTj4Ahbv4Ere5TtBoJBpdyJM4oHYYnAgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5497-008-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qXNnKq_zGJQ/W0opPPqhpOI/AAAAAAAAc1c/hKTj4Ahbv4Ere5TtBoJBpdyJM4oHYYnAgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5497-008-Redshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa totanus)</i> - Tigh na Boreach, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Saturday, 2nd June North Uist to Blairgowrie</span></b><br /><b><br /></b><b>We were booked on the 07h30 ferry which meant we had to check in by 06h45. We woke to thick fog. Any hopes of standing out on deck to watch for birds were totally dashed when the captain announced that it would be dense fog all the way to Sky, and this would require the constant use of the foghorn.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>It was still foggy when we reached Sky, but started to clear somewhat after we got on the road again. We had quite a long haul ahead of us so kept going until we got to Laggan, where we stopped for a light lunch. We had the misfortune to call at the Caoldare Coffee and Craft Shop and ordered lunch, but soon realised our mistake - the owner/manager? was telling everyone how short staffed she was and how chaotic things were, while she dashed around creating a lot of dust but actually doing the square root of bugger all to manage or help the staff who were there - you could see the frustration on their faces! We shan't be returning there again! We did, however, check out the Laggan Stores, which has now been taken over after the delightful Canadian family who previously owned were forced to leave the country on an immigration technicality, and it seems the new owners are doing great things - especially on the café side of the business.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Before we got to Blairgowrie we called in at the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of the Lowes reserve. I have not been here before, and was a little disappointed by the lack of extent of the public area of the site. I was just debating whether to cough up the £3.50 admission, when it started raining. I set off back to the car but by the time that I'd covered the 150 metres back to the car I was totally drenched and a river was flowing across the car park!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>We checked in at the delightful The Laurels guest house in Blairgowrie, and looked forward to our evening meal that night. We have had many an excellent light lunch at the Dalmore Inn, and had always fancied having dinner there. The Laurels is just 300 metres from the Dalmore Inn! In the event, the food was excellent. However, there were two inexperienced young waitresses on duty who had little clue as to what drinks were available. When I asked what ciders they had, she consulted her device and reeled off the names of a number of beers. When I queried it she ascertained that this was the case - a quick visit by me to the bar soon sorted this out. I then fancied a single malt to end the meal and had the same problem, being offered a short list of 'blendeds'. I visited the bar again and found a pleasant selection of single malts. Please, Dalmore Inn, get your act together - we still love you, but the shine diminished a little.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Sunday, 3rd June Blairgowrie to Ashby de la Zouch</span></b><br /><b><br /></b><b>It was always going to be a long slog home and we'd agreed that if it got too tiring we'd find somewhere to stop for another night. In the event, it wasn't too bad, and we were home in time for a late tea.</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Conclusion</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>This, for me, was intended to be a week where I majored on photographing Short-eared Owls. This didn't happen due to the shortage of owls after a disastrous March for the vole population. The situation with the owls worsened as the week went on and we were seeing more owls near the coast than we were up on the Committee Road. I suspect that this might be something to do with the warm dry weather. What is more, photographically I feel that I never matched that magical first evening on North Uist. However I'm still over the moon with the stay.</b><br /><br /><b>After a week of absolutely perfect weather, we both totally fell in love with the Outer Hebrides, to the extent that Lindsay declared that she would really like to go back there next year. The gentle pace of life, the scenery, the food, the wildlife were all wonderful. The problem was that we were already booked to be on Speyside next year, with me giving a couple of talks up there. The upshot of this is that the Speyside visit is now cancelled and we're booked to return to North Uist. We're under no illusions that we stand any chance of getting another week of fine weather - a week of constant wind and rain is far more likely, but we are really looking forward to returning.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>One thing I will try to change next time is the amount of photos that I take. Going through the over five and a half thousand frames that I shot during this visit has kept me from keeping up with what has been going on with the wildlife round my home.</b><br /><br /><b>I take this opportunity to thank Ian and Heather for making our stay at Tigh na Boireach such a wonderful one - Thank you! </b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Thank you for dropping by. I'm not sure what the subject of my next post will be, but I expect it will be somewhat shorter than this one!</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-61666100832111499012018-07-08T01:07:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:38.419-07:00Yardley Chase - on 16th June, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fY-pfvnv5fk/W0EqjVVrWWI/AAAAAAAAcn8/tbMoCMjpU4kWHgJxHF4KM3cYtVWzo8dEQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6795-025-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="800" height="147" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fY-pfvnv5fk/W0EqjVVrWWI/AAAAAAAAcn8/tbMoCMjpU4kWHgJxHF4KM3cYtVWzo8dEQCEwYBhgL/s200/PEG_6795-025-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>On 16th June, I joined an arranged visit to Yardley Chase, which was organised by Mark Tyrrell, County Dragonfly Recorder for Northamptonshire, on behalf of the British Dragonfly Society. The objective of the visit was to observe Downy Emerald dragonflies at Northamptonshire's only site for this species - and also to see what else was around!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The day before the visit, a look at the weather forecast for the area had it not looking good - cloudy and breezy, with a fair chance of rain later. I phoned to check that the visit was still on as 65 miles (105 km) is a long way to go to find that an event has been cancelled. Mark reassured me that the event would take place and the Downy Emeralds would probably perform for us.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Yardley Chase is an interesting area that is privately owned and not open to the public. It was originally a Norman hunting chase. During the Second World War it was felt that the rural wooded aspect of the chase would provide good cover for a military storage facility. Most records state that the many bunkers built were for storage of explosives, each one being surrounded by a water-filled moat. However, during the visit, it was also suggested that important national documents, etc. were held here for safe-keeping. I would have thought that the two would be mutually exclusive! Some of the bunkers are still visible.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmNkVDnE1Gc/W0ERcD8Gz8I/AAAAAAAAck0/Y2CFpKFEsSkE6SBDKsxeru1vo7H3CZ21QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6893-001-Military%2Bremains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmNkVDnE1Gc/W0ERcD8Gz8I/AAAAAAAAck0/Y2CFpKFEsSkE6SBDKsxeru1vo7H3CZ21QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6893-001-Military%2Bremains.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Military remains - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>In addition to the dragonflies, I was also interested to learn that this place was a great place to find Wood Whites, and we were soon seeing these delightful little butterflies.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GCaDmhj90Ks/W0ESZgS0HRI/AAAAAAAAck8/3b86q4yUV5w3qWrLSTARxrE7aMW0Dji_wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6496-004-Wood%2BWhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GCaDmhj90Ks/W0ESZgS0HRI/AAAAAAAAck8/3b86q4yUV5w3qWrLSTARxrE7aMW0Dji_wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6496-004-Wood%2BWhite.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ba22CQJe2g0/W0ESZjBdDVI/AAAAAAAAclA/uK5d8B5lF9Q9frv0pyfpsrN1J2zO098cQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6502-008-Wood%2BWhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ba22CQJe2g0/W0ESZjBdDVI/AAAAAAAAclA/uK5d8B5lF9Q9frv0pyfpsrN1J2zO098cQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6502-008-Wood%2BWhite.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CYa-aFy4DFc/W0ESZvBsgmI/AAAAAAAAclE/2ZpfXzAfRA4gnek5vqWqNPQ8mMKfsVOEwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6618-015-Wood%2BWhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CYa-aFy4DFc/W0ESZvBsgmI/AAAAAAAAclE/2ZpfXzAfRA4gnek5vqWqNPQ8mMKfsVOEwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6618-015-Wood%2BWhite.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wood White <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Leptidea sinapis)</i> - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'm pleased to say that the visit had been restricted to 12 participants - unlike the previous BDS visit I'd attended - and this was a very manageable number. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It is the remains of the moats that make the area a haven for invertebrate wildlife. The first pond we visited immediately yielded our first Downy Emeralds, although these were constantly on the move and extremely difficult to photograph. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Mark had done a bit of searching around at the far side of the pond and found a newly emerged Southern Hawker. We went round to have a look and it was a while before someone noticed that one of its forewings had not developed properly.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--26Aag00qzk/W0EZjYHsluI/AAAAAAAAclY/TzQCHr2j82UZpwD5suwxZTqgRdDL8Tc8gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6597-020-Southern%2BHawker%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--26Aag00qzk/W0EZjYHsluI/AAAAAAAAclY/TzQCHr2j82UZpwD5suwxZTqgRdDL8Tc8gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6597-020-Southern%2BHawker%2B.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Southern Hawker <i>(Aeshna cyanea)</i> (teneral male) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Also, in the same area, I photographed a Banded Demoiselle.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq9ay5e8UQw/W0Eanpap2DI/AAAAAAAAclk/aQArbGlavtQVA0UxaqNRlYTc8OvBrvJwACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6582-008-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq9ay5e8UQw/W0Eanpap2DI/AAAAAAAAclk/aQArbGlavtQVA0UxaqNRlYTc8OvBrvJwACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6582-008-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Banded Demoiselle <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><i>Calopteryx splendens)</i> (male) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We then moved on to other ponds, taking a lunch break part way through the visit. Here are some of the non-dragonfly items that I saw during the visit - I'll leave the dragons to the end.</b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W2WsZTlDmZg/W0Eb37C1quI/AAAAAAAAclw/VAysLMDWNjAocx-JFPXfHYxEdzIfTy0uQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6642-001-beetles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W2WsZTlDmZg/W0Eb37C1quI/AAAAAAAAclw/VAysLMDWNjAocx-JFPXfHYxEdzIfTy0uQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6642-001-beetles.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><i>Donacia semicuprea</i> - Yardley Chase</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MEm-csZIIko/W0Eb4LCLgGI/AAAAAAAAcmI/ND05XNhmiO82XXm9tKkpmkE26WFKAZ5GACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6708-004-Thick-thighed%2BBe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MEm-csZIIko/W0Eb4LCLgGI/AAAAAAAAcmI/ND05XNhmiO82XXm9tKkpmkE26WFKAZ5GACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6708-004-Thick-thighed%2BBe.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Swollen-thighed Beetle<i> (Oedemera nobilis)</i> (male) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nP6Qvonzj-U/W0Eb4M__qsI/AAAAAAAAcmI/HjVGAm-A6Bk_mqcL-uabDYOU2LA-hT-dACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6702-004-caterpillar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nP6Qvonzj-U/W0Eb4M__qsI/AAAAAAAAcmI/HjVGAm-A6Bk_mqcL-uabDYOU2LA-hT-dACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6702-004-caterpillar.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">caterpillar - any ID info would be appreciated - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybuVu_-yH4w/W0Eb5CRk-8I/AAAAAAAAcmE/7MqYJYzIVnwJy2wOnZ9rtYUiBZiN_xogwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6924-004-Froglet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybuVu_-yH4w/W0Eb5CRk-8I/AAAAAAAAcmE/7MqYJYzIVnwJy2wOnZ9rtYUiBZiN_xogwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6924-004-Froglet.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Frog </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Rana temporaria)</i> (froglet) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Later in the day these froglets were everywhere and, no doubt, some will have fallen victim to our footfall in the long grass.</b><br /><br /><b>It was commented on during our visit that there was a dearth of birds in the area. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>To the best of my knowledge, just three Southern Hawkers were seen that day - all teneral and all in some sort of trouble. The first, I have already shown. The second I found with its two forewings bonded together by haemorrhaged fluids. One of our number was able to separate the two wings and it managed to fly. The third I won't show here as it was a very sad case - a female that seemed to have run out of body fluids. Its body wasn't fully expanded and its eyes were clouded over and looked as if they had been deflated. The first two might have made it, but not the third. It was suggested that these were all emerging in long pond-side vegetation that was too dense and were not able to get to an unobstructed position to stretch out as they developed. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CGM_SWYEayA/W0Ehav0Uk0I/AAAAAAAAcmQ/IJXXP4pO1XE5d-DdL2YvhJ3xrtI_TnOtQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6842-040-Southern%2BHawker%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CGM_SWYEayA/W0Ehav0Uk0I/AAAAAAAAcmQ/IJXXP4pO1XE5d-DdL2YvhJ3xrtI_TnOtQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6842-040-Southern%2BHawker%2B.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Southern Hawker <i>(Aeshna cyanea)</i> (teneral male) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>On a happier note, all other species seemed to be doing fine! Here are some:-</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RryRpkrqAQo/W0EjngNipqI/AAAAAAAAcmg/9rjCH02bqLgMb3cbU0CCnc9LjDUdfxh8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6692-004-Large%2BRed%2BDamsel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RryRpkrqAQo/W0EjngNipqI/AAAAAAAAcmg/9rjCH02bqLgMb3cbU0CCnc9LjDUdfxh8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6692-004-Large%2BRed%2BDamsel.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Large Red Damselfly <span class="st"><i>(Pyrrhosoma nymphula)</i> (male) - Yardley Chase</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZT2GlQWyNoI/W0Ejnm2CJGI/AAAAAAAAcmk/yOIUBmusrCcV5cmtsQs9kYcvPdEUztklwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6920-012-Large%2BRed%2BDamsel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZT2GlQWyNoI/W0Ejnm2CJGI/AAAAAAAAcmk/yOIUBmusrCcV5cmtsQs9kYcvPdEUztklwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6920-012-Large%2BRed%2BDamsel.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Large Red Damselfly <span class="st"><i>(Pyrrhosoma nymphula)</i> (female) - Yardley Chase</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pzMOX-KFoTY/W0EkjjHLtdI/AAAAAAAAcms/Y3Q_n96lyRgfK4oQKe8mNQW-Gsajte9WACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6746-014-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pzMOX-KFoTY/W0EkjjHLtdI/AAAAAAAAcms/Y3Q_n96lyRgfK4oQKe8mNQW-Gsajte9WACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6746-014-Banded%2BDemoisell.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Banded Demoiselle <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><i>Calopteryx splendens)</i> (male) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOPBiZfd9Yo/W0EmvHiWldI/AAAAAAAAcm8/M4Ng6kBMrswqH7baPmGoidPdIP_nIHErgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6941-005-Emerald%2BDamselfj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOPBiZfd9Yo/W0EmvHiWldI/AAAAAAAAcm8/M4Ng6kBMrswqH7baPmGoidPdIP_nIHErgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6941-005-Emerald%2BDamselfj.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vfs9M_ATCpQ/W0EmvNZmhkI/AAAAAAAAcm4/ONYPlE6zksgFDWgqs7bLoJv_uJtfYFjmACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6962-010-Emerald%2BDamselfj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vfs9M_ATCpQ/W0EmvNZmhkI/AAAAAAAAcm4/ONYPlE6zksgFDWgqs7bLoJv_uJtfYFjmACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6962-010-Emerald%2BDamselfj.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UPdLFXYtz3k/W0Emvc3O_pI/AAAAAAAAcnA/urJ5sV9qb08QUTTUSTahi8Sr1UX2N0XWQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6952-009-Emerald%2BDamselfj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UPdLFXYtz3k/W0Emvc3O_pI/AAAAAAAAcnA/urJ5sV9qb08QUTTUSTahi8Sr1UX2N0XWQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6952-009-Emerald%2BDamselfj.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Emerald Damselfly <i>(Lestes sponsa)</i> (immature males) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oMi4mZwbLI/W0EodQ0z4WI/AAAAAAAAcnU/ouK_vTFwRCcK9e22yCyPR6yU-EI3YqcmgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6681-012-Emperor%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oMi4mZwbLI/W0EodQ0z4WI/AAAAAAAAcnU/ouK_vTFwRCcK9e22yCyPR6yU-EI3YqcmgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6681-012-Emperor%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Emperor <i>(Anax imperator)</i> (female - ovipositing) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k0m2e6dZ71M/W0Eodq6ZplI/AAAAAAAAcnc/GiNPwStdSAYJRiegIlTfu2Zprw3hQvc8ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6722-010-Emperor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k0m2e6dZ71M/W0Eodq6ZplI/AAAAAAAAcnc/GiNPwStdSAYJRiegIlTfu2Zprw3hQvc8ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6722-010-Emperor.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Emperor <i>(Anax imperator)</i> (exuvia) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>OK, so I've left the Downy Emeralds to last. Earlier this year I'd seen and photographed my first ever Downy Emeralds in Surrey. On that occasion I'd only managed to get some (fairly reasonable) flight shots - no static shots. Here at Yardley Chase it looked as if I was going to fare even worse. The light was not good for much of the time and my attempts at flight shots didn't come to much at all - here are some 'for the record'.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9rqBYZg6ic/W0Eqkr81zwI/AAAAAAAAcn4/Rfbc8GqN-20F-uVBG5TaEGPXTrn8xh_GQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6979-048-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9rqBYZg6ic/W0Eqkr81zwI/AAAAAAAAcn4/Rfbc8GqN-20F-uVBG5TaEGPXTrn8xh_GQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6979-048-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol9MyOTkWm0/W0EqjUvvkTI/AAAAAAAAcno/_Yba5dY_PCUDs9IkXuth6Bjw-QSKJf3xQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6653-001-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol9MyOTkWm0/W0EqjUvvkTI/AAAAAAAAcno/_Yba5dY_PCUDs9IkXuth6Bjw-QSKJf3xQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6653-001-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai_Gd1Cl0tE/W0EqjqbkK7I/AAAAAAAAcnw/RJEIMwa1LfUP5j91Jidid2Na5NjQnzZswCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6658-006-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai_Gd1Cl0tE/W0EqjqbkK7I/AAAAAAAAcnw/RJEIMwa1LfUP5j91Jidid2Na5NjQnzZswCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6658-006-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Downy Emerald <i>(Cordulia aenea)</i> (male) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Suddenly I noticed that people were gathering at a spot on the other side of the pond - a perched Downy Emerald had been spotted. It was still there when I got round to the other side, but it was hard to get an unobstructed photo - at least I was able to witness those rainbow colours on the thorax that I'd heard about.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fY-pfvnv5fk/W0EqjVVrWWI/AAAAAAAAcn8/tbMoCMjpU4kWHgJxHF4KM3cYtVWzo8dEQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6795-025-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fY-pfvnv5fk/W0EqjVVrWWI/AAAAAAAAcn8/tbMoCMjpU4kWHgJxHF4KM3cYtVWzo8dEQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6795-025-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Downy Emerald <i>(Cordulia aenea)</i> (male) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>After everybody had had their fill of this specimen and it was still there, I cleared it with the rest of the group that I could go into the water for a better shot (I was the only one wearing wellies!). It did give me a slightly better shot, but I didn't want to hang around and disturb it.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c8xZ6B7PxCo/W0EqkMaoeFI/AAAAAAAAcoE/dUG_z57B3lIF90FL4_6iLqcc5QSuMRigwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6888-038-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c8xZ6B7PxCo/W0EqkMaoeFI/AAAAAAAAcoE/dUG_z57B3lIF90FL4_6iLqcc5QSuMRigwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6888-038-Downy%2BEmerald.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Downy Emerald <i>(Cordulia aenea)</i> (male) - Yardley Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'd had an extremely enjoyable and informative day at Yardley Chase, and I take this opportunity to thank Mark Tyrrell for organising the visit and his help and guidance, and the rest of the people there for making it such an enjoyable time. Thank you, all!!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Hopefully, my next post will feature Pt.2 of my visit to the Outer Hebrides - I haven't even started on it yet (life's a bit hectic at the moment)!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thank you for dropping by.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-20059470418731348472018-06-26T10:21:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:38.764-07:00The Outer Hebrides - Pt.1 - 24th to 28th May, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ePATXa3Qzak/Wy9qVA3CLWI/AAAAAAAAcao/84dmyiDg87QZp7NPBixI90RII50FD43cwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0463-022-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="800" height="194" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ePATXa3Qzak/Wy9qVA3CLWI/AAAAAAAAcao/84dmyiDg87QZp7NPBixI90RII50FD43cwCEwYBhgL/s200/PEG_0463-022-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>For a couple of years now, I'd had a longing to visit the island of North Uist, in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. There was just one reason for this desire, and that was that it is considered probably the best place in UK to see Short-eared Owls in the early summer months. I broached the subject with my ever-understanding wife, Lindsay, who did a bit of research and agreed to a stay on North Uist, provided we took a day out to see the famous standing stones at Calanais, on the nearby island of Lewis. And thus it was decided. We booked ourselves into a traditional black house for a week of self catering, and arranged the ferry crossings and the stops en-route to our destination. Here's how the visit unfolded:-</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Thursday, 24th May to Northumberland, and a visit to Holy Island</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We left home around 10h00 stopping for lunch at the wonderful Deli Café in Boston Spa, and then had a short visit to a couple of charity shops in the hope of finding a book or two to read on the inevitable wet days we were going to get in the Outer Hebrides. I was delighted to find one by the Hebridean author, Peter May.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The journey to our overnight stop at Purdy Lodge, Belford, was uneventful and we were soon checked in. I was pleased that, although this establishment is right next to the busy A1 road, our ground floor room had a window onto open fields at the back. We did not stop in our room for long however, as the causeway to Holy Island was open and we fancied a visit.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>As we got to the mid-point of the causeway, Lindsay exclaimed "there's something big in the water!". I manage to find somewhere to stop a couple of hundred metres further on, and saw though my binoculars that a seal was just hauling out of the water. I took a log range shot, before walking back down the road.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s6iqpwtTbgs/WywCmi08nvI/AAAAAAAAcXE/-CrCXW4LB1wO99NSmmBthe6zaTTE-dO8QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9976-052-Grey%2BSeal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s6iqpwtTbgs/WywCmi08nvI/AAAAAAAAcXE/-CrCXW4LB1wO99NSmmBthe6zaTTE-dO8QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9976-052-Grey%2BSeal.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Grey Seal <i>(<span class="w8qArf"></span></i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Halichoerus grypus)</i> - by Holy Island Causeway</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'd not got far before it slipped back into the water again, but I carried on anyway to see if I could see where it had gone. I was somewhat surprised when it surfaced just in front of me! It soon became apparent that it was as interested in me as I was in it, and it played around in front of me for five minutes, until I decided that it was time I was getting back to the car, and Lindsay.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vOamqnogq50/WywCpEVdALI/AAAAAAAAcXQ/2pj_xM7xF9AdlALzl_qJ8if0Hdn2Yx8ggCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0012-011-Grey%2BSeal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vOamqnogq50/WywCpEVdALI/AAAAAAAAcXQ/2pj_xM7xF9AdlALzl_qJ8if0Hdn2Yx8ggCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0012-011-Grey%2BSeal.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pduydABCaYw/WywCpOdgenI/AAAAAAAAcXU/RzUQBh8NmRQgwfENnJgHZ2quvav6lRgoACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0024-022-Grey%2BSeal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pduydABCaYw/WywCpOdgenI/AAAAAAAAcXU/RzUQBh8NmRQgwfENnJgHZ2quvav6lRgoACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0024-022-Grey%2BSeal.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Grey Seal <i>(<span class="w8qArf"></span></i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Halichoerus grypus)</i> - by Holy Island Causeway</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Having parked in the car park at the edge of the village we had a wander round the village, keeping our eyes open for somewhere to have a light evening meal. We ended up having a superb crab sandwich (local crab) at the Manor House Hotel.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We then took ourselves off to the shoreline where Lindsay looked for sea-glass and pottery shards while I looked for birds, but the tide was right out, and the birds very distant, with Eider and Curlew in small numbers - I didn't make a note of other species, and didn't take any worthwhile photos.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It was getting a bit dull and grey, and a mist was starting to come in so we set off back to Purdy Lodge, stopping on the causeway for another session with the seal, which came to greet me like an old friend - I suspect that someone had been feeding it!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>At Purdy Lodge, I was pleased to see a pair of Grey Partridge crossing the field behind our room. The window was too dirty to take a shot through, and didn't open wide, so I went outside to look for them, finding them in the next field. The light was, by then, quite grim and the mist arriving inland, so I only managed a record shot of a species I'd not seen for a couple of years.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Friday, 25th May to Fort William via Blairgowrie </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We woke to thick mist and so, after a very good breakfast at Purdy Lodge set off slowly northward. It was Lindsay's first time over the new Forth road bridge, and she was impressed! The Dalmore Inn, just south of Blairgowrie is, without a doubt, the favourite lunchtime stop for both Lindsay and I so, as it only added about 20 miles (30 km) to our journey, that is where we stopped for an excellent light lunch. The mist had prevailed all the way up to Blairgowrie, but we were delighted to find that it had cleared and we had a sunny afternoon for our onward journey to Fort William. The journey was pleasantly scenic, without being spectacular, and there was little traffic until we reached the outskirts of Fort William.With the aid of our satnav we found our B&B (Gruisachan House) without putting a foot wrong and were greeted at the door by the landlady, who showed us around and then to our room. The view from the lounge and dining room was splendid!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wGy_bPPCilA/Wy0fkOyfmtI/AAAAAAAAcXc/h6XKmW2wcMEPprjB19Jnus86wurH6h2CgCLcBGAs/s1600/20180525_163432%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wGy_bPPCilA/Wy0fkOyfmtI/AAAAAAAAcXc/h6XKmW2wcMEPprjB19Jnus86wurH6h2CgCLcBGAs/s1600/20180525_163432%25280%2529.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">View from Gruisachan House, Fort William</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The landlady had warned us that the eating establishments in town would be extremely busy as it was a Friday night, and advised us to go early to eat. We also needed to get fuel for the car for an earlyish start the next day, so soon headed off into town. Having had a quick look round, and bearing in mind that we had eaten well at lunch time, we settled on a light meal in the café at Morrison's supermarket, and then fuelled up at their petrol station afterwards. </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>We then had a quick drive round the town before returning to our B&B. On our initial arrival I'd not noticed the sign in the doorway. </b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6uS745iwCY/Wy0odqlHl6I/AAAAAAAAcXo/J0u1bBV4wjk0a-E36LnfDvKxsfeyPf45wCLcBGAs/s1600/20180525_191506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6uS745iwCY/Wy0odqlHl6I/AAAAAAAAcXo/J0u1bBV4wjk0a-E36LnfDvKxsfeyPf45wCLcBGAs/s1600/20180525_191506.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Welcoming sign at Gruisachan House</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>By the spelling, I suspect that the sign-maker had been indulging in one of those prohibited items! Needless to say, we behaved ourselves that evening, and retired to bed early after sampling a fine malt whisky in the bar.</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Saturday, 26th May Fort William to North Uist - a disaster narrowly recovered from - First Impressions of North Uist </b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>As we had to be at the ferry port at Uig, on the north-west edge of the Isle of Sky, by 13h45 at the very latest, we had arranged an early breakfast with the B&B - and a truly excellent breakfast it was too! With satnav set for Uig we set off, happy in the knowledge that we'd allowed plenty of time to get to the ferry port, and the last ferry of the day. </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>We enjoyed a highly scenic journey with only one small mishap en-route when I scrambled down a rocky slope beside the road for a bit of privacy (I'll leave you to guess why), slipped, and tore a large hole in my sock and ankle on a jagged rock. Fortunately the damage was relatively superficial, but it smarted for a few weeks afterwards, and evren now still reminds me from time to time!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79Lsud46ufA/Wy0-bLrzO6I/AAAAAAAAcX0/sYChU7K0huo8EYsfHLaR0B2pnOUoJSJlwCLcBGAs/s1600/20180526_092304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79Lsud46ufA/Wy0-bLrzO6I/AAAAAAAAcX0/sYChU7K0huo8EYsfHLaR0B2pnOUoJSJlwCLcBGAs/s1600/20180526_092304.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>makeshift 'loo with a view' - beside the A830</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We then arrived at the coast, and my first reaction was 'where's the bridge?'. Since 1995 there has been a bridge which connects the mainland of Scotland to the Isle of Sky. Knowing that my satnav was programmed to avoid toll roads and ferries, I'd blindly followed its directions - and ended up in Mallaig - the bridge, however, links Kyle of Lochalsh with Kyleakin!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>My first reaction was to head back the way we came, and then take the road to Kyle of Lochalsh, but after we'd gone a few miles I realised that there was a good chance that we'd never make it as, although the two locations are only 20 miles (32 km) apart 'as the crow flies', it is 116 miles (187 km) and 2 hours 35 minutes by road.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>We raced back to Mallaig and Lindsay threw herself into the CalMac office to try and get us on a ferry from Mallaig to Armadale (Sky). She was told that the 11h00 ferry, which would be boarding soon, was fully booked but we were sold a standby ticket in case of 'no-shows' or compact loading. They also phoned ahead to Uig to let them know that we were on our way, so that the minimum check-in time was waived for us. It was a tense wait, but we weren't the last in the standby queue, and eventually we were called to drive on board. Phwew!!</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It was a pleasant crossing, and Lindsay saw a Porpoise. Here's a shot, taken as we were leaving Mallaig:-</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NJE2sgjUfcA/Wy1DWjW1NUI/AAAAAAAAcYA/HZbfg_QLng4VfwkRrWNbWriP_TdPrqTXQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0148-002-leaving%2BMallaig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NJE2sgjUfcA/Wy1DWjW1NUI/AAAAAAAAcYA/HZbfg_QLng4VfwkRrWNbWriP_TdPrqTXQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0148-002-leaving%2BMallaig.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Leaving Mallaig! - from the CalMac ferry to Armadale</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We'd been told it was a 2 hour run by road from Armadale to Uig and we'd landed at 11h35, so thought we had no time to waste if we were to be there by 13h45. In the event, we did it much quicker, and even had time to visit the quayside bar in Uig for a much-needed drink before boarding time.</b><br /><br /><b>We'd not had lunch in Uig as originally intended before my faux pas, so had a late lunch/early tea on the ferry as soon as we boarded. We then spent time on deck in brilliant sunshine, looking for birds and marine life. </b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sFJjIMrmZ28/Wy6Bb_-ifbI/AAAAAAAAcYY/DslDHoG2M-oSBa_0YieFOAo_zt9_LGQOQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0178-002-Seal%2B%252B%2BPuffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sFJjIMrmZ28/Wy6Bb_-ifbI/AAAAAAAAcYY/DslDHoG2M-oSBa_0YieFOAo_zt9_LGQOQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0178-002-Seal%2B%252B%2BPuffin.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Seal and Puffin <i>(</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Fratercula arctica)</i> - from ferry Uig to Lochmaddy</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsSrcLMd5XM/Wy6CNATkeKI/AAAAAAAAcYg/EmtUkCoSR4ER5iIEc2Snbdh0hvOx9D-dgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0202-006-Razorbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsSrcLMd5XM/Wy6CNATkeKI/AAAAAAAAcYg/EmtUkCoSR4ER5iIEc2Snbdh0hvOx9D-dgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0202-006-Razorbill.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Razorbill <i>(</i></span></span></b><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><i>Alca torda)</i> </span>- from ferry Uig to Lochmaddy</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Whilst on the ferry, I was given a bit of sad news by a tour guide from one of the major nature tour companies, and that was that the March 'Beast from the East' (an extended period of extremely cold and windy weather) had had a disastrous effect on the vole population and, as a result, also the Short-eared Owl population. He said I should get some sightings, but they were very thin on the ground.</b><br /><br /><b>The ferry crossing was of just one and three quarter hours duration and the time passed quickly. We were first off the boat, and soon on our way to our accommodation, just over 6 miles (10 km) away. </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>We arrived, to be greeted by owner, Ian, and his daughter, Heather, who were working in the vegetable garden. Our immediate impression of the property - its appearance, its location and its internal layout - was 'wonderful'! </b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_lwT9SJz64/Wy6IDGuoNvI/AAAAAAAAcYs/Ol25bLLoNNsADJC1tuJyHScqpdm6A3jowCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4952-003-Tigh%2Bna%2BBoireach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_lwT9SJz64/Wy6IDGuoNvI/AAAAAAAAcYs/Ol25bLLoNNsADJC1tuJyHScqpdm6A3jowCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4952-003-Tigh%2Bna%2BBoireach.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Tigh na Boireach - Clachan Sands, North Uist</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We'd brought nothing in the way of basic provisions with us, knowing that the Co-op supermarket, just over 6 miles (10 km) away in Solas, would be open until late on this day, but closed the next day (Sunday) and so, after making ourselves at home, we set off there.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Bird-wise this gave us a great start to out holiday as, on the return journey, we found Twite (a bird I have rarely seen) and had great views of a Cuckoo (my first of the year).</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ts5MaB9oWJo/Wy6OC8t_WaI/AAAAAAAAcY4/Jhsci8t5iRUBQJr5GHcB37kGNj-muib2QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0235-003-Twite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ts5MaB9oWJo/Wy6OC8t_WaI/AAAAAAAAcY4/Jhsci8t5iRUBQJr5GHcB37kGNj-muib2QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0235-003-Twite.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Twite <i>(</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Carduelis flavirostris)</i> - near Solas, North Uist</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BsiM0Pec6yg/Wy6ODWQt4FI/AAAAAAAAcZI/S3c5VExpmRsfNK-VVw6IwzGOsGZVX9IOwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0252-004-Cuckoo%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BsiM0Pec6yg/Wy6ODWQt4FI/AAAAAAAAcZI/S3c5VExpmRsfNK-VVw6IwzGOsGZVX9IOwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0252-004-Cuckoo%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_siYnG6WH4Y/Wy6ODb6FwBI/AAAAAAAAcZM/MsKZSLbVhZUqcR6dtz8TBI9SyBY5HrK-ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0266-015-Cuckoo%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_siYnG6WH4Y/Wy6ODb6FwBI/AAAAAAAAcZM/MsKZSLbVhZUqcR6dtz8TBI9SyBY5HrK-ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0266-015-Cuckoo%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cuckoo <i>(Cuculus canorus)</i> (female) - near Solas, North Uist</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Having put away all the groceries, it was time to head out for the evening. As Lindsay is at her happiest when wandering along a deserted beach, we went to see what the local beach had to offer. The answer was - lots of white sand with not a soul in sight, although there was evidence that a campervan had been based here at some time for a considerable period.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--EJly9LB1F4/Wy6Z4MJejcI/AAAAAAAAcZU/TSSDyoBLSyI_D3RWgm4vwA2t4Q0zqipCACLcBGAs/s1600/20180526_200624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--EJly9LB1F4/Wy6Z4MJejcI/AAAAAAAAcZU/TSSDyoBLSyI_D3RWgm4vwA2t4Q0zqipCACLcBGAs/s1600/20180526_200624.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hornais Beach - North Uist</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Lindsay didn't want to walk on the beach at this time so we set off for the famed Committee Road. It seemed that the birds were coming out for the evening as we had a few close sightings before we passed the Co-op in Solas again.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nw1s1xSLs1A/Wy6syCkdIrI/AAAAAAAAcZg/UjTb161KZBMPCo7pK4rfyKvV8lKRR4-_gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0308-020-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nw1s1xSLs1A/Wy6syCkdIrI/AAAAAAAAcZg/UjTb161KZBMPCo7pK4rfyKvV8lKRR4-_gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0308-020-Redshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa totanus)</i> - near Solas, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rLT6Ha8Axek/Wy6s1PcCSsI/AAAAAAAAcZk/mYwH7RZJCDk9nAPvpHrPajVZoO2i3P3xACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0332-001-Oystercatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rLT6Ha8Axek/Wy6s1PcCSsI/AAAAAAAAcZk/mYwH7RZJCDk9nAPvpHrPajVZoO2i3P3xACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0332-001-Oystercatcher.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Oystercatcher <i>(</i></span></b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Haematopus ostralegus)</b></i> - near Solas, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d6wb5RXg1WU/Wy6s1ArSTAI/AAAAAAAAcZw/rdoFnxGJoZwkuDrw5qTLK6y-oUJCaiwcwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0349-009-Lapwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d6wb5RXg1WU/Wy6s1ArSTAI/AAAAAAAAcZw/rdoFnxGJoZwkuDrw5qTLK6y-oUJCaiwcwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0349-009-Lapwing.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Lapwing </span></b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st"><i>(Vanellus vanellus)</i> </span>- near Solas, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Passing through Middlequarter, we soon arrived at the Committee Road and started a gentle cruise along its length. We were finding photographable birds almost immediately. During the week I noticed that many of the Buzzards had rather pale heads - like this one:-</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_OqZJ1AAR0/Wy9qT-gWPvI/AAAAAAAAcZ8/lbZAR5D-rlYIcx61YND5AS7IQ8ALMQQZgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0383-013-Buzzard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_OqZJ1AAR0/Wy9qT-gWPvI/AAAAAAAAcZ8/lbZAR5D-rlYIcx61YND5AS7IQ8ALMQQZgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0383-013-Buzzard.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Buzzard </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Buteo buteo)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Much as I tried, I couldn't persuade this Snipe to raise its head!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqPXBebbAq8/Wy9qTxCUTII/AAAAAAAAcao/kOCKKVWB-gIfQRgKFTnta81aNKapfUUoACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0398-013-Snipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqPXBebbAq8/Wy9qTxCUTII/AAAAAAAAcao/kOCKKVWB-gIfQRgKFTnta81aNKapfUUoACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0398-013-Snipe.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Snipe </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Gallinago gallinago)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>At this stage of the game, I did not realise just how many Redshank we would see during our stay!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g08byE95Bww/Wy9qUB7Fi6I/AAAAAAAAcak/iSMYjDc73D0A1GTEjkKrzABvbLM1HHAiwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0408-005-Redshankl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g08byE95Bww/Wy9qUB7Fi6I/AAAAAAAAcak/iSMYjDc73D0A1GTEjkKrzABvbLM1HHAiwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0408-005-Redshankl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa totanus)</i> - </span></b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Lindsay was the first to spot a Short-eared Owl, after we'd been on this road for just a few minutes. It was quite a way away, but close enough for some reasonable shots in a nice setting.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__kiyksFusQ/Wy9qUsl9AiI/AAAAAAAAca0/L1p8Jwqac1wmiZTYMLLYdCm7iEtOKcFTwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0414-001-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__kiyksFusQ/Wy9qUsl9AiI/AAAAAAAAca0/L1p8Jwqac1wmiZTYMLLYdCm7iEtOKcFTwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0414-001-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m9vfAAIqBvs/Wy9qU0iRm-I/AAAAAAAAcao/RjJXz3DwtColvTDhLww2nxDTubj5LWR9ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0418-005-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m9vfAAIqBvs/Wy9qU0iRm-I/AAAAAAAAcao/RjJXz3DwtColvTDhLww2nxDTubj5LWR9ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0418-005-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Short-eared Owl <i>(Asio flammeus)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The Committee Road is just over 4 miles (6.5 km) long, and for the last three quarters of that we saw nothing of great interest, so turned round at the southern end and headed back. We'd not gone far before I found a Short-eared Owl on a roadside fence post, and it was most confiding.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8xIJISfDv7k/Wy9qVlb_eFI/AAAAAAAAcaw/HKxa_EjYu8UZ_SUwfTx9Zkj6tuMh60eXwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0468-027-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8xIJISfDv7k/Wy9qVlb_eFI/AAAAAAAAcaw/HKxa_EjYu8UZ_SUwfTx9Zkj6tuMh60eXwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0468-027-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHcxXvmLExA/Wy9qVBM487I/AAAAAAAAca0/Uk8wmY29tZAQSRRpGhi3cdqaXKCJ1BpRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0462-021-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHcxXvmLExA/Wy9qVBM487I/AAAAAAAAca0/Uk8wmY29tZAQSRRpGhi3cdqaXKCJ1BpRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0462-021-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Short-eared Owl <i>(Asio flammeus)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The owl even stayed put when I inched the car a bit further up the road. Thought for the day - do people in metric countries 'inch' their car' or 'centimetre' it?</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>A bit further on we had our first, but very distant, sighting of Hen Harrier.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RTT6tejpTCI/Wy9qV4AnTYI/AAAAAAAAcaw/LNKdArNOWuQs7I-Ig-jFOhLQcs9MuqAEgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0486-002-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RTT6tejpTCI/Wy9qV4AnTYI/AAAAAAAAcaw/LNKdArNOWuQs7I-Ig-jFOhLQcs9MuqAEgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0486-002-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t7Jl_HUFhq4/Wy9qWI13fRI/AAAAAAAAca0/FSc33DJm8HMUhwOo3Wvc5qdHElCDOU6hQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0494-004-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t7Jl_HUFhq4/Wy9qWI13fRI/AAAAAAAAca0/FSc33DJm8HMUhwOo3Wvc5qdHElCDOU6hQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0494-004-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hen Harrier </span></b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="st">(Circus cyaneus)</span></i> (female) - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>As we neared the northern end of the road, three Red Deer crossed in front of us and fled up the hillside. Here are two of them.</b><br /><b></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3fSqGARtNhA/Wy-elwarYXI/AAAAAAAAcbA/enXjFpnBglgrr96VPMqODbCK3z0H8MBPACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0504-007-Red%2BDeer%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3fSqGARtNhA/Wy-elwarYXI/AAAAAAAAcbA/enXjFpnBglgrr96VPMqODbCK3z0H8MBPACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0504-007-Red%2BDeer%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red Deer </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Cervus elaphus)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>After passing through Solas once more, we were treated to the first Wheatear of the holiday. It was getting quite late by now, and this next shot was taken at 21h49, when the light was quite low. I can't make my mind up, from this image, as to what sex this bird was but suspect immature male.</b><br /><b></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1Q4NWtPuUg/Wy-gpyNl3oI/AAAAAAAAcbI/stiPP4CaciML16uQHSR3hq9WTA40qH_OwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0516-008-Wheatear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1Q4NWtPuUg/Wy-gpyNl3oI/AAAAAAAAcbI/stiPP4CaciML16uQHSR3hq9WTA40qH_OwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0516-008-Wheatear.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wheatear <span class="st"><i>(Oenanthe oenanthe)</i> - near Solas, North Uist</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We were soon to bed on our return after an exciting, and at one time stressful, day. Little did we know that, particularly as far as the Short-eared Owls were concerned, we'd already had the best of the holiday!</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Sunday, 27th May exploring North Uist - and six ticks!</b></span><br /><br /><b>Lindsay wanted to wash her hair, so I set off early the next morning before breakfast to have another shot at the Committee Road. From my previous paragraph, you'll not be surprised to learn that this visit wasn't nearly as profitable. I did photograph the inevitable Redshank. A Short-eared Owl was seen - in flight, carrying prey in its mouth, and distant, and I did manage a shot of a Snipe with its head up!</b><br /><b></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eeUZhNhI-GM/Wy-3BnnnFII/AAAAAAAAcbc/5aqLA99yrG83Hw2hMpmu9rl2_C6ZMnpcQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0529-001-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eeUZhNhI-GM/Wy-3BnnnFII/AAAAAAAAcbc/5aqLA99yrG83Hw2hMpmu9rl2_C6ZMnpcQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0529-001-Redshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa totanus)</i> - </span></b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-amCoWwTh2H4/Wy-3BWngL9I/AAAAAAAAcbU/F48SNvq7ircQyWqgw1ab1nh1x6yUcIElQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0540-002-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-amCoWwTh2H4/Wy-3BWngL9I/AAAAAAAAcbU/F48SNvq7ircQyWqgw1ab1nh1x6yUcIElQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0540-002-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Short-eared Owl <i>(Asio flammeus)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9GlnW3gefio/Wy-3BnfU2_I/AAAAAAAAcbk/MGcHziDV-007H1RCBthpY4GVto-MOP7KQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0548-002-Snipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9GlnW3gefio/Wy-3BnfU2_I/AAAAAAAAcbk/MGcHziDV-007H1RCBthpY4GVto-MOP7KQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0548-002-Snipe.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Snipe </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Gallinago gallinago)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Having had breakfast back at base, Lindsay and I set off to explore, taking the road through Solas (again!) but keeping to the road that skirts round the north and west of the island. Lindsay wanted to see beaches, so we peeled off the main road (for want of a better term - single track with passing places!) and headed to the beach near Malacleit. As we approached there was another Redshank opportunity. I only show these next two images because I didn't know that Redshanks had a saw-toothed upper mandible.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfIT22GGzdE/Wy_Z7ybEHlI/AAAAAAAAcb8/vaY09jsy-u0X5VpQQa_FGXF1261NdX8RgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0572-007-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sfIT22GGzdE/Wy_Z7ybEHlI/AAAAAAAAcb8/vaY09jsy-u0X5VpQQa_FGXF1261NdX8RgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0572-007-Redshank.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WqGDnzSex6E/Wy_Z8cmwTaI/AAAAAAAAccE/NZ3quE9aAcMTKr2OmfQF0pCUvM9hwBKXACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0588-021-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WqGDnzSex6E/Wy_Z8cmwTaI/AAAAAAAAccE/NZ3quE9aAcMTKr2OmfQF0pCUvM9hwBKXACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0588-021-Redshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa totanus)</i> - </span></b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">near Malacleit, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>To our dismay we found the beach was not deserted, but a couple with a dog were walking on the sands towards us - and there was a distant Little Tern on the sands. I managed to grab a couple of record shots before the approaching dog sent it flying.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--co0LSBXxcM/Wy_Z8cQR5iI/AAAAAAAAccA/VVPmWMx7Z8UcrFELuSD5cUdWUdkcnkB9wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0594-003-Little%2BTern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--co0LSBXxcM/Wy_Z8cQR5iI/AAAAAAAAccA/VVPmWMx7Z8UcrFELuSD5cUdWUdkcnkB9wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0594-003-Little%2BTern.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Tern </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Sterna albifrons)</i> - beach near Malacleit, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We had a walk around and, having returned to the car, were treated to the delightful sight of cattle wandering down onto the beach.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t0z2mLJsO-Q/Wy_Z8tqyGjI/AAAAAAAAccI/6VJ_hKwtHx4s-VTGlTY-WLXzMauIRSLNACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0611-002-Cattle%2Bon%2Bbeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t0z2mLJsO-Q/Wy_Z8tqyGjI/AAAAAAAAccI/6VJ_hKwtHx4s-VTGlTY-WLXzMauIRSLNACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0611-002-Cattle%2Bon%2Bbeach.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">the beach near Malacleit, North Uist</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>After this, we rejoined the A865, stopping briefly to attempt to photograph a distant Raven. We saw several Ravens during the week, but this was the nearest I got to photographing one.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-szAh7epynyw/Wy_dofcxFjI/AAAAAAAAccU/foZ9C72NhG8gn7t-4Xdq_O2OPo5Sg0wrwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0625-006-Raven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-szAh7epynyw/Wy_dofcxFjI/AAAAAAAAccU/foZ9C72NhG8gn7t-4Xdq_O2OPo5Sg0wrwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0625-006-Raven.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Raven <i>(Covus corax)</i> - from A865, North Uist</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We had another stop to view the much-photographed folly at Loch Scolpaig. I believe that the island in the background is Haskeir and I suspect that St. Kilda is just visible through the mist on the left.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-As0OYfupzkY/Wy_ezVIRK_I/AAAAAAAAccc/vs-CX7tQ7WcVlqtRHLZ0Ty1CtGHq44GtwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0634-009-Scolpaig%2BTower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-As0OYfupzkY/Wy_ezVIRK_I/AAAAAAAAccc/vs-CX7tQ7WcVlqtRHLZ0Ty1CtGHq44GtwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0634-009-Scolpaig%2BTower.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Folly on Loch Scolpaig, North Uist</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We had intended to next visit the RSPB reserve at Balranald but, before we got there, we found a sign to the St. Kilda Viewpoint, and this had to be investigated. It was a pleasant diversion and, at one point, we stopped to view a lochan where we saw distant Snipe and Ringed Plover but the best find photography-wise was an obliging Linnet on a fence.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cc7Bxb4C6kI/Wy_gvr30fYI/AAAAAAAAcco/x1QV24D7g4w8_hse-lSqDQoQl5MyPbL7gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0636-002-Linnet%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cc7Bxb4C6kI/Wy_gvr30fYI/AAAAAAAAcco/x1QV24D7g4w8_hse-lSqDQoQl5MyPbL7gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0636-002-Linnet%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Linnet <i>( </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Carduelis cannabina)</i> (male) - road to St. Kilda Viewpoint, North Uist</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Having had a brief stop at the RSPB's Balranald Visitor Centre, we continued along the long track to the beach. En-route we glimpsed our first and only Corn Buntings of our stay.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NTDBDVvHiDs/Wy_sqnexSTI/AAAAAAAAcc0/0Hr-m6M9V08P0bVEZSU_1l52H0WVK4YPACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0699-006-Corn%2BBunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NTDBDVvHiDs/Wy_sqnexSTI/AAAAAAAAcc0/0Hr-m6M9V08P0bVEZSU_1l52H0WVK4YPACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0699-006-Corn%2BBunting.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-185yi0d-Zv0/Wy_sqn07PvI/AAAAAAAAcc4/L7mf9vYBkt48agb__RtjW1Zx1PZY1vplgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0706-010-Corn%2BBunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-185yi0d-Zv0/Wy_sqn07PvI/AAAAAAAAcc4/L7mf9vYBkt48agb__RtjW1Zx1PZY1vplgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0706-010-Corn%2BBunting.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Corn Bunting </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Emberiza calandra)</i> - RSPB Balranald, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Down by the beach the tide was out and there were distant waders, but we were looking into the sun and photography was all but impossible. Suddenly a large bird appeared high in the sky and approached our position. It didn't come close, but close enough to sea why a White-tailed Eagle is sometimes described as looking like a flying barn door! This was, I believe, a relatively young bird.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NehMNUfu5lg/Wy_sq9aggnI/AAAAAAAAcdY/_59yXIMKCEEzA5gUGihcu1qMznJXIfQzACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0729-015-White-tail%2BEagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NehMNUfu5lg/Wy_sq9aggnI/AAAAAAAAcdY/_59yXIMKCEEzA5gUGihcu1qMznJXIfQzACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0729-015-White-tail%2BEagle.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">White-tailed Eagle </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Haliaeetus albicilla)</i> - RSPB Balranald, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We had a picnic lunch on the grass above the beach, and I went for a stroll to the north where I could see a number of waders feeding in a huge mass of seaweed that had been, I'm told, washed up in a storm earlier in the year. This gave me clearer views of the waders and I took several hundred shots (still into the sun) of Dunlin, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, and Sanderling, but the results were all awful. Here are a couple of the least dire ones!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jET6knml_Fk/Wy_srmktchI/AAAAAAAAcdg/FVh5WrWoFPMqa0PabEyXP7Rha2ILFQ6gQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0803-004-Ringed%2BPlover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jET6knml_Fk/Wy_srmktchI/AAAAAAAAcdg/FVh5WrWoFPMqa0PabEyXP7Rha2ILFQ6gQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0803-004-Ringed%2BPlover.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ringed Plover <span class="st"><i>(Charadrius hiaticula)</i> - RSPB Balranald, North Uist</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TFJtDxVl8Ew/Wy_sr5rGtmI/AAAAAAAAcdY/uIb3CXjaaLIHVqpShQ-xJfCkC-t1RZzoACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0832-006-Turnstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TFJtDxVl8Ew/Wy_sr5rGtmI/AAAAAAAAcdY/uIb3CXjaaLIHVqpShQ-xJfCkC-t1RZzoACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0832-006-Turnstone.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st">Turnstone </span></span></b></span><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st"><span class="st"><i> (Arenaria interpres)</i> (male) </span>- RSPB Balranald, North Uist</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>After a while, we headed back to the visitor centre, where there were some interesting bones on display on the ground. I was told that these were of cetaceans.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXRYMSXLIzw/Wy_sr9SfjdI/AAAAAAAAcdc/J2L4ks7morkttZ8IX-qb4XWTOrcsqVF9ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0859-001-Cetacean%2Bskulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AXRYMSXLIzw/Wy_sr9SfjdI/AAAAAAAAcdc/J2L4ks7morkttZ8IX-qb4XWTOrcsqVF9ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0859-001-Cetacean%2Bskulls.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cetacean skulls - RSPB Balranald, North Uist</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Corncrakes were heard, but not seen (by me, anyway!) but I did take some shots of Lapwings flying around over the adjacent field.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pp-nP6vFURM/Wy_ssCyXpHI/AAAAAAAAcdg/1YYB7c7J3YIP5P67mySi6YLilQCUNXzAACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0863-003-Lapwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pp-nP6vFURM/Wy_ssCyXpHI/AAAAAAAAcdg/1YYB7c7J3YIP5P67mySi6YLilQCUNXzAACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0863-003-Lapwing.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kpd_cw7hFzg/Wy_ssjA6zcI/AAAAAAAAcdk/w_l2bsCOiE0HT2b7_A3Yx4IA0rbT85i9QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0867-004-Lapwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kpd_cw7hFzg/Wy_ssjA6zcI/AAAAAAAAcdk/w_l2bsCOiE0HT2b7_A3Yx4IA0rbT85i9QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0867-004-Lapwing.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lapwing </span></b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st"><i>(Vanellus vanellus)</i> </span>- RSPB Balranald, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>From Balranald we headed south on the A865 and came upon the Hebridean Smokehouse at Clachan. This proved to be a marvellous find and we came away with hot-smoked salmon and peat-smoked scallops.</b><br /><br /><b>We completed the circuit of the island by heading over to the east side on the A867. As we passed near to Langais, a male Hen Harrier flew across the road in front of us. By the time I could find somewhere to stop it was heading away and a bit distant and so I only got record shots. As this was the only male of the species seen during our stay, I'll include a couple of shots.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dty736lDYp4/WzCyTfHu7bI/AAAAAAAAcd8/WDYBYv0at-Ac2vRtXn1oPQ3CVIgMrxxlQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0887-001-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dty736lDYp4/WzCyTfHu7bI/AAAAAAAAcd8/WDYBYv0at-Ac2vRtXn1oPQ3CVIgMrxxlQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0887-001-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TDcE6UqC9EU/WzCyTYU0HbI/AAAAAAAAcd4/u8frrVVCes45pH9L2VffvvJQACHs2Cm9wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0888-002-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TDcE6UqC9EU/WzCyTYU0HbI/AAAAAAAAcd4/u8frrVVCes45pH9L2VffvvJQACHs2Cm9wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0888-002-Hen%2BHarrier%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hen Harrier </span></b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="st">(Circus cyaneus)</span></i> (male) - near Langais, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Having completed the circuit, Lindsay agreed to another visit to the Committee Road. We found a Short-eared Owl flying over a field near Solas.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zo0Wu1qJi1c/WzC0UVP7c6I/AAAAAAAAceI/Xpni5yZnWgon_xeOJFIcFi7bZIjUXi2DACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0892-002-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zo0Wu1qJi1c/WzC0UVP7c6I/AAAAAAAAceI/Xpni5yZnWgon_xeOJFIcFi7bZIjUXi2DACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0892-002-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Short-eared Owl <i>(Asio flammeus)</i> - near Solas, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Reaching the Committee Road, little was seen in the way of birds. However, I did spot a Meadow Pipit with what looked like a damselfly in its bill.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jDAYacN0fjc/WzDK102ra6I/AAAAAAAAceU/qTrh-zctKH87qJrXERxwdpxX5_MEcd1uwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0907-009-Meadow%2BPipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jDAYacN0fjc/WzDK102ra6I/AAAAAAAAceU/qTrh-zctKH87qJrXERxwdpxX5_MEcd1uwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0907-009-Meadow%2BPipit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Meadow Pipit </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Anthus pratensis)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I'm of an age now that results in me needing relatively frequent stops for 'the bathroom' (to use a euphemism from the Americas). This sometimes results in unexpected sightings (no giggles from the back row, please) - more than one owl has been found in this way in the past. However, on occasion, it has been detrimental - my above-mention scuffle with a sharp rock being an example. On this day it had a plus side (or so I thought at the time) as, scrambling down the bank at the side of the road, I found several damselflies.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tzo0rdfALz8/WzDK16OUkgI/AAAAAAAAces/ZwL4yCz3u1crOcPt8H4ZcE5ArTD8zrbAgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0912-001-Com%2BBlu%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tzo0rdfALz8/WzDK16OUkgI/AAAAAAAAces/ZwL4yCz3u1crOcPt8H4ZcE5ArTD8zrbAgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0912-001-Com%2BBlu%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Blue Damselfly <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Enallagma cyathigerum)</i> (immature male) - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvFCZN-4TJ4/WzDK17jrP0I/AAAAAAAAces/Wy8GhxBvVAsUAc35Lwax-3C2-gVu0KZhwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0951-013-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvFCZN-4TJ4/WzDK17jrP0I/AAAAAAAAces/Wy8GhxBvVAsUAc35Lwax-3C2-gVu0KZhwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0951-013-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8ffPQwapKQ/WzDK259ik4I/AAAAAAAAcew/_siP_kHIj7Mu1JA43ZXnbupV3bbcJy7nQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1003-026-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8ffPQwapKQ/WzDK259ik4I/AAAAAAAAcew/_siP_kHIj7Mu1JA43ZXnbupV3bbcJy7nQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1003-026-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Large Red Damselfly <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="LrzXr kno-fv">Pyrrhosoma nymphula</span>)</i> (male) - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I spent some time in this place and, at one point, stopped to photograph some Oystercatchers that were noisily flying over.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWNHE1nZbYc/WzDK2ZcVKII/AAAAAAAAce0/AEwoHVjaDxIA1CL_12gy8RZecxwZP6A4gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0981-001-Oystercatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWNHE1nZbYc/WzDK2ZcVKII/AAAAAAAAce0/AEwoHVjaDxIA1CL_12gy8RZecxwZP6A4gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_0981-001-Oystercatcher.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Oystercatcher <i>(</i></span></b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Haematopus ostralegus)</b></i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>A return run up the Committee Road resulted in no more excitement, but in the region of Solas there was a confiding Stonechat.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IzZ_7ie_hTE/WzDUzsTHqwI/AAAAAAAAce8/TYm_p9OH2xAh-jBcKPX8oXdQ67EfTjs3gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1053-013-Stonechat%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IzZ_7ie_hTE/WzDUzsTHqwI/AAAAAAAAce8/TYm_p9OH2xAh-jBcKPX8oXdQ67EfTjs3gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1053-013-Stonechat%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Stonechat </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Saxicola rubicola)</i> (female) - near Solas, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>There was a full moon that night.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0BYJkTYvE4w/WzD87l8bBtI/AAAAAAAAcfI/gG8JCE-QPTIyRDbOvAQ-lYh9qX-CNfg9ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1090-008-Moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0BYJkTYvE4w/WzD87l8bBtI/AAAAAAAAcfI/gG8JCE-QPTIyRDbOvAQ-lYh9qX-CNfg9ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1090-008-Moon.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Full Moon from Tigh na Boireach</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Then the trouble started - as I got ready for bed I noticed I'd got six tick nymphs stuck on my legs. In my panic, I pulled them off with tweezers, squidging most of them as I did so. I subsequently was informed that is a dangerous way to do things as it can cause them to eject their juices into you. A call to NHS 111 resulted in some good advice as to what to do, including seeing my GP when I got home as I'd picked up the ticks in a high-risk area for Lyme Disease - I was sure that I'd got them when I'd stopped to photograph the damselflies on the Committee Road as there were many deer around, and I'd stood still for long enough to allow them to find me.</b><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Monday, 28th May to Benbecula and South Uist</span></b><br /><br /><b>It became my habit to take an early morning wander round the garden at Tigh na Boireach. I was getting used to seeing a Wren all around the property.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7clUGxvSDI/WzExzMg4HiI/AAAAAAAAcgI/i8-mxQnH49wNanABMIE8whhJ1BX6d0biACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1093-001-Wren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7clUGxvSDI/WzExzMg4HiI/AAAAAAAAcgI/i8-mxQnH49wNanABMIE8whhJ1BX6d0biACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1093-001-Wren.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Wren <i>(Troglodytes troglodytes)</i> - Tigh na Boireach, North Uist</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>There were always Green-veined White butterflies in the garden when the sun was out and, at one time, I swear I momentarily saw a large blue butterfly too (no, I don't mean a Large Blue), but it had gone by the time I got my camera. I guess I must have misjudged its size and it must have been a rather pale common blue.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PwLb5JFD_e8/WzExy78HOcI/AAAAAAAAcgA/CwbTUXSngNcVw-hdIc2NcklPJOQXHcNAwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1114-007-Grn-vein%2BWht%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PwLb5JFD_e8/WzExy78HOcI/AAAAAAAAcgA/CwbTUXSngNcVw-hdIc2NcklPJOQXHcNAwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1114-007-Grn-vein%2BWht%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Green-veined White </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Pieris napi)</i> (male) - Tigh na Boireach</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr5b1IflwVU/WzExy6zIHjI/AAAAAAAAcgE/YjfihWc4a9UTOHbRDehGjQuRgzm-TZPtgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1132-006-Grn-vein%2BWht%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr5b1IflwVU/WzExy6zIHjI/AAAAAAAAcgE/YjfihWc4a9UTOHbRDehGjQuRgzm-TZPtgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1132-006-Grn-vein%2BWht%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Green-veined White </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Pieris napi)</i> (female) - Tigh na Boireach</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We weren't troubled by midges at all during our stay. I'm not sure if this is a midge, but it was quite large - I'm showing it at 'life size'.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wWntlATIqPo/WzE1Xr2Tg5I/AAAAAAAAcgc/HADAaWYgee4vAK2lyNypVXXa-R00uQQAACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1161-003-Midge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wWntlATIqPo/WzE1Xr2Tg5I/AAAAAAAAcgc/HADAaWYgee4vAK2lyNypVXXa-R00uQQAACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1161-003-Midge.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Midge? - Tigh na Boireach</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Only kidding about 'life size'!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>After breakfast we set off for the islands of Benbecula and South Uist, joined to North Uist by causeways. It will come as no surprise that I decided to take the route via the Committee Road! However, we had another sighting of Short-eared Owl near Solas.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nOdkOSPuhOw/WzE2fLAvyyI/AAAAAAAAcgo/xCi_UZpsg1ISeAl38e3XhYzeD-qZOIDggCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1177-002-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nOdkOSPuhOw/WzE2fLAvyyI/AAAAAAAAcgo/xCi_UZpsg1ISeAl38e3XhYzeD-qZOIDggCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1177-002-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Short-eared Owl <i>(Asio flammeus)</i> - near Solas, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>In retrospect, I could have saved a lot of time, and fuel, if I'd just taken to patrolling the A865 near Solas for the week! </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>The Committee Road yielded Skylark near the north end and a large herd of Red Deer (tick carriers, every one!) near the south end</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVAVeBGFRtk/WzE32qYNRFI/AAAAAAAAcg8/dAixlmhk-nIOCsWbb6sqDblG_xiogkoeQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1213-015-Skylark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVAVeBGFRtk/WzE32qYNRFI/AAAAAAAAcg8/dAixlmhk-nIOCsWbb6sqDblG_xiogkoeQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1213-015-Skylark.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Skylark </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Alauda arvensis)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gCQKn91GkkI/WzE32a1N-_I/AAAAAAAAcg4/OOwhbdzTJBIvA-F00IFb56RNkbKMAkm4wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1223-007-Red%2BDeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gCQKn91GkkI/WzE32a1N-_I/AAAAAAAAcg4/OOwhbdzTJBIvA-F00IFb56RNkbKMAkm4wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1223-007-Red%2BDeer.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Pi3LQXbGsY/WzE311lc6PI/AAAAAAAAcg0/yaw8zjLrrUg9kGvyypppOlxcTWd9u1jQACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1220-004-Red%2BDeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Pi3LQXbGsY/WzE311lc6PI/AAAAAAAAcg0/yaw8zjLrrUg9kGvyypppOlxcTWd9u1jQACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1220-004-Red%2BDeer.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red Deer </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Cervus elaphus)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>A little further along there was a distant Curlew.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UGZlwdeU6wM/WzE32pQzeUI/AAAAAAAAchA/LSXKsuiRGusBtGSBUiWTEyj7NT1ivzbMACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1262-015-Curlew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UGZlwdeU6wM/WzE32pQzeUI/AAAAAAAAchA/LSXKsuiRGusBtGSBUiWTEyj7NT1ivzbMACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1262-015-Curlew.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Curlew <i>(</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Numenius arquata)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Arriving onto Benbecula, we took a right turn and stopped at Maclean's Bakery to top-up our picnic lunch. We then took the road which keeps near to the western edge of Benbecula, seeing little as we did so, except for a Buzzard that, although close, didn't look very natural sitting on the airport security fencing.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I can't remember why we found the need to stop at the Co-op supermarket at Creag Ghoraidh, but I'm glad we did - the car park there must have one of the best birding car parks of any supermarket.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w1oaOyGllPI/WzE9hponN5I/AAAAAAAAchU/l1mMrUsUrukA4kzBA26yw7vGWUmqyuNmwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1351-004-Mergs%2B%252B%2BEider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w1oaOyGllPI/WzE9hponN5I/AAAAAAAAchU/l1mMrUsUrukA4kzBA26yw7vGWUmqyuNmwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1351-004-Mergs%2B%252B%2BEider.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Eider </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Somateria mollissima)</i> (male) + Red-breasted Merganser - Creag Ghoraidh, Benbecula</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXk-jcZiQ-I/WzE9h8apQZI/AAAAAAAAchY/rxoOYUw5ZYYlNRETK3hkvMvGHXwEgD4ewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1367-031-R-b%2BMerganser%2Bmf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXk-jcZiQ-I/WzE9h8apQZI/AAAAAAAAchY/rxoOYUw5ZYYlNRETK3hkvMvGHXwEgD4ewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1367-031-R-b%2BMerganser%2Bmf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bUATm7QRE5Y/WzE9h6P7GBI/AAAAAAAAchc/qMf5fGHjsbsuApN_rmCrFMBrX7UtOTX9QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1361-025-R-b%2BMerganser%2Bmf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bUATm7QRE5Y/WzE9h6P7GBI/AAAAAAAAchc/qMf5fGHjsbsuApN_rmCrFMBrX7UtOTX9QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1361-025-R-b%2BMerganser%2Bmf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red-breasted Merganser <i>(Mergus serrator)</i> (female + male) - Creag Ghoraidh, Benbecula</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>To give Lindsay her beach 'fix' we went to a beach by Bhag a Tuath. It wasn't 'birdy' but she enjoyed it! A hot day, and nothing, or nobody, on the beach to spoil it other than a large piece of bright green plastic.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1D437YJfIs/WzFFZWcezkI/AAAAAAAAchw/8PpSpkBjmz8soHhPruUARRB04x-EBrfXACLcBGAs/s1600/20180528_124526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1D437YJfIs/WzFFZWcezkI/AAAAAAAAchw/8PpSpkBjmz8soHhPruUARRB04x-EBrfXACLcBGAs/s1600/20180528_124526.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Beach by Bhag a Tuath</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We then had another drive around and ended up at another beach - by Loch a Mhoil. This had a lot more interest for me as there were plenty of small waders around.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AbDAPUmCn3o/WzFHk5dF8PI/AAAAAAAAch8/7LZ1mZdMViMtcoN8XUmIXqZkT0mVvgBxgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1452-004-Mixed%2BWaders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AbDAPUmCn3o/WzFHk5dF8PI/AAAAAAAAch8/7LZ1mZdMViMtcoN8XUmIXqZkT0mVvgBxgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1452-004-Mixed%2BWaders.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">mixed waders - by Loch a Mhoil, South Uist</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I had similar problems here to those with waders at Balranald on the Sunday - bright sun in the wrong direction and a muddle of seaweed debris to confuse the images, and the camera. However, I got a little closer and got slightly better results. I'm no expert on waders so if I have miss-identified the birds that I have as Sanderling, please let me know.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sfnOebUM7i4/WzFHk3WqfpI/AAAAAAAAciA/_Nws2eO2yWchCgEnwJtpe5jEFLsQ53m7ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1772-020-Dunlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sfnOebUM7i4/WzFHk3WqfpI/AAAAAAAAciA/_Nws2eO2yWchCgEnwJtpe5jEFLsQ53m7ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1772-020-Dunlin.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G6GPxtJH-4U/WzFHlk2-AkI/AAAAAAAAciI/mQ2deT-nMAgqWv8SlDbHDUzGC8PAqq8QgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1864-026-Dunlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G6GPxtJH-4U/WzFHlk2-AkI/AAAAAAAAciI/mQ2deT-nMAgqWv8SlDbHDUzGC8PAqq8QgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1864-026-Dunlin.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Dunlin <span class="st"><i>(Calidris alpina)</i> </span><span class="st">- by Loch a Mhoil, South Uist</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9gDajXN7_TA/WzFLZJ5w9GI/AAAAAAAAci8/x1NPc9PM9VkQ1fOJSmw7ccstonDgKevrACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1913-022-Ringed%2BPlover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9gDajXN7_TA/WzFLZJ5w9GI/AAAAAAAAci8/x1NPc9PM9VkQ1fOJSmw7ccstonDgKevrACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1913-022-Ringed%2BPlover.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ringed Plover </span></b></span><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="st"><i>(Charadrius hiaticula)</i></span></span></b></span> </span><span class="st">- by Loch a Mhoil, South Uist</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FhYddCdbd4Q/WzFLxNGsrUI/AAAAAAAAcjI/Dd9rpxOIYxIvoL9geS-XUy-2Xd96XwnWwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1997-076-Sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FhYddCdbd4Q/WzFLxNGsrUI/AAAAAAAAcjI/Dd9rpxOIYxIvoL9geS-XUy-2Xd96XwnWwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1997-076-Sanderling.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wpun4jVATNA/WzFLxL5nw3I/AAAAAAAAcjE/BDeCZRqyEAIjYe51Wk8bdNQktcoEJxQfACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1943-066-Sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wpun4jVATNA/WzFLxL5nw3I/AAAAAAAAcjE/BDeCZRqyEAIjYe51Wk8bdNQktcoEJxQfACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1943-066-Sanderling.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i91rRY6GWvo/WzFLxfbGHHI/AAAAAAAAcjM/OI10BOpKCDcUxz7Vpav6PJ1ZftkP9QZvgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1829-040-Sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i91rRY6GWvo/WzFLxfbGHHI/AAAAAAAAcjM/OI10BOpKCDcUxz7Vpav6PJ1ZftkP9QZvgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1829-040-Sanderling.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sanderling </span></b></span><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="st"><i><span class="st">(Calidris alba)</span></i> </span><span class="st">- by Loch a Mhoil, South Uist</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>As I've not shown a Redshank image for this day, here's one taken when we stopped by Tobha Beag, later on.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl8PzZj9OKI/WzID59MAIwI/AAAAAAAAcjc/3P2nQ0R_M7YxaaPmwWhoPA0oZ5QRTD-TACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2020-004-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl8PzZj9OKI/WzID59MAIwI/AAAAAAAAcjc/3P2nQ0R_M7YxaaPmwWhoPA0oZ5QRTD-TACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2020-004-Redshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa totanus)</i> - </span></b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Tobha Beag, South Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>On our return journey, we diverted to visit Kallin Shellfish, on Grimsay, having seen a sign to their establishment on the way south earlier in the day. This proved to be a great find and we came away with crab claws, langoustines, and prawns for our tea.</b><br /><br /><b>A return run up the Committee Road did yield a Short-eared Owl but I only got another 'going away' shot!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DISkVjLTa4k/WzIMj6gtxsI/AAAAAAAAcjo/nRKfFGe-N8od_B6Vgo49oLmjZere_eMbwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2035-003-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DISkVjLTa4k/WzIMj6gtxsI/AAAAAAAAcjo/nRKfFGe-N8od_B6Vgo49oLmjZere_eMbwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2035-003-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Short-eared Owl <i>(Asio flammeus)</i> - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Near the north end of the Committee Road there is an old tractor standing beside the road. I noticed that this seemed to have a notice attached to a rock by it, so we stopped to take a look. It was an 'art installation'.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BoV6OblNBWY/WzIMot09znI/AAAAAAAAcj0/08XP7aCiNqMw1A-RLFzFkJ3fUpXSru7lQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2049-004-Old%2BTractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BoV6OblNBWY/WzIMot09znI/AAAAAAAAcj0/08XP7aCiNqMw1A-RLFzFkJ3fUpXSru7lQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2049-004-Old%2BTractor.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e9BPAN2g4Qc/WzIMoWvMxEI/AAAAAAAAcj4/vFMi8feSeSwD6hvRXo_a9m5kZxQNQZcRACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2040-001-%2BTractor%2Bplaque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e9BPAN2g4Qc/WzIMoWvMxEI/AAAAAAAAcj4/vFMi8feSeSwD6hvRXo_a9m5kZxQNQZcRACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2040-001-%2BTractor%2Bplaque.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ferguson TEF-20 tractor - Committee Road, North Uist</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The road through Solas came up trumps again, with a Short-eared Owl giving the ultimate in 'going away' shots, and a couple of obliging Stonechats staying put for my camera.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-04f8ojH9aPo/WzInd3ywDjI/AAAAAAAAckA/-ob2857V2nE22-72q2HouE38n7bYHfHAwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2055-002-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-04f8ojH9aPo/WzInd3ywDjI/AAAAAAAAckA/-ob2857V2nE22-72q2HouE38n7bYHfHAwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2055-002-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Short-eared Owl <i>(Asio flammeus)</i> - near Solas, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--xJ6JZammwI/WzIneLDPrSI/AAAAAAAAckQ/Ku65IwPZZvk0Xn_zm6He19VAX8wH5OjUACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2059-002-Stonechat-%2Bjuv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--xJ6JZammwI/WzIneLDPrSI/AAAAAAAAckQ/Ku65IwPZZvk0Xn_zm6He19VAX8wH5OjUACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2059-002-Stonechat-%2Bjuv.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Stonechat </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Saxicola rubicola)</i> (juvenile) - near Solas, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IWPQ-1Led0I/WzIneGThIQI/AAAAAAAAckQ/IhNWQP6udz4LMEhGZPeEXV-82psYTSQJgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2074-003-Stonechat-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IWPQ-1Led0I/WzIneGThIQI/AAAAAAAAckQ/IhNWQP6udz4LMEhGZPeEXV-82psYTSQJgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2074-003-Stonechat-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Stonechat </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Saxicola rubicola)</i> (female) - near Solas, North Uist</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>That evening we dined well on shellfish. We'd had three days of almost constant sunny weather on the Outer Hebrides, and they say that you never get two sunny days strung together here!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Thus ends Pt. 1 of my account of our visit. I might have to do an interim post on another subject before I'm ready with Pt.2!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Thank you for dropping by.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-13181780241010149652018-06-07T11:30:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:39.113-07:00 More Dragons and Damsels - on Sunday 20th May, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: yellow;"><b>I'll start by apologising to fellow bloggers for not visiting your blogs lately. I have been away on holiday in the Outer Hebrides where I had limited access to the internet, mainly due to my equipment rather than that of our base. I hope to start catching up on your blogs soon, but also have to start work on the well-over two and a half thousand frames I shot whilst away!</b></span><br /><br /><span style="color: yellow;"><b><span style="color: cyan;">Just noticed a typo above - that should have been just over FIVE and a half thousand frames !! </span></b></span><br /><br /><b>So now to the subject of this blog post:-</b><br /><br /><b>I was booked to go on a visit to Chartley Moss, arranged by the British Dragonfly Society (BDS). Chartley Moss is one of the few floating moss bogs in the world and is managed by Natural England (NE). For reasons of safety and conservation, it is only visitable with organised groups and these are few and far between. My interest was that it is one of only three sites in England which have a population of White-faced Darter dragonfly.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'd originally been booked on an afternoon visit but, because of demand, an additional morning visit was set up. As the weather forecast looked more reliable for the morning than it did for the afternoon, and as there was a space available I requested a transfer to the morning.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Chartley Moss is only 35 miles (56 km) from my home, it was easy to get to, and I arrived half an hour early. I'd been a bit concerned that there might be up to a dozen people on the walk and it might be a bit too crowded. I was, therefore, somewhat disappointed to learn that 25 people were booked! Everyone turned up, and so too did several other people that were booked for the afternoon walk but decided, unannounced, to turn up for the morning one instead.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Sadly, one of the party had limited mobility, and had to be propped up by a person on each arm. Dispensation was arranged for her party to drive to a farm which reduced her walking distance by about 300 metres. Here we picked her up again at the official entrance to the reserve at start of the walk which leads to the reserve (see the "You are here" marker on the below image).</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0VhNrS-ThM/WwVglEyHZYI/AAAAAAAAcTE/quVQ58n13PA-DKmh6MDghIw1fYhAS9uwgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9224-002-entrance%2Bsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0VhNrS-ThM/WwVglEyHZYI/AAAAAAAAcTE/quVQ58n13PA-DKmh6MDghIw1fYhAS9uwgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9224-002-entrance%2Bsign.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Sign at entrance to Chartley Moss NNR</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>There was then a level walk of about 350 metres along the route of a disused railway line to a point which, on the map shown above, is adjacent to the top of the pale bit enclosed by the darker green bit. When the main part of the group reached this point, it immediately became clear that the way forward, down a steep woodland slope, was going to be impossible for the lady lady with difficulties. We waited here for for about 10 minutes, and she was still some way off when it was decided that one of the two NE personnel should go back to her to reassess the situation. The main group continued. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It took a fair time to get to the target area of the bog, as we stopped from time to time to be given interesting information and demonstrations about the history and ecology of the bog. One of these demonstrations involved people jumping up and down, causing waves on the surface we were standing on and adjacent trees to sway from side to side quite dramatically!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>As we got nearer to open water one of our number spotted a teneral male White-faced Darter in a tree some distance from the path that we dared not depart from!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qevK3TCf3mg/WwVk0xoG9pI/AAAAAAAAcTQ/yWNIaDmTrsAl0QeDFPiwMkrdAUNrvm6aQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9259-003-WFD%2B-%2Bteneral%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qevK3TCf3mg/WwVk0xoG9pI/AAAAAAAAcTQ/yWNIaDmTrsAl0QeDFPiwMkrdAUNrvm6aQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9259-003-WFD%2B-%2Bteneral%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">White-faced Darter </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Leucorrhinia dubia)</i> (teneral male) - Chartley Moss</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We arrived at the water's edge, and found ourselves standing pretty-much shoulder-to-shoulder at the edge of the 'pond'. There was plenty of dragonfly activity - mainly from male White-faced Darters (WFD). We did have sighting of the occasional female WFD, and there were a few Four-spotted Chasers too. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I don't know what head I had put on when I'd got out of bed in the morning, but it certainly wasn't my photographic head! My images are virtually all very 'soft'. I suspect that I'd been over-ambitiously working with high aperture figures. Coupled with the difficulty in getting anywhere near the subject matter because of the number of people milling around and also the confinement to a narrow track for safety reasons, my results were very much less than satisfying. Here are a few of the better ones from an overall bad bunch:-</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hh6B-ci7-TI/WwV3rwXr_HI/AAAAAAAAcTc/LyWfdVonzT8x7Xkfkxk-Glo0U3kjCIO-gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9274-001-WFD%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hh6B-ci7-TI/WwV3rwXr_HI/AAAAAAAAcTc/LyWfdVonzT8x7Xkfkxk-Glo0U3kjCIO-gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9274-001-WFD%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vq2lz-6sYBw/WwV3r2Z6ZKI/AAAAAAAAcTk/VYZvcvVrbyQvSJ-DTbw42N3ZnraJIOV7wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9299-009-WFD%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vq2lz-6sYBw/WwV3r2Z6ZKI/AAAAAAAAcTk/VYZvcvVrbyQvSJ-DTbw42N3ZnraJIOV7wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9299-009-WFD%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B7LXqKWSNkk/WwV3r8pNgDI/AAAAAAAAcTg/VP1B9MBpKS0mJxhaENPZYyunv9P4FN8SQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9324-020-WFD%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B7LXqKWSNkk/WwV3r8pNgDI/AAAAAAAAcTg/VP1B9MBpKS0mJxhaENPZYyunv9P4FN8SQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9324-020-WFD%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1slZNTKDQJ0/WwV3sk4PA6I/AAAAAAAAcTs/iB2LSzHX-KQjLJpvwtY-LOfxe8jONnylwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9429-026-WFD%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1slZNTKDQJ0/WwV3sk4PA6I/AAAAAAAAcTs/iB2LSzHX-KQjLJpvwtY-LOfxe8jONnylwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9429-026-WFD%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_2Q7WUk3Xk/WwV3sjA4bZI/AAAAAAAAcTo/l1afCKMV7VUHzPwR2S7lK0OodsUaCYSYQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9461-036-WFD%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_2Q7WUk3Xk/WwV3sjA4bZI/AAAAAAAAcTo/l1afCKMV7VUHzPwR2S7lK0OodsUaCYSYQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9461-036-WFD%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">White-faced Darter </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Leucorrhinia dubia)</i> (male) - Chartley Moss</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>This next one was, I believe, my first ever shot of a mature female WFD that was not conjoined with a male! I failed to get a usable image of a female that was ovipositing.</b><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GleXZ3EHQGA/WwV4nUzsdBI/AAAAAAAAcT4/l1uRBYBrsBMT43HQnWUedvwAjbd8pXQCACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9383-016-WFD%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GleXZ3EHQGA/WwV4nUzsdBI/AAAAAAAAcT4/l1uRBYBrsBMT43HQnWUedvwAjbd8pXQCACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9383-016-WFD%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">White-faced Darter </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Leucorrhinia dubia)</i> (female) - Chartley Moss</span></b></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I suspect that this emergent female, below, had run into trouble, as I was a bit surprised to see the wings in such a crumpled state, particularly as the abdomen had already taken on colour.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQH3PYVvD_k/WwV5Yph-AmI/AAAAAAAAcUA/hBgMJzo8408QjY1Uznuf_U7qCZ7dBNUjACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9419-002-WFD%2B-%2Bteneral%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQH3PYVvD_k/WwV5Yph-AmI/AAAAAAAAcUA/hBgMJzo8408QjY1Uznuf_U7qCZ7dBNUjACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9419-002-WFD%2B-%2Bteneral%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">White-faced Darter </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Leucorrhinia dubia)</i> (teneral female) - Chartley Moss</span></b></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I would have expected those wings to be relatively flat, as in this freshly emerged specimen which, unfortunately, I was unable to stop and observe its development. Note its exuvia bottom-right.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-euY9bbLxeOk/WwV6XIWy5PI/AAAAAAAAcUI/ngi_w3dQukwMt-uOAFsfGfjaA5qj1wVRgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9408-018-WFD%2B-%2Bemergent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-euY9bbLxeOk/WwV6XIWy5PI/AAAAAAAAcUI/ngi_w3dQukwMt-uOAFsfGfjaA5qj1wVRgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9408-018-WFD%2B-%2Bemergent.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">White-faced Darter </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Leucorrhinia dubia)</i> (freshly emerged) - Chartley Moss</span></b></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'm pleased to say that I did manage to collect a few exuviae at the end of the session after most people had already departed.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Once back at my car, I had a late picnic lunch and decided to call in at one of my regular odonata spots on the way home. During my previous visit, fifteen days earlier, I had seen absolutely nothing of interest. However, I was delighted to find plenty of Red-eyed Damselfly (although only two lily pads had so far appeared!), Azure Damselfly, and Large Red Damselfly. I also had a very brief passing sighting of either a Four-spotted Chaser or a Broad-bodied Chaser (probably the former).</b><br /><br /><b>It was great to see the Red-eyed Damselflies doing something other than sitting on lily pads or flying around when disturbed by other damselflies. Unfortunately as well as having the wrong head on my shoulders, as mentioned above, I found the light difficult as most of the time I was having to shoot straight into the sun, and I was constantly having to change exposure compensation, with values ranging from +1 to -1.7. Typically, in my experience, this species was rather 'nervous' and stayed distant</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhW_YGVtYzw/WwW9s6pHekI/AAAAAAAAcUc/Qkomsx-abLU7XSzET5MtXt-Q-V_TA05gwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9600-034-Red-eye%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhW_YGVtYzw/WwW9s6pHekI/AAAAAAAAcUc/Qkomsx-abLU7XSzET5MtXt-Q-V_TA05gwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9600-034-Red-eye%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BHxzGOJsDjQ/WwW9thQzVAI/AAAAAAAAcUg/gW30lVbnEJodG2tCpZLLDpRhxTrlZpNGQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9896-054-Red-eye%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BHxzGOJsDjQ/WwW9thQzVAI/AAAAAAAAcUg/gW30lVbnEJodG2tCpZLLDpRhxTrlZpNGQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9896-054-Red-eye%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DDE1ggiVchk/WwW9syyoFjI/AAAAAAAAcUU/AqyZZalIzcsshb4dXUo_MO17G5aPZKJJACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9531-025-Red-eye%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DDE1ggiVchk/WwW9syyoFjI/AAAAAAAAcUU/AqyZZalIzcsshb4dXUo_MO17G5aPZKJJACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9531-025-Red-eye%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dXtfLerEnQk/WwW9s9sHQPI/AAAAAAAAcUY/JyN0-RMQeUkVOdvsdyPwjSayQP7ND8aAACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9760-046-Red-eye%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dXtfLerEnQk/WwW9s9sHQPI/AAAAAAAAcUY/JyN0-RMQeUkVOdvsdyPwjSayQP7ND8aAACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9760-046-Red-eye%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red-eyed Damselfly <i>(</i><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><i>Erythromma najas)</i> (male) - Ticknall Limeyards</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>This was also, I believe, the first time I'd seen a female of the species - even if they were all coupled to males, mating or ovipositing. </b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a1kdKKtQ2CM/WwW_Gye-tOI/AAAAAAAAcU0/HFnQy5ABh1sHZ37dSm_0ehT2cURF8qAYwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9788-051-Red-eye%2BDams%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a1kdKKtQ2CM/WwW_Gye-tOI/AAAAAAAAcU0/HFnQy5ABh1sHZ37dSm_0ehT2cURF8qAYwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9788-051-Red-eye%2BDams%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kTwT1nxKhNY/WwW_G_yLhUI/AAAAAAAAcU4/gIXiEDDF4m4lGEJTpMtKlzehe9rde1olwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9849-001-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kTwT1nxKhNY/WwW_G_yLhUI/AAAAAAAAcU4/gIXiEDDF4m4lGEJTpMtKlzehe9rde1olwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9849-001-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red-eyed Damselfly <i>(</i><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><i>Erythromma najas)</i> (male+female mating) - Ticknall Limeyards</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><b>Here's a pair in tandem, probably prior to ovipositing.</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWa9inhO5Y0/WwXAF41KEKI/AAAAAAAAcVE/0iwnCqh5rNMR_W7tKY3rxDvKONm3bvKhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9654-006-Red-eye%2BDams%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWa9inhO5Y0/WwXAF41KEKI/AAAAAAAAcVE/0iwnCqh5rNMR_W7tKY3rxDvKONm3bvKhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9654-006-Red-eye%2BDams%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red-eyed Damselfly <i>(</i><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><i>Erythromma najas)</i> (male+female in tandem) - Ticknall Limeyards</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>I'd read about males of this species holding females under water for up to 30 minutes whilst ovipositing but never witnessed it. Whilst these do not show the female greatly submerged, it was interesting to see.</b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wNP7iYjPnSo/WwXAGGgKE1I/AAAAAAAAcVc/DfhghLOEOBIuHjGb0P_fl9CiXp_zpW6WACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9701-041-Red-eye%2BDams%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wNP7iYjPnSo/WwXAGGgKE1I/AAAAAAAAcVc/DfhghLOEOBIuHjGb0P_fl9CiXp_zpW6WACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9701-041-Red-eye%2BDams%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HIUYdN-Cqr0/WwXAGI7GPzI/AAAAAAAAcVY/CUU3efNys9gzIGM9VOPCcAysnoVpICC2wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9716-047-Red-eye%2BDams%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HIUYdN-Cqr0/WwXAGI7GPzI/AAAAAAAAcVY/CUU3efNys9gzIGM9VOPCcAysnoVpICC2wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9716-047-Red-eye%2BDams%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red-eyed Damselfly <i>(</i><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><i>Erythromma najas)</i> (male+female ovipositing) - Ticknall Limeyards</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>The Azure Damselflies were also busy, and a little more obliging for photography.</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9iTUwh2OR3Y/WwXBll8WzUI/AAAAAAAAcVo/ITT4a_IofV8UHwkisIXhcWSeWp7HtUJjQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9738-010-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9iTUwh2OR3Y/WwXBll8WzUI/AAAAAAAAcVo/ITT4a_IofV8UHwkisIXhcWSeWp7HtUJjQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9738-010-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Azure Damselfly </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Coenagrion puella)</i> (male+female in tandem) - Ticknall Limeyards</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ_8Hqeoh5s/WwXBiI44dmI/AAAAAAAAcVs/o6HPooGbqzc_OfZ56HXKeEpW-d8IY1CMgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9852-024-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ_8Hqeoh5s/WwXBiI44dmI/AAAAAAAAcVs/o6HPooGbqzc_OfZ56HXKeEpW-d8IY1CMgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9852-024-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Azure Damselfly </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Coenagrion puella)</i> (male+female ovipositing) - Ticknall Limeyards</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Large Red Damselflies were even more confiding, and I did a little better with those than I did with any other species all day!</b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I-Dg_kLmPSw/WwXDOxJC8hI/AAAAAAAAcV8/iTq3MuFp48sYvQ6LnMo6kTMYv-2TtaQlQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9886-037-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I-Dg_kLmPSw/WwXDOxJC8hI/AAAAAAAAcV8/iTq3MuFp48sYvQ6LnMo6kTMYv-2TtaQlQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9886-037-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf8hqDBtCco/WwXDO18wlvI/AAAAAAAAcV4/FY6ehVPaO-IYsm3TXUBwvRjdY8D8wW1uQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9548-010-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf8hqDBtCco/WwXDO18wlvI/AAAAAAAAcV4/FY6ehVPaO-IYsm3TXUBwvRjdY8D8wW1uQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9548-010-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Large Red Damselfly </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Pyrrhosoma nymphula)</i> (male) - Ticknall Limeyards</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>It was time to be heading homeward. I'd spent half the time at Ticknall Limeyards that I'd spent at Chartley Moss, but I'd taken twice the number of photos, in spite of seeing probably less than a tenth of the number of odonata seen at Chartley.</b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b>I will however, say that the visit to Chartley Moss was both interesting and worthwhile, even if I didn't get the hoped-for results, and I am very grateful to Ellie Colver of BDS and to Tim Coleshaw and Paul Shires</b></b><b><b><b><b> from </b></b>NE for the opportunity to visit this wonderful place.</b></b><br /><br /><b><b>Thank you for dropping by. </b></b><br /><br /><b><b>My next post, hopefully in about a week's time, will cover my recent stay on the Outer Hebrides. </b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-82195458632678964662018-05-18T12:43:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:39.452-07:00Downy Emeralds - on Monday 14th May, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I have a 'hit list' of dragonflies and damselflies that I hope to see this year, and on that list is Downy Emerald dragonfly. This species is described as being "local in the British Isles, and mainly concentrated south of the Thames". The species is notable for only emerging during a short period, and this is probably one of the easier times to photograph them at rest. I was, therefore, stirred into quick action when I got a 'heads up' from Marc Heath who had documented the emergence in spectacular fashion on Saturday 12th May at Thursley Common (Surrey), which you can find <a href="http://bing.com/2018/05/emerging-downy-emerald.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>On Monday 14th May, having set the alarm for 04h30, I was on my way at 05h15, with my SatNav, telling me I would arrive at 07h50. It's a long time since I did any motorway driving at this hour and I was surprised at just how much traffic was around at this time. I'd been hoping to be early enough to miss the worst of the traffic round the M25, but at the south end of the M40 the SatNav was already telling me I was facing 23 minutes of delay. I did the first 100 miles (160 km) in about an hour and a half, and the next 50 miles (80 km) on motorway took a further hour and a half. I eventually parked my car at Thursley Common Moat Car Park at about 08h30.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Having put on wellies, as recommended by Marc, I set off to explore. Almost immediately I met a gentleman and got into conversation with him. He'd seen three Downy Emeralds in a bush the previous week and had come back, hoping to get some better photos. We searched the immediate area and found nothing, and so wandered off to check out some other areas of the lake, in case I had misunderstood Marc's advice. We still found nothing, so came back to the original spot. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It was then that the penny dropped as to why Marc had advised wellies, and I gingerly stepped onto the boggy area at the edge of the pond and was relieved that I only sank in by about 3-4 inches (75-100 mm). My new-found friend, Tony Hovell, had not brought wellies, however, so was virtually confined to dry land, although he did venture out at one point and got wet feet!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I found a few exuvia, a couple of which were from Downy Emerald, but the only thing moving was a Large Red Damselfly that had very recently emerged and had not yet managed to fully elongate its abdomen. It was too far away to get a decent shot with the Sigma 150 macro, and so I went back to the car for breakfast and changed the lens to the Sigma 50-500 as it looked as if I would need the reach of that lens. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>On my way back to the corner at around 09h30, I met up with Tony again, and we spotted our first dragonfly - and it was a Downy Emerald! I spent a while trying to capture this creature in flight, but was having difficulty getting it in frame and in focus. Eventually I found a technique which helped, and got a few shots. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8vITp1-tes/Wv6bKsoTVrI/AAAAAAAAcQA/jFEBhV8jxNQ69ldzjM9M3Xa3iZEDZUdvgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8169-002-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8vITp1-tes/Wv6bKsoTVrI/AAAAAAAAcQA/jFEBhV8jxNQ69ldzjM9M3Xa3iZEDZUdvgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8169-002-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XyDteSeSaPQ/Wv6bKue7L2I/AAAAAAAAcQE/0EKDoafIf4ofDTMtgjEsWmgdffqK8VkuwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8202-018-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XyDteSeSaPQ/Wv6bKue7L2I/AAAAAAAAcQE/0EKDoafIf4ofDTMtgjEsWmgdffqK8VkuwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8202-018-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Downy Emerald <i>(Cordulia aenea)</i> (male) - Thursley Common, Surrey</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We returned to the corner, spotting a pair of Redstarts that Tony had told me were there when he'd visited the previous week. It was apparent that the conditions had suddenly become suitable for the dragonflies and damselflies to become active.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I soon started to notice something that was giving some issues for photography, and that was the huge amount of pollen in the air which was coating everything, including my camera and the dragonflies. This rather interfered with the clarity of detail in my shots.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>For a while, I 'had my eye in', and was getting a number of shots of the dragonflies in flight, although, for the above mentioned reason, I'm not over-happy with the results. Here are some more from the session:-</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W3oO3YhJBfM/Wv62PxQBG4I/AAAAAAAAcQU/zt29YCvyDGgvNwr8TPeFS4kboGC4I0hWACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8221-024-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W3oO3YhJBfM/Wv62PxQBG4I/AAAAAAAAcQU/zt29YCvyDGgvNwr8TPeFS4kboGC4I0hWACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8221-024-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2BrW6qOJ12M/Wv62P3_b3jI/AAAAAAAAcQY/sy3ye7HJguU5_VlY9UV2n879pTgjsME7ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8232-028-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2BrW6qOJ12M/Wv62P3_b3jI/AAAAAAAAcQY/sy3ye7HJguU5_VlY9UV2n879pTgjsME7ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8232-028-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8P77al_fIg/Wv62P3uxqXI/AAAAAAAAcQc/tEgn-V2faxI0Z1gASmcVz3uzQOAtE1FhACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8244-037-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8P77al_fIg/Wv62P3uxqXI/AAAAAAAAcQc/tEgn-V2faxI0Z1gASmcVz3uzQOAtE1FhACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8244-037-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UrCoJ8WfNC4/Wv62QclaJ-I/AAAAAAAAcQg/oDTRmbi3JVk6ppI5SjG8cJ7qPaToIcviwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8248-039-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UrCoJ8WfNC4/Wv62QclaJ-I/AAAAAAAAcQg/oDTRmbi3JVk6ppI5SjG8cJ7qPaToIcviwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8248-039-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9XHDju70rp4/Wv62Qzr3YUI/AAAAAAAAcQk/0vUo7o1Y9_wGqugvUEv8AYdGbc-QU2-qwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8251-041-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9XHDju70rp4/Wv62Qzr3YUI/AAAAAAAAcQk/0vUo7o1Y9_wGqugvUEv8AYdGbc-QU2-qwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8251-041-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mKMWaJPXKw4/Wv62R3JqC0I/AAAAAAAAcQs/rMqGr5mmB4QKktUR41i4rRLmB-v9pjrQQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8406-057-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mKMWaJPXKw4/Wv62R3JqC0I/AAAAAAAAcQs/rMqGr5mmB4QKktUR41i4rRLmB-v9pjrQQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8406-057-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n8jDMY-IhnM/Wv62Rs4LetI/AAAAAAAAcQo/sJcP3z7SOZ8bdmxzOCOGardyKB7-d1VjwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8281-047-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n8jDMY-IhnM/Wv62Rs4LetI/AAAAAAAAcQo/sJcP3z7SOZ8bdmxzOCOGardyKB7-d1VjwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8281-047-Downy%2BEmerald%2B-m.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Downy Emerald <i>(Cordulia aenea)</i> (male) - Thursley Common, Surrey</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>After a while, I seemed to lose the ability to track the Emeralds with the camera, probably due to fatigue - my arms were aching! I only once saw a Downy Emerald settle - it was on Tony's bush, and literally for a second and I missed the shot!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I was relatively dedicated to observing the Emeralds, but I did break briefly on a few occasions to photograph other species.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Apart from the previously-mentioned newly emerged Large Red Damselfly (first image below) I saw the start of another LRD emergence (2nd image), but didn't spend any time on it because of the awkward angle and wanting to concentrate on the Emeralds. I did take some shots of adults too (the last one is a male).</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pXWqT0Rohu4/Wv65pUw375I/AAAAAAAAcRI/eieklhLppMYM3YyTDEVJ_zx3soa31o9-gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8161-001-Lg%2BRed%2BDams%2Btenm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pXWqT0Rohu4/Wv65pUw375I/AAAAAAAAcRI/eieklhLppMYM3YyTDEVJ_zx3soa31o9-gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8161-001-Lg%2BRed%2BDams%2Btenm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3JlcC_7t_VM/Wv65pPCuKvI/AAAAAAAAcRE/1a83JHN1ShQgrz0gDbNrrACHU-_5LTCxACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8298-004-Lg%2BRed%2BDams%2Bemrg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3JlcC_7t_VM/Wv65pPCuKvI/AAAAAAAAcRE/1a83JHN1ShQgrz0gDbNrrACHU-_5LTCxACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8298-004-Lg%2BRed%2BDams%2Bemrg.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MyxBWj6Sseo/Wv65pQ5FVQI/AAAAAAAAcRM/MTotsWEl4HEwpiaUyDY1m-DcLZPw1Y6JgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8321-005-Lg%2BRed%2BDams%2Btand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MyxBWj6Sseo/Wv65pQ5FVQI/AAAAAAAAcRM/MTotsWEl4HEwpiaUyDY1m-DcLZPw1Y6JgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8321-005-Lg%2BRed%2BDams%2Btand.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGG_oKAMG_U/Wv65phD4F5I/AAAAAAAAcRQ/thVnDF-hUB8Nmw3PdxomlLE05iaXlmyBwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8457-001-Large%2BRed%2BDams%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGG_oKAMG_U/Wv65phD4F5I/AAAAAAAAcRQ/thVnDF-hUB8Nmw3PdxomlLE05iaXlmyBwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8457-001-Large%2BRed%2BDams%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Large Red Damselfly</span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>(Pyrrhosoma nymphula)</i> - Thursley Common</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>There were a couple of Four-spotted Chasers mixing it with the Downy Emeralds from time to time, but these usually settled back on their distant territorial watch-points. I was glad I'd got the reach of the 50-500.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3XeaJyQFVPU/Wv67O-eHzeI/AAAAAAAAcRo/E_mzByY-9SMHkwzEO605j4249js27LDigCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8385-022-4-spot%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3XeaJyQFVPU/Wv67O-eHzeI/AAAAAAAAcRo/E_mzByY-9SMHkwzEO605j4249js27LDigCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8385-022-4-spot%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bmETVXqDyK8/Wv67Ozrj0oI/AAAAAAAAcRk/Qc_ovlijA3MMeTd7AXK0IFScpabY48WWgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8351-008-4-spot%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bmETVXqDyK8/Wv67Ozrj0oI/AAAAAAAAcRk/Qc_ovlijA3MMeTd7AXK0IFScpabY48WWgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8351-008-4-spot%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ1toIxjNjA/Wv67OslAchI/AAAAAAAAcRg/H2XtxfqizH8NGgbIT1llW7NAgCsKvvYTACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8360-012-4-spot%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ1toIxjNjA/Wv67OslAchI/AAAAAAAAcRg/H2XtxfqizH8NGgbIT1llW7NAgCsKvvYTACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8360-012-4-spot%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eh16Twec4nU/Wv67PEjB69I/AAAAAAAAcRs/qTGepBGM0ewxl86RpNyvW1CqZ4hE1ZfBgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8426-036-4-spot%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eh16Twec4nU/Wv67PEjB69I/AAAAAAAAcRs/qTGepBGM0ewxl86RpNyvW1CqZ4hE1ZfBgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8426-036-4-spot%2BChaser%2B-m.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Four-spotted Chaser </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Libellula quadrimaculata)</i> (male) - Thursley Common</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>There were several blue damselflies around, but I admit to largely ignoring them. I did take a few shots - all of them of Azure Damselfly. The second image shows, on the lily pad, just how much pollen was falling out of the air.</b><br /><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9d-iAgY11e0/Wv8W8qS8PfI/AAAAAAAAcSI/qqEHw-J_G2oG8qnsOpf4uMtKMyhnGlhqQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8277-005-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9d-iAgY11e0/Wv8W8qS8PfI/AAAAAAAAcSI/qqEHw-J_G2oG8qnsOpf4uMtKMyhnGlhqQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8277-005-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ30PNH-YK0/Wv8W8quVcKI/AAAAAAAAcSE/Hs3Lwp0qjHQ2bqqCwDmVSy0Vepxr25dlACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8308-007-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ30PNH-YK0/Wv8W8quVcKI/AAAAAAAAcSE/Hs3Lwp0qjHQ2bqqCwDmVSy0Vepxr25dlACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8308-007-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Azure Damselfly<span class="st"> <i>(Coenagrion puella)</i> </span>(male) - Thursley Common</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>All the while I was at the Moat Pond, there was a seemingly endless stream of people with binoculars and cameras passing on their way to see 'the Cuckoo'. It seems that this Cuckoo has been trained to come to mealworms and approaches photographers to within just a few metres. If I'd not been on a mission, I might have been tempted - but I'm not sure. I did, however, take a couple of shots of the male Redstart that was keeping us company.</b><br /><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5p7wRTZlylI/Wv8b5E3yUOI/AAAAAAAAcSY/hUjy8a6N00kAgPOKyAmcINsQqEtQd3k3wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8171-001-Redstart%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5p7wRTZlylI/Wv8b5E3yUOI/AAAAAAAAcSY/hUjy8a6N00kAgPOKyAmcINsQqEtQd3k3wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8171-001-Redstart%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvvnMlQ64IE/Wv8b5M30yYI/AAAAAAAAcSc/kqp6F6ahQKYt-ZFr342p47NnvMYRb7aHgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8453-007-Redstart%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvvnMlQ64IE/Wv8b5M30yYI/AAAAAAAAcSc/kqp6F6ahQKYt-ZFr342p47NnvMYRb7aHgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8453-007-Redstart%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redstart </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Phoenicurus phoenicurus)</i> (male) - Thursley Common</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>By 13h00, a while after Tony had departed, I was feeling rather tired and, as I was due at a wake that evening, and not wanting to fight rush-hour traffic again, I set off homeward. I got home a few minutes before 16h00, but was extremely tired and had a headache, so decided I should miss the wake. </b><br /><br /><b>I wish that Thursley was closer to home, and that the getting there was not so frustratingly traffic-bound. I only covered a minute part of the place and the Dragonfly Boardwalk which, I am told, is also frequented by lizards, sounds rather interesting. I could probably enjoy a couple of days exploring there, so maybe I'll return one day? Certainly I'd enjoyed this day, and Tony's company added to the occasion.</b><br /><br /><b>As for the Downy Emeralds, I am booked to be on a British Dragonfly Society visit to a private site in Northamptonshire in mid-June, where the main target is this species. I suspect that I'll not even do as well as this visit to Thursley as there will be a dozen of us, and it's never so easy when one is in a sizable group. However, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed. </b><br /><br /><b>Thank you for dropping by. Once again, I'm not sure at this stage what my next post will be. </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><br /></b></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-27462974742096801572018-05-10T13:17:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:39.792-07:00At Last! - on 8th May, 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Firstly - regular visitors to my blog might notice that I've changed the title at the head of this blog (although the web address has not changed). This was due to the fact that, although my interest in owls is still very strong, there has been very little owl content on this blog lately and the situation does not look as if it will change anytime soon. The current title may change again, however - I'm mulling over the possibility of changing it according to content, catering for four main themes - owls, birds (in general), butterflies, and dragonflies/damselflies. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Now to the subject of this post:-</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I had found it increasingly frustrating that, whilst people 100 miles (160 km) or thereabouts further south than my home had been seeing damselflies and also, more lately, dragonflies, I had seen none in these parts - neither had anyone else that I'd spoken to. A warm spell which started on Friday 4th May had me visiting one of my favourite haunts for dragonflies and damselflies, but I saw absolutely no sign of any action at all.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Sadly, that evening I managed to pull a muscle in my side which made it extremely painful for me to bend or sit down. I was concerned that this might wreck my ability to take advantage of the wonderful weather.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The following day (Saturday 5th May) I decided to check the situation and went to visit another favourite odonata location, taking my 150mm macro lens, rather than the 50-500mm zoom, to save on the weight I was carrying. I was fine when I was walking around upright, but bending down to do up my shoelaces was agonisingly painful and the pain from the slightest jolt when I was driving my car sent me into a cold sweat! Furthermore, I didn't find anything interesting to photograph!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The following day (Sunday 6th May) I was intending to join a Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust visit to Donisthorpe Woodland to survey for the Dingy Skipper butterfly, so drastic action was needed. Liberal applications of Ibuprofen gel, and regular doses of Paracetamol were resorted to and, coupled with care to find alternative methods to put on shoes and socks, things started to improve to the extent that I decided to risk it.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The group assembled at the entrance to the woodland, and the general consensus was that it was probably going to be too early in the season for the Dingy Skippers as everything seemed to be rather late this year. Whilst we saw several butterfly species, Dingy Skipper wasn't one of them and the only shots I came away with were of a Green-veined White - again I was carrying the 150 macro lens to cut down on the weight.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HUhjW2pCLvg/WvRCA0vcbqI/AAAAAAAAcMY/awI77OOueEUjyzLH2sjzOt-OyrXNtPqaACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7249-001-Grn-veined%2BWhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HUhjW2pCLvg/WvRCA0vcbqI/AAAAAAAAcMY/awI77OOueEUjyzLH2sjzOt-OyrXNtPqaACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7249-001-Grn-veined%2BWhite.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_8Tfxk7ynOI/WvRCA3hMy8I/AAAAAAAAcMc/VOC1S4IQ1CMj82dMtRZSR8ktcDfVC9t9QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7272-014-Grn-veined%2BWhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_8Tfxk7ynOI/WvRCA3hMy8I/AAAAAAAAcMc/VOC1S4IQ1CMj82dMtRZSR8ktcDfVC9t9QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7272-014-Grn-veined%2BWhite.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Green-veined White <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Pieris napi)</i> - Donisthorpe Woodland</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'm pleased to say that I was a little more comfortable that afternoon than I had been the previous day. However, I decided that I should have a very careful and relaxed day at home on the Monday, particularly as driving was still rather painful. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I was worried that I was booked to give a talk in Stourbridge on the Wednesday evening and, although this is only about 50 miles (80 km) from home it would be a slow stop/start journey of about an hour and a half. I wasn't sure that my back would stand up to it, although it was improving. On the Tuesday morning (8th May) I decided that I had to put it to the test. After breakfast I packed up a picnic lunch and set off eastward with the intention, if all was well, to visit Rutland Water to look for damselflies (and possibly dragonflies) and then Ketton Quarry to look for butterflies.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I took my usual owling route, and the only thing of interest seen en-route was a Red Kite flying around with a huge clump of nesting material - I wished I'd got the 50-500 lens! </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I arrived at the Egleton Visitor Centre at Rutland Water, to find that the dipping pond had a 'no entry' sign on the gate. Having enquired at the centre, I was informed that, as a volunteer, I could enter.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Almost immediately I saw a colourless teneral damselfly fly away from beside the water, but failed to relocate it. From what I saw later, I'm relatively confident that this would have been an Azure Damselfly - I'm confident it was not a Large Red Damselfly which was the first species I expected to find, if any!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I few minutes later I spotted an immature Azure Damselfly and managed to get some shots, although it entailed kneeling in the water at one point. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dvdgExAY3D4/WvRITcvxZ9I/AAAAAAAAcMw/2gwUC4TB1kMyoot3rU_QsM2hk93aSFXNQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7386-020-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bi-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dvdgExAY3D4/WvRITcvxZ9I/AAAAAAAAcMw/2gwUC4TB1kMyoot3rU_QsM2hk93aSFXNQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7386-020-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bi-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qVc3KUtzoK8/WvRITc6MZHI/AAAAAAAAcM4/XIx8a-IxjHUqxH4wHPuFfMibkRXO7kyzQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7402-026-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bi-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qVc3KUtzoK8/WvRITc6MZHI/AAAAAAAAcM4/XIx8a-IxjHUqxH4wHPuFfMibkRXO7kyzQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7402-026-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bi-m.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdcRKsQ0kqQ/WvRITeyfCnI/AAAAAAAAcM0/rPumUGZLOUoZva49Y1kgvaejebK7dkz9wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7424-034-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bi-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdcRKsQ0kqQ/WvRITeyfCnI/AAAAAAAAcM0/rPumUGZLOUoZva49Y1kgvaejebK7dkz9wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7424-034-Azure%2BDams%2B-%2Bi-m.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Azure Damselfly <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Coenagrion puella)</i> (immature male) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>After a fleeting glimpse of a Large Red Damselfly, a second one then appeared and settled on an inaccessible distant leaf - I might have got a reasonable shot if I'd had the 50-500 lens on the camera. It then disappeared, never to be seen again.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-isv4SppELpw/WvRJm-iyfgI/AAAAAAAAcNI/PMyMOQ0-w7QzMPNo0p1oDjCapoGUINuewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7436-003-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-isv4SppELpw/WvRJm-iyfgI/AAAAAAAAcNI/PMyMOQ0-w7QzMPNo0p1oDjCapoGUINuewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7436-003-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Large Red Damselfly <i>(</i><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><i>Pyrrhosoma nymphula)</i> (immature male) </span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span class="LrzXr kno-fv">- Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I then went off to the second, larger, dipping pond. Here I found several more teneral Azure Damselflies, and an exuvia of an Azure Damselfly. It was then that I realised that I'd forgotten to bring one essential bit of kit with me, and that was plastic pots for collecting exuvia!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Having struggled to get a shot of the exuvia in-situ (the first image below), I resorted to tearing off the leaf and placing it on a nearby table (the second image). I'm not sure if the middle left leg was lost from the exuvia, or whether the nymph had already lost a leg - I'm inclined towards the latter as it appears that the hind leg on that same side is shorter than its opposite number. I realise, now, that I should have had more time photographing this exuvia from different angles as I didn't succeed in getting it home intact. Note: this exuvia is only about 15 mm long overall!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DV-ABvRgrHc/WvRL5OE_YsI/AAAAAAAAcNU/Qko_bLje4509HKf87sLIesmdhEeKETG8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7464-006-Azure%2BDams%2B-exuv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DV-ABvRgrHc/WvRL5OE_YsI/AAAAAAAAcNU/Qko_bLje4509HKf87sLIesmdhEeKETG8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7464-006-Azure%2BDams%2B-exuv.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6-faG2uRRs/WvRL5bjf38I/AAAAAAAAcNY/19FFGo-xnQ0sffmAeXAD3z1uJgdstyOqQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7475-011-Azure%2BDams%2B-exuv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6-faG2uRRs/WvRL5bjf38I/AAAAAAAAcNY/19FFGo-xnQ0sffmAeXAD3z1uJgdstyOqQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7475-011-Azure%2BDams%2B-exuv.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Azure Damselfly <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Coenagrion puella)</i> (exuvia) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>As I had three more places I wished to visit, and there was little activity here, I didn't stay long, but set off for the Lyndon side of Rutland Water. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I arrived to the news that the third Osprey chick in the Manton Bay nest was in the process of hatching. I stood and watched the nest activity on the screen for a while but was then drawn to the small pond outside the visitor centre where I'd seen a Large Red Damselflies on arrival. The staff in the centre informed me that they believed that this was the first day of the damselflies there. As well as the damselflies, there were also several LR Damselfly exuvia around, but all too distant to get a decent shot, and the damselflies weren't cooperating either! Photographically it was a poor session, and it was starting to get a bit breezy.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uCfNAsGyRVA/WvRRSj6VrYI/AAAAAAAAcOE/UBE4yxTrcg4foWaI9RDLnDRc080SPMdgACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7561-006-exuvia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uCfNAsGyRVA/WvRRSj6VrYI/AAAAAAAAcOE/UBE4yxTrcg4foWaI9RDLnDRc080SPMdgACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7561-006-exuvia.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Large Red Damselfly <i>(</i><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><i>Pyrrhosoma nymphula)</i> (exuvia) </span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span class="LrzXr kno-fv">- Rutland Water, Lyndon Reserve</span></span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8WG2rmSxT_8/WvRRSRkp0-I/AAAAAAAAcOI/CwCu-JNZFtImlLwgLmlc7C9LM8XGR1CkQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7581-010-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8WG2rmSxT_8/WvRRSRkp0-I/AAAAAAAAcOI/CwCu-JNZFtImlLwgLmlc7C9LM8XGR1CkQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7581-010-Lge%2BRed%2BDams%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Large Red Damselfly <i>(</i><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><i>Pyrrhosoma nymphula)</i> (male) </span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span class="LrzXr kno-fv">- Rutland Water, Lyndon Reserve</span></span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>As I was on a mission, I didn't stop long here either. My next port of call was Ketton Quarry where I hoped to catch up with some butterflies and, if I was very lucky, maybe a lizard or snake. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I arrived, and quickly consumed my picnic lunch before setting off into this old quarry. It had got rather breezy here, so I headed down into a more sheltered area. This proved to be totally unproductive, so I moved up into an area where the fence line was often good for Green Hairstreak butterfly. It was very breezy here, but I did see a Green Hairstreak briefly, low down away from the fence line. Two Brimstone were also seen, but not photographed.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Exploring the quarry area immediately below, I only found another Brimstone and a Small Tortoiseshell. I came up out of the quarry, through the gate and then down the path beside the quarry. At the bottom was a sheltered area where a Green Hairstreak was holding territory and defending it against others of its kind. It was quite obliging for photography. Against some green foliage they can be hard to detect, except when they fly. However, sometimes their shade of green is different enough that they seem to stand out like a sore thumb against other greens. This tiny butterfly is only about 15 mm long (26-30 mm wingspan).</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6WeBku_DRIE/WvRczDbPBvI/AAAAAAAAcOY/Tegxb9oHOCoNGCpfuIIjXN0lhZYvewy7wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7619-002-Green%2BHairstreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6WeBku_DRIE/WvRczDbPBvI/AAAAAAAAcOY/Tegxb9oHOCoNGCpfuIIjXN0lhZYvewy7wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7619-002-Green%2BHairstreak.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CV8uECTXlkc/WvRczSld-sI/AAAAAAAAcOc/theZQKWKIUERV4b0b_tTFBR97NF993iLwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7624-007-Green%2BHairstreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CV8uECTXlkc/WvRczSld-sI/AAAAAAAAcOc/theZQKWKIUERV4b0b_tTFBR97NF993iLwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7624-007-Green%2BHairstreak.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9pogF9ikhU/WvRczUMrnJI/AAAAAAAAcOg/uBMaq8ZI4TARbGT8iqJ0MyzvN8cSbhMtgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7628-009-Green%2BHairstreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9pogF9ikhU/WvRczUMrnJI/AAAAAAAAcOg/uBMaq8ZI4TARbGT8iqJ0MyzvN8cSbhMtgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7628-009-Green%2BHairstreak.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Green Hairstreak <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Callophrys rubi)</i> - Ketton Quarry</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>This specimen has relatively sparse white marks on the underwings when compared to the norm.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I then set off into an area that I'd not been into before and, to my delight, found a Grizzled Skipper. I took a distant record shot, before going in for a close-up. Sadly, the butterfly part-closed its wings and almost immediately departed. I did not manage to find it again. This small butterfly has a wingspan of 23-29 mm.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLTXjMBw07k/WvRho0mVy8I/AAAAAAAAcO8/wxntToKdOacpvn27iD31Yi_WJyAcrIvngCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7667-002-Grizzled%2BSkipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLTXjMBw07k/WvRho0mVy8I/AAAAAAAAcO8/wxntToKdOacpvn27iD31Yi_WJyAcrIvngCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7667-002-Grizzled%2BSkipper.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8OqQe-bcy38/WvRhotcr2AI/AAAAAAAAcO4/TYE0Lr_pnvUKItKiVbT1Cr0Z7WOkMM8-ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7674-007-Grizzled%2BSkipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8OqQe-bcy38/WvRhotcr2AI/AAAAAAAAcO4/TYE0Lr_pnvUKItKiVbT1Cr0Z7WOkMM8-ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7674-007-Grizzled%2BSkipper.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Grizzled Skipper <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Pyrgus malvae)</i> - Ketton Quarry</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>My search for another Grizzled was unsuccessful, and so I decided to head back towards my car. I was pleased to see the Green Hairstreak was still holding territory where I'd left it - or so I thought until I looked at my photos. The butterfly that was there on my return visit was a different one - as can be seen from the unusual solitary white spot on the underwing!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VszZrfBy8EE/WvRm1nASxZI/AAAAAAAAcPQ/amqshJEPfOA80SgWuQ-i5uGA9A_FI6rKwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7727-028-Green%2BHairstreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VszZrfBy8EE/WvRm1nASxZI/AAAAAAAAcPQ/amqshJEPfOA80SgWuQ-i5uGA9A_FI6rKwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7727-028-Green%2BHairstreak.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>After my session at Ketton Quarry, I headed off to the small pond at Launde Abbey in the hope of more odonata, but nothing was visible, so I headed homeward.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Sadly, no owls were seen on the homeward journey either, but at least I proved that my back would hold up for an extended drive, so that I could head off to Stourbridge with confidence the next day.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It was also good to get in some practice with the 150 macro lens. I only got it at the end of last season so haven't had much chance to work with it. I've got a way to go yet before I get the best out of it.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thank you for dropping by - I have absolutely no idea what my next post will feature, but it's about time I got back to the birds. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-68836784082825822342018-05-02T11:09:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:40.131-07:00Whatever Happened to Spring? - 3rd May, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>As I write this, it feels as if we have been plunged into the depths of winter once more, with cold temperatures and the chill factor of stiff breezes taking us down to around 0°C at night and keeping us in mid-single figures during the day!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We did have some sunny and warm spells around the end of March, and then again in mid-April, but it's all gone to pot since then.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'm living in hope of a late spring which will instantly transform into an early summer - time will tell! In the meantime I'm hanging onto the memory of the previously mentioned warm spells and wishing I'd paid more attention to the butterflies that showed in our garden at those times. They included Brimstone (male and female), Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip (male and female), Green-veined White, and Holly Blue. I only photographed a Brimstone and Orange Tip, and got some poor shots of a Small Tortoiseshell which I won't bother you with here. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7I2YnYkpN3o/Wuc1g5UyBvI/AAAAAAAAcKw/323I10vdd_47w8MCpsCkyuKTac8WlZFvACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5721-003-Brimstone%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7I2YnYkpN3o/Wuc1g5UyBvI/AAAAAAAAcKw/323I10vdd_47w8MCpsCkyuKTac8WlZFvACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5721-003-Brimstone%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Brimstone <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Gonepteryx rhamni)</i> (female) - our garden on 25th March, 2018</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFyCC8n3gbY/Wuc2enJSehI/AAAAAAAAcK4/0aCgU32nhEsd06o4FLH8rsO1o5N9pLdlgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6762-002-Orange%2BTip%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFyCC8n3gbY/Wuc2enJSehI/AAAAAAAAcK4/0aCgU32nhEsd06o4FLH8rsO1o5N9pLdlgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6762-002-Orange%2BTip%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7xh2ZSLdNyM/Wuc2exRKnJI/AAAAAAAAcK8/GPypnfjsEqEtVxUFUykTmdR85AYVNwGDQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6801-015-Orange%2BTip%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7xh2ZSLdNyM/Wuc2exRKnJI/AAAAAAAAcK8/GPypnfjsEqEtVxUFUykTmdR85AYVNwGDQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6801-015-Orange%2BTip%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qu0Wct71fW4/Wuc2eyX9EfI/AAAAAAAAcLA/BvjG-CeUn3wZTmJUT6O7cBMdVMQga0gnACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6796-012-Orange%2BTip%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qu0Wct71fW4/Wuc2eyX9EfI/AAAAAAAAcLA/BvjG-CeUn3wZTmJUT6O7cBMdVMQga0gnACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6796-012-Orange%2BTip%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Orange Tip </span></b></span></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="LrzXr kno-fv">(Anthocharis cardamines</span>)</i> (female) - our garden on 19th April, 2018</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some extended warm sunny weather to re-boot the butterfly season and kick off the dragonfly season in these parts.</b><br /><br /><b>UPDATE: Since writing the above, the forecast has improved considerably, with the chance of some warm weather in a couple of days time. We had some sunshine briefly today (2nd May), after a morning of torrential rain, and were visited by a Holly Blue - not good shots as it stayed high up in the ivy and I could not get nearer than about 5 metres </b><b><b>to this tiny butterfly</b>.</b><br /><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxSDjKwZUeM/Wun8_0SA_vI/AAAAAAAAcLo/GRteBut2X882pbyaHL16GR4qqSx1vTcQACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6943-018-Holly%2BBlue%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UxSDjKwZUeM/Wun8_0SA_vI/AAAAAAAAcLo/GRteBut2X882pbyaHL16GR4qqSx1vTcQACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6943-018-Holly%2BBlue%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQKqoqCwCgo/Wun8_hiDMuI/AAAAAAAAcLk/j0-F1xWvVOEZfALSnxtLwyJVORsSuwJ4ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6962-023-Holly%2BBlue%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQKqoqCwCgo/Wun8_hiDMuI/AAAAAAAAcLk/j0-F1xWvVOEZfALSnxtLwyJVORsSuwJ4ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6962-023-Holly%2BBlue%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Holly Blue </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Celastrina argiolus)</i> (male) - our garden on 2nd May, 2018</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I'm not sure what my next post will feature but, unless I'm very lucky, it's going to be birds of some description.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thank you for dropping by.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-54277591430467895632018-04-27T10:44:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:40.470-07:00The Fieldfare Invasion - 1st to 4th March, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Thursday 1st March, 2018</b></span><br /><br /><b>Most years we have one or two visits by one to three Fieldfare to our small suburban garden in Leicestershire. This is usually at the beginning of winter, when we still have berries on our Rowan tree. It was, therefore, somewhat of a surprise when the spell of extremely cold weather</b><b><b> (commonly referred to as "the Beast from the East")</b> hit UK on 1st March that we had a Fieldfare arrive in our garden and take the last few shrivelled berries on the Rowan that had been rejected by the resident Blackbirds.</b><br /><b> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wcmeiI5oAUs/WtkIIsPQnOI/AAAAAAAAcHY/oU1fqwl85046ANb8OnkRxld_xxHNPjmFACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0664-001-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wcmeiI5oAUs/WtkIIsPQnOI/AAAAAAAAcHY/oU1fqwl85046ANb8OnkRxld_xxHNPjmFACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0664-001-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Fieldfare </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Turdus pilaris)</i> - our garden on 1st March</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b><br /><b>I quickly took a couple of apples from our fruit bowl, cut them in half, and put them out on the snow on the ground. Almost immediately, more Fieldfare arrived.</b><br /><br /><b>The apples were being fought over and we needed more, so I went out to Packington Stores to buy some. Whilst there, I asked the proprietor, Peter, if he had any old apples that were past their prime that I could feed to the birds. He hadn't, but said he could get me some early the next morning when he went to market, and they'd be in the shop at 07h00!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>By the end of the day, my counts of Fieldfare numbers present had <span style="color: red;">peaked at 14</span>. Here are a few images from that day.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e8lkGKkdpig/WtnJGgU7HqI/AAAAAAAAcHo/Q9ceSAVFUBYd9MxJ9lm-Am3qIokCLbdeACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0727-035-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e8lkGKkdpig/WtnJGgU7HqI/AAAAAAAAcHo/Q9ceSAVFUBYd9MxJ9lm-Am3qIokCLbdeACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0727-035-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2cWAgnc_8Ys/WtnJG9N-utI/AAAAAAAAcHs/Q7JAUFjMO6weBG7R6Jrb5p-v3As9OowAwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0811-044-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2cWAgnc_8Ys/WtnJG9N-utI/AAAAAAAAcHs/Q7JAUFjMO6weBG7R6Jrb5p-v3As9OowAwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0811-044-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5SCFFlrsVt4/WtnJG2DjP-I/AAAAAAAAcHw/LM3-sIfl0QchqMoZvXj0KQkVAnY8QzuKgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0988-134-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5SCFFlrsVt4/WtnJG2DjP-I/AAAAAAAAcHw/LM3-sIfl0QchqMoZvXj0KQkVAnY8QzuKgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0988-134-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WAi95cc5Moo/WtnJHRIFirI/AAAAAAAAcH0/rX0D15RXCNwLt79dNQLq574ofkthcyJ8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1012-153-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WAi95cc5Moo/WtnJHRIFirI/AAAAAAAAcH0/rX0D15RXCNwLt79dNQLq574ofkthcyJ8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1012-153-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eBkFgeb8DbQ/WtnJHnwTioI/AAAAAAAAcH4/bHeiocZ8vBgd8I0b81skAEA3CTzuFUgPwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1074-181-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eBkFgeb8DbQ/WtnJHnwTioI/AAAAAAAAcH4/bHeiocZ8vBgd8I0b81skAEA3CTzuFUgPwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1074-181-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lmC6fHbU99g/WtnJH9oPelI/AAAAAAAAcH8/a36iYyfzusYm5p8K0DZ_K0l7RWUmOBo4gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1153-235-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lmC6fHbU99g/WtnJH9oPelI/AAAAAAAAcH8/a36iYyfzusYm5p8K0DZ_K0l7RWUmOBo4gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1153-235-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Fieldfare </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Turdus pilaris)</i> - our garden on 1st March</span></b></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Friday 2nd March, 2018</b></span><br /><br /><b>I was out early to visit Packington Stores to get the apples. Peter offered me two boxes - one more than half full with (I guess) around 60 to 70 apples in, and one with around 40 apples in. I chose the one with less apples and was charged next to nothing for these.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Having got home, I cut in half around a dozen or so and placed them at various positions around the garden in the hope of minimising competitive squabbles. The Fieldfare came in greater numbers and, by mid-day, I was having to replenish the offerings.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>At one point I managed to count <span style="color: red;">33 Fieldfare</span> in the garden, but I suspect that there were more than this! Here are a few from this second day.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0WDgv3v7AO8/WtnNLctMpHI/AAAAAAAAcIU/aNy85bDHAuQxULzi-cwcbDmUzZjLc9olQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1235-043-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0WDgv3v7AO8/WtnNLctMpHI/AAAAAAAAcIU/aNy85bDHAuQxULzi-cwcbDmUzZjLc9olQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1235-043-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAQh_9KlvjU/WtnNfFLNNyI/AAAAAAAAcIo/AlN-mXeQq1s6WqAKUVbpaIihHLz8q20WQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1239-045-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAQh_9KlvjU/WtnNfFLNNyI/AAAAAAAAcIo/AlN-mXeQq1s6WqAKUVbpaIihHLz8q20WQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1239-045-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sO9qvV6QOs/WtnNLblz5sI/AAAAAAAAcIY/AJpMPbo2B002-cTdOhbcjiLUKasvX2oPQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1254-057-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sO9qvV6QOs/WtnNLblz5sI/AAAAAAAAcIY/AJpMPbo2B002-cTdOhbcjiLUKasvX2oPQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1254-057-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iX6mHxlELNs/WtnNMPUPXNI/AAAAAAAAcIc/d1wguWzxalQ9B1r_u4eLvACjHzHAZhYzACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1285-074-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iX6mHxlELNs/WtnNMPUPXNI/AAAAAAAAcIc/d1wguWzxalQ9B1r_u4eLvACjHzHAZhYzACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1285-074-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_9Y9qn8eco/WtnNMSwJA9I/AAAAAAAAcIg/wpgbgxy7xn8VrGDPOZtlpbbJch6QfnLPwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1293-081-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_9Y9qn8eco/WtnNMSwJA9I/AAAAAAAAcIg/wpgbgxy7xn8VrGDPOZtlpbbJch6QfnLPwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1293-081-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SxkhwCza-R0/WtnNNHXA3ZI/AAAAAAAAcIk/OsJy0JCQ4mg3MzSmDxFZKjN9ZTGNAWWOQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1399-145-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SxkhwCza-R0/WtnNNHXA3ZI/AAAAAAAAcIk/OsJy0JCQ4mg3MzSmDxFZKjN9ZTGNAWWOQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1399-145-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Fieldfare </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Turdus pilaris)</i> - our garden on 2nd March</span></b></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Saturday 3rd March, 2018</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>The snow was starting to disappear and Fieldfare numbers were down - at last some of the other birds that usually visit our garden were able to get a look-in! On this day we peaked at just 8 Fieldfare.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d_27JGO41gU/WtnzPw1a3iI/AAAAAAAAcJM/nkFNlF54jy06CTU--L0wq4vhamUXYiBqQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1515-073-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d_27JGO41gU/WtnzPw1a3iI/AAAAAAAAcJM/nkFNlF54jy06CTU--L0wq4vhamUXYiBqQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1515-073-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SgtxhmCyYZI/WtnzPztgbcI/AAAAAAAAcJE/bmwE0KTMrMEqNsENzpQ0IgCjmDdvoFZSACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1559-099-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SgtxhmCyYZI/WtnzPztgbcI/AAAAAAAAcJE/bmwE0KTMrMEqNsENzpQ0IgCjmDdvoFZSACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1559-099-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3hwiFdpS7CU/WtnzQ7eZhoI/AAAAAAAAcJQ/vFNLqeri248_T6ozU_T6zKtU3h61jr4pgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1588-116-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3hwiFdpS7CU/WtnzQ7eZhoI/AAAAAAAAcJQ/vFNLqeri248_T6ozU_T6zKtU3h61jr4pgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1588-116-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Fieldfare </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Turdus pilaris)</i> - our garden on 3rd March</span></b></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Sunday 4th March, 2018</b></span><br /><br /><b>There was no doubt that the Fieldfare invasion was almost over. We peaked at just 6 birds and by the afternoon there was just one left, then that one departed too. All we were left with was the remains of a lot of apples, masses of what must have been Fieldfare poo, but which looked like stewed apple pulp that was turning brown, and some wonderful memories of what is never likely to ever be repeated! It was amazing while it lasted! Here's a shot of the last bird to be with us.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GxTzodIk6pE/Wtn1FEJKgTI/AAAAAAAAcJo/Q4-sf1T5F2A-Yd1AE72Sjpyk4Bn_gGZdACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1604-001-Fieldfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GxTzodIk6pE/Wtn1FEJKgTI/AAAAAAAAcJo/Q4-sf1T5F2A-Yd1AE72Sjpyk4Bn_gGZdACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1604-001-Fieldfare.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Fieldfare </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Turdus pilaris)</i> - our garden on 4th March</span></b></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>At this point in time, I have no idea what my next blog post will feature.</b><br /><br /><b>Thank you for dropping by.</b><br /><br /></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-89535002952714681732018-04-18T11:30:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:40.812-07:00Another Scilly Sojourn (Pt.2) - 16th to 19th March, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r8C8MX9JCJI/Ws3hvDn3iSI/AAAAAAAAcGE/4NuCuzsNqkEkC9oLJqH1hHfrONBND42JACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5421-135-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="800" height="177" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r8C8MX9JCJI/Ws3hvDn3iSI/AAAAAAAAcGE/4NuCuzsNqkEkC9oLJqH1hHfrONBND42JACLcBGAs/s200/PEG_5421-135-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>This is the second part of my report on our visit to the Isles of Scilly in March. The first part can be found <a href="https://bing.com/2018/04/another-scilly-sojourn-pt1-11th-to-15th.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</b><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Friday 16th March Peninnis Head - Higher Moors - by Porthellick House - Porthcres</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">sa</span></b><br /><b><br /></b><b>After breakfast, I set off on the path up to Buzza Hill and then along the track called King Edward's Road to Peninnis Head. There are some pleasant views from King Edward's Road (possibly named because the mud is probably deep enough in places to plant potatoes!).</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPC9s_a3hG0/Wspv-tk-qSI/AAAAAAAAb7c/agQIF2KYN_4yjzKVGIfrMhXrLF7vQc3aACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3971-011-from%2BPeninnis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPC9s_a3hG0/Wspv-tk-qSI/AAAAAAAAb7c/agQIF2KYN_4yjzKVGIfrMhXrLF7vQc3aACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3971-011-from%2BPeninnis.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">view to The Garrison from King Edward's Road</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Before I got to the head, by the windmill ruin, I noticed a crow on a dry stone wall that was pulling at something. At the distance I was at, I couldn't tell whether this was animal or vegetable, but I suspect the former.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3wlfiSgaNg/WspwkTI4d2I/AAAAAAAAb7k/YfzsQ7SaUIkxEdxdV3yFzcTGqcQ4kVwZgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4013-016-Carrion%2BCrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3wlfiSgaNg/WspwkTI4d2I/AAAAAAAAb7k/YfzsQ7SaUIkxEdxdV3yFzcTGqcQ4kVwZgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4013-016-Carrion%2BCrow.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Carrion Crow </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>(Corvus corone)</i> - near Peninnis Head</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Just before the gate that leads on to Peninnis Head I noticed a male Stonechat on the other side of the field. Drystone walls on the Scillies tend to be a bit more makeshift and heavyweight than the refined structures found elsewhere in England!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk5f_wX_Fs8/WspyJGCcYYI/AAAAAAAAb7w/NZbdW0dnsHwhiXoxOKoVr0im7pGC2a52ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4025-004-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk5f_wX_Fs8/WspyJGCcYYI/AAAAAAAAb7w/NZbdW0dnsHwhiXoxOKoVr0im7pGC2a52ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4025-004-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Stonechat </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Saxicola rubicola)</i> (male) - Peninnis Head</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Passing through the 'gate' onto Peninnis Head, I found that I could get closer views of the Stonechat.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-izsArqpTKKw/WspyJQ2AW5I/AAAAAAAAb8Q/URm2uQ61zGI-lEOdJWQtKfWI4-ZlVkxEQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4046-009-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-izsArqpTKKw/WspyJQ2AW5I/AAAAAAAAb8Q/URm2uQ61zGI-lEOdJWQtKfWI4-ZlVkxEQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4046-009-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmS26-FzeFE/WspyJboSoVI/AAAAAAAAb8M/uJHTmEibNbs3KT_bxR6WpqChg7khQcb1gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4055-018-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmS26-FzeFE/WspyJboSoVI/AAAAAAAAb8M/uJHTmEibNbs3KT_bxR6WpqChg7khQcb1gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4055-018-Stonechat%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Stonechat </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Saxicola rubicola)</i> (male) - Peninnis Head</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Suddenly a female appeared, somewhat closer than the male.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ntGz_ESdvbs/WspyJnvXWLI/AAAAAAAAb8Q/UXF5FPH-qVQ74EQY9tm3do-qgEghu5KrQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4077-025-Stonechat%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ntGz_ESdvbs/WspyJnvXWLI/AAAAAAAAb8Q/UXF5FPH-qVQ74EQY9tm3do-qgEghu5KrQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4077-025-Stonechat%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wP4mlWNwYdY/WspyKAt580I/AAAAAAAAb8I/SFGUsVyEW0wCCE7C3j982X3bSSAdRwZ6ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4085-033-Stonechat%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wP4mlWNwYdY/WspyKAt580I/AAAAAAAAb8I/SFGUsVyEW0wCCE7C3j982X3bSSAdRwZ6ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4085-033-Stonechat%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Stonechat </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Saxicola rubicola)</i> (female) - Peninnis Head</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>One of the great attractions of Peninnis Head are the wonderful rock formations. The first image shows what I believe to be Pulpit Rock, the second includes Tooth Rock, and I suspect the third also has a name but I am unaware of it!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UeTtIhX81lg/Wsp0CmYfjqI/AAAAAAAAb8Y/YAWOLHwnoOQwER4A5QVN9Lvp5heBUL_UwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4092-003-Peninnis%2Brocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UeTtIhX81lg/Wsp0CmYfjqI/AAAAAAAAb8Y/YAWOLHwnoOQwER4A5QVN9Lvp5heBUL_UwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4092-003-Peninnis%2Brocks.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymNSUGcdNac/Wsp0C98zWuI/AAAAAAAAb8c/XF55Kx0dEOgCSupFZFxwvwbjboZGrWg_wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4097-006-Peninnis%2Brocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymNSUGcdNac/Wsp0C98zWuI/AAAAAAAAb8c/XF55Kx0dEOgCSupFZFxwvwbjboZGrWg_wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4097-006-Peninnis%2Brocks.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KW7mus6vwBU/Wsp0C4Aeg8I/AAAAAAAAb8g/7F6ZzCwZM9g569dm68a1qG4oJEzcRvwKwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4093-004-Peninnis%2Brocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KW7mus6vwBU/Wsp0C4Aeg8I/AAAAAAAAb8g/7F6ZzCwZM9g569dm68a1qG4oJEzcRvwKwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4093-004-Peninnis%2Brocks.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Rocks - Peninnis Head</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>There being little but the Stonechats around, I headed along the path on the west side of the head, </b><b><b>back towards base, taking a few shots of the scenery as I did so.</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VScljXCn_Ng/Wss1-SZ3OkI/AAAAAAAAb9I/IYznmDlVqb8IsKmwqYZ8LxxLj27q61ZQwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4109-016-from%2BPeninnis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VScljXCn_Ng/Wss1-SZ3OkI/AAAAAAAAb9I/IYznmDlVqb8IsKmwqYZ8LxxLj27q61ZQwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4109-016-from%2BPeninnis.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">view from Peninnis</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n21O8R5zPK0/Wss1-YmSvOI/AAAAAAAAb9U/NJvPDO59XSMlW_Zbu7M24sAs52XIdU42ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4111-001-to%2BPorthcressa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n21O8R5zPK0/Wss1-YmSvOI/AAAAAAAAb9U/NJvPDO59XSMlW_Zbu7M24sAs52XIdU42ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4111-001-to%2BPorthcressa.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">view to Porthcressa from near Peninnis Farm</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b>The girls had made other plans for lunch and so, arriving back at base before mid-day, I had a quick snack and, feeling lazy, phoned Toots Taxis to take me to the entrance to Higher Moors, near Porth Hellick House. I arrived at 12.15, and arranged for the taxi to pick me up again at 14.15.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I'd been told a Short-eared Owl had been being seen from the path to Holy Vale from this point. Never having taken this path before, I was totally unaware of the terrain it traversed. Almost immediately after taking this path, I found myself picking my way through densely spaced tree trunks in a very wet area. I persevered for a while, but could see no sign of the trees thinning out to give an area suited to a Short-eared Owl, so turned back and crossed the road to take the track which leads to the bird hides overlooking Porthhellick Pool.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I found the first hide full of Wildlife Trust workers on their lunch break. They were there to replace the boardwalk with an excellent recycled plastic version and were making a splendid job of it! I left them to it and headed to the next hide.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>There were relatively few birds visible, and little to photograph, but there were a couple of 'oddball' birds which I found rather interesting. The first was what I suspect to be a melanistic Mallard drake, rather than a hybrid, as it had all the characteristics of a normal drake other than the colour, although there was a very small hint of green in the head plumage. The lower female in the first image is also a little puzzling.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi3rShrdzc0/WstBncVdwrI/AAAAAAAAb9o/1BbJDGyzcRs_TnZBWV3ZXLDLHcr5furfwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4155-002-Mallards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi3rShrdzc0/WstBncVdwrI/AAAAAAAAb9o/1BbJDGyzcRs_TnZBWV3ZXLDLHcr5furfwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4155-002-Mallards.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Qss6JRRcg4/WstBnX8SovI/AAAAAAAAb9g/sF2oLCAY8b0TVKGgAzbXG4QB1N-JyK-KACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4145-004-melanist%2BMallard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Qss6JRRcg4/WstBnX8SovI/AAAAAAAAb9g/sF2oLCAY8b0TVKGgAzbXG4QB1N-JyK-KACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4145-004-melanist%2BMallard.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">possible melanistic Mallard </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>(Anas platyrhynchos)</i> (male) - Porthhellick Pool</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The other mystery, was a small duck with almost entirely black plumage which had a brilliant green sheen when the sun caught it at an angle. I'm assuming that this was either an escapee from a collection or a domestic duck of some sort.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ROUnLdhad8/WstBn4OLUcI/AAAAAAAAb-I/n2ay6Ekwh1UE2QFkWKNXAJPv40reut84ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4173-007-feral%2Bduck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ROUnLdhad8/WstBn4OLUcI/AAAAAAAAb-I/n2ay6Ekwh1UE2QFkWKNXAJPv40reut84ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4173-007-feral%2Bduck.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zstzswU4uFE/WstBoUMSShI/AAAAAAAAb-M/4zn9srG25DEJV9E3WG-2E66U8724dSUDQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4178-011-feral%2Bduck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zstzswU4uFE/WstBoUMSShI/AAAAAAAAb-M/4zn9srG25DEJV9E3WG-2E66U8724dSUDQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4178-011-feral%2Bduck.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">mystery duck - Porthhellick Pool</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The only other thing I photographed from the second hide was a nicely presented Moorhen.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1wPLjKNy9w/WstBnbsCtjI/AAAAAAAAb-A/012jobW7I8kRCl7Jt6AFgcj2OA9Lv4KUwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4135-001-Moorhen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1wPLjKNy9w/WstBnbsCtjI/AAAAAAAAb-A/012jobW7I8kRCl7Jt6AFgcj2OA9Lv4KUwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4135-001-Moorhen.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Moorhen <i>(</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Gallinula chloropus)</i> - Porthhellick Pool</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I took a stroll further along the path, to the bay, but didn't find anything of interest. I did, however, stop to photograph a caterpillar (which Bob Dawson subsequently kindly identified to me as a Ruby Tiger) and a bee of an unidentified species although I think it could be Buff-tailed Bumblebee (</b><b><span class="LrzXr kno-fv">Bombus terrestris)</span>, on my return journey.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Icno2idP-2w/WstBonh4xFI/AAAAAAAAb-M/I-L9Zg0WfCkHi5ZQnZ3p9N8T9hK9dOs5gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4182-002-Ruby%2BTiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Icno2idP-2w/WstBonh4xFI/AAAAAAAAb-M/I-L9Zg0WfCkHi5ZQnZ3p9N8T9hK9dOs5gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4182-002-Ruby%2BTiger.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ruby Tiger <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Phragmatobia fuliginosa)</i> (larva) - by Porthhellick Pool</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RUffZ2p1qKc/WstBoteaY5I/AAAAAAAAb-E/BUPfgRe63lQh6LyXQgWQsqobhLqFBzxnQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4211-009-Bee%2Bsp..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RUffZ2p1qKc/WstBoteaY5I/AAAAAAAAb-E/BUPfgRe63lQh6LyXQgWQsqobhLqFBzxnQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4211-009-Bee%2Bsp..jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">bee species - by Porthhellick Pool</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I returned to the first hide, and spent some time trying to photograph a Greenshank which remained distant. The results were greatly inferior to any images of this species taken in the previous few days so will not appear here. I did, however, get a few shots of a heron on the far side of the pool.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2tDvBA5hlx4/WstBows6i8I/AAAAAAAAb-I/mgYP-v_6CRs6AIXc_MffeLpb9kXWRjRKQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4324-006-Grey%2BHeron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2tDvBA5hlx4/WstBows6i8I/AAAAAAAAb-I/mgYP-v_6CRs6AIXc_MffeLpb9kXWRjRKQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4324-006-Grey%2BHeron.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Grey Heron <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ardea cinerea)</i> - Porthhellick Pool</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>It was fast approaching the time when I had to make my way back to the road, to rendezvous with my booked taxi, when a couple of gentlemen came into the hide and asked what was about. They then said that they'd just seen a Short-eared Owl from the road! They explained very clearly where they'd seen it and I beat a hasty retreat. </b><br /><br /><b>It didn't take too long to locate the owl, but it was two fields away and too far away, and too hidden by branches to get a photo. I took a quick decision and entered the near field, leaving plenty of distance between me and the owl, and took some shots.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EOCmI74yvLM/WstP1rd8v4I/AAAAAAAAb-Y/63sqkwkx2VcV__LyMOIkuPMNsnhhblw9wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4360-008-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EOCmI74yvLM/WstP1rd8v4I/AAAAAAAAb-Y/63sqkwkx2VcV__LyMOIkuPMNsnhhblw9wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4360-008-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Short-eared Owl <i>(Asio flammeus)</i> - by Porth Hellick House</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Due to intervening branches, I was getting soft focus and not a good view. However, by maintaining my distance of around 100 metres (measured on Google Earth) but moving up the hill, I was able to get a better line of sight.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-htWERfaAv6s/WstWl-_2S4I/AAAAAAAAb-o/R1UsSqIrVaAwzWQ1OeZomV9_mUCJ2TMnQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4391-029-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-htWERfaAv6s/WstWl-_2S4I/AAAAAAAAb-o/R1UsSqIrVaAwzWQ1OeZomV9_mUCJ2TMnQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4391-029-Short-eared%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Short-eared Owl <i>(Asio flammeus)</i> - by Porth Hellick House</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Having grabbed the shots, it was time to head back to the road. I was delighted at having achieved my first owl sighting on the Isles of Scilly.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>For the rest of the afternoon, I spent time with the birds at Porthcressa.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WVyheBF-36A/WstX31bdDSI/AAAAAAAAb-0/WoXO9eqcPksLSqPhoCofQdSzsl-abVRBQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4414-001-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WVyheBF-36A/WstX31bdDSI/AAAAAAAAb-0/WoXO9eqcPksLSqPhoCofQdSzsl-abVRBQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4414-001-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Iceland Gull <span class="st"><i>(Larus glaucoides)</i> - Porthcressa</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u0HZDDmEuAo/WstYSEfbOeI/AAAAAAAAb-4/AMoanhk-br4WsX4Wu6d8_HHGSw-5jn1hQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4515-013-Turnstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u0HZDDmEuAo/WstYSEfbOeI/AAAAAAAAb-4/AMoanhk-br4WsX4Wu6d8_HHGSw-5jn1hQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4515-013-Turnstone.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HZNaMCywmMU/WstYsSK2okI/AAAAAAAAb_M/I8uypDm2X0MC3mtTsGDX8oS03UkIO5yWQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4558-023-Turnstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HZNaMCywmMU/WstYsSK2okI/AAAAAAAAb_M/I8uypDm2X0MC3mtTsGDX8oS03UkIO5yWQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4558-023-Turnstone.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tHheEWoJBWk/WstYsZLtQCI/AAAAAAAAb_Q/qmc4BYpZ-0kff9UEJw-DRpxoSfHVVAZ4wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4604-042-Turnstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tHheEWoJBWk/WstYsZLtQCI/AAAAAAAAb_Q/qmc4BYpZ-0kff9UEJw-DRpxoSfHVVAZ4wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4604-042-Turnstone.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Turnstone </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Arenaria interpres)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rzw8t9BeMRA/WstYSXT_lvI/AAAAAAAAb_U/GTBGrJYl96oX695xQWCEGcf6H-HVusfBACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4555-035-Greenshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rzw8t9BeMRA/WstYSXT_lvI/AAAAAAAAb_U/GTBGrJYl96oX695xQWCEGcf6H-HVusfBACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4555-035-Greenshank.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jn1dd_e5u9Y/WstYTMPXSiI/AAAAAAAAb_Y/bYstdPxV8AEwu_Dt56mxxqxFY6CX1CKtgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4577-037-Greenshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jn1dd_e5u9Y/WstYTMPXSiI/AAAAAAAAb_Y/bYstdPxV8AEwu_Dt56mxxqxFY6CX1CKtgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4577-037-Greenshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Greenshank </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Tringa nebularia)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HjWJUQsC3sQ/WstYTpFaj5I/AAAAAAAAb_c/JaU27QHmf2QGqSXcRW0gvJA3oa4wuzwwwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4613-002-Pied%2BWagtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HjWJUQsC3sQ/WstYTpFaj5I/AAAAAAAAb_c/JaU27QHmf2QGqSXcRW0gvJA3oa4wuzwwwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4613-002-Pied%2BWagtail.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Pied Wagtail <i>(Motacilla alba ssp. yarrellii)</i> (male) - Porthcressa</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>That night we returned to the Atlantic for a most enjoyable dinner.</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Saturday 17th March Porthcressa</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>The weather had deteriorated somewhat, with a threat of rain and cold winds. I took the decision to stay close to base. Things started looking up, however, when, first thing after breakfast, I spotted a Mediterranean Gull out in the bay. Summer plumage for this species was a first for me and it stayed all day.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy0d49j7eVU/Wstir3rui2I/AAAAAAAAb_0/JiLk4lJF-H4Rvw5qWrVp7BupGvVjq-nwwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4704-043-Med%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy0d49j7eVU/Wstir3rui2I/AAAAAAAAb_0/JiLk4lJF-H4Rvw5qWrVp7BupGvVjq-nwwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4704-043-Med%2BGull.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x2tMd2LsjrU/WstiriMtv3I/AAAAAAAAb_w/YPGw3OsgwFAEs6aFJO2lw7gwGaFdhfmBACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4717-052-Med%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x2tMd2LsjrU/WstiriMtv3I/AAAAAAAAb_w/YPGw3OsgwFAEs6aFJO2lw7gwGaFdhfmBACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4717-052-Med%2BGull.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_iXNA2Bnew0/WstisJEVnVI/AAAAAAAAb_4/iONLeDj9mu8FkHSTFc41qGBlZgSO1Qq3QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4991-058-Med%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_iXNA2Bnew0/WstisJEVnVI/AAAAAAAAb_4/iONLeDj9mu8FkHSTFc41qGBlZgSO1Qq3QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4991-058-Med%2BGull.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Mediterranean Gull </b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><i>(Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)</i> (2nd summer) - Porthcressa</b></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I'd not been seeing as many Song Thrushes on the Scillies as on my previous visits, but I did manage some shots this day. The first was taken in the garden of our base.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy2Lm82W0ps/WstlbsiNWOI/AAAAAAAAcAQ/QK5fLO5ppnQ1MyNnBzFvRNdDwgQIeCZewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4730-007-Song%2BThrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fy2Lm82W0ps/WstlbsiNWOI/AAAAAAAAcAQ/QK5fLO5ppnQ1MyNnBzFvRNdDwgQIeCZewCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4730-007-Song%2BThrush.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QYyFU_ytUnA/WstldaiZLZI/AAAAAAAAcAo/DyQLPBLSLVEBHNtyu4Xg6GkFui9q6T05gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4924-025-Song%2BThrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QYyFU_ytUnA/WstldaiZLZI/AAAAAAAAcAo/DyQLPBLSLVEBHNtyu4Xg6GkFui9q6T05gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4924-025-Song%2BThrush.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Song Thrush </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Turdus philomelos)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>A Shag was out in the bay, whilst a Cormorant decided to be more obliging by coming ashore.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iOhb9qpjx8/WstlbvmFQyI/AAAAAAAAcBA/m1JlB7NWwjkGSwph6Tzw2Uj1-1CGbNJHACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4758-001-Shag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iOhb9qpjx8/WstlbvmFQyI/AAAAAAAAcBA/m1JlB7NWwjkGSwph6Tzw2Uj1-1CGbNJHACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4758-001-Shag.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Shag </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Phalacrocorax aristotelis)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rj6ao0_4pRA/Wstlx20luaI/AAAAAAAAcBE/X3Sv1Wa1iysyadB0dAFIWO_glZLVJv1SACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5040-010-Cormorant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rj6ao0_4pRA/Wstlx20luaI/AAAAAAAAcBE/X3Sv1Wa1iysyadB0dAFIWO_glZLVJv1SACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5040-010-Cormorant.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cormorant </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Phalacrocorax carbo)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The Chiffchaff put in another appearance and the Rock Pipits were ever-present.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLLdmeddPCM/Wstlbo-ldRI/AAAAAAAAcBA/yHNcb-cZjOUGga4uLXqKDVxlFRLwbomagCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4762-001-Chiffchaff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLLdmeddPCM/Wstlbo-ldRI/AAAAAAAAcBA/yHNcb-cZjOUGga4uLXqKDVxlFRLwbomagCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4762-001-Chiffchaff.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Chiffchaff </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Phylloscopus collybita)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8N0SQNbaku4/Wstlck-F-BI/AAAAAAAAcA8/g5zISSZrpEQUhZRUjnl9e4L36hJzxnmhACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4868-008-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8N0SQNbaku4/Wstlck-F-BI/AAAAAAAAcA8/g5zISSZrpEQUhZRUjnl9e4L36hJzxnmhACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4868-008-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Rock Pipit<i> </i></span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Anthus petrosus)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>However, I found myself spending a significant amount of time with the Black Redstarts</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPbZz12DBuw/WstlcEz5XQI/AAAAAAAAcBE/o9WaUBKpRgs6kQ3uGZorqHLkxcX4A2FFwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4770-005-Black%2BRedstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPbZz12DBuw/WstlcEz5XQI/AAAAAAAAcBE/o9WaUBKpRgs6kQ3uGZorqHLkxcX4A2FFwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4770-005-Black%2BRedstart.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R62VgYNkqvQ/WstlcYa1FSI/AAAAAAAAcA4/zZuljDETr3I6A1kdFsfhRwARX9CprTsVwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4783-010-Black%2BRedstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R62VgYNkqvQ/WstlcYa1FSI/AAAAAAAAcA4/zZuljDETr3I6A1kdFsfhRwARX9CprTsVwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4783-010-Black%2BRedstart.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ohnLEYkjfxg/Wstlc9a6sUI/AAAAAAAAcBE/OZFdlL0Zj4saALxtUSTjSI1oyyFLRyOpQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4904-062-Black%2BRedstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ohnLEYkjfxg/Wstlc9a6sUI/AAAAAAAAcBE/OZFdlL0Zj4saALxtUSTjSI1oyyFLRyOpQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4904-062-Black%2BRedstart.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6VK4KrJNhc/Wstlx4JzgmI/AAAAAAAAcBI/on6lpr9BnS0Ta9-Emm7lTOUOMz1Tj3hqQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4938-083-Black%2BRedstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6VK4KrJNhc/Wstlx4JzgmI/AAAAAAAAcBI/on6lpr9BnS0Ta9-Emm7lTOUOMz1Tj3hqQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4938-083-Black%2BRedstart.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Black Redstart </b></span></span><span class="st"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>(</b></span></span></i><wbr></wbr><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><i>Phoenicurus ochruros)</i> (female) - Porthcressa</b></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>That evening, I noticed that the Snowy Owl had been seen again that day - this time on Tresco. Furthermore, a boat (the Sea King) was scheduled to take a trip to Tresco, departing at 10h15. The slightly worrying situation was that snow was forecast to fall that night, and again in the morning.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>That night we dined in.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Sunday 18th March Porthcressa - Tresco - Porthcressa</span></b><br /><b><br /></b><b>We awoke to a light covering of snow - things didn't look too bad! However, I found that the boat would be calling at Near Carn on Tresco as it would be low water at that time. This would add another 3 miles (5 km) to my walk up onto North End - a walk that the last part of which would be uphill over relatively rugged ground.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>When I went out at 06h30, it didn't look too bad, but it soon started snowing heavily - this was taken at 06h49. </b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBtJrsFXBjU/Wst7y3XyXNI/AAAAAAAAcBc/6hOPbXH1cqsGsc9A6LUIqAGZhDVTZ82hQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5128-011-Porthcressa%2Bsnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBtJrsFXBjU/Wst7y3XyXNI/AAAAAAAAcBc/6hOPbXH1cqsGsc9A6LUIqAGZhDVTZ82hQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5128-011-Porthcressa%2Bsnow.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snowing! - Porthcressa</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>By 07h40 the snow had stopped and all looked rather beautiful.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2a6h7x4c81M/Wst7y5wIImI/AAAAAAAAcBg/edXadrOV8qYG18R6mxcRLC3w7pFmZOoDgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5148-031-Porthcressa%2Bsnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2a6h7x4c81M/Wst7y5wIImI/AAAAAAAAcBg/edXadrOV8qYG18R6mxcRLC3w7pFmZOoDgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5148-031-Porthcressa%2Bsnow.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jun22Ak8Mq8/Wst7y-jtfeI/AAAAAAAAcBo/msnHf1jv1OEPtxRevPHrKgn7LOIXF-qbgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5142-025-Porthcressa%2Bsnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jun22Ak8Mq8/Wst7y-jtfeI/AAAAAAAAcBo/msnHf1jv1OEPtxRevPHrKgn7LOIXF-qbgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5142-025-Porthcressa%2Bsnow.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Scilly Snow - Porthcressa</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I now had a dilemma on my hands. I only had lightweight walking shoes with me as the weight limit on flights to the Scillies is very low - I was going to get wet feet in the snow! I was also not sure that I was up to the challenge of what, to me, would be an arduous walk. Bob Dawson emailed me to alert me to the owl and inform me that there was a boat to Tresco, and both my wife and daughter were very encouraging, so I decided to go for it, on the basis that if it turned out to be too much I could turn back and await the return boat at 15h15. It helped to know that there would be an open pub and café on Tresco.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I headed down to the harbour at an appropriate time and noted Sea King in the bay with its two-man crew on board. They were busy clearing snow in the open boat. After a while, they brought it round to the quayside - the snow was still piled up on the lower part of the windshield.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fOfvyyqzh2g/WsuAdIIVXoI/AAAAAAAAcBw/6Uk5KHLKtR0zgVCcEGFByN939HM8u3pdQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5155-004-Sea%2BKing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fOfvyyqzh2g/WsuAdIIVXoI/AAAAAAAAcBw/6Uk5KHLKtR0zgVCcEGFByN939HM8u3pdQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5155-004-Sea%2BKing.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Sea King - St. Mary's Pool</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>When we came to board, we found the boat was full of snow, and the seats cold and wet, so I stood for the first part of the journey. It was a pleasant crossing to Tresco, and Tresco looked most inviting as we approached Carn Near Quay.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-38s-xayp5xE/WsuBwTOLelI/AAAAAAAAcB8/9WB-lPNzRd0MglY1VUknKJikGWwKQxJXACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5162-001-Carn%2BNear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-38s-xayp5xE/WsuBwTOLelI/AAAAAAAAcB8/9WB-lPNzRd0MglY1VUknKJikGWwKQxJXACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5162-001-Carn%2BNear.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Carn Near, Tresco</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>On the way up the road which leads from the jetty to the Abbey Garden I got into conversation with a gentleman who looked as if he too might be going to look for the Snowy Owl. As it happened, he was a teacher on St. Mary's and here to do some research for a forthcoming school visit to some of the ancient monuments on the island, but was quite keen to tie the visit in with an attempt to find the Snowy Owl. I was quite happy to follow the lead of this gentleman (Nigel Bray) and it was agreed that we would walk together.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>We took a slightly circuitous route, initially heading east and then doubling back alongside the north side of Great Pool, stopping off at the hides en route. It was good to see Sand Martin had arrived. We then made our way round New Grimsby before cutting up towards Townshill, and then towards Beacon Hill. Emerging onto higher ground, we had good views of King Charles' Castle.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-si2t0uJdZiA/WsuKE13aK0I/AAAAAAAAcCM/CgpEf7MObB8UYrHDQsXJ1E6lOsC_HjbVwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5175-005-King%2BChas%2BCastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-si2t0uJdZiA/WsuKE13aK0I/AAAAAAAAcCM/CgpEf7MObB8UYrHDQsXJ1E6lOsC_HjbVwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5175-005-King%2BChas%2BCastle.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">King Charles' Castle, Tresco</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We continued up to the castle, keeping our eyes peeled as we did so. Nigel had to take notes and photos of the information boards at the castle, and I searched the immediate surrounds. There were views down to Cromwell's Castle to the south-west.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VorXMv726TE/WsuLMQdIabI/AAAAAAAAcCY/xhHyXVBb0zIJZqr-UVzy4IQVKgxk0yxNQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5176-001-Cromwells%2BCastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VorXMv726TE/WsuLMQdIabI/AAAAAAAAcCY/xhHyXVBb0zIJZqr-UVzy4IQVKgxk0yxNQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5176-001-Cromwells%2BCastle.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Cromwell's Castle, Tresco - Bryher beyond</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We then set off north to Gun Hill where there were some great views.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKT3E7SnDAM/WsuOc2GQTrI/AAAAAAAAcCk/a-Hrdu7xA88IDBeJ5XSs_gLY2q74L_kCQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5194-006-from%2BCastle%2BDown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKT3E7SnDAM/WsuOc2GQTrI/AAAAAAAAcCk/a-Hrdu7xA88IDBeJ5XSs_gLY2q74L_kCQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5194-006-from%2BCastle%2BDown.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Men-a-vaur and Round Island from Gun Hill, Tresco</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>While I was busy admiring the scenery, Nigel spotted Wheatear and Black Redstart. Nigel seemed more interested in the Black Redstart, but the Wheatear was the treat for me.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BlyPQ20oji0/WsuWbvWhnII/AAAAAAAAcC0/lqJLBRIEXi09giYgeszvQj7SPnFj9uUuwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5200-004-Wheatear%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BlyPQ20oji0/WsuWbvWhnII/AAAAAAAAcC0/lqJLBRIEXi09giYgeszvQj7SPnFj9uUuwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5200-004-Wheatear%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8XoGIxm7y8/WsuWbqUl3II/AAAAAAAAcC4/NWeB6375x_IyxLOZeVCgM_P-3ZXlVdteACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5209-011-Wheatear%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8XoGIxm7y8/WsuWbqUl3II/AAAAAAAAcC4/NWeB6375x_IyxLOZeVCgM_P-3ZXlVdteACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5209-011-Wheatear%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wheatear </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Oenanthe oenanthe)</i> (male) - Gun Hill, Tresco</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>We headed eastward and were still having no luck finding the owl. Nigel needed to resume his other mission for the day, and so we said our goodbyes and Nigel set off downhill. I started photographing the wonderful scenery, and Nigel had not gone more than about 100 metres before he called out. I turned to see the unmistakable shape of a Snowy Owl fly across in front of him and settle on the ground. I took a safety shot before going to join Nigel.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6dcPMR30llQ/WsubCtTlBhI/AAAAAAAAcDI/xVYiOz2o_cwYB8cwrlktuzNzoCJP5hOHQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5257-014-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6dcPMR30llQ/WsubCtTlBhI/AAAAAAAAcDI/xVYiOz2o_cwYB8cwrlktuzNzoCJP5hOHQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5257-014-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snowy Owl </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Bubo scandiacus)</i> (1st winter female) - Tregarthen Hill, Tresco</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>As I slowly approached Nigel, the owl flew off and settled at a considerable distance. Sadly our view was directly into the sun, and photography was difficult.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMDrrl-poXE/Wsud4sqZMjI/AAAAAAAAcDU/6qafPR1sjoca1P2qjTPmLzxis8kqpqtaQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5316-050-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMDrrl-poXE/Wsud4sqZMjI/AAAAAAAAcDU/6qafPR1sjoca1P2qjTPmLzxis8kqpqtaQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5316-050-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snowy Owl </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Bubo scandiacus)</i> (1st winter female) - Tregarthen Hill, Tresco</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>We had a quick chat, and I advocated fieldcraft which I have successfully applied to photographing other owls, the main factors of which are: (1) try and avoid eye contact with the owl, and hold the camera to your face before turning towards the owl; (2) never walk directly towards the owl, but take a loosely spiralling path, or zig-zag path, which lets it think that you will walk past it at a distance (in the circumstances, the spiral was appropriate); (3) move quietly, slowly and steadily. In the event, this worked beautifully and we were able to walk past the owl and get some shots with better light. Here's a sequence that covers the event.</b><br /><b></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gf5iFeCs-Wk/WsuiZDn8mWI/AAAAAAAAcDg/i1ok1S8S1cUyzu-AVNBc_V6mgk1UUsiaACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5339-068-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gf5iFeCs-Wk/WsuiZDn8mWI/AAAAAAAAcDg/i1ok1S8S1cUyzu-AVNBc_V6mgk1UUsiaACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5339-068-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AaKlaS3xAM4/WsuiZKP2avI/AAAAAAAAcDk/hHBAW4cf5CEnQfu7YQHh7T037jrOa1GWgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5353-079-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AaKlaS3xAM4/WsuiZKP2avI/AAAAAAAAcDk/hHBAW4cf5CEnQfu7YQHh7T037jrOa1GWgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5353-079-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--TbIJse2R5I/WsuiZLx-GtI/AAAAAAAAcDo/grv05ogNZug7cCxhOkS5U5u7Km4MjGBsQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5397-111-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--TbIJse2R5I/WsuiZLx-GtI/AAAAAAAAcDo/grv05ogNZug7cCxhOkS5U5u7Km4MjGBsQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5397-111-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B7zIVhzFb6I/WsuiZ6GnNFI/AAAAAAAAcDs/NYfdt6XKeCMXbrLzmfWTOLv4owkJvB4JACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5411-125-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B7zIVhzFb6I/WsuiZ6GnNFI/AAAAAAAAcDs/NYfdt6XKeCMXbrLzmfWTOLv4owkJvB4JACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5411-125-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BktoQsNUP_8/WsuiaLJrP_I/AAAAAAAAcDw/n4GGrJQq3joYWNJHHwS7SmaTNvh4_HxBACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5421-135-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BktoQsNUP_8/WsuiaLJrP_I/AAAAAAAAcDw/n4GGrJQq3joYWNJHHwS7SmaTNvh4_HxBACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5421-135-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMG-DgfA3iU/WsuiaVySqTI/AAAAAAAAcD0/sg9MYptt1wgS7tgY2ANbae6C3uvcRqIHACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5441-154-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMG-DgfA3iU/WsuiaVySqTI/AAAAAAAAcD0/sg9MYptt1wgS7tgY2ANbae6C3uvcRqIHACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5441-154-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snowy Owl </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Bubo scandiacus)</i> (1st winter female) - Tregarthen Hill, Tresco</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>It was a version of that last shot which earned me <a href="https://www.birdguides.com/gallery/birds/bubo-scandiacus/969654/" target="_blank">Birdguides 'Photo Of The Week'</a>. We'd had our fill, and were ready to walk away when the bird lazily took to the air and flew eastwards up onto the top of a ridge - it was time to depart the area.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r-p7kHpO-4o/Wsuia9YcqbI/AAAAAAAAcEM/gtR1wc7ZBkQVEEOGZ2LQgd7EMZlboVyZwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5448-157-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r-p7kHpO-4o/Wsuia9YcqbI/AAAAAAAAcEM/gtR1wc7ZBkQVEEOGZ2LQgd7EMZlboVyZwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5448-157-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PdzOSU6XiGQ/WsuibMZbPjI/AAAAAAAAcEQ/zBtOf-o4fz8aPU5eQaA3nSM4VEt903FKACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5479-185-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PdzOSU6XiGQ/WsuibMZbPjI/AAAAAAAAcEQ/zBtOf-o4fz8aPU5eQaA3nSM4VEt903FKACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5479-185-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snowy Owl </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Bubo scandiacus)</i> (1st winter female) - Tregarthen Hill, Tresco</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Nigel went hurrying off to the south west while I made my way south. My target was to have a light lunch in the Ruin Beach Café on the eastern side of Tresco. On the way I took some more shots of the scenery.</b><br /><b> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWpSC7IYVZw/WsulKmlPQGI/AAAAAAAAcEY/arcjF-RxC6kF8evH_asqKUGPfiHStm6vQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5481-014-from%2BCastle%2BDown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWpSC7IYVZw/WsulKmlPQGI/AAAAAAAAcEY/arcjF-RxC6kF8evH_asqKUGPfiHStm6vQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5481-014-from%2BCastle%2BDown.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">view towards Northwethel and St. Helen's</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1PzbZatXZLk/WsulKj42edI/AAAAAAAAcEg/eVu4l6WABmspje8omARePq_LMwpP2HKXwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5486-019-from%2BCastle%2BDown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1PzbZatXZLk/WsulKj42edI/AAAAAAAAcEg/eVu4l6WABmspje8omARePq_LMwpP2HKXwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5486-019-from%2BCastle%2BDown.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Gimble Porth and Middle Carn, Tresco</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I didn't quite find the route I intended but ended back near Townshill, so took Back Lane to Norrard and the Ruin Beach Café . Here I had an excellent smoked salmon and cream cheese ciabatta with salad and crisps. The only downside to the visit was that the price for this programmed into the till was £1 dearer than the price printed on the menu, This was, of course, rectified without quibble, but I hope that they have sorted it out now!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I took a stroll back to New Grimsby and then back to the hide on Great Pool nearest to civilisation. There was little to see, but it was good to sit down and relax. As I left the hide I took a distant shot of a drake Pintail.</b><br /><b></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n7-n_IWu8NY/WsupsDcTGSI/AAAAAAAAcEo/Dv2n3xooFMcs9z6seZc8pM4s-7tc1T2SACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5513-005-Pintail%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n7-n_IWu8NY/WsupsDcTGSI/AAAAAAAAcEo/Dv2n3xooFMcs9z6seZc8pM4s-7tc1T2SACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5513-005-Pintail%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Pintail <span class="st"><i>(Anas acuta)</i> (male) - with Mallard - Great Pool, Tresco</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>When the time came, I made my way to the New Grimsby quayside, stopping to photograph the huge snowman that was starting to suffer from the thaw that had well and truly set in, and which someone had admirably set a Lifeboat collection box beside.</b><br /><b></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pZCsowBpbI/WsusOi6ohCI/AAAAAAAAcE0/ACbSOKsx75ked09SrOrfDbMD85RQ3hwBACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5516-004-New%2BGrimsby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pZCsowBpbI/WsusOi6ohCI/AAAAAAAAcE0/ACbSOKsx75ked09SrOrfDbMD85RQ3hwBACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5516-004-New%2BGrimsby.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snowman - New Grimsby, Tresco</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>It quickly got rather cold on our run back to St. Mary's. Nigel reported that he'd been back up onto North End later in the day and the owl was still on the same ridge.</b><br /><br /><b>Back at base I went to the sea wall to have a last look at the Porthcressa birds. A Mediterranean Gull was still there.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQ3CsymemHE/WsuuxyMB7bI/AAAAAAAAcFI/DmskKg4XeZEFOlglMPZX1FNOnJ6MKzhXACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5537-002-Med%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQ3CsymemHE/WsuuxyMB7bI/AAAAAAAAcFI/DmskKg4XeZEFOlglMPZX1FNOnJ6MKzhXACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5537-002-Med%2BGull.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Mediterranean Gull </b></span></span><span class="st"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><i>(Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)</i> - Porthcressa</b></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M_Pr5QdYQFI/Wsuux0JJDAI/AAAAAAAAcFA/Z-VIgY0LeXw-RJGQvrx4DhrnyaXyket-QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5532-001-Wren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M_Pr5QdYQFI/Wsuux0JJDAI/AAAAAAAAcFA/Z-VIgY0LeXw-RJGQvrx4DhrnyaXyket-QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5532-001-Wren.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wren (</span><span style="font-size: small;">Troglodytes troglodytes) - Porthcressa</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sA9fs6J9UCI/WsuuxyTkXCI/AAAAAAAAcFE/PWW2ir4zOUMjYcICVBf-qiwg3mnF_CpUQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5578-018-Black%2BRedstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sA9fs6J9UCI/WsuuxyTkXCI/AAAAAAAAcFE/PWW2ir4zOUMjYcICVBf-qiwg3mnF_CpUQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5578-018-Black%2BRedstart.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Black Redstart </b></span></span><span class="st"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>(</b></span></span></i><wbr></wbr><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><i>Phoenicurus ochruros)</i> (female) - Porthcressa</b></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>That night we had a hearty meal at The Scillonian club. It had been a fabulous day and an exciting ending to our stay on the Isles of Scilly.</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Monday 19th March the journey home</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>After breakfast and packing, the minibus came at 09h10 to take us to the airport. We arrived at the check-in desk to be informed that no flights were able to reach St. Mary's because of snow and ice on the mainland. Passengers for the two or three flights before ours were all waiting in the 'lounge' (for want of a better term) in cold draughty conditions. The staff were, however, hopeful that things would get moving soon. </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Two or three people decided that they'd already missed their prime reason for going to the mainland and were either reallocated to a flight the next day or (possibly) given a refund. People on an earlier flight than ours were given refreshment vouchers for the café after two hours delay. Eventually it was announced that a plane was on its way from the mainland. We must have been very lucky as the three of us were called to check-in to be on the first flight out - I don't think any of the others waiting were so lucky!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>We were just under the two hours late when we took off for Lands End. There was no wait for baggage and we were in our car within five minutes of landing.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>In spite of major road closures through snow earlier in the day, all roads were clear by the time we reached them, and it was an uneventful drive home.</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Conclusion</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>For me it was by far the most exciting of my visits to the Isles of Scilly, and the girls had a great time too. The weather was, technically, the worst we have experienced there, but the results for me were probably enhanced by the weather (definitely in one case!). Whilst, most of the time, I went off on my own, the girls had a great time together and the arrangements worked extremely well. I am, therefore, very grateful that friends Lynne and Roger gave up this week and we were able to take advantage of the vacancy.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I would like to thank the management of Beeches for an excellent stay at their property. My grateful thanks also go out to the wildlife/bird enthusiasts that I met there - Bob Dawson, Ren Hathway, Nigel Bray, and the gentleman that showed me round Shipman Head, Bryher (sorry, I didn't note your name, but please get in touch if you read this) - you were all key to the enheightened enjoyment of my stay.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I must make mention of a very special little girl on Bryher - Martha Eggins of Hillside Farm! This wonderful young lady has designed the most delightful fridge magnets which she sells in aid of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust (she raised £380 for them in 2017!). Sadly, I became aware of this the day after I visited Bryher. I was, therefore, extremely grateful to receive a fridge magnet</b><b><b> from Martha </b> in the post to my home (together with a wonderful card that she'd written herself) in return for a donation. If you get the opportunity, please buy one of Martha's fridge magnets - and give generously!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>The week gave me what will probably remain the lifetime highlight of my bird photography - Snowy Owl - in snow - on The Scillies - WOW, WOW, WOW!!! More on that subject <a href="http://bing.com/2018/03/when-everything-comes-together-mid.html" target="_blank">here</a></b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Thank you for dropping by. Possibly more snow, but closer to home, will feature in my next blog post.</b><br /><b> </b><br /><b><br /></b> </div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-36731478891204730522018-04-11T02:22:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:41.160-07:00Another Scilly Sojourn (Pt.1) - 11th to 15th March, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOtWgPjgxeI/Ws3Tta_MnQI/AAAAAAAAcF0/66FYmY4C0uoLJ6J2Hmkl3CaoG_oEMTGigCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2379-065-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="800" height="146" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOtWgPjgxeI/Ws3Tta_MnQI/AAAAAAAAcF0/66FYmY4C0uoLJ6J2Hmkl3CaoG_oEMTGigCLcBGAs/s200/PEG_2379-065-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>On a couple of occasions we have stayed on the Isles of Scilly at the invitation of friends Lynne and Roger, who had a regular booking at a wonderful beachfront property. Once was in October, 2014 and the next time was March, 2016. Lynne and Roger had a disappointing time in March, 2017 and so decided to give up their March spot. As Lindsay and I were hoping to get a booking at this property in our own right, with a view to taking our daughter (Melanie) and granddaughter (Georgie) with us, we were delighted when the proprietor offered us Lynne and Roger's vacated week.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>In the event, it was just Melanie that came with us, Georgie electing to stay at home with her father. Here is an account of how our stay progressed - <span style="color: red;">Warning, this is an exceedingly long, and profusely illustrated post! </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Sunday 11th March to Hayle, Cornwall</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Melanie arrived at our house at 10h00 and, having transferred her almost non-existent luggage to our car, we set off for Cornwall. Apart from the odd comfort break, we made a small diversion to the Craft Centre at Cleveden to visit Arnold Smith's leatherworking studio and also to sit and enjoy our picnic somewhere with a view. It was Arnold Smith's work that inspired me to try my hand at leather carving just before Christmas.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The weather was pretty grim as we arrived at the Travelodge just outside Hayle, and our plans were upset when we found that 'the Scottish restaurant' over the road was shut down for rebuilding. It was Mothering Sunday and we knew that many places would be packed out with families and young children. After a rest and a cup of tea in the Travelodge, we set off to find somewhere to eat. We had a couple of false starts and then found the Eastern Empire Chinese restaurant in Hayle. We all agreed that the food was excellent and I had what was probably the most delicious squid that I have ever tasted!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A few days before, I had renewed my lapsed subscription to Birdguides. I'd been miffed at going away just as a Snowy Owl was being regularly seen in Norfolk, within the scope of a day trip from my home. I was, therefore, quite excited this night to see that a Snowy Owl that had been on the Scillies a few weeks previously had been seen that afternoon on Bryher.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Monday 12th March flight from Land's End to St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly - Porthcressa</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We were booked on the 09h46 flight from Land's End for the long haul (just kidding) to the Scillies. We set off in good time and were glad that we were able to park the car less than 100 metres from the terminal entrance at Land's End Airport. Our flight was in 19-seater De Havilland Twin Otter G-BIHO, and the flight took less than 20 minutes! A novelty is the open view to the flight deck.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbqASBR10WE/WsUMgR9Iq5I/AAAAAAAAbyY/f9MGxnUPbf8ErGYSuy-U_SQYEy-t0d0GgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC04177%2B-%2BG-BIHO%2Bcabin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbqASBR10WE/WsUMgR9Iq5I/AAAAAAAAbyY/f9MGxnUPbf8ErGYSuy-U_SQYEy-t0d0GgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC04177%2B-%2BG-BIHO%2Bcabin.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Flight Deck - G-BIHO</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>We'd been a little concerned that it was rather windy, but we didn't experience any discomfort. I had a good view of the Longships Lighthouse shortly after take-off.</b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b><br /></b></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-713sEI1AFEo/WsUMimwO63I/AAAAAAAAbyc/IhuDc71q1e0l2S85Suxqi4XMP3osyEcNACEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC04178%2B-%2BLongships%2BLighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-713sEI1AFEo/WsUMimwO63I/AAAAAAAAbyc/IhuDc71q1e0l2S85Suxqi4XMP3osyEcNACEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC04178%2B-%2BLongships%2BLighthouse.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Longships and Lighthouse</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>We were taken to the property by minibus and left our baggage in the kitchen as we were somewhat too early to take possession and the cleaner was still in, but were told that all would be OK by mid-day (normally it would be 14h00). We then took a stroll around Hugh Town to show Melanie around and have a bite to eat in a café.</b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>Returning at 12h00 we quickly settled ourselves in and then I went off to check out the scene behind the property whilst Melanie and Lindsay went for further exploration and some shopping.</b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b><br /></b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>I found the situation on the beach at the end of the garden was a little different to our visit at the same time two years ago. The Rock Pipits were still there, probably in greater numbers, but I wasn't seeing the hoped-for Black Redstarts. </b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl1T1lkkHiM/WsURjNlsa4I/AAAAAAAAbyw/hcpIP5InoScezyzZRWD6LxmC0ZtSkJLwQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2190-003-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl1T1lkkHiM/WsURjNlsa4I/AAAAAAAAbyw/hcpIP5InoScezyzZRWD6LxmC0ZtSkJLwQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2190-003-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I02jUur6eVA/WsURjKIvqWI/AAAAAAAAby0/u10nEdEs9ngsAfUKv3tXEvHY9kpVtpLTQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2223-019-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I02jUur6eVA/WsURjKIvqWI/AAAAAAAAby0/u10nEdEs9ngsAfUKv3tXEvHY9kpVtpLTQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2223-019-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Rock Pipit <i>(Anthus petrosus)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>The sea was rather rough, probably because of the wind, and I can't resist shots with water action.</b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUDBtg8HDFQ/WsURk3E7MrI/AAAAAAAAbzk/E6U2OmYrVE8N85MYUSBjCz9YszKMd9E_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2383-010-Blk-headed%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUDBtg8HDFQ/WsURk3E7MrI/AAAAAAAAbzk/E6U2OmYrVE8N85MYUSBjCz9YszKMd9E_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2383-010-Blk-headed%2BGull.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udpfk8oXvws/WsURlH9Gf5I/AAAAAAAAbzs/03OW7R74vW4nfrkP7HNrvrqVk-v1q74VwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2386-013-Blk-headed%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udpfk8oXvws/WsURlH9Gf5I/AAAAAAAAbzs/03OW7R74vW4nfrkP7HNrvrqVk-v1q74VwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2386-013-Blk-headed%2BGull.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black-headed Gull <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Chroicocephalus ridibundus)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>Occasionally one would leave the water. I'm used to seeing these birds inland at freshwater lakes, and to see them by the sea in winter plumage was a bit of a novelty to me.</b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzvExPNDE7s/WsURlbL6PdI/AAAAAAAAbzs/WiIvqJc64-AK2_ebnFu1W9dPj5fN_YfGACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2395-014-Blk-headed%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzvExPNDE7s/WsURlbL6PdI/AAAAAAAAbzs/WiIvqJc64-AK2_ebnFu1W9dPj5fN_YfGACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2395-014-Blk-headed%2BGull.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black-headed Gull <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Chroicocephalus ridibundus)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>The real treat was to find an Iceland Gull there. I don't know my gulls, but suspect that this was 1st winter, moving into spring. This one stayed all week! I hid myself amongst the rocks on the beach to take these shots.</b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r1mf9lmoCkg/WsURjLOOS9I/AAAAAAAAbzg/5q58k1D7CcgOYD2dNcR7rfgzRO2kY_BBgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2255-045-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r1mf9lmoCkg/WsURjLOOS9I/AAAAAAAAbzg/5q58k1D7CcgOYD2dNcR7rfgzRO2kY_BBgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2255-045-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQDHcJoHmQo/WsUR21j61uI/AAAAAAAAbzw/xMVTWeakX5UroHztzTartqfL1YaCe3B5gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2379-065-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQDHcJoHmQo/WsUR21j61uI/AAAAAAAAbzw/xMVTWeakX5UroHztzTartqfL1YaCe3B5gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2379-065-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Iceland Gull <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Larus glaucoides)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>I'm not sure I have seen Greenshank on the Scillies before, but certainly not at Porthcressa. This one was also present all week. Again I was shooting from a place of concealment in the rocks. </b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b><br /></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7jUmRw8LaKg/WsURj6gAOfI/AAAAAAAAbzw/S5WJrbudHVAckyzgVe2z0L0TCQOHC_LhwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2336-020-Greenshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7jUmRw8LaKg/WsURj6gAOfI/AAAAAAAAbzw/S5WJrbudHVAckyzgVe2z0L0TCQOHC_LhwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2336-020-Greenshank.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fiR_ICpaeTA/WsURkTuOSlI/AAAAAAAAbzk/10J86qL_Nu86F-fYDy-FwJQViwDFqQZxwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2370-028-Greenshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fiR_ICpaeTA/WsURkTuOSlI/AAAAAAAAbzk/10J86qL_Nu86F-fYDy-FwJQViwDFqQZxwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2370-028-Greenshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Greenshank <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Tringa nebularia)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>The final avian treat for the day was the appearance of a Great Northern Diver out in the bay. The light was fading by now, but I was pleased to see it catch a crab - even if it was rather far away!</b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b><br /></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nC0oFIoM6Bg/WsURl8ielCI/AAAAAAAAbzo/0EppaYsJAAQvBX_ZoJvTjAE5DyKcVVdbwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2464-022-Gt%2BN%2527thern%2BDiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nC0oFIoM6Bg/WsURl8ielCI/AAAAAAAAbzo/0EppaYsJAAQvBX_ZoJvTjAE5DyKcVVdbwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2464-022-Gt%2BN%2527thern%2BDiver.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBs6V_eJqwc/WsURmKmgWBI/AAAAAAAAbzs/FsEKVSwzQ5ghUo912mYe_qWiYshv6e2tgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2531-069-Gt%2BN%2527thern%2BDiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBs6V_eJqwc/WsURmKmgWBI/AAAAAAAAbzs/FsEKVSwzQ5ghUo912mYe_qWiYshv6e2tgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2531-069-Gt%2BN%2527thern%2BDiver.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Northern Diver<i> (</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Gavia immer)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>That night we had an enjoyable dinner at the cosy Bishop and Wolf pub.</b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>No boats had run from St. Mary's that day, due to the strong winds, and so there was no update on the Snowy Owl on Bryher.</b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b><br /></b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><b>Tuesday 13th March to Bryher in search of the Snowy Owl</b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>A boat, the Seahorse, was booked to go from St. Mary's to Bryher and Tresco at 10h15 and return from Bryher at 15h30. After breakfast I headed down to the quayside with a picnic lunch in my bag as I was told that only the shop would be open on Bryher that day, and then only for a few hours. </b></b><br /><br /><b><b>As I waited on the quayside, several people, prompted by my camera, asked what I was intending to photograph, and where. I explained about the owl, and one gentleman offered to point me in the right direction once we got to Bryher. We called at Tresco first and then approached Bryher, passing a Shag in the water, and another on a rock, on the way in. Around the Scillies, the Shag is the most common of the Cormorant family.</b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DHKEVTrmcmQ/WsU3x4WXqWI/AAAAAAAAb0A/rLJr1Se8A1YFu_M8yXcIaxdOVIF0LFtbQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2570-001-Shag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DHKEVTrmcmQ/WsU3x4WXqWI/AAAAAAAAb0A/rLJr1Se8A1YFu_M8yXcIaxdOVIF0LFtbQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2570-001-Shag.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wN8A8yBWYaY/WsU3x_0wdZI/AAAAAAAAb0E/NPKqv9_4iWMkNiJjBzxrb-NAT8boOAsfgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2594-009-Shag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wN8A8yBWYaY/WsU3x_0wdZI/AAAAAAAAb0E/NPKqv9_4iWMkNiJjBzxrb-NAT8boOAsfgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2594-009-Shag.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Shag <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Phalacrocorax aristotelis)</i> - near Bryher</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>On landing on Bryher, at The Bar, the gentleman that said he would show me the way introduced me to a local birder (I regret that I did not make a note of your name - sorry!), and persuaded him to take me up onto Shipman Head to see if we could find the Snowy Owl. It turned out that this was the person who'd reported seeing it on Bryher on the Sunday! We made our way up onto the head and I stopped to grab a few shots of a Stonechat.</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv9bxyZ6mBA/WskOG8OrXGI/AAAAAAAAb1s/jf4_Tr9CI708ejTiaIdUXLVG4P-lLi6ZACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2602-002-Stonechat%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv9bxyZ6mBA/WskOG8OrXGI/AAAAAAAAb1s/jf4_Tr9CI708ejTiaIdUXLVG4P-lLi6ZACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2602-002-Stonechat%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Stonechat <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Saxicola rubicola)</i> (female) - Bryher</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>We searched for some time on Shipman Head, and came to the conclusion that it was not present, before parting company as my companion had other places to visit. </b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b>I took a few photos of the scenery from up on the head, before heading downhill. Many places on the Isles of Scilly have some interesting rock formations, and Bryher has its share!</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GD60ReQNQmI/WskONY8SiCI/AAAAAAAAb2Y/o01J62c9OtIs_bHOuPfWjiquwIYcR462QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2622-003-view%2Bto%2BTresco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GD60ReQNQmI/WskONY8SiCI/AAAAAAAAb2Y/o01J62c9OtIs_bHOuPfWjiquwIYcR462QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2622-003-view%2Bto%2BTresco.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">view over Kitchen Porth to Tresco</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-Oix9SmQPY/WskONeZ_2QI/AAAAAAAAb2c/FfCkFlr16hUWPUIhspC_VJeB9AirSlcAQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2625-002-rock%2Bformation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-Oix9SmQPY/WskONeZ_2QI/AAAAAAAAb2c/FfCkFlr16hUWPUIhspC_VJeB9AirSlcAQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2625-002-rock%2Bformation.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vqK0SFho1Gc/WskONNxV_3I/AAAAAAAAb2g/CZXaLt63m3Mi6sK_f85qsR9OZ3z4uN0tgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2626-001-Hangman%2BIsland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vqK0SFho1Gc/WskONNxV_3I/AAAAAAAAb2g/CZXaLt63m3Mi6sK_f85qsR9OZ3z4uN0tgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2626-001-Hangman%2BIsland.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hangman Island</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>In that last image you might just be able to make out the gibbet on the highest point of the island.</b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b>Having come off the head, I made my way along a muddy track until I reached a road by the Bryher shop. This was open for a few hours that day, so I called in and bought myself a snack bar and a drink before heading towards Pool, and the Hell Bay Hotel which was closed. I wanted to have a look to see if there were any birds on Great Pool., and one of the gentlemen painting the outside of the hotel suggested I try their sun deck. This turned out to be a sheltered piece of decking, just large enough for a table and two chairs, at the pool's edge. I sat down and immediately noticed a nearby Greenshank. There was also a distant Little Egret.</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iz3oUeyamAw/WskOOYreexI/AAAAAAAAb2Y/YN6Mngx4jaQJcjkchvL6aLSxaIhjhQ6UQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2644-009-Greenshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iz3oUeyamAw/WskOOYreexI/AAAAAAAAb2Y/YN6Mngx4jaQJcjkchvL6aLSxaIhjhQ6UQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2644-009-Greenshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Greenshank <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Tringa nebularia)</i> - Great Pool, Bryher</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S_WqXo6Wzbg/WskOOpywEdI/AAAAAAAAb2c/c1n1HXZh9cYU207ohq5nWUkzJP_KS_CUQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2661-009-Little%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S_WqXo6Wzbg/WskOOpywEdI/AAAAAAAAb2c/c1n1HXZh9cYU207ohq5nWUkzJP_KS_CUQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2661-009-Little%2BEgret.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Egret <i>(<span class="LrzXr kno-fv">Egretta garzetta)</span></i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"> - Gre</span>at Pool, Bryher</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>From here, I walked south to Rushy Bay and then round the south end of the island and up the eastern side until I got to Church Quay, where the boat back to St. Mary's would pick up. En route I stopped to photograph a few birds, but without too much success.</b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YgFFpIQCyMA/WskOOsDsctI/AAAAAAAAb2Y/ENXLASsvcyIawWRE2EUUkIiNOruk4o8OgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2694-002-Gt%2BNrthern%2BDiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YgFFpIQCyMA/WskOOsDsctI/AAAAAAAAb2Y/ENXLASsvcyIawWRE2EUUkIiNOruk4o8OgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2694-002-Gt%2BNrthern%2BDiver.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_Xj-d0hGZA/WskOPCUd_6I/AAAAAAAAb2g/0HwHOmCbC8Yt2RNpE3o1vlsbzBSzkbqRQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2700-008-Gt%2BNrthern%2BDiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_Xj-d0hGZA/WskOPCUd_6I/AAAAAAAAb2g/0HwHOmCbC8Yt2RNpE3o1vlsbzBSzkbqRQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2700-008-Gt%2BNrthern%2BDiver.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Northern Diver<i> (</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Gavia immer)</i> - Bryher</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>I didn't attempt much photography on the boat (the Seahorse again) back to St. Mary's, but did get a shot of a Shag having a wash.</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2_oGyG6BVUY/WskV6cU-ebI/AAAAAAAAb2s/wka1oK6jSK0o3czu7lMiaNsyONmWpLJtQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2721-002-Shag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2_oGyG6BVUY/WskV6cU-ebI/AAAAAAAAb2s/wka1oK6jSK0o3czu7lMiaNsyONmWpLJtQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2721-002-Shag.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Shag <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Phalacrocorax aristotelis)</i> - near Bryher</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>We were back in St. Mary's by about 16h00, and I set off back to base. I had a quick check to see what was in the bay and took some more shots of the Greenshank, and tried for some shots of Gannet, but they stayed very distant.</b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2amj7_ydxbI/WskXmccrwOI/AAAAAAAAb28/2BQDUkEk0fQk1twmqraGw1eg-e-d_O0FACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2785-002-Gannet.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2amj7_ydxbI/WskXmccrwOI/AAAAAAAAb28/2BQDUkEk0fQk1twmqraGw1eg-e-d_O0FACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2785-002-Gannet.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-seogWeH-Gj8/WskXmWFkW9I/AAAAAAAAb24/7w0v-NCUl28px2S-Ot3MqXC6vig2Rv7TQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2795-005-Gannet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-seogWeH-Gj8/WskXmWFkW9I/AAAAAAAAb24/7w0v-NCUl28px2S-Ot3MqXC6vig2Rv7TQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2795-005-Gannet.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gannet <i>(</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Morus bassanus)</i> - Porthcressa</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><b>That evening, we ate in, had a relaxing time, and pondered the dire weather forecast for that night and the following day - torrential rain and gale force winds!</b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><b>Wednesday 14th March the Storm</b></b></span><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b>We managed to sleep though most of the violent wind in the night, and I volunteered to venture out in the morning to get some needed provisions. I found that the main road through Hugh Town was closed off due to bits falling off the front of the Post Office. Other than that, all seemed OK although it was far from pleasant outside.</b></b><br /><br /><b><b>Effectively, most of the day was a write-off. The rain and wind was battering the conservatory windows so that it was difficult to see out.I spent time looking through my photos to date, and reading a book. Things had eased off a bit by lunch time, but it was still a bit wild as I hope you can see from this video, taken with my phone thought the glass of the conservatory (that's as much salt water from the sea as rain, running down the window).</b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzzCI1492OrF5eichrndyIlAKAx_tyU2_sCuv4VC43c6b9Aah1OaCSqfBLOMplvTiSfPnt_qHEoQGikre0-Hw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0' /></div><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b>Later in the afternoon the rain disappeared, and I headed to the path at the bottom of the garden to check out the situation. Huge mounds of seaweed had been deposited on the beach, and there were unprecedentedly large numbers of gulls around. There was also a worrying amount of 'plastic dross' that had been cast up onto the shore! I was relieved to see that the pre-storm 'regular birds' were still present, including the Iceland Gull. The sea was still rather rough. Here are a few shots (one of those Oystercatchers looks as if it had had a rough night!).</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2kLBqjvPgNo/WsnmxvjkGrI/AAAAAAAAb3c/VgFt2K9VSes36NkROeEbFNJG5dviRj7xACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2895-008-Tailend%2Bof%2BStorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2kLBqjvPgNo/WsnmxvjkGrI/AAAAAAAAb3c/VgFt2K9VSes36NkROeEbFNJG5dviRj7xACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2895-008-Tailend%2Bof%2BStorm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Porthcressa</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5wDJgLY3EXY/WsnmxMs9fZI/AAAAAAAAb3U/z66fBFbxrwcRbrM4V44o5xniixpui9Y5QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2871-015-Oystercatcherl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5wDJgLY3EXY/WsnmxMs9fZI/AAAAAAAAb3U/z66fBFbxrwcRbrM4V44o5xniixpui9Y5QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2871-015-Oystercatcherl.jpg" /></a></b></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2VRUkGY1mk/WsnmxGAoQjI/AAAAAAAAb3Y/ers4f7Of9EoSWNwT8SeSQbZSMnPD3-8RgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2847-003-Oystercatcherl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2VRUkGY1mk/WsnmxGAoQjI/AAAAAAAAb3Y/ers4f7Of9EoSWNwT8SeSQbZSMnPD3-8RgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2847-003-Oystercatcherl.jpg" /></a></b></b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fv4l97dESZY/Wsnmw2TWVNI/AAAAAAAAb3Q/4SoyPtvya1cT8o9-A8GAbYWs7vwz2DTdgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2859-008-Oystercatcherl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fv4l97dESZY/Wsnmw2TWVNI/AAAAAAAAb3Q/4SoyPtvya1cT8o9-A8GAbYWs7vwz2DTdgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2859-008-Oystercatcherl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Oystercatcher <i>(</i><b><i>Haematopus ostralegus)</i> - Porthcressa</b></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Sek_AF_aMM/WsnmxynXa5I/AAAAAAAAb34/2aX1YkOTO5k9my-6rv6bE4GLr4YTKEC3wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2909-019-Gulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Sek_AF_aMM/WsnmxynXa5I/AAAAAAAAb34/2aX1YkOTO5k9my-6rv6bE4GLr4YTKEC3wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2909-019-Gulls.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K12CzyN8Lhw/WsnmyMUTU3I/AAAAAAAAb38/ZcMtNZ_0pq4RfIxpzO-B3gvLCMnOQ8MqQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2928-023-Gulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K12CzyN8Lhw/WsnmyMUTU3I/AAAAAAAAb38/ZcMtNZ_0pq4RfIxpzO-B3gvLCMnOQ8MqQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2928-023-Gulls.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Gulls - Porthcressa</span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Mw3ojz8M5k/WsnmyZjkK3I/AAAAAAAAb4A/XH9nD8Jzgt80XPsnf69iIs927VVWOmbHgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2947-001-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Mw3ojz8M5k/WsnmyZjkK3I/AAAAAAAAb4A/XH9nD8Jzgt80XPsnf69iIs927VVWOmbHgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2947-001-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ct240SCVfYk/Wsnmytfme3I/AAAAAAAAb4E/qkodAO6H2zAPhR1kwshokDZvQTOBaTa1ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2963-008-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ct240SCVfYk/Wsnmytfme3I/AAAAAAAAb4E/qkodAO6H2zAPhR1kwshokDZvQTOBaTa1ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2963-008-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Iceland Gull <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Larus glaucoides)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>Whilst on the beach-top path I had an interesting chat with local wildlife enthusiast and talented artist Ren Hathway, who describes himself as a Draughtsman. It was a while later that I suddenly realised that, although I was staying relatively dry, my camera was getting covered in salt spray - not a good situation! - so I gave up and came indoors.</b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b>That night we had a good dinner at the Atlantic.</b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Thursday 15th March Porthcressa - Lower Moors and Old Town Bay - Porthcressa</span></b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b>We woke to a relatively fine day and I spent an hour or so, before the girls surfaced, washing the dried salt and gull poo that the conservatory windows were opaquely plastered with after the storm. </b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b>After breakfast, I spent a little time on the Porthcressa sea front before heading up Buzza Hill. It was good to get some action shots of the Iceland Gull.</b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztLjU3yX0mc/WsnsuBjsrvI/AAAAAAAAb4Y/_QM2rk1U8NgvbXa9t9scXZ-kzOiQLnWuwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3045-010-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztLjU3yX0mc/WsnsuBjsrvI/AAAAAAAAb4Y/_QM2rk1U8NgvbXa9t9scXZ-kzOiQLnWuwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3045-010-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ukIXdLLu5jk/WsnsuN0uiHI/AAAAAAAAb4U/Gl2RV86a4Iw55nmor6SonpUOjFazTfptACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3061-018-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ukIXdLLu5jk/WsnsuN0uiHI/AAAAAAAAb4U/Gl2RV86a4Iw55nmor6SonpUOjFazTfptACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3061-018-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3fLMrEzpC9I/WsnsuG4efhI/AAAAAAAAb4Q/5keUyxsyn7Ankivw6FiXMBKlOkL3QAi2QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3081-026-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3fLMrEzpC9I/WsnsuG4efhI/AAAAAAAAb4Q/5keUyxsyn7Ankivw6FiXMBKlOkL3QAi2QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3081-026-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t_B43odt2Is/WsnsupYQIMI/AAAAAAAAb4c/g4zoSBXsN8IOK_etoVgynl2pZD0JSPo9wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3082-027-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t_B43odt2Is/WsnsupYQIMI/AAAAAAAAb4c/g4zoSBXsN8IOK_etoVgynl2pZD0JSPo9wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3082-027-Iceland%2BGull.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Iceland Gull <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Larus glaucoides)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>From the path up to Buzza Hill I took a shot of Porthcressa beach - the yellow line indicates our base for the week.</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHUjZ9S7YIw/WsnuyT-amyI/AAAAAAAAb44/sS3Vu4HajK8kFLpsQfbBXp8KTPkFl-1IgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3125-002-to%2BPorthcressa%2B-%2Bproperty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHUjZ9S7YIw/WsnuyT-amyI/AAAAAAAAb44/sS3Vu4HajK8kFLpsQfbBXp8KTPkFl-1IgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3125-002-to%2BPorthcressa%2B-%2Bproperty.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Porthcressa beach</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>From Old Town, I visited Lower Moors. Having had some good sightings in this area in the past, I was disappointed by how little I found on this occasion. The most interesting part of the visit was watching a behaviour that I've not noticed before. Various gulls were coming to the pool with, apparently, the sole objective of taking a few minutes washing themselves in fresh water and then immediately departing again.</b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6k1w15Lj-kc/WsnwmZ-8NrI/AAAAAAAAb5I/6MAlBbppW-U9-IBXQa62-tTJVQQ56co8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3153-006-Great%2BB-b%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6k1w15Lj-kc/WsnwmZ-8NrI/AAAAAAAAb5I/6MAlBbppW-U9-IBXQa62-tTJVQQ56co8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3153-006-Great%2BB-b%2BGull.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RfJTkGoJqnM/WsnwmeBH9PI/AAAAAAAAb5E/fWh2p9cL-KQigrmPbos0ZlwHh4bRNO3vgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3155-008-Great%2BB-b%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RfJTkGoJqnM/WsnwmeBH9PI/AAAAAAAAb5E/fWh2p9cL-KQigrmPbos0ZlwHh4bRNO3vgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3155-008-Great%2BB-b%2BGull.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8FWeRH9a_KU/Wsnwmbf4HuI/AAAAAAAAb5M/gL4BlNqiuOYmdlY-26oh7i2OYlWSvbLEgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3158-011-Great%2BB-b%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8FWeRH9a_KU/Wsnwmbf4HuI/AAAAAAAAb5M/gL4BlNqiuOYmdlY-26oh7i2OYlWSvbLEgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3158-011-Great%2BB-b%2BGull.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Black-backed Gull <i>(<span class="w8qArf"></span></i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Larus marinus)</i> - Lower Moors</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>I didn't spend a lot of time here, and then stopped to take a few very distant shots of a Little Egret in Old Town Bay.</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bAE9E00_K9U/WsnxiyV_poI/AAAAAAAAb5c/n6ILE-VOjYw79supYjNhTgk1YXoQOtUMgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3187-001-Little%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bAE9E00_K9U/WsnxiyV_poI/AAAAAAAAb5c/n6ILE-VOjYw79supYjNhTgk1YXoQOtUMgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3187-001-Little%2BEgret.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Egret <i>(<span class="LrzXr kno-fv">Egretta garzetta)</span></i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"> - Old Town Bay</span></span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>After this, I headed back to base to join the girls for lunch.</b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><b><b>As the action on Porthcressa Beach looked potentially interesting that is where I spent most of the afternoon. The bay was looking decidedly more attractive this day!</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTJvWJAoB-4/Wsn_dCM1jCI/AAAAAAAAb6I/OzBi2bdXX_Une-3ZegFaCLcSir7JFZBJgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3580-001-to%2BPeninnis%2BHead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTJvWJAoB-4/Wsn_dCM1jCI/AAAAAAAAb6I/OzBi2bdXX_Une-3ZegFaCLcSir7JFZBJgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_3580-001-to%2BPeninnis%2BHead.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">view from Porthcressa to Peninnis Head</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>I had the good fortune to meet local wildlife enthusiast Bob Dawson as I stood on the beach-top path, and benefited immensely from this encounter - both at that time, and subsequently. Bob had spotted a gull that was puzzling him - it had a bill colouration which did not quite fit with the plumage. I have since sent a couple of images to Bob, who has consulted with gull experts, and the conclusion is that it's a rather odd Herring Gull! Here's a shot of it:-</b></b><br /><b><b><br /></b></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kqwN0Xpm_EA/Wsn_cK_EQGI/AAAAAAAAb7I/VtjdXioi3sIEaNtsdze6SknB5jXYoAD9QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3369-005-mystery%2Bgull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kqwN0Xpm_EA/Wsn_cK_EQGI/AAAAAAAAb7I/VtjdXioi3sIEaNtsdze6SknB5jXYoAD9QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3369-005-mystery%2Bgull.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Herring Gull <i>(</i><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><i>Larus argentatus)</i> - Porthcressa</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>A Little Egret was a bit more cooperative than they usually are at Porthcressa.</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3in954IdkLU/Wsn_bWK4vEI/AAAAAAAAb64/gsSQUKkehd0jvTsZxQybFak4TM9TAdmVgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3281-008-Little%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3in954IdkLU/Wsn_bWK4vEI/AAAAAAAAb64/gsSQUKkehd0jvTsZxQybFak4TM9TAdmVgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3281-008-Little%2BEgret.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Egret <i>(<span class="LrzXr kno-fv">Egretta garzetta)</span></i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"> - Porthcressa</span></span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>Turnstones are relatively usual fare for the harbour side of the narrow isthmus occupied by Hugh Town. However, they are not that usual on the southern side. These next two images show that the sea was still a bit rough at times!</b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZTTrfL31O8/Wsn_bTqxNgI/AAAAAAAAb60/t_YjVLWjHYkV4huwiE-datZOljNqGeFkQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3302-006-Turnstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZTTrfL31O8/Wsn_bTqxNgI/AAAAAAAAb60/t_YjVLWjHYkV4huwiE-datZOljNqGeFkQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3302-006-Turnstone.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uFCnXQmTbJM/Wsn_bIvwwzI/AAAAAAAAb7E/0nF-yYiiw6c0zKwm7GD8LHAJuNVsMsr1ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3305-009-Turnstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uFCnXQmTbJM/Wsn_bIvwwzI/AAAAAAAAb7E/0nF-yYiiw6c0zKwm7GD8LHAJuNVsMsr1ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3305-009-Turnstone.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Turnstone </span></b></span><span class="st"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Arenaria interpres)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>There were three Iceland Gulls in the bay that afternoon. Two were quite pale and unmarked on the head, but a third was rather darker than the other two. In this first image, you should be able to spot the two paler specimens.</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aMcrABEGktY/Wsn_cEuCTuI/AAAAAAAAb68/imSomLnNTUcA6FTtStU4cxyIdEld6dwFQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3520-084-Iceland%2BGulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aMcrABEGktY/Wsn_cEuCTuI/AAAAAAAAb68/imSomLnNTUcA6FTtStU4cxyIdEld6dwFQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3520-084-Iceland%2BGulls.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">gulls, incl. 2 x Iceland Gull <i>(Larus glaucoides)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>Here's a couple of shots of the darker bird:- </b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p1J-_rJJODs/Wsn_d5VnxgI/AAAAAAAAb60/jrSvF3DwL-0UdHQsfOIWedmuX12lFqvkwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3781-007-Iceland%2BGull%2BB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p1J-_rJJODs/Wsn_d5VnxgI/AAAAAAAAb60/jrSvF3DwL-0UdHQsfOIWedmuX12lFqvkwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3781-007-Iceland%2BGull%2BB.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-50K48IodnIE/Wsn_eCf9eUI/AAAAAAAAb7A/JLsnO5nQ4XwJbLFYIJqmHW-RMZQpshDdQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3785-001-Iceland%2BGull%2BB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-50K48IodnIE/Wsn_eCf9eUI/AAAAAAAAb7A/JLsnO5nQ4XwJbLFYIJqmHW-RMZQpshDdQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3785-001-Iceland%2BGull%2BB.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Iceland Gull <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Larus glaucoides)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>And here's a closer shot of one of the paler birds:-</b></b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4SaimUdgcY/Wsn_fKN34PI/AAAAAAAAb7E/nOgSjTIUff4lVGe7UhayixvMxD5c0F_3ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3829-107-Iceland%2BGull%2BA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4SaimUdgcY/Wsn_fKN34PI/AAAAAAAAb7E/nOgSjTIUff4lVGe7UhayixvMxD5c0F_3ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3829-107-Iceland%2BGull%2BA.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Iceland Gull <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Larus glaucoides)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><b>It seems that what was attracting so many birds to the beach were the many thousands of Sand Hoppers (</b></b><b><b><span class="LrzXr kno-fv">Talitrus saltator) which were supplying an endless source of food. </span></b></b><br /><br /><b><b><span class="LrzXr kno-fv">Other birds seen feeding included the following:-</span></b></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fSASMIRi_Vs/Wsn_cYl-rNI/AAAAAAAAb64/NBc5VZSk1jcVkq_0MTiB0FG2NDm7fRV_ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3545-014-Blk-headed%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fSASMIRi_Vs/Wsn_cYl-rNI/AAAAAAAAb64/NBc5VZSk1jcVkq_0MTiB0FG2NDm7fRV_ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3545-014-Blk-headed%2BGull.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mi4jH7TX6-8/Wsn_cqqckuI/AAAAAAAAb7E/s6asuhyKURYkGDCAfPr5Ctom5MSHJpFawCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3573-026-Blk-headed%2BGull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mi4jH7TX6-8/Wsn_cqqckuI/AAAAAAAAb7E/s6asuhyKURYkGDCAfPr5Ctom5MSHJpFawCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3573-026-Blk-headed%2BGull.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black-headed Gull <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Chroicocephalus ridibundus)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><b><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-um54nDNkrss/Wsn_dJWeMjI/AAAAAAAAb64/z1g5J3j477YUCs8_b1ZrqzPUU_Yun0yyACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3584-007-Oystercatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-um54nDNkrss/Wsn_dJWeMjI/AAAAAAAAb64/z1g5J3j477YUCs8_b1ZrqzPUU_Yun0yyACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3584-007-Oystercatcher.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Oystercatcher <i>(</i><b><i>Haematopus ostralegus)</i> - Porthcressa</b></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-la7hY0c-wGo/Wsn_dxopZoI/AAAAAAAAb7I/nBXUCg1GsLUTyhfPdhrQINqhphozLVBnACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3742-069-Greenshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-la7hY0c-wGo/Wsn_dxopZoI/AAAAAAAAb7I/nBXUCg1GsLUTyhfPdhrQINqhphozLVBnACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3742-069-Greenshank.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G2iqYaRghME/Wsn_diDwUnI/AAAAAAAAb7I/YVE4YVVQhp8EaklGHQ4Vy2kGISN1_KpuwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3664-034-Greenshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G2iqYaRghME/Wsn_diDwUnI/AAAAAAAAb7I/YVE4YVVQhp8EaklGHQ4Vy2kGISN1_KpuwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3664-034-Greenshank.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Greenshank <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Tringa nebularia)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>It wasn't just the water birds that were making the most of the Sand Hopper harvest.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XodrtL6QG1Y/Wsn_e682iBI/AAAAAAAAb7E/rfN86zF36sgJ3yPbZ9sfNYNZj8QJp0NWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3809-001-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XodrtL6QG1Y/Wsn_e682iBI/AAAAAAAAb7E/rfN86zF36sgJ3yPbZ9sfNYNZj8QJp0NWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3809-001-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Rock Pipit <i>(Anthus petrosus)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zx_YWsDa17I/Wsn_feMsxbI/AAAAAAAAb7M/_Q4gKHueQzMHIQ1kZ1lpXJjAY6mQuueKACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3863-040-Black%2BRedstart%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zx_YWsDa17I/Wsn_feMsxbI/AAAAAAAAb7M/_Q4gKHueQzMHIQ1kZ1lpXJjAY6mQuueKACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3863-040-Black%2BRedstart%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black Redstart <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Phoenicurus ochruros)</i> (female) - Porthcressa</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W5A2tfCzmg4/Wsn_fs4TqkI/AAAAAAAAb68/BvdyjRZnfnktAbCVbHcIO_DsFPC7KyD6gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3865-002-Chiffchaff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W5A2tfCzmg4/Wsn_fs4TqkI/AAAAAAAAb68/BvdyjRZnfnktAbCVbHcIO_DsFPC7KyD6gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_3865-002-Chiffchaff.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Chiffchaff <i>( Phylloscopus collybita)</i> - Porthcressa</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I'd identified that last bird as a Willow Warbler due to the pale legs. My thanks to Bob Dawson for pointing out the differential between the primaries and tertials, identifying this as a Chiffchaff.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>That evening we dined in.</b><br /><br /><br /><b><br /></b><b>This post is probably already way too long, so I'll save the rest of my account until my next blog post. It will include two owl sightings and a bit more besides!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Thank you for your visit.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-46538504634676832832018-04-05T03:40:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:41.504-07:00Cattle Egret - on 26th February, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZT0bFu-EXY/WsDZlN6kzPI/AAAAAAAAbxM/V4rC-ivV9gEtRueKX7hv7QtdjJQOZjBMQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9653-050-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" height="144" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZT0bFu-EXY/WsDZlN6kzPI/AAAAAAAAbxM/V4rC-ivV9gEtRueKX7hv7QtdjJQOZjBMQCEwYBhgL/s200/PEG_9653-050-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>A break in bad weather, some free time, and continuing reports of a Cattle Egret at Thornton, had me going to try and find it on this particular Monday afternoon. Cattle Egrets are relatively rare in these parts, and Thornton is only 13 miles (21 km) from my home.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Reports stated that it was being seen in the field behind Sharpe's Close. On arrival I found a firmly closed farm gate between me and a footpath that ran alongside the field edge. Going back onto the main road, and heading south-east, I found access to the footpath from the car park of the Steam Trumpet pub. Slowly making my way to the north-west along the path, my vision being limited by the falling-away curvature of the field, I was beginning to think I'd drawn a blank. However, on reaching another entrance to the footpath, I spotted a white shape between the legs of horses two fields, but only about 35 metres, away from where I was - the egret! I tried for a 'safety shot'.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMTatYIoKHc/WsDVPljrTsI/AAAAAAAAbwc/P5B-IM5L-bwY03m_8_c3pQW54A5yBjYUwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9571-002-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMTatYIoKHc/WsDVPljrTsI/AAAAAAAAbwc/P5B-IM5L-bwY03m_8_c3pQW54A5yBjYUwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9571-002-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cattle Egret <i>(Bubulcus ibis)</i> - Thornton</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I stood stock-still, hoping for it to emerge somewhere where I could get a clear shot at it. However, it didn't stay long before flying up into the adjacent field and starting to forage in the mud. I moved to the end near hedge where I could peer round the hedge and watch it at a distance of around 60 metres.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLNxzBKDRjo/WsDXLHWf1PI/AAAAAAAAbwo/Ip3O0-pM_6cjq9Pfh_xobsGDNyFPl9kvQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9607-013-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLNxzBKDRjo/WsDXLHWf1PI/AAAAAAAAbwo/Ip3O0-pM_6cjq9Pfh_xobsGDNyFPl9kvQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9607-013-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMu7i6b0y_g/WsDXLelgA0I/AAAAAAAAbww/KIbIHTTDsDEDxBZDJMiwZeibs3gqKca7wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9577-006-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMu7i6b0y_g/WsDXLelgA0I/AAAAAAAAbww/KIbIHTTDsDEDxBZDJMiwZeibs3gqKca7wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9577-006-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qkF5DzSRq6A/WsDXLGWsg9I/AAAAAAAAbws/ZHtyPfaiwzIXkBR55xY6khDudZh64HrRACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9579-008-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qkF5DzSRq6A/WsDXLGWsg9I/AAAAAAAAbws/ZHtyPfaiwzIXkBR55xY6khDudZh64HrRACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9579-008-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cattle Egret <i>(Bubulcus ibis)</i> - Thornton</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>After a while it flew off south east, over the hedge. I retraced my steps along the footpath and found that it had landed at the edge of the field adjacent to the end of St. Peter's Drive. I decided to hide myself behind a bush on the footpath behind Sharpe's Close, where I could watch through a gap in the bush, and wait in the hope that it would make its way towards me, which it eventually did!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>In the shots I got, you can just see that the bird has a touch of colour on the crown suggesting that it is heading towards breeding plumage. <span style="color: #ffd966;">- I've now been informed that this is a young bird, and not likely to be breeding anytime soon! Thank you, Noushka</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5smhRg_pUII/WsDZkwwF21I/AAAAAAAAbxI/k6cDUIdpIy40lrge9wY3TsNiBPkNKrzugCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9652-049-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5smhRg_pUII/WsDZkwwF21I/AAAAAAAAbxI/k6cDUIdpIy40lrge9wY3TsNiBPkNKrzugCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9652-049-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZT0bFu-EXY/WsDZlN6kzPI/AAAAAAAAbxM/GR5LW0Br2Ks0jJ99n0JBG0r3dQrdMJEUgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9653-050-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZT0bFu-EXY/WsDZlN6kzPI/AAAAAAAAbxM/GR5LW0Br2Ks0jJ99n0JBG0r3dQrdMJEUgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9653-050-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lSrM46a8KY/WsDZlZ6-IhI/AAAAAAAAbxQ/5hLJ-nG7SskcE-CFzLygj9uF_GPjBkgvwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9661-056-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lSrM46a8KY/WsDZlZ6-IhI/AAAAAAAAbxQ/5hLJ-nG7SskcE-CFzLygj9uF_GPjBkgvwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9661-056-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kmHZjmucxyE/WsDZk_KURbI/AAAAAAAAbxE/ez4KkbEkj0Q7-otU6XHA4jzulJ7QddVJACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9659-054-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kmHZjmucxyE/WsDZk_KURbI/AAAAAAAAbxE/ez4KkbEkj0Q7-otU6XHA4jzulJ7QddVJACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9659-054-Cattle%2BEgret.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cattle Egret <i>(Bubulcus ibis)</i> - Thornton</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Having wandered towards me, it then wandered back again and over the brow of the field and out of sight. I waited a while, and then eventually saw it flying southwards, over the houses. As a very cold wind had suddenly arrived, accompanied by dull weather I came to the conclusion that it was time to go.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'd not been to Kelham Bridge nature reserve for a while, so decided to call in there on my way back. It started to snow as I reached the first hide, and no birds were visible, other than a few tits at the feeders. There was plenty of ice on the water, and the sun was, amazingly, still shining, although the skies were dark in the distance!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6SpRbnKJNk/WsDcX6aGBRI/AAAAAAAAbxk/x6eAxcmwlDofCO3QdwZzTWDvudiJfZIjwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9673-002-from%2B1st%2Bhide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6SpRbnKJNk/WsDcX6aGBRI/AAAAAAAAbxk/x6eAxcmwlDofCO3QdwZzTWDvudiJfZIjwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9673-002-from%2B1st%2Bhide.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">from the first hide - Kelham Bridge</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>There was little of interest from the second hide, also. Not wanting to come away empty-handed, I took a few shots of the Shovelers there.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r1cTB0T7hDQ/WsDdUtROthI/AAAAAAAAbxs/ezfwIy21uhwstaCeZptytFnUpMnfJf7RwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9716-003-Shoveler%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r1cTB0T7hDQ/WsDdUtROthI/AAAAAAAAbxs/ezfwIy21uhwstaCeZptytFnUpMnfJf7RwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9716-003-Shoveler%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Shoveler <i>(Anas clypeata)</i> (female) - Kelham Bridge</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pr_qWUsBbU8/WsDdU0eoFGI/AAAAAAAAbxw/yu5NlOXJYloC8QVakG2VSdBMw3eM-7xHACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9738-024-Shoveler%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pr_qWUsBbU8/WsDdU0eoFGI/AAAAAAAAbxw/yu5NlOXJYloC8QVakG2VSdBMw3eM-7xHACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9738-024-Shoveler%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Shoveler <i>(Anas clypeata)</i> (male) - Kelham Bridge</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It suddenly went dark and heavy snow started falling. Time to go again. I had a good covering of snow by the time I got to the car, and was glad of the car's efficient heater!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It had been a short afternoon's birding, but an enjoyable and rewarding one.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'm relatively sure that my next post will be on my visit to the Isles of Scilly.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thank you for dropping by.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-44661483959028398512018-03-29T03:08:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:41.843-07:00When Everything Comes Together - mid-March, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Some of you will be aware that I was on a family holiday to the Isles of Scilly in the middle of March. I also know that a few of you are aware that I had one particularly exciting experience during that stay.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>There's a build up to this story which will feature in a future post, when I have finished processing all the photos I took during the stay. Here, however, I'll cut to the chase.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Saturday, 17th March</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A report appeared on Birdguides saying that a Snowy Owl had been seen that day on Tresco, North End. I'd already had an unsuccessful attempt at this bird on the Tuesday, after it had been reported as being on Bryher. I made a quick check down at the harbour and found that, coincidentally, a St. Mary's Boatmens' boat was going to Tresco for the day the next day, departing at 10.15. What is more, a check of the local weather forecast revealed that there would be very cold conditions overnight with a chance of snow. It sounded tempting!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Sunday, 18th March</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We woke up to a light covering of snow. I checked and found that the boat would drop off at Carn Near Quay at the southern tip of the island. This meant more than doubling the walk that I would have to get to the north end of the island compared with that from a drop-off at New Grimsby. I found the prospect of what I thought would be a six mile (9 km) walk, a significant part of which would be over rough terrain, a little daunting. It had been a long while since I had walked that distance, and I didn't have waterproof boots.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I went out to take some photos in the snow behind the property, and came back just as the snow started falling really heavily. I returned to find an email from Bob Dawson informing me of the owl, and of the boat times. Happily, my wife and daughter both encouraged me to 'go for it' and, with iron rations in my pocket, I set off.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>On the boat, I noted one other person with binoculars. This turned out to be a local nature lover and teacher, Nigel Bray, who was going over to Tresco to do some work at North End in connection with a school trip the following week, but who also intended to look for the owl.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We took a circuitous walk to North End and spent some time searching. We'd given up, and said our goodbyes as Nigel needed to continue with his work, and I was taking some landscape images when Nigel shouted from about 100 metres down the path as the Snowy Owl flew across in front of him.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>This gave me what will possibly be my bird images of a lifetime. Snow in the Scillies - almost unheard of. Snowy Owl in the Scillies - this is the third in 10 years. Photos of a Snowy Owl in snow in the Scillies - my dream came true, and I'm still buzzing with excitement!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>More details will be in my account of the full trip to the Scillies in a week or two.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Coming up to date</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Having had a more than encouraging response to one of my Snowy Owl images that I posted on Twitter, I decided to submit one to Birdguides a week ago. Yesterday I was notified that I'd got POTW (Photo of the Week). This also is something that I'd dreamed of achieving one day. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>My extremely grateful thanks to Bob Dawson for his encouragement, to Nigel Bray for spotting the bird, to all the lovely people who have made kind comments about my Snowy Owl photo, and to Steve Young at Birdguides for his citation, my reaction to which was much the same as my reaction was after seeing and photographing the bird - frequent chuckles interspersed with holding back tears of joy!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Here's the citation:</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Author: Steve Young<br />Comment: A Snowy Owl posing nicely on what looks to be the Arctic tundra in the heart of winter takes this week's winning spot ... apart from this striking image was actually taken by Richard Pegler on Tresco, Isles of Scilly, in mid-March! Snow on Scilly is rare enough, perhaps even rarer than a Snowy Owl, and the two combined together have produced a unique image that will stand the test of time.<br /><br />This is a truly lovely photo. The owl has assumed a nice pose and appears relaxed, with the head turned towards the camera, yellow eyes open but not alarmed. Exposure is spot on, with detail in the plumage and the landscape is perfect. One of those that I look at and think "I wish I'd taken that", particularly as both the owl and the snow would have been Scilly ticks for me! Congratulations to Richard on his winning image, taken with the 500 mm end of a 50-500mm zoom, at 1/640 th second, f11 on ISO640.<br /></span></span> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>And here's the image (<span style="color: yellow;">please 'click the pic' to see it at the size it was submitted at</span>):</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-ghdflHDyQ/WruzWqFBhzI/AAAAAAAAbvw/2lUweSNLGBkq0HgLtjjiKJaDfIOoCSh4QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5441-154-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf%2B%25281400%2Bpixel%2Bwidth%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1400" height="592" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-ghdflHDyQ/WruzWqFBhzI/AAAAAAAAbvw/2lUweSNLGBkq0HgLtjjiKJaDfIOoCSh4QCLcBGAs/s640/PEG_5441-154-Snowy%2BOwl%2B-%2Bf%2B%25281400%2Bpixel%2Bwidth%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I hope that you will excuse me 'blowing my own trumpet', but I am rather excited. This will probably remain the absolute highlight of my wildlife photography efforts!</b></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I should be back to normal for my next post! </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-27104791287326052252018-03-22T11:53:00.000-07:002018-08-01T03:58:42.182-07:00Turned Out Nice Again! - on 8th March, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvqOoph_DPQ/WrP7-jtS-cI/AAAAAAAAbvU/od84U0YYQkMkN3Lj_bPAlOS7RlqdX6fbACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2118-067-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="800" height="173" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvqOoph_DPQ/WrP7-jtS-cI/AAAAAAAAbvU/od84U0YYQkMkN3Lj_bPAlOS7RlqdX6fbACLcBGAs/s200/PEG_2118-067-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>If I've been a bit quiet in Bloggerland for a couple of weeks, it's because I have been away on the Isles of Scilly for a family holiday. I'm back in the saddle now, and feverishly working through the several thousand frames I fired off whilst there - hopefully there will be a few good ones (he said with a grin on his face!).</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>This post concerns a visit to Rutland Water, prompted by an attendance at the Volunteer Training Centre for the pre-season meeting for volunteers on the Rutland Osprey Project. As this meeting was scheduled to start at 18h00 so I set off mid-afternoon with the intention of visiting some of my Little Owl sites as the weather was fine.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Unfortunately, as I headed eastward across the county, the weather got more and more windy, and I realised I had little hope of finding an owl in the cold and windy conditions.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Near Queniborough, a Buzzard flew up from beside the road, but my attempts at photography were rather poor. Further on, near Burrough on the Hill a spotted a distant pair of Buzzards having a bit of an altercation. Here are a couple of images of that, although I wish I had been somewhat nearer the action.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2leZL64logw/WrPXh90fuTI/AAAAAAAAbsQ/eauKpREfECc77Yg1eMABvjllL5aPO2CjgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1680-005-Buzzards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2leZL64logw/WrPXh90fuTI/AAAAAAAAbsQ/eauKpREfECc77Yg1eMABvjllL5aPO2CjgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1680-005-Buzzards.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q00enJHS0HE/WrPXTuklg7I/AAAAAAAAbsM/WpHJ3lNqhlUV2-qAPXp-uY_gxCMEKqLfACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1689-013-Buzzards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q00enJHS0HE/WrPXTuklg7I/AAAAAAAAbsM/WpHJ3lNqhlUV2-qAPXp-uY_gxCMEKqLfACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1689-013-Buzzards.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Buzzard <i>(Buteo buteo)</i> - near Burrough on the Hill</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> To my surprise, I found an owl tucked in away from the wind at my Little Owl site No.37.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aMUs_FdzoTw/WrPYVwkoX8I/AAAAAAAAbsg/Sx2_HSXYEZE0ZPuISz_WKUzlbIpF0VSSgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1712-013-LO%2B-%2BRP37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aMUs_FdzoTw/WrPYVwkoX8I/AAAAAAAAbsg/Sx2_HSXYEZE0ZPuISz_WKUzlbIpF0VSSgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1712-013-LO%2B-%2BRP37.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Owl <i>(Athene noctua)</i> - my Site No.37</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>There were no further owl sightings before I got to Rutland Water, where I called in at the Egleton Visitor Centre, enjoyed my first ice cream of the Rutland season, and then set off northwards.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Cutting a long story short, it seemed to be unusually quiet on the bird front on this part of the reserve. I spotted little of interest on Lagoon 4, and only photographed a Pochard.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4-USEa3yxa0/WrPaERbRGVI/AAAAAAAAbss/BrWNgPLWmYUo2aSetRLZ9JfQKR_B0o8rACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1768-018-Pochard%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4-USEa3yxa0/WrPaERbRGVI/AAAAAAAAbss/BrWNgPLWmYUo2aSetRLZ9JfQKR_B0o8rACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1768-018-Pochard%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Pochard <i>(Aythya ferina)</i> (female) - Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Most of my photos were taken from Shoveler Hide on Lagoon 3. I missed the potentially most interesting shot as a Water Rail shot across in front of the hide and instantly disappeared into the reeds. I reckon it must have been lurking within a metre of where I was sitting, but below my line of sight - unless I had stuck my head out of the window and looked down!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Here are some of the shots I did take - all of very common birds. There was much strong and low sunshine on occasion and I found photography challenging, although it did give a fine blue colour to the water. Fortunately the wind had died down somewhat too.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KvZ8mbilJnE/WrPcnKV6FxI/AAAAAAAAbs4/mgdmierU-NseKXdYRQMS75d4I1sxb4PoACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1855-040-Shoveler%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KvZ8mbilJnE/WrPcnKV6FxI/AAAAAAAAbs4/mgdmierU-NseKXdYRQMS75d4I1sxb4PoACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1855-040-Shoveler%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Shoveler <i>(Anas clypeata)</i> (male) - </span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--4BrlAbBjfc/WrPcnKDmVGI/AAAAAAAAbtk/NSU339wqAro-DYWcteqWmXj42wHBzpBqQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1881-008-Shoveler%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--4BrlAbBjfc/WrPcnKDmVGI/AAAAAAAAbtk/NSU339wqAro-DYWcteqWmXj42wHBzpBqQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1881-008-Shoveler%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Shoveler <i>(Anas clypeata)</i> (female) - </span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YRZTA7v6dLA/WrPcnJTJLII/AAAAAAAAbtg/OcrAnOB4pgkMnHgZvlSHe4pBJoFS9QpRACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1890-005-Teal%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YRZTA7v6dLA/WrPcnJTJLII/AAAAAAAAbtg/OcrAnOB4pgkMnHgZvlSHe4pBJoFS9QpRACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1890-005-Teal%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EtBTWkRTE4o/WrPcn-sQfcI/AAAAAAAAbto/PoPmZrQPUaImcskBxOcqUU4I63yzJvALACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1900-013-Teal%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EtBTWkRTE4o/WrPcn-sQfcI/AAAAAAAAbto/PoPmZrQPUaImcskBxOcqUU4I63yzJvALACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1900-013-Teal%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9uiDJUhFys/WrPcn4IAktI/AAAAAAAAbtw/O8JeUsHuJd8xOiCGTS31MUnjUGy1u0XTACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1902-015-Teal%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9uiDJUhFys/WrPcn4IAktI/AAAAAAAAbtw/O8JeUsHuJd8xOiCGTS31MUnjUGy1u0XTACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1902-015-Teal%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Teal <i>(Anas crecca)</i> (male) - </span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ecG-e9J3Dg0/WrPcoXycZMI/AAAAAAAAbts/2q8XCOQi-V0Ah-kH7Cu3f42sgaqmIJuPwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1957-009-Gadwall%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ecG-e9J3Dg0/WrPcoXycZMI/AAAAAAAAbts/2q8XCOQi-V0Ah-kH7Cu3f42sgaqmIJuPwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1957-009-Gadwall%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Gadwall <i>(Anas stepera)</i> (male) - </span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ieIv2_3oprU/WrPcoufgiHI/AAAAAAAAbt8/eXQ1eg4TnvgfVBWmTaQIjq9OEQUH8C_ZACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1968-002-Gadwall%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ieIv2_3oprU/WrPcoufgiHI/AAAAAAAAbt8/eXQ1eg4TnvgfVBWmTaQIjq9OEQUH8C_ZACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1968-002-Gadwall%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Gadwall <i>(Anas stepera)</i> (female) - </span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></b></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUiFEnRpsZ8/WrPco4ZChMI/AAAAAAAAbt0/3SdJLI95kygkS1jQLoNEUpY2cPJ0coRUQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1980-007-Pintail%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUiFEnRpsZ8/WrPco4ZChMI/AAAAAAAAbt0/3SdJLI95kygkS1jQLoNEUpY2cPJ0coRUQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1980-007-Pintail%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WkSFboQe_OU/WrPco-xBxEI/AAAAAAAAbt4/jr37GcjhaDsEQCnqzhA0Hx5kAPaglbZigCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1977-004-Pintail%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WkSFboQe_OU/WrPco-xBxEI/AAAAAAAAbt4/jr37GcjhaDsEQCnqzhA0Hx5kAPaglbZigCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1977-004-Pintail%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Pintail <i>(Anas acuta)</i> (male + female) - </span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></b></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNppb733-I4/WrPcoVsljjI/AAAAAAAAbtw/gEWsAVn_YDIafSrfV5q7lSdq_B8DyQSpgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1940-031-Pintail%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNppb733-I4/WrPcoVsljjI/AAAAAAAAbtw/gEWsAVn_YDIafSrfV5q7lSdq_B8DyQSpgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_1940-031-Pintail%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Pintail <i>(Anas acuta)</i> (male) - </span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></b></span></b></b></td></tr></tbody></table></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'd taken a picnic tea with me which I'd left in the car and, at the appropriate time, headed back to the car park. By now it had turned very dull and rather cold. On the way back I found one of the meadows to be full of Redwing. However, these flew off the moment I saw them (and they saw me!). One Song Thrush did, however, decide to be brave.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0lS1yf0Ym8k/WrPhQhR2CrI/AAAAAAAAbuE/oRLwqeG2AfEbxq1IIOjXkW1845OUGoteACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2015-002-Song%2BThrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0lS1yf0Ym8k/WrPhQhR2CrI/AAAAAAAAbuE/oRLwqeG2AfEbxq1IIOjXkW1845OUGoteACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_2015-002-Song%2BThrush.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Song Thrush <i>(Turdus philomelos)</i> - </span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Rutland Water, Egleton Reserve</span></b></span></b></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Whilst eating, I reflected that the afternoon had been a little disappointing - little did I know what was in store! Having finished my picnic at an appropriate time, I set off for the VTC. I was nearly there when I noticed a familiar shape sitting on a roadside fence post. I stopped the car at an angle in the road, and took some shots. I then moved forward a bit further and took some more. The second image is a poor one, but it gives an indication of the depth of the feathering on the head as it was caught be the wind.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktR6cmQq0r0/WrPjUsxqwLI/AAAAAAAAbu8/Gb92N4u09_wxEq8JCNspzpTT_C_PY-61gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2050-010-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ktR6cmQq0r0/WrPjUsxqwLI/AAAAAAAAbu8/Gb92N4u09_wxEq8JCNspzpTT_C_PY-61gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2050-010-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XEYKvAfPgoA/WrPjUnWt2BI/AAAAAAAAbuo/xw7voftrdOIV8Knov6q7mkk7W3W3IRiagCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2070-025-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XEYKvAfPgoA/WrPjUnWt2BI/AAAAAAAAbuo/xw7voftrdOIV8Knov6q7mkk7W3W3IRiagCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2070-025-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4UScbmbzoY/WrPjUu8fGTI/AAAAAAAAbus/5iX9RjBHxro36h46jwnu2VyrIkkGn1nCgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2085-040-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4UScbmbzoY/WrPjUu8fGTI/AAAAAAAAbus/5iX9RjBHxro36h46jwnu2VyrIkkGn1nCgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2085-040-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-t6sT9yjKE/WrPjVTJ4ZqI/AAAAAAAAbu0/MN6Yij0-2OYiO33vTq346MiHrEc3slTQQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2097-049-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-t6sT9yjKE/WrPjVTJ4ZqI/AAAAAAAAbu0/MN6Yij0-2OYiO33vTq346MiHrEc3slTQQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2097-049-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Barn Owl <i>(Tyto alba)</i> - near Egleton</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Having taken my shots, I had to pass the owl to get to my destination. As I set off it flew to a fence a short way back from the road, and I got some more shots from a closer range.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DUO0PLpYZs/WrPjVmz1tqI/AAAAAAAAbuw/xSFJ1Ky9PVwm7zPmzIe3ltpHqqM8D-WWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2118-067-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DUO0PLpYZs/WrPjVmz1tqI/AAAAAAAAbuw/xSFJ1Ky9PVwm7zPmzIe3ltpHqqM8D-WWQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2118-067-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I8XKT2h46Ps/WrPjVh0ps_I/AAAAAAAAbu4/__Ow3g8U7DsGNED0_szKDzzs8TTbzgv_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2121-070-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I8XKT2h46Ps/WrPjVh0ps_I/AAAAAAAAbu4/__Ow3g8U7DsGNED0_szKDzzs8TTbzgv_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_2121-070-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Barn Owl <i>(Tyto alba)</i> - near Egleton</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The owl then flew from this position to another roadside post ahead of me. However, it flew off again as I approached on my way to the VTC.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It was a short and enjoyable meeting at the VTC, where it was good to catch up with old friends and meet new faces. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Afterwards, the weather had gone downhill, and I headed straight home, with no further sightings - but I was still buzzing from my Barn Owl encounter. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>If someone with a reliable crystal ball had told me that, including this day, I'd see four different species of owl in UK over a nine day period, I'd have assumed Little, Barn, Tawny, and possibly Short-eared. Little did I know that one of those would be missing and the substitute would be fabulous!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I suspect that it will be a while before I'm ready to publish a post on my Scillies visit, so my next post will probably be about something closer to home.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thank you for dropping by. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-3108208472012695542018-03-07T08:31:00.000-08:002018-08-01T03:58:42.520-07:00Siskin-fest - February/March, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Warning! This post contains relatively few words (when compared with my usual efforts) and rather a lot of images of Siskins!</b></span><br /><br /><b>For a couple of weeks or so, the most numerous bird visiting our garden on many days has been Siskin. Whilst we get them most years at this time of year, we have never had them in such numbers. It is relatively unusual, at the moment, to look out of the window and a Siskin not be present. The weather, whilst no doubt contributing to their presence, has not, however, aided photography. I have, nevertheless, managed quite a few shots with the camera. If the images look as if they were taken in sunshine it's probably because I have tweaked the white-balance in many cases! All the shots were taken from the comfort of my study, through the window glass.</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Tuesday, 6th February</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>The Siskins had arrived. We had just two this day - one male and one female.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xs3JIJiwKc8/Wp65Y5jp_lI/AAAAAAAAbfc/PViiznhZvoYJvZCn2zFgS6a6Uv4qA-ibACLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5094-008-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xs3JIJiwKc8/Wp65Y5jp_lI/AAAAAAAAbfc/PViiznhZvoYJvZCn2zFgS6a6Uv4qA-ibACLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5094-008-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Monday, 12th February</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>Although, during the preceding week, we'd had up to 5 Siskin in the garden (3m 2f), on this day we had just two again (1m 1f). The females were proving difficult to photograph!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lo3sDN7fz7M/Wp66tKkYPVI/AAAAAAAAbfo/V2SSGrW8aS0DIf9NKVqLvbLHzwj6FsLIwCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5328-016-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lo3sDN7fz7M/Wp66tKkYPVI/AAAAAAAAbfo/V2SSGrW8aS0DIf9NKVqLvbLHzwj6FsLIwCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5328-016-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Wednesday, 14th February</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>It seems that the females wanted to get in on the action. On this day we had 5 females visit, with a solitary male. I got some shots of females!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKZL7u_TR3I/Wp67kGx0ckI/AAAAAAAAbf0/7a9ThSa2lEcHTPQ7NAm6l6NYDqNxW1HsACEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5416-007-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wKZL7u_TR3I/Wp67kGx0ckI/AAAAAAAAbf0/7a9ThSa2lEcHTPQ7NAm6l6NYDqNxW1HsACEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5416-007-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vGh1kd9kfJE/Wp67krcq5AI/AAAAAAAAbf8/ECEddxylazIKvzNp5o-bk5JTg025hv_1wCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5450-020-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vGh1kd9kfJE/Wp67krcq5AI/AAAAAAAAbf8/ECEddxylazIKvzNp5o-bk5JTg025hv_1wCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5450-020-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vV3xww-_YsI/Wp67kB-4U2I/AAAAAAAAbfw/ZWj4oxG845cveV4b2C3Q1nHbcOGV5P9kwCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5425-009-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vV3xww-_YsI/Wp67kB-4U2I/AAAAAAAAbfw/ZWj4oxG845cveV4b2C3Q1nHbcOGV5P9kwCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5425-009-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zqip7sA8abg/Wp67kVIoSfI/AAAAAAAAbf4/F78BXZAR37c46Dn8ORbDPYTu4EEd3D2HQCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5432-013-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zqip7sA8abg/Wp67kVIoSfI/AAAAAAAAbf4/F78BXZAR37c46Dn8ORbDPYTu4EEd3D2HQCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5432-013-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (female) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Saturday, 17th February</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>We had two of each on this day, and I had a number of photo opportunities.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vpLqilI35NQ/Wp69wzB01zI/AAAAAAAAbgc/QRQpeisux4gRrbLEY3ChvuRp9JhGUkT_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5616-004-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vpLqilI35NQ/Wp69wzB01zI/AAAAAAAAbgc/QRQpeisux4gRrbLEY3ChvuRp9JhGUkT_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5616-004-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rX3DDX4raIw/Wp69xMOK_zI/AAAAAAAAbgg/aSGjBshftjgT_mBVCgrcVSaxfhpsLcnhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5627-005-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rX3DDX4raIw/Wp69xMOK_zI/AAAAAAAAbgg/aSGjBshftjgT_mBVCgrcVSaxfhpsLcnhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5627-005-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3UYHgyGBodk/Wp6940ZO7FI/AAAAAAAAbgw/EOvJ5elY42o-vkRDo3fooM44aEgjZJMhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5634-008-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3UYHgyGBodk/Wp6940ZO7FI/AAAAAAAAbgw/EOvJ5elY42o-vkRDo3fooM44aEgjZJMhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5634-008-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ny4cW-RPqkA/Wp69xX-_9iI/AAAAAAAAbgk/nqWuPnIsWzsR-QPW6jZ0f9WOltpDp8mOACEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5645-012-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ny4cW-RPqkA/Wp69xX-_9iI/AAAAAAAAbgk/nqWuPnIsWzsR-QPW6jZ0f9WOltpDp8mOACEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5645-012-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (female) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9kL5cwnroEw/Wp69yDE3heI/AAAAAAAAbg4/mbEnt8p7MU0uZYGJvoqv1HjeQghN1NiSACEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5680-016-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9kL5cwnroEw/Wp69yDE3heI/AAAAAAAAbg4/mbEnt8p7MU0uZYGJvoqv1HjeQghN1NiSACEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5680-016-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efeRmae-fN0/Wp69x-z2-kI/AAAAAAAAbg0/k67yaf6UuQUfvBEB8TndeTiYgpvOpuyGACEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5652-001-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efeRmae-fN0/Wp69x-z2-kI/AAAAAAAAbg0/k67yaf6UuQUfvBEB8TndeTiYgpvOpuyGACEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5652-001-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Sunday, 18th February</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>We peaked for the week on this day with 8 (4m 4f) Siskins arriving. I had a bit of a field day with photography, but again it was mainly the males that obliged.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FUpE6zyhXhM/Wp7Bjqr2YtI/AAAAAAAAbhE/JfbKgd_tp143Ddj_GI2IakFGvouwucH5gCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5896-008-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FUpE6zyhXhM/Wp7Bjqr2YtI/AAAAAAAAbhE/JfbKgd_tp143Ddj_GI2IakFGvouwucH5gCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5896-008-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (female) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3nB3S7ITLo/Wp7By_Ny1dI/AAAAAAAAbhI/BHdP-7qTbIYMByd_-uC0Q5A_WZ477gzdACLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5778-005-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3nB3S7ITLo/Wp7By_Ny1dI/AAAAAAAAbhI/BHdP-7qTbIYMByd_-uC0Q5A_WZ477gzdACLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5778-005-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K1DnMyTmS5A/Wp7BzBwvqgI/AAAAAAAAbhQ/g9lUwvvmkJk95O5o0r5wzvuXgdBUcl4kgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5788-007-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K1DnMyTmS5A/Wp7BzBwvqgI/AAAAAAAAbhQ/g9lUwvvmkJk95O5o0r5wzvuXgdBUcl4kgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5788-007-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IewLRAAeMJE/Wp7BzIpzbjI/AAAAAAAAbhM/VvQUgZ2ilaMVvXb7a7SbSLnLOdJIrp1cwCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5798-009-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IewLRAAeMJE/Wp7BzIpzbjI/AAAAAAAAbhM/VvQUgZ2ilaMVvXb7a7SbSLnLOdJIrp1cwCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5798-009-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u2Ms0vmmzWc/Wp7BzQPJtLI/AAAAAAAAbhU/HbdTJlWspYsYBxdU5pvgDigQqT1IdcFeACLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5825-019-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u2Ms0vmmzWc/Wp7BzQPJtLI/AAAAAAAAbhU/HbdTJlWspYsYBxdU5pvgDigQqT1IdcFeACLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5825-019-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS80hkxzVOI/Wp7Bz2sxZpI/AAAAAAAAbhY/x36YZu9UaHMrlNtLcM-zgMZ18r6-036FACLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5849-027-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS80hkxzVOI/Wp7Bz2sxZpI/AAAAAAAAbhY/x36YZu9UaHMrlNtLcM-zgMZ18r6-036FACLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5849-027-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfhzW72fyTw/Wp7B0ODCuWI/AAAAAAAAbhc/cmq8F4lKTu0VT85s6_KJnrTML9JYhX9VACLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5920-047-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfhzW72fyTw/Wp7B0ODCuWI/AAAAAAAAbhc/cmq8F4lKTu0VT85s6_KJnrTML9JYhX9VACLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5920-047-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVDYdWN1MZQ/Wp7B0DDuZWI/AAAAAAAAbhg/HwfSbm2-bAgJtPvTgmCe7qYAFUDt4kj9QCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5945-060-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVDYdWN1MZQ/Wp7B0DDuZWI/AAAAAAAAbhg/HwfSbm2-bAgJtPvTgmCe7qYAFUDt4kj9QCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5945-060-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Tuesday, 20th February</b></span><b></b><br /><b></b><br /><b>On this day we had six Siskin (4m 2f). I just managed a couple of shots of a male.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LW07ia81Ni4/Wp7C75iUDtI/AAAAAAAAbiE/EEYO2woJabk64z6FP-aq976i53-YUgXsgCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP6067-019-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LW07ia81Ni4/Wp7C75iUDtI/AAAAAAAAbiE/EEYO2woJabk64z6FP-aq976i53-YUgXsgCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP6067-019-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFVHKlgQQ_g/Wp7C7wza4qI/AAAAAAAAbiI/zb95454xEQ8JEKeYWi2lrbNOl6JZrzvugCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP6040-011-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFVHKlgQQ_g/Wp7C7wza4qI/AAAAAAAAbiI/zb95454xEQ8JEKeYWi2lrbNOl6JZrzvugCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP6040-011-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Thursday, 22nd February</b></span><br /><br /><b>On the Wednesday we had peaked at 10 Siskin (7m 3f), and we matched this number again on this day (5m 5f). I only got a couple of shots of a male bird.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79WJtGu5ZSM/Wp7IjX0CBoI/AAAAAAAAbiY/Rf1DQjOzGfIz_Ks3f5DDNoQn_I8jGAuxgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP6168-007-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79WJtGu5ZSM/Wp7IjX0CBoI/AAAAAAAAbiY/Rf1DQjOzGfIz_Ks3f5DDNoQn_I8jGAuxgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP6168-007-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o3NKrJJwfqg/Wp7IjM8pdNI/AAAAAAAAbiU/vzn6I_KPeQoDCmqIuTgf1mCy9lJMefd2gCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP6197-026-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o3NKrJJwfqg/Wp7IjM8pdNI/AAAAAAAAbiU/vzn6I_KPeQoDCmqIuTgf1mCy9lJMefd2gCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP6197-026-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Saturday, 24th February</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>I noted 4 males and 3 females this day. Here's one of the females that briefly stopped just 2 metres from my window.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oxdX6V2jzOk/Wp7Krix00DI/AAAAAAAAbik/E75lq5Sx4nAUjDL_NgYdohwDI1SPxKgmQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9197-013-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oxdX6V2jzOk/Wp7Krix00DI/AAAAAAAAbik/E75lq5Sx4nAUjDL_NgYdohwDI1SPxKgmQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9197-013-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (female) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Tuesday, 27th February</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>On this day we had 5 male Siskin and 2 females - and a little snow. This was the forerunner of worse to come!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7R-zgw-CsvA/Wp7LmuC7qXI/AAAAAAAAbis/wXlsYQvmHOMiUBMRPJiisQ0e9f3wDRMpQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9785-017-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7R-zgw-CsvA/Wp7LmuC7qXI/AAAAAAAAbis/wXlsYQvmHOMiUBMRPJiisQ0e9f3wDRMpQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9785-017-Siskin%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (female) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Thursday, 1st March </b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>The snow had arrived by the bucket load, and so had 14 Fieldfare which kept me occupied for a chunk of the day. I did, however, get a few of shots of Siskin in a snow-free spot outside my window.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQy1LxxRCfU/Wp7M9VvtN8I/AAAAAAAAbi4/vlRMARwUzGwDL8w3LdqPtXtCoNhfuA-ngCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0620-001-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQy1LxxRCfU/Wp7M9VvtN8I/AAAAAAAAbi4/vlRMARwUzGwDL8w3LdqPtXtCoNhfuA-ngCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0620-001-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzXYUgyHXDQ/Wp7M9WufGfI/AAAAAAAAbi8/Gxkb8CVUNcQZ0b_5vGZsbygQf0dl6IDjQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0734-011-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzXYUgyHXDQ/Wp7M9WufGfI/AAAAAAAAbi8/Gxkb8CVUNcQZ0b_5vGZsbygQf0dl6IDjQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_0734-011-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Friday, 2nd March</b></span><br /><br /><b>The Fieldfare peaked at 33 on this day, and will probably be the subject of a future post. These birds kept me busy with constantly defrosting the water supply and replenishing the apples that they were feeding on. I did manage a few Siskin shots, however. Here's a final shot for this post.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3v8C6nlnbKc/Wp7OXSCAmEI/AAAAAAAAbjM/iZGJd0TBC4cfxnBru5_Tc0o_sOaq_C49QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1343-001-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3v8C6nlnbKc/Wp7OXSCAmEI/AAAAAAAAbjM/iZGJd0TBC4cfxnBru5_Tc0o_sOaq_C49QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_1343-001-Siskin%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Siskin <i>(Spinus spinus)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The Siskins are still with us and omnipresent, and I'm really enjoying their company. The Fieldfare departed on Sunday and have not been seen since, and a sense of normality has returned to the garden.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Garden List - Week 07 - 12th to 18th February, 2018 and Week 08 - 19th to 25th February, 2018</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>Apart from the Siskin high count of 8, Week 07 was relatively unexciting, although the species count was quite healthy at 22. The Redpoll count had dwindled down to just 2 (m+f), and Jackdaw (with the half-bald breast visited again one day. A male Sparrowhawk put in a brief, and unsuccessful, appearance on one day too.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Week 08 species count was down to 19 species. The two Redpoll were still around and the Siskin count, as mentioned above, had got up to 10 on two days.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ZjaOnU-Snc/Wp7r5Wf9HZI/AAAAAAAAbjk/Uajzoc2NzzonxGCdd_0DGb2jXfjk-DgDgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Week%2B07%252C%2B2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="801" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ZjaOnU-Snc/Wp7r5Wf9HZI/AAAAAAAAbjk/Uajzoc2NzzonxGCdd_0DGb2jXfjk-DgDgCEwYBhgL/s640/Week%2B07%252C%2B2018.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0CZb-A7wHfM/Wp7sDBFUSII/AAAAAAAAbjo/IwHd-CX5I9wUdeSTLKuWEXfrcbuhXB5eQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Week%2B08%252C%2B2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0CZb-A7wHfM/Wp7sDBFUSII/AAAAAAAAbjo/IwHd-CX5I9wUdeSTLKuWEXfrcbuhXB5eQCEwYBhgL/s640/Week%2B08%252C%2B2018.jpg" width="350" /></a><b> </b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><b></b><br /><b></b><br /><b></b><br /><b></b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><b></b><b></b><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>I hope that you have not found a long blog post with lots of images of just one species too boring. My next post will either be somewhat more varied, or might just cover the Fieldfares - I suspect the former - just to give a bit of variety.</b><br /><br /><b>I'm going to be heading into a rather busy period for a couple of weeks, so do not know when my next post will be.</b><br /><br /><b>Thank you for dropping by. </b><br /><br /><br /><b></b><b></b></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-66340890668479320402018-02-15T12:05:00.000-08:002018-08-01T03:58:42.863-07:00Another Visit to Speyside - January 27th to February 2nd, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1RNcQAmCt20/WoGo9IWPqxI/AAAAAAAAbeI/8ieiDdymu_ICQDrJJDUko4JZX2fm7UWxwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8649-020-Crested%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="800" height="194" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1RNcQAmCt20/WoGo9IWPqxI/AAAAAAAAbeI/8ieiDdymu_ICQDrJJDUko4JZX2fm7UWxwCLcBGAs/s200/PEG_8649-020-Crested%2BTit.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>At the end of January I had a visit to Speyside in Scotland, staying at the wonderful Grant Arms in Grantown on Spey. Lindsay had decided that she would not accompany me on this occasion, not fancying the potentially cold and snowy conditions. The plus side of this was that I could please myself, weather permitting, as to what I did each day! </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I had some prime objectives, and some secondary ones too. The prime objectives were to get photos of Crested Tit, Snow Bunting, and Long-tailed Duck. The secondary objectives were to photograph Red Squirrel in their winter coats and to see if there were any Short-eared Owl overwintering in the area. After arrival, Mountain Hare was added to the secondary list.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Here's how the trip progressed:-</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Saturday, 27th January to Berwick Upon Tweed</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I left home at 10h00 and set off northward via A42, M1, M18, A1/A1(M), stopping at Durham services for a comfort break and a sandwich. The weather was horribly wet with low cloud and poor visibility all the way to the outskirts of Newcastle upon Tyne, where it suddenly brightened up and I saw sun for a few minutes. It must have been the Geordie influence as, soon after Newcastle, it got dull and wet again. I arrived at Tweed View House (my favourite B&B in the area) at around 15h00 and was met by Liz who handed me my parking permit for the station car park, just over the road. Having unloaded my bags into the hallway, I went and parked the car. I came back to find that Liz had taken all my bags (2 x camera, laptop, briefcase, suitcase) up to my room - bless you, Liz!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The weather continued to be wet and had turned very cold and windy, so it seemed pointless to continue with my original intention to go birdwatching at Cocklawburn. Instead I stayed in my room and listened to music on the mp3 player and headphones that used to belong to my dear friend Brian, and were given to me by his wife after he passed away late last year.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I took a break early evening to grab a bite at 'the Scottish restaurant', and filled the car up with fuel ready for the following day.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Sunday, 28th January to Grantown upon Spey, then a brief visit to Lochindorb</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Having said a mental 'happy birthday' to my brother, I performed my ablutions before Graham brought my requested breakfast to my room. Although I do not usually indulge in a cooked breakfast, I can vouch for the excellence of the breakfast at Tweed View!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I decided on a relaxed start as I didn't want to get to Blairgowrie before mid day, and set off from Berwick at 09h00. The wind had abated somewhat, but it was dull and mizzling. There was little traffic around and I was having an easy journey. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Having taken the Edinburgh City Bypass, I found myself taking the Queensferry Crossing, as the new Forth road bridge is known. I hadn't realised that this had been constructed as a continuation of the motorway with its attending 70 mph speed limit - a great improvement on the old crossing!</b><br /><br /><b>I arrived at The Dalmore Inn, just south of Blairgowrie, at 11h45. Although the restaurant doesn't, technically, start serving food until 12h00 and I'd said I was happy to sit with a coffee until then, my order was taken early and served before time. The Dalmore Inn continues to be my favourite place in UK for lunch - Lindsay shares that sentiment!</b><br /><br /><b>Snow conditions at the Glenshee and Lecht ski areas were not good for skiing, but there were many people about. The rain/sleet and strong winds seemed to keep the birds out of sight, and only very distant Red Grouse were seen. It was disappointing to arrive at the Grant Arms without having seen anything remotely exciting in the way of wildlife.</b><br /><br /><b>Having deposited my baggage in my room I set off for Lochindorb. I knew that I was unlikely to see much there at this time of year, but it is one of my favourite places on Earth and probably where my ashes will end up! By the time I got there, the light was grim, and much of the north end of Lochindorb was covered in ice, and showed evidence of some recent extreme weather.</b><br /><br /><b>The first of the two images, below, was taken with my phone.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CdBc0TfnrIw/WoA5y218wuI/AAAAAAAAbVk/9Voy2SZ21Ag3fM2hKqY40697Q63DxsAbQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0110%2BLochindorb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CdBc0TfnrIw/WoA5y218wuI/AAAAAAAAbVk/9Voy2SZ21Ag3fM2hKqY40697Q63DxsAbQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0110%2BLochindorb.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZYKVp9S_iA/WoA5yjFipUI/AAAAAAAAbVg/dB4HUBXKY2gtxZPpG_r-sTJFIsvRTwm2gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8065-007-Lochindorb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZYKVp9S_iA/WoA5yjFipUI/AAAAAAAAbVg/dB4HUBXKY2gtxZPpG_r-sTJFIsvRTwm2gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8065-007-Lochindorb.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lochindorb</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>The only birds seen were 9 Mallard, a very distant Red Grouse, and a Goldeneye out in the middle of the water. Light and weather were closing in and so, having made a complete traversal, I set off back to the Grant Arms.</b><br /><br /><b>I had a relaxing evening after an excellent dinner (as always at the Grant Arms!) and turned in early. My room was very pleasant with a magnificent image of a female Capercaillie above the beds.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKbIAzotlW8/WoA72G9Db3I/AAAAAAAAbV0/4ERWaZp3gg0DMvjuGEcd5oTrFx5OGmoYACLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0117%2Bmy%2Broom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKbIAzotlW8/WoA72G9Db3I/AAAAAAAAbV0/4ERWaZp3gg0DMvjuGEcd5oTrFx5OGmoYACLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0117%2Bmy%2Broom.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Room 203 - The Grant Arms</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Monday, 29th January near Nethybridge - Cairngorm - near Boat of Garten - Lochindorb</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>I had to be careful not to overdo it on this day, and keep an eye on my timings as I was booked to give a talk that evening - I had a gentle start to the day, not going down to breakfast until 07h30. After an excellent breakfast, I called at the Co-op to buy a sandwich, but there was little to choose from by the time I got there, and I ended up with a bag of 'freshly baked' (certainly still warm) sausage rolls. I found out why they were so cheap when I came to eat them - virtually no filling!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>My first destination was a place near Nethybridge. My intention was to check out whether there were any Short-eared Owls overwintering in the area. I was not surprised, however, when, by the time a couple of hours had passed, all I had seen were a few very distant Stock Doves and a Buzzard.</b><b><b> As the light and distance visibility were both poor. </b>I decided it was time to head elsewhere and seek somewhere more productive.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I'd not gone far before a roadside sign urging me to slow for Red Squirrels caused me to stop and look at the nearby feeders. Sadly I could only park in the middle of the single lane road, so it was a brief stop, but I did manage to get some shots - the light was still poor.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IpFsi2qhNeM/WoA_twm0fQI/AAAAAAAAbWE/l66QEGBR-vslVwvlJyTB-XplbR7cSNNegCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8169-010-Treecreeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IpFsi2qhNeM/WoA_twm0fQI/AAAAAAAAbWE/l66QEGBR-vslVwvlJyTB-XplbR7cSNNegCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8169-010-Treecreeper.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Treecreeeper <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="field-items"><span class="field-item even"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Certhia familiaris)</i> - near Nethybridge</span></b></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zmQ4NbkdV3w/WoA_uVyjL6I/AAAAAAAAbWc/LQQC9CgUg1cnmivU8jULrV-yIO-o-qDGQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8248-003-Coal%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zmQ4NbkdV3w/WoA_uVyjL6I/AAAAAAAAbWc/LQQC9CgUg1cnmivU8jULrV-yIO-o-qDGQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8248-003-Coal%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Coal Tit <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Periparus ater)</i> - near Nethybridge</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NRbeDyzrBD0/WoA_t175QBI/AAAAAAAAbWY/7uHqNKevwDYXu9B4lWDuJUCIxm7I2uKAwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8139-006-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NRbeDyzrBD0/WoA_t175QBI/AAAAAAAAbWY/7uHqNKevwDYXu9B4lWDuJUCIxm7I2uKAwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8139-006-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p-7k71DWZF8/WoA_ttGwIjI/AAAAAAAAbWg/NDEtytmTLd47n4gUgC9eqBsqLyLcwre1QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8187-018-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p-7k71DWZF8/WoA_ttGwIjI/AAAAAAAAbWg/NDEtytmTLd47n4gUgC9eqBsqLyLcwre1QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8187-018-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0dL8ZfNTyOY/WoA_uN_BLsI/AAAAAAAAbWg/f952z3pwi3IWPvt-Z_zaoFW3I7bud8IlgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8218-044-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0dL8ZfNTyOY/WoA_uN_BLsI/AAAAAAAAbWg/f952z3pwi3IWPvt-Z_zaoFW3I7bud8IlgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8218-044-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red Squirrel <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sciurus vulgaris) </i>- near Nethybridge</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Having achieved a half-tick for one of my objective species, I headed off to the Cairngorm Base Station in the hope of finding Snow Bunting. The car park was busy with people, but these were all set on mountain walking or skiing. I went to an area just above the car park where I have seen Snow Bunting once before. There were none visible when I arrived, but within five minutes a pair appeared. They had a quick exploration, totally ignoring the seed I'd put down, and then disappeared, flying high and distant. I had, however, managed to get a few images, although none that I was fully satisfied with - another half-tick!</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xwA7bWlgpc4/WoBD2sJVdLI/AAAAAAAAbWo/5hcmTir6UgQVJW1pCr_wDuGZWuJah2lvgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8302-020-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xwA7bWlgpc4/WoBD2sJVdLI/AAAAAAAAbWo/5hcmTir6UgQVJW1pCr_wDuGZWuJah2lvgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8302-020-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snow Bunting <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Plectrophenax nivalis)</i> - by Cairngorm Base Station</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1ZXx1xKw2E/WoBEUzXtOeI/AAAAAAAAbWs/fI6lKdk8tzkS2hNYif2PQ_6CJxA0GmKEwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8264-001-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1ZXx1xKw2E/WoBEUzXtOeI/AAAAAAAAbWs/fI6lKdk8tzkS2hNYif2PQ_6CJxA0GmKEwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8264-001-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1UByUncB-z8/WoBEVAcJR1I/AAAAAAAAbWw/LDSgCYcCJugRa-noWrVEbjFgMd1XoTsFACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8267-003-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1UByUncB-z8/WoBEVAcJR1I/AAAAAAAAbWw/LDSgCYcCJugRa-noWrVEbjFgMd1XoTsFACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8267-003-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snow Bunting <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Plectrophenax nivalis)</i> (female) - by Cairngorm Base Station</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9ZpkDXLmR8/WoBEVL2MJtI/AAAAAAAAbW4/ycjcrNhWoikEf1MHZZyZYINCcy4g5jd7wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8275-005-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A9ZpkDXLmR8/WoBEVL2MJtI/AAAAAAAAbW4/ycjcrNhWoikEf1MHZZyZYINCcy4g5jd7wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8275-005-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XyrqS9hWTfM/WoBEVTjzydI/AAAAAAAAbW8/yr0zIU-SOr0FAKA-9Yrcan3CfHjGrmpuACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8283-010-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XyrqS9hWTfM/WoBEVTjzydI/AAAAAAAAbW8/yr0zIU-SOr0FAKA-9Yrcan3CfHjGrmpuACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8283-010-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CJ3y68NC3A/WoBEVu37G1I/AAAAAAAAbXA/EBSJjdR-gJEYbSNvBYsmcbs5-OUPcy4WQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8286-012-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CJ3y68NC3A/WoBEVu37G1I/AAAAAAAAbXA/EBSJjdR-gJEYbSNvBYsmcbs5-OUPcy4WQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8286-012-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8cOiXc-O8g/WoBEWsbDwzI/AAAAAAAAbXE/oQX-1dsJ60cp3l3bOQ10YDkM5DPhSz9gACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8298-016-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8cOiXc-O8g/WoBEWsbDwzI/AAAAAAAAbXE/oQX-1dsJ60cp3l3bOQ10YDkM5DPhSz9gACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8298-016-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NV8hLwWc17s/WoBEW4xGc_I/AAAAAAAAbXI/yTo6W8VVZi8tuOBdqENDdIPpru1-YO5vACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8303-021-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NV8hLwWc17s/WoBEW4xGc_I/AAAAAAAAbXI/yTo6W8VVZi8tuOBdqENDdIPpru1-YO5vACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8303-021-Snow%2BBunting%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snow Bunting <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Plectrophenax nivalis)</i> (male) - by Cairngorm Base Station</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>After these birds departed, I started to have a look around, and found myself contemplating heading uphill. I'd have had to go back and get spikes on my feet as it was icy underfoot, and being unfamiliar with the paths too, I decided that I'd conserve my energy and not risk getting lost on my own, so headed back to my car - a good decision as within seconds of me reaching my car it started to snow heavily!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I'm not sure what prompted it, but I felt the urge to visit a location near Boat of Garten at which I'd seen the rare Northern Damsefly in the past two summers. Following this urge resulted in what turned out to be the highlight of the trip.</b><br /><br /><b>As I pulled up at the side of the road, I noticed a lot of avian activity just into the trees. I was seeing mainly Coal Tits. I quickly put down some seed and stood and waited - for only a few seconds! The birds were there almost immediately. I got several shots of Coal Tit.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1yIcRvdl-I/WoXnBhoOiuI/AAAAAAAAbe0/U2tXERlJaUQmiosM8Jd8zTMaw5qq0fngQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8358-013-Coal%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1yIcRvdl-I/WoXnBhoOiuI/AAAAAAAAbe0/U2tXERlJaUQmiosM8Jd8zTMaw5qq0fngQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8358-013-Coal%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Coal Tit <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Periparus ater)</i> - near Boat of Garten</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>The real treat was when Crested Tit started arriving. Sadly, the only place that they seemed to stop for more than a second was on the nearby wire fence, which didn't give me the shots I wanted. However, I did manage one usable shot away from the fence.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-epLirbnlj08/WoBNHb2IhwI/AAAAAAAAbX0/ABmQ7y2eokk6BufuhzN3vlqXrcEcY8voACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8381-012-Crested%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-epLirbnlj08/WoBNHb2IhwI/AAAAAAAAbX0/ABmQ7y2eokk6BufuhzN3vlqXrcEcY8voACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8381-012-Crested%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBW9jp2zG9k/WoBNHXqMYeI/AAAAAAAAbXw/Sn2xCUswpXo9e3RoooiB06Q2e77bRscmQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8333-002-Crested%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBW9jp2zG9k/WoBNHXqMYeI/AAAAAAAAbXw/Sn2xCUswpXo9e3RoooiB06Q2e77bRscmQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8333-002-Crested%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Crested Tit <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Lophophanes cristatus</span>)</i> - near Boat of Garten</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>By 13h00 all the birds had disappeared and, as the weather was showing signs of improving, I set off for Lochindorb, having added another 'half-tick' to my list of objectives.</b><br /><br /><b>When I arrived at Lochindorb, the sun was shining brightly, giving the heather a look of warmth.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EI01mpntee4/WoBP8oZ-4DI/AAAAAAAAbYE/SMtTgkrzePgIw3NM-RV2bUN7cl8AU5E3QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8401-006-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EI01mpntee4/WoBP8oZ-4DI/AAAAAAAAbYE/SMtTgkrzePgIw3NM-RV2bUN7cl8AU5E3QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8401-006-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red Grouse <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lagopus lagopus scotica)</i> (male) - Lochindorb</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>This appearance was not to last, however, as soon threatening-looking clouds were rushing in.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqlADAfxIFU/WoBpdBiJWAI/AAAAAAAAbYU/GxeOIpuSBD8OIX-veVjz01oMqt6n9ERlQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8422-004-Lochindorb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqlADAfxIFU/WoBpdBiJWAI/AAAAAAAAbYU/GxeOIpuSBD8OIX-veVjz01oMqt6n9ERlQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8422-004-Lochindorb.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lochindorb</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Soon after this, high winds and snow arrived and then turned to sleet and then rain. For some reason, this weather brought the Red Grouse out onto the road in some numbers and gave a few photo opportunities.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYEhszVbSOE/WoBqdNv-SgI/AAAAAAAAbYk/Vn3_mCZTGfcjD3e98BKB5NCIA2A_mua3wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8441-009-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYEhszVbSOE/WoBqdNv-SgI/AAAAAAAAbYk/Vn3_mCZTGfcjD3e98BKB5NCIA2A_mua3wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8441-009-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWoJEgI54IA/WoBqdNxIYFI/AAAAAAAAbYg/Z9iO5NSbbN4mWFLD6S__KwGEWjtY2odawCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8456-018-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWoJEgI54IA/WoBqdNxIYFI/AAAAAAAAbYg/Z9iO5NSbbN4mWFLD6S__KwGEWjtY2odawCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8456-018-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red Grouse <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lagopus lagopus scotica)</i> (male) - Lochindorb</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Suddenly the sun was shining again!</b><br /><br /><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sTyZltgmIQ/WoBrFkVS3nI/AAAAAAAAbYw/ktfWFT3nt_ETdl2Uorn9LIEDgUORL8AfwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8497-034-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5sTyZltgmIQ/WoBrFkVS3nI/AAAAAAAAbYw/ktfWFT3nt_ETdl2Uorn9LIEDgUORL8AfwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8497-034-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red Grouse <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lagopus lagopus scotica)</i> (male) - Lochindorb</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--iz5-x8bvxo/WoBrN1jXDeI/AAAAAAAAbY0/CSF_uTtXPNcVFKRbENQck4Elr5Fwb580ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8524-004-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--iz5-x8bvxo/WoBrN1jXDeI/AAAAAAAAbY0/CSF_uTtXPNcVFKRbENQck4Elr5Fwb580ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8524-004-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red Grouse <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lagopus lagopus scotica)</i> (female) - Lochindorb</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>It didn't last long, however, but I stayed a while taking shots of the ice, which I found fascinating. I've never known Lochindorb change its appearance so many time in such a short space of time. </b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2OMIPZ5fFHg/WoB4wlg0c3I/AAAAAAAAbZU/EgV15VR6CC8N1FhVfGZ6VfCY83V69z1XQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8547-018-Lochindorb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2OMIPZ5fFHg/WoB4wlg0c3I/AAAAAAAAbZU/EgV15VR6CC8N1FhVfGZ6VfCY83V69z1XQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8547-018-Lochindorb.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lochindorb</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>These next two images are my favourite of this session. The first because if the ice had soft edges it would look as if it was looking up through trees to the clouds, whereas it was taken with the camera pointing down at about 45 degrees. The second because I'd love to know how this happened!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2w9A7KeS6U/WoB4w646x_I/AAAAAAAAbZg/D1S55YxhCDwrU6fHOFbZCaD46d3FbmdEQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8545-006-Lochindorb%2BIce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2w9A7KeS6U/WoB4w646x_I/AAAAAAAAbZg/D1S55YxhCDwrU6fHOFbZCaD46d3FbmdEQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8545-006-Lochindorb%2BIce.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RbDI0Fs_zzM/WoB4wunIkZI/AAAAAAAAbZk/qFjoxmEL4b8Egwr6Zfg4wU2FatA-7WCYgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8550-009-Lochindorb%2BIce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RbDI0Fs_zzM/WoB4wunIkZI/AAAAAAAAbZk/qFjoxmEL4b8Egwr6Zfg4wU2FatA-7WCYgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8550-009-Lochindorb%2BIce.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lochindorb Ice</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I was relatively early back to the Grant Arms that day, in order to prepare myself for the evening's talk. As far as I could tell there were just seven birders/wildlife enthusiasts staying in the hotel at the time, and six of those were part of two organised groups with full agendas, so I was not surprised to have only seven attendees for my talk "Tales of Damsels and Dragons". It was the first time out for this talk and I'm delighted to say it was well received by the few! Here's one of the slides. </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L9ijWTurFyM/WoB8FEkeGoI/AAAAAAAAbZs/SVC5jfP_yk87RZLWfqkXVl73eqPyEZgcACLcBGAs/s1600/talk%2Bslide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L9ijWTurFyM/WoB8FEkeGoI/AAAAAAAAbZs/SVC5jfP_yk87RZLWfqkXVl73eqPyEZgcACLcBGAs/s1600/talk%2Bslide.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Tuesday, 30th January near Boat of Garten - Strathdearn - Lochindorb</b></span><br /><br /><b>After breakfast I went to the Co-op and was in time to get a cheddar and mayo sandwich for my picnic lunch. I was determined to re-visit the location with the Crested Tits from the previous day, and headed straight there. I soon came to the conclusion that these birds were being fed on the slice of tree trunk by the fence on a regular basis, and that the clunk of a car door was their signal to turn up! I scattered seed and was soon rewarded - by a Red Squirrel coming to check me out!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cyp6_vCx3tI/WoB-ereHaTI/AAAAAAAAbaA/CTYNEunn2Wg5BR4WaUF0hw2lgCLXf-axACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8563-002-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cyp6_vCx3tI/WoB-ereHaTI/AAAAAAAAbaA/CTYNEunn2Wg5BR4WaUF0hw2lgCLXf-axACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8563-002-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yNVFpDuxajU/WoB-en2ZMMI/AAAAAAAAbZ8/aRUltbuRZBkofEKoX08K_qzd6z7ruI8LgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8567-006-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yNVFpDuxajU/WoB-en2ZMMI/AAAAAAAAbZ8/aRUltbuRZBkofEKoX08K_qzd6z7ruI8LgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8567-006-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kz2hk51MVX0/WoB-edOv4YI/AAAAAAAAbZ4/ZZkx7Yewtww5gFOHx7qAYdb_e3Do_A_4wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8610-011-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kz2hk51MVX0/WoB-edOv4YI/AAAAAAAAbZ4/ZZkx7Yewtww5gFOHx7qAYdb_e3Do_A_4wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8610-011-Red%2BSquirrel.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red Squirrel <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sciurus vulgaris) </i>- near Boat of Garten</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>A Treecreeper put in an appearance.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7sCjcombEk/WoB-8GwknrI/AAAAAAAAbaE/fL5K2URgLVQFVV4603SmR8bK9IhjpI8hgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8693-004-Treecreeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7sCjcombEk/WoB-8GwknrI/AAAAAAAAbaE/fL5K2URgLVQFVV4603SmR8bK9IhjpI8hgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8693-004-Treecreeper.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Treecreeeper <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="field-items"><span class="field-item even"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Certhia familiaris)</i> - near Boat of Garten</span></b></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>However, it was the Crested Tits that kept me really busy. I did manage to get a few shots of them away from the wire fence, but I'll include another shot of one on the fence for the sake of completion. It was quite hard work, and I was having to stop to rest my arms from time to time!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8xhSZOs6DiI/WoB_1pPpm7I/AAAAAAAAbao/5nTp3VPDdZYfs9wykmjJzrFTzpqbWHF6gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8657-023-Crested%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8xhSZOs6DiI/WoB_1pPpm7I/AAAAAAAAbao/5nTp3VPDdZYfs9wykmjJzrFTzpqbWHF6gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8657-023-Crested%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aBgeVhPHRa0/WoB_0q3fNNI/AAAAAAAAbac/jdBkBpdqGaIWhpDH66DDWaZhKgJrNNRyQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8577-003-Crested%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aBgeVhPHRa0/WoB_0q3fNNI/AAAAAAAAbac/jdBkBpdqGaIWhpDH66DDWaZhKgJrNNRyQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8577-003-Crested%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BXmP7itemaw/WoB_0iCjO-I/AAAAAAAAbak/WN1996sHHrci25Rc7daGjBIoxWyx2-J_ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8620-013-Crested%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BXmP7itemaw/WoB_0iCjO-I/AAAAAAAAbak/WN1996sHHrci25Rc7daGjBIoxWyx2-J_ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8620-013-Crested%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wHOpp4sS-TA/WoB_1wPH4BI/AAAAAAAAbas/hFWaT5kmoEs9UmxtIeLZ8V0Gj96vxxm3gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8699-034-Crested%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wHOpp4sS-TA/WoB_1wPH4BI/AAAAAAAAbas/hFWaT5kmoEs9UmxtIeLZ8V0Gj96vxxm3gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8699-034-Crested%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xlowuFltBRs/WoB_0slaOLI/AAAAAAAAbag/xtbfiifxklUNZac3JKfIAr8oMyJ4xaY9ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8649-020-Crested%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xlowuFltBRs/WoB_0slaOLI/AAAAAAAAbag/xtbfiifxklUNZac3JKfIAr8oMyJ4xaY9ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8649-020-Crested%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azqA0GxfXAY/WoB_19huA-I/AAAAAAAAbaw/gKKIT3S2e5kb_w-u6B6NBLh_ayzZqNmNQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8716-037-Crested%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azqA0GxfXAY/WoB_19huA-I/AAAAAAAAbaw/gKKIT3S2e5kb_w-u6B6NBLh_ayzZqNmNQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8716-037-Crested%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Crested Tit <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Lophophanes cristatus</span>)</i> - near Boat of Garten</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Whilst these images would never win any prizes, I suspect that I'll never manage better! I decided that I'd probably got as near as I would do to 'full ticks' for the Crested Tit and Red Squirrel objectives for the trip</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>After a while the birds dispersed - I think that they'd over-eaten! - and I set off for Strathdearn, sometimes known as the Findhorn Valley or Valley of the Raptors.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>On my way up the narrow road I encountered an extremely unusual number of vehicles for any time of year, let alone mid winter. These all stopped by a bridge, just before the car park at the end of the public road. As this was the time of year that deer are shot in these parts I presumed that these were shooters gathering, and continued to the end of the road. I sat in my car for a while as it was raining and extremely windy, consumed my picnic and, having seen not a single moving thing, gave up after an hour and headed back down the road.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I was back at the Crested Tit site just before 13h00 but there was little happening here too (confirming my suspicions of a 13h00 nap time?), so went on a circular driving tour, taking in some of my favourite routes. It was an enjoyable but totally unproductive drive and did, of course, include a visit to Lochindorb! The following image was taken with my phone.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KH8zr1Xrd-4/WoFmliUCtAI/AAAAAAAAbbI/kbTSEXbN5AoJudwmodSSE3AygRhJlK1aQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0120%2BLochindorb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KH8zr1Xrd-4/WoFmliUCtAI/AAAAAAAAbbI/kbTSEXbN5AoJudwmodSSE3AygRhJlK1aQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0120%2BLochindorb.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lochindorb</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>That evening at dinner I talked with one group who informed me that the people I'd seen parking by the bridge in Strathdearn weren't shooters, but people going to see Mountain Hare in the most reliable location for miles around! Sadly, I was committed to leading a visit to the Moray Firth coast the next day!</b><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Wednesday, 31st January Burghead - Hopeman - Burghead - Strathdearn - Lochindorb</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>With only one birder staying at the hotel who was not part of an organised group, and a poor weather forecast, I was wondering if I'd have any takers for the visit that I was leading to Burghead and Hopeman on the coast to the north of Grantown on Spey. In the event, one lady showed up.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>The weather was much better than forecast although it was still a bit windy and rather cold. I arrived in full sun to find Burghead harbour was hosting a group of Eider. As I got out of my car, a Rock Pipit was bumbling around next to me on the quayside.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJaWTr3xuDw/WoFnoTyw8fI/AAAAAAAAbbU/Fc8asjPQyv8HSXwuCBxwpa_f5eGE_0iHACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8741-002-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJaWTr3xuDw/WoFnoTyw8fI/AAAAAAAAbbU/Fc8asjPQyv8HSXwuCBxwpa_f5eGE_0iHACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8741-002-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Rock Pipit <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anthus petrosus)</i> - Burghead</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Eiders looked quite splendid, with the light making the water appear inky at the angle I was shooting from.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1h5D3Ll2nU/WoFnojkD-QI/AAAAAAAAbbw/DXS2jF30cxcbajCC2TMh4gc6Wzp_z5MKACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8748-002-Eider%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1h5D3Ll2nU/WoFnojkD-QI/AAAAAAAAbbw/DXS2jF30cxcbajCC2TMh4gc6Wzp_z5MKACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8748-002-Eider%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0Xa7wtq4y0/WoFnopKjpRI/AAAAAAAAbb4/maETO-8POfAqIpwlOF6mQSdZgxmn6_qBACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8762-014-Eider%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J0Xa7wtq4y0/WoFnopKjpRI/AAAAAAAAbb4/maETO-8POfAqIpwlOF6mQSdZgxmn6_qBACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8762-014-Eider%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eider <i>(</i></b></span></span><b><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Somateria mollissima)</i> (male) - Burghead</span></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'd arrived 20 minutes early, and Pat (my 'participant') arrived some time later, having first looked for me in a different location. Pat turned out to be a charming companion. Thankfully she was a self-confessed novice, as we would find little that morning that would excite a 'hardened' birder.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Having looked at the Eider which were, sadly, silent we walked round the quayside adjacent to the outer harbour wall. Apart from several gulls, which neither of us were particularly interested in as nothing unusual was noticed, we found a group of Turnstones sheltering on the quayside in the lee of the harbour wall. A group of Cormorants was atop the harbour wall.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HR24MEX9qVs/WoFnowxLweI/AAAAAAAAbb0/yQAPJfHvWW0b1qIzqGqJZdoy1qfvzkklwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8779-001-Turnstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HR24MEX9qVs/WoFnowxLweI/AAAAAAAAbb0/yQAPJfHvWW0b1qIzqGqJZdoy1qfvzkklwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8779-001-Turnstone.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Turnstone <i>(Arenaria interpres)</i> - Burghead</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>As we came away from the harbour a Rock Pipit was nearby, on the roof of a cottage.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wsuuj6lxb7I/WoFnpE5VVXI/AAAAAAAAbb4/-0Hq36oKud4oBgCNgvc3smzKKEVdyD2uwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8818-006-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wsuuj6lxb7I/WoFnpE5VVXI/AAAAAAAAbb4/-0Hq36oKud4oBgCNgvc3smzKKEVdyD2uwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8818-006-Rock%2BPipit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Rock Pipit <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anthus petrosus)</i> - Burghead</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Looking out to sea revealed only Cormorants and Eider, and the same was true when we went round to the eastern side of the headland. Unfortunately the tide was the highest it's ever been when I've visited this area and, with no rocks exposed for birds to land on, our only hope for improvement was if something was to fly by.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Although it was sunny, the strong cold wind did not encourage us to stand outside any longer, and so we headed off to Hopeman, with me showing Pat the start point to the walk up onto Clarkley Hill as we passed, just outside Burghead. I'd recommended this place to her if she was ever up this way in spring through to autumn.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Hopeman gave us even less of interest than Burghead. A very distant group of Oystercatcher were on East Beach, and the harbour had a group of birds which, to my shame, I initially identified as Turnstone, although something struck me as not quite right. It was only when I looked at my photos that I realised my mistake. My only excuse is that I've never seen Redshank in a group like this - only ever singly!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PS_22EwCzdU/WoFx6KRQ34I/AAAAAAAAbcI/9hc1Atj-L_k8fhO_UezaU37pkLnUwhOXQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8829-003-Oystercatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PS_22EwCzdU/WoFx6KRQ34I/AAAAAAAAbcI/9hc1Atj-L_k8fhO_UezaU37pkLnUwhOXQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8829-003-Oystercatcher.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oystercatcher <i>( </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haematopus ostralegus)</i> - Hopeman</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2C0Caq4Xpfo/WoFx6KVE49I/AAAAAAAAbcQ/e9PXRiTPaFsMfoTVtTMu5nIGjfWp1nGjQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8839-006-Turnstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2C0Caq4Xpfo/WoFx6KVE49I/AAAAAAAAbcQ/e9PXRiTPaFsMfoTVtTMu5nIGjfWp1nGjQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8839-006-Turnstone.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Redshank <i>(</i></b></span></span><b><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Tringa totanus)</i> - Hopeman</span></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We returned to our cars, and Pat picked up her camera and set back to photograph the Redshank whilst I headed off.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'd been disappointed on arrival at Hopeman to find the Footprints Gallery was closed for the winter, as I knew exactly what I was going to buy from there as a homecoming present for Lindsay. I had another disappointment when I stopped on the main street to buy one of Stew 'n' Drew's excellent ice creams - they too were closed. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I headed back to Burghead in the hope of finding Long-tailed Duck, but none had shown up. I took some shots of a <strike>Cormorant</strike> Shag (thank you, Marc, for the correction) on the harbour sea wall and then some more shots of the Eider in the harbour, which were now being delightfully vocal!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NysmlDbCRKY/WoGEGc6mG_I/AAAAAAAAbc0/ukWMO8cVwq8yzBS1d369UFtZwVxeLmmIgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8896-002-Cormorant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NysmlDbCRKY/WoGEGc6mG_I/AAAAAAAAbc0/ukWMO8cVwq8yzBS1d369UFtZwVxeLmmIgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8896-002-Cormorant.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shag <i>(</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Phalacrocorax aristotelis)</i> - Burghead</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AHKVDsEn_Fk/WoGEGDjaSsI/AAAAAAAAbc0/54qRCs7D5KAg7L39KqhN7NFG0pR2LTcxACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8863-004-Eider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AHKVDsEn_Fk/WoGEGDjaSsI/AAAAAAAAbc0/54qRCs7D5KAg7L39KqhN7NFG0pR2LTcxACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8863-004-Eider.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cKD-RDMV_fM/WoGEGGoYQLI/AAAAAAAAbcw/Jy2GxHoyI9QARclz9yciMPc1pWydPWpyACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8914-016-Eider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cKD-RDMV_fM/WoGEGGoYQLI/AAAAAAAAbcw/Jy2GxHoyI9QARclz9yciMPc1pWydPWpyACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8914-016-Eider.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eider <i>(</i></b></span></span><b><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Somateria mollissima)</i> - Burghead</span></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>At one point a female Eider came steaming out of the inner part of the harbour with something in her bill. <span style="color: red;">I cannot make out what she had grabbed, being unfamiliar with the variety of marine creatures which might be found in these parts (if, indeed, it was a marine creature). If anyone can make any suggestions based on the following images, I'd be delighted to hear them, please! <span style="color: lime;">- On further investigation, I came to the conclusion that this was a dismembered crab, a view that is shared by my good friend David - thank you for your input, David.</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrzvzAZJ3Dw/WoGEGk365zI/AAAAAAAAbc4/hrjK3TAOegY9KY0mWEu819nWojrTqr1zwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8940-001-Eider%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrzvzAZJ3Dw/WoGEGk365zI/AAAAAAAAbc4/hrjK3TAOegY9KY0mWEu819nWojrTqr1zwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8940-001-Eider%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BM784ww0Xjc/WoGEHSx10rI/AAAAAAAAbc4/Jfsa9zz3TNMpMvgaA4PbVHVUeUIVA3_rwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8947-006-Eider%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BM784ww0Xjc/WoGEHSx10rI/AAAAAAAAbc4/Jfsa9zz3TNMpMvgaA4PbVHVUeUIVA3_rwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8947-006-Eider%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eider <i>(</i></b></span></span><b><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Somateria mollissima)</i> (female) - Burghead</span></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I looked at the time, and worked out that it might be worth my while making a quick dash to Strathdearn to try and find Mountain Hare. My satnav told me it was only an hour and a half away, so I set off.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I arrived at the parking spot for the Mountain Hares to find it was blowing a hoolie, and four cars were already there. It was brightly sunny, and frequent strong gusts would whip up the snow that was lying on the ground and send it in a a face-stinging cloud. The following image only partly conveys the situation.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esE27B-DCZs/WoGTbfPphgI/AAAAAAAAbdE/yxtpfjzettQvO6kFt23RS7Um448ZgkiaACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8953-001-Blowing%2BSnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esE27B-DCZs/WoGTbfPphgI/AAAAAAAAbdE/yxtpfjzettQvO6kFt23RS7Um448ZgkiaACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8953-001-Blowing%2BSnow.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Strathdearn</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I started to make my way uphill and, at one point, saw a Mountain Hare run across in front of a photographer about 200 metres up the hill from me, before he could get his camera set up. I then bumped into one of the groups from the hotel on their way down who advised me that my best chance was to look in sheltered areas. I carried on and found it very difficult as not only was I walking directly into what seemed to be an ever-increasing wind, but I was also in snow and facing into the sun which at this time of the afternoon was rather low - the glare was blinding. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I carried on uphill for probably only about half an hour, by which time I'd not found a Mountain Hare or a spot that could be even remotely described as 'sheltered'. The wind-blown snow was concealing my footprints almost immediately. The only other person I could see was a distant speck way over the far side of the valley, probably over half a mile (800 metres) away, and below my level. Suddenly the sky turned yellow-grey and the snow came down heavily - time to turn tail and get out!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Down at the bottom, still 700 metres from my car, the snow eased off somewhat, and I was determined not to leave without photographing something. Some very hairy Mountain Goats provided the solution - just! I understand that, strictly speaking, these are classed as 'feral'.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B_wFywO2ZPM/WoGZFOSPqqI/AAAAAAAAbdU/gmJkj68IYJsJnEGf5e5Ydq2_vCmYr98qQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8962-008-Mountain%2BGoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B_wFywO2ZPM/WoGZFOSPqqI/AAAAAAAAbdU/gmJkj68IYJsJnEGf5e5Ydq2_vCmYr98qQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8962-008-Mountain%2BGoat.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HITcVYmh8m0/WoGZFb-0ZDI/AAAAAAAAbdY/kmP-ZrHNLkw3aiJDTQgCG6bXWYx4MathQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8981-025-Mountain%2BGoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HITcVYmh8m0/WoGZFb-0ZDI/AAAAAAAAbdY/kmP-ZrHNLkw3aiJDTQgCG6bXWYx4MathQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_8981-025-Mountain%2BGoat.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Mountain Goat - Strathdearn</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Back at the car, I finished off my lunch (it was now around 14h45) while I warmed up, and then set off down the valley towards Tomatin. Weather conditions improved lower down.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vtszRfkdYYA/WoGZFrCAgII/AAAAAAAAbds/iI6bbJ1jq2gimLbWnsAiuSv5gj6BstCwACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8993-005-Strathdearn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vtszRfkdYYA/WoGZFrCAgII/AAAAAAAAbds/iI6bbJ1jq2gimLbWnsAiuSv5gj6BstCwACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_8993-005-Strathdearn.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Strathdearn</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>At one point, where the road is high above the river (the Findhorn), I noticed two female Goosander in the river. As there was no traffic about, I managed to stop the car and take a few shots before they flew off upstream.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmnwZ4Ikju0/WoGZF3IKvQI/AAAAAAAAbdw/HVaKpg2rHoMrl5nT-ngQaDz4rmpbBBl-QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9010-012-Goosander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmnwZ4Ikju0/WoGZF3IKvQI/AAAAAAAAbdw/HVaKpg2rHoMrl5nT-ngQaDz4rmpbBBl-QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9010-012-Goosander.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AxGCGfaQ6pU/WoGZF_tjuTI/AAAAAAAAbds/5JasTjS9vVkfFU4Q0BoEmmSJAklxn9LGwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9018-014-Goosander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AxGCGfaQ6pU/WoGZF_tjuTI/AAAAAAAAbds/5JasTjS9vVkfFU4Q0BoEmmSJAklxn9LGwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_9018-014-Goosander.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Goosander <i>(Mergus merganser)</i> (female) - Strathdearn</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Being my last day, I made sure that my return to Grantown included a diversion past Lochindorb. Little was seen, however, so this was my parting shot. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGZ7aIK57XY/WoGc4VIt0aI/AAAAAAAAbd4/2plM3KR_z4AgusrU8GwTxtHD72TVVg94gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9049-003-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HGZ7aIK57XY/WoGc4VIt0aI/AAAAAAAAbd4/2plM3KR_z4AgusrU8GwTxtHD72TVVg94gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_9049-003-Red%2BGrouse%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red Grouse <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lagopus lagopus scotica)</i> (male) - Lochindorb</span></b></span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Thursday, 1st February to Berwick upon Tweed</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I checked the weather forecast for what would usually be my favoured route homeward and found that, at Glenshee, heavy snow was forecast all day with strong winds gusting at up to around 80 mph (130 kph). I didn't want to get mixed up in that sort of weather so opted to take the A9 southward. This is a road that I've tended to avoid like the plague in the past, but I was pleasantly surprised on this occasion, although I had dismally wet weather whilst I was on it.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I came off the A9 in order to make the short diversion to Blairgowrie and the Dalmore Inn, and found myself on a very scenic and rural road which passed Loch of the Lowes and other interesting places. I didn't spend any time in stopping as I realised that I'd be passing on this exact route in June when there would probably be more to see.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>My heart sank when I arrived at the Dalmore Inn as the car park was full and there were cars parked on the grass and out in the road too. I managed to find a spot in the car park as it was being vacated and went inside, half expecting to be turned away. Instead, I was greeted with enthusiasm and shown to a table in a different part to usual. My order was taken quickly and efficiently and my meal served promptly. I was impressed - apparently they'd had a booking for a funeral group of 50 people and 70 had turned up!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The weather went downhill again (cold, wet, and windy) as I approached Berwick upon Tweed for another stay at Tweed View House. Once more I didn't venture out except to have a bite to eat at 'the Scottish restaurant' - I'd been eating rather well at The Grant Arms for the past four nights!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Friday, 2nd February to home</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>After breakfast, and scraping the ice off my car, I had a totally uneventful journey home, arriving at around 13h00.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It hadn't been as productive a break as I had hoped for, but I'd had a highly enjoyable time. I'd achieved three and a half of my original five objectives (only Long-tailed Duck was totally missing), so felt that it had been quite successful in that respect.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>My thanks to all at The Grant Arms for yet another excellent stay, and to Graham and Liz at Tweed View House for, once again, making me extremely comfortable and feeling like I was one of the family.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Cf-Yjd9wYI/WoG1veT0DYI/AAAAAAAAbeY/07_Kefrn5AwxDYzdymb0C3zpdjvO8jhFgCLcBGAs/s1600/Week%2B06%2B-%2B2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Cf-Yjd9wYI/WoG1veT0DYI/AAAAAAAAbeY/07_Kefrn5AwxDYzdymb0C3zpdjvO8jhFgCLcBGAs/s640/Week%2B06%2B-%2B2018.jpg" width="348" /></a><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Garden List - Week 06 - 5th to 11th February, 2018</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It was another relatively interesting week for birds setting foot in our garden - we don't count fly-overs.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Sadly, Great Spotted Woodpecker has not been seen for more than two weeks, although this is not unusual - sometimes we can go for months without seeing one.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Slightly worrying is the lack of frequency in seeing a Robin these days. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Remarkable for us was 5 Siskin (3m 2f) one day although Siskin was seen on 5 out of 7 days</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A female Blackcap visited us and was with us for much of the time on two consecutive days, but has not been seen since.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The two Redpoll are still around, but the female is seen much more frequently than the male.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Jackdaw unusually visited again, and I noticed it had large bare patches on its breast. It seems like a most inconvenient time to be in moult and I'm wondering if it had had an encounter with a predator.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I have little idea what my next post will feature. I must get out owling again, but only when the windy weather abates a bit - my last attempt, on Friday, came to nothing.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thank you for dropping by.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-18925172018917849932018-02-08T11:34:00.000-08:002018-08-01T03:58:43.210-07:00Hawfinch Hunting - on 7th February, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'd not seen a Hawfinch in UK since Christmas Day, 2008 when Lindsay and I were having a picnic lunch on Cannock Chase, and a female Hawfinch landed beside our car. It was my first self-found 'rarity' and I made what I subsequently considered to be a mistake by reporting the sighting on Birdguides. The bird hung around for a few months, and there was conflict between birders and the local community as birders decided to try and exclude the locals by erecting barriers at the entrance to the area that it was frequenting. I'm told that this even led to verbal abuse by birders which resulted in physical violence. I kept away from the site for a year or so, and have become very wary of reporting sightings since then.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>This year there has been an amazing influx of Hawfinch into the country and, in spite of several visits to reported sites, I felt that I must be one of the only people in Leicestershire not to have seen one this winter! Wednesday dawned bright and sunny with sub-zero temperatures and no wind, and I decided to try and rectify the situation. I set off to Burbage Common, near Hinckley - a place where Hawfinch were being seen on a regular basis.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'd had to think twice before going as I was without my usual camera. Having had my regular lens back from repair in time for me to take it to Scotland, on my return from Scotland I sent away my Nikon D7200 camera body to have oil spots on the sensor dealt with (again!). I have had to fall back on my old D300s. This has only half the number of pixels resolution, greatly reduced ability to work at high ISOs, and controls which differ somewhat from the D7200. My efforts during the morning suffered somewhat because of this!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>As I slowed down near the site to park my car, out of nowhere a female Kestrel landed at the roadside approximately 6ft (2 metres) from my car, grabbed its prey, and flew off - all in an instant!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Entering the site, I immediately found a couple of Jays and a Redwing. Although I had several sightings of Jay during my time there I never did manage any shots. The Redwing was, unfortunately, keeping to an area of dappled light.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcyaBgRDyLc/WnwoUArL_hI/AAAAAAAAbTI/m4YRmwCdXLgQoWop9PJseHQp6HDvixYAgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5100-004-Redwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FcyaBgRDyLc/WnwoUArL_hI/AAAAAAAAbTI/m4YRmwCdXLgQoWop9PJseHQp6HDvixYAgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5100-004-Redwing.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redwing <i>(Turdus iliacus)</i> - Burbage Common</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>There were two other birders in the immediate area that I'd entered and they had seen a Hawfinch head into this area approximately 20 minutes earlier, so this was encouraging. However, after around half an hour nothing was being seen so I set off on a wider search. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I was surprised at the relatively large number of Robins that were around. Although a very common bird, I still find them delightful, and couldn't resist a few shots as I searched the area.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ENz9CpeEyfE/WnwqL2lO0qI/AAAAAAAAbTU/usZy0KoXnhEwzS6k2yGnJxIwFdmQd-IwwCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5108-006-Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ENz9CpeEyfE/WnwqL2lO0qI/AAAAAAAAbTU/usZy0KoXnhEwzS6k2yGnJxIwFdmQd-IwwCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5108-006-Robin.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-acCRgDmdl14/WnwqMDfs9rI/AAAAAAAAbTY/ovD48uJFJEcdwfjOAUDwGxB8szI3k2NdQCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5119-017-Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-acCRgDmdl14/WnwqMDfs9rI/AAAAAAAAbTY/ovD48uJFJEcdwfjOAUDwGxB8szI3k2NdQCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5119-017-Robin.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1LRIqx5E7Y4/WnwqMKnuQOI/AAAAAAAAbTc/uWgFh5RXDukB4zF8rVXYI5euPfhpXLSigCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5121-019-Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1LRIqx5E7Y4/WnwqMKnuQOI/AAAAAAAAbTc/uWgFh5RXDukB4zF8rVXYI5euPfhpXLSigCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5121-019-Robin.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Robin <i>(Erithacus rubecula)</i> - Burbage Common</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>With using a camera that I was not used to, it seems that I left my 'photographic head' at home. Therefore, when a Fox appeared heading towards me, and then ran past me with a dark background, I'd forgotten that the exposure compensation on my camera had been set to try and capture a Jay against the sky. I completely flunked the shots, the only vaguely salvageable shot being when it passed behind a pale-blue plastic covered hay bale - the pale colour causing the shutter speed to increase (I work on an 'aperture priority' setting). Here's the evidence of my failure!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W7wbhfmrxUc/WnwstPM5xNI/AAAAAAAAbTw/Ud0BhwvA13Mtp0SMqgHF2VwUcLxRM4xwgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5129-001-Fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W7wbhfmrxUc/WnwstPM5xNI/AAAAAAAAbTw/Ud0BhwvA13Mtp0SMqgHF2VwUcLxRM4xwgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5129-001-Fox.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red Fox <i>(Vulpes vulpes)</i> - Burbage Common</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'd been on site for nearly two hours and not seen a Hawfinch, and had stopped to talk with one of the gentlemen that I'd seen earlier. I'd just said to him that I was going to head homeward as I was expected at home for a late lunch, when we both spotted a Hawfinch fly across in front of us and land in the trees that border the railway line about 50 metres away. I took some distant record shots.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VAOKMYZg9_M/Wnww92qJgPI/AAAAAAAAbT8/_TEzARJSEyIEWOJ6z4tjGnl40r3B5koSACEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5149-007-Hawfinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VAOKMYZg9_M/Wnww92qJgPI/AAAAAAAAbT8/_TEzARJSEyIEWOJ6z4tjGnl40r3B5koSACEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5149-007-Hawfinch.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mKGKtHTwL-U/Wnww-MEoi6I/AAAAAAAAbUA/ty5r9ZdlWksLBQArADNPZv_I6ZcMUPdGgCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5162-015-Hawfinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mKGKtHTwL-U/Wnww-MEoi6I/AAAAAAAAbUA/ty5r9ZdlWksLBQArADNPZv_I6ZcMUPdGgCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5162-015-Hawfinch.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qrsh5S-3c9o/Wnww-MsqPLI/AAAAAAAAbUE/LNAJKXoWllArw1ImXkauJ3rcjsD-yC2kQCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5163-016-Hawfinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qrsh5S-3c9o/Wnww-MsqPLI/AAAAAAAAbUE/LNAJKXoWllArw1ImXkauJ3rcjsD-yC2kQCEwYBhgL/s1600/_2RP5163-016-Hawfinch.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hawfinch <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Coccothraustes coccothraustes)</i> - Burbage Common</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We were joined by another birder, and then the Hawfinch dropped into the small copse to the left of us. We went to try and relocate it, keeping close to the trees that lined the railway tracks. It was eventually spotted on the ground through thick undergrowth only about 25 metres from our position. We watched it for a while whilst it bumbled around searching for food (absolutely no chance of a shot as only small bits of it were visible at any one time) and in the end there were five of us watching it. Eventually, it flew left and, I suspect, away. After a while with it not being spotted again I felt that I should return home for a (rather late!) late lunch.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>As I left there was an unusually confiding Redwing between me and where I was heading - again in dappled light. Furthermore, I messed up again with having left my exposure compensation on an inappropriate setting (I'd dialled in a + compensation again for those Hawfinch images above). I did, however, get this corrected in time to get some shots.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tBas4YCVxJU/Wnw3e6ITRiI/AAAAAAAAbUY/L0dZaZZI4GQhfK_eCG1IJw6q2AzErS6GgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5180-011-Redwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tBas4YCVxJU/Wnw3e6ITRiI/AAAAAAAAbUY/L0dZaZZI4GQhfK_eCG1IJw6q2AzErS6GgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5180-011-Redwing.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4zdFgY1cr7E/Wnw3ezgxbDI/AAAAAAAAbUc/LiRGRciAasIWxW12U1v3PkX-pIzevHFZgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5186-014-Redwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4zdFgY1cr7E/Wnw3ezgxbDI/AAAAAAAAbUc/LiRGRciAasIWxW12U1v3PkX-pIzevHFZgCLcBGAs/s1600/_2RP5186-014-Redwing.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redwing <i>(Turdus iliacus)</i> - Burbage Common</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Garden Lists - Weeks 04 (22/01/2018 to 28/01/2018) and 05 (29/01/2018 to 04/02/2018)</span></b></b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The number of species setting foot down in our garden was down in Week 04. This may partly be due to reduction in observation time - it was a busy week, and then I was away on my trip to Scotland from the Saturday morning. From the 'base list' Great Tit and Wren were noticeable by their absence, but Blackcap (a female) and Siskin (also a female) were welcome additions to the list.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Week 05 numbers were also down, but then I was away all week until the Friday afternoon - so only two and a half days of observation. GS Woodpecker was absent, but Great Tit and Wren put in an appearance, and Jackdaw was another welcome addition.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I0iOGPoZa-o/WnxqA8iEgkI/AAAAAAAAbU0/JbkGaSkPSlIEoUWCERGqLqU5I91seXotACLcBGAs/s1600/2018%2B-%2Bweek%2B04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="801" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I0iOGPoZa-o/WnxqA8iEgkI/AAAAAAAAbU0/JbkGaSkPSlIEoUWCERGqLqU5I91seXotACLcBGAs/s640/2018%2B-%2Bweek%2B04.jpg" width="348" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">2018, Week 04 - 22nd to 28th January</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6_Z4cNq208/WnxqA4Qid5I/AAAAAAAAbUw/_XgDrO6VqFMfAgd260CmMP7DUTrCnvdxgCEwYBhgL/s1600/2018%2B-%2Bweek%2B05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6_Z4cNq208/WnxqA4Qid5I/AAAAAAAAbUw/_XgDrO6VqFMfAgd260CmMP7DUTrCnvdxgCEwYBhgL/s640/2018%2B-%2Bweek%2B05.jpg" width="348" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">2018, Week 05 - 29th January to 4th February</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Whilst in Scotland, the weather was not kind to me, being very windy for virtually the whole time I was there, but I did manage to get some photos. My next post, all things being equal, will be a report on my Scottish visit. The photos are already processed!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thank you for dropping by</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-46880357632524059582018-01-26T06:54:00.000-08:002018-08-01T03:58:43.548-07:00Oakthorpe Colliery - on 16th January, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>For various reasons, I've done virtually no birdwatching for the past couple of weeks, other than observe the birds in my garden during foul weather. However, I thought I'd better do a blog post, just 'to keep the pot boiling'. So here goes -</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Approximately 1 mile (1.5 km) from my home is the site of the old Oakthorpe Colliery. This has been transformed into something of a wildlife haven, although I was concerned recently that people were shooting next to the car park. Up until very recently there have been bird feeding stations at each end of the car park. However, I found when I visited on 16th January that the station at the north end of the car park had been dismantled and a new station installed only a few metres from the station in the south-west corner of the car park. I'm not sure of the reason for this move, but it seems to have had an effect on what species are visiting the feeders. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I had to bide my time for a while in a rather awkward position for photography as a car had parked right beside the new feeding station and the occupants gone off for a walk. After about an hour they returned and departed in their car and I was able to move my car, which I used as a hide, into a more favourable position. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>In its previous position, the feeding station used to regularly attract Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, and the occasional Willow Tit (a bit scarce in these parts these days). However, on this occasion, the first three of these species only made nervous approaches without stopping to feed, and Willow Tit was not seen at all. Hopefully this will change when the birds get used to the new set-up.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It was good to see a Yellowhammer approach the feeders, although it didn't stop to feed. This used to be a regular at this site in winter, although I hadn't seen one here for some time and wondered if they'd gone.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The weather and light were not great, but here are some images from that session. I hope you like Tits!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AXe6AiR8TPw/Wmj26AV97RI/AAAAAAAAbNc/nH90Njc8ftgwNGTwVVhD2LsEm7IlhagAACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7504-003-Blue%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AXe6AiR8TPw/Wmj26AV97RI/AAAAAAAAbNc/nH90Njc8ftgwNGTwVVhD2LsEm7IlhagAACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7504-003-Blue%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOSBxiPD7zg/Wmj26BMZOsI/AAAAAAAAbNg/NIKkdElBfTcuE5IMZFywoOq0YAf0jEvUgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7580-009-Blue%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOSBxiPD7zg/Wmj26BMZOsI/AAAAAAAAbNg/NIKkdElBfTcuE5IMZFywoOq0YAf0jEvUgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7580-009-Blue%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hejONA0KfPg/Wmj26NWej5I/AAAAAAAAbNY/VZWbxrOKnU89VrxT2J9gkDYbA21wxhebACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7600-015-Blue%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hejONA0KfPg/Wmj26NWej5I/AAAAAAAAbNY/VZWbxrOKnU89VrxT2J9gkDYbA21wxhebACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7600-015-Blue%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6El_gASd8YQ/Wmj26ttpqGI/AAAAAAAAbNk/8T4wzMkKYqMP_QO3a1nzXKfn1ZyWJ-ImgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7602-017-Blue%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6El_gASd8YQ/Wmj26ttpqGI/AAAAAAAAbNk/8T4wzMkKYqMP_QO3a1nzXKfn1ZyWJ-ImgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7602-017-Blue%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Blue Tit <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Cyanistes caeruleus)</i> - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsfGpr3EhTI/Wmj4eeUeb6I/AAAAAAAAbN0/oGsx5Jp08BMEVUo2GVA-y2L5TRTN4OlvwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7621-003-Coal%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsfGpr3EhTI/Wmj4eeUeb6I/AAAAAAAAbN0/oGsx5Jp08BMEVUo2GVA-y2L5TRTN4OlvwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7621-003-Coal%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tGEDAIjAj5g/Wmj4ee6dalI/AAAAAAAAbN4/Fxs4EBd92ZEOb5jGwOvoLoxtagTgP3i7wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7620-002-Coal%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tGEDAIjAj5g/Wmj4ee6dalI/AAAAAAAAbN4/Fxs4EBd92ZEOb5jGwOvoLoxtagTgP3i7wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7620-002-Coal%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Coal Tit <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Periparus ater</span>)</i> - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQrbbDkP81s/Wmj5P6JEWfI/AAAAAAAAbOI/Twit8MOMjsYEiGhclA4cvbi0R0F688QUQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7634-007-Great%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQrbbDkP81s/Wmj5P6JEWfI/AAAAAAAAbOI/Twit8MOMjsYEiGhclA4cvbi0R0F688QUQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7634-007-Great%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-3sZvcZs7Y/Wmj5P2q3bPI/AAAAAAAAbOM/LMWYwMeJ0-41oaMoBWY3fZIeqvHS2qDKwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7491-001-Great%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-3sZvcZs7Y/Wmj5P2q3bPI/AAAAAAAAbOM/LMWYwMeJ0-41oaMoBWY3fZIeqvHS2qDKwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7491-001-Great%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-jWEWZ76qc/Wmj5Pp8E0kI/AAAAAAAAbOE/001_zMIjcn4rfx5_-S3cCFGaJMDhB4tiACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7495-003-Great%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-jWEWZ76qc/Wmj5Pp8E0kI/AAAAAAAAbOE/001_zMIjcn4rfx5_-S3cCFGaJMDhB4tiACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7495-003-Great%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Tit <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Parus major</span>)</i> - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dJ2E4d0IXpM/Wmj6koBXQlI/AAAAAAAAbOg/N3KQJUZ-tnoIPHaiT3HgJl-IgP8QsOWwwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7524-002-Long-tailed%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dJ2E4d0IXpM/Wmj6koBXQlI/AAAAAAAAbOg/N3KQJUZ-tnoIPHaiT3HgJl-IgP8QsOWwwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7524-002-Long-tailed%2BTit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AA6ARf9PDXc/Wmj6krJB3FI/AAAAAAAAbOk/G5jSCL9-hKstJcE7I8HrJxOmN6DzYwr3QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7559-009-Long-tailed%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AA6ARf9PDXc/Wmj6krJB3FI/AAAAAAAAbOk/G5jSCL9-hKstJcE7I8HrJxOmN6DzYwr3QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7559-009-Long-tailed%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Long-tailed Tit <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Aegithalos caudatus</span>)</i> - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Woodpecker stayed well-hidden. I think that it realised I was there!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g4PfZmpNU0M/Wmj7baF8OSI/AAAAAAAAbOw/Z3b_QvMOE3IesYvIEqNNiHnY32PyxLdrACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7648-001-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g4PfZmpNU0M/Wmj7baF8OSI/AAAAAAAAbOw/Z3b_QvMOE3IesYvIEqNNiHnY32PyxLdrACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7648-001-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="font-size: small;">Great Spotted Woodpecker <i>(Dendrocopos major)</i> (male) - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> Sadly, the Yellowhammer stayed distant and partly obscured by a branch, but I was pleased to get any sort of shot of this bird.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-phj3KqHWmAg/Wmj8PnUckFI/AAAAAAAAbPA/I4WajXaTcpMfqjcP5fNxB7SJ-27CHkx-ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7545-008-Yellowhammer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-phj3KqHWmAg/Wmj8PnUckFI/AAAAAAAAbPA/I4WajXaTcpMfqjcP5fNxB7SJ-27CHkx-ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7545-008-Yellowhammer.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpbJ-gA5j2k/Wmj8PfDI3_I/AAAAAAAAbO4/es-bHp8g-hUD8XpcXYYH-SkmEEFLe9n4wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7539-002-Yellowhammer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpbJ-gA5j2k/Wmj8PfDI3_I/AAAAAAAAbO4/es-bHp8g-hUD8XpcXYYH-SkmEEFLe9n4wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7539-002-Yellowhammer.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdGMbLgVZFc/Wmj8Pvj1cjI/AAAAAAAAbO8/B5ysrKr334oApthVTNxxXKYOUhCNFI5nQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7551-012-Yellowhammer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdGMbLgVZFc/Wmj8Pvj1cjI/AAAAAAAAbO8/B5ysrKr334oApthVTNxxXKYOUhCNFI5nQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7551-012-Yellowhammer.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Yellowhammer <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Emberiza citrinella)</i> (male) - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I know that some birders are not too fond of Grey Squirrels, but I consider them to be charming creatures - it's not their fault that someone decided to introduce them into UK!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_IBLnDeRTu4/Wmj9o3bRRKI/AAAAAAAAbPU/DnjRmKyuRqguGOE28FiObi04i9jDLnavwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7654-001-Grey%2BSquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_IBLnDeRTu4/Wmj9o3bRRKI/AAAAAAAAbPU/DnjRmKyuRqguGOE28FiObi04i9jDLnavwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7654-001-Grey%2BSquirrel.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHRXFP2VpFM/Wmj9oxDmTaI/AAAAAAAAbPc/chXfTfLUz_sCtLsLaWl-QqJYIKugAyf1QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7669-008-Grey%2BSquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHRXFP2VpFM/Wmj9oxDmTaI/AAAAAAAAbPc/chXfTfLUz_sCtLsLaWl-QqJYIKugAyf1QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7669-008-Grey%2BSquirrel.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nzKnPNW6iBc/Wmj9o4AXoSI/AAAAAAAAbPY/lIu6ahvPJE0WzfDCtFCFgVQXn5yfGOXxQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7659-003-Grey%2BSquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nzKnPNW6iBc/Wmj9o4AXoSI/AAAAAAAAbPY/lIu6ahvPJE0WzfDCtFCFgVQXn5yfGOXxQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7659-003-Grey%2BSquirrel.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Grey Squirrel <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sciurus carolinensis)</i> - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bg7ojvCveSA/WmmmwfVpnpI/AAAAAAAAbPw/pLiLoWvI2IomwlqmKPQNpZMO_i2_s7nUQCLcBGAs/s1600/2018%2B-%2Bweek%2B03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bg7ojvCveSA/WmmmwfVpnpI/AAAAAAAAbPw/pLiLoWvI2IomwlqmKPQNpZMO_i2_s7nUQCLcBGAs/s640/2018%2B-%2Bweek%2B03.jpg" width="347" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">2018, Week 03 - 15th to 21st January</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Garden List - Week 03 - 15/01/2018 to 21/01/2018 </span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It was a quite interesting week in the garden, no doubt helped by the fall of snow we had. The total number of species setting foot down increased from the 22 of the previous two weeks and reached 24 species.</b><br /><br /><b>Jackdaw put in a brief appearance once again, and I just managed to spot a Redwing in our Rowan before it departed. A male Siskin has also been visiting on some days - I hope that he attracts a female!</b><br /><br /><b>The male Sparrowhawk has started making a nuisance of himself again. He's not catching much at all, but causing the birds to flee in panic, sometimes flying into the window glass. Usually I manage to rescue them, but I did have a male Chaffinch break its neck today.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>In a few days time I shall be away in Scotland (a solo visit) for a week , so I am not sure what or when my next post will be.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-79482934690529545742018-01-15T08:42:00.000-08:002018-08-01T03:58:43.888-07:00Near the Bottom of the Barrel - mid-January, 2018<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>For the first couple of weeks of this year, it seems that I've either had commitments or the weather has been on the grim side. I have, therefore, managed little in the way of photography. However, I feel I need to keep my hand in with blog posts, so stand by for some less-than-inspiring photography!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Thursday 28th December, 2017 </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A visit to Kelham Bridge at the end of last year resulted in great company, but virtually nothing in the way of bird sightings and photography. The water was frozen over, and I'd been hoping for Water Rail to come out onto the ice. The nearest to 'exciting' was a distant Kestrel with a vole!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ryLrR9SGW8/Wly25VMZEgI/AAAAAAAAbKo/IyknJXnVtpQFQDxGnnUJIp9q-Ik_dQUNwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6936-001-Kestrel%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ryLrR9SGW8/Wly25VMZEgI/AAAAAAAAbKo/IyknJXnVtpQFQDxGnnUJIp9q-Ik_dQUNwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6936-001-Kestrel%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdSCIkZ5U7A/Wly25crMCSI/AAAAAAAAbKs/B87mHpKBabAYm3D8WJqA7OYr0eoXu-6jgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6939-002-Kestrel%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdSCIkZ5U7A/Wly25crMCSI/AAAAAAAAbKs/B87mHpKBabAYm3D8WJqA7OYr0eoXu-6jgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6939-002-Kestrel%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Kestrel <i>(Falco tinnunculus)</i> (female) - Kelham Bridge</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ihtE53n8tQY/Wly25Qgv8vI/AAAAAAAAbK4/Tb4WDhiZ6hwUyjrnOsQ-Qbw2xUuBHW8DwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6959-001-Moorhen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ihtE53n8tQY/Wly25Qgv8vI/AAAAAAAAbK4/Tb4WDhiZ6hwUyjrnOsQ-Qbw2xUuBHW8DwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6959-001-Moorhen.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Moorhen <i>(Gallinula chloropus)</i> - Kelham Bridge</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e7gM1WbTuEI/Wly25_D8NuI/AAAAAAAAbK4/ZDYe_XhGsrQZxXG0vdMkrbzfYNGE8KUIwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6970-006-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e7gM1WbTuEI/Wly25_D8NuI/AAAAAAAAbK4/ZDYe_XhGsrQZxXG0vdMkrbzfYNGE8KUIwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6970-006-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Spotted Woodpecker <i>(Dendrocopos major)</i> (female) - Kelham Bridge</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A visit to Oakthorpe Colliery later that day just resulted in the disturbance beside the car park, caused by four shooters with dogs, upsetting the people in the car park. This was reported to the police who, as soon as they were told that we weren't being threatened, weren't interested, in spite of this being a nature reserve and a police notice in the car park asking for reports of possible poachers with dogs!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Tuesday 2nd January, 2018</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We had quite a good day in our garden that day, with 19 species visiting us, including the two Redpoll which featured in my previous post which you can find <a href="http://bing.com/2018/01/return-of-redpolls-turn-of-year-201718.html" target="_blank">here</a>. However, on this day, which was very dull and wet, I only photographed our visiting Woody.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NbL02StuSRg/Wly7ojXfSHI/AAAAAAAAbLM/y-CeW_AjkikrY0U6mi4IM2a---0tQMV9gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7221-012-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NbL02StuSRg/Wly7ojXfSHI/AAAAAAAAbLM/y-CeW_AjkikrY0U6mi4IM2a---0tQMV9gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7221-012-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Spotted Woodpecker <i>(Dendrocopos major)</i> (male) -our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Monday 8th January</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We were lucky this day to have one of the rare visits to our garden by a Brambling - sadly I didn't manage any decent images. It was dull and extremely cold that day and I was struggling to keep the water from freezing so that the birds could drink - you can see some ice from the drinking station in a couple of the images below.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZ5Gb0RXjJs/Wly9xWEnNrI/AAAAAAAAbLg/SASWjJa0Tes2XTM9yWm3HqDgCM8XoHT2QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7349-014-Brambling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZ5Gb0RXjJs/Wly9xWEnNrI/AAAAAAAAbLg/SASWjJa0Tes2XTM9yWm3HqDgCM8XoHT2QCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7349-014-Brambling.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--jboM2zMpV0/Wly9xQ14poI/AAAAAAAAbLc/7xhxv_xQ-rwAxuq-Ekd4in1zHLlWq95iACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7331-004-Brambling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--jboM2zMpV0/Wly9xQ14poI/AAAAAAAAbLc/7xhxv_xQ-rwAxuq-Ekd4in1zHLlWq95iACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7331-004-Brambling.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYatCJC41Jk/Wly9xQ0nAcI/AAAAAAAAbLY/1NxC67QYwMQaQMhrXu1f4I8_SNxAAHhrgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7336-009-Brambling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYatCJC41Jk/Wly9xQ0nAcI/AAAAAAAAbLY/1NxC67QYwMQaQMhrXu1f4I8_SNxAAHhrgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7336-009-Brambling.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Brambling <i>(Fringilla montifringilla)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8wvEyc55bWA/Wly9xjjp4II/AAAAAAAAbLo/ZYMBQk2DY1EdmT30taMU46PeJqWm4N01QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7360-001-Goldfinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8wvEyc55bWA/Wly9xjjp4II/AAAAAAAAbLo/ZYMBQk2DY1EdmT30taMU46PeJqWm4N01QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7360-001-Goldfinch.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Goldfinch <i>(Carduelis carduelis)</i> - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>That evening I went out to see if I could find any owls. I nearly failed, but happened on a Barn Owl after it had already got dark.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zkxknt88wSI/Wly_z1WwGqI/AAAAAAAAbLw/87SVsXPOquo7-cjwTXP0Yi_E-8mdHGHOgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7406-033-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zkxknt88wSI/Wly_z1WwGqI/AAAAAAAAbLw/87SVsXPOquo7-cjwTXP0Yi_E-8mdHGHOgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7406-033-Barn%2BOwl.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Barn Owl <i>(Tyto alba)</i> - Leicestershire</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Friday, 12th January</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lindsay and I fancied going out for lunch together, and Lindsay chose Launde Abbey as our lunch venue. This suited me just fine as we'd pass some of my Little Owl sites en-route. Unfortunately we were soon travelling in thick fog! We didn't stand a chance at the first few sites we passed as we'd not have seen a bird if it had sat there and shouted at us! However, we were able to see a bird at my Site No. 23. It was still quite foggy and my images were extremely flat and grey. However, I have found by past experience that images in foggy conditions are relatively easy to enhance, purely by winding up the contrast compensation in post-processing. Although not a good image, the following is considerably better than the original!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsHBOODGbA0/WlzDnyJ7RBI/AAAAAAAAbL8/hT1HrJIi5pw3icksJV9mMSV19-JJiZ71ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7424-001-LO%2B-%2BRP23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsHBOODGbA0/WlzDnyJ7RBI/AAAAAAAAbL8/hT1HrJIi5pw3icksJV9mMSV19-JJiZ71ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7424-001-LO%2B-%2BRP23.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Owl <i>(Athene noctua)</i> - my Site No.23</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lunch was very enjoyable and the fog lifted as we were eating. This prompted us to take a scenic route home. A little Owl was seen at my Site No.53 - almost 100 metres away!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_1V6ZGwV2g/WlzFd4vAGJI/AAAAAAAAbMI/zQcK7M3PwUsw0KgVNPa8C55MzJg67nTDQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7440-001-LO%2B-%2BRP53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_1V6ZGwV2g/WlzFd4vAGJI/AAAAAAAAbMI/zQcK7M3PwUsw0KgVNPa8C55MzJg67nTDQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7440-001-LO%2B-%2BRP53.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Owl <i>(Athene noctua)</i> - my Site No.53</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>By the time we got to LO Site No. 37 the light was dreadful and the owl was in a hopeless position for photography. However, it did mean that I'd had my first 3 Little Owl day for many months! - and that is why I'm happy to post these rubbish images!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dH-BcN1E-o8/WlzGfNZbsyI/AAAAAAAAbMU/S68hVGrHrJkWJ5fHVUBytgahScNUQbOcQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7447-007-LO%2B-%2BRP37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dH-BcN1E-o8/WlzGfNZbsyI/AAAAAAAAbMU/S68hVGrHrJkWJ5fHVUBytgahScNUQbOcQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7447-007-LO%2B-%2BRP37.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Owl <i>(Athene noctua)</i> - my Site No.37</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Saturday, 13th January</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I mentioned in my previous post that I was concerned that we'd seen a Hedgehog out at the beginning of the month, and that I'd monitor the situation. The header that is current with this post is a screen grab from one of my trail cameras on 4th January. Until 13th January there was no further sign of a Hedgehog. However, on the night of 13th January, the Hedgehog reappeared. I'm not overly concerned at this stage as Hedgehogs will occasionally awaken in the winter, particularly if they feel the need to change sleeping location. I am continuing to closely monitor the situation. If you are knowledgeable on the subject of Hedgehogs and think, for example, that this one looks underweight and needs help, please let me know.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hJNfF0xWqw/WlzJQiDtXdI/AAAAAAAAbMg/L4p819Tqbi4VVdu4yIF79vnLlEK1bVedgCLcBGAs/s1600/screen%2Bgrab%2B-%2Bblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hJNfF0xWqw/WlzJQiDtXdI/AAAAAAAAbMg/L4p819Tqbi4VVdu4yIF79vnLlEK1bVedgCLcBGAs/s1600/screen%2Bgrab%2B-%2Bblog.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hedgehog <i>(</i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Erinaceus europaeus)</i> - our garden on 13th January, 2018</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Garden List - Week 02 - 08/01/2018 to 14/01/2018 </span></b><br /><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x50BRVXnn8c/WlzNH7xe51I/AAAAAAAAbMs/3R_SumZqBTgAP3zJ2962yg27Q5sN9sKzQCLcBGAs/s1600/Week%2B02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x50BRVXnn8c/WlzNH7xe51I/AAAAAAAAbMs/3R_SumZqBTgAP3zJ2962yg27Q5sN9sKzQCLcBGAs/s640/Week%2B02.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">2018, Week 02 - 8th to 14th January</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We had another quite good week in the garden, in spite of the continued building works out back.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It was a different mix than the previous week. Brambling showed for the first time this year - they usually appear a bit later in the winter. However, the real surprise was a couple of corvids. Although they are not rare birds, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw are quite rare in our garden, and we consider ourselves lucky if we get one in the year, so to get both this early in the year, and on the same day, was exciting. Sadly I missed getting any photos.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I am pleased to say that the pair of Redpoll is still visiting the garden.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>At the current rate of progress I, once again, have no idea what the subject of my next post will be. Hopefully I will not have to scrape the bottom of the barrel too hard!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thank you for dropping by. </b><br /><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b><br /><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-83420134689931999312018-01-07T11:26:00.000-08:002018-08-01T03:58:44.227-07:00Return of The Redpolls - turn of the year, 2017/18<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OIC2npuVcF8/Wk-mPIOQWGI/AAAAAAAAbIw/s5277EWCYj0hbXXCz3zjj45Rs2CevY8BwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7057-010-Redpoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OIC2npuVcF8/Wk-mPIOQWGI/AAAAAAAAbIw/s5277EWCYj0hbXXCz3zjj45Rs2CevY8BwCEwYBhgL/s200/PEG_7057-010-Redpoll.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>For a number of years now, we've been fortunate enough to have Lesser Redpolls visiting our garden each winter. Their numbers vary considerably, with small flocks of 8 birds being recorded several times.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I was concerned that this winter we might not be so lucky due to the noisy building work going on adjacent to our garden. I was, therefore, delighted when the first of these birds of this winter appeared on December 27th. The situation was probably helped by building work being on hold for the Christmas period from 22nd December to 3rd January.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>From 30th December we were getting a pair of these delightful small birds visiting us on a daily basis, and they are still with us as I write this. I have not yet managed to get any shots that I'm fully satisfied with, and the female is proving to be less obliging than the male. Here, however, are a few that I've managed to grab so far.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-jTgcy1Sbg/Wk-mPExuYVI/AAAAAAAAbIo/LMkrN2DNdWYkySBoV_vvg96sjKM1BX4_wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7142-045-Redpoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-jTgcy1Sbg/Wk-mPExuYVI/AAAAAAAAbIo/LMkrN2DNdWYkySBoV_vvg96sjKM1BX4_wCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7142-045-Redpoll.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lesser Redpoll <i>(Acanthis cabaret)</i> (female + male) - our garden on 30th December, 2017</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xeyrAOtBiGw/Wk-mPB5A9lI/AAAAAAAAbIw/W33kmm2-ZqMLx7PUH680nZhpj5aq4AJCgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7111-029-Redpoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xeyrAOtBiGw/Wk-mPB5A9lI/AAAAAAAAbIw/W33kmm2-ZqMLx7PUH680nZhpj5aq4AJCgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7111-029-Redpoll.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OIC2npuVcF8/Wk-mPIOQWGI/AAAAAAAAbIw/s5277EWCYj0hbXXCz3zjj45Rs2CevY8BwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7057-010-Redpoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OIC2npuVcF8/Wk-mPIOQWGI/AAAAAAAAbIw/s5277EWCYj0hbXXCz3zjj45Rs2CevY8BwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7057-010-Redpoll.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lesser Redpoll <i>(Acanthis cabaret)</i> (male) - our garden on 30th December, 2017</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9kpvnZXSG0E/Wk-n8EyKhlI/AAAAAAAAbJA/x697WVgfZOwXR9ArxiL1c7IEuQ2XTcQkwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7171-015-Redpoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9kpvnZXSG0E/Wk-n8EyKhlI/AAAAAAAAbJA/x697WVgfZOwXR9ArxiL1c7IEuQ2XTcQkwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7171-015-Redpoll.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lesser Redpoll <i>(Acanthis cabaret)</i> (female) - our garden on 31st December, 2017</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RsX3lTckn0g/Wk-n8X8EgbI/AAAAAAAAbJE/LcW16bzEEKIysabP_puxIm331lbSw-u_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7183-021-Redpoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RsX3lTckn0g/Wk-n8X8EgbI/AAAAAAAAbJE/LcW16bzEEKIysabP_puxIm331lbSw-u_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7183-021-Redpoll.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILe82-EHL54/Wk-n8Dwnl1I/AAAAAAAAbI8/4Z5y1hyM6EQjg2idKZAqtFHNOnzmY3gnACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7166-013-Redpoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILe82-EHL54/Wk-n8Dwnl1I/AAAAAAAAbI8/4Z5y1hyM6EQjg2idKZAqtFHNOnzmY3gnACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7166-013-Redpoll.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yloI55DJZuY/Wk-n7wZWT5I/AAAAAAAAbI4/cE1bW1WNiGcf5Kv8-95hE6vJ3Rgs60BtwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7144-002-Redpoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yloI55DJZuY/Wk-n7wZWT5I/AAAAAAAAbI4/cE1bW1WNiGcf5Kv8-95hE6vJ3Rgs60BtwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_7144-002-Redpoll.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lesser Redpoll <i>(Acanthis cabaret)</i> (male) - our garden on 31st December, 2017</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aC6qFW5ZZf0/Wk-ooVVC6ZI/AAAAAAAAbJM/FdIXYSc7n1wwE0gbxQZLJQWWuC3EtSU8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7260-006-Redpoll%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aC6qFW5ZZf0/Wk-ooVVC6ZI/AAAAAAAAbJM/FdIXYSc7n1wwE0gbxQZLJQWWuC3EtSU8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7260-006-Redpoll%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lesser Redpoll <i>(Acanthis cabaret)</i> (female) - our garden on 4th January, 2018</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pCsWwVnsOKQ/WlJjQc90WQI/AAAAAAAAbJ4/9USOZybdm7ozPLpuHKl0hLYeG60H1reaQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7301-003-Redpoll%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pCsWwVnsOKQ/WlJjQc90WQI/AAAAAAAAbJ4/9USOZybdm7ozPLpuHKl0hLYeG60H1reaQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_7301-003-Redpoll%2B.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lesser Redpoll <i>(Acanthis cabaret)</i> (male) - our garden on 5th January, 2018</span></b></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I'm now hoping to get some better images, and also hoping that the number visiting us increases. The weather, however, has not been playing ball of late.</b><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HMQ1wpBw4TA/WlJhrODih9I/AAAAAAAAbJs/XtN9kon_br8O1r8YzN0r4_BhvBeUxZImgCEwYBhgL/s1600/2018%2Bweek-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HMQ1wpBw4TA/WlJhrODih9I/AAAAAAAAbJs/XtN9kon_br8O1r8YzN0r4_BhvBeUxZImgCEwYBhgL/s640/2018%2Bweek-01.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">2018, Week 01 - 1st to 7th January</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>GARDEN RECORDS</b></span><br /><br /><b>For a number of years now, I've been keeping a daily record of the birds that set foot in our garden. In the past, I've shown a table in the right-hand column of this blog, showing the species that arrive in our garden for a particular year, the date they first arrived, and the maximum number seen at any one time. This fell into disuse last year so this year I intend to append, on a regular basis, a copy of the table I produce each week that summarises the garden sightings. Whether or not I keep this up remains to be seen! Week 01 of 2018, has been quite a good one for us from the point of view of variety of species arriving.</b><br /><br /><b>We do have some consternation at having seen a Hedgehog on two consecutive nights - it should be tucked away for the winter. I am continuing to monitor that situation, with two trail cameras set up for night operation.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Thank you for dropping by. I have done little photography of late, with my main lens being away at Sigma for repair. My substitute lens is more of a handicap than I remembered! I have, therefore, no idea at all as to what the subject of my next post will be!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-25527441509351631332017-12-31T03:06:00.000-08:002018-08-01T03:58:44.565-07:00Boxing Day - 26th December, 2017<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lindsay and I usually have a picnic lunch in the countryside at some time round Christmas Day. This was, for a number of years, on Christmas Day itself. However, for the past two years we have been invited to our daughter Melanie's house for Christmas lunch, so have had our picnic on Christmas Eve. This year Melanie wanted to do things differently with the main meal on Christmas Eve, and a buffet lunch on Christmas Day. Lindsay and I, therefore, postponed our picnic to Boxing Day lunch.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-idDnHVJk_GI/WkgDT344AYI/AAAAAAAAbHo/QsDy69Y4idMQj6aXDAg2p4buwKkPJhUEQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6673-022-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-idDnHVJk_GI/WkgDT344AYI/AAAAAAAAbHo/QsDy69Y4idMQj6aXDAg2p4buwKkPJhUEQCEwYBhgL/s200/PEG_6673-022-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" width="173" /></a><b>Lindsay requested that we go to Cannock Chase as she hadn't been there so far this year. It's a place we are both fond of and it can, occasionally, throw up some interesting birds. The day dawned mild and sunny and I was concerned that the place might be a little busy. However it was even busier than we feared! On arrival at the car park there was just one space available and it was furthest from the bird action. We persevered for a while, attacking our picnic lunch. Eventually a space became free near to where the birds were feeding, but we both had a very limited field of view, and that was mainly through the car windscreen, and there were so many people around that the more interesting birds were staying away. It was just the more common tits plus Dunnocks and Chaffinches, and the occasional Bullfinch and Nuthatch, to keep us amused, and a solitary sighting of a Willow Tit to cause excitement. There was only one place I could get any sort of photo if a bird landed there - and that wasn't ideal for light or background. I took shots of several species in exactly the same position, so will only offer one:-</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sVGljX1qwh8/Wkf61aJSb_I/AAAAAAAAbG0/N0IpH4-ljXw_fnfBpctmD_8Ix_g0HluuQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6567-002-Great%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sVGljX1qwh8/Wkf61aJSb_I/AAAAAAAAbG0/N0IpH4-ljXw_fnfBpctmD_8Ix_g0HluuQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6567-002-Great%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Tit <i>(Parus major)</i> - Cannock Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I even tried taking some shots through the windscreen, but this is never satisfactory. I just about managed a Robin!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N6KtdUEGnfI/Wkf76n59PMI/AAAAAAAAbHA/ZsNVpr69uiornLmqGXcRgZH3oVPGWCfRgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6624-002-Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N6KtdUEGnfI/Wkf76n59PMI/AAAAAAAAbHA/ZsNVpr69uiornLmqGXcRgZH3oVPGWCfRgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6624-002-Robin.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Robin <i>(Erithacus rubecula)</i> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"> - Cannock Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>We weren't there for long before we decided to give up and head off for a mug of tea at Springslade Lodge. Lindsay had been hoping to see some deer, but we'd come to the conclusion that there were so many people wandering around that we didn't stand a chance. However. we'd only got a couple of hundred metres from our parking spot when Lindsay spotted one in the trees beside the road.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hH-clU2AgEo/Wkf76uUE6sI/AAAAAAAAbHI/rNZp7y2IELIpw_4dVOu4rO8pAxXXuu1ywCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6633-002-Deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hH-clU2AgEo/Wkf76uUE6sI/AAAAAAAAbHI/rNZp7y2IELIpw_4dVOu4rO8pAxXXuu1ywCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6633-002-Deer.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Roe Deer <i>(Capreolus capreolus)</i> (female) - Cannock Chase</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>When we arrived at Springslade Lodge we found the place was packed and we had to wait a while and take a seat outside on the terrace to drink our tea. It was then time to head homeward.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>In the past, Whitemoor Haye has been a good place for birds, with a large swan roost each winter which regularly turns up Whoopers and Bewicks, and has also been good for Corn Bunting. I'd not been there this year so we made a small diversion to check it out. I was quite upset to see the whole area has undergone massive earthworks, but can find no information as to what these pertain. We continued a circular drive round, seeing only four Mute Swans and little in the way of passerines. We then turned a corner and I immediately spotted a Buzzard in the hedge on my side of the single-track road. I slewed the car round at around 30° across the road, turned off the engine and took a shot, expecting the bird to do the usual thing of taking off as soon as I poked my lens out of the window - it did no such thing!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I started the car again and moved a little closer and took more shots. It didn't budge!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UAJsps86Y7U/WkgDTx1_InI/AAAAAAAAbHU/eL8eg6An4XIV28_VYpe6mKewdmhhfNjZACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6666-015-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UAJsps86Y7U/WkgDTx1_InI/AAAAAAAAbHU/eL8eg6An4XIV28_VYpe6mKewdmhhfNjZACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6666-015-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">C</span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;">ommon Buzzard <i>(Buteo buteo)</i> (juvenile) - Whitemoor Haye</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I started the car once more and edged a little closer. I was probably less than 10 metres away now, and still it stayed.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-idDnHVJk_GI/WkgDT344AYI/AAAAAAAAbHo/QsDy69Y4idMQj6aXDAg2p4buwKkPJhUEQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6673-022-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-idDnHVJk_GI/WkgDT344AYI/AAAAAAAAbHo/QsDy69Y4idMQj6aXDAg2p4buwKkPJhUEQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6673-022-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dr9y6msyT_w/WkgDT5RYTeI/AAAAAAAAbHo/nlmAyk6Nqqcvu4UU3_UTNkdPuZOuekyKwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6675-024-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dr9y6msyT_w/WkgDT5RYTeI/AAAAAAAAbHo/nlmAyk6Nqqcvu4UU3_UTNkdPuZOuekyKwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6675-024-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">C</span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;">ommon Buzzard <i>(Buteo buteo)</i> (juvenile) - Whitemoor Haye</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I felt sure it would go when I started the car yet again, and got the distance down to around six metres - but it didn't!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zq_NoHTjYYQ/WkgDUqESheI/AAAAAAAAbHo/USOGyOxTQd0TYp9nYcv5X4lZC_bA_ky2ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6697-043-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zq_NoHTjYYQ/WkgDUqESheI/AAAAAAAAbHo/USOGyOxTQd0TYp9nYcv5X4lZC_bA_ky2ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6697-043-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">C</span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;">ommon Buzzard <i>(Buteo buteo)</i> (juvenile) - Whitemoor Haye</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Unbelievably it stayed there when I again started the car and stopped opposite it, probably at less than 4 metres distance. It was only when it saw my amazed face looking at it that it lazily took to the air and departed. I suspect that I'll never get as close to a wild Buzzard as this ever again, and that I only had this privilege because it was a juvenile. Here's a shot of it departing.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pWXV6EY4AP4/WkgDU799j1I/AAAAAAAAbHo/Jt6iZOLxk-c7FQeZwV3KyGendrgfcs9FACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6717-063-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pWXV6EY4AP4/WkgDU799j1I/AAAAAAAAbHo/Jt6iZOLxk-c7FQeZwV3KyGendrgfcs9FACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6717-063-Buzzard%2B-%2Bjuv.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">C</span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;">ommon Buzzard <i>(Buteo buteo)</i> (juvenile) - Whitemoor Haye</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>When I came to check my camera I was worried to see that I was still set up for shooting in the shade of woodland. My shots had been taken at an unnecessarily high ISO value (800) and consequently at a rather high shutter speed (1/5000s). My set-up does not usually work well at high shutter speeds (I don't know why!), but I seem to have got away with it, and it will have helped with that last shot. I do, however, think I'd have done better shooting at ISO 200 for those static shots.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Closer to home we stopped in the car park a Oakthorpe Colliery as it was probably years since Lindsay had been there. On this occasion there were only common birds coming to the feeders, and the Willow Tits were not seen. Here's a couple from that session.</b><br /><b><br /></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7EOTK18m5pw/Wki_ab0Vh9I/AAAAAAAAbH4/6MLVkFNFe-43GxpOlKPysQEsJku0xS4gQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6736-007-Blue%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7EOTK18m5pw/Wki_ab0Vh9I/AAAAAAAAbH4/6MLVkFNFe-43GxpOlKPysQEsJku0xS4gQCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6736-007-Blue%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Blue Tit <i>(<span class="_xdb"></span></i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Cyanistes caeruleus)</i> - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lp1TZ7RyT9g/Wki_aOQm0eI/AAAAAAAAbH8/NdGni_MrNkEIlDjLXCeAyh8ICSay1pzaQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6741-002-Coal%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lp1TZ7RyT9g/Wki_aOQm0eI/AAAAAAAAbH8/NdGni_MrNkEIlDjLXCeAyh8ICSay1pzaQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6741-002-Coal%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Coal Tit <i>(<span class="_xdb"></span></i></span></b></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Periparus ater</span>)</i> - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>After this it was a five minute journey to our home. We'd had a most enjoyable day, even if only common birds had been seen, but the Buzzard had been a real bonus. We did, however, make a mental note not to go anywhere quite so 'public' on Boxing Day next year, especially if the weather is fine!</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I take this opportunity to wish my readers A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR! If you are making New Year resolutions, please include a commitment to work towards making this planet a better place, particularly for its wildlife - it's time we all made amends for past abuse.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Thank you for dropping by. </b><br /><b><br /></b></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-16858549846940706942017-12-18T12:21:00.000-08:002018-08-01T03:58:44.906-07:00The Best Laid Plans - 1st to 18th December, 2017<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>With Mrs. P. going away with our daughter and granddaughter for six days for a stay in a 'crafting hotel' in Devon, I was looking forward to some wall-to-wall birding - but more about that later!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T4kOFPb3aNc/WjgdI8B1z9I/AAAAAAAAbGI/gReCDWsVO8Q5E_zt2vDxc1uUF-cvJXYbACLcBGAs/s1600/17-12-18%2Bheader%2B-%2Bresized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1184" height="133" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T4kOFPb3aNc/WjgdI8B1z9I/AAAAAAAAbGI/gReCDWsVO8Q5E_zt2vDxc1uUF-cvJXYbACLcBGAs/s200/17-12-18%2Bheader%2B-%2Bresized.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>December tends to be a busy month for most people, and we are no exception, with the preparations for Christmas, and meeting up with family over a good lunch taking up a significant amount of time. Apart from the 3-owl day on 3rd December which was the subject of my<a href="http://bing.com/2017/12/a-three-owl-day-on-3rd-december-2017.html" target="_blank"> previous post</a>, it had been a slow start to the birding month. In fact, most of the excitement (for want of a better word!) came from the garden. Here's how the first half of the month panned out.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Friday 1st December - our garden, Oakthorpe Colliery, Packington, and home again</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The month got off to a good start with a Goldcrest visiting the garden. Sadly, I only managed a record shot through the glass of my study window at a range of about 14 metres.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsT7msdrG44/WjaDLbp0YgI/AAAAAAAAbCI/nLIiyNtZzHMLKQrssqBRV7n2boiv7qZXwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5600-001-Goldcrest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsT7msdrG44/WjaDLbp0YgI/AAAAAAAAbCI/nLIiyNtZzHMLKQrssqBRV7n2boiv7qZXwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5600-001-Goldcrest.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Goldcrest <i>(Regulus regulus)</i> - our Garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Later that day I paid a quick visit to Oakthorpe Colliery. Most of the birds there were relatively common and quite numerous, but it is always a treat in these parts to see a Willow Tit - they're becoming worryingly scarce.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YWCaTaEZ-7Y/WjafjVaXOYI/AAAAAAAAbCY/3pbErwoBhIcA16lX1J-cJXbNlaAs2dROwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5613-002-Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YWCaTaEZ-7Y/WjafjVaXOYI/AAAAAAAAbCY/3pbErwoBhIcA16lX1J-cJXbNlaAs2dROwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5613-002-Robin.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Robin <i>(Erithacus rubecula)</i> - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnhGy_xXbYw/WjafjrIfdLI/AAAAAAAAbCc/VKT1zUb9FVoMvoj1eGEtbnjqXx7f9kTHwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5638-014-Blue%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnhGy_xXbYw/WjafjrIfdLI/AAAAAAAAbCc/VKT1zUb9FVoMvoj1eGEtbnjqXx7f9kTHwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5638-014-Blue%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Blue Tit <i>(Cyasnistes caeruleus)</i> - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1mK5TM7nO4/WjafjklRm9I/AAAAAAAAbCg/7DXPGQq9J4wYD2z8hZLalyEesAQSoMeKQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5658-005-Willow%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1mK5TM7nO4/WjafjklRm9I/AAAAAAAAbCg/7DXPGQq9J4wYD2z8hZLalyEesAQSoMeKQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5658-005-Willow%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Willow Tit <i>(Poecile montanus)</i> - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EnDP6wVZ30o/WjafkN6DT8I/AAAAAAAAbCo/FYPu9DMQdYYhB2Xv6yK1OtwF3zHEdjD8ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5727-022-Long-tailed%2BTit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EnDP6wVZ30o/WjafkN6DT8I/AAAAAAAAbCo/FYPu9DMQdYYhB2Xv6yK1OtwF3zHEdjD8ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5727-022-Long-tailed%2BTit.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> Long-tailed Tit<i> (Aegithalos caudatus)</i> - Oakthorpe Colliery</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>From Oakthorpe Colliery, I moved on to a farm near Packington. Here I found a Buzzard on a fence post, and later a Kestrel.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DQMDj-bzYHI/WjaiJAe6xiI/AAAAAAAAbCw/drfgYzEYDS0GC0RP6lz6p1zfsuecx4XTACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5741-006-Buzzard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DQMDj-bzYHI/WjaiJAe6xiI/AAAAAAAAbCw/drfgYzEYDS0GC0RP6lz6p1zfsuecx4XTACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5741-006-Buzzard.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Buzzard <i>(Buteo buteo)</i> (juvenile) - near Packington</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CjamHoYHxCg/WjaiJFWDTmI/AAAAAAAAbC4/al9znNF8KWgAjI51AukzxkDCm4H38kUMQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5761-007-Kestrel%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CjamHoYHxCg/WjaiJFWDTmI/AAAAAAAAbC4/al9znNF8KWgAjI51AukzxkDCm4H38kUMQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5761-007-Kestrel%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Kestrel <i>(Falco tinnunculus)</i> (male) - near Packington</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I was back at home by early afternoon, and a racket from outside caused me to look out. A Buzzard was being hassled by a Crow. I only managed a few shots before they went out of view.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zc7astItg5Y/Wjakt60iTeI/AAAAAAAAbDE/EzxG8pTXH7InIaumhQTPfsrk8yGm9bnuwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5774-004-Buzzard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zc7astItg5Y/Wjakt60iTeI/AAAAAAAAbDE/EzxG8pTXH7InIaumhQTPfsrk8yGm9bnuwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5774-004-Buzzard.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Buzzard <i>(Buteo buteo)</i> - from our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eO8Gz9Zy4tU/WjakqmqixWI/AAAAAAAAbDA/2WdIubF0lmYFFxJDChzsFdcnagv8Qn05wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5778-002-Buzzard%2B%252B%2BCrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eO8Gz9Zy4tU/WjakqmqixWI/AAAAAAAAbDA/2WdIubF0lmYFFxJDChzsFdcnagv8Qn05wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5778-002-Buzzard%2B%252B%2BCrow.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common Buzzard <i>(Buteo buteo)</i> + Carrion Crow <i>(Corvus corone) </i> - from our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Sunday 3rd December - travelling eastward in Leicestershire</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>This was the previously mentioned and posted 3-owl day. However, I have one other image to share with you from that day. A small downside of heading out into the countryside in these parts at this time of year is the amount of filth on the road. It's not unusual to come back after an afternoon out to find the lower half of the car thick with mud and other detritus. Fortunately there is a car cleaning operation close to home where I can get the car washed for £6. However, I think these people will be retiring soon on the money I'm spending with them!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Just to give you a taste of what I'm faced with, this is a shot from my car window as I waited on the verge for this group to pass.</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bs6TWHYcnTM/WjarzsG2JoI/AAAAAAAAbDc/-vlrEypuc3wvt2OuudM3N7hudTsKOrVSwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5862-002-Longhorn%2BBull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bs6TWHYcnTM/WjarzsG2JoI/AAAAAAAAbDc/-vlrEypuc3wvt2OuudM3N7hudTsKOrVSwCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5862-002-Longhorn%2BBull.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Here's a slightly different shot of one of the day's owls, given a different treatment to those in my previous post - I quite like the result!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NHAAj5jjB5Y/WjarvHq2-uI/AAAAAAAAbDY/64TVThSsrokwx19g2SqEoR82gXuYkoKdgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5831-013-LO%2B-%2BRP41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NHAAj5jjB5Y/WjarvHq2-uI/AAAAAAAAbDY/64TVThSsrokwx19g2SqEoR82gXuYkoKdgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5831-013-LO%2B-%2BRP41.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Owl <i>(Athene noctua)</i> - my Site No.41</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Saturday 9th December - our garden</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Nothing much happened until this day as I was very busy with other commitments and preparing for my wife's departure on holiday. However, on this day, we had Goldcrest and Grey Wagtail visit our garden, neither of which I managed to photograph - nor did I get a photo of the male Sparrowhawk that visited. Here are a couple of photos that I did manage to take.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ukTMKGpnybc/WjbMS2pd8QI/AAAAAAAAbDs/FvR8b8mxr_ojrrk4m7q8E0Km4IS6uJOZgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5885-003-Goldfinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ukTMKGpnybc/WjbMS2pd8QI/AAAAAAAAbDs/FvR8b8mxr_ojrrk4m7q8E0Km4IS6uJOZgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5885-003-Goldfinch.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Goldfinch <i>(Carduelis carduelis)</i> - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ufCH2QiqYP8/WjbMS4eqshI/AAAAAAAAbDw/DUqpGtEYV0YfpWwTrxOvhrR_uovgj1JDgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5901-007-Bullfinch%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ufCH2QiqYP8/WjbMS4eqshI/AAAAAAAAbDw/DUqpGtEYV0YfpWwTrxOvhrR_uovgj1JDgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5901-007-Bullfinch%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Bullfinch <i>(Pyrrhula pyrrhula)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Sunday 10th December - our garden, and Baggrave Hall</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The original plan was for Lindsay to go over to our daughter's in her Smart car in the late morning, and then for the three girls to head on down to Devon in Melanie's car. However, heavy snow had been forecast for the Saturday/Sunday night and so we put a contingency plan in place. We woke up to a good covering of snow, and so the contingency plan was implemented - I was to drive Lindsay to Melanie's in our 4x4 Yeti.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Before we departed, we had a Fieldfare briefly stop in our garden, shortly after another visit by the Sparrowhawk. The Fieldfare only stopped for a few seconds as our berries had all now been consumed, and I only managed a record shot - we don't usually get Fieldfare visit the garden more than once or twice each winter. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The 25 mile (40km) journey to Melanie's place took two and three quarter hours (instead of the usual 35 to 40 minutes) with very icy roads. A large part of the delay was caused by a large rig belonging to the Walkers Crisp company. The inconsiderate driver of this rig spent from 10h00 to 11h30 shunting backwards and forwards on a gradient on a dual carriageway trying to get traction, holding up all who were behind him. He could have just rolled back to the side of the road and allowed everyone through. I'm amazed that no one went and hauled him out of his cab. One comment from the bus driver two vehicles behind him was that he was probably empty and so did not have enough weight to get traction, but I suspect that a full load of crisps (potato chips to some of my non-UK readers) weighs the square root of bugger-all and would have made no difference.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Having, eventually, dropped Lindsay off at Melanie's I headed off into the countryside with the hope of finding owls in the snow and finding a nice location to enjoy my picnic lunch. I soon found some nice snowy scenery, but I was not seeing many birds at all.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6S1nj3wNIA/WjbYO3KoXBI/AAAAAAAAbEA/shF0PqRTDCYA1rQGmm5bcFG8YHq2nNXDwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0106%2BBaggrave%2BSnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6S1nj3wNIA/WjbYO3KoXBI/AAAAAAAAbEA/shF0PqRTDCYA1rQGmm5bcFG8YHq2nNXDwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0106%2BBaggrave%2BSnow.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRZj-f6x8uM/WjbYOwctySI/AAAAAAAAbEE/56KUmQc6-XU15ZenUtId1m0Z2Xbc6WWKwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0109%2BBaggrave%2BSnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sRZj-f6x8uM/WjbYOwctySI/AAAAAAAAbEE/56KUmQc6-XU15ZenUtId1m0Z2Xbc6WWKwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0109%2BBaggrave%2BSnow.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Although there was far less snow here than there was at home, the road was very icy and, having stopped for that second shot, I struggled to get traction - even with the 4x4! After about five minutes I managed to get up the hill, but decided that I'd find a place nearby for my picnic, and then head straight home again, avoiding single-track country roads!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Monday 11th December - our garden</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>On the Monday I'd had to go to a nearby village to post letters and parcels, and found the roads to be still quite difficult, and it was apparent that, no matter how careful one was, there were too many idiots on the road who were driving without due care (as witnessed by the ones that were already in the roadside ditches!), so I spent most of the day indoors. We had one of our occasional visits by Great Spotted Woodpecker.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oTS2ndcbcrU/WjbfIxMMrYI/AAAAAAAAbEY/qkwBaBiGcJoCxD_x9uHoRHfkUuD8T_6OgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5956-009-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oTS2ndcbcrU/WjbfIxMMrYI/AAAAAAAAbEY/qkwBaBiGcJoCxD_x9uHoRHfkUuD8T_6OgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5956-009-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pL2mrlfOAMI/WjbfI7DR5_I/AAAAAAAAbEU/mIBE9iw-bZEYiN8VTajAtABkZB9bLbFFgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5963-011-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pL2mrlfOAMI/WjbfI7DR5_I/AAAAAAAAbEU/mIBE9iw-bZEYiN8VTajAtABkZB9bLbFFgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5963-011-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Spotted Woodpecker <i>(Dendrocopos major)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Tuesday 12th December - our garden</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>By the Tuesday I realised that I was going down with a cold, and that going out in the cold was probably not sensible.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>This gave me another opportunity to observe the birds in my garden. As well as a second Fieldfare (missed the shot!) I had my first Garden Redwing of the winter. However, I only got 'record' shots as I was looking up at it through the double-glazing of our conservatory at an angle of 45°, though intervening branches. Here are some images from that day.</b></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kI84ZCChH2g/Wjf-QihBkyI/AAAAAAAAbFk/l0JhRanTTDYtsgEK771YzopC51ui3lC5ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6121-003-Blackbird%2B-%2Bf%2B-%2Badjusted%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kI84ZCChH2g/Wjf-QihBkyI/AAAAAAAAbFk/l0JhRanTTDYtsgEK771YzopC51ui3lC5ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6121-003-Blackbird%2B-%2Bf%2B-%2Badjusted%2B2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Blackbird <i>(Turdus merula)</i> (female) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lULv6fOlKxA/Wjf3KirN2TI/AAAAAAAAbEo/fSRs8HCnjGc_I8ia-exOAg6PfDfQ8ys2QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6023-002-Chaffinch%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lULv6fOlKxA/Wjf3KirN2TI/AAAAAAAAbEo/fSRs8HCnjGc_I8ia-exOAg6PfDfQ8ys2QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6023-002-Chaffinch%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Chaffinch <i>(Fringilla coelebs)</i> (female) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GQWXas5II1U/Wjf3K3s4fWI/AAAAAAAAbEs/X2RF_JQighE2NO-WFLBPDiowKWIRv7BnwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6014-001-Chaffinch%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GQWXas5II1U/Wjf3K3s4fWI/AAAAAAAAbEs/X2RF_JQighE2NO-WFLBPDiowKWIRv7BnwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6014-001-Chaffinch%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_DV20voIqw/Wjf3MGov3eI/AAAAAAAAbE8/rHoJbdZyHZQ7WuIphWNL7Zk778el9DNiwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6136-005-Chaffinch%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_DV20voIqw/Wjf3MGov3eI/AAAAAAAAbE8/rHoJbdZyHZQ7WuIphWNL7Zk778el9DNiwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6136-005-Chaffinch%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Chaffinch <i>(Fringilla coelebs)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7pCq7eGfk8/Wjf3LGgOTJI/AAAAAAAAbEw/jLEzQ7cecisEN6YOmju0W4eetfJHwx0_ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6052-002-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7pCq7eGfk8/Wjf3LGgOTJI/AAAAAAAAbEw/jLEzQ7cecisEN6YOmju0W4eetfJHwx0_ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6052-002-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Spotted Woodpecker <i>(Dendrocopos major)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5ixuW-tpUc/Wjf3LZI2rEI/AAAAAAAAbE0/IXLb86Afs_AhcMqt_48696Fdp7M0AQtkQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6101-006-Redwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5ixuW-tpUc/Wjf3LZI2rEI/AAAAAAAAbE0/IXLb86Afs_AhcMqt_48696Fdp7M0AQtkQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6101-006-Redwing.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SiQsiz7C8L4/Wjf3LrBngKI/AAAAAAAAbE4/Cp3C9fhuWzg38YYX_COPtWqIZ1NfREViwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6107-012-Redwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SiQsiz7C8L4/Wjf3LrBngKI/AAAAAAAAbE4/Cp3C9fhuWzg38YYX_COPtWqIZ1NfREViwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6107-012-Redwing.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redwing <i>(Turdus iliacus)</i> - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>Thursday 14th December - Cropston Reservoir</b></span><br /><b><br /></b><b>On the Wednesday I'd been out in the morning to the south of my home dropping cards in to some of my owling hosts. There was still plenty of snow around. I'd taken my camera, but didn't see any owls and didn't take any photos. However, I did have the good news that a Little Owl was seen only three days previously at my site No.03. By that afternoon I was feeling decidedly off-colour so did very little.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>On the Thursday, I still had a card and present to deliver to a farm some way from my home, so I set off in the morning, taking a picnic lunch. We'd had more snow in the night, and the roads close to home were worse than they'd been on the Sunday morning. On one bend I found four vehicles off the road. Fortunately, by the time I got to the outskirts of Leicester you'd never know that it had been snowing, although there was a little more snow when I neared my destination. As<i> </i>I was seeing virtually nothing of interest during my travels, I set off back homeward.</b><br /><br /><b>An enforced diversion due to a road closure sent me past the end of Cropston Reservoir. Determined not to get home with nothing in the bag, I stopped when I saw a space in the lay by.</b><br /><br /><b>There was little to see that was identifiable through my binoculars, but at least I took some shots, even if they were of common birds, and into the sun! </b><br /><b><br /></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mztNPAcqJUA/WjgYiACHNlI/AAAAAAAAbF0/VdmpBIQVzGsP30Qs6Bbcm9My4eSWBfMEgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6166-006-Grt%2BCrestd%2BGrebe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mztNPAcqJUA/WjgYiACHNlI/AAAAAAAAbF0/VdmpBIQVzGsP30Qs6Bbcm9My4eSWBfMEgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_6166-006-Grt%2BCrestd%2BGrebe.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Crested Grebe <i>(Podiceps cristatus)</i> - Cropston Reservoir</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UcGZqPDqxnc/WjgYiDHUk-I/AAAAAAAAbF4/ziHFidrx1RUXaNLci7ESIx-yfrrIeMtTQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6175-002-Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UcGZqPDqxnc/WjgYiDHUk-I/AAAAAAAAbF4/ziHFidrx1RUXaNLci7ESIx-yfrrIeMtTQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6175-002-Heron.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-esj3z61zlxA/WjgYiIxRMTI/AAAAAAAAbF8/lniCJ-l_QmwK0WG9C6RvdDaKxVro0N6zgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6178-005-Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-esj3z61zlxA/WjgYiIxRMTI/AAAAAAAAbF8/lniCJ-l_QmwK0WG9C6RvdDaKxVro0N6zgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_6178-005-Heron.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Grey Heron <i>(Ardea cinerea)</i> - Cropston Reservoir</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Since then, I haven't managed any photography, so I suspect that this will be my last blog post before Christmas. I, therefore, take this opportunity to wish my readers a peaceful and happy Christmas, and the best of luck and good health for 2018. Thank you for your kind support in 2017, which has been much appreciated. </b><br /></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-9515777751663915202017-12-09T07:30:00.000-08:002018-08-01T03:58:45.246-07:00A Three-Owl Day - on 3rd December, 2017<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Up until around a couple of years ago, a three-owl day when out owling in these parts would have been considered to be below par - the norm was usually somewhere between four and seven Little Owls per session. Things then began to take a dive in the spring of 2016. There was a small recovery in the number of sightings early in 2017, but then the situation declined dramatically after May this year, with only two or three Little Owl sightings a month (none in September!). I was, therefore, excited to sight three Little Owls over three different sites on 3rd December. However, to achieve this, I did have to break away from my recent 'close to home' initiative.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The first sighting was at my LO Site No.37. At first I couldn't see an owl here, but then, by moving position, managed to spot one hiding in the branches. I then managed to find a better, but not great, position. It had, of course, already seen me!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P_UE3sOfwbU/Wiv_I8cnmiI/AAAAAAAAbAI/n3PAIBxuqFQ2FW47x2rZY5jNjQgm5oioACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5793-010-LO%2B-%2BRP37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P_UE3sOfwbU/Wiv_I8cnmiI/AAAAAAAAbAI/n3PAIBxuqFQ2FW47x2rZY5jNjQgm5oioACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5793-010-LO%2B-%2BRP37.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Owl <i>(Athene noctua)</i> - my Site No.37</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>By changing position again, I managed a less obstructed view. It would have been nice to have had a clear view, but this was better than nothing.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YaTtiFVrW0Y/Wiv_KdaMv3I/AAAAAAAAbAQ/hYohEubE6tA_RLmuya6jeSEhPMbm3MQWwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5805-020-LO%2B-%2BRP37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YaTtiFVrW0Y/Wiv_KdaMv3I/AAAAAAAAbAQ/hYohEubE6tA_RLmuya6jeSEhPMbm3MQWwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5805-020-LO%2B-%2BRP37.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Owl <i>(Athene noctua)</i> - my Site No.37</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I didn't stay out for long and, having had a quick picnic lunch, I headed homeward again. I was delighted to see a Little Owl once more by my Site No.41. The nest tree came down earlier in the year and the owls disappeared a few weeks afterwards, having spent some time living in the fallen hollow trunk of their tree. I'd then gone from the end of May until mid-November without seeing an owl here.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hh__owJc_as/WiwCagTzPAI/AAAAAAAAbAg/sAT7V4v_H3Qek07-3zMkwGh74_vB_q4IACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5830-012-LO%2B-%2BRP41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hh__owJc_as/WiwCagTzPAI/AAAAAAAAbAg/sAT7V4v_H3Qek07-3zMkwGh74_vB_q4IACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5830-012-LO%2B-%2BRP41.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEhL1mzvH10/WiwCai9HyEI/AAAAAAAAbAc/Skma6X4EQH8vDyUD_TU5y0jBnXvl1BzUACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5857-027-LO%2B-%2BRP41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEhL1mzvH10/WiwCai9HyEI/AAAAAAAAbAc/Skma6X4EQH8vDyUD_TU5y0jBnXvl1BzUACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5857-027-LO%2B-%2BRP41.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Owl <i>(Athene noctua)</i> - my Site No.41</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>My final sighting was after dark (so no photos) at my LO Site No.02. </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>OK, so three owls is nothing to write home about, but it was a wonderful day as far as I was concerned!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I'm not sure what my next post will be about. With the recent cold weather, and heavy snow forecast for tomorrow, I'm not sure what the photographic opportunities will be, but the garden birds are on the increase with 20 species dropping in so far today. However, Mrs P. is away for six days from tomorrow, so I might even spread my wings a little!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thank you for dropping by.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5945840371366194922.post-44376196807633905462017-12-02T14:00:00.000-08:002018-08-01T03:58:45.583-07:00Bits and Bobs - November, 2017<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>For a number of reasons, it has been over three weeks since my last blog post, so I thought I'd better take a grip on myself and come up with something before questions are asked!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A few weeks ago, I stated that I intended for my birding activities to change, with a return to a focus on owls, and an endeavour to stay closer to home. In some respects, I have managed to adhere to this intention. My excursions have been rather more frequent, but shorter in duration, and resulted in virtually no photography! They have not, however, been totally fruitless.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: yellow;"><b>Owls</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Many of my shorter excursions have been in the late afternoon specifically to try and locate owls as dusk falls. I've had a few sightings of Barn Owl over two different sites, and a couple of sightings of Tawny Owl at one site. I have not had too much success so far with Little Owls as no new sites have been found, although I have had around a dozen sightings over three of my original sites. I've also recently found what was one of my more reliable owl nest trees to be totally destroyed - it's in a location that is out of bounds in the summer. The only photos arising from these sightings were from my old LO Site No.02. All but two of these sighting were in 'night time' situations. I have, therefore, little to show for my efforts. Here's a few shots to 'put you in the picture'. </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KtIKMRFza3A/WiL8nT1mY2I/AAAAAAAAa8k/hnKIj1yZvfUaOO18kLvQ-2OZ-tntvebtgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4266-006-LO%2B-%2BRP02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KtIKMRFza3A/WiL8nT1mY2I/AAAAAAAAa8k/hnKIj1yZvfUaOO18kLvQ-2OZ-tntvebtgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4266-006-LO%2B-%2BRP02.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLBX-7cx6Z8/WiL8wen30pI/AAAAAAAAa8o/FSNuwJUZFNoZsP2gAc51SHR6MykZx_8jgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5306-010-LO%2B-%2B%2BRP02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLBX-7cx6Z8/WiL8wen30pI/AAAAAAAAa8o/FSNuwJUZFNoZsP2gAc51SHR6MykZx_8jgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5306-010-LO%2B-%2B%2BRP02.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLkCD4SYFnE/WiL8wX8_MaI/AAAAAAAAa8s/tyZqMc-v50AXxt9CBcl7VOeBkR7_kXsJACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5329-026-LO%2B-%2B%2BRP02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLkCD4SYFnE/WiL8wX8_MaI/AAAAAAAAa8s/tyZqMc-v50AXxt9CBcl7VOeBkR7_kXsJACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5329-026-LO%2B-%2B%2BRP02.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GfJsCt6c7NY/WiL83BytiAI/AAAAAAAAa8w/xL4xsCDY5jY6eN9qO5xeXstTMQ2e9c4CgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5392-006-LO%2B-%2B%2BRP02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GfJsCt6c7NY/WiL83BytiAI/AAAAAAAAa8w/xL4xsCDY5jY6eN9qO5xeXstTMQ2e9c4CgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5392-006-LO%2B-%2B%2BRP02.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQc5e6RDsGc/WiL8-R7iBHI/AAAAAAAAa80/6quksWVCkmkD2V9FqS3gj2c12y_LXlDDACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5580-003-LO%2B-%2BRP02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQc5e6RDsGc/WiL8-R7iBHI/AAAAAAAAa80/6quksWVCkmkD2V9FqS3gj2c12y_LXlDDACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5580-003-LO%2B-%2BRP02.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little Owl <i>(Athene noctua)</i> - my Site No.02</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>With luck, I may get some half decent owl shots in the not-too-distant future. </b><br /><b><br /></b><span style="color: yellow;"><b>Other Excursions</b></span><br /><br /><b>All my birding has been relatively close to home. Hawfinch are in the county (and country) in unprecedented numbers, for reasons that I'm not aware of. There's one location that they have been reported from that I have now visited four times - so far without any luck. I have, however, taken advantage of my time there to photograph some of the winter thrushes (my Fieldfare shots were awful, so don't appear here) that are in the area - not forgetting the Robin!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zzc-iomquSs/WiMAgXeyz-I/AAAAAAAAa9g/ddLa4ZwEcisIiKrDn-3KSJh5Y3MjqJVSgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5343-001-Redwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zzc-iomquSs/WiMAgXeyz-I/AAAAAAAAa9g/ddLa4ZwEcisIiKrDn-3KSJh5Y3MjqJVSgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5343-001-Redwing.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iYVVLZUdcdo/WiMAgdsH4dI/AAAAAAAAa9g/974zUdHyiWUvhUEItHselIzm0tg8rOTBQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5351-005-Redwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iYVVLZUdcdo/WiMAgdsH4dI/AAAAAAAAa9g/974zUdHyiWUvhUEItHselIzm0tg8rOTBQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5351-005-Redwing.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eYXfF33cJs/WiMAgQ-1Y7I/AAAAAAAAa9g/iacgnJu4Gb8sX48QXfaLi1Mi9OW-7RdkwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5368-019-Redwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eYXfF33cJs/WiMAgQ-1Y7I/AAAAAAAAa9g/iacgnJu4Gb8sX48QXfaLi1Mi9OW-7RdkwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5368-019-Redwing.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8VpHA-HPnyI/WiMAp44633I/AAAAAAAAa9g/P_lfzf21g_gWsziz9GlJRwKZamq67DO0wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5486-007-Redwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8VpHA-HPnyI/WiMAp44633I/AAAAAAAAa9g/P_lfzf21g_gWsziz9GlJRwKZamq67DO0wCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5486-007-Redwing.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Redwing <i>(Turdus iliacus)</i> - Battram</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfDtLUDHYo0/WiMAqDY43TI/AAAAAAAAa9k/kJebT7bvDQ0CZQxCxZc9Kn2fDjsI1wzMwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5487-001-Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfDtLUDHYo0/WiMAqDY43TI/AAAAAAAAa9k/kJebT7bvDQ0CZQxCxZc9Kn2fDjsI1wzMwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5487-001-Robin.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Robin <i>(Erithacus rubecula)</i> - Battram</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-TsW9DJuBg/WiMAq4qF7OI/AAAAAAAAa9g/asAgzZTbcooJob54sMo4G5YpVcbu598CACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5554-034-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-TsW9DJuBg/WiMAq4qF7OI/AAAAAAAAa9g/asAgzZTbcooJob54sMo4G5YpVcbu598CACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5554-034-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzXsMtZbo-E/WiMAqCx1t5I/AAAAAAAAa9g/6jPskAGlJjw-BFxdlRCd-quc8-MRe2a-ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5498-004-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzXsMtZbo-E/WiMAqCx1t5I/AAAAAAAAa9g/6jPskAGlJjw-BFxdlRCd-quc8-MRe2a-ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5498-004-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bwci84TFV10/WiMAqqdfxrI/AAAAAAAAa9k/4knYZozbXLY3m5tt1FfpB95Un6MDBBasgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5518-019-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bwci84TFV10/WiMAqqdfxrI/AAAAAAAAa9k/4knYZozbXLY3m5tt1FfpB95Un6MDBBasgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5518-019-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Mistle Thrush <i>(Turdus viscivorus)</i> - Battram</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I have been to Hicks Lodge a few times. So far, the most interesting sightings have been of thirteen Goosander, and a number of Snipe (not counted but around 10) that were doing their best to look inconspicuous in the evening light. Apart from a lone female, all the Goosander kept their distance.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_RP73utnkyw/WiMRj0IP8kI/AAAAAAAAa90/LThFffdzow4fDB0eGc6_8wKsQ0GENczJACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4956-001-Goosander%2B-%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_RP73utnkyw/WiMRj0IP8kI/AAAAAAAAa90/LThFffdzow4fDB0eGc6_8wKsQ0GENczJACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4956-001-Goosander%2B-%2Bm%252Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3KImWO9LXk/WiMRknr0FBI/AAAAAAAAa98/7kyHUJo36G4vm9UtqGrIcU5OxDdB0PBfgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4983-001-Goosander%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3KImWO9LXk/WiMRknr0FBI/AAAAAAAAa98/7kyHUJo36G4vm9UtqGrIcU5OxDdB0PBfgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4983-001-Goosander%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vcig-xmfEsQ/WiMRj6aCMXI/AAAAAAAAa9w/_TTmCCQ-TIoJGt9ZgT4cOq87aj_EzJxawCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4926-001-Goosander%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vcig-xmfEsQ/WiMRj6aCMXI/AAAAAAAAa9w/_TTmCCQ-TIoJGt9ZgT4cOq87aj_EzJxawCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4926-001-Goosander%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zu5Jrb02EIY/WiMRkKsliyI/AAAAAAAAa94/8uuKww4QYoUfnJMiD6wwOaQ-5muNftw7ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4945-011-Goosander%2B-%2Bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zu5Jrb02EIY/WiMRkKsliyI/AAAAAAAAa94/8uuKww4QYoUfnJMiD6wwOaQ-5muNftw7ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4945-011-Goosander%2B-%2Bf.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Goosander <i>(Mergus merganser)</i> - Hicks Lodge</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zpng-2dDsLY/WiMSsrbeQrI/AAAAAAAAa-I/2RuGNyxC0pstm14w4Wwt4rt9IhwSW694ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4993-008-Snipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zpng-2dDsLY/WiMSsrbeQrI/AAAAAAAAa-I/2RuGNyxC0pstm14w4Wwt4rt9IhwSW694ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4993-008-Snipe.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snipe <i>(Gallinago gallinago)</i> - Hicks Lodge</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZQobMxx0FA/WiMTcOQHalI/AAAAAAAAa-Q/wSdo_HI9Va0Juo7azywIzkxjNI6hudBSgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4962-001-Coot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZQobMxx0FA/WiMTcOQHalI/AAAAAAAAa-Q/wSdo_HI9Va0Juo7azywIzkxjNI6hudBSgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4962-001-Coot.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0xu69yJmW8/WiMTcB4yVuI/AAAAAAAAa-U/n92jtnIq7e0GH_jr99Y0RcrgA8skWjEdgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4975-005-Coot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0xu69yJmW8/WiMTcB4yVuI/AAAAAAAAa-U/n92jtnIq7e0GH_jr99Y0RcrgA8skWjEdgCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4975-005-Coot.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b>Coot <i>(Fulica atra)</i> - Hicks Lodge</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9cC-OOgmlyo/WiMUD3I4KhI/AAAAAAAAa-g/YCcgPhvhIvENyKmpVGs_SzV2-L8man28ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4995-001-Mute%2BSwan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9cC-OOgmlyo/WiMUD3I4KhI/AAAAAAAAa-g/YCcgPhvhIvENyKmpVGs_SzV2-L8man28ACLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_4995-001-Mute%2BSwan.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cZJo4xePP5s/WiMUDx8N5bI/AAAAAAAAa-c/A9ZPQM9YLs4AGCnefHzq8Vguoc7CP2_9gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5005-011-Mute%2BSwan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cZJo4xePP5s/WiMUDx8N5bI/AAAAAAAAa-c/A9ZPQM9YLs4AGCnefHzq8Vguoc7CP2_9gCLcBGAs/s1600/PEG_5005-011-Mute%2BSwan.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Mute Swan <i>(Cygnus olor)</i> - Hicks Lodge</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I also had an evening at Longmoor Lake in the hope of seeing owls. I was surprised by how few passerines I saw - I think that the tree plantation is now too dense. There were plenty of birds on the water, however, but nothing of great interest.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GCDM5ySBpWo/WiMVBajOjwI/AAAAAAAAa-0/NmQwmn8cbegzUXZQN6CxEH_NKjJOf5TtQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5037-001-Greylag%2BGoose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GCDM5ySBpWo/WiMVBajOjwI/AAAAAAAAa-0/NmQwmn8cbegzUXZQN6CxEH_NKjJOf5TtQCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5037-001-Greylag%2BGoose.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2EYYHl3Tfuo/WiMVBesrNfI/AAAAAAAAa-w/H-bC7ozj6Kk-OBwMAawxWMAMA-fWOKNKACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5040-004-Greylag%2BGoose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2EYYHl3Tfuo/WiMVBesrNfI/AAAAAAAAa-w/H-bC7ozj6Kk-OBwMAawxWMAMA-fWOKNKACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5040-004-Greylag%2BGoose.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Greylag Goose <i>(Anser anser)</i> - Longmoor Lake</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gSmAOLO6IDo/WiMVBAaa4PI/AAAAAAAAa-4/G5M8zt-A0e81fB5pBfoQCxwNP2OpE-gAgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5057-003-Lapwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gSmAOLO6IDo/WiMVBAaa4PI/AAAAAAAAa-4/G5M8zt-A0e81fB5pBfoQCxwNP2OpE-gAgCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5057-003-Lapwing.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lapwing <i>(Vanellus vanellus)</i> - Longmoor Lake</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #ffd966;"></span><b><span style="color: yellow;">Our Garden </span></b><br /><br /><b>Sadly, the building work going on behind our back garden is keeping the more timid birds from visiting us during the week, but things tend to pick up a bit at the weekend when all is quiet on the building site. We have started to see a few winter visitors in the garden. I missed the first Brambling of the winter as I was in Derbyshire photographing Kingfisher, but Lindsay (my wife) tells me it was around for about an hour. Great-spotted Woodpecker (a male) - absent for most of the summer - has started showing reasonably frequently. We're now getting occasional visits from Goldcrest (no sensible photos yet), and we've had a few visits from Mistle Thrush (but our berries have now virtually all gone!). Here are a few garden bird images from November.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_BNWsD_mRw/WiMYQyUfHkI/AAAAAAAAa_A/NLFQujJARXwN-m8J12tpBYST1SoEmRI4QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4662-019-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_BNWsD_mRw/WiMYQyUfHkI/AAAAAAAAa_A/NLFQujJARXwN-m8J12tpBYST1SoEmRI4QCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4662-019-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7hunvg8lY0/WiMYb3vbc4I/AAAAAAAAa_M/tyL9qR1xs2I19nEkAURTABqtW2rR3NRRACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5184-014-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7hunvg8lY0/WiMYb3vbc4I/AAAAAAAAa_M/tyL9qR1xs2I19nEkAURTABqtW2rR3NRRACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5184-014-GS%2BWoody%2B-%2Bm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Great Spotted Woodpecker <i>(Dendrocopos major)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yLN1hR4w-fI/WiMYXPOKhAI/AAAAAAAAa_g/yK8bSSxv7d8xH1L28p7mgWHfWb_H_hUXACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4705-004-Starling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yLN1hR4w-fI/WiMYXPOKhAI/AAAAAAAAa_g/yK8bSSxv7d8xH1L28p7mgWHfWb_H_hUXACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4705-004-Starling.jpg" /></a></b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ErFZ7_7Sjs/WiMYXNQjbLI/AAAAAAAAa_g/aATV8tunkc0a2Jky9cwCYh-XBXAYqtCuwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4696-002-Starling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ErFZ7_7Sjs/WiMYXNQjbLI/AAAAAAAAa_g/aATV8tunkc0a2Jky9cwCYh-XBXAYqtCuwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_4696-002-Starling.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Starling <i>(Sturnus vulgaris)</i> - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sk8Y-rHDzxM/WiMYl3--ebI/AAAAAAAAa_g/dxqnlkzt228Bwg38sfyvOepZMjgYMWx2gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5439-021-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="800" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sk8Y-rHDzxM/WiMYl3--ebI/AAAAAAAAa_g/dxqnlkzt228Bwg38sfyvOepZMjgYMWx2gCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5439-021-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LuP7baUmxKo/WiMYl5bBcfI/AAAAAAAAa_g/sUHrOEenvHoSQX2BK7PSXpFkJvqXyqyjwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5434-017-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LuP7baUmxKo/WiMYl5bBcfI/AAAAAAAAa_g/sUHrOEenvHoSQX2BK7PSXpFkJvqXyqyjwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5434-017-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0qgsEmQXFPo/WiMYlq1uyJI/AAAAAAAAa_g/Mq1xQzI1Xzs4gumUXOZRcPxUwyA9fm4BwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5425-012-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="800" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0qgsEmQXFPo/WiMYlq1uyJI/AAAAAAAAa_g/Mq1xQzI1Xzs4gumUXOZRcPxUwyA9fm4BwCEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5425-012-Mistle%2BThrush.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Mistle Thrush <i>(Turdus viscivorus)</i> -our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7U8B3GzX5Vg/WiMYmUFYk7I/AAAAAAAAa_g/RdlUyNWs3Es9MbLM003GvP0nxD67RBj1ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5456-007-Sparrowhawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="800" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7U8B3GzX5Vg/WiMYmUFYk7I/AAAAAAAAa_g/RdlUyNWs3Es9MbLM003GvP0nxD67RBj1ACEwYBhgL/s1600/PEG_5456-007-Sparrowhawk.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Sparrowhawk <i>(Accipiter nisus)</i> (male) - our garden</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>I hope that it is not another three-plus weeks before I manage to get enough time and material to share with you. </b><br /><br /><b>Thank you for dropping by. </b><br /><b><span id="goog_299667835"></span><span id="goog_299667836"></span> </b></div>life Moviehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11781689922677405351noreply@blogger.com