Monday 24 September 2012

Great White Egret

Yesterday evening after work and after most of the rain had stopped was nice to be be able to see the Great White Egret at Wiltstone hunting in the reeds though sometimes getting moved on by the grey herons a great find by the local band. Also intresting seeing the numbers of swallows feeding in the not so summerlike weather hope they get to africa safety.

Thursday 20 September 2012

Amwell walk

Had a nice walk on Amwell on sunday with my local RSPB group with a few of the winter ducks filtering in with Good numbers of Wigeon along with a few Teal and Shovelers. From the watch had views of Sparrowhawk, Long-tailed Tits, Robin, Black-Headed Gull, Lesser-backed Gulls and quite a few Jays overhead. Walked round where we heard a Cetti Warbler singing quite close but no sight of it then from the White hide had views of Great Crested Grebes Little Egret and a Common Sandpiper and 3 Snipes. Then walking back heard 2 different Cetti but still no actually sight of it despite it being less than five feet away!!. To end the day had a hydrid but very intresting duck on the Watervole Pond which we decided was a Scaup crossed with a Common Scaup Hydrid.

Tuesday 4 September 2012

The dragonfly hunt

Had a sunny trip to Wat Tyler Country park last week to look for a Southern Migrant Hawker which is still an uncommon visitor from europe. At first quite windy with random sunny spells lots of Common and Ruddy Darters were enjoying the sunny spells then after a bit of warmth had quite a few Migrant Hawkers flying around but then one acting more aggresive caught my fight as it seem to be scrapping with anything that moved into its area a little land confirmed the Id with its bright blue body. Walked further and had plenty of butterflies with good numbers of Holly Blue flying around mixing with some Wall and Specked wood Butterflies along with Peacocks and Large Whites before i came across a stunning Wasp Spider another first for me and a insect i have been hunting for a while.

Southern Migrant Hawker  
The commoner Migrant Hawker in flight
Wasp Spider wrapping its prey