Dartford Warbler

Rusty Tussock Moth Caterpillar

2008-08-15T13:51:00.003Z

Found this caterpillar in the back garden next to the pond.
It belongs to the Rusty Tussock Moth.

Benfleet - Leigh

2008-08-03T22:35:00.006Z

The walk between Benfleet and Leigh (Hadleigh downs and the coastal path) offered some varied wildlife for us (me and Paul) on Saturday. Here it is in pictures (from top left: Marsh Frog, Common Blue, Dragonfly larva skeleton, marbled white, Whimbrel, Wall Brown, cinnabar moth caterpillar).
I've been enjoying learning about butterflies this summer but, due to their nature, have found them really difficult to photograph. This Common Blue, however, was more obliging, letting me hold the grass it was on steady in the breeze and practically touching it with my lens (click on the photo and have a look at the detail. I love their stripy socks).
Also, it was good to see a 'text book' Whimbrel and finally be able to differentiate between them and curlews. Watch out juvenile gulls - Your next!

Grey Wagtails, Prittlewell Brook

2008-06-28T12:00:00.004Z

I saw a lovely, full-set of Grey Wagtails patrolling the Prittlewell Brook this morning. Mum, Dad and three juniors were all found between Prittlewell Chase and Westbourne Grove, Southend.

Wild flowers - Paglesham

2008-06-09T23:36:00.015Z

I took some macro shots of wild flowers on Sunday.
I've only got a couple of books for reference so am not sure on the identification of a couple of these flowers.
The closest I could find to the purple flower (top left) is the Common Vetch.
I haven't got a clue with the pink flower (looks like one of the pea family in my book, but not a perfect match). The yellow flower is Birdsfoot-Tefoil or Bacon and Eggs (I just missed out on getting a photo of this with a common blue butterfly perched on it - would have been cracking!). The purple, yellow and green flower is Woody Nightshade (not Deadly Nightshade as it is normally mistaken for, apparently).
I'd be grateful for any enlightenment. Thanks Matt

Paglesham family outing

2008-06-09T23:09:00.004Z

It was bound to happen sooner or later.
After hours of walking in the search of birds our interest in other wildlife has grown and grown. The problem with that is, you need eyes everywhere. Fortunately there were six sets of eyes tuned into our surroundings on our recent trip to Paglesham.
Spot of the day goes to Girish for discovering this cracking Cream Spot Tiger Moth.

Cilla Black Feeds Deformed Starling Shocker

2008-05-25T19:55:00.006Z

Deformed Starling, Old Leigh, Essex

Avocet Chicks

2008-05-18T17:06:00.005Z

After the persecution these Avocets encountered a few years ago at the hands of egg collectors and the heavy rain of last summer there was no better site today than umpteen avocet chicks feeding around the lagoon.

Little Egret, Two Tree Island

2008-05-18T12:12:00.000Z

Osprey and Montagu's Harrier, Wallasea

2008-05-17T17:44:00.011Z

Osprey

Distant Montagu's Harrier.

We went to Wallasea Island to see the Montagu's Harrier that's been hanging around for a couple of days. While we were waiting for it to show an Osprey flew in and fed in front of us for fifteen minutes! According to Jeff Delve and Glyn Evans (EBS) the Monty flew right by us while we were still rubbing our eyes.

Gunners Park, Shoeburyness

2008-05-11T20:56:00.003Z

Common Tern, Swallow, Goldfinch

...and a Small Copper at Paglesham Lagoon

Wakering spring arrivals

2008-05-07T20:47:00.003Z

Managed to have my first birding session since all the summer migrants arrived.
I only had half an hour but got my fix with a cuckoo, turtle dove and whitethroat.

Wheatear, Hyde Park

2008-04-28T19:25:00.004Z

This male Wheatear was out on Hyde Park's Parade Ground this morning. It's not a great shot but you get the idea. A nice start to the working week.

Wallasea

2008-04-25T17:32:00.011Z

Dad took me for a walk along to the Wallasea Wetlands project to scope out one of his old fishing spots. Here's a couple of shots we took along the way. It was flippin' lovely to see the Yellow Wagtails again.

Corn Bunting (3), Yellow Wagtail (8)

Other birds included: 2 Avocet, 2 Greenshank, 40 Grey Plover, c50 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Dunlin, 2 Reed Bunting, c20 Sky Lark.

Whimbrel or Curlew?

2008-04-25T17:08:00.016Z

You decide, because I can't.

My first instinct of this bird at Lion Creek was, 'Whimbrel!' but after further inspection I was undecided. Could it be a male Curlew? The mud obscuring its crown and any possible diagnostic stripe wasn't helping matters. Your theories are most welcome.

Nightingale, Benfleet Downs

2008-04-24T17:00:00.000Z

This, my first encounter with a Nightingale, left me pretty breathless. What a song! Although my mobile phone movie doesn't really do it any justice. Click image or here to play.

Shag, Southend Pier

2008-04-19T18:20:00.005Z

Dad and I found this young shag at the end of Southend Pier today. Other birds included a Purple Sandpiper, brief views of a Black-throated Diver flying East (12:30), 2 Great Crested Grebe and a 2cy Mediterranean Gull on the foreshore.

Firecrest, Kensington Gardens

2008-04-03T12:08:00.008Z

Fiona Barclay at BirdGuides kindly donated these excellent stills of the recent Firecrest at Kensington Gardens 'for your delectation'. Max Whitby somehow captured the footage on his whacking, great big HD camera despite bad light and the flighty nature of the beast. Thanks too to Des McKenzie who found the bird (and a second yesterday!) and has been keeping us all informed at our desks.

... and the four Tawny Owlets (picture also courtesy of our friends at BirdGuides) have been showing particularly well too.

Two Owl Island

2008-04-01T21:56:00.002Z

Two Short-eared Owls on Two Tree Island tonight.
Saw both birds together but not as a photo opportunity.
Here's a distant shot of one of the birds.

Green Woodpeckers, Fleet Head, Wakering

2008-03-30T12:00:00.006Z

Matt and I headed out to Fleet Head this morning with the hope of seeing a Merlin or Hen Harrier and, as always, failed. But we did run into these Green Woodpeckers displaying to each other. We certainly hadn't seen anything like it before and first presumed them to be a pair courting. Further inspection, however, revealed they were both males. We could only guess that they were highly charged enough to display to anyhting or that this is what happens when yodelling doesn't decide a territory.

Two Tree Island Lagoon

2008-03-29T14:25:00.009Z

left to right: Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Teal

Tawny Owlet, Kensington Gardens

2008-03-27T10:19:00.003Z

Bullfinch Pair, Newport Sands

2008-03-22T14:42:00.013Z

Here's a pair of Bullfinches that were feeding along the estuary at Newport Sands, Dyfed this afternoon. They showed beautifully for twenty minutes and down to a couple of meters.
I also had my first otter sighting along this same stretch of water a couple of days ago at what has been my favourite holiday patch. Shame we have to leave tomorrow.

Strumble Head

2008-03-21T20:06:00.023Z

My hope of setting foot on one of Pembrokeshire's famous bird islands was blown away by a 35mph northerly this morning. So, with our trip to Ramsey Island called off by the captain I dropped Tamara in Cardigan and marched up Cemaes Head from Poppit Sands. The wind was so strong I couldn't hold my goggles steady and had to call it a day.

After hours of house-bound boredom and the invention of the Ultimate Raven Feeder™ (surprisingly didn't work) I finally took inspiration, as I have for the whole trip, from Pembrokeshire Birds and headed to Strumble Head for some sea-watching.

With the sun setting, a deafening six-foot swell crashing against the rocks below and a storm rolling in over St.George's Channel it made for a pretty dramatic place to be. Adding to the sense of occasion were my first British Gannets (two stunning adults) and my first Manx Shearwater whose wings didn't beat once in the strong breeze unlike the constant stream of Guillemots and Razorbills who occasionally stopped to feed.

With the storm upon me I made for the car and despite vertical sleet lashing my head and a genuine struggle to open the driver's door against the winds you couldn't have wiped the stupid grin off my face.

Great Grey Shrike, Ty Rhyg

2008-03-19T13:30:00.004Z

Rose-coloured Starling, Haverfordwest

2008-03-18T18:35:00.003Z

On my way back from Marloes I dropped in on the Rose-coloured Starling that's been hanging around behind a small terrace in Haverfordwest. Here's a couple of dodgy record shots.