Sparrowhawk at Maple Lodge

A late morning visit was timed perfectly when activity peaked at the resident Sparrowhawk nest. The female, present at the nest, became restless and flew away briefly before returning moments later with prey. I think the male bird had deposited the prey item close by for his mate to retrieve. She tore away flesh from the carcass rapidly before delicately feeding her four young. Towards the end of the feeding frenzy the young became boisterous and jostled for the last morsels of food.

 

RSPB Otmoor

A late morning visit provided the following species:-
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (2), Mute Swan (2 pairs with cygnets), Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Red Kite (5), Marsh Harrier (2), Common Buzzard (2), Common Kestrel (pair), Eurasian Hobby (2), Common Pheasant, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern (2), Woodpigeon, Turtle Dove (1), Common Cuckoo (1), Common Swift, Common Skylark, Barn Swallow, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Grasshopper Warbler (1), Cetti's Warbler (1), Sedge Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Common Bullfinch, Common Reed Bunting.

A lovely male Turtle Dove was heard calling and remained just long enough for me to acquire a record photo.

It began to get quite hot and humid which in turn became ideal weather for insects including several biting Horse Flies!

                                                          Blue-tailed Damselfly.

                                                           Large Red Damselfly.

                                                                Scorpion Fly.


 

Black Redstarts at Heathrow Airport

I have been fortunate to see Black Redstarts regularly at my place of work for the past 28 years. This year I managed to photograph a pair feeding young at the nest located in the aircraft hangar where I work. A total of five juveniles are present and I'm hopeful the young will have fledged in a few days. We also have a pair of Carrion Crow that have nested in the roof of the hangar with one of the young now roaming free throughout the night.

Dorset birding

I began the day at RSPB Lodmoor moving on to RSPB Radipole Lake and then Portland Bill before finishing off at Durlston Country Park.
A full list of species observed as follows:-
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Fulmar, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Shag, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Hooded Merganser, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Kestrel, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Common Swift, Common Skylark, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Rock Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Northern Wheatear, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Raven, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, Common Reed Bunting.

                                               Common Whitethroat at RSPB Lodmoor.

                                                    Dunnock at RSPB Lodmoor.

                                   Hooded Merganser (escaped male) at RSPB Radipole Lake.

                                                         Rock Pipit at Portland Bill.

                                                  Northern Wheatear at Portland Bill.

                                              Common Raven at Durlston Country Park.






   

RSPB Rainham Marshes

While at the reserve this afternoon my wife discovred a Little Grebe nest close to the boardwalk which I managed to photograph despite it's loaction deep among the reeds.

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

An afternoon visit began at the Sanctuary Hide where a singing male Sedge Warbler, three singing male Reed Warbler and a singing male Reed Bunting were all observed.

From Rotunda hide a pair of Canada Goose were observed with two recently hatched young.

From the pudding stone area adjacent the plantation I photographed three species of Damselfly and an assortment of insects.     

                                                              Azure Damselfly.

                                                         
                                                           Blue-tailed Damselfly.

                                                                  Variable Damselfly.

                                                                Garden Soldier Fly.

                                                               Rhyssa persuasoria.

                                                                         Snipe-Fly.

                                                                 Pardosa lugubris.

                                                                   Unidentified?

                                                                    Unidentified?

Below the Teal Hide a pair of Little Grebe were busily nest building among the reeds while on the far bank a Grey Heron cautiously fished.

                                                                  Little Grebe.

                                                                    Grey Heron.

At Lynsters Hide six Egyptian Geese and a single Eurasian Oystercatcher fed among the pasture while at the Long Hedge a very active Hairy Dragonfly rested briefly.

 

Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve

A late morning visit in sunny, mild conditions provided the following species:-
Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Black Swan (1), Canada Goose, Fulvous Whistling Duck (1), Common Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Common Pheasant, Water Rail (heard), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Pied Avocet, Northern Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit (95), Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Greater Yellowlegs (1), Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Tern, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Common Swift, Common Cuckoo (male and female), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Wren, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Common Reed Bunting.

From Suffern Hide a wonderful Greater Yellowlegs showed well as it fed on the muddy bank of the River Meon with Black-tailed Godwit. This American vagrant showed characteristics of a first summer bird as it's legs were not as yellow as I would expect on an adult in full breeding plumage. I have seen this species in the Caribbean but never in the British Isles. A few record shots of the bird follow:-

                                     Greater Yellowleags (bottom right) with Black-tailed Godwit.


From Meadow Hide a male and female Common Cuckoo showed for several minutes, the female bird sporting rustic brown plumage. On the south scrape dozens of Pied Avocet were noted with at least one pair present with young, the Meon Hide giving fantastic views. An escaped Fulvous Whistling Duck sporting adult plumage was also present and remained just long enough for me to take a record shot. 

From Spurgin Hide a Northern Lapwing was noted showing nervous behaviour among the long grass and probably had young nearby.