26/08/2017 Leighton Moss RSPB

Purple Heron: After my first visit to see the purple Heron at Leighton Moss last week I was keen to go and try my luck again, for some better images.


..........and I wasn't disappointed.

Upon my arrival the bird was in it's usual place, viewable from Greizdale hide, tucked in and obscured by the reeds on the left hand side.

Seeing the bird was made more difficult by the eight or so birders scrabbling over one another to get a better view, whenever the bird decided to lift it's head up from the reeds.

Eventually my patience paid off and the bird walked in to view revealing its whole body and legs before talking off for a short flight on to the water and out of the reeds.

I was absolutely thrilled, Purple Herons are great birds enhanced by the fact this bird should be overwintering in Africa made seeing it even better.

The bird eventually moved completely out of view and was hidden again by the reeds. I did however read via Twitter that it flew off once more, but this time it headed over to the causeway and roosted with the Little Egrets.

19/08/2017 Carnforth, Lancashire

Autumn Lady’s-tresses Orchid: (Spiranthes spiralis) The Autumn Lady’s-tresses are out now and a must see little gem of a plant. They unfurl their sprilaised flowers at the time of year when most plants have set seed.

They get their scientific name of “spiralis” which describes the arrangement of flowers that form an elegant spiral up the stem.

Autumn Lady’s-tresses flower from August to September and can be found on calcareous grasslands or sandy dunes of Jack Scout, near Jenny browns point, Cranforth. Here there is a large colony growing on the limestone hills that have short but not overly cropped grassy sward.

Up close the Orchid have crystalline petals that appear through the lens as fresh and crisp as fresh snow, these are enhanced by the pastel green stems that has short sparkly hairs on.

This is a new Orchid tick for me and I was surprised to how small they actually are, I was even told by Isabel Hardman who kindly gave me some information and directions the night before.

They grow no more than 7-20cm high when flowering they are not easy to spot. Stopping to look closer at what appears to be a short grass flower head can often lead to their discovery.

Purple Heron: From Jack Scouts I went on to Leighton Moss where I saw my first UK Purple Heron, and although it was probably the worst view of a Purple Heron I've had in my life I was happy to finally have caught up with one and have it on the list.

13/08/2017 Titchwell RSPB

Turtle Dove: Ever since I took a trip with some old birding pals of mine a couple of years ago I feel in love with Norfolk.
 

One of it's enigmatic birds is the Turtle Dove, a species under huge pressures and decline across Europe, so it's always  red letter day when you catch u with one.

This year there has been a breeding pair close to Titchwell who have taken up residence within the car park and have been seen on a regular basis, even with their youngster.

Titchweel is a great place and there is always something good to see. Along with the Turtle Dove I had five Spoonbill, dozens of waders including a Greenshank, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit and a lovely male Hobby.