28/06/2012 Frodsham Marsh

Black-tailed Godwit: Another after work  trip to Frodsham Marsh again by far the star bird was this stunning large wader.  It was seen further along Tank no.5.

This was one of those time I wished I had a 500mm lens, one day. For now I will do my best with my 300mm and 50mm Macro.

27/06/2012 Frodsham Marsh

Common Buzzard: A great day out after work, I started down on Weaver bend where I was covered in flies. In fact everywhere I walked I seemed to be followed by them.

This stunning huge Buzzard was seen in Tank no.5

Grey Heron: This was in the lagoon in Tank no.6 along with Cuckoo, Sedge warbler, Common Whitethroat and Kestrel.


Insects where abundant, Gatekeepers, Skippers, Small Tortoiseshell and loads of Thick-legged Flower Beetles. Great time to be out in the sun surrounded by birdsong and mini beasts.  




 
Spotted Wood Butterfly: This stunner was seen just off the bridge running over the motorway leading down to the Weaver Bend. Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Bullfinch and tits where seen around this area.

24/06/2012 Gronant

Little Tern: Theses excellent little sea birds are back at Gronant.  There are about 100 to 120 breeding pairs here at the moment and a handful of Little Ringed Plover all using the secured and protected fenced RSPB area.

The site is owned and managed by Denbigshire Rangers.





Theses little stunners are very active and where feeding just meters off shore.

Bee Orchid: I stumbled along this cracking tiny flower among the sand dunes and I was very pleased as this was another life tick.


I started the walk to the Tern colony from Point of Aye which was full of Pyramidal Orchids, Skylark and the odd Reed Bunting but only came across one Bee Orchid.




The Orchid was a little bit passed its sell buy date but was still looking stunning among the grasses of the dunes.

For those who don’t know, theses amazing wild British Orchids produce a pheromone which mimics that of a female bee and has evolved to produce a flower which is meant to resemble a bee to attract male bees.

The bees then attempts to mate with the flower and in so doing transfer pollen between plants. Although here in Britain it is thought that bee orchids only reproduce asexually and the species of bee that the flower evolved to attract is not found here.

Marsh Orchid: Theses have been long in flower at Gronant alongside the boggy parts and naer the ponds. This one I came across was huge, the flower head was at least 50cm.

Pyramidal Orchids where also in flower and in very god numbers all over Gronant, there where everywhere really along that coast sand dune path.

18/06/2012 My Garden, Chester

Garden Snail: Just practicing my macro skills with my new Sigma 50mm DG Macro lens.


I know, this is not a bird, should I change my Blog name to Austin's Wildlife Blog?

14/06/2012 Leighton Moss RSPB

Bullfinch: I love Leighton Moss as its full of cracking birds, I went to see the Spoonbill and was treated to great views of a hunting male Marsh Harrier.

Half an hour spent at the feeding station was very productive as this Stunning male Bullfinch turned up to feed.




Along with the male there was also one female Bullfinch seen, she is the paler bird on the left and was a right fatty, constantly stuffing her beak.


 

Chaffinch: The most common finch in the UK and by far the most active on the feeders I counted at least nine individuals many where juveniles. Other regualr birds to note at the feeders where Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Graet Tit, Willow Tit, Chaffinch and Greenfinch.





Spoobill: This was the reason why I went up to Leighton Moss, this Spoonbill has been hanging around the Eric Morecambe Hide for a few days now, and I was made up to see it.

Although my lens could only manage a record shot, the picture still shows off its general size and spoon shaped bill.

09/06/2012 Burton Marsh RSPB

Marsh Orchid: A brief trip to Burton started off pretty good with a walk through the woods I saw Greater Spotted Woodie, Tree Creeper, Nuthatch, Blackcap and Willow Warbler.


I then got to the main reception hide and saw Black Tail Godwits, Avocet with young and the usual garden birds around the feeders which are always good to see.

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The day then got relatively quiet with no notable birds t mention on the reserve as I was hoping for a Spotted Flycatcher.




Although the day picket up again when I got to the other hide and was a field full of wonderful Marsh Orchids right outside the window.






Theses where inaccessible but along the reed bed walk there where was the odd one dotted about amongst the sedges and reeds




A stunning wildflower, a must see for anyone.









Ok, ok, I know my Blog is slowly turning in to Austin's Wildflower Blog!

Well watch this space for more pictures and reports of wildbirds.

06/06/2012 The Great Orme - Continued

Meadow Pipit: This guy was very active along the rock wall on the road up towars the visitor centre, it kept hopping from one wall to another giving some great views.

Jackdaw: Theses guys are everywhere on the Orme, and not shy at all. A great bird to photograh.

06/06/2012 The Great Orme

Common Spotted Orchid: I began my walk up the toll road towards Pen-trwyn where I saw two huge Ravens stealing Fulmar eggs of the cliff face and getting mobbed by a single kestrel and a horde of Jackdaws.

It was here I saw my first Orchid the purple pyramidal Orchid, It was out of reach of both myself and my 300mm lens so I could only manage a record shot.









I continued around the roads up to the visitor centre, where I then came upon my second Orchid of the day the stunning Common Spotted Orchid. There were four in total but only two within reach.


They were right alongside the road, as I was taking pics I pointed them out to passersby as the Orme was particularly busy.





Pyramidal Orchid: Too far over the cliff edge to get a good shot.

The birds to note where Fulmars, Ravens, Stone Chat, Black Guillemots, Guillemots and Razor Bills.

27/05/2012 Martin Mere WWT

Barn Owl: A cracking sunny day at a Martin Mere where I was treated to some stunning views of a Barn Owl.









This guy was spotted along the Reed Bed walk, firstly when I sneezed and it felw out of a bush then over towards the Harrier Hide. I was gutted, a rookie mistake, and then it flew over a hedge and on to a fence post where I managed to creep up on it and get a few cloers shots.





Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Reed Warbler also in good numbers along the Reed Bed walk, Temminck's Stint and Green Sandpipers on the reserve also reports of Common Tern over Ron Brker Hide, although I did not see.

25/05/2012 Frodsham Marsh

Daisy: I have gone wildflower mad and birds have taken a back seat! I must have gone mad, It must be the sun.

25/05/2012 Moore Nature Reserve

Brimstone Butterfly: The Blubells in the sunshine look superb and when a Brimstone started to feed one one, I got down on my knees and composed this frame. Well worth a soggy knee in my book.






In a quick trip to moore I observed the usual garden birds and a frew warbler species, Blackcap, Willow and Reed.
No sign of the Lessser Woodie but two Greater Spotted Woodies where at the feeding station along with a few Jays.

Birds Foot Trefoil: This small overlooked wild flower is a little stunner, theses where in bloom just opposite the Lapwing Lake hide.

12/05/2012 Blue Tit Nest Cam

Blue Tit: I have recently been consulted by a member of the I.T team at Ellesmere Port Catholic High School on nest box building techniques and web cam installation.









It was Andy Houston, a personal friend of mine and a member of the I.T team at the school how had the idea of getting the kids involved in British Birds by not only constructing the bird box but doing all the work on the web cam. He has also kindly added a live feed to the cam on the Ellesmere Port Catholic High School web site.

Please check it out the link for the web cam is below. See the drama of real life Blue Tits nesting see as they lay eggs, raise their young and even watch the chick fledge from the nest.

http://birdbox.epchs.co.uk/

10/05/2012 The River Dee

Greylag Goose: A walk down the River Dee to Eccleston and back on a hunt for a Kingfisher or two revealed absolutely no Kingfishers at all.





But down near the Earls estate there was a huge wildflower meadow, hiding in the middle where four Greylag which flew off on to the neighbouring farmers field.

Blackcap: It was a nice walk saw a few Blackcap, Chiffchaff and I have been told that at Eccleston Wood there has been sightings of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, I saw a Greater Spotted Woodie and hared others but no sign of the Lesser.









My first Chester Swift where seen flyng over the Dee and then two more where spotted ovr the Meadows. Top bird.

09/05/2012 Martin Mere WWT

Reed Warbler: An early morning at Martin Mere before the rains came relieved two new spring arrivals. Starting from the Reed Bed Walk, with the sun on my back I had to take my coat off, uplifting and enjoyable.

Whitethroat: Further along the walk near the kissing gates next to the United Utilities building I found myself surrounded by Whitethroat and it was here I caught a sighting of my first 2012 Swift flying high over towards the farm.

I was not only surrounded by Whitethroat, I was also surrounded by swarms of flies, no wonder it was a hot spot for theses very active warblers.

I then headed back to Martin Mere where I was treated to more Sedge Warbler, Balckcap and the regular gang of garden birds.

07/05/2012 Bickley Hall Farm, Cheshire

Snakes Head Fritillary: Theses stunning and fragile looking wild flowers always excite attention wherever they are seen.

None of the other lovely members of the fritillaria genus can match this native wildflower for the bizarre and unmistakable colouring of its bell-shaped flowers.

Theses stunners where seen at The Cheshire Wildlife Trust head quarters at Bickley Hall Farm in Malpas, Cheshire.

I have never seen this flower in its flesh and was blown away with its striking dusky purples and chequered lilac patterns and pea green slender stems it is a must see, I can see where its name comes from.

I would encourage everyone to get out and see theses striking British flowers, rain or shine.

Before the rain. The weather was awful, it was raining all afternoon and I got very wet laying on the wet grass to get some good angles but I think it was worth it as the rain drops worked in may favour and added to the bit of sparkle to the snaps.




 
 
 I had to make it an honorary bird and put it on my Blog

05/05/2012 Chester Meadows

Chiffchaff: Linnets and Greenfinch also around, Chiffchaff singing high in the trees along the banks of the Dee and hundreds of Swallow and House Martins flying low over the meadow.



 

Lesser Whitethroat: Chester meadows can at times be very boring at times for birding, but sometimes you get a nice surprise. Today and yesterday there has been a Lesser Whitethroat calling it has been showing well, although it was very tricky to snap a photograph as it keep itself deep within hawthorn bushes in the middle of the meadow.





Sorry this was the best of the lot, one I will definitely improve on!

02/05/2012 Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB

Whitethroat: Has the weather finally changed? The sun was shining and the temperature was up, blue skies and migrants galore! Fantastic.

At Inner Marsh Farm there was dozens of Whitethroats, the best views where down from the walkway near the bridge looking towards Burton Wetlands Centre. Here I was also treated to excellent views of singing Blackcaps, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.

Chiffchaff: A small flock of Linnet flew in to the farm fields and there were reports of Wheatear on the stone walls, although I didn’t see them.

Paul from the RSPB pointed out Lesser Whitethroat which was great and was singing and showing well.




Stonechat:  Down at Burton Marshes I was hoping for Whinchat but didn’t have long until the bus came some only got some snaps of the female Stonechat the male was around briefly and there was at least two reeling Grasshopper Warblers a first for the year.





Robin: So I started pretty late about 11ish and straight away got a Temminck's Stint outside the reception hide, the place was as usual chocca birders from wall to wall, I spent some time at the feeders hoping I would be lucky enough for a Red Poll fly by, but no luck.




Nuthatch: Nuthatch where everywhere along with Greater Spotted Woodpecker, one even gave me some great views at the feeders.

I also spotted a female and male Blackcap at the far end of the ponds.



29/04/2012 Martin Mere WWT

Blackcap: On a stormy day at Martin Mere the rain did its best to keep the birds under cover and me tucked up in a nice dry hide, but rain cant keep me from birding. Along the path passed the Swan Link Hide there where a few Blackcap singing and showing well.

Wood Warbler: While walking around in the rain trying to find the Blackcaps I came across a Wood Warbler singing and calling before it decided it had enough of the weather and flew down among the Hawthorn bushes.

Shoveler: I started the morning at the back of the reserve on the Reed Bed Walk, I had some good views of a male Marsh Harrier, two Red Legged Partridge, Pochard and a few Shoveler Ducks which where very flighty to begin with but after a while they returned and where showing well.

No sign of the Crested Pochard or Med Gulls.

28/04/2012 Formby Point

Red Squirrel: After the visit to Mere Sands Wood I headed down to Southport and Formby Point. A lovely place especially when the sun started to shine and the wind calmed down. I didn’t spend long, the highlights where not doubt the Red Squirrels.

Saw four in total, one running across the road in front of the car, the rest where very flighty and seen shy. Not much bird life seen, although on the sand dunes there where two very active Wheatear.