Garganey Invasion

Easily the most Garganey I have seen together in the UK at the Ouse Washes.  I counted at least 50 but there were undoubedly many more.

And one Glossy Ibis.  Also Red-crested Pochard, Pintail, Greenshank, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper (4) and Spotted Redshank were of note.  And loads of large, dead Pike for some reason??

Gamlingay Bird Fair

After visiting the British Bird Fair at Rutland Water, this beauty couldn't be missed near Gamlingay.  Thanks to those that got me breaking into a run as a local walker flushed the bird from the path where it had been sitting the moment I arrived.  Three over-flying Whimbrel as well were nice.
The local farmer was encouraged from his tractor to see what all the fuss was about and after writing down the name of the bird he'd not heard of before, he gave me his email address as he requested a copy which I will be pleased to send.  He is sympathetic and does some work with the RSPB to help Corn Buntings.

In the Pink

The Chilterns

The chalk grassland flower meadows at Aston Rowant NNR are a spectacle to behold and so much better than two years ago when I last visited in August.  Butterflies and plants seem to be thriving despite the wet weather we've had this summer.
Oh, and the Canon 7D eclipses the 30D for sure.

Olympic Birds - an eye on Gold

Crakey - a Frog

In March I was pleased to note that the frogs had layed spawn in my garden pond.  Today I'm pleased to announce that at least one of the tadpoles has grown into nothing less than a spelndid, adult Baillon's Crake!!

This just highlights my useless amphibian ID skills and how I may have been overlooking for years, breeding Crake's and Frogs co-existing in my small garden pond.  I managed a Frog (see above) peering at me through the reeds only this morning.

Well, I won't be fooled in future years, that's for sure.

News here of how others have seemingly made the same simple mistake as me.  http://grumpyecologist.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/crakey-change-record-books.html