Trichomonosis again

Despite thoroughly cleaning my feeding area with strong disinfectant, I've seen Greenfinch and Chaffinch in recent weeks dying from this awful disease. Details can be found on the following RSPB web pages with instructions of what to do. http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/health/sickbirds/greenfinches.aspx

Sewage-works Shrike

A revisit to the RBS at Biggleswade STW, this time with scope and camera. This time the birders were gathered in the regular feeding corner the bird had frequented on Friday so I guess the bird was further away along the railway line and not wanting to return to where it seems to favour. I'm sure it will come back and will give better views though.

The bird was too far away to digiscope - the lower image being the best I could get through the scope and the upper image with my 400mm plus 1x4 converter.

Kentish Plover

A species I've not tried to see in the UK before now but this one at Eyebrook seemed settled and was relatively close to home. The bird seems to have an injured left eye.

As a Pectoral Sandpiper was also in residence, I wondered the possibilities of this being a Snowy Plover and an American rather than European vagrant ?

Willington's Buzzards

Lot's of mewing from the young birds which have fledged this summer north of the river with adults seen bringing remains of rabbits.

Boat Trip - Willington

Having seen more of the Kingfishers on the river in the past few days I decided to take a boat out this morning to try and pin them down. I saw three, possibly four birds, undoubtedly a family group which I'm pleased have bred but I need to put much more work in to get any half-decent photographs.

What was a surprise was what I at first thought was a Sparrowhawk, but which turned out to be a perched Cuckoo. Not the regular male bird from earlier in the season but a female type (possible juvenile ?) which may just be a passage bird rather than evidence of local breeding this year.

Late Brood

These Reed Warblers were still feeding young. Each time one of the adults flew into the reed clump, the high pitched sounds from the young could be heard - I assume still in the nest which seems very late in the season ?

Silver-spotted Skipper

It's a while since I tried photgraphing butterflies and the Silver-spotted Skipper has been one I have omitted to try for in the UK. Until today that is at Aston Rowant NR where the sun bought this one out close to the car park. My first day out in ages.

TL15A

Having lost the regular pair of Little Owls in the south of the village following the cold winter, I'm now enjoying watching a pair closer to home. There are two birds but I'm not sure they bred ?

Woken this morning to the Common Buzzard's out training their two young with mewing and circling over the garden. A fly through Hobby over the garden was my first for some weeks too.

Single Kingfisher on the river - they have been difficult to find this year compared to previous years. I guess the winter has hit them really hard.

Hopper

Oak Bush-cricket. Female I think.

Still in the Garden

Still not getting much further than the garden but there's plenty to try and photograph. Need to get a proper macro lens though.

Southern Hawker

This magnificant beast had a damaged wing and therefore presented a static subject at the garden pond.

Monster

I'd forgotten how close my old coolpix could get to things like this Lesser Stag Beetle.

Garden Blue

Common Blue in the Garden on on 19th, about as far as my camera has taken me in recent weeks.

Fierce

I've not seen Peregrine this close before and I was not dissapointed. Fantastic birds two from the local brood of three needing a helping hand to fly the nest. The Raptor Foundation in Cambridgeshire did the job of feeding her up and thankfully this girl took back to being fed by it's parents to hopefully grace the skies over Willington !

Bubo bubo

Willington, 15th June 2010. Don't tell the local farmers will you.

Welsh Wanderings

The Blorenge on Saturday. Lovely spot, great birds, naff photos. The Marmora's Warbler has performed very well for nearly two weeks and does seem to pose nicely for portraits but not during my passing visit. Whinchats and Tree Pipits seem to do well here.

Common Buzzard

Some people have been seeing unusual dark-phased Common Buzzards in the UK recently.
I'm defintely on the look out in Willington.

Tree Sparrows

I like Tree Sparrows.

Seaside Sorties

Half term visit to east coast. Nice weather but too many tourists !

Flycatcher