My Patch 04/10/2010

A visit to my patch yesterday and what a beautiful day it was. Birdlife was not too apparent 2 Carrion Crows , possibly the same Grey Plover harassing a Crow, 6+ Shelduck, a small raft of Mullard, 5+ Little Egret, Flights of Oyster Catcher pushed off feeding by the tide, and numerous House Martins and Swallows no doubt late broods in a final feed before the off.

Natural land drain.



Bait digger, Southend Pier in background.



Interesting shoreline.

Firstly by the dated entries I have not posted any info for some time the reason being I have had problems with my eyes as they are quite an important piece of equipement when involved with photography and nature observation, but I am pleased to announce that my cataract has been remedied and progress is being made with AMD and the treatment is LYCENTIS, and to date things are much improved.

Regarding the pictures below they depict my new birding patch at Allhallows, not far from my domicile, and my first visit produced the Grey Plover depicted.

There are some diverse plants in the area, sea, marginals and normal countryside flora, not very up on marine plants so it looks like I am going to have to purchase another expensive book.  The area is very exposed to the elements so I am not looking forward to the winter.

The photo depicting a landscape you can just pick out Northward Hill RSPB reserve so, it gives an idea of the location.

Despite the heavy rain last night the moths were flying, a nice trap was this impressive Privet Hawk Moth the others are Clouded Buff and Emerald Moth.
Hoping for some warmer days which will entice more moths into flight.

Moth Trap

Dug out the moth trap couple of days ago and the results are pictured below, I must admit moths and butterflies are not not my forte and have a tendency to favour the larger and more impressive of both species.
One of the above hawks I was unable to identify, as near as I could ascertain the conclusion was that it was a Lime Hawk.
The leopard moth as I understand from my reference book not very common in Kent.
The Skylark was taken at RSPB Elmley.

Leopard Moth

A Buff Tip

Elephant Hawk

Eyed Hawk Moth

Thanks for the correction Ken Eyed Hawk it is.

Skylark dust bathing

ELMLEY TRIP

Trip to Sheppey Thursday 28^th very hot and humid, distinct lack of birdlife and significant by their absence, would have expected to see by now Swallows in abundance, but this was not the case save a couple of pair trying hard to make home in the ladies and gents toilets.

Fringing a large field close to the farm a swayth of plough around the perimeter has been sown with seed bearing plants for cover and future food for birds, well done rspb but the young growth is a significant attraction to the Brown Hares of which I counted five.

Nothing in the way of heart stopping observations were made, perhaps the best was a close encounter with a Peregrine Falcon whilst enroute to the main road, too quick for the camera, alas. Four sightings of Marsh Harrier quartering the dykes, seven sightings of Yellow Wagtails and on the Wellmarsh scrape a family of Shelduck, Tufted Duck with five young,  BH gulls in profusion which just about concludes my visit. See pics below.

Black Headed Gull

Black Headed Gull he might be but is browned off hatching eggs in thursdays

humidity, he or she seemed to be panting.

Brown Hare



Two Pictures of young Shelduck

Taken at RSPB Elmley.

Avocets

Difficult to get a decent shot at Elmley, very few are present at Wellmarsh

and those that are resident are hidden by weed growth on the islands, but this is

one I did manage to capture.


Down in the mouth at Elmley.

Disappointing trip to Elmley Yesterday 20-6 uneventful on drive to the farm then on to the Wellmarsh car park first impressions were, after entering the hide were, hundreds of nesting BH Gulls which have obviously taken over the site, other birds were 3 Tufted Duck 4 Avocets, 2 Oystercatchers couple of Mallard and that was it spanning two hours. The islands were completely covered with growth eighteen inches high which has hidden most of the nesting birds making observation almost an impossibility, and, as per other years there are a lack of Barley Straw Bales which combats the algae.

Thoroughly  vexed, I decided to slow drive it to the main road, which, by comparison with the last two hours held real possibilities, first confrontation were a couple of quartering Marsh Harrier followed by a beautifully bright Yellow Wagtail dispatching a Dragonfly, followed by numerous sightings of Reed Bunting, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Lapwing with young and the cherry on the cake was a pair of Avocet and four newly hatched young on the road between Kings Hill Farm and the main road, have never encountered Avocets nesting this area, probably because the Wellmarsh Islands are over occupied, the parents were trying to herd the young off the road which took 15 minutes, that, gave rise to a few pictures being taken.

What we eventually observed  appeased the day. 

Very young Lapwing.

Avocet new hatchling

Meadow Pipit

Skylark

Yellow Wag and two Oystercatchers.

Save Water bath with a friend

I missed the shot but in the next moment the Blackbird pecked the Sparrow obviously species prejudiced.

Three of my local birds

Cateract Op

Cataract op yesterday, took of the pad today had double vision, was assured that this is a common reaction and will correct itself, hope so otherwise I will be registering myself as partially sighted, one more eye to go, Gulp !!!!!

Diamond Jubilee

Nothing to do with nature but does deserve a mention, I am a  staunch Royalist, and featured is a small part of my collection of Royal Memorabilia, our Queen is without doubt a great asset to our fragmented country, long may she reign !!!!