RSPB Otmoor (2) Small Birds

 For about 15 minutes I was entertained by a very large flock of mixed small birds - warblers, Chiffchaff and Black Cap, Blue Tits and Goldfinches feeding on the abundant midges (!) and seeds respectively. Such a pleasure to see large numbers of small birds after a difficult summer for them with the hot dry weather.

Curioser and Curioser

Our monthly guided nature walk at Paxton Pits produced some very curious sightings, none more so than this Thistle Tortoise Beetle larva which is very spiny like its host plant. It carries around a pile of droppings and debris that it uses to disguise itself -  very small so difficult to get a better shot. First time I have recorded Beewolf Wasps at Paxton - they are nesting where the Early Colletes bees were active earlier in the year. We think it was a young Garden Warbler and certainly there were a couple of pairs of Crows with young in the newly mown hay fields

Stars of Today's Paxton Surveys

I started today with an early morning Breeding Birds Survey at Paxton and it was wonderful to hear so many Garden Warblers, newly returned to the UK and singing their hearts out. The Dunnocks were also very vocal. When we had completed our part of the route, I spent 3 hours surveying an area for insects etc as I have to miss the official survey morning on Tuesday. Here photographs taken with a telephoto lens including spiders, bees, moths, butterflies and damselflies. Mainly I was working on much smaller subjects using a close macro (to follow).

RSPB Arne's Elusive Dartford Warbler

Our target for the RPS Nature Group visit to Arne was obviously the Dartford Warbler. It was certainly very elusive with brief views at quite a distance. However, with mainly sunny weather I enjoyed our walk around the reserve in great company. Life in the gorse  included Dartford Warbler, Dunnock, Stonechat - male and female, Robin, Chiffchaff, and Tree Pipit

Paxton Pits Evening Activity

I called in at Paxton Pits on my way home from Birmingham to see what migrants were showing themselves. Certainly the Terns were active on the lake and Chiffchaff, Black Cap and Willow Warbler were all singing but no Nightingale song though three were heard recently. The Great Crested Grebe put on a good show catching and eating a small fish.

Nightingale versus Cetti plus other Small Birds, S'Albufera, Majorca

As the weather warmed up and brightened, the S'Albufera sprang to life with Cetti's Warblers and Nightingales competing for attention. The Cetti's (first five) are generally secretive but on occasions come out into the open and sing profusely. The Nightingale (next two) sings generally very visibly on a branch but is such a ventriloquist that it is difficult to locate its position. Also shown Sardinian Warbler (resident species), Pied Flycatcher (migrating) and Fan-Tailed Warbler (summer visitor). We are back in England now and so wish could have been there this week when migration and breeding hopefully starts in ernest but that is the luck of the draw!