Pectoral Sandpiper and other Photo-list Fodder

I managed to get a few dodgy digiscoped photos of this afternoon's Pectoral Sandpiper, which remained predictably distant. It is recognisable though and so they're good enough for the patch photo year-list. I was hoping it might stay and allow for better photos tomorrow but apparently it disappeared this evening, ominously just after a Sparrowhawk was seen with a kill. It had been looking very lethargic too. I was also hoping to get photos of Yellow-legged Gull but the one I saw on the estuary  remained asleep for ages before flying off, never to return, when all the gulls got flushed. Hopefully there will be more. On Sunday evening there were lots of  House Martins and Swifts around the hide on Black Hole Marsh and I had a lot of fun trying to get photos of them.

No.110  Pectoral Sandpiper

No.111 House Martin

No. 112 Swift

This female Shelduck was clearing the area ...

...of Mallard before her ducklings took to the water....

Very cute they are too!

I also saw this cloud in the shape of a croissant.. No? Perhaps I was just getting a bit hungry.

Just One More Addition to The List....

...But a very nice one! A partial summer plumaged male Ruff was on Black Hole Marsh yesterday and not only was it a welcome addition to my patch photo-yearlist, it was also the first Ruff I've seen in anything like summer plumage, very attractive too, in a scruffy kind of way. Photos were difficult due to it staying rather distant but it finally approached close enough on my second visit of the day.

No.109  Ruff

There were also several Mediterranean Gulls including a lovely juvenile.

Remember That List?

I haven't given up on it despite having very little free time to get out on patch. Hopefully things will improve before the autumn arrives. I've managed a few early morning visits to Black Hole Marsh but not many birds have been within photographing distance, managed to add three to the list though.

No.106  Sedge Warbler

No. 107 Pied Wagtail

No.108  Common Sandpiper

And, not new for the list but showing so well I had to take photos was this Little Ringed Plover

Downy Emerald and Silver-studded Blue

A couple of weeks ago I popped over to the East Devon Commons to see if any Silver-studded Blues were out yet. I only saw a handful (about four) of newly emerged males before moving on to Bystock Ponds to try and get a photograph of a Downy Emerald. I'd seen them here before but hadn't managed to get any shots and I was hoping the DSLR would change all that. It did!

Newly emerged male Silver-studded Blue.

In stark contrast was this Peacock looking a shade past his best, although he was still protecting his little patch of mud from all-comers.

Heath Spotted Orchids

Downy Emerald.

You can see how it got the name.