Not A Blog Post

I took Rex for his walk on Axe Cliff late morning, the weather was glorious but there wasn't much to report, I took a few photos of some of  the bits and bobs that I saw though. For a full and 'very convincing' explanation to why this isn't actually a blog post please see here ;-)

Beautiful Small Tortoiseshell.

Not so beautiful female Oil Beetle

First Slow Worm of the year, beautiful in its own way.

A perky little Wren

 And finally this pair of Swallows, back at their nesting site and wasting no time!! As well as plenty of 'this kind of thing' they were also busy collecting mud from the bridleway.

A Couple of Migrants and a Mishap

When Steve found the patch's first Little Ringed Plover of the year on Black Hole Marsh this morning, I naturally went down there for a look. Whilst I was trying to set up my scope for a closer look this happened....

..Don't ask me how, it just 'came off in my hand' as they say! 

I've tried to glue it back together this evening but I don't hold out too much hope. Another looming expense I suppose, I don't think I'll ever be able to afford my new camera at this rate :-(

The LRP wasn't that distance but the glare was considerable, that coupled with trying to to use my scope with no handle on the tripod meant  I couldn't get any decent photos of it. However, a bit later in the day, about lunchtime, I heard from Bun that there was now a Yellow Wagtail present too. I was in Axminster shopping at the time but when I got home at 2 o'clock I found the time to pop back down for a look. Five minutes after dumping all the groceries on the kitchen floor ( got to get my priorities right) I was back at Black Hole Marsh and happily the Yellow Wagtail ( and boy was it yellow!!) was still there with three lovely White Wagtails for company. They were very mobile but occasionally would land and feed very close by, allowing  for a few photos. The Little Ringed Plover was still in the same spot but the light was much better for photos so I took a few of that too. I must admit it was a bit of a struggle without my tripod handle, especially  with the Wagtails, they're just so manic, but worth it I think ;-) Nice weather forecast for tomorrow with light winds for a change, therefore I predict a fall on Beer Head - a fall of  patch birders!!

Little Ringed Plover

Yellow Wagtail

With White Wagtail

On a couple of occasions it  actually stopped bombing around for a nanosecond or two. 

 Could it be any more yellow? It must be the yellowest thing on earth!

The only in focus 'action shot I managed. 

Woodchat Shrike

Went to see the Woodchat Shrike at Church Cove, near The Lizard in Cornwall this morning, it showed really well and the sun even came out briefly. Woodchat Shrikes really are superb little characters and it was well worth making the three hour journey to see this one. It appeared to be feeding well and we saw it catch and devour at least two large bumblebees. As it was a bank holiday today there were lots of holidaymakers around too, some were quite interested and had looks through our scopes. Ever wondered why non-birders descriptions of strange birds they've seen are so crap? Well it isn't for want a good view  because today one was looking at the bird ( which was pretty close) through my scope and said " Oooh, what a pretty little bird, it's blue and white with a beige head." Blue!? Beige!? How do their minds ( or should I say eyes) work? 

What a show off! Shrikes are great! :-)

Also took a couple of snaps of a nice male Stonechat because he was just there, thrusting himself into my lens like they always do. One of the least camera shy of all birds I reckon.

Typical Stonechat shot...

... And a more aesthetic shot of him singing.

And finally the customary new moths of the day....

Clouded Drab

Satellite