Another trip out...

10th  August 2018

      A trip out to Fingringhoe Wick E.W.T Nature reserve.

 

July and August are fairly quiet months for birdwatching, so what I do is make up the time before the Autumn migration begins, is look for other wildlife. There is plenty to find, Bee’s, Butterflies, Dragonflies and other interesting aspects of the countryside. Here’s a few things sighted on the walk.

                     

A couple of female Pheasants hiding in the long grass. Hard to see them sometimes, can you see them ? click on photo to enlarge.

               A Small Copper Butterfly ( lycaena philaeas ) enjoying a feed.

Robin's pincushion.

The Robin's Pincushion  is a gall caused by the larvae of a tiny gall wasp,  The gall is widespread and common, and can be found developing on the stems of Dog-roses during late summer; it acquires its reddish colour as it matures in autumn. Each gall holds many grubs, which feed on the gall tissues throughout the winter and emerge in spring as adults.

How to identify  The Robin's Pincushion is a spherical, red, fibrous growth on the stems of Dog-roses. You are more likely to see the galls than the adult gall wasps or the grubs.

             Dragonfly, I believe it to be a Common Darter ( sympetrum striolatum ).

New feeder.....didn't take long before it was dicovered.

New feeder purchased didn't take long before one of my favourite  birds the Greenfinch came along, this one looks like a juvenile. A couple of months ago there was just a couple of sightings, but now they come every day sometimes two or three and are adults.
                                                             
                     
      A nice strong ceramic feeder full of Sunflower seeds. and one you can clean easy, no plastic.
                                                               

                                               Below a juvenile Greenfinch I believe. 

                                           An Adult Greenfinch getting a good beak full
                                                                         

Flew the nest...leaving home

7th August   - It's been busy for the Collared Doves. One left Saturday 4th, then yesterday Sunday 6th there were two in the morning in the nest and today the 7th all gone !
So in all three Collared Doves were raised successfully. I didn't see them go and looked around the garden and they were nowhere to be found, so hopefully other three entered the world. 
Click on photo to enlarge

                                          The two photo's below on Saturday day 4th August 

Below Adult popped in Saturday evening to feed Juvenile

Below the two Juveniles on Monday evening 6th August.

Empty nest on Tuesday morning 7th August !

Update on the Collared Doves and the planted Wild flowers in the Garden.

3rd August  - Wouldn't be surprised to see at least one of the Collared Dove chicks fly the nest tomorrow or certainly over the week end. This one is really is growing fast....

                                                            Dove Chick taken 31.7.18

                                      Dove chick taken today 3.8.18, but still no feathers on it's chest.

The wild flower seeds  I planted from a package of wild seed mix for Bee's & Butterflies has done great, pity I can't  identify some of them. But I can this one below, grown from a single seed my Sunflower. This is 12' tall. Don't think it's going to be any taller now the flower has appeared.

Sunflower

                               
                                     Above & below  Wild flowers grown from a packet of seeds

Going's on in the garden

What's happening in the garden ? Quite a lot really

First of all the Wood pigeon nest didn't come to anything, but used as a roosting place I believe.  However a pair of Collard doves took a liking to my Wisteria  covered pagoda and nested. Not sure how many eggs were laid, didn't want to disturb or course distress, but at this moment in time they have two chicks sitting in the nest and growing by the day.

  
                                                         They make no sound at all.

                                       More Butterflies are coming into the garden.

                                                            click on to enlarge.

                                         Same Gatekeeper butterfly looking very fresh

 
                                                           The Underwing is lovely as well.

A litte trip out to Hythe Lagoons,Colchester

Friday 21st July:  

Hythe Lagoons on the River Colne at Colchester, a nature reserve managed by Colchester Borough council.

Unfortunately due to the very high temperatures of late and it was 34c when I visited !
The Lagoon had dried out completely, see below photograph.

One lonely Lapwing on the Lagoon.

Mute Swan on the River Colne.

But the find of the day was this Wasp Spider. A really lovely spider that thinks it is a wasp ! well its looks like one to fend off  predators. This one is a female owning to the size as the male is much smaller than this one. Totally harmless to humans, but for insects its the end and a dinner for the spider !

Still shall return another day when the rains come again. I'm sure this venue is a good place for waders in the winter and a stop off place for migrants during the Spring and Autumn passage.

R.S.P.B Stour Estuary Reserve.

First visit to Stour Wood which is part of The Stour Estuary RSPB reserve. 
A guided walk led by Liz Huxley.

Click on the photograph to enlarge

Lovely woodland walk through the corridors of the wood.

Rosebay Willow herb flowers growing among the lush ferns.

Flowering Sweet Chestnut tree.

 The trees are in full leaf and coverings have made the birds

 hard to see. Its nice and sunny, the wind has dropped, so out come

 the Butterflies, Dragonflies and other flying insects.

Ringlet Butterfly

Small White Butterfly in a ray of sunshine.

Red Admiral Butterfly

Silver - Washed Fritillary above and below.

 These are only a few of Butterflies seen, others seen 

Meadow Brown, Large White,

Gatekeeper, Speckled wood and Peacock.

Can't leave the Birds out, heard singing Blackcap, Wren,

 Blue tit, Great tit and  Blackbird.