Saturday 14 November 2015

Latest bits and pieces

Why is it recently that every chance I seem to be able to get out it is horrible weather. Went out yesterday (13th) and had that horrible rain that is hard, cold and darkens the sky. Didn't stay out long as everything seemed to be sheltering somewhere else. There was when I got there (still ok weather) a flock of about 12 Crow, and about 6 Herring Gull flew over during my brief visit. 3 Redwings and 7 Fieldfare didn't even fancy stopping for a feed. A flock of 12 Feral Pigeon, 2 Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Wren and Magpie were about it. Did see a possible Lesser spot but flying away into the rain.

Have visited my local park (Hilbert and Grosvenor) and got a few more pictures.


This i believe is a Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa)
Looks really lovely. I think formosa was popular in victorian shrubberies. Attempts 
have been made in recent years to repopularise the species in Britain with new 
cultivated varieties appearing in garden centres.





A local squirrel below. The other pictures are of the area in the park were the marshland is
going to go. There were reeds trees and mud here but they have removed it all to redo it.




Now above. Before below. Looking forward to how it is going to be.




Monday 9 November 2015

Another for local list

A visit to Broadwater warren bagged me another new bird for the site, making my total now to 65.

The weather was bad, on and off rain, strong winds. That didn't stop a flock of about 78 Fieldfares feeding on the Eastern heath, where apparently a Dartford Warbler was seen 2 days before.


These pictures show what the weather was like, so dark yet not late in the day.


Cormorant, new for me here. Flew over as did a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker flying between the areas of woods. Redwing and Woodlark as well as Crow, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird were among the few I saw. There was a pipit feeding on the ground which I think was Water Pipit, but most of the time it was hidden from view

Not loads of species but a decent day. Going back to my last blog I think the gull I saw over the park was possibly a Caspian Gull. I am not amazing on gulls but this was flying overhead and only in sight for a minute or so.
Will look it up. 

Friday 6 November 2015

Tree and Moths

In the last week or so I have got a few photos of 2 moths and a tree that is interesting.



Not worked out what this is yet but I will . Anyone else know?


This I know is a Beautiful Plume Moth (Amblyptilia acanthadactyla) 


This I have been told is a Persian Ironwood Tree (Parrotia persica) 
A deciduous tree in the family Hamamelidaceae and the sole species in 
the genus Parrotia. Closely related to the witch hazel genus. Native to Northern Iran.


These leaves off the tree are very distinctive.



Managed to get to my local park too, on the way I saw this.



This must have been some blaze as the other side of that bin has been melted as well.
Didn't see much bird wise. But saw the next stage of the lottery funded park.



This used to be a very rusty looking bridge that regularly flooded, the lottery fund is really making this park a lot better. Next year I think it is going to be amazing.


Tuesday 3 November 2015

Best Broadwater day yet

It's been a while since I updated. Been so busy, my wife went away for the weekend and then was working lots of hours in half term, so I have been looking after the boys and trying to ignore the fact that there were 2 British ticks in Kent for a few days.

Going back to the 22nd I took my wife up to Chatham area for a appointment, left early to do a quick Oare marshes visit. It ended up being a very quick visit as the weather was atrocious and took forever to get there. Probably out the car for about 15 minutes, although you can do some from the car. Loads of ducks there and a small group of Rock Pipit which was my only year tick for the day. Was hoping to maybe get a Red Kite over while driving but no way with that weather.

Next day I went over to Broadwater for a long visit. It paid off as I saw the most species in one visit I have had. All the usual suspects - Robin, Kestrel, Woodpigeon, Crow, Blue Tit, Wren, G.S.Woodpecker, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Pheasant, Buzzard, Magpie, Great Tit. Jackdaw and Goldcrest again. There were 2 Mallard flying over as well as my first Geese for the site,12 greylag Geese, Starling and Black-headed Gull also flew over. Still plenty of gorgeous Yellowhammer, another favourite of mine Coal Tit and Jay, Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker and Long-tailed Tit. The new site species for me were the best though. 2 Meadow Pipit, feeding on ground, Redwing and Fielfdfare, only 2 Redwing but a good number of Fieldfares. The bird of the day was however in the car park as I was putting everything away. A Raven flew over with its distinctive call and obvious wedge tail. A excellent day all round.


My local park on way to visiting my parents.


Thought I had a couple more photos to put on, but can't seem to find them.
Will put them on the next update along with a couple of Moths and a Persian Ironwood tree.