Another one and there could be more.

Found another caterpillar on the doormat. This time the photo shows it with it's head out. This species will change its appearance to look like a snake when it is threatened, or sees a bird interested. It is really fascinating, however my wife is a bit freaked out by it.

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Once I had seen me and i went to move it, it had already started

to look different.

Put this on twitter as was told there is probably a willowherb or fuchsia nearby and they are looking for somewhere to pupate. Those two now in my back garden. Apparently though there could be as many as 50 in one batch!

Weird creature

Well, talk about wildlife on your doorstep. This fat caterpillar was on the front door mat this morning. Looked weird and itkept moving as if looking at us. It is of course a Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar that is now in my back garden under the bush we have out there.

First question was, what is it? I first thought death head.

Below a photo of the moth it will turn into. This taken earlier in year.

A mistake and a new Warbler for Broadwater

Oops. I have come to the conclusion that the last Blog post I did I must have not pressed publish as it is not on there. Oh well these things happen.
Going back to my last visit I did have Brown Hawker and Common Darter, also had another that I thought was a Common Darter but because it is a long way away I think it is too big to be that.

I really have been taking too many dragonfly pictures, must reign that in.

We then had the eclipse of the super moon. Took loads of photos, they looked good on the camera but when I put them onto the laptop they didn't look amazing. 

Today, 2nd October. I again went to Broadwater Warren and I really am having some good luck at the moment. Lovely Buzzards, a small mixed flock of Swallows and House Martin, a favourite of mine Treecreeper, Coal Tit and a new one Whinchat. However when I was approaching the Decoy pond I noticed 2 warblers fly into a tree, they kept popping into different clumps of foliage, 1 showed itself well and it was a Chiffchaff, I assumed the other was also a Chiffchaff until it also hopped onto a branch. The very bright white underside stood out and the yellow supercillium could be seen well. The Chiffchaff left the tree and only the Wood Warbler remained, it continued to disappear into foliage and then appear again briefly before it also eventually flew off. 18 species of bird was a good haul. Also had this lovely spider below, the other insect picture and what I think was a Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum), this landed on me briefly then dropped to the floor and then took off. Overall a good day I thought.

some type of Miridae maybe 

Until next time then, and will remember to press publish on this one.

Broadwater photos and a good day

Has it really been that long since my last post. I am still very annoyed that I didn't get the Flycatcher at Dungeness, was at Lewes and Brighton, which isn't that far away either. Was ready to get there the next day but alas no sighting.

I did kind of get my reward as I had a Golden Oriole at Broadwater Warren yesterday, 24th. It flew off just as I was turning a corner and I couldn't re-locate it. Being my usual self I started to doubt the sighting but there is no way I mis-identified it. I spoke to the warden who happened to be there when I got back to the car and he started to doubt it too so that didn't help. Migration is happening though, if that Flycatcher can get to Dungeness then anything is possible. Also had just 1 Tree Pipit, Buzzard, 11 Jackdaw, Green Woodpecker, 12 House Martin (had seen 120 the day before outside work), Great Tit, Blue Tit, usual Crow and Woodpigeons, along with Blackbird, Magpie, Robin and Kestrel. Quite a good haul for the sight, am still going to see if we can get a scrape or wader area on site.

Views of the heath areas at Broadwater

this small pool was dry for a while

This over turned tree has been particularly good for Yellowhammmers

If you visit then please take note of this as you will get very muddy feet

otherwise, I have tried. Below is the problem you will have to cross.

Thought it was time to get some site shots on here.

There are a lot of iron rich pool near the walkway and these trees

seem to be turning the same colour as the water they feed on.

Thats all for now more tomorrow.

Local twitch

Yes I did twitch this, however it is local. Grey Phalarope at Bough Beech with 2 hours before picking boys up from school. It was on the North lake, furthest away part it could possibly be on of course. This was my first for site, think the last one was 2008. Closer, of course, was a Black-tailed Godwit.

Lovely Blackwit

Distant but you can tell what it is.

Broadwater latest

On the 12th I visited Broadwater Warren again. They have started the winter work there so some paths are closed off. That however didn't stop quite a few people still walking down those paths.
4 Swallows fly over heading for the coast. The ever present Crows, recently seem to be seeing 3 on every visit. Magpie heard calling as well as Robin and Blackbird. Blue Tit, Buzzard drifting over and a posing Mistle Thrush were it for the birds. The Mallards that were there seem to have disappeared, hopefully only moved temporarily.

Brown and Migrant Hawkers seem to be the main dragonflies now. Still a couple of Blue-tailed and loads of Common Darters. There were 40+ beetles in the pond, beetles, funghi and Wood Ants. Butterflies seem to have disappeared now.

Brown Hawker.

Part of the crowd of beetles in the pond

Bluebottle

Wood Ants

Slug - I can kind of appreciate them here

but not in my garden where there are loads.

Different type of funghi from last visit

Love the spiders web in the back ground 

Stock Dove was my 56th species for the site. Hoping for a Whinchat this week, maybe Siskin and Redpoll, and getting into Redwing, Fieldfare time soon. Think as well that in the coming month Crossbill might appear. It's all looking good.

What's been happening.

Days turn to weeks and I realize that time seems to be flying for me at the moment.

Since my red-rumped, I have been over the warren about 3 times.

There doesn't seem  to be many birds over there at the moment, or many that are showing themselves that is. 

On the 2nd Grey Wagtail was the best with Woodpigeon, Crow, Robin and Kestrel and support.

The ever present Crow and Woodpigeon on all days.

Migrant Hawker I believe.

Bee sp

Bee or Wasp I think, possibly a Solitary.

Common Darter

The 10th saw Stock Dove over and Green Woodpecker. Also the same dragonfly on the same plant as before. 

Haven't got id yet probably Migrant.

Have put Brimstone on here before but his was so bright.

Funghi on tree

This one sat nicely for me.

Of the damselflies the Azure and Large red seem to have gone, still a few Blue-tailed and lots of Common Darters. Also Brown Hawkers seem to be more plentiful.