The last days of February, 2024

At times, at the end of February, it looked as if spring was on its way as, although it was officially recorded as the wettest February on record, temperatures were quite mild, occasionally reaching double figures. This is an account of some of my (mostly garden) observations during this period.

Thursday, 22nd February          Garden

I was away from home for much of the day as, in the early afternoon, I had to take Lindsay to hospital for a physiotherapy appointment following her knee operation. This was a quite hazardous journey as we were having torrential rain and encountered much flooding along the way. Fortunately, our car has a very generous ground-clearance and we were able to pass through the floods, but the journey took an hour and a quarter each way, instead of the usual 45 minutes.

I did manage some photos of birds in our garden in the morning before the rain started.

We are regularly getting three Carrion Crow visiting the garden. I think that these are a pair with an all-but-adult youngster, and this theory is strengthened by the fact that that, in recent days, two of the birds are trying to chase off the third, suggesting that they think that it's time the youngster left home and find its own way. Here is one of the birds.

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) - our garden

Greenfinch is now vying with Goldfinch for the title of 'most numerous bird species in the Pegler garden'. On the previous day to this one, we had a record total of 14 Greenfinch, which exactly matched the Goldfinch total that day. However, Greenfinch rarely stop in a useful photographic position. This is one taken from my study window.

Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) (male) - our garden

Here's a Goldfinch from that day.

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) - our garden

Friday, 23rd February          Garden

Fortunately, the rain stopped during the night, and the flooding had almost disappeared by the time I had to take Lindsay back to the hospital to have her sutures removed. As we arrived back home, we remarked on a fine patch of Crocus in our front garden.

Early Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus) - our garden

Sunday, 25th February          Garden

In the spirit of trying to pay a little more attention to the very common birds in our garden, I offer the Woodpigeon. This always strikes me as being one of the least intelligent of bird species that visit us. To watch a pair of them trying to banish each other from the feeding tray is nothing short of commical (note to self - must try to capture this on video!). 

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) - our garden

Monday, 26th February          Garden  :  Undisclosed Site  :  Garden

This was a quite remarkable day, because of my encounter with a Kingfisher and Barn Owl, as reported in my previous blog post.

The female Blackcap was with us again this day, and has now become a daily visitor once more.

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (female) - our garden

Sorry, but I can't resist going back to the Kingfisher from that day.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - undisclosed site

That night, the trail cams caught a Hedgehog visiting one of our two Hedgehog feeding stations. Hedgehogs have been visiting to feed on warmer nights, since the first one of the year was seen on 2nd January!

 

Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) - our garden

Tuesday, 27th February          Garden

Wren put in an appearance on this day, and this was taken from my study window, approximately 15 metres away.

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - our garden

Wednesday, 28th February          Garden

We are still seeing a male Brambling in the garden on most days.

Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) (male) - our garden

Thursday, 29th February          Melbourne Pool

On the last day of the month, it being a leap year, Lindsay decided that she wanted to try going out for a short walk. I took her to Melbourne (Derbyshire, not Australia!) where we had a quick visit to the charity shop in the hall courtyard before heading to the nearby Melbourne Pool. Lindsay didn't get very far before she needed to sit down on a convenient low wall, but it was significant progress. 

I continued along beside the pool for a little while, as I had my camera with me. There was little to photograph in the short time before I needed to return to Lindsay. Here are a couple of birds that I did photograph.

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) - Melbourne Hall

Greylag Goose (Anser anser) - Melbourne Pool

Frustratingly, I thought that I could see a Red-crested Pochard in the far distance, but it would have added a good twenty minutes to half an hour to Lindsay's time on her own if I went to investigate, so I had to ignore it.

This brings me to the end of February, and this blog post. I'm hoping that my next blog post will feature a little more in the way of non-garden observations. In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and Nature. Thank you for dropping by - - - Richard

All's Well That Ends Well - February 26th, 2024

Lindsay's recovery from her knee replacement is progressing nicely, and she now has enough confidence that she is happy for me to go out and leave her for up to three hours, provided that I'm at the end of a telephone and not too far away time-wise. In fact, she is now encouraging me to take time out.

On this day, having made sure that she was well equipped with all that she might need during my absence, I set off in the middle of the afternoon for a location that is about half an hour from our home. The weather forecast was for sunny periods with occasional showers, and this is what it turned out to be.

I am not going to divulge the name of the location that I headed to, as the regulars there do not want it to become overcrowded. 

I arrived to find just one other person on site. Like me, he was there hoping to get some photographs and had been there for about an hour without seeing anything of interest.

Soon after I arrived, a Wren made its presence known with its ridiculously loud voice for such a tiny bird.

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - undisclosed location

After I had been there for about half an hour, another gentleman arrived porting a camera. Over the next hour, I took a few photos of two of three other species of bird that came into view, mainly to check on camera settings and excercise my shutter finger.

Coot (Fulica atra) - undisclosed site

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) - undisclosed site

The person that had arrived last decided that the light had gone and, as nothing was happening, he'd depart. He had only been gone about five minutes, and I had just said to my original companion that I was going to have to head off myself in five minutes, when a Kingfisher arrived on the scene and landed on a post in the middle of the water.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - undisclosed site

I quickly messaged Lindsay to check that it was OK if I was a few minutes late - it was!

The Kingfisher left the post and flew into a tree at the edge of the water. Sadly it was partially obscured by branches, but the effect of the 'flowers' was rather attractive.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - undisclosed site

It did dive and caught a fish. I missed photographing the dive, and when it returned to the tree with the fish, my camera misfocused, so those shots were scrapped.

It then flew to a stick in the water that was nearer to our position. I'm rather pleased that the light on the water was such that the distance between the bird and the water resulted in a plain background. I realise that it might look as if the background has been 'photoshopped' out, but the only processes applied (other than a crop) were altering the 'colour balance' and the 'brightness, contrast, intensity' - the light was not good at this time!

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - undisclosed site

The bird then briefly flew to another stick in the water, but didn't stop long enough for a shot, before heading back to its original perch in the middle of the water.

 

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - undisclosed site

From there, it soon disappeared behind some distant reeds, but we didn't have to wait very long before it emerged and settled in some reeds where it was visible - albeit at quite a great distance.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - undisclosed site

It stayed there for some time before it flew, and disappeared behind reeds even further away. It was now time to head home and I was just saying goodbye to my companion when I noticed a Barn Owl, off to my left. 

We both moved to a place a few metres away where we could see it more clearly, and I managed some very distant flight shots which were just about usable

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) - undisclosed site

It then settled on a dead branch for a while.

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) - undisclosed site

I got another opportunity for flight shots, but didn't fare any better as it was at some distance and against trees, making focus difficult.

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) - undisclosed site

It next settled high in an even more distant tree, before disappearing down a path that we were going to have to take in order to get to our cars.

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) - undisclosed site

We looked out for it as we headed back to our cars, but didn't spot it.

Thus ended a visit that started off disappointingly, but ended up being one of the most enjoyable and rewarding sessions that I've had for many months.

My next blog post will probably be back to happenings in our garden, as the weather forecast is for another rather wet spell.

In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and Nature. Thank you for dropping by - - - Richard

The Second Half of September, 2022

Header image (while this post is current) - A View from Beacon Hill, Leicestershire

This post will cover the second half of September, up until the time of our departure for our stay on the Isles of Scilly. 

Friday, 16th September                   Beacon Hill ; Grace Dieu

Having been alerted to the presence of a Hornets' nest on Beacon Hill by on-line friend @Muttistopheles, I felt the need to go and take a look, as this place is not far from my home.

As I made my way to the location, which had been clearly described to me, it was good to see a Stonechat on a wall which led away from the path that I was on - the one that features on my header image while this post is current.

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) (male) - Beacon Hill

I soon found the site, but the the viewing point (unless I climbed over a wall - to be avoided at my age!) was into the light, and it seems that the Hornets were not as active as when @Muttistopheles had been there. After half an hour or so, I reckoned that I'd got enough 'in the can' to give me as good as I was going to get. Here are a few shots:-

Hornet (Vespa crabro) - Beacon Hill

As I was not very familiar with this site, I had a wander around. I did not see very much else, but it was a location with plenty of promise. The highlight of my perambulations was the sighting of a Hobby flying over.

Hobby (Falco subbuteo) (male) - Beacon Hill

The previous day, at a meeting of the Blackfordby Wildlife Group, for which I serve on the committee, I was advised of a wildlife location that is close to my home but that I have never visited. This was the grounds of Grace Dieu Priory. It seemed appropriate to call in here on the way home.

The place was fascinating, the trails extensive (and easy to get lost on!), and well worth the visit although I didn't see very much on this rather brief visit. I shall return.

part of Grace Dieu Priory ruins

fly Tachina fera - Grace Dieu

The above Tachnid fly feeds on umbellifers and waterside plants, but its larvae are parasitic - mainly on caterpillars.

Saturday, 17th September              Garden ; Saltersford Valley Country Park

We were still getting a few butterflies in the garden, with Red Admiral being the most common after the combined Whites (Large and Small). I love the added intricacy of the underside of this species over the bold markings of the upperside.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) - garden on 17th September, 2022

That afternoon I visited Saltersford Valley CP in the hope of finding a few dragonflies and, maybe, the odd damselfly.

Passing along the boardwalk, I found a few Common Darter dragonflies - all male.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (male) - Saltersford Valley CP

Round by the first 'stockaded' platform I noticed that the leaves on a tree next to the platform had been greatly eaten away, and found the culprits to be a host of small beetles. I do not know much about beetles but think that these are probably Alder Leaf Beetle - a species that is described as 'rare' in this vice-county, but sightings have mainly been close to this location.

possible Alder Leaf Beetle (Agelastica alni?) - Saltersford Valley CP

Round by the second 'stockaded' platform, a Coot was swimming nearby.

Coot (Fulica atra) - Saltersford Valley CP

On the platform itself, a pair of Common Darter were preparing to work on the next generation.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (male+female) - Saltersford Valley CP

Further on, by the large lake, a female Common Darter gave somewhat better views of this species.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (female) - Saltersford Valley CP

On the far side of this large lake, a Heron was gazing about.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - Saltersford Valley CP

On a side track, I was attempting to photogrsph hoverflies when a Migrant Hawker dragonfly flew in, and appeared to settle. I managed to find it!

hoverfly (Eristalis tenax) (female) Saltersford Valley CP

Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) (male) - Saltersford Valley CP

On my way back to my car, a distant Buzzard drew my attention with its distinctive calls.

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) - Saltersford Valley CP

As I neared the car park, I stopped to photograph a fly, and another hoverfly. This hoverfly is often referred to as the Batman Hoverfly because of the markings on its thorax.

fly (Haematobosca stimulans) - Saltersford Valley CP

hoverfly (Myathropa florea) (male) - Saltersford Valley CP

Tuesday, 20th September             somewhere in Leicestershire

My previous blog post featured this day but, just for the sake of completion, I'll put another image in of the Kingfisher!

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male)

Wednesday, 21st September            Garden

We'd had a pair of Stock Dove visiting daily through most of the summer, but more recently it had dwindled to one, and then none, so we were delighted when one turned up on this day. Unfortunately, it did not stop for long.

Stock Dove (Columba oenas) - Garden on 21st September, 2022

Friday, 23rd September                 Garden

The Dock Bug, closely related to the shieldbugs, is relatively common, but I do not recall having seen one in our garden before. This one landed on the base of the bird bath. Unfortunately, the bright sun was at totally the wrong angle, so this is a record shot.

Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) - Garden on 23rd September, 2022

 

This brings me to the end of this account as, two days later, we set off for the Isles of Scilly.

Hopefully, in about a week's time, I'll have processed enough photos to deliver Pt.1 of my account of our visit to the Isles of Scilly. In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and Nature.

Thank you for dropping by - - - Richard