Wednesday 21st June 2017

Well, that's it then, the nights will start drawing in again! When I mentioned this to my wife she called me some rather peculiar names - no sense of humour there!
What a HOT day!
Took a trip to Stodmarsh today with my brother which was most enjoyable. 2 Turtle Doves seen by Red Lion public house, On the reserve a Banded Demoiselle just off the carpark towards the alder wood. A few Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard but not seen, 1 Hobby, a few Marsh Harriers around and we did witness a food pass which I failed to photograph. Plenty of mini beasts including at least 5 Commas 10 plus Red Admiral, 3 Peacocks, and an absolute plethora of Meadow Browns. The Reed Bed Hide held 2 Green Sandpipers, A basking Terrapin, Reed and Sedge Warblers, a few Bearded Tits calling and showing, and some cute young Mallard ducklings. Grove Ferry end added a few bits to the list with 4 Black Tailed Godwits from the ramp and 2 Norfolk Hawkers close to David Feast Hide. Just as we were leaving we found an Emerald Damselfly. We also found at Grove end a very aptly named Grove Snail.

 

 Banded Demoiselle

Tiger Crane Fly



 Emerald Damselfly

 Green Sandpiper

 Grove Snail

 Hover Fly

 Mallard

 Norfolk Hawker

 Reed Warbler

Turtle Dove



Tuesday 20th June 2017

Another very quiet day at RSPB Dungeness. Only 2 Hobbys seen, 2 male Marsh Harriers and 1 female, no food passing or any signs of nesting behaviour which is a bit worrying. The Egyptian Goose pair with 1 gosling was in front of Firth hide and another adult on its usual island seen from the VC just left of the Tern (Herring Gull) raft. Lack of much activity found me looking at all kinds of mini beasts today including a hasty Woolly Bear caterpillar and a vibrant female Black Tailed Skimmer. I even took a rare picture of a flower today, I am quite impressed with the bright but delicate Scarlet Pimpernel. Here are a few pics taken today.

 Female Black-Tailed Skimmer

 

 Egyptian Geese

 

Bluebottle

Banded Hoverfly -  Sryphus Ribesii

 Woolly Bear - Garden Tiger Moth

 Red Admiral

 Scarlet Pimpernel

Yum Yum, lunchtime



Friday 16th June 2017

Back down to Dungeness today. Hobby numbers have dropped a little today maybe 6 or so. 2 Marsh Harriers quartering but not showing any sign of feeding nesting females. Plenty of damsels and dragons of all shapes and sizes, butterfly numbers should have been better but it was a little blustery. Just a few pics including a nice female Emerald Damselfly. One cuckoo was calling and showing well.

 Peacock caterpillar

 Emerald Damselfly

Green Woodpecker

 

 3 Pictures of  Black Tail Skimmer



Thursday 15th June 2017

Managed to get to Stodmarsh today at last for a few hours. I was hoping to pick up Turtle Dove and Treecreeper but failed on both attempts. Lots of dragonflys around and some butterflys, I only saw 1 hobby, but also 2 Marsh Harriers while trundling about at Stoddy end. Went into Reed Bed Hide where 3 Redshanks were showing, 3 more Marsh Harriers, 2 Red Kites flew over and a very showy Water Rail quite close.

 Marsh Harrier

 Red Kite

 Red Kite

 Comma

 Clouded Border

5 Shots of Water Rail