5th October - RHS Wisley, Surrey

My cataract surgery went well and almost two weeks in I am climbing the walls.  So what to do, I can't use the camera or my binoculars until the end of the week, but I can go out and I can drive.  So on a stunningly beautiful October dau we decided to head back to the RHS gardens at Wisley.

After the obligatory arrival coffee we walked in through the main gates and were greeted by a stunning vista of Michaelmas Daisies.

Looking even more impressive close up.

Colours varied from pale blues and yellows to the deep oranges, but the colours that were so vivid and covered in bees were those at the purple end of the spectrum.

Just beyond the daisies was a pond, but this had dried up in the drought and you were left with a colourful Cherry Tree in the middle of green.

While the majority of the trees were still sporting green leaves there were a few starting to show autumn colours.  This Narrow-leaved Ash Tree stood proud in the middle of the lawns and it looked very healthy showing no signs of ash die back at all.

Here a large Maple starting to show the characteristic red leaves of autumn.

Michaelmas Daisies dominated the borders and beds, providing lots of colour, probably more than was seen during the summer.

Over the summer we have developed an interest in succulents and cacti and have managed to grow quite a few of these impressive plants.  As a result we spent some time in the Glasshouse with some impressive specimens.

This is a Golden Barrel Cactus, or Echinocadus to give it it's scientific name, I love the patterns these can create when bunched together.

And this the Agave, the cacti from which Tequila is made.  From this angle looking like something from 'Stranger Things'.

And Aloe from which we get the cooling and healing gel, Aloe Vera.

The surgery has been literally eye opening.  All my fears prior to the operation dispelled and after the first day of ever so bright lights my vision has settled down and I do not need to use glasses for most of my activities.  One thing most noticeable is the brightness.  I know we are have exceptional weather at present, but everything is so bright and the colours are so vivid.  I never appreciated how bad my eyesight actually was.

This new sensory experience was demonstrated superbly when we stopped by the Trials area and came across so many forms of Celosia Argentea, other wise known as Plumed Cockscomb, or Silver Cock's Comb.

These are a herbaceous plant of tropical origin from Africa.  The plant can be annuals or some perennial and they have to be in bright sunshine to thrive.  They are known for their bright colours and this was definitely on show here at Wisley.

The vivid colours can include shades of orange, red, purple, yellow and cream.  An interesting fact, the leaves and flowers are edible and are grown for such use particularly in west Africa and Southeast Asia. Celosia argentea var. argentea or "Lagos spinach" is one of the main boiled greens in West Africa, where it is known as soko yòkòtò (Yoruba) or farar áláyyafó

We were so lucky with the weather, the temperature very much like a normal summer's day.  Our weather this year has been bizarre.  So we sat and had an ice cream and enjoyed the afternoon sunshine highlighting the surrounding trees.

It was great to be able to get out and enjoy both the weather and the beautiful gardens at Wisley, one disappointment though was the lack of butterflies.  I only saw one and predictably that was a male Clouded Yellow!

All being well I will be back out birding by the end of this week.

22nd September - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

 I had grand plans this morning, but then couldn't face the drive and felt like I needed to be around people I knew, so I headed back to Titchfield Haven.  

At the cabin there was a Water Rail at the base of the reeds on the opposite side of the river from the cabin deck.

It was another lovely day, clear blue skies and a crystal clear sea at high tide.  I walked from the cabin to the viewing point where there was a Wigeon on the river.  They are still in eclipse plumage and a few are starting to come back for the winter.  Scattered around the river were fourteen Wigeon.

There wasn't any sign of the waders on the high tide roost and as I said the sea was so calm.  Here an immature Black-headed Gull on the water.

Just on the edge of Southampton Water there was a small raft of fourteen Eider, one or two males in breeding plumage.

Looking east there were calls coming from the Rainbow buoy, two immature Sandwich Terns.

I went on to the reserve, interestingly no Clouded Yellows around the entrance like there were yesterday.  From the Meon Shore hide there was a single Snipe feeding off the heavy vegetation of Snipe Island.

Like the sea the water on the scrape it was still and providing some quality reflections.  A Lapwing was on the edge of the small island in front of the hide.

Preening to show of the orange red under tail feathers.

It moved out into the water and you had the reflection and the shadow of the Lapwing on the water.

Also on the small island were several Teal, all in eclipse or juvenile birds.  This a juvenile bird showing a pale orange wash on the breast.

Here male and female. the male the bird at the back with the darker cap.  The female in the foreground.  One thing that remains through the eclipse plumage stage is the green speculum.  This is a lot larger in the male than the female.

A small warbler flew across in front of the hide and settled in the bulrushes in front of the hide.  A few reeds moving about gave away its presence and eventually it showed for a photograph.  When I looked at this on the computer I began to consider Aquatic Warbler, but this would have had more obvious contrasting stripes on the back, the pale stripes on the Aquatic are yellowy in colour and there is a pale yellowy crown stripe.  So I am afraid it is but a Sedge Warbler.

Shoveler are showing signs of coming out of the eclipse plumage, but still have some way to go.  This drake came to the small island to preen.

Front on shows off the bill.

As in the Teal the speculum colour remains, here in the Shoveler a lovely light blue.

Again showing off the bill that gives it the name.

And of course the proverbial wing flap.

Mediterranean Gull numbers built up through the morning.  Here all adult birds settled on the scrape.

This adult bathing in the freshwater and showing off the lovely all white plumage.

I love the way the water ripples around the gull in the water.

Black-tailed Godwits were scattered around the scrape and would occasionally come closer to the hide, this one coming down close to the small island.

A little late one decided to roost on the island.

There were a few Redshank about, this one close on the right hand side of the hide.

I love the symmetry of the birds and their reflection in the water.

And of course there were plenty of Oystercatcher which were gradually returning to the beach as the tide dropped.

The reeds that were in front of th hide have been cut and this provides some open water.  A Water Rail moves between the right and left hand side of the hide.  Not a bird that likes to be out in the open for too long you have be alert for it appearing as it dashes across.  I was lucky this time.

Because of their elusiveness they are another of those birds that everyone wants to photograph.

There were six Snipe showing either around the island or by the reeds, here two feeding off the island.

The trick is to try and catch the snipe as they fly in from the far left hand bank.

Two bathing in front of Snipe island.

There a re a lot of Canada Geese on the scrapes, counts of over seven hundred have been reported, they are everywhere and I can't admit to liking them, they are a nuisance.  But two decided to take up residence just off the small island in front of the hide, and I was taken by the colours and reflection of the two.

Some wing stretching.

And my favourite with almost perfect symmetry.

There had been about half a dozen Buzzards high above the reserve up the valley, but we were treated to one coming low over the scrape and away towards the West Hide.  It put all the small waders up, the Canada Geese not bothered, we are going to need a White-tailed Eagle to move them on!

Having seen the Water Rail go from right to left we were all waiting for it to return.  Eventually it showed but went into the clump of bulrushes.  It was just visible and we watched and waited for it to emerge, which it did and dashed quickly back to the right hand side and into the reeds.

It was almost closing time and the main event had just happened.  I decided to head back to the car and home.

As I referred to in yesterday's post I was due cataract surgery later this week and this will stop me from birding for a while.  As I write this I am three days into recovery and it is quite exciting to be able to see so clearly without any glasses.  Sitting in the garden over the last few days I have been able to pick out high flying Buzzards and Sparrowhawks, something i would never have been able to do, even with glasses.  It will only be a few weeks and then I will be back.