5th April - Elmley NNR, Kent

It was a weekend away in Kent with my daughter and a trip out to help my son-in-law get used to his new camera, so it had to be a trip to Elmley.  When we arrived it turns out that you have to pre book once again, due to trouble with toggers through the winter.  Fortunately, there were enough day tickets available so we were in and set off along the entrance track, with windows down.

It was another beautiful day, although there had been some mist and cloud along the north Kent coast early on.  Temperatures were nowhere near those of Friday and there was a fresh easterly wind.  Redshank were all around the pools sheltering amongst the grass.

Not a bird I photograph often, the Coot.

This could have been a regular Lapwing photograph, but I felt the beautiful colours in the wing deserved a close up.

We parked up, then headed down the path towards the old school building.  As we approached I scanned the one brick wall and sitting out in the sunshine was a Little Owl.

It was sheltering from the wind and enjoying the sunshine.

I walked around to see if I could get a different view.  This meant looking through branches and the wind helped to open things up.

But it was better from the original spot.

Leaving the Little Owl we walked down the path to the pools and reed bed.  There was a group of photographers looking longingly into the reeds for Bearded Tits, but it was far too windy.  Instead we had to make do with a nice male Marsh Harrier.

It was then followed by a female.

Flying into the wind meant that it was held up and showed very well.

Leaving the best until last.

We walked on, heading to the river.  A Peacock was sheltering from the wind and taking in the sunshine.

The tide was falling, but there was a good number of Mediterranean Gulls settled on the water.

At this time of year the adults look very special with their black heads and red bills and eyes.

Their calls ringing out as the gulls took to the air.

Walking back to the car park a settled Green-veined White butterfly on the blackthorn blossom.

After a comfort break we set off towards the hides.  Mediterranean Gulls passed overhead and I was more interested in the aircraft passing overhead when suddenly from the reeds this Barn Owl flew up.

It was 12.30pm, bright sunshine and a very fresh easterly wind, not conditions you would expect to see a Barn Owl flying in, but here was one and it showed so well.

As with the Marsh Harriers the wind meant the owl was held in the air which helped catching it as it flew.  The bright light also meant that I could shoot at a very high shutter speed and low ISO helping with the sharpness and focus.

Definitely some of the best photographs I have ever taken of a Barn Owl.

It dropped low over the reeds.

Then dropped down onto a mound within the reeds.

It then flew again a short distance this time and into a small bush.

From here it sat at the top of the reeds looking out across the reed bed.

As we waited to see if it would fly a Kestrel came over and hovered in front of us.

From the hide there was distant views of two Spoonbill, but more of interest were the Avocet in front of the hide.

A squabble was always something to expect.

Leaving the hide we headed back once more and the Barn Owl was still in the tree, but then took off and flew around the reeds once more.

The Elmley farm house in the background.

As we walked up the slope to the car park a Raven flew past.  It seemed to have something in its bill, but it wasn't clear what it was..

After lunch we headed back, driving down the track once again.  As we approached the first gate, gate number four there was a male Marsh Harrier flying along the rife.

Then quickly joined by a female.

The female dropped into the grass and was joined by the male, what followed appeared to be mating but it wasn't clear.  Both birds then flew off, the female carrying a stick.  There was also another female sat on the ground close to a clump of bulrush.

We were told there was the possibility of a nest here, but why were there two females?

Leaving the harriers we came across a couple of Cattle Egret, foraging around a small heard of cattle.

It has been a amazing day with great views of the two owls, the Barn Owl a real treat.  I only hope my son-in-law doesn't expect days like this every time he goes out with his new camera!

4th April - Noar Hill, Hampshire

Last night was overcast and there was still some cloud around this morning, but the cold wind of yesterday had gone.  Today was forecast to be the hottest of the year so far and as a result Ian and I agreed to meet at Noar Hill midmorning in the hope there may be some butterflies about.

As we walked up the footpath, I realised that this was probably the earliest visit here, normally it is around the middle of April, but with the weather having been so sunny we thought there might be a chance.

First stop was the chalk pit by the gate, there was nothing here though besides the song of Chiffchaff and Blackcap.  Walking up the slope there were Cowslips out, nothing like the coverage you see at its peak, but they were out.

We walked around the pits past the Juniper and Holly bushes with only a fast Peacock to record.  We were heading for the back of the reserve and the pits there.  On a sunny bank there were Bee-flies, but these were not the same species as seen at Browndown yesterday.  They were Dark-edged Bee-fly, these were Dotted Bee-fly.  This is a poor photograph, but it does show the dots on the wings that give it the name.

They were nectaring on the cowslips with their long proboscis that some thing is a sting!

The two pits at the back of the reserve were sheltered and when the sun came out so di the butterflies.  There were at least three male Brimstones and two Green-veined Whites, but they never stopped.  They were joined by a Peacock.

It took awhile but we finally managed to pin down a male Brimstone.

And I managed to catch it as it took off from the flower.

We decided to walk back to the open reserve and as we did a Holly Blue flew past, again not stopping.  We had a very nice relaxed lunch sitting on the grass amongst the few Cowslips.  Then we decided to walk around the outskirts of the reserve where there were more Brimstones, another two Green-veined Whites, a single Comma and another Holly Blue.

Coming down the side of the reserve the view across the field that takes in the Selbourne Hanger is superb.

At the main gate once more there was another Comma, but little else.  It would have been amiss if we hadn't seen a Red Kite in an area where they are numerous, so it was no surprise when one drifted over.

We made our way back on to the reserve, cloud had built up but it was still warm, but there was little butterfly action.  A Yellowhammer called from a bare tree, there was no classic song, just the "zeet" call.

We both agreed we weren't going to see the butterflies we hoped for, so decided to walk back down the slope to the cars.  As we reached the gate a Brimstone settled on a dandelion.

It was a warm day and there were butterflies to be seen, it was nice to get the Holly Blue, but frustrating they were not stopping.  There is no doubt I will be back.

3rd April - Gilkicker Point, Haslar Cemetery, Browndown South and Posbrook Floods, Hampshire

It was another sunny morning, but as I arrived on the south coast there was cloud hanging over the isle of Wight.  I met Ian close to Gilkicker Point and walked through the golf course to the development work on the old fort.  Reaching the beach there was a very fresh easterly breeze that was taking the edge off the morning sunshine.  Off shore we picked up Sandwich Terns and a single Common Tern, the first of the year.  Walking along the beach there were several Sandwich Terns fishing.

We walked along the beach and around the bushes, but there was very little about.  We could hear Song Thrush and Chiffchaff singing away in the distance but nothing that looked at all like a newly arrived migrant.

We made our way back and entertained ourselves with the ships om the Solent.  Walking back towards the cars a Swallow flew across the lake, but kept on going, heading west.  As we came across the Golf Course we could see a Fox sat on the grass.

It stood up and walked towards us, another tame male dog Fox.  A yawn!

Some nice portraits as we were able to get close.

It trotted past us, seemingly unconcerned, but keeping an eye on us.

It then paused on the fairway and as it did so another Swallow flew through, this time heading east.

Some more portraits.

It kept its eye on us as we walk away.

Next stop was just down the the road at the Royal Navy Haslar Cemetery.  Early spring one of the earliest orchids to flower can be seen in really good numbers.  We walked in and Ian led the way to the area where they are seen.  However we were a little early, there was n't any sign of the orchids, although I did find this one that was trying to flower, but looks like it has fallen foul to a lawn mower.

We are assured that the area is not mown, so it could be that they are mown while the orchids are still to emerge.  It will  probably take another couple of weeks for them to emerge in quantity.

From Haslar we drove another short distance to Browndown South, this would be my fourth visit this spring, the target being Adders, the sun though had disappeared behind a bank of cloud, not a good sign.

Walking onto Browndown a female Linnet was posing nicely on top of the gorse.

The wind was chilling and without the sunshine it was not a good environment for the Adders to appear.  As we looked in the usual spots amongst the bracken and sheltered from the wind we came across this, a Dark-edged Bee Fly.

As we strolled along the paths the sun started to emerge and there were spots where it felt quite warm.  Then, finally Ian found an Adder, a male spread out amongst the dead grass and bracken.

A close up of the head, beneath a branch of bramble.

We walked around again and went back to the cars to pick up lunch.  Coming back we were told where there was a couple basking so we headed back, the sun was now out, but the breeze was keeping the temperature down.  We did find another male and it was quite active, the tongue flashing out.

Then, we think it was down to the wind, it turned quickly and shot off into the gorse.  We searched some more, but with out any luck, so decided to try one more location, we were heading back to Bridge Street car park.

We set off down the canal path and immediately came across a Green-veined White butterfly that didn't stop.  A little further and there was a Peacock and Comma, but again avoided the camera.

Earlier in the week I had seen six Glossy Ibis drop onto Posbrook Floods, and this afternoon there was a report of nine on the floods.  As we walked towards the floods we saw three feeding in the marshy area below Posbrook.  Two together followed by a single

Scanning across the floods there were three more, but we couldn't get the count up to nine, we also couldn't find the drake Garganey that apparently was still around.  With no sign of any hirundines and only Chiffchaffs singing from the bushes we decided to head back.

I finally had managed to catch up with the Adders, but it wasn't the sort of views I have seen in past years.  The blocking weather continues, but tonight there is the chance of showers that may force some movement to drop down.

1st April - Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire

Last year I made a trip into Winchester to see the Peregrines around the cathedral.  The Peregrines were back according the Winchester Cathedral web site, so I was hoping for some action like I experienced last year.

Another beautiful day with blue skies and sunshine, everything looked perfect, the big question though was would the falcons turn up?  The answer to this was no.

I was left watch the feral Pigeons perched on the brick work where the Peregrines should be

Herring Gulls sitting on the roof of the cathedral

The only raptor seen a distant Buzzard.

And Jackdaws collecting nesting material in the grounds of the cathedral.

The web cams on the web site are working and looking at then ensting box there isn't any sign of any activity at all.  Last year the resident female was attacked and killed by a younger female.  She paired up with the resident male, but were unsuccessful, the eggs laid never hatching.  It would seem that this inexperienced female is having difficulty again this year