RSPB Minsmere

On Tuesday the 21st I went to RSPB Minsmere in hope of seeing the Semipalmated Sandpiper. I started by heading towards the pond were I saw a Water Vole. We then headed to the North Wall were a Golden Plover flying over as well as lots of Sand Martins that were flying over head. As I was walking towards the sea a great surprise was a pair of Great White Egrets flying out roughly behind the Wildlife Lookout which came as a shock for me as I was not expecting to see them there.

I then got to the beach were I had my first ever Graylings which is a small butterfly that has very good camouflage when its siting on the ground. As I was walking along I had my eyes to the sea were a flock of about twenty Wigeon went past then two Sandwich Terns flew through followed by a singular Oystercatcher there was also a lovely male Stonechat in the bushes

                                                                            Stonechat.
We then headed into East Hide were there was lots of Avocets, a few Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, a Hobby over the back, some Black Tailed Godwit and three Greenshanks that flew in calling. There was a few of the feral Barnacle Geese sitting on the scrape.

We then headed for the Sluice however there wasn't anything in the bushes but there was lots of House Martins and Swallow there was also four Kestrels flying around each other.

We then walked into the South Hide were I was put on to the Semipalmated Sandpiper within a minute. This was my 272th lifer I then meet David Walsh and his friend in the hide. Here he showed me the differences between Common and Spotted Redshank as there was lots of them around the scrape there was also a large group of Common Terns and Little Gulls with some juveniles in it.

                                                                     Semipalmated Sandpiper.

We then walked to Wildlife lookout where we had a Brown Hawker, a Migrant Hawker, a Marsh Harrier and a surprise Greater Silver Diving Beetle Larva which I almost stepped on. I wasn't sure what it was at first then David started telling us about it saying it is poisonous and squeaks if it is touched.

                                                          Greater Silver Diving Beetle Larva

                                                                  Migrant Hawker
We then walked into the Wildlife Lookout where there was some Green sandpipers, a Greenshank, Juvenile Great Black-backed Gulls, and a very odd Ruff that had a white head and brown body. this was a nice looking bird. Then a Great White Egret dropped in behind the hide however we were looking into the sun but it was still nice as it was a lot closer than the last two.

We left the hide and started walking to the North Wall to look for Bee Wolfs on the way we had four+ Willow Emerald Damselflies which David put in his scope that made them look incredible. We then walked to the North Wall were I saw my first Bee Wolfs. David told us that Bee Wolfs catch five Bees and drag them down there hole then once there is five they will lay one egg and they cover the hole over and leave the eggs to hatch and feed on the bees.

We then headed to Island Mere where we had another Great White Egret and some Bearded Tits.

                                                                 Great White Egret.

We then headed to Weselton Heath where we saw more Graylings six Stone Curlew four Woodlark and a Dartford Warbler.

Woodlark

                                                                             Grayling

                                                                       Dartford Warbler
 In total I saw 67 species of bird on a great day out Minsmere is definitely one of my favourite reserves.

                                                                 

RSPB Dungeness 7/8/18

Today I  went to RSPB Dungeness to see what I would be able to see.

We started by going into the visitor centre to see what had been seen recently because this was my first here. From the visitor centre there was a Common Sandpiper, Egyptian Goose and some juvenile Herring Gulls.

                                                     Common Sandpiper

We then went to the dipping pond where there was constant Common Tern flying over I also found my first ever Grass Snake and my first Marsh Frogs which there was lots of in the pond.

                                                     Common Tern

                                                                      Grass Snake.

Marsh Frog

 We then walked to the Firth Hide. Where two Black Terns were reported. I walked in and there was three Common Sandpiper, a Lesser-Black Backed Gull, a bunch of Common Terns, a distant Yellow Wagtail flew over and five Ringed Plover and a Lapwing. At one point all the terns and Gulls flew up and then when they all landed I found the Black Tern which must of flew in when all the gulls and terns were up. This was a year tick for me which put me at 201 for the year.

                                                                           Lapwing

                                                                           Ringed Plover

                                                                             Black Tern.                                                                    We then went to the next to hide however there wasn't much however there was a juvenile Water Vole by the door of the hide.
We then went to the Christmas Dell hide where there was just some Great Crested Grebe and a Little Grebe. On the way to the way to the Denge Marsh Hide I found a Lesser Emperor which was a new dragonfly species for me.
When we arrived at the Denge Marsh Hide there was a Blue Tailed Damselflies which was another new species for me. When we walked into the hide there was four Great White Egret about ten Common Snipe and a Green Sandpiper. After a few minutes another two Great White Egrets flew in and there was six sitting next to each other.
We then walked back round to the visitor centre and on the way I found another Grass Snake.
Thanks for reading. I highly encourage anyone who hasn't been to go to RSPB Dungeness in Kent.

Fudge Duck dip at Abberton Reservoir

Today I headed to Essex to hopefully see my first ever Ferruginous Duck because one had been seen from the Bay Hide. This was my first ever visit to Abberton Reservoir and as you can tell I was unsuccessful in seeing the Ferruginous Duck however it was still a fun trip. We started of by heading to the Island hide. We saw lots of Goldfinch on the way to the hide. When we arrived in the hide there was a large group of Starling in front of the hide there was also lots of Yellow Wagtail, a few Stock Doves, Cormorants, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose and massive groups of unidentifiable wildfowl on the other side which were too far and in a heat haze which made them unidentifiable. As I was about to leave the hide a pair of Garganey flew past towards the Gwen Hide.

We then walked around to the Island Hide on the way I found a Common Whitethroat. As I walked in there was a large amount of people who thought they had it however it was just an odd Tufted Duck. There was not much in this hide but another Garganey flew around back to the Island hide. We then went around to the Gwen Hide on the way there someone pointed a Barnacle goose which would of most likely been a feral bird.

I the Gwen hide I saw all the usual bird that are on the reserve plus a year tick of an odd looking Red-Crested Pochard. This means my year list is now on 200 species. We also had Egyptian Goose and a surprise Pintail which were new for the day.

We then drove round to the causeway where the Great White Egrets are however we only saw Little Egret, Grey Heron, a Lapwing and a Lesser Black Backed Gull as well as the regulars.

Otmoor 28/07/18

Yesterday I went to Otmoor near Oxford with my dad. We arrived at about 09:30. This was my first visit to Otmoor so I was very exited. I headed down the roman road track in search of butterflies and dragon flies. It  was incredible I saw loads. We saw Southern Hawker, Ruddy Darter and Black Darter. Then the butterflies I saw were Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Green-veined White, Purple Hairstreak, Speckled Wood, Brown Hairstreak, Painted Lady and I found a Purple Emperor which is a very rare butterfly for Otmoor. This was there third of the year and the next record before them was five years ago.

 I then headed along the greenways scanning looking for Common Crane how ever I could not find the pair. Their Chick was sadly predated after about  six weeks which is the longest the Otmoor chick has ever lasted. When walking along I had a female Marsh Harrier, male Reed Bunting, Grey Heron, Common Buzzard, Reed Warbler, Blue Tit and Great Tit. I got to the Turtle Dove feeding station and to my delight there was an adult which I accidently flushed it then it flew into the bushes. I then walk back along the roman road to get back to the car park where I saw a family flock of Long-Tailed Tits and a female Bullfinch. I really enjoyed Otmoor and would recommend a visit to any one who has never been  before.

My British Life List

1)Brent Goose
2)Red-Breasted Goose
3)Canada Goose
4)Barnacle Goose
5)Snow Goose
6)Greylag Goose
7)Taiga Bean Goose
8)Pink-Footed Goose
9)Tundra Bean Goose
10)White-Fronted Goose
11)Lesser White Fronted Goose
12)Mute Swan
13)Bewick's Swan
14)Whooper Swan
15)Egyptian Goose
16)Shelduck
17)Mandarin Duck
18)Garganey
19)Shoveler
20)Gadwall
21)Wigeon
22)Mallard
23)Pintail
24)Teal
25)Green-Winged Teal
26)Red-Crested Pochard
27)Pochard
28)Tufted Duck
29)Scaup
30)Eider
31)Velvet Scoter
32)Common Scoter
33)Long-Tailed Duck
34)Goldeneye
35)Corncrake
36)Smew
37)Hooded Merganser
38)Goosander
39)Red-Breasted Merganser
40)Capercaillie
41)Black Grouse
42)Ptarmigan
43)Red Grouse
44)Red-Legged Partridge
45)Grey Partridge
46)Quail
47)Pheasant
48)Red-Throated Diver
49)Black-Throated Diver
50)Great Northern Diver
51)Fulmur
52)Manx Shearwater
53)Balearic Shearwater
54)Little Grebe
55)Red-Necked Grebe
56)Great Crested Grebe
57)Slavonian Grebe
58)Black-Necked Grebe
59)White Stork
60)Spoonbill
61)Bittern
62)American Bittern
63)Green Heron
64)Cattle Egret
65)Grey Heron
66)Purple Heron
67)Great White Egret
68)Little Egret
69)Gannet
70)Shag
71)Cormorant
72)Osprey
73)Honey-Buzzard
74)Golden Eagle
75)Sparrowhawk
76)Goshawk
77)Marsh Harrier
78)Hen Harrier
79)Red Kite
80)Rough-Legged Buzzard
81)Buzzard
82)Water Rail
83)Spotted Crake
84)Moorhen
85)Coot
86)Crane
87)Stone-Curlew
88)Oystercatcher
89)Black-Winged Stilt
90)Avocet
91)Lapwing
92)Golden Plover
93)Grey Plover
94)Ringed Plover
95)Little Ringed Plover
96)Kentish Plover
97)Dotterel
98)Whimbrel
99)Curlew
100)Bar-Tailed Godwit
101)Black-Tailed Godwit
102)Turnstone
103)Knot
104)Ruff
105)Stilt Sandpiper
106)Curlew Sandpiper
107)Temmink's Stint
108)Sanderling
109)Dunlin
110)Purple Sandpiper
111)Little Stint
112)Pectoral Sandpiper
113)Long-Billed Dowitcher
114)Woodcock
115)Jack Snipe
116)Snipe
117)Wilson's Phalarope
118)Red-Necked Phalarope
119)Common Sandpiper
120)Green Sandpiper
121)Lesser Yellowlegs
122)Redshank
123)Marsh Sandpiper
124)Wood Sandpiper
125)Spotted Redshank
126)Greenshank
127)Kittiwake
128)Sabine's Gull
129)Bonaparte's Gull
130)Black-Headed Gull
131)Little Gull
132)Mediterranean Gull
133)Common Gull
134)Great Black-Backed Gull
135)Glaucous Gull
136)Herring Gull
137)Caspian Gull
138)Yellow-Legged Gull
139)Lesser Black-Backed Gull
140)Sandwich Tern
141)Elegant Tern
142)Little Tern
143)Roseate Tern
144)Common Tern
145)Arctic Tern
146)White-Winged Black Tern
147)Black Tern
148)Great Skua
149)Pomarine Skua
150)Arctic Skua
151)Little Auk
152)Guillemot
153)Razorbill
154)Black Guillemot
155)Puffin
156)Rock Dove
157)Stock Dove
158)Woodpigeon
159)Turtle Dove
160)Collared Dove
161)Cuckoo
162)Barn Owl
163)Tawny Owl
164)Little Owl
165)Short-Eared Owl
166)Nightjar
167)Swift
168)Kingfisher
169)Bee-Eater
170)Hoopoe
171)Wryneck
172)Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
173)Great Spotted Woodpecker
174)Green Woodpecker
175)Kestrel
176)Merlin
177)Hobby
178)Peregrine
179)Ring-Necked Parakeet
180)Red-Backed Shrike
181)Golden Oriole
182)Jay
183)Magpie
184)Chough
185)Jackdaw
186)Rook
187)Carrion Crow
188)Raven
189)Waxwing
190)Coal Tit
191)Marsh Tit
192)Willow Tit
193)Blue Tit
194)Great Tit
195)Penduline Tit 
196)Bearded Tit
197)Woodlark
198)Skylark
199)Sand Martin
200)Swallow
201)House Martin
202)Cetti's Warbler
203)Long-Tailed Tit
204)Willow Warbler
205)Chiffchaff
206)Iberian Chiffchaff
207)Wood Warbler
208)Great Reed Warbler
209)Sedge Warbler
210)Reed Warbler
211)Marsh Warbler
212)Grasshopper Warbler
213)Savi's Warbler
214)Blackcap
215)Garden Warbler
216)Barred Warbler
217)Lesser Whitethroat
218)Whitethroat
219)Dartford Warbler
220)Firecrest
221)Goldcrest
222)Wren
223)Nuthatch
224)Treecreeper
225)Starling
226)Ring Ouzel
227)Blackbird
228)Fieldfare
229)Redwing
230)Song Thrush
231)Mistle Thrush
232)Spotted Flycatcher
233)Robin
234)Nightingale
235)Pied Flycatcher
236)Black Redstart
237)Redstart
238)Whinchat
239)Stonechat
240)Wheatear
241)Dipper
242)House Sparrow
243)Tree Sparrow
244)Dunnock
245)Yellow Wagtail
246)Grey Wagtail
247)Pied Wagtail
248)Meadow Pipit
249)Tree Pipit
250)Water Pipit
251)Rock Pipit
252)Chaffinch
253)Brambling
254)Hawfinch
255)Bullfinch
256)Greenfinch
257)Twite
258)Linnet
259)Mealy Redpoll
260)Lesser Redpoll
261)Parrot Crossbill
262)Scottish Crossbill
263)Common Crossbill
264)Goldfinch
265)Siskin
266)Corn Bunting
267)Yellowhammer
268)Little Bunting
269)Reed Bunting
270)Snow Bunting
271)Rose-coloured Starling
272)Semipalmated Sandpiper
273)Pallid Harrier
274)Grey Phallarope

Hello and welcome to my new blog on here I will be creating posts about my exciting adventures looking for wildlife in and out of the UK.