Parrot Deja Vu

While I was sorting out my moth traps and photographing a couple of the more interesting "first for the year" moths I heard a loud, unusual but some how distantly familiar sound. When I went out side a fairly large longish tailed parrot flipped out of the Silver Birch tree in the side garden and disappeared. I hadn't identified it and though that that would be the last I saw of it.

Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)

A couple of hours later Pam asked me what the noise in the garden was and I immediately recognised the call of the parrot. It was in a different tree and this time stayed there while we looked and photographed it. I know the winds have been quite strong from the south east but I hadn't expected an Australian visitor. It's three and a half years and 10,500 miles since I last saw a Crimson Rosella and the two photos bear an uncanny resemblance, although today's one doesn't feature a Gum (Eucalyptus) Tree.

This one was taken Near Melbourne, at Grant's Picnic site in Sherbrooke Forest, 14/10/2007. I must admit that I was not aware that Rosellas are often kept in captivity, certainly in Australia they become very tame at picnic sites and other place where they can benefit from human activity.

Well, it's only a hobby

Those people who don't have the "birding" obsession probably think of it as "just a hobby". Any one married or the partner of a birder will realise the vast under statement that this is!

The build up of Hobbies in the Stour Valley during the period of the end of April through May can be spectacular and the photos from the Grove Ferry regulars in the last week or so have been fabulous.

Rather than just visit the Grove Ferry end of the Stodmarsh NNR I parked at Stodmarsh and walked from there. The foot path passes through some great habitat and eventually arrives at the Marsh Hide. Nothing of great value here, some very noisy Greylags, belligerent Shelducks intent on chasing of Tufted Ducks and a Little Egret feeding in front of the hide.

As the clouds gave way to some weak sunshine Hobbies could be seen distantly hunting over the marsh. At this time of year there probably aren't enough Dragonflies to keep then satisfied, but the air is full of St Marks flies and these probably are a major part of their diet. I bumped into David Feast (the former warden), and it was from "his" eponymous hide that I got some fabulous views of the Hobbies as the patrolled the air over the reed beds.

When there were no Hobbies to see there were Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers to listen to and a pair of stunning Great Crested Grebes to watch as they gently courted, no full blooded displaying today.

Every now and again a Hobby, or at times several Hobbies, came quite close to the hide and at times it was possible to make out that they had caught larger prey.

Although there were quite a few butterflies around there was no repeat of the Painted Lady slaughter I witnessed one morning at St Margaret's in May 2009.

As well as the Grebes a handsome pair of Pochards was feeding right in front of the hide. The female was very active, continually diving.

The male, on the other hand spent much of the time sleeping, but did wake up for his photo opportunity.

I continued to snap away at the Hobbies, and thoroughly enjoyed watching their energetic acrobatics in the air.

I did look at each of the hunting Falcons carefully, and although there was a Kestrel in the air with then at one time there was no sign any a Red-footed Falcon, always on the wish list in spring when watching Hobbies at Stodmarsh.

I guess that's why they call it the Blues

A walk along the old tramway below the N.T. White Cliffs car park was somewhat more productive than on Sunday afternoon when I saw not a single butterfly.

Wall Butterfly (Lasiommata megera)

Near the top of the slope I saw the only Wall of the walk. They often perch on bare areas or bits of white rock or chalk. Although not our most colourful butterfly I've always liked the camouflaging underwing pattern. Unfortunately it is no longer as common as it was when I was a fledgling naturalist.

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)

The first Dingy Skipper I saw was on the path down from the car-park, but it disappeared quickly. Near to the area the Wall was flying I saw another that landed near by. It was a rather tatty individual, with chunks out of each wing.

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus)

The real gem of the early season butterflies on the chalk is the Adonis Blue. I only saw one or two (was the one one the way back the same one as the one on the way down?).

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)

There were three patches where two or more Dingy Skippers were chasing each other around. I don't know if my eyes are getting worse, but I found following then in flight difficult today, and I had to concentrate hard to find them landed. I was pleased that after the first one, those that I found were in good condition.

Small Blue (Cupido minimus)

At the beginning of the tramway walk I saw one Small Blue, but one it flew I lost it and failed to refind it. At the end of the grassy area, in a very sheltered patch there was a small colony of this beautiful little butterfly. Somehow when they fly they look very blue, but not so when they are perched.

Small Blue (Cupido minimus)

I think that the mixture of the pale blue underwing, very like a small Holly Blue, and the brownish upperwing, dusted blue, react together as it flies with rapid wing beats to look much brighter in flight than when resting.

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines)

There seem to be larger than usual numbers of orange tips around this year and today was no exception.

Small Blue (Cupido minimus)

The bluish dusting is most apparent near the body of the Butterfly. I'm not sure when the specific scientific name "Cupido" comes from, although as in most blues the males are very attentive to the females.

Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus)

Walking back up I again came across a single Adonis Blue, possibly the same individual as an hour earlier on the way down. The black lines through the white border, that distinguish it from Common Blues, are very obvious on this butterfly.

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)

Another perfect, fresh Dingy Skipper was summing itself at the top of the slope. I didn't count the Dingy Skippers today, but they seemed to be fairly widespread. This area of grassland seems to enjoy a small mini climate, sheltered and warmed by the heat from the ferry car parks below and reflected from the cliffs that form the back drop.

Deep in the Undergrowth something rattled

Walking round the Paddock today, in that horrible NE wind, I didn't really expect to find anything surprising and I wasn't disappointed. There were quite a few Common Whitethroats singing, and in the central scrub a Lesser Whitethroat was rattling away.

I always find Lesser Whitethroats difficult birds to photograph. They spend most of their time buried in the bushes, only occasionally showing themselves. I wasn't that surprised when I looked at the bird sitting out near the song of the Lesser Whitethroat to find it was a Chaffinch. They are plentiful around here and often sit at the top of the trees to sing their song.

The rattle was still going near by and from the other side of the tree I could see (and manage a blurred photo of) the Lesser Whitethroat. Perhaps this one would be more obliging.

Even in the twigs with few leaves it was still difficult to manoeuvre a position where the bird was in the open.

Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curraca)

You can almost hear the energetic song, first a little warble, not unlike a Common Whitethroat and then concluding with a rather undistinguished rattle that has been compared to a Cirl Bunting. It is strange that when you find these birds in eastern France, or further east in Europe, the starting warble is the predominant element of the song and the rattle either minimal or even non-existent.

There was a nearby Common Whitethroat and I had the impression that the two birds were singing almost in tandem, as if each song spurred on the other. The darkish mask distinguishes the lesser from the common.

I did manage a few photos as it worked it's way through the bush I was sitting by. Of course with the thistles, stinging nettles and plenty of reminders that the ground is grazed by horses, it wasn't the most comfortable seat in the world.

I hope it performs as well next time I'm there, hopefully when there isn't a near gale force wind. The name Lesser Whitethroat was given to Sylvia curraca in 1787, by John Latham, a physician from Dartford who also discovered the Dartford Warbler. AT the time, and until recently, it was assumed that the two Whitethroat species were their closest relatives, but in fact the Lesser Whitethroat is more closely related to some of the Sylvia Warblers from the Mediterranean, Africa and Arabia, such as the Orphean Warbler and Yemen Warbler. This group is variable, but all show the contrasting dark mask,

Knee deep in Blackbirds.

I mentioned the antics of Dunnocks the other day. They were at it again this morning.

This pair seem to use the far side of the "top pond" for their displaying area, not a very convenient site for me. You can see the pose as she lifts her tail and displays her cloaca. The male lent forward and then dashed at her, pecking at her most delicate spot!

While I was watching this a Holly Blue was touring the garden, and just for a change actually opened it's wing while still.

The Blackbirds are extremely busy gathering food for their first broods of the year. Several are using the lawn (a bit of an exaggeration of the stat of our grass!) to feed on. I'm not sure how many, but it's at least three.

I don't have any problems identifying this one, but the others all look the same to me at this stage of the proceedings. Later in the season, as they get worn out, sometimes the wear and tear on their feathers makes it possible to pick out individuals.

The series of warm springs must surely have made the job of breeding s lot easier for our resident birds. Blackbirds have several broods each year, and I have a theory (doesn't only apply to Blackbirds). First BTO research has shown that, as Sparrowhawk numbers have increased they have had no noticeable affect on the population of small birds. So how is that possible. If Blackbirds were their only prey item, and in fact they are around fourth favourite, I still don't think that it would necessarily reduce their numbers. There are about 4.6 million pairs of Blackbirds in the country (BTO data). As the weather has been good many will have three or even four broods. To maintain the population on 9.2 million have to survive to breed the next year. If Sparrowhawks were the only cause of death, then the surplus Blackbirds far exceeds the food needed to maintain the Sparrowhawk population.

But of course their are lots of other prey items for Sparrowhawks, and by weight the Woodpigeon is one of the main ones, and their population is very high. Blackbirds, like all birds have other pressures on their populations, and the two worst are both man made. Cars and traffic and of course domestic cats. We hear much nonsense about the danger to our song birds caused by Sparrowhawks, when in fact they are natural predators that have evolved with their prey species, unlike the feline killing machines (an alien species to our environment) and cars, that give birds not chance to escape because of their speed.

The Little Female turned up very early tonight, just about 9 pm, so it wasn't even properly dark. I'd set up for her arrival and even had my camera with a telephoto zoom with me, which was a bit unnecessary as she was only 2 meters away!.

It did mean I could get some pictures of her claws, which shows why Badgers are so good at digging.