6th September..... Water Trough Wagtails.

After work Friday afternoon spent an hour with the yellow wagtails. I couldn't see any for a while around the grazing cattle, but slowly one, two, then three appeared as the cattle came closer.

The cattle came up to a water trough, so did the wagtails, stayed bathing until the cattle moved on with the wagtails following and continued feeding. At least 15 seen, adults and juveniles. Stewart. 

Possible continental race 'flava'

                         

Images Copyright: Stewart Dennis.

5th September..... Wilstone Waders.

An interesting few hours at Wilstone Reservoir this morning in the sunshine but with a  chilly wind.

Spent an hour in the hide watching 2 greenshank, green sandpiper and a dunlin busily feeding together just in front of us.

 

Also among the Canada and greylag geese and black headed gulls, mallard, coot and moorhens on the spit in front of the hide were the first few wigeon of the autumn.

On the walk around the back of the reservoir good numbers of common darters.

Plus a few southern hawker dragonflies.                                                                                                                                                   Stewart.
Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

2nd September..... Yellow Wagtails continue to Dazzle.

The Yellow Wagtails still remained loyal to the cattle in the nearby fields today, with at least 10 feeding around the livestock.

5th September: This afternoon at least 6 were still accompanying the cattle as they worked their way across the field, should hopefully be around for another week or so. The early morning gathering of House Martins continues above our house on a daily basis, with c50 present today.
Don.
Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

1st September...... Yellow Wagtails & Wheatear.

A beautiful Sunday morning for a walk on this the first day of autumn, on the look out for passing migrants.

 

Close to Lee Common noticed swallows feeding around some grazing cattle and having a closer look found some passing migrants, a group of 8 plus yellow wagtails feeding at the cattle's feet, catching insects that the cattle had disturbed. Stewart.

Every September Yellow Wagtails can be found feeding amongst the cattle in the fields behind our house, the largest gathering being 30+ maybe 8 years back, with this in mind, Stewart & myself checked again in the afternoon, but drew a blank. We did come across c30 Swallows hawking insects close to the ground, with 10 House Martins above them, talking of House Martins, those feeding above our house at 7-30am, attracted a passing Swift to feed alongside them (the first I've seen as late as September).

On reaching the field at the end of the track a Wheatear sat survey for insects on the fence posts.

The hay bales making an excellent screen to photograph from, thanks Trevor.                                Don.
Images Copyright : Don Stone/Stewart Dennis.

30th August..... Mallard Family.

Had a surprise at work today, when this family group of nine ducklings & their mother turned up at the property we were working at.

Images Copyright : Tom Stone.

26th-30th August.

Sitting in the shade in the garden  on Monday afternoon, well it was over 32c, a juvenile green woodpecker landed on the lawn 5mtrs away. It had a good look around, saw me then flew over the hedge. Managed to get another look as it clung briefly to a gatepost.

Tuesday a short walk along the River Misbourne to Shardeloes Lake. Passed a few small flocks of goldfinches, both adult and juvenile feeding on the thistle heads. 20 or more rooks feeding for grubs among the grazing  sheep and panting in the heat.         Strange posture of a sunbathing heron along the bank.

At the lake a single spotted flycatcher seen and on the lake a non native bar-headed goose was with the greylag and Canada geese.

Friday, butterflies enjoying a feed from a buddleia in a Lee Common garden. Red Admiral, Painted Ladies, Tortoiseshell and Large White all feeding together.

Later a walk down Herbert's Hole, more butterflies about.

A fine Tortoiseshell & Speckled Wood.

Clouded Yellow, a migratory species.

Two Roe deer does, with their fawns in tow. Good to see maybe 25 swallows feeding low over a stubble field with around 40 house martins feeding above them. Young red kites looking for worms on the recently cultivated ground.                                                                                   Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

26th August..... House Martins.

25 House Martins were on the roof this morning gleaning insects from the tiles, doing a spot of preening, in between short eruptive burst of flight. Constantly active, never settling for long, guess they're thinking about leaving us soon for their wintering grounds in Africa.

A lone Swallow joined them.

27th August: 9 Buzzards over The Lee together gaining height on a thermal, 'til 4 headed off south west, 2 south, the others remained, 6 Swallows flew through south. A late passage of Swifts over Lee Common: 3,2 & 3 singles heading south west in 15 minutes from 5-35pm.What I like to see visual migration, one of the wonders of nature.
Don.