London Wetland Centre, Barnes

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Headed out to the Wetland Centre as a compromise getting out/attempting to keep daughter #1 entertained trip - she gets to watch me take photos, I get to watch her squirt water at targets in return. We headed through to Wildside, and it was obvious straight away that the summer migrants were here in number. Lots of reed warblers, willow warblers, chiffchaffs, a few blackcaps and a lesser whitethroat were present, as well as sand martins, swallows and a few common terns over the open water.

The light early on was pretty good, bright but not too harsh. We stopped for this drake pochard (Aythya ferina; click for larger).

A little further on we found a family of coot (Fulica atra; click for larger), with chicks being fed pond weed. The adults were very aggressive, chasing this moorhen (Gallinula chloropus; click for larger) into the reeds.


This little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis; click for larger) was feeding on caddis fly larvae.

Apart from a wheatear foraging on the grazing marsh, there was little unexpected around, and we headed over to the other side of the reserve. The light deteriorated - becoming harsh and direct, making photography difficult. This image of a lapwing (Vanellus vanellus; click for larger) illustrates the problem - the contrast is a real challenge.

The last images of the afternoon were of this grey heron (Ardea cinerea; click for larger) was successfully fishing in front of the wader scrape hide. The harsh light helped here - highlighting the fish as it's about to be swallowed.

So that was pretty much it for the day, with a pair of little ringed plover and at least six redshank the only other species of note. I'd missed the whimbrel and garden warbler, but the company was good!

Summer atlassing, home tetrad

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A non-photographic entry! I went out to do my early summer timed atlas survey for my home tetrad, which is based around the village. My usual route is to walk up onto Sheet's Heath, passing down to the canal, and then walking via a small patch of Pirbright Common to Brookwood Cemetery. This walk covers a range of habitats, from heather-covered open heathland to formal planted woodland, including an amazing avenue of enormous redwoods.

In total I recorded 35 species, with a few surprises. The first was the absences (whitethroat, hirundines, cuckoo, and less surprising perhaps Dartford warbler). The second was a pair of mandarin ducks, flying through the cemetery, and I suspect breeding in one of the mature trees. The third was a pair of woodlarks, seen just as the light was going, but providing close views (within a dozen feet) as they perched in a dead tree. Best of all, they were at a site which takes all of three minutes to walk to from my front door...

Thursley Bog and Common, Surrey

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Unexpectedly finding a couple of hours free this evening, I headed off to Thursley to see if an early hobby had arrived. Just like yesterday, the evening was warm and sunny, and Thursley was surprisingly quiet.

The first interesting encounter was with a common lizard (Lacerta vivipara; click for larger), basking on the board-walk. As with the peacock butterfly yesterday, it's pretty clear that the 150-500 isn't a great macro lens. Nearby was my first odonate of the year, a large red damselfly, flying over the bog. In the distance, I glimpsed my first cuckoo of the year, lots of swallows were hawking over the common, and I also saw my first hatched brood of mallard ducklings feeding on the open water.

Circling overhead, a hobby put on a good show - a really impressive small falcon (Falco subbuteo; record shot with two images merged, click for larger). A couple of tree pipits and a woodlark were also present, as were good numbers of stonechats and reed buntings. Still no Dartford warblers though - I have yet to see any since the heavy snow several months ago, suggesting that the population has really taken a hammering.

Moving on to the more wooded area adjacent to the bog, a fine male redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus; record shot, click for larger) was singing in the red evening light - surprisingly loud and full-bodied for such a small bird. This was the first of four in a small stretch of woodland, so clearly there are decent numbers here. At the same time, a curlew was calling in the background, a combination found in few locations I suspect...

Wishmoor Bottom, Surrey and Berkshire

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I wandered out for a late evening's birding on Wishmoor Bottom, enjoying the warm weather and fading light. There were decent numbers of stonechats throughout (Saxicola torquata; click for larger), with many pairs in evidence, and also a few butterflies, such as this peacock (Inachis io; click for larger), here resting on pine cones.


It didn't take long to find a tree pipit (Anthus trivialis; click for larger), and I was pleased to get close views. No sign of any woodlarks or redstarts, but a couple of crossbills flying over were good to see.

Apart from the usuals (willow warblers, chiffchaffs, and so on), the highlight and biggest surprise of the day was a superb male wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe; click for larger) sitting in a tree in the last of the sunlight. An excellent way to end the evening.

Moor Green Lakes, Berkshire

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An early start and promising weather took me to Moor Green Lakes, in part hoping that the black tern which had been seen yesterday had hung on. No sign of the tern, but there was plenty of new arrivals in, with good numbers of swallows, house martins and sand martins hunting over the waters. The dawn chorus was dominated by warblers, with sedge and reed warblers in the reeds and scrub near the lake, and blackcaps, whitethroats, willow warblers and chiffchaffs in the hedgerows. In addition, resident passerines were vocal, including this great tit (Parus major; click for larger), which was preening overhead, while others foraged in the undergrowth (click for larger; I liked this contre-jour approach). Blackbirds (Turdus merula; click for larger)were common on the surrounding pasture.


The first hide is not best placed for early mornings, with the sun rising over part of the lake. Nevertheless, the first bird seen in front was a little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius; click for larger), feeding along the waters edge. Other resident waders were also on view; lapwings being harassed by carrion crows, redshank (Tringa totanus; click for larger) and a snipe (Gallinago gallinago; click for larger) feeding out in the open.






Out on the water the Canada geese (Branta canadensis; click for larger) were aggressively defending their territory, raucously chasing any others who dared venture too close. In addition there was the usual range of ducks (tufted, mallard, gadwall) and larger waterfowl (Egyptian geese, mute swans). On the island the black headed gulls were defending patches, and the first common terns have also arrived.

I've seen more roe deer (Capreolus capreolus; click for larger) at this site than anywhere else - five in total today.

So - not a bad morning, with almost 50 species seen. Nothing spectacular, but it was good to catch up with the summer visitors, and the dawn chorus is reaching its peak, which is always worth hearing.

Garden macro begins, gently...

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I know that I'm not going to get a huge amount of traipsing through the country-side done over the next few months, so I've decided to make the best of what's close to home, and anyway, macro season is about to begin. I had 20 minutes yesterday evening to take just a few shots. The first is of a nursery web spider (Pisaura mirabilis; click for larger) waiting in ambush on the top of a shrub. This is a straight-forward shot, with the 180mm macro mounted on the Gitzo and Arca Swiss Z2, lit by evening light and fill from the R1C1 flash.

The second image is of some garden bluebells (probably Spanish bluebells Hyacinthoides hispanica; click for larger), which dominate a swathe of the garden. Rather than using fill light from flash, I simply used the available evening light for a long exposure (3sec at F11), hoping to use the limited depth of field to my advantage. This is deliberately underexposed to bring out the colour of the flowers - bluebells are a challenge to get right. That worked out OK, and shows how in just a few minutes you can get some worthwhile images.

Staines Reservoirs, Surrey

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After the white-throated sparrow morning in Hampshire, by the grace of an understanding mother-in-law, I headed out to Staines Reservoirs as the great northern diver was reported as being around again, and I really have a soft spot for divers - they remind me of winter birding on the Clare coast.

The diver was easily found, and as ever with Staines there's almost no point in bringing a camera, as everything is so distant. Nevertheless throught the 'scope I got some decent views. Little gulls were still around, with three seen, and my first terns of the year, with some arctic terns present.

The highlight was a flock of five (4 female, 1 male) velvet scoters, distant, but providing relatively good views (Melanita fusca; click for larger - photo only included because of the composition!). This is a real sea duck, so seeing them inland is very unusual and a real bonus, even if they are one of the least interesting ducks in terms of plumage - just a bit dull really! There was a range of other duck species present, including good numbers of goldeneye, tufted duck, pochard, teal, mallard and a few gadwall.

I only spent a half an hour there, but also saw my first house martin of the year - so well worth the trip out, and a pretty good day's birding!

White-throated sparrow, Hampshire

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After all of three hours sleep last night, I somehow dragged myself out to do that thing I will always deny doing - an honest-to-goodness twitch. A white-throated sparrow (something like the 27th UK record) had been seen (although I gather that it had been around for months, but not reported) at Old Winchester Hill, Hampshire, and as this was only 45 minutes away it seemed daft not to try to see it. I packed up and was there by 8am, and there was already about 30 people with scopes at the ready.

The sparrow had been seen earlier, but wasn't now showing, but we did hear it sing, and someone got a glimpse of it. After half an hour or so I finally got a view - but poor and fleeting. I decided that I didn't want to follow the growing crowd (now at about 50) and so had a wander on the reserve. There were stunning views over the countryside, and willow warblers, chiffchaff and yellowhammers (Emberiza cintrinella; click for larger) were in full song, and the blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus; click for larger) were tame. There was also decent numbers of bullfinch and buzzards, as well as my first whitethroat of the year.


I made my way back to the where the sparrow had been seen, and eventually managed to get some OK views and some record shots (Zonotrichia albicollis; click for larger). I was also reminded why I felt that mass twitches were not for me - too many people chasing a single bird. At the same time though, I was pleased to have visited the site - a beautiful location and worth revisiting. The sparrow itself was also worth seeing - a very attractive vagrant with a distinctive song - which also illustrated the perils of the twitch!

And the reason for the hiatus?

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And here's the reason for why my pushing through the undergrowth will be a bit limited for a while - our new daughter (just a couple of hours old below) who was born at 2.04am, weighing 7lbs 4oz, and three weeks early. How lucky am I?!

Staines Reservoirs, Surrey

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The last few weeks have been flat out - huge amounts of work taking up every spare moment. I part because in a moment of optimism I decided that doing an MBA would be a good idea, and in part because the decks had to be cleared before our new arrival turned up. So, after a few weeks where my only wildlife was watched in snatched moments in the garden, or walking across campus, I felt that I was missing out on Spring.


Since my last post the butterflies are out (brimstones, small tortiseshells, peacocks) and the queen bees have been nest building, while the hairy-footed flower bees and carder bees (Bombus pascuorum; click for larger) have been hurtling around the flowers, many of which have bloomed (click for larger). Some migrants are already in, and I have heard chiffchaff and blackcaps in the garden, and most garden birds seem to be nest building, or are even further along.

So - I found an hour for a quick birding dash, and headed to Staines Reservoirs in the hope of catching the great northern diver that's been around. Once I turned up I realised that I had chosen the wrong place - there had been a huge hatch of chironomid midges from the waters, and they had all congregated on the narrow causeway separating the north and south basins. I have never experienced anything like it (and the locals don't like it either!). Imagine a heavy downpour, and replace each drop with a midge and you're there. This image fails to capture their density; grey = midges... The pied wagtails (Motacila alba; click for larger) had a feast!

The diver wasn't around, but the black-necked grebes were in summer plumage (superb!), the scaup where still present, and a couple of little gulls passed by. Apart from that there was little to keep me there, and billions and billions of reasons to leave!