Redfoot

1st summer Male Red footed falcon still showing well at wilstone reservoir this morning, and well worth the slight detour back from Birmingham today.

showing brown upperparts

Hare

An evening walk around Rainham finds very little bar a dake Garganey on the Target pools and several Hares showing well.

The Duke

Me Bradders and Jono travel to Denge woods in Kent in the hope of finding one of Britains scarcest butterfly's the Duke of Burgundy and was not disappointed with at least half a dozen found.

Denge Woods

Also seen at this site were Dingy Skipper and Green Hairstreak, Turtle Dove, Nightingale, Garden Warbler and Marsh Tit.

The Duke of Burgundy

Dingy Skipper

And several Orchids.

Lady Orchid

Early-purple Orchid

Some tactics!

the Stealth approach!

or Somtimes there right under (or on) your nose!

Hobby at Masey

A brief walk around the park late afternoon produces my third Hobby of the year, in probably as many visits this spring! also Lesser Whitethroat singing.

Crake-fest for dinner!

A Trip to the Nene Washes Last night produced at least 7 male Calling Corncrake from the re-introduction programme and was my first encounter with this species since 1990 when me and H jammed in on one on porth hellick (st mary's scillies) back in the day!

drumming snipe

What a Cracking place, breeding Blackwit, drumming Snipe, hunting Hobby and Barn owl and fly-by Garganey! interesting pics here http://www.wansteadbirder.blogspot.com/

blackwit at dusk!

Then we took the short trip to welches dam where Spotted Crake was calling amongst the back drop of hooting Tawny Owls to end off a cracking evenings birding.

Woodchat

A short trip to Canvey island this evening to enjoy a stunning Woodchat Shrike that was found today on the new RSPB reserve (west canvey) which has only been open five weeks.

(some heavily cropped pics)

typical essex boys!

Collard Doves

The Collard doves that have bred on my balcony this year fledged two young which have both left the nest this week, from egg to fully fledged took 5 and a half weeks.

first egg laid 8th april

2 chicks 25th april (2.5 wks)

4 weeks

5 Weeks

5.5 Weeks (were off!)