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creatures-of-joy · 2 months

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12th april 2024 !!

stuff seen today ! (biased list because i like to include stuff that i dont see all the time , sorry greylag geese and mallards,,,etc. i still love you though)

2x marsh harrier (male and female :D)

white stork (never seen before !! recently they were sighted near where i live and i was just like. no fucking way. BUT I SAW ONE !!)

sand martin (i saw soooooo many they're really awesome but i couldnt count because they were flying so fast hehe)

lapwing (only saw like 3 but they were really noisy hehe)

pochard (didnt expect to see any this time of year so that was pretty epic :3)

grey heron :] (this one was really active lol,, saw it roamin around and dive down 3 times but i didnt see it come up with anything :[ poor beastie )

lesser black-backed gull (big !! there were quite a few of these which is pretty cool) mallard duckling !!!(only saw one but thats the first ive seen this year so yayayayay :3)

huuuge swan nest with a few eggs (i could only see 2 eggs,, cute) great crested grebes (cute as usual :3)

red kite :D (itwas literally hovering in place without moving at all!! ive never seen that before with red kites it was pretty surreal hehe ,, also heard one calling in the distance ,, anyway :3 super awesome :3 )

buzzard!! (verrryyy high up , heard it calling with its adorable mewling noise)

deer!! (im not good at identifying deer but i overheard another guy saying he saw some water deer!! awesome. they were cuute and came reallyclose to the hide)

some robins chasing eachother because they're cool and awesome i loove robins (very cute)

stuff I Heard but i didn't seeee:

BITTERN!! (I've seen one before a few years ago but I never heard it boom ,, this was super awesome they're one of my favourite birds :3)

goldfinch (cute raindrop noise)

blackcap (tut tut tut tut)

chiffchaff (chiff chiff chiff chaff chiff chaff chaff etc . these are so so noisy and you can hear them everywhere i love them so much)

greenfinch (jubujubujubujubu dweeeeeez, I'm bad at spotting these but i hear them all the timeeee)

green woodpecker (always laughing at me hehehe)

cetti's warbler (they make such a cool noise)

pheasant (god this fucker is loud <3)

joy afterthoughts:

think i have some stuff i wanna talk about more in a follow up post hehe,, anyway today was very awesome,, the marsh harrier is my favourite bird of prey and I've only seen one before !! so getting to see two of them fly in and out of the reeds like that was awesome,, AND THEN A WHITE STORK SHOWED UP??? WHICH IS INSANE BECAUSE AUWHFJJ THEY'RE NOT NATIVE TO THIS COUNTRY and a bunch have been seen recently and their population is increasing and YEAH!! anyway it was like i imagined it.super cool. yeah. i hope i fill this blog up with more stuff over time . bye ! (also no egrets where i went today, which is suuuch a shame)

#sightings #joy mind blown #joy fav #stuff i heard

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jenniiiiiiiii · 6 months

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I think you all need to see this year's Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards . I can't decide if my favourite is the greenfinch argument or the grouse orb

#birds #birb #birdblr

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serenaew · 1 year

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Serena's Masterlist: Non-HP works

Including HP crossovers.

Last updated 28/12/2023

Overview

Anastasia x Harry Potter x Mary Poppins

[Filk] Embers and Soot (G, no characters, complete, multivoice)

Bredlik

Mantolik (G, Chinese bredlik translations, complete)

Doctor Who

Hear Me Out (T, Graham & 13, complete)

Emelan

[podfic] tea at midnight (G, Trisana & Briar, complete)

[podfic] Dear (G, gen, complete)

[podfic] speak with my own voice (G, gen, complete)

[podfic] The Night Is Still Young (G, gen, complete)

Galaxy Quest

[podfic] SMOF (G, complete)

Greek Mythology

[Filk] Proem: Helen, Achilles and the Great War of 1,200 BC (G, complete)

Merlin (TV)

[Podfic] Mud (T, Merlin x Arthur, complete)

Meta-fandom, if nowhere else

[Filk] podfic podfic filk (G, the llama song, complete)

[Filk] (Voiceteam) Over the Rainbow (G, tto Over the Rainbow, complete, multivoice)

[Filk] I like the Voiceteam (G, tto I like the Flowers, complete, multivoice)

[Filk] The Flan-King (G, Voiceteam filk tto Erlkönig (Schubert), complete)

Original Work

What's in the Dark? [podfic] (T, Original Work (Werewolf game), complete)

Percy Jackson Universe

[Podfic] The Lost Gods (T, Thalia & OC, complete)

Phantom of the Opera (all media)

Voiceteam Triumphant (G, gen, complete, multivoice)

[Filk] This World Is Mine! (T, Carlotta / gen, complete)

[Filk] Podfic Home (G, complete)

Science Fandom

[Filk] From the life of a C. elegans researcher (G, Science fandom, complete)

Small Podcast Fandoms

Tremor [podfic] (T, Down - Definitely Human, complete)

On your mind [podfic] (G, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, complete)

The Sound of Music

[filk] Ea-Nasir's Favourite Things (G, Mesopotamian RPF, complete)

[Filk] I've been bamboozled by ebay-Nasir! (G, xkcd, complete)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars x The Muppets

[Podfic] We are all luminous beings (G, gen, complete)

This Is How You Lose The Time War

Poison & Win(?) (T, Blue/Red, complete)

The Witcher

Blaviken [filk] (T, Geralt / Jaskier, complete)

Expand for more details on individual elements.

Details

Anastasia x Harry Potter x Mary Poppins

[Filk] Embers and Soot (G, no characters, complete, multivoice)

Summary: An a cappella mashup song of Chim Chim Cheree (Mary Poppins) x Once upon a December (Anastasia) x In Noctem (Harry Potter). Additional Tags/Warnings: Filk, mashup, a cappella, original arrangement

Bredlik

Mantolik (G, Chinese bredlik translations, complete)

Summary: 两份 Bredlik 翻译。(Two Bredlik translations into Chinese.) Additional Tags/Warnings: Inspired by Tang Poetry, Podfic

Doctor Who

Hear Me Out (T, Graham & 13, complete)

Summary: At the end of Episode 7, series 12, the Doctor avoids the topic of Graham’s cancer disease, stating her social awkwardness. As a doctor of (amongst others) medicine, and especially as The Doctor, she really could have done better! So here is my version of what she could have said and done. Additional Tags/Warnings: Mentions of Cancer, Grief/Mourning, Episode: s12e07 Can You Hear Me?, script format

Emelan

[podfic] tea at midnight (G, Trisana & Briar, complete)

Summary: Tris shook the hand she was still holding out to him. Little Bear, obediently off the bed, whined a little. “Up.” Briar squinted up at her. “It’s cold out there.” “It’s damp in there. You’d think you’d run up a mountain, not had a nightmare.” Podfic of tea at midnight by dirgewithoutmusic. Additional Tags/Warnings: short & sweet, podfic

[podfic] Dear (G, gen, complete)

Summary: A selection of letters to and from Trisana Chandler during her four years at Lightsbridge. Podfic of Dear by KiaraSayre. Additional Tags/Warnings: epistolary, podfic

[podfic] speak with my own voice (G, gen, complete)

Summary: Laima Greenfinch, interviewing Trisana Chandler for the Lightsbridge Gazette, Watersday, 23 Hearth Moon, 1046 K.F. Podfic of speak with my own voice by AlexSeanchai. Additional Tags/Warnings: interview format, podfic

[podfic] The Night Is Still Young (G, gen, complete)

Summary: Four nights during the social season at the Citadel. Podfic of The Night Is Still Young by ivyspinners. Additional Tags/Warnings: fluff, podfic

Galaxy Quest

[podfic] SMOF (G, complete)

Summary: In this fandom, there are things you don't talk about. Podfic of SMOF by hollimichele. Additional Tags/Warnings: Fandom Allusions & Cliches & References

Greek Mythology

[Filk] Proem: Helen, Achilles and the Great War of 1,200 BC (G, complete)

Summary: A venerable Greek P(r)oem where everybody got three epithets. Additional Tags/Warnings: Iliad, tto Prologue (Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812), filk

Merlin (TV)

[Podfic] Mud (T, Merlin x Arthur, complete)

Summary: In which Merlin and Arthur are trudging through the muddy woods. Podfic of Mud by ProdigyBlood. Additional Tags/Warnings: Muddy kisses, Banter, Fluff and Humor, Flirting, Self-Indulgent, Merthur fun, Merlin's insults, Clotpole, Arthur is a royal ass, merlin loves it, all the mud, One Shot, Arthur loves Merlin really, Cute, Merlin's a cocky bastard

Meta-fandom, if nowhere else

[Filk] podfic podfic filk (G, the llama song, complete)

Summary: The podfic version of "llama llama duck". Additional Tags/Warnings: tongue twisters galore

[Filk] (Voiceteam) Over the Rainbow (G, tto Over the Rainbow, complete, multivoice)

Summary: Voiceteam filk tto Over the Rainbow! Additional Tags/Warnings: Voiceteam 2023

[Filk] I like the Voiceteam (G, tto I like the Flowers, complete, multivoice)

Summary: We all like the Voiceteam. Additional Tags/Warnings: tto I like the Flowers, Voiceteam 2023

[Filk] The Flan-King (G, Voiceteam filk tto Erlkönig (Schubert), complete)

Summary: A Flanfilk inspired by Flan and Goethe's Erlkönig. The filk of [Poem & Podfic] The Flan-King. Additional Tags/Warnings: flan, tto Erlkönig (Goethe & Schubert)

Original Work

What's in the Dark? [podfic] (T, Original Work (Werewolf game), complete)

Summary: The quiet small town of Narfolk is suffering a series of gruesome murders. Is it due to werewolves or just some wild animals? Either way, something has to be done, someone needs to be blamed. Additional Tags/Warnings: Major Character Death, Horror, Suspense, Dark Comedy, mob justice, semi-improvised, Werewolves, paranormal podcast, might be a bit melodramatic, but like… in a fun way!

Percy Jackson Universe

[Podfic] The Lost Gods (T, Thalia & OC, complete)

Summary: A cushy house-sitting job, a mysterious journal, a creepy guy at a pool, and... a rescue crew with arrows and wolves? Suddenly, this summer job had gotten a whole lot more interesting. Podfic of the fic The Lost Gods by hiddendruid. Additional Tags/Warnings: includes slavic mythology, podfic

Phantom of the Opera (all media)

Voiceteam Triumphant (G, gen, complete, multivoice)

Summary: You are compelled to sing. Voiceteam filk tto Masquerade. Additional Tags/Warnings: Voiceteam 2023, filk

[Filk] This World Is Mine! (T, Carlotta / gen, complete)

Summary: What if Carlotta strived for universal domination? Additional Tags/Warnings: Crack, space opera, self-aggrandisement, tto This Place Is Mine (Yeston / Kopit), filk

[Filk] Podfic Home (G, complete)

Summary: Wherever podfics play I know I'm home Europodfriends filk tto Home (Yeston/Kopit) Additional Tags/Warnings: Europodfriends 2023, filk

Science Fandom

[Filk] From the life of a C. elegans researcher (G, Science fandom, complete)

Summary: About my favourite model worms, tto "Row your Boat". Additional Tags/Warnings: C. elegans

Small Podcast Fandoms

Tremor [podfic] (T, Down - Definitely Human, complete)

Summary: “I don’t need sass, I need… I need… something else!” Marion pulled Sam away before he could reply with yet more sass — or worse, offer the agitated Captain a drink. A multivoice recording of a Tremor by LenaLawlipop Additional Tags/Warnings: Charlie Dresden / Marion Straker, Episode 11, emotional hurt/comfort

On your mind [podfic] (G, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, complete)

Summary: Hadji was quiet on the way back to the hotel. He couldn’t meet Jessie’s eyes in the car, or after. A multivoice recording of On you mind by KDHeart Additional Tags/Warnings: Whump, Past Mind Control, Awkward Tension, Episode Tag

The Sound of Music

[filk] Ea-Nasir's Favourite Things (G, Mesopotamian RPF, complete)

Summary: A complaint about the world's most (in)famous ancient copper merchant, set to music. Additional Tags/Warnings: inspired by xkcd 2758: My Favorite Things, tto My Favourite Things

[Filk] I've been bamboozled by ebay-Nasir! (G, xkcd, complete)

Summary: A complaint about ebay, inspired by above filk. Additional Tags/Warnings: inspired by xkcd 2758: My Favorite Things, tto My Favourite Things

Star Wars: The Clone Wars x The Muppets

[Podfic] We are all luminous beings (G, gen, complete)

Summary: Some Jedi are more force sensitive than others. And then there's the Jedi who aren't so much force-sensitive as straight up force beings who have somehow acquired a physical body. The clone troops roll with it. A multivoice podfic of We are all luminous beings by MarbleGlove. Additional Tags/Warnings: filk

This Is How You Lose The Time War

Poison & Win(?) (T, Blue/Red, complete)

Summary: About the final poisoned letter from Red to Blue. Additional Tags/Warnings: tto Posion & Wine (The Civil Wars) , filk

The Witcher

Blaviken [filk] (T, Geralt / Jaskier, complete)

Summary: Jaskier walks into a bar, after "Rare Species"... Additional Tags/Warnings: Possibly unrequited Geralt / Jaskier Serena's Notes: I took more of an advisory role in this, but that doesn't stop me from loving how it came out!

#masterlist #assorted fandoms

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dansnaturepictures · 2 years

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New Year’s Eve at Lakeside and home: Common Gulls, Greylag Goose, Green Woodpecker, Robin, Woodpigeon, Magpie and more

I took the first two pictures in this photoset of a view out the back and a Magpie on the roof visible from my room today. Both more pleasing tests with my new big lens, and it was interesting to see this Magpie chase off/have a slight tussle with fellow crow species a Jackdaw out the back as well.

When off for my last lunch time walk to Lakeside of 2021 I took in the bare trees out the front and in particular looked at a couple which go a really nice yellow in the autumn. I don’t think I’ve photographed them since they sported the coloured leaves which doesn’t seem long ago time is passing so fast but last year on New Year’s Eve I remember taking a photo one of my last of the year of them in some sunshine. So I took and tweeted tonight on Dans_Pictures a photo of them among some others involving trees out the front. On another pleasant walk to end an amazing year of them I took the third, sixth and seventh pictures in this photoset of views at Lakeside and fifth of more lovely shelf fungi I have seen lately and lichen on a thin tree in the southern fenced off area. I also took the eighth picture in this photoset of views with nice bare tree scenes north of Lakeside on the way home.

With my traditional New Year’s Day Lakeside bird year list building walk now just hours away should nothing go wrong the lunch time walk today could arguably be considered a bit of a rehearsal. Green Woodpecker seen in the fenced off area and the Common Gulls and a flying Greylag Goose still about excited me as they are birds that would be key year ticks tomorrow morning if I saw them. Last year I saw Greenfinch at Lakeside for the first time in a while on New Year’s Eve and then it was one of the key birds I saw of my brilliant Lakeside walk to start 2021 so I am hoping it will repeat that with the Green Woodpecker a bird I frequently but don’t always see in these opening walks of the year. But I have to consider I will be walking into quite a different world as it looks as though it will be quite an early morning walk with our plans for the rest of the day. I enjoyed seeing and hearing a beautiful Robin west of the bowl area which I took the fourth picture in this photoset of, a great connected bird moment this lunch time. I also took the final two pictures in this photoset of a dandelion and young Woodpigeon on the grass on the way back. The Woodpigeon part of a nice little group I saw well. I have enjoyed noticing more dandelions and daisies around lately a delight no matter the time of year.

There were some nice sky scenes I saw from my room this afternoon. I remember replying to a tweet from David Lindo a year ago asking what everyone’s last bird of the year was with “Mine was a nice Magpie at the top of a tree visible from my room just before dark.” and I believe the last species I saw today was a Magpie out the window. Will its cousin the Carrion Crow become my first bird of the year for the third year running tomorrow?

Just now I saw a large Grey Silverfish outside my room well getting a photo with my macro lens which I tweeted, I hadn’t got a photo of one for a while and had seen a few little ones lately so thought another photo may be due. They like to hide especially when the light comes on so it feels good to be quick enough to capture one with my macro lens.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: Two of my favourite birds the Green Woodpecker and Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Greylag Goose, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Magpie, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Robin, House Sparrow, Starling, Pied Wagtail well on the roof visible from my room and the Grey Silverfish.

Well that’s the end of my wildlife and photography 2021, another amazing and incredible year for me with my highest ever amount of photos produced by far, probably the most words written on my nature experiences and my third highest ever amount of bird species, joint highest ever amount of butterfly species, second highest amount of dragonfly/damselfly species and joint highest ever amount of mammal species I’ve ever seen in a year. From the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Tawny Owl seen together and Purple Hairstreaks at Lakeside to our adventures in Anglesey and one of my photos appearing on an episode of BBC Springwatch, it has been varied and unforgettable. Its always so rewarding to share it with others via social media, so thank you so much for all the interactions we have had this year it has helped make my year special. Happy New Year all.

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sussex-nature-lover · 4 years

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Friday 29th August 2020

Stuck Indoors

Lightning Map

You know when they say it doesn’t stop to rain? Here it comes again.

It’s dark, since the middle of the night it keeps coming down in stair rods, we’ve had lightning and heavy rolls of thunder with intermittent claps and two very brief interruptions to the power supply. Luckily for me I’d just made a mint tea, because I don’t know about you but the first thing I think of when the power goes off is a hot beverage, well, unless I’m in the middle of cooking of some important internet related task.

Photos aren’t capturing the sheer force of it, but I’ll share them anyway

It looks like the heavy downpour has given our Guard Lamb the bath he needed, but poor thing really does need a re-spray, much like my Dad’s bench, which is looking really sorry for itself. It’s been too hot at times to start rubbing it down, or I just haven’t dedicated the time to the job. The lamb was actually white when I bought it, but we sprayed it black because we like spotting the occasional dark sheep in the fields, like a kind of talisman. He’s so damaged now that he’s neither white nor black, he’s right back to his base poor little guy.

I nearly caught this Robin perched on the lamb’s head last night, but instead it was just taking off for the water bowl, never the less, the photo still raises a smile.

I got treated to this Chin Chin pic, but luckily a better angle too, in the milk churn

I think this was Shirley? Earlier in the day I’d been upstairs and saw the youth and one of the pair was in the Christmas Tree for absolutely ages - sign I didn’t have the camera of course, but it wouldn’t have made much of a photo anyway because it was mostly obscured by a long branch. That Christmas Tree really is a massive favourite with all the birds who visit.

Patience was rewarded and although the light was poor, look who we have here. Is it Dad caught mid chat? I can’t say if there’s only one juvenile in the garden, as in this is a family of just three, or if they all come at different times, but it’s always a big pleasure to see the young ones thriving.

I wonder what’s going on with the mysterious Greenfinches? Fingers crossed they’re ok wherever they are.

I wonder how the sheep are doing through the storms too. This was a couple of days ago at the little pond.

I like seeing in them in the grove next to the water, it looks almost Mediterranean. Not sure what these two were looking at. Perhaps just admiring the view.

We got a grocery delivery this morning and so we’re well set for food. Tonight we have some Salmon and it’s going to be served with noodles, beansprouts, finely sliced roast red peppers and some sugar snap peas all stir fried together. I’ve gone rogue and bought ready cooked Schezwan noodles, which come in a curry sauce. I like a curry sauce, I mean the bog standard type of chip-shop curry sauce as well as the intricate and well judged sauces made from scratch.

We were hoping to eat outside with the T20 cricket commentary for England -v- Pakistan from Old Trafford this evening, but we certainly won’t be eating outside and who knows what the weather will have to say about play. Sussex -v- Surrey is off already in the T20 Blast. Typical Bank Holiday eh? Not that anything is typical any more. OH said ‘does it feel like a Saturday to you?’ and all I could say was ‘what’s a Saturday supposed to feel like these days?’

That said, football tomorrow Community Shield, or as us stalwarts still call it, the Charity Shield. If I end with Come on Reds, you know who I mean!

EDIT: They’re playing but we’ve lost a wicket already Grrr.

Outside links in bold type are not affiliated to this Blog

#nature lovewhereyoulive gardenbirds

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thelittleowlblog · 7 years

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Our summer season is an important time of year for many of Ireland’s wildlife. As a wildlife enthusiast I absolutely love gardening for wildlife! It is particularly easy when living in Ireland because of our mild climate and moderate summer seasons!

So I have comprised a list of a few ways that people can optimise their gardens for wildlife habitats this summer!

Insect Homes

This is my favourite little way to accommodate for wildlife in the garden! An insect home is pretty much what it sounds like. The purpose of these insect homes are to provide shelter and safety for insects while out in the wild. These ‘boxes’ provide safety against predators such as birds while the insects are out foraging or pollinating!

I bought a great ‘insect hotel’ from Aldi for €9.99 last month and its working pretty well, as far as I have been noticing anyway! I have put the pictures that I posted on Twitter in April below to show you what I am talking about.

I think they really add aesthetic value to the garden and they are a great way to help increase the level of pollination within your garden, as less insects are being preyed on by predators and also insects such as bees can stay out longer by using these insect homes to rest in while out of the hive. Some bee species only stay out to pollinate for 30 minutes at a time as they become tired, among other reasons. Although I have not seen any scientific studies to absolutely say that these boxes help bees to stay out longer, I do think it does help!

2. Hedgehog Huts

These are the best little things! They are little huts that are usually comprised of some grass-looking material that acts as a home to hedgehogs that might live in your garden. By placing these in your garden, especially if you live in an urbanised area, you can help support hedgehogs!

Hedgehog

Man-made Hedgehog home

Hedgehogs often travel between gardens at night while foraging or looking for a mate. For this reason, if you have a garden fence or wall, it might be helpful to create a small hole at ground level, to allow hedgehogs to travel between gardens without barriers. This along with providing little hedgehog huts will make your garden a hedgehog haven!

I have provided a few pictures of what I mean by hedgehog huts!

These little homes can be home-made so there’s no need to splash out on luxury hedgehog villas for your garden, but a little hut might go a long way in supporting more biodiversity in your back garden!

I’ve seen lots of these on Amazon which I think are somewhat reasonably priced. Also, I found this website the other day and its adorable. Its called hedgehog street! I’m just not sure what the price range is like for this site but the houses are cute!

3. Bird House

I think every garden needs a lovely little bird house! They just add so much value to a garden both for biodiversity and aesthetic value for the home-owners. Although birds may not take up residence in a bird house straight away, within time you will definitely have a few extra residents in your garden.

Redwing

Greenfinch

There is an endless range of different bird house styles, colours and sizes available in stores and online pretty much everywhere. This is a great thing because it means that these bird houses can be very cheap due to the endless availability on the market. Like hedgehog huts, you can also make bird houses if you have a gift for crafts! Sadly, I am not gifted in this area but I do love a good bird house so I am happy to pick one up if I see a nice one!

Just make sure that it is placed up high in a tree, to prevent predators from getting easy access to the bird house! You can also provide nuts and seeds in the bird house to try help get some birds to nest there but I do suggest using a bird feeder to provide nuts and seeds to birds instead!

4. Den Boxes

This is really only applicable if you live in a more rural part of Ireland or near a woodland area (whether rural or urban). I live in a very urbanised part of Dublin City, but I live within a ten minute walk to a lovely large park full of wildlife!

Pine Marten

Den boxes are for pine martens! These boxes provide artificial breeding and nesting sites for pine martens when there is a lack of shelter and opportunity to create a home! The Vincent Wildlife Trust are great for public information on pine martens, they even have an online leaflet explaining how to build a den box! I have linked this information leaflet here!

There can often be a problem with pine martens taking up residency in peoples attics when people live near woodland areas. This can be annoying for the home-owner as pine martens can bring dead animals such as smaller mammals and birds, into the attic and this can often create bad smells and unwanted cleaning up activities!

So if you live in an area near a woodland or an urban park I would suggest investing a small fee in providing a den box in your garden. It is cheap and easy to do! Pine martens are fantastic creatures and need a nice home to care for their young and den boxes are perfect for this!

5. Ponds

This can definitely end up being an expensive make-over for your garden, but it doesn’t have to be! There are quite a few ways to make a budget pond and everything you need to do so can be found online through media like YouTube tutorials on how-to’s or Amazon for the right tools needed!

Depending on the size of your garden and what you would prefer yourself, you can make the pond any shape, size or style! It gives you so many options to be as budget-friendly or as luxurious as you would like to be when creating a wildlife-friendly garden!

Ponds make a regular garden becoming a haven for wildlife. A pond can also make a garden more visually attractive, with lots of aesthetic value for the home-owners! Ponds can create a great habitat in urban back-gardens for species such as frogs, toads, newts, beetles, and the list goes on. You can leave a pond without fish or include them. Although Goldfish and Koi are the fish of choice for pretty much every garden pond, I would really advise against non-native species.

Great ways to accommodate wildlife in your garden this summer! Our summer season is an important time of year for many of Ireland's wildlife. As a wildlife enthusiast I absolutely love gardening for wildlife!

#Birds #birds of ireland #Forests #garden design #gardening for wildlife #gardens #insects #Ireland #Irish #Irish Wildlife #Mammals #Mammals of Ireland #pond design #ponds #water #Wildlife #Wildlife Management #Woodlands

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dansnaturepictures · 2 years

Photo

08/02/2022-Woodpeckers, crows, Stonechat and more at Lakeside and home

The photos I took today in this photoset are of; Jackdaw out the back, Collared Doves, Woodpigeon and Feral Pigeon all together on the roof of the garages it was great to see the three species together and take a photo again, a view on the way to Lakeside, one of a couple I took of House Sparrows by the allotments at Lakeside, Stonechat at Lakeside, four views on my walk at Lakeside and the daffodil in the front garden I saw yesterday now out which was brilliant to see. It was a day of interestingly layered clouds. I was pleased with the House Sparrow photos and it was interesting it coming so soon after one I was really pleased with of this bird on the balcony on Saturday as last year I took memorable ones at home and at Lakeside of this beautiful bird around the same time. It was good to get photos of the House Sparrows around the allotments as it is something of a stronghold for them which I see so much with so many busily flying in and out of the hedge its so precious to have this great area for this species.

Standout species I saw today:

Two crows at home Jackdaw and Carrion Crow-As well as the former investigating the drain pipe which I’d not yet got a photo of in this position so was pleased to today I got a cracking view of a nice big Carrion Crow out the back with it landing on the street light as a lot of birds tend to do which looked great quite close views for one out the back.

Two woodpeckers at Lakeside Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker-On my walk around the meadows of Lakeside today for the first time in a long time I saw both of these favourite birds of mine, the eccentric Green Woodpecker and intricately marked Great Spotted Woodpecker it was the first of the latter I’d seen at Lakeside for a while so this was a highlight today.

Stonechat at Lakeside-The star bird of my day a bird I’ve only seen at Lakeside a handful of times so it was really good to see one it is one of the more exciting birds to see at Lakeside. This neatly marked jam coloured bird was a delight to see at the start and end of the walk at the entrance east of the allotments.

Greenfinch at Lakeside-A bird I see at Lakeside now and again really and it always feels special as they are a bird like House Sparrow that are having their problems with numbers so seeing one does feel good. I saw and heard the chirpy call of one and also saw another two very well at lunch time.

Dunnock-Not for the first time at Lakeside’s eastern meadows I not only saw this beautiful bird which is one I have strong connection with in my early birdwatching days when I was a kid, but also heard its stunning and often overlooked I think song.

Today I also saw; Goldfinch well at Lakeside and home, Greylag Geese flying over nicely at Lakeside and home a smashing sight as always, Herring Gull, Robin and Blackbird well again, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Feral Pigeon, a possible Bullfinch again, daisy, dandelion, daffodil and a bee at Lakeside which like the daffodil and the shoots in the back garden and others in the front garden was a great hopeful sighting.

It was another brilliant day of birds today particularly the Lakeside lunch time walk a great variety of species seen.

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dansnaturepictures · 3 years

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17th April 2021-Part 2 of 2: Glossy Ibis and more at Stanpit Marsh: The 10 pictures I took in this photoset are different to those I tweeted tonight

As we have seemed to do often on my Mum’s birthday over the years today we delved into Dorset going slightly into it at the brilliant Stanpit Marsh in Christchurch. What had drawn us here was the long staying Glossy Ibis which we caught sight of here in November after a couple of times of trying. We looked over the marsh looking into the harbour towards Hengistbury Head and Mudeford past the car park and scout hut and my Mum thought she saw it flying. The area I mean shown in the first two pictures in this photoset. We then walked around on the path and to our delight we did see the Glossy Ibis stood there. This was a brilliant moment to see this exotic jet black curved beak beauty. It was very mobile and no sooner had we fixed binoculars on it and limbered for a picture - at this distance a bridge camera zoom in - had it gone behind a tuft of grass but we still managed a decent handful of sightings of it at the start of the walk. One of my best birds this year, a rarity we saw our first of these in Dorset at RSPB Radipole Lake in Weymouth in 2012, we have now seen it three years running both of the sightings here of it and one at Fishlake Meadows near Romsey back in Hampshire in 2019 a good little indicator that this is a bird becoming more common to see right now.

As we walked on we loved taking in ideal conditions of bright sunshine flowing through and sky and sea a divine shade of blue. I took the fourth-eighth pictures in this photoset of views here today. There was also a photo I took I tweeted tonight on Dans_Pictures looking down a channel in a reedbed towards the prominent church in Christchurch which featured in a lot of my landscapes like Hengistbury Head in the distance did as they so often do here today. I had wanted to take that picture and it be one of my proudest sort of in November and I think I did take a version in the end but the angle wasn’t there or the light wasn’t good or something if I remember rightly. So it was great being able to take this shot in gorgeous sunshine today. We had a great walk for seeing birds such as Little Egret, Shelduck and Curlew quite a few times, with many Mute Swans about in the harbour too as can be seen in the sixth picture. It was nice to see ponies with a foal too which I tweeted a picture showing. We got close and special views of a nice bronzed Black-tailed Godwit up close and saw lots in a group in the sea of the harbour too which was so lovely to see again.

Also in this area we loved seeing a few Sandwich Terns, two of them with one flying then they settled for ages on the shallow water with a godwit I took the third picture in this photoset showing this. It was lovely to make our their neat plumage. We saw a couple or maybe it was the same one fishing over the harbour later on in the walk and at one point it had a battle with a gull which was spectacular to watch, we saw a good range of gulls today too. Sandwich Terns are very much the bird of weeks off work for me these days it seems with one seen at Farlington Marshes to start the similar to this one June week off last year and we saw our first of the year during my week off in January during the bird year list foundation building an overwinterting one in Hampshire which was a key moment of that week and my yea so far. We saw one well at Pennington on Easter Sunday too as I said.

We did also see two great different flowers at Stanpit today, some bright white scurvygrass adorning the marsh floor and some bright yellow marsh marigold emanating also from the grassy areas which looked stunning I had seen neither before. Daffodil and bluebell were around here too like Winchester this morning.

We doubled back along the tree line, where we got a brilliant view of a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying across and into a tree and came to the area where the Glossy Ibis had been. With no clear decent photo taken of the bird at that point I put my big lens on my DSLR as I was covering the same area I had already taken landscapes with my normal lens in so I knew I might not do so much again. We were then so happy to see the Glossy Ibis again in the air and as I snapped away with the appropriate tool my big lens on my DSLR camera it looked as though like last November my chance for a photo to remember the ibis by would be in the air. We just wondered where it would settle and as we watched it get lower after a great flying session where Lapwing and other birds were also in the air I anticipated something extraordinary. I thought it may well fly right over our heads, and that it did! It was an amazing few moments to both of our delight as I seemed to get the balance right between binocular views, trying for photos and simply watching it in aw of how close this quite rare bird truly was to us. Spectacular. I managed the ninth picture in this photoset of it flying among others.

It flew on over towards another marshy area by a boat sculpture where it had been reported a lot last year. We wandered back through the wooded area to there in case we could see it again. On the way through we got a quick view of my first Redstart of the year a female, always a crucial bird to see every spring especially in or close to the New Forest a huge part of the year seeing this bird on my B list of favourites for another year. My year list reached 133, the joint sixth highest amount of birds I had ever seen on a year on this date alongside my 2014. Redstart and Glossy Ibis were year ticks in the same weekend for me in 2019 Redstart came first the day before the Fishlake Meadows Glossy Ibis sighting the Redstart at a strong area for them Pig Bush in the New Forest.

We reached a little pool where we thought it might have gone and I was so happy to see the Glossy Ibis was there. We then spent a divine few minutes getting the honour to watch this bird move side to side across the pool mostly with its beak down hunting but it gave us flashes of brilliance as it looked up now and again. The soft early evening sunlight caressed the feathers of its back and head. It was one of the most beautiful and captivating natural moments I’d had this year, perhaps the greatest moment of wildlife for me since seeing the Tawny Owl and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the woods on one walk and so much more four weeks ago today. Such is this bird’s exotic nature that for a minute I could have been in an African swamp rather than a Dorset marsh. The greatest respect to the fantastic Dorset obviously I have always loved this county. What a way to celebrate that British wildlife is phenomenal and it’s been lovely day all round for discussing wildlife with lots of people at both Winchester and Stanpit Marsh. Everything was happening at once as when we arrived at this bit to look over the pool the ibis was on a Kestrel flew right in front of us a stunning view of a special bird.

On the way in and out we took in some beautiful New Forest vistas as you can do on journeys to Dorset and this included some nice bright red tulips with some daffodils which I took a picture of and tweeted and liked admiring on the way back. The perfect birthday for my Mum to kick off our time off, what a day for wildlife and photos! I hope you all had a good one.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: My first Glossy Ibis and Redstart of the year, three of my favourite birds the Shelduck, Little Egret and Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Mallard, a straggling Wigeon, Mute Swan, Herring Gull, what’s not so usual for us in a day both Lesser Black-backed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Cormorant, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Kestrel, House Sparrow, Wren, Dunnock, Great Tit, Linnet and Greenfinch in another nice day of finches, Robin, Blackbird, Rock Pipit and I heard Cetti’s Warbler and also Reed Warbler faintly I believe.

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dansnaturepictures · 3 years

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Rutland Water second bog: 20/08/2021-Lyndon Nature Reserve part 2 of 2: Water Rail, Red Admiral, Brown Hawker and more

We went back on ourselves to the third hide along taking in the nice sheep which I took the first picture in this photoset of when I had a positive premonition a little bit. When thinking of what targets of birds we may be able to see at Rutland Water, Water Rail spring to mind. We hadn’t seen one here since but in either 2009 or 2010 I think one of our very first Bird Fairs we saw a Water Rail in a reedbed channel from this hide. And soon after getting into the hide a kind person in there said she had seen a Water Rail and I was astounded as we got up and looked into the channel to see the richly shaded dark brown and handsome plumage of the Water Rail. It was a wow moment and fantastic few minutes as I adored seeing this splendid species one of my absolute birds of the year. It was a brilliant way to secure a bird year tick for the trip something that feels so good to come from it as always if I can get it. It’s my 174th bird of the year my third highest ever amount of birds I have seen on this date compared to past years. I was so pleased with this bird as I have seen them every year since 2017 sometimes more than once in a year and I could have so easily not seen it this year we saw it on a winter Slimbridge trip around my birthday in January early on in the year in 2019 and 2020 which couldn’t be due to lockdown this year so it was a huge relief to see the often elusive Water Rail today. I took the third picture in this photoset of this bird among others I tweeted on Dans_Pictures and the second picture of a nice view from this hide.

In a case of no Bird Fair but a bird fest we saw a Sedge Warbler another of my favourites in the reeds just before the Water Rail.

Walking back to the centre there was another amazing moment as we got exquisite views of a strong species here the Brown Hawker flying around a scene I loved so much seeing it’s glorious warm brown colours some of the greatest views I’ve ever got of this species. It really was all bases covered as it turned into a wonderful butterfly day next with great views of Small Tortoiseshell and Common Blue adding a great bit of extra flair as if any more was needed to the day and adding well to Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Small White earlier in the walk around. There were lots of great moths around today too.

At the visitor centre a Grey Squirrel which I took the fourth picture in this photoset of made a nice sighting as it did from one of the hides as well as some feeding woodland birds with the feeders there. We then had a nice look at all the other hides east of the visitor centre going all the way down to the one in the woods where we have happy previous memories in visits gone by. It was atmospheric to hear ice cream van music or similar in the woods and I heard it the next day at Egleton reserve too. I took the fifth, sixth and seventh pictures in this photoset on the way to and at the hide in the woods.

The music was quite enchanting my Mum said it was the captain pugwash theme tune with some mushrooms seen well in the woods too. We spoke to some lovely people at the woodland hide that had come this weekend in place of the Bird Fair like us. Back at the visitor centre noticing a fantastic painting of a Barn Owl on the side of it which I took the eighth picture in this photoset of one of some fantastic artwork around the place which I hadn’t seen here before so it must have been done over the last two years before going for a lovely relaxing evening in the hotel including my first time in a restaurant since late 2019 which was great it was lovely to see a Greenfinch and other feeding birds and three Red Admirals sat nicely on a bulging clump of hemp agrimony in the garden at the visitor centre. I took the ninth picture in this photoset of this beauty. These were exceptional views. There were amazing views of lots on this packed, productive with truly an enormous list of species seen and fun day out with lots of stunning vistas landscape wise of water, woods and all around. I very much enjoyed today it was everything I hoped it could be to open the trip.

On the way to our Corby hotel the Premier Inn the place we’ve stayed most for Bird Fair over the years as well as Kestrel hovering complimenting nicely the obligatory Red Kite/Buzzard battle as to what I could see more of on the journey up earlier I loved seeing the usual gateway to coming to this amazing area the distinctive, beautiful and quintessentially rural villages. We came a different way in today so didn’t see these until now. This included one of favourite stretches of road between my two favourite villages to pass through here and anywhere because of how pretty they are Caldecott and Rockingham but to get from one to the other along the road you must cross two county borders going from Rutland one of the smallest counties in England to Northamptonshire via a small slice of Leicestershire. The images of these villages sum up this as one of the happiest times of year for me so I loved being back and I loved noticing in Caldecott especially how even the newer buildings have so much of the gorgeous light brown bricks which allures me to the villages so much keeping their distinctive edge so nicely. A fantastic first day away! I got the tenth and final picture in this photoset of a quite pleasant view from my hotel room.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: My first Water Rail, Ruddy Darter, Migrant Hawker and Muntjac Deer of the year, five of my favourite birds the Osprey, Great Crested Grebe, Great White Egret, Little Egret and Sedge Warbler, two of my favourite butterflies the Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen I’m not sure I’ve ever or maybe appreciated ever seeing these two and rarer relative Water Rail on one day before, Lapwing, Common Tern, Black-headed Gull, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Little Grebe, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Blackcap, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Pied Wagtail, Stock Dove, Meadow Brown, Small White, Speckled Wood, Brown Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, moths, Grey Squirrel, Field Vole, a nice black slug I have seen lots of these lately, spiders and I heard Green Woodpecker another of my favourite birds.

Part 1 of Friday’s post is here: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/660257865202794496/rutland-water-blog-1-20082021-lyndon-nature

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dansnaturepictures · 3 years

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05/04/2021- Hirundines and more along the Titchfield Canal path on Easter Monday

The weather had certainly changed a bit as I woke up to the final day of a brilliant Easter weekend, whilst the sun was no stranger as the day went on in the morning there was a lot of cloud around. It was colder when we got out for our walk at the Titchfield Canal path. This gave way for, in a year I have noticed, photographed and celebrated these more than ever so far anyway, some of the most spectacular and dramatic sky scenes and also very beautiful ones I have seen this year. It was breathtaking to take these scenes in both at home from my window, on the way and during our walk at the Titchfield Canal path.

When at this special location for us I took the first picture in this photoset of a white duck with some Mallards, quite interesting to see. We checked the Barn Owl tree a bird we were trying to see which we have seen here ever year since 2017 along this canal path and this is also the location we saw our first of these now one of my favourite birds in 2008 in a tree they frequent but this was to no avail today although a Stock Dove on the usual tree made a pleasant sight. I went on to take the second, third and fourth pictures in this photoset looking over the fields as the sun appeared for a little bit. We also checked for a bird in truth here and at Lymington-Keyhaven we have been looking for all weekend the Garganey that had been on Posbrook flood, but we couldn’t catch it today either. It was nice to see Gadwalls and Shovelers in good numbers there as well as more nice bronze Black-tailed Godwits and Little Egrets this weekend and when we got to the point you can turn off down the path going beside the flood it was nice to spot a Grey Heron’s head skulking in the long grass.

Before we got down to this bit I was thrilled to spot when looking over the flood from the main path a group of hurundines over the flood mostly Swallows first of all, then we made it three hurundine year ticks in three days when we made out the bluer features of a House Martin flying over which was great to see. Its always a good bird to see for the first time in a year and a very key part of spring for me. The Sand Martins and Swallows arrive a bit earlier and my sightings in a year might usually reflect that but with the Sand Martins and Swallows really coming into Hampshire in the weeks before the latest easing of Covid restrictions allowed us a few coastal trips at a time when the House Martins are now arriving it meant I could joyfully see all three of them at once this Easter weekend and I think as my spring builds and beyond this is something I’ll always remember. On the way back we spotted the sweet brown plumage of Sand Martins in the group too. House Martin is certainly a bird I will not forget in a hurry this year by the nature of where it came as its my milestone 130th bird of the year.

Quite something when you consider a week ago today I was still on 118 birds seen this year, the eleven year ticks I got to start my year list surge in March have been matched in April over one stunning Easter weekend which I am proud of. Not only an unprecedented amount of bird year ticks over an Easter weekend for me but not since the start of the year have I got year ticks four days running which is also notable and displays what a fantastic few days its been. My year list moves up another notch for now I’ve now seen more birds on this date than I had done at this stage in 2017 so my year list is my fourth highest ever for birds seen on this date behind my 2018, 2020 and 2019 lists this feels so amazing and like something to add to the joy of this big run of seeing birds for the first time this year when it was a lot lower than what I had seen in not only the last three year lists but 2016 and 2017 for so long its special to be above them. But of course its only early April so those two year lists grow from here on in and the others further behind so my year list will likely fall behind other years again but to have this moment I really enjoyed.

I went on to take the fifth picture in this photoset of a view and the sixth of a lovely Greenfinch. I then managed the seventh of a Great Tit in a spring time tree with my bridge camera which I enjoyed taking, there was a great symmetry with this and my fellow bridge camera picture of another tit the Blue Tit in a spring time tree on my lunch time Lakeside walk on Thursday just as this Easter weekend was about to begin so this was interesting to have the same type of picture twice. I took some more photos at home in a very relaxing afternoon a time to unwind which I have valued so much this long weekend and my previous two recent ones created by annual leave, but I did take the final three pictures in this photoset of one of the flower beds in the garden and Goldfinches feeding in the back garden and scene out the front on a delightfully sunny late afternoon and evening which I am enjoying so much now.

Wildlife Sightings Summary at the canal path: My first House Martins of the year, two of my favourite birds the Little Egret and Shelduck, Swallows, Sand Martins, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Mallard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Heron, Canada Goose and we heard Cetti’s Warbler very well.

Well that brings to an end a fantastic, wild, packed and truly memorable Easter Weekend. Over four days we were able to visit three nature reserves we have really missed, seeing incredible wildlife; birds, butterflies, mammals and flowers and take in some exceptional Hampshire (and maybe bits of Dorset and Wiltshire where Martin Down was concerned on Good Friday) scenery I took so many pictures some of my most ever in such a short space of time I really did take so many it was unbelievable at times I averaged nearly 50 a day produced this weekend. On the wildlife note there was also unbelievable volume in that it was days of lists of birds in particular but other wildlife seen too as long as my arm it was incredible how much I was seeing and I think that was because with restrictions allowing us to get a little further afield for walks I was seeing not only the spring species across the board but also a lot of the winter birds were still around and then there were year round birds that were around and showing bits of nesting behaviour too so there was just so much that I was captivated by seeing. The weather was so brilliant over the weekend too really perfect mostly sunny and pretty warm conditions which I was so thankful for and there was so many top moments at home and very locally too for wildlife and photography. On top of this it was a truly positive and very relaxing time for which I really enjoyed and valued.

It was wonderful to share so much of it with all of you so thank you for all your kind interactions. I wish you all a brilliant and safe rest of April. Its back to Lakeside walks at lunch times which I shall value so much especially going into spring and maybe a bit more usual weekends for me for the next couple of weeks. I am on annual leave 19th-23rd April what would have been our Pemrbokeshire holiday that was postponed due to the pandemic but we are hoping to make it like the June one instead of the postponed (we hope) to this June Anglesey holiday last year a packed week of day trips.

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dansnaturepictures · 3 years

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19/04/2021-Part 2 of 2: Buzzard out the back, Portland harbour and RSPB Lodmoor (Another 10 pictures in this photoset that are different to those I tweeted earlier)

Following on from my previous post, but going back in time a little to begin with...just before we left this morning I was thrilled to see a Buzzard flying at the back of the scene from my bedroom window as I got ready. I then watched it for a bit flying then got back to what I was doing. Then I saw it again shortly after and it glided beautifully against a great blue sky right outside my window which it was amazing to have again it was fantastic to see it in sharp focus and make out its pure beauty and large extent. A smashing wildlife moment to kick start my first day of five days of annual leave.

At Portland harbour I took the first three pictures in this photoset there in the sunshine poking through another interesting soft cloud formation after yesterday I took the first picture in this photoset showing that and a lovely moon out in the day time I am noticing moons and taking pictures so much lately and another two photos of views we enjoyed trying out a present my Mum got jointly for her recent birthday and it was also for her wedding anniversary and her husband’s birthday too we had been giving money on these occasions towards this too a new telescope. It was great to look at a ship, the famous white horse in this area in the telescope seeing the brilliant sharp quality it offers at a few zooms and more landmarks as well as a Cormorant it really is a quality telescope really brilliant to look through certainly a present we were proud we could get for them. I liked noticing from here and all day some as they do in spring fields now covered yellow from oilseed rape we saw some on the way today too which was beautiful and some nice flowers.

After being at Portland Bill as I posted about in my lats post it was then on to Lodmoor where walking along the path overlooking the lagoons sun kissed themselves we got a stunning view of two Mute Swans coming so close, one with a muddy face which I took the fourth picture in this photoset of. In the lowering and bright evening sunlight it was perfect conditions for photos and I lapped up the chances for this taking some photos I was proud of and I got one of another bird the Black-headed Gull too which is the sixth picture in this photoset I took the seventh of the path and eighth of the lagoon too.

We had come here hoping to see a reported Bar-tailed Godwit and with yet more supreme bronzed Black-tailed Godwits for us lately it was there wading at the edge of a bank at the back I took the fifth picture in this photoset of that. I spotted it and made out the three key factors of distinguishing alongside the paler plumage; the upturned beak, the eye stripe and of course the brown lines on its lower tail feather which give it its name. This year tick of a bird we saw here before on a day we got alongside here and Radipole Lake nearby ten year ticks in a day on the first May bank holiday Monday in 2014 we were now in that territory for ticks today making it another personally historic one was one of the sweetest today as we had missed it at Lymington-Keyhaven nature reserve at home so far this year where we saw it the last two years in the winter and we saw it in January in Moray, Scotland in 2018 so I’d maybe become used to seeing them by this stage in a year and who knows if I’ll go on to see them again this year so it felt absolutely crucial.

I would use that word too for our eighth and final year tick today as with another possible Bar-tailed (it didn’t lift its beak off its back for us go really be able to tell) was a smaller wader a fairly golden looking Common Sandpiper perhaps especially in this brilliant light. Always a top bird to see in a year often in spring so this did feel really good to see it and I loved watching it for a good while seeing it bob once as they do too. A perfect way to bring the year ticks today to a close with another species I do really think a lot of seen.

As we walked on and back I was thrilled to spot a Marsh Harrier appear at the back of the reedbed and then fly over a little it was astonishing to see this raptor they are so beautiful and you can’t come to Lodmoor and not see Marsh Harrier. It was also great to see and hear Sandwich Tern and Mediterranean Gulls great views of those and some more nice flowers including beautiful green alkanet which I’ve seen a few times at Lakeside Country Park locally in recent weeks so nice to connect a place further afield to home. We eat a chippy tea on the outskirts of Weymouth looking back over into Portland and at a beautiful little church and lovely bit of pink blossom to see which I loved taking in I took the ninth picture in this photoset of that scene. A fond memory I will take from this one of my days of the year and best days ever I am sure. When home just as it was getting dark the moon looked amazing and bright so I took a picture of it and I also photographed a lovely spider in my en suite the tenth picture in this photoset I had seen this right before leaving this morning. What a way to spend a Monday!

Wildlife Sightings Summary: (Portland Harbour) Cormorant, Herring Gull and Carrion Crow. (RSPB Lodmoor) My first Bar-tailed Godwit and Common Sandpiper of the year, two of my favourite birds the Little Egret and Shelduck, Grey Heron seen very well too, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Canada Goose including two flying over seen very well, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Marsh Harrier, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Dunnock, great views of Robin and Blackbird with some beautiful singing too and other nice flowers here too like Periwinkle.

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dansnaturepictures · 3 years

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14/04/2021-small whites, kestrel, bats and more at Lakeside, red kite and more

As I worked earlier I enjoyed catching sight of a small white butterfly flitting over gardens visible from my room across the way. It was a great view of it where I really made out its defining features which is always nice. I saw it battling with another not long after in the air which is always great to see with butterflies. I took the first picture in this photoset of a lovely house sparrow in the garden, and I also took the second of some new flowers on the balcony which look quite nice and purple.

I got to Lakeside at lunch time and liked seeing the cowslips in the third picture in this photoset the other side of the railway track beside the fence as I walked east of it down towards the steam railway station. I have had a brilliant spring for cowslips so far as at Lakeside I have just loved noticing them so much they do brighten up the place so well alongside other flowers. The walk then became about seeing birds on the edge of vegetation, the beautiful robin in the fourth picture I took today in this photoset having a song contest with a lovely blackbird I saw and tweeted a picture of on Dans_Pictures tonight a bit further up walking west of the bowl area. I also liked seeing greenfinch, great tit, blue tit and wren as I walked around to the eastern meadow areas and back out. I also got a glimpse of a stunning light brown-headed female blackcap and I heard this too which was great.

I walked out into the grassland here and found a bit of path I’d never been on, with the grass growing quite a bit now I knew I would not be able to do this for much longer as it will get happily very tall as it should be. I walked right into the middle and had gone from the area I nickname as marbled white meadow due to this being one of the main places for these butterflies in the summer here which I love to an area I call kestrel corner as when we’ve been driving past this field adjoining the road in the past I had seen kestrels hunting. As I was there I was over the moon when I looked up and saw a kestrel flying towards me. I was in the right place at the right time absolutely as it then came and hovered to examine the landscape below pretty much right above me. It was a stunning natural experience to watch it fly closer and closer and be in the perfect spot for when it fixed on an area to hover. And to see it so well and as I have done a lot here especially over the last year be able to take in its stunning markings. Its such a beautiful bird and I was proud to get such an intimate moment with it. A wildlife highlight of my year. I took the fourth picture in this photoset as well as a couple I tweeted tonight of this bird. I felt very proud to have a fantastic raptor so close to home in this urban area. It adds to one of my best bird of prey weeks for ages, indicated nicely by my fourth bird of the day in a row being a bird of prey after my first barn owl of the year on Sunday, buzzards out the back on Monday, red kite yesterday and today’s kestrel which is brilliant.

I took the sixth, seventh and eighth pictures in this photoset of views at Lakeside as I loved taking in more great green and blossom scenes today.

I saw the red kite again this afternoon as I worked flying very well over the neighbouring gardens visible from my room which was amazing to see once more for one of my favourite birds.

I took the sky scene in the ninth picture in this photoset this evening before I went round to my Dad’s to have a cup of tea and chat in the garden as current lockdown restrictions allow. It was great whist there to see the last of the sun on a gorgeous evening, hearing a blackbird sing and seeing one too. A great way to bring our valuable Wednesday phone call once again out of the phone. I left and made my way back just before dusk and as planned I went back to Lakeside to walk along the northern path and then back along the tarmac path north of the area beside the properties. As my Mum had seen bats on a walk here on Friday night which I did not come on. It was gorgeous to see the landscape completely changed to being here in the day time as I very often am, it really was so beautiful at Lakeside and on the way home tonight seeing the landscape kissed by the last bits of red in the sky as the crescent moon I took the tenth and final picture in this photoset was ready to take over, bright white blossom just shining through the ever increasing darkness and more blackbirds were about and singing so nicely its great to watch them dash about in the dark. A candidate for that bird of the day title itself. I got nice views of woodpigeons tonight too.

On the way back I was thrilled when I saw three bats gliding through the air. It was a great few moments watching particularly one of them fly over. I believe they are common pipistrelle as I thought for views of them we have got around here last spring and summer. It was delightful and captivating to see them, and like the kestrel I felt very lucky being able to see them in this urban area and thinking about it I have always seen them well in the town. It took me back to a night in the alley at my Dad’s (our childhood) home where I was this evening when out playing with friends as kids and bats would dash above our heads as we cycled at dusk. It was interesting that I walked from my Dad’s house to Lakeside tonight and instead of reversing the route I did from our house to his I went a different way the way that we would walk to Lakeside from that house in my younger years so this was nostalgic. For a number of reasons a very memorable day today, I feel very positively tired now something usually reserved for weekends and time off and big day trips/holidays. I hope you had a good one.

Wildlife Sightings Summary for today: My first bats of the year probably common pipistrelle, one of my favourite birds the red kite, kestrel, woodpigeon, collard dove, carrion crow, magpie, starling, blackbird, robin, goldfinch, greenfinch, house sparrow, blue tit, great tit, wren, blackcap, black-headed gull, tufted duck and small white butterfly.

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dansnaturepictures · 3 years

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15/02/2021-A green day at home and Lakeside

I took the first two pictures in this photoset before going for my lunch time walk of the back garden a very green scene but with some of the daffodils starting to show a little bit of yellow which is exciting I cannot wait for them to flower and some beautiful purple flowers in the front garden which have been around for a while with green scenes around which looked lovely and I liked capturing. I then took my lunch time Lakeside walk and took the third, fourth, fifth and sixth pictures in this photoset of views all of which looked quite green.

The green theme today continued as I took in again something I loved noticing during an epic walk here last Monday lunch time in the southern fenced off area in an area you can walk under trees loads of beautiful lichen covering the branches and in delightful shapes too. I wanted to take a picture of them today and I did manage some including the seventh, eighth and ninth pictures in this photoset of these fascinating, beautiful and wonderful organisms which is something I want to photograph and take a bit more notice of this year. As explored in BBC ‘Winterwatch’ recently they are very remarkable. I loved seeing these and zooming into a fantastic scene around at my local country park, and taking in their many delightful and varied shades of green. A moment where I really felt intrigued by something I knew little about nor had ever really appreciated before and engaged in the natural world. The lichen really do cover the area of trees so well and expansively. The reason I didn’t take any pictures of these when I noticed them last Monday was because I knew to do it there was only one lens for the job for me which being a winter’s day with is usually used by me for autumnal fungi and butterflies and other spring/summery sights I didn’t have with me a week ago my macro lens. But I walked with it in my bag today with these shots of these lichen in mind and it paid off. One of the best parts of the day for me was my macro shots the flower too I was proud of and some other photos in the front garden which I tweeted pictures of on Dans_Pictures tonight of you guessed it, some greenery. I think I am going through a phase with my macro at the moment where its not my newest lens anymore and I have seen over the last year and a bit what a fantastic lens it truly is that I live and breath it and almost don’t notice when I take pictures with it. But its being used sparingly until the butterflies and flowers emerge really when it will become my main lens at times that when I have a day I take one or two with it I become amazed all over again at the detail it can produce which I am loving.

At this point where the lichen are I got as I had done here before a smashing sight of a Siskin. For a bird I wouldn’t have thought would be around so locally in an urban area especially going back five or so years which I’ve seen a decent few times since 2018 on its New Year’s Day and 2019′s before 1st January this year and twice since, this was probably one of my closest and most recognisable views of this finch at Lakeside.

As I walked back down the path between the two fenced off areas taking the tenth and final picture in this photoset of a nice sky at this point I was happy to hear and then see a Greenfinch. I do really like their call and they are birds that look great and its always nice to see around. The green bird hat trick that I achieved on New Year’s Day this year by seeing all three and getting them as year ticks was nearly complete again as I heard a smashing Green Woodpecker call I am going through a great patch of encountering them a lot at stronghold for them Lakeside again lately. A great Monday to ease me into the week.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: Siskin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Robin, Blue Tit in the garden again which was great, Starling, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Coot, Canada Goose and Greylag Goose both of them for the first time in a while with Canada on the lake and greylags flying over whilst in the nature reserve area and I heard one of my favourite birds the Green Woodpecker.

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dansnaturepictures · 3 years

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17/06/2021-Lakeside and home

A young House Sparrow with its bright long gape was a pleasing sight on the feeder just before I went on my lunch time walk, I tweeted a photo I took of this on Dans_Pictures tonight adding well to my young birds this year. There were also Starlings feeding in the garden which was nice and I saw them in the group among the pretty daisies on the green out the front as I set out on my walk I took the first picture in this photoset of one here. Getting into grassy Lakeside I took the second and third pictures in this photoset.

Despite being a lot more overcast today a Meadow Brown greeted me in the grasses outside the allotments, I liked watching one of these brown and orange wonders here and another further round in the meadows which I took the fifth picture in this photoset of (a route designed to try for Marbled Whites again today but its looking likely that my record of seeing a Marbled White at Lakeside for the first time in a year just before a holiday won’t extend to this year but it will be great to have it and Small Skipper as key targets when we return from Anglesey). Its been really nice to see these butterflies every day this week so far at Lakeside and elsewhere on our packed and brilliant day off on Tuesday they have well and truly come out now and are sailing at Lakeside.

As I walked further on in the meadows the bit I call Marbled White meadow an area more behind the allotments the sweet melody of a Blackbird caught my attention and I enjoyed finding the pretty thrush at the top of a tree and I got the fourth picture in this photoset of this beautiful bird. The sharp chirp of a Greenfinch rung around the area too two birds I’ve had brilliant years for especially at Lakeside really. Bright yellow and green agrimony was once more tucked into the grass and bearwind were around on the walk two flower species that have sprung up in numbers this week which is really good I am learning that they are key late spring and summer species after seeing them here at this time last year. In an area I know as Ringlet meadow - another of the summer targets soon to come one of my favourite bits of the butterfly season is the summer ones as you’re usually well established for seeing butterflies through the spring at that stage and taking photos of the them I’ve got a bit more consistent with the latter the past couple of weeks and then all of a sudden its this great guessing game of thinking about the order in which these butterflies of strong summer days are going to trickle back into your life - I saw like at Marbled White meadow yesterday oxeye daisy and bird’s-foot trefoil in a beautiful and delicious duet.

It was then onto the northern path I took the sixth and eighth picture in this photoset coming down here where I did see a some bearwind, a nice beetle I never had before on some bramble type flower and I liked taking in a beautiful patch of oxeye daisies they have adorned the areas beside the railway track nicely lately which looks stunning walking from below and on top of as today. A Speckled Wood flitting along made me nostalgic to seeing them here in the early 2010s when I first got into butterflies.

I had hoped to check on the bee orchid along here the only one I’ve found this year so far and I got to see it again among ever increasingly tall grass which is great to see. The plant has got multiple flowers on now building from the two I saw late last week. I was stunned by the sheer beauty of this again. Thinking it may not be around when we return from Anglesey, just like with a star of the time snake’s-head fritillary before my last week off another of my favourite flowers I took in the bee orchid a lot and safely felt one of the flowers for a brief moment which was interesting. I’ve had a fantastic couple of weeks with these astonishing flowers. I took the seventh picture in this photoset of the plant.

The set up and focus for my lunch time walks this week hadn’t allowed me too much time at the lakes across the whole week so I took a quick look at the westernmost lake where seeing Great Crested Grebes swimming towards each other and interacting, Tufted Ducks and a Moorhen which was great. Before getting back to work this afternoon when the rain came. I took the ninth picture in this photoset out the front and lunch time and tenth and final of a view out the back in the drizzle with one of the trees out the back looking moody. I hope you have all had a nice day.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: One of my favourite birds the Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon including close on the balcony, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, a great moth flying around, beetle and I heard Greenfinch. I had a bee and fly in my room earlier which interesting.

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dansnaturepictures · 4 years

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23/09/2020-Part 1: Sculthorpe Moor 10 different pictures to those tweeted

Today I firstly was dropped off at Sculthorpe Moor a stone’s throw from where we are staying for a solo walk one I had heard of before but never been. With the heaviest showers until the evening moved on in hindsight I had a great walk around this reserve. I got the sweet almost nostalgic impression that this is a great local reserve, the boardwalk takes you through a great selection of habitats mostly woodland, reedbeds, fields and water it was great whilst in Norfolk to see some true fens habitat. Even though thighs still looked uncertain in terms of restrictions at that point my appetite for Norfolk was well and truly wetted by watching BBC’s ‘A Wild Year’ programme in July an eloquent episode looking at the whole fens throughout the year. It had made me really long to see all of the East Anglia habitat this week so it was nice to be at the fens today. I took the first four and sixth pictures in this photoset of views here today.

I then have to express what a brilliant job the team at the Hawk and Owl Trust’s Sculthorpe Moor did to allow visitors safely back to this reserve. The board walk was adapted so well, cleverly turning bits of the boardwalk into a one way system and the other bits the signs etc made it quite clear to respect social distancing. The instructions on entering, exiting, walking about and wearing masks in hides with windows and doors left open for ventilation and only one person per window in the hides and visitor centre were very clear and sensible. I felt very safe here today, and the big thing it marked was that this is the first time I have been in a hide since early March. That was largely due to the timing of the pandemic hitting the UK because over the summer when the restrictions lifted in stages we spend more time watching and looking for butterflies in any year which doesn’t usually involve hides. We go into hides at Rutland Water during the Bird Fair in late August but obviously that was cancelled this year. Titchfield Haven and Blashford Lakes (which was the last place I went into a hide at) are the two main local reserves for me that have hides Titchfield you can see a lot of the reserve/area from the canal path/front so I haven’t been into the hides recently and Blashford are yet to reopen their hides. It’s been a mixed picture in Norfolk so far before today of us not really reaching hides on the walks, them being closed or the area being viewable from outside the hide. So it was rather down to opportunity that I came in a hide at this completely new place for me before anywhere else. But it was a massive confidence boost I am someone very socially awkward anyway so going into hides with no pandemic alone isn’t always something find easy anyway but it’s so good for me to see wildlife going in them so I was very glad I did it today.

And I was rewarded with great wildlife seen from the hides today. I loved seeing Pheasants at the Frank Jarvis (Woodland) hide and the Whitley (fen hide) getting very close to them as I tweeted photos of male and female, as well as see a Great Spotted Woodpecker at the top of a bare tree at the latter. I then saw a being mobbed Buzzard from the boardwalk as well as a Red Kite at the end by the centre before I was picked up so it really showed it was a reserve with birds of prey in mind. I spotted some nice mushrooms in the lovely woods on the floor and trees like the one in the fifth picture in this photoset and some on the trees from the hide. Greenfinches among other birds including a Bullfinch showed well from the feeding points all over the reserve always a great bird to see as they do struggle number wise.

I got some very intimate moments with woodland feeding birds which stood out today right in front of the hide window at the volunteer hide. It was wonderful to see lots of birds so up close I really enjoyed seeing them and getting valuable chances to photograph birds with my DSLR and big lens very close. The bird species I saw up close and personal were a nice range headlined by Treecreeper in the trees just in front, Nuthatch as shown in the ninth of my pictures in this photoset today and Long-tailed Tit and including Great and Blue Tit (seventh picture I took in this photoset), Chaffinch (eighth picture in this photoset) and Robin.

When I walked along the riverside walk and got to the far hides overlooking the scrape the day was brightening up a little and I was thrilled when I walked into the hide to see a Kingfisher land on the sticks in the water about half way across the water. I rushed with my big lens on my DSLR to get a picture but I was too slow as it flew away. It did come back about ten minutes later and my bridge camera given the slight distance ready this time I was thrilled to get the chances to photograph this bird. It stayed long enough for me to get pictures I took the tenth picture in this photoset of the Kingfisher among others as it was nice to hear it chirp and see it bob up and down a bit. I snapped away knowing that with my bridge camera zoom I could get pretty close. I thought to myself real close up Kingfisher shots don’t come every day for me so I wanted to take as many as possible. I think this was one of my best ever chances for a closeup picture adding to a growing group of them I have now so I was glad I waited. This was a sensational moment with one of my favourite birds and early member of my list of favourites too. I was thrilled and in my element watching it. A real gripping and pure joyful moment of nature watching and photography I was over the moon seeing it one of my best of loads of moments with some of my favourite birds this holiday. I left with a strong admiration of this reserve a great few hours spent here truly. It was nice to meet some great people at a safe social distance too something that really stood out.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: Four of my favourite birds the Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard and Red Kite, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Robin and Migrant Hawker dragonfly.

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