Escaped Ringed Teal

In an attempt to see the odd ducks of a couple of days ago, I went to Lea Farm GP around 09:30, I did see the thin necked Mallard and now assume it to be the bird we thought was Pintail the other day.

But I am not completely convinced as on the day, I could not see face markings that appeared to show in the photos I took and today's bird was fairly classic Mallard features, but a with a neck on the thin side.

Anyway, not a whole lot going on, 6 Gadwall, 2 Oycs over North, then 2 distant Raven high up, drifting East, one heavily moulting. Then a group of 25 House Martins fed over the water nearby.

About to leave and I heard the wing beats of a duck, similar to Goldeneye and noticed a small duck alighting the nearby small raft to the front left. I got the scope focused and thought "hmmmm...no idea what that is"

I've looked again at the rather dated Helm 'Wildfowl' and can now see it is a female Ringed Teal

Here are some pics

Popping back later, the Ringed Teal was asleep on the left hand small raft and looked tiny next to Mallard, in the SW corner 2 Green Sandpiper fed quietly.

Purple Emperor Butterfly

I forgot to post the photographs from Alan Rymer and Geoff Emmett, of the female Purple Emperor seen laying eggs on Lavell's 12th July. We believe this the first DP record, but will check on this soon, enjoy.....

July rare ducks

Brian texted to say there was an eclipse Pintail on LGGP, I was at Sandford and headed over immediately, knowing it was very unusual for July....the first in fact, now I have read up.

Whilst panning around afterwards, I checked the small duck off the North spit, thinking it was probably the Teal still around, but as soon as it lifted it's head, I saw a pale loral spot and bigger bill....a July Garganey...the second ever.

How remarkable to find two rare July duck species on the same day.

The Pintail

The Garganey

Juvenile Cuckoo

I have managed to miss seeing a juvenile Cuckoo all my life, so when Ruth Angus told me she'd seen one yesterday and Richard re-found it in the same spot today - on the edge of BSL as you walk up from Sandford, near the hide, I had to go and see it.

As one shot captures, it was being fed constantly by a pair of Reed Warbler

And a little video clip of one the parents feeding it

Passage begins

I did a quick hour around Lavell's from 08:30, on arrival at Bittern Hide, the same adult Little-ringed Plover was around, plus a Lapwing occasionally chasing it.

Then all of a sudden the first autumn Green Sandpiper, an adult, appeared on the bund too, came quite close, then over to the right hand back mud.

I took a bit of video, but so far have not been successful in getting it posted here.

There were two Little Egrets, 1 juvenile on the scrape, the adult on the old tern island.

Finally as Geoff has been seeing Silver-Washed Fritillary on brambles half way between the hides, I have started looking and took my first Butterfly photo ever - a male Gatekeeper.

Later on further reports of Silver-washed Fritillary brought me back at lunchtime and despite not seeing one, I got shots of Speckled Wood and Large Skipper?, the latter being rather tricky as it kept moving when I went close, so I scoped it from 25 feet to get the shot.

The Green Sandpiper and LRP still present on Tern Scrape.

A July Bittern?

I got a call from the DP fishing warden (Simon), saying a fisherman he knew well said he saw a Bittern at WSL on Tuesday at midday.

I went there last night, met him (Neil) and spent the evening until dark, waiting and chatting about Bitterns and various other bird and fish related topics. From our discussions and the fact it was only 30-40 feet from him, I am convinced he saw one, sadly it didn't show.

Around 21:00 we heard a Sparrowhawk calling from somewhere towards the Loddon and somewhat later we saw Tawny Owl (my first this year) flying over around 22:30 and I heard a lot of calls from Middile Marsh as I left at 23:10.

It is well worth all of us keeping an eye out at our reed beds, as there is a good chance the Bittern is around somewhere. The only other July Bittern record was the one I identified on 29th July 1983, I say identified as a local couple (Jim & Cath Harrison) also said they had seen a brown heron like bird in the previous day or so.

Apart from the long staying Bittern of 2003, there have only been 2 August birds, so a July one is incredibly rare.

A bit of house keeping

I might yet get out for 30 mins today, but in the meantime, I thought I begin updating my lists - predictions for my 2014 and the DP life list, the latter being mostly a combo of educated guess work and wishful thinking.