Wednesday 29 February 2012

Heyshott and Pagham Harbour

Woodpigeon
Wednesday is Heyshott work party day, We had a good turnout this morning and cleared much bramble covered wood which had been cut years ago but not disposed of. Our bonfire was the biggest yet and it was very satisfying looking at the total area cleared this winter. 


Primrose
This plant is the object of all our work. When the primrose seeds discover the open glade we have created, we hope they will burst forth and attract the female Duke of Burgundy butterflies to deposit their eggs on the underside of the leaves.

Afterwards I called in at Pagham Harbour again where I found about 20 birders looking for the Paddyfield Warbler. It was seen briefly a couple of times and I went on a walkabout to see what else was around.
Woodpigeon
Curlew


geese
godwits
Grey Heron
Little Grebe
Little Grebe diving
 It spent more time underwater than on the surface

Mallard


Pintail
Pintail and Mallard
Redshank
female Teal

male Teal
pair of Great Crested Grebes

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Paddyfield Warbler at Pagham Harbour

male Teal

Mark called me to say there was a Paddyfield Warbler at Pagham Harbour so I was pleased to meet him there for a sighting of this rare immigrant to the U.K. It lives in Asia and normally winters in the Indian subcontinent. We arrived at 9:30am and found over a dozen enthusiasts already set up. The bird had been seen earlier but was hiding in the reed beds and after a couple of hours Mark spotted it when it rose up to catch an insect. It continued this behaviour for an hour before staying low. Every so often it would dart up above the reeds, then head down again, all in a second or so. I never had much opportunity to focus for a shot, though I saw it many times. It looks similar to a Reed Warbler. 
Others have captured good images of this bird, including Dave Barnes: http://www.pbase.com/davebarnes/paddyfield_warbler__west_sussex
All morning Curlews made their lovely call, and a huge flock of Brent Geese flew by. I also saw Teal, Reed Buntings, Redshank and Little Grebe and heard a Cetti's Warbler.
Curlew


Little Grebe
Paddyfield Warbler
Paddyfield Warbler


Redshank
male Reed Bunting in summer plumage
male Reed Bunting in winter plumage
male Teal
female Teal
maleTeal
Teal pair
Me on the left next to serious weaponry (Photo courtesy of Mark Colvin)

Friday 24 February 2012

Final Wisley visit

Idea leuconoe, Tree Nymph
This morning I made my final visit to the Wisley butterfly exhibit which closes Sunday. Linda joined me as she is on holiday this week and we met Mark at the entrance. There were far fewer butterflies and not the variety that we have been used to as they are winding down and there aren't many new ones hatching. Most of those left were in poor condition, and the cooler weather today meant there weren't as many flying. We had lunch at the cafe and headed for home earlier than usual. It obviously time to hunt for the emerging natives with Brimstones, Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Commas and Red Admirals coming out of hibernation in the warm weather.
I have created galleries for each species of the species I photographed at Wisley in 2011 and 2012: http://www.colinknightimages.com/Nature-Photography-UK/Tropical-butterflies
Caligo eurilochus, Forest Giant Owl
I have amended this post because Philzoid on the UK Butterflies forum (click here) has made an excellent observation about the Owls that were seen on the last few days of the exhibit. He noticed that the anterior forewing is blue/grey compared to the Caligo memnon Owls which have a cream coloured anterior forewing. The conclusion is that these newer Owls are a different species - Caligo eurilochus, the Forest Giant Owl.
Caligo eurilochus, Forest Giant Owl
Caligo eurilochus, Forest Giant Owl
comparison of the two Owl species
Caligo eurilochus, Forest Giant Owl 
They often land on clothes!

Moi + Blue Morpho taken by Mark
Idea leuconoe, Tree Nymph
Idea leuconoe, Tree Nymph
Idea leuconoe, Tree Nymph
Siproeta stelenes, Malachite
Morpho achilles, Achilles Morpho
Morpho achilles, Achilles Morpho
Morpho peleides, Blue Morpho
Morpho peleides, Blue Morpho
Morpho peleides, Blue Morphos mating

Papilio palinurus, Emerald Swallowtail
Papilio lowi, Asian Swallowtail female
Papilio lowi, Asian Swallowtail female
Papilio lowi, Asian Swallowtail female
Papilio lowi, Asian Swallowtail male 
Papilio polytes, Common Mormon male
Papilio polytes, Common Mormon male
Papilio thoas, King Swallowtail
Siproeta stelenes, Malachite
Siproeta stelenes, Malachite
Troides rhadamantus, Golden Birdwing