The sun does the trick, Sunday 26th may

At least 8 Green Hairstreak were along the Glades Hedge doing their Dervish like dance in the air sometimes in Three's.

A week in Norfolk Baby sitting

What a chance to do some bird watching in probably the best place in this half of the country.  The (kids) jetted off to the canaries for the first time on their own since the grandchildren came along after we (volunteered) to look after them in Norfolk.  Mind you they are nearly 13 and 9,  and were very well behaved and still at school,  so I did get 3 days out,  the only downfull was the weather,  diabolically cold, overcast.

Wood Warbler

Bullfinch

Harvest mouse

Red-Footed Falcon

With Swift

With Hobby

Hobby

Turtle Doves

    On monday I went to Lakenheath fen to see the Red-Footed Falcon and wasn't disappointed,   what a show!  Brilliant Bird.    On wednesday I spent the day at Holme NOA for the Red-Backed Shrike,  but it never showed,  saw 3 Turtle Doves though.    On thursday had half a day at Sculthorpe moor community Reserve,  great place with plenty of Bullfinches,  then on to Wretham for a very vocal and lonesome Wood Warbler.

Green Hairstreak Ingrebourne Valley

1 Green Hairstreak at the usual place along the Berwick Glades Berwick Woods Hedge,  Too windy to for photo's.

A pleasant day at Rainham Tuesday 7th May

Russ and I had another decent day at RSPB Rainham Marshes.  The weather was really good until the cloud came over and the temperature dropped drastically,  but all in all we had a good day there.   In and around the wood we had Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, cetti's Warbler
 On the scrapes 1 LRP was visible as were 5 Wimbrel.    Further along the route we saw a hunting Hobby and plenty of Swifts,  one of which it seemed to make a grab for.   A cuckoo was flying around doing what Cuckoos do.    We eventually got to the MDZ  at about 2 o'clock and patiently waited for the Kingfishers to show,  and sure enough at 2.45 out came what I thought was the male and alighted on the stick and from nowhere was joined by the female.  They nattered away for some minutes then she returned to the hole and he flew off.   Great to watch them for a while with a few other people and grab a few shots through the netting.    It finished off the day.

Him and Her

                          Him

Spectacular Birds.

Wheatear, Bonnets Wood  8-5-13

A morning out with son David. Monday 6th may.

What a glorious day weather wise and for strolling about.  Seems at last as well that mother nature has woken up.  Insects are beginning to show and everthing else will follow,  hopefully.

Ingrebourne Scrape.

Photo,  David C McGough

David C McGough

David C McGough

David C McGough,  Photo's at Hyde Hall.

as'sorted may wildlife

Water Voles, not Rainham.

Brimstone, Ingrebourne Valley.

Green-veined White,  Ingrebourne Valley.

Slow Worm,  Chase.

Orange Tip, Ingrebourne Valley.