Bumper day at the Oare Marshes

Russ and I didn't get to the Oare Marshes until 1 o'clock because of the light there,   but what surprises we had waiting for us.    We parked up at the end and walked back down the road where a number of guys were already established looking out over the East flood,  no sooner had we arrived when we heard the sound of Lapwings going up behind us on the West Flood,  but we couldn't see what had disturbed them,  then as I turned around again to have another look there was this big raptor flapping around them, I looked through my Bins,  AAhh;  OSPREY! couldn't contain myself,  brilliant views,  it gradually went off south.   Other big surprises were,  we counted 38 adult Curlew Sandpipers,  64 Greenshanks,  20 Whimbrel,  2 Little Stints,  then later someone saw 200 Little Terns coming down the Swale then separate with 51 landing on the East flood in front of us,  Brilliant!     Other species;  Yellow Wagtails,  millions of BTGs,  Avocets, Knots, Spotted Redshank, Green Sanpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Terns,   The Curlew Sandpipers,  Greenshanks and Little Terns were exceptional numbers and will be recorded so.

Magnificent Osprey

Some of the Whimbrel

some of the Greenshanks

Little Stint with strange Dunlin

Strange Dunlin with Dunlin

White-Letter Hairstreak at the Valley

Another good year for the White-Letter Hairstreak at the Ingrebourne Valley,  I have counted in one walk along the line of Elms 24 individuals,  and I know that there are more higher up in the unusually tall elms there,  the trees have stayed quite healthy over the years.   the WL Hairstreaks also get in the Oaks around the same area because I see them there as well each year.  I estimate that if I can see 24 Butterfies in that brief time there must be at least double possibly treble that amount which I cannot see or are in the surrounding area which I do not get to.   This year it was the 18th of June that the first ones appeared around the tops of the Elms and it took up to the 20th of july before they started coming down to ground level,  these are mainly females laying eggs lower in the Elms or feeding on the Bramble and thistles.   Yesterday 21st July at around 9.30am there were at least 4 feeding on the Bramble and going on to the grass,   at times I could almost touch them.

Female on Comfrey

Female on Comfrey

Male on Bramble

Female on blade of Grass

Greenshank calls in at the Valley

Photo by Dick Jeffries.                                                                      This Greenshank was on the scrape this afternoon for around 40 minutes before it took of and went south towards Rainham.  

Common Sandpiper at the Ingrebourne Valley

At least the waders are getting smaller;  come on you rareties! we are waiting.

Common Sandpiper

Female Purple Hairstreak

Female White-Letter Hairstreak

Purple Hairstreak

Common Sandpiper

Perfect July Day for Butterflies

The Weather has brought out an abundance of butterflies in the Valley,  I concentrated on the Hairstreaks today but couldn't help noting the amount of other species.    I counted 25 White-Letter Hairstreaks this morning with some Females coming down to eyelevel where I could see them depositing eggs on stems.   Purple hairstreaks were coming right down to almost ground level in places,  I should imagine they will be showing well this evening.     Skippers, Gatekeepers, Ringlets, and Commas seem to be everywhere accomanied by Dragonflies,  Dameselleflies, Bees and other insects.  a pleasant day.

Female Purple Hairstreak

Purple Hairstreak

White-Letter Hairstreak

Female W-L Hairstreak laying Egg

Comma

Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Willingale

Caught up with a couple of Hummingbird Hawkmoths feeding.

Little Bittern at Lakenheath Fen.

My Daughter and husband Stuart went to Birmingham for Sunday and Monday to see Maroon 5; whoever they are,   while we babysat.   We did go on Friday and came back Monday,  and because the grandchildren  are 15 and 11  I did get a chance to get out and do a bit of birdwatching,  thanks Bon.   Lakenheath Fen is only 25 minutes from Downham Market so I thought I would have a try for the Little Bittern;   not for those who are in a rush,  because first of all you have the half an hour walk to New Fen where the bird has found itself,  if you stop on the way like I did when you see Hobbies, Harriers,  loads of Cuckoos,  and Bitterns flying around it can take a bit longer.   Saturday morning was the first visit and I saw all these birds plus the Little Bittern which has made its home at the moment in the triangle at New Fen.   It had disappeared for a few days but lucky for me it made a return that morning and I saw it twice.   It does bark from time to time and gives its position away and when it takes to the air which it does every so often its only for about 5 seconds and down again.    I did return early Monday to Lakenheath and had a similar morning arriving at the spot around 8. 45am just as the Little Bittern took to the air ( lucky me)   in the next couple of hours I saw it twice more.   Never seen so many Cuckoos,  seem to be everywhere.   Good couple of days birding.

Bad  Record Shot Little Bittern