Purple Emperors

After finishing a survey mid-morning during the week I had the chance after to visit a site having heard that there were Purple Emperors in the Woods.
I have tried to see these majestic Butterflies on a number of occasions and failed miserably, I put it down to a lack of  dog poo, if you are not aware dog poo is like caviar to a Purple Emperor, an acquired taste, not for everyone but they seem to love the stuff, the fresher the better.
Below is selection of photos taken from the past week.

Purple Emperor

Dog poo is a favourite

4 on the ground

Marbled White

Silver Washed Fritillery

White Admiral - trying to get a photo of one of these is challenging to say the least

Purple Emperor

Red Kite starting to build a nest - failed breeder or spurred on by the weather?

Met him out in the middle of a field of wheat.

North Kent Marshes

July 7th


It’s not often that you get perfect weather for surveying but I have to say, after the fog cleared on Sunday it was.
This was reflected in the birds on show, even the Hare’s were getting in on the act with a gathering of 6 animals undertaking frivolities in a Turnip Field.

On the way out Greenshank, Avocet, Bar Tailed and 2 Black Tailed Godwits were recorded along with a distant Common Buzzard, a little foggy to start with but by 7.00am wall to wall sunshine.
With the sunshine came Dragons and Butterflies, my first Large Skipper of the year, Broad Bodied, Black Tailed Skimmer and Four Spot Chasers were seen along with a handful of Emperors.
Darters were just about everywhere and a single Painted Lady was also seen.

Unlucky Damsels, one got away though

On the bird front Bearded Tit broods were very evident with 3 separate groups seen so it looks a good season for them; no Mediterranean Gulls this week after 4 adults were seen last week moving through with the Black Headed Gulls.

A very good survey which was rounded off by 2 Green Sandpipers on one of the Fleets and my first Autumn Wigeon of the year or possibly a summering bird, who knows.

Dungeness

July 2nd

For the last 3 month’s I have been surveying constantly with not much of a chance to visit my local sites, or for that matter sites further afield. I am not moaning, how could I, whilst surveying I also got to see some great birds and I get paid for it, I am very lucky.
All weekends have been taken up with London’s Peregrines but with surveys now nearly finished, I have a little more time on my hands.

Such was the case this morning when I decided to visit Dungeness, I know, the wrong time of year but good to get down there just the same.
On arrival I checked the sea and watched for a couple of hours, nothing to write home about, 30 odd Gannets + 3 small flocks of Common Scoter numbering about 45 birds, plenty of Terns around but could not find the Roseate which I was told has been seen occasionally.
3 adults,1st winter and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were on the shingle along with my first juvenile Black Headed Gull of the year so a nice little assortment mixed in with some Common and Sandwich Terns.

1st/summer- winter Mediterranean Gull with juvenile Black Headed Gull

Adult Mediterranean Gulls

The reserve as expected was very quiet, one thing I did not know is that Common Gulls breed on the Tern rafts, it seems the Terns tolerate them, probably viewed much the same as Black Headed Gulls.
The usual Marsh Harriers were around along with 2 Hobbies which were very welcome, although they defied all my attempts to get a decent photo.

Drinker Moth?

Even less sure on this one - Garden Tiger?

Hobbies

Common Gull with 2 large chicks on Tern raft, also Oystercatcher.

A good end to the morning and now looking forward to some autumn passage.

Roe Deer Buck

I came across this fine looking animal on Thursday whilst surveying.

Muntjac - Buck and Doe

I came across these 2 together on Friday, hard to see at the best of times let alone 2 together, both surprisingly were quite approachable as Deer go.

If I remember correctly this is the first Buck I have seen.

Barking Bay

May 25th


This year I have not made that many visits, most of it is just down to the fact that I am now working away every week on what must be said are very enjoyable surveys. Due to this when I arrive back for the weekend it is catch up time with the Peregrines, such has been the case this weekend.

Peregrines will always come first, rightly so, I have now been monitoring them in London for 13 years, after a visit to one site on Saturday I then squeezed a visit in to the Bay.

Walking out initially along the green sward I was rather hoping that one of the recent Sanderlings had lingered, not to be although John found one later ‘across the water’ at Crossness. Walking down I did locate some waders in the shape of 3 Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper, there were also 2 pair of Oystercatchers, both already incubating. Sadly, I hope I am wrong, the Oyc’s are likely to again be predated, presumably the same pairing last year lost all 3 of their chicks. Saying that one pair has dived in with the Common Terns so that stands a far better chance of success.

A redundant Dolphin Jetty, shingled out it is perfect for Common Terns

The Common Tern Jetty, Oystercatcher far left, smart bird.

Common Terns were everywhere picking off food of the surface of the mud and on reaching the far end I scoped the colony, as near as I can make out this year we have around 24 pairs, good stuff. I am still hoping that I can get a couple more of the unused Dolphin Jetties converted for habitat for the Terns, in this way the colony could well be doubled, it is now too late but hopefully others could be made suitable by 2014.

Common Terns worming on the mud

Late Wheatear

Moving inland I looked for Whinchat, it is now getting a bit late but I did locate a single Wheatear, other than this there was very little in the way of migrants, not unexpected given that we are now nearly into June.

Good to get back on the patch again, will hopefully catch up with returning migrants now in the autumn.

The last week or so....

I have been working away lately so not getting a lot of time to blog, below are a few shots from the last couple of weeks. No apologies for more Red Kite photos, what are you supposed to do when they keep flying over your head.

Getting a rare sight - Grey Partridge

How could you ever get fed up photographing these?

I also watched a curious meeting between a Muntjac and a Fox, hope I have the Deer right, the Muntjac just seemed curious as to what the Fox was up to.It was the Fox who moved first.