Bird Fair

Went to the Bird fair yesterday.
Great to see some people and some things.
Not so great to see some other things e.g. Packham crying?!
Highlight of the day was guinea fowl confit with the gang in the evening.

Spotshank

 Juvenile Spotted Redshank (and Green Sandpiper bottom pic)

 Variation in Pied/White Wagtails- 19 in a flock on 100 acre

Reed Warbler- still quite a few about. Some recently fledged birds too. Most other local breeding warblers have long gone.

We re-found the Spotted Redshank today on 100 acre- together with a Greenshank, 6 Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper. 2 Blackwits still on the lake. Quite a few Chiffchaffs around- 10-15. A bit of a passage of hirundines in this morning's rain- 30+ Sand Martin, 20+ Swallow, 5 House Martin and 40+ Swift. A few other bits from today here: bits

Peg takes Pecker

A bit gutted today to see an adult Peregrine take a Great Spotted Woodpecker. There's about 3000 Starlings on site and it had to pick out the only Great Spot flying from one side of the farm to the other. We've only got two or three Great Spots. That shouldn't be in the rules!
A good day- a juv Spotted Redshank (I dipped it), 2 juv Blackwits, 15 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 20 Lapwing, 1 Greenshank, 1 Wheatear, 20 Sand Martin, 10 House Martin, 100 Swift, 25 Linnet and 30 Goldfinch.
Plenty of moth action last night including a first for the farmlands- Pyrausta despicata. Also 20+ Jersey Tiger, Rosy Rustic and Straw Underwing.

Hawkers

 Migrant

 Southern Hawker

Common Darter

 Small Copper- first for year

 Juvenile Cormorant

The Glossy Ibis has flown off

10+ hawkers about today as the highlight. 

Azores Biodiversity

Corvo lepidoptera
Azores Biodiversity
wikipedia

A few handy links for later in month.

Hen Harrier Day

 Chris Packham, Mark Avery and Company

 Sue and Mark Avery

Simon Tonkin ( BAWC) 

What a great weekend. Travelled up with Sue, stayed at Cambridge University, met up with Simon, attended the Hen Harrier Day event in Derbyshire, great speeches by Mark Avery and Chris Packham, had roast beef for lunch, saw some Red Grouse and came home.
Hen Harrier Day Write ups:
Mark Avery
RSPB investigations
Raptor Persecution Scotland
Speeches Video

Beddington Farmlands Bird and Wildlife Report 2013

Out now. Birds, butterflies, moths and other wildlife. Systematic lists, breeding bird surveys, local papers, photograph showcase, ringing report and ringed gulls report.
For a copy please email me: littleoakgroup@btinternet.com

Also new website coming soon!