Stringing again

 Recently identified this plant as Common Fumitory (growing amongst Senecio sp). Thanks to Gareth Knass it's been re-identified as a new site species Common Ramping Fumitory (so I almost got it right? :-/). Gareth says: Looks like Common Ramping Fumitory Fumaria muralis (probably ssp. boraei) rather than Common Fumitory F. officinalis.  Ramping fumitories are generally scarcer and very scattered locally in South East England than Common Fumitory, which can be an extremely abundant arable weed, especially in calcareous areas.  So definitely more interesting than Common Fumitory.  In parts of the west, eg Cornwall it is sometimes other way round.The ramping fumitories are bigger plants and do scramble over walls, other vegetation etc.  The 'non-ramping' Fumitories are low growing ground hugging.

Original post

Last few Days

 Two adult Mediterranean Gulls. 4-6 birds moving through today (calling), 1 yesterday and 1 last weekend. A light passage this time of year has been detected in recent years e.g. HERE

 Sand Martin- had two on Sunday and one past the window today. The westerly winds are strong at the moment holding things back. Still no fall of Wheatears. 

 The Mute Swans have moved into the areas we cleared on the island and built a nest from the strimmings- Great to see the work making a difference:  SEE HERE

 Male Shelduck- currently eight birds on site. Hopefully will repeat last year's breeding success

 Tawny Mining Bee

Eristalis sp? 

Mird Bug Possibly Deraeocoris (Knightocapsus) lutescens. (I-SPOT ID). My 1104th species for Beddington. A few bugs about but the cool windy conditions are holding things down .

The Elections and Beddington Farmlands

Great to see our local Green Party candidate campaigning for Beddington Farmlands as part of 7th May elections.
More from our local candidate here: SUTTON GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE

Updated Trip Report Section

I've updated the publication section on this blog to include some new trip reports from trips I've been on over the last few years. 

Section now includes trip reports from The Azores, Kenya, Ecuador, Turkey, Bulgaria, Syria, Jordan, Lesvos, Ghana, Morocco, Finland and India. Click below: 

PUBLICATIONS (Updated 0315) 

A few pics published

Nice to see a few images from our pelagic trips published in a new book (The Birds of France). Here's my pics- Barolo's Shearwater and Swinhoe's Petrel in flight and a juvenile/first-winter Roseate Tern.
More pics from the Azores Pelagics here: Azores Nature Blog

More Bugs

 Clouded Drab Clouded Drab identification article

 Small Tortoiseshell on Coltsfoot

  Hairy-footed Flower Bee

 Red-tailed Bumblebee

 The Northern Lake, new tree planting and ploughed area (still no Wheatears on plough. Apparently there is a hold up of migrants in Southern Europe)

Common Fumitory (new one for me on site) (amendment) 

A few more 'bugs' beginning to appear. Had Brimstone, a couple of Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral in last few days. Also a few bumblebees (Red-tailed, White-tailed and Early), a few solitary and mining bees and the first hoverfly. 

On the plants in flower front to add to this list locally I've had Common Fumitory, Cultivated Hyacinths, Chickweed, Photinia, Hebe and I forgot about Quince which has been flowering for a while.  

Red Kites

 Bird 1: Primaries missing on left wing

Bird 2: Not good angle but doesn't look like any primaries (maybe one?) missing on left wing

Two sightings of Red Kite today, following one yesterday, two day before, one day before that and one on 20th (the adult-see below). The bird yesterday had a secondary missing so both birds today were different. Obviously a few on the move at the moment- either migrants from further afield or perhaps birds being pushed around as territories are being set up.

Also today 1 Brambling over calling, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 ad Med Gull, 2 Green Sandpiper and 4 Chiffchaff. Still no Wheatears on the ploughed area which looks perfect for them. Hopefully when wind changes they will come in.