Venus pool has become quiet but you have to be in there on the off chance that something good drops in? And why not point the camera at a Shelduck in flight while you wait?
Monday, 22 May 2023
Saturday, 20 May 2023
Shropshire - Four-spotted Chaser
Had my first Four-spotted Chasers of the year today. They have an extra wing spot on each wing unlike the other chasers. This species is unusual in having no easy visual clue regarding sex. Just by chance, they were a male and female so how did I make the decision? First and foremost, you need a very close view when at rest or a closeup photograph.
It's all about the anal appendages, the male is built for clasping hold of the female when mating...
They converge at the tip (or as here they are parallel).
Tuesday, 16 May 2023
Long Mynd - Pallid Harrier
Shades of the Black-winged Stilt! Another mega for the county and my luck goes awol but I offer no excuses - I went, I saw, I ticked a Pallid Harrier on the Long Mynd. That ought to mean 'success' for this post...
Two relatively close passes on my 'second encounter' resulting in 'images'! Spoilt by heat haze and distance!
Sunday, 7 May 2023
My Garden Pond - Broad-bodied Chaser
My second species of Odonata to emerge in the garden, a teneral male Broad-bodied Chaser which was spooked as I was doing a spot of weeding!
Thursday, 4 May 2023
Venus Pool - Mediterranean Gull
John Martin had a 2cy Mediterranean Gull early on today at VP so I thought I'd see if was still hanging around mid morning? It was but always pretty distant and often on the move as time went on. Meds are always smart gulls and worthy of some effort...
Here is is with the other two species present...
Wednesday, 3 May 2023
Polemere - Garganey pair
Garganey are classy Ducks, always worth a look? Sometimes distant, sometimes close and this evening was fortunately the latter! I started with views of 60m or so and ended up a lot closer...
Some pics from a very brief appearance on the water...
Sunday, 30 April 2023
Venus Pool - Ringed Plovers
The wader interest continues with two Ringed Plovers dropping in at VP this morning and still there late afternoon...
Saturday, 29 April 2023
Venus Pool - Avocets
After the long awaited County Stilt tick, I relaxed a bit too much and had accidently put my phone on silent... Big mistake and news of a pair of Avocets frolicking their way around Venus Pool had gone undetected... worse still they had flown off :-(
I had to get some fuel so chanced a late check at the pool en-route just in case I was due another dollop of luck? When told by folk going home, "still no sign", I nearly drove back out of the car park! Just as well I didn't do that as the hide window was duly opened and moments later, there they were...
Bridgwalton Quarry - Black-winged Stilt
Earlier in the week, I ended with a comment 'wondered if we would get a mega before May' with my Hobby post? I wondered correctly with the arrival of a Black-winged Stilt at Bridgwalton Quarry the previous day!! I joined the two Daves for a successful journey and it was still there...
The Stilt was a good distance away but a landing sequence made it a larger subject...