Grey Phalarope at Fairhaven, THREE!

I know the internet is littered with web sites and blogs of this fabulous encounter, so here are some more of mine for what they are worth... and more to come!

As you can see I am still experimenting with finding the best way to upload sharp images – and failing miserably... we persevere.

Grey Phalarope at Fairhaven Part Two

In actual fact these were taken before the other post... doesn't matter – here are some more images of the visit – it may be sometime before I post again, so two posts in one day!

Mallard for size comparison

Look carefully, Grey Phalarope in the middle – not all sunshine!

'Riding the waves'

my art shot

Surf's up

Grey Phalarope at Fairhaven Lake

As I had to drive past, it seemed a shame not to stop!

I wonder what other gems await us... at least there is something to be thankful for when we have a storm... a silver lining?

Red Throated Diver

Scotland 

The following are Fleetwood Marine Lake...

The appearance of a Red Throated Diver was well reported over the internet, along with the appearance of a juvenile Orlotan Bunting earlier in the week close by. As I had found an Orlotan Bunting in 2009 without realising it's significance, a view of another wouldn't go amiss, if I wasn't too late. As I was only just down the road and had an hour to spend what better way of catching one or the other... so Fleetwood bound.

The last (and only) Red Throated Diver I had seen was when Brown Trout fishing on a lochen above Loch Ewe in Western Ross (west of Ullapool) two years ago, two adults with two young – one parent (I assume the male) going off fishing and returning with a catch for his young family. The other adult staying on station. While it was a small lochen, the weather was pretty bad (mizzle), the light not good, access limited and while unperturbed by my presence (if they were even aware I was there), they remained on the leeward side just too far away and difficult to approach because of the terrain, and I wasn't going to disturb them, so didn't bother even trying to get closer. I've added a photo of that encounter below.

At Fleetwood Marine Lake, I was fortunate to park up above the lake and getting out of the car saw the tripod and lenses to tell me the Red Throated Diver must still be about. I crept down to one end of the gaggle(?) of photographers and plonked myself on the end, as it happens the end of the island and where the bird was showing. Most of the time it was on the leeward side and with eyes closed.

It disappeared behind the island out of sight for a while as the wind changed direction but then I couldn't believe my luck when it returned and swam past not twenty yards (19mtrs) away. Shutter burn out. The first two images are of that 'swim by'. The bird then disappeared towards the bridge and I stayed put while everyone else went off in search of their photos. The Red Throated Diver returned on the far side of the lake and made or two unsuccessful attempts to get out of the water and stretching its wings but making no attempts at flight or fishing. It then proceeded down the far bank to the east end of the lake. 

I joined the other photographers as it was evident it was going to remain at that end. In fact it came towards all the lenses at that end of the lake... incredibly sitting in the water less than 2 yards from the bank edge... and less than  20 yards (19mtrs) away, apparently unconcerned by our presence. The light wasn't great but changed from time to time when the sun made a brief appearance. The Red Throated Diver continued to 'cat-nap' often drifting in the breeze with eyes closed, only twice stretching its wings.

The sun was swinging around and I went over to the seaside of the lake, only for the Red Throated Diver to haul itself out of the water up the bank side and sat on the surrounding concrete edging apparently enjoying the warmth of the sun and heat from the concrete. It remained there undisturbed as most of us departed.

Fingers crossed the bird recovers from whatever ailment, starts feeding and makes it way back to sea and back to its stomping grounds.

I hope the pictures tell the story... what a magnificent bird. I purposely tried to photograph and include the back of it's head to demonstrate the amazing plumage. Of course the search for the bunting never took place and I was hypnotised by this terrific looking, if sadly somewhat poorly bird. Hopefully there will be some updates and positive news to follow.

It was good to see some old faces and chat to fellow photographers – all very knowledgeable and helpful. Thanks folks.

Late news … Sadly, word on the internet is the bird didn't make it and was found dead on Sunday morning... I am sure it will be long remembered.

Wheatears on the way back

Aye, well, ho hum... time the most valuable commodity we have has been passing me by without much to report. I have found myself on the 'promenade' at Preesall, at least I think it's Preesall, just east of Knott End and before Cocker's Dyke;  there have been a few Grey Plover on the foreshore and a number of Wheatears on the sea defence wall. It's amazing how easy it is to miss them. I've included a couple of images that, I hope demonstrate this ability to disappear into the background – you may want to look twice at a couple of the images. Catching two together in one image, is for me, unusual.

I like Wheatears and if you can be bothered I came across a very obliging individual above Tower Lodge in the Trough earlier in the year, I enjoyed the experience no end. I enjoyed this latest brief encounter (Celia Johnson wasn't around) and watching Wheatear behaviour, often fying ten feet or so so, always perching on a vantage point, the flash of a white rump, the interception of an unfortunate flying too close... backwards and forwards, often working the same patch of ground... but unusually this time, I couldn't get very close before they were off.

A late call at Newton Marsh and I spotted a flock of geese approaching from the eastern horizon, so far off I was able to park the car, get out and blend into the background as they approached. It turned out to be our old friends, 19 Greylags who flew directly overhead and disappeared over the western horizon. I've only included the image as I like the way the setting sun caught the underneath of their wings... a skein of geese taking a few minutes to fly overhead... a sign of times to come? Pinkfoot!

And perhaps finally, a Tortoiseshell. I think I'd mentioned in a previous post a lot of nice looking ones about and this picture, exactly as taken demonstrates that. Shame about 'the straw', bottom left and I may have to double-check the camera settings... I can't get over the colour saturation, but exactly as taken. Perhaps more on that later.

More butterflies and bits

I had said to myself I wasn't going to do this... wallpaper the blog with butterflies and bits and bobs, but I have found myself doing just that. In some ways it perhaps is just as well, my concentration towards Common Blues and Small Coppers only lasted a couple of days and now nowhere to be seen!

I have always thought of Ragwort as 'a danger' as it is I believe, poisonous to horses yet there seems so much of it about. What I have recognised this year is just how many insects appear to rely upon it for food, all manner of flying things, moths and butterflies and even the Cinnebar caterpiller feeds exclusively on this plant, somehow absorbing the toxicity – one heck of a defence mechanism.

The Common Blues had become a bit tatty as indeed had most of the butterflies – and while they are 'common', only if you know where to find them – I think this year has been my most successful to date and I can never get tired of these fabulous butterflies, the male and the female and the underside etc. Terrific. So here's perhaps the last viewing.

I know nothing about moths but came across this Mother of Pearl Moth feeding on Ragwort flowers – I'm not sure this is the best picture I have as it doesn't quite capture the 'pearl effect'... but you get the idea.

Perhaps someone can confirm the species of ladybird as I'm not too sure, it was in my garden.

Just recently there appear to have been an outburst of really good looking Small Tortoiseshell – not sure if they are the result of early breeding, but they certainly look well at the moment and a lot of them about.

I managed to catch this Wall butterfly with its wings closed at Lane Ends but it was an awful day, cool, overcast and it wasn't going to play. I was lucky to capture this image... I will be keeping a look out next year and must make plans to find a few more species.

Thanks to MJ I had a guided tour of Cottam Brickworks before Tesco get their hands on it and were lucky enough to come across this Common Darter suitably positioned for a photo or two. And finally, Small Copper are new to my portfolio this year so to have two on one flower head was 'interesting', primarily because one was looking the worse for wear and a bit 'pale', while the other was a deep orange/copper colour which I hope the image demonstrates. And finally a Small Copper on a dried flower head, 'cos I like it! (Photos 23 and 24 August)