June including the Red-Foot

4th June

Suffering a bit of man-flu but tempted out by a call from Geoff about red kites at Seasalter. They were over the field along Seasalter Lane, three of them, although the farmer I met who told me he had seen eight. The kites must have been tired as they were on the ground at first but got up times for a fly about and at one time were fighting with a buzzard over a moorhen that one of them had caught. This was the morning after the big influx of over well over a hundred plus yesterday afternoon.

Red Kite Holding a Moorhen/Jackdaw or Something

14th June

First time out for a while and went to East Blean Woods finding a few heath fritllaries and at least two white admirals.

16-21st North of England

A really hot period first stopping at Flamborough and RSPB Bempton and get some photos of the gannets etc. but the bright sun made exposure tricky for the camera.

We had a day out on the moors finding a few red grouse, one with chicks. A few curlew could be heard calling and at one stop I disturbed a snipe with its young as I got out of the car.

The last couple of days were spent visiting my brother further north.

22nd June

I had a look at Duncan Down, close to where I live seeing a couple of broad-bodied chasers, large skippers and a red-eyed damselfly and some blues.

25th June

I went to Kingsdown looking for marbled whites which I found near the riffle range.

30th June  

I went to see the red-footed falcon at Grove.

The End of May

Sorry, I have been busy with other things lately and not much birding so I am just posting the low lights of the last part of the month.

20th May

Two wheatears still hanging around by the huts at Seasalter, might they breed?

21st May

The wheatears are were present plus a red-legged partridge was a welcome addition to the year list.

23rd May

Two yellow wagtails along the seawall path near the white post, LNR but no wheatears by the huts. Every year a pair hang around for two or three weeks leading me to hope they will breed.

I saw a variable damselfly and the Swalecliffe female eider turned up on the 'island' roost.

 Meadow Pipit

26th May

A sunny day, so I went to Stodmarsh finding variable and azure damselflies.

 Blue-tailed Damselfly

Azure Damselfly

28th- 30th Wales

A photographic jolly with three others to mid-Wales, first stop at Gigrin to see the red kites as the weather was good. We reluctantly coffed up £25 each to use the top hide, too expensive, maybe not again, not worth it.  That was a good move as the rest of the time it was dull and mizzly all shots requiring high ISOs. Most of the time was spent at Gilfach where the redstarts weren't playing ball but the pied flycatchers were, although mainly in the shade. Wood warblers were about singing in the trees but no chance of photos. The last full day was rainy so we cut it short and came home in the afternoon

 Pied Flycatchers

Whinchats

Dipper