Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Moths in the loo
International Moth Rescue was called into action to collect a few moths from the ladies' loo at work. I'm pretty sure the first one is a Scalloped Oak, but I don't know the others. Comments please, ladies and gentlemen (and Brian). Excuse the bad photography but the light was rather poor...
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Dogsthorpe disappointment (as usual)
Disaster had apparently struck when I read this e-mail on Peterbirder:
Aaaarrrghhh! On the busiest day for ages, too... Would we get a chance to look for it? Not until lunchtime, and it was a bit late by then. Again, Brian Stone gave WeedWorld and me a lift to Star Pit on the remote chance of the Red-foot still hanging around.
Of course, it wasn't there, but the Little Egret was, and there were plenty of gulls to look at - if you like that sort of thing... We didn't even neeeeed the falcon for our PBC lists (click here for Phil Ackerman's excellent pics of last year's long-staying Deeping Fen bird).
Mike found a Small Copper, but during his enthusiastic attempts to take its picture, it flew off...
I urgently neeeeeed to take some photos before my blog gets superseded by the two mentioned above.
What's in my CD player: Summerteeth - Wilco
From: John Oates
10:04am
Marcus Kohler has just phoned to say Kevin Webb has found an adult male Red-footed Falcon at Dogsthorpe Star Pit at 7.30am today. It was with a Hobby.
John
Aaaarrrghhh! On the busiest day for ages, too... Would we get a chance to look for it? Not until lunchtime, and it was a bit late by then. Again, Brian Stone gave WeedWorld and me a lift to Star Pit on the remote chance of the Red-foot still hanging around.
Of course, it wasn't there, but the Little Egret was, and there were plenty of gulls to look at - if you like that sort of thing... We didn't even neeeeed the falcon for our PBC lists (click here for Phil Ackerman's excellent pics of last year's long-staying Deeping Fen bird).
Mike found a Small Copper, but during his enthusiastic attempts to take its picture, it flew off...
I urgently neeeeeed to take some photos before my blog gets superseded by the two mentioned above.
What's in my CD player: Summerteeth - Wilco
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Swaddywell Pit
Went to Swaddywell Pit at lunchtime with Natural and WeedWorld. Spent most of our brief visit chasing various butterflies but my camera was at home charging up so I couldn't take advantage. It's amazing what a smallish patch of wildflowers and weeds can do, though.
See the boys' posts and great photos at:
The Natural Stone: Swaddywell Insects
Weedon's World of Nature: Swaddywell insects
What's in my CD player: Is A Woman - Lambchop
See the boys' posts and great photos at:
The Natural Stone: Swaddywell Insects
Weedon's World of Nature: Swaddywell insects
What's in my CD player: Is A Woman - Lambchop
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Ringing
Another CES ringing session at Ferry Meadows. Didn't take any photos this time - too busy! About 115 birds were trapped today - about 25 of those were retraps. I extracted about 20 birds again - the number only limited by my slowness...! But there's no point rushing - just keep going, learn the ropes: practice makes perfect.
It was looking like being a slow morning to start with; it was very overcast and the sun never came out. But the catch was boosted by 30 birds all flying into one net - mainly juvenile Great and Blue Tits, with the odd Sedge Warbler thrown in. Ringers love Blue and Great Tits... they take every opportunity to peck and nip you, which I suppose is only fair. It can virtually be guaranteed that we won't retrap any of them, but unless you try...
Apart from the juvenile Reed Buntings (scarce on the site, as far as ringing's concerned), the best bird was an adult male Sedge Warbler. Not very exciting, you might think, but this individual has been trapped at FM every year since 1997! It's an amazing feat of site fidelity, and just think how many hundreds of miles those wings have done...
Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were notable by their relative absence, the same as last time. There were a few unringed adult Reed Warblers on the site - perhaps birds whose breeding attempt has failed during the past week's bad weather.
Incidentally, conditions underfoot were tough - about a foot of water in places, on top of the usual squelchy mud. I slipped over on my arse once, though the only thing hurt was my backside. Again, the growth of willow and other vegetation over the past two weeks was immense. Good job it was only about 18° C. The mosquitos weren't as active as usual, which was a blessing.
What's in my CD player: Nixon - Lambchop
It was looking like being a slow morning to start with; it was very overcast and the sun never came out. But the catch was boosted by 30 birds all flying into one net - mainly juvenile Great and Blue Tits, with the odd Sedge Warbler thrown in. Ringers love Blue and Great Tits... they take every opportunity to peck and nip you, which I suppose is only fair. It can virtually be guaranteed that we won't retrap any of them, but unless you try...
Apart from the juvenile Reed Buntings (scarce on the site, as far as ringing's concerned), the best bird was an adult male Sedge Warbler. Not very exciting, you might think, but this individual has been trapped at FM every year since 1997! It's an amazing feat of site fidelity, and just think how many hundreds of miles those wings have done...
Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were notable by their relative absence, the same as last time. There were a few unringed adult Reed Warblers on the site - perhaps birds whose breeding attempt has failed during the past week's bad weather.
Incidentally, conditions underfoot were tough - about a foot of water in places, on top of the usual squelchy mud. I slipped over on my arse once, though the only thing hurt was my backside. Again, the growth of willow and other vegetation over the past two weeks was immense. Good job it was only about 18° C. The mosquitos weren't as active as usual, which was a blessing.
What's in my CD player: Nixon - Lambchop
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Grimeshaw Wood, Bretton
Went for a stroll at lunchtime to Grimeshaw Wood with Weedon's World of Nature. Upon entering the wood, we spotted some Hornets buzzing around and soon discovered they were going in and out of a fallen, hollow tree stump. Mike was keen for some photos so we were brave and tried to macro them... Bit scary.
This is some kind of cricket, just next to the hornets' nest.
Pollen beetles on a thistle flower.
A fungus thing growing on some more dead wood.
A leaf.
Leaf from a Lime tree.
This is some kind of cricket, just next to the hornets' nest.
Pollen beetles on a thistle flower.
A fungus thing growing on some more dead wood.
A leaf.
Leaf from a Lime tree.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Here is the news
Bird worry after cockler invasion: "Groups of up to 90 cocklers have been working at Lafan Sands in north west Wales for the past 10 days. Inspectors, who have been monitoring the situation closely, say they have not breached any fisheries regulations. But conservationists are worried that sea birds' feeding grounds are being disturbed."
Old birds' network "ONE of Britain's oldest birds has been found safe and well off the North Wales coast. Manxie has been winging his way around the UK and making longs trips to the south Atlantic since the Queen's coronation in 1953."
Ducks blamed for deadly bird flu "'Our findings indicate that domestic ducks in southern China had a central role in the generation and maintenance of this virus, and that wild birds may have contributed to the increasingly wide spread of the virus in Asia."
Scots-born ospreys to be Spanish flyers "OSPREYS accustomed to the changeable Scottish weather will be moved to sunnier climes this month, in an effort to restore the number of the species in continental Europe."
By the way, I did win the sweepstake at work, by correctly forecasting that the number of goals scored during the Euro 2004 tournament (including penalties) would be 97. I won £46!
Old birds' network "ONE of Britain's oldest birds has been found safe and well off the North Wales coast. Manxie has been winging his way around the UK and making longs trips to the south Atlantic since the Queen's coronation in 1953."
Ducks blamed for deadly bird flu "'Our findings indicate that domestic ducks in southern China had a central role in the generation and maintenance of this virus, and that wild birds may have contributed to the increasingly wide spread of the virus in Asia."
Scots-born ospreys to be Spanish flyers "OSPREYS accustomed to the changeable Scottish weather will be moved to sunnier climes this month, in an effort to restore the number of the species in continental Europe."
By the way, I did win the sweepstake at work, by correctly forecasting that the number of goals scored during the Euro 2004 tournament (including penalties) would be 97. I won £46!
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Greater Sand Plover
As I've said before, it is sometimes nice to go and see an interesting bird, even if it is Out Of Area. So this afternoon I drove up to Norfolk with Mike to Snettisham to see a moulting summer-plumaged Greater Sand Plover. ("I'm thinking of going for this sand plover, and you're going to drive!" - this is fair enough, since MJW has given me plenty of lifts in the past).
Presumably this is the sand plover sp. which was seen flying south at Spurn, East Yorkshire, yesterday.
Things didn't look very promising to start with, since a) it was bucketing down with rain on the way there, and b) when we got to the RSPB car-park, there were about four cars in it - where was everyone??!
Me: There aren't many people here, are there?
MJW: No.
After some staring out at the Wash for a while (tide miles away), and a text from Mark 'Wardy' Ward, we decided to go down to the 'beach car-park' (with Sophie from Holme Observatory), where we found a fair-sized crowd and the Greater Sand Plover. YOU BEAUTY!
The light was pretty bad and the bird a bit distant for digiscoping, especially on my magnification. It's sometimes hard to stop digiscoping and remind yourself you're there to enjoy the sight of a rare and beautiful bird. When you have the kit, it seems churlish not to try for some photos, but when they're this bad...
This is my 'best' record shot:
Greater Sand Plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
There are much better pics on Surfbirds at the moment (and better to come, I'm sure). There were plenty of birding luminaries and acquaintances there - Nigel Blake, Graham Catley, Paul Hackett, Lee Evans...
On the way back to the car, we said hello to Trevor, Jane and Dan Williams, Will Bowell and Bob Titman from PBC. It was just starting to rain again, but by the time we hit King's Lynn, it was sunny...
Euro 2004 conclusion
There weren't nearly enough decent mullets to be seen, especially after the groups, but Greece have just won the tournament, 1-0 against the hosts, Portugal!
Cristiano Ronaldo is sobbing into his shirt.
I think I may have just won the sweepstake at work (guess how many goals would be scored, including penalties). Considering how little I know about football, this would be some feat indeed. I will wait and see tomorrow. Not holding my breath.
On a slight downer, my telly's just blown up...
What's in my CD player: Guerilla - Super Furry Animals
Presumably this is the sand plover sp. which was seen flying south at Spurn, East Yorkshire, yesterday.
Things didn't look very promising to start with, since a) it was bucketing down with rain on the way there, and b) when we got to the RSPB car-park, there were about four cars in it - where was everyone??!
Me: There aren't many people here, are there?
MJW: No.
After some staring out at the Wash for a while (tide miles away), and a text from Mark 'Wardy' Ward, we decided to go down to the 'beach car-park' (with Sophie from Holme Observatory), where we found a fair-sized crowd and the Greater Sand Plover. YOU BEAUTY!
The light was pretty bad and the bird a bit distant for digiscoping, especially on my magnification. It's sometimes hard to stop digiscoping and remind yourself you're there to enjoy the sight of a rare and beautiful bird. When you have the kit, it seems churlish not to try for some photos, but when they're this bad...
This is my 'best' record shot:
Greater Sand Plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
There are much better pics on Surfbirds at the moment (and better to come, I'm sure). There were plenty of birding luminaries and acquaintances there - Nigel Blake, Graham Catley, Paul Hackett, Lee Evans...
On the way back to the car, we said hello to Trevor, Jane and Dan Williams, Will Bowell and Bob Titman from PBC. It was just starting to rain again, but by the time we hit King's Lynn, it was sunny...
Euro 2004 conclusion
There weren't nearly enough decent mullets to be seen, especially after the groups, but Greece have just won the tournament, 1-0 against the hosts, Portugal!
Cristiano Ronaldo is sobbing into his shirt.
I think I may have just won the sweepstake at work (guess how many goals would be scored, including penalties). Considering how little I know about football, this would be some feat indeed. I will wait and see tomorrow. Not holding my breath.
On a slight downer, my telly's just blown up...
What's in my CD player: Guerilla - Super Furry Animals
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Lunchtime at Bedford Purlieus
Got a lift out at lunchtime with Brian 'Natural Stone' Stone and Mike 'Weedon's World of Nature' Weedon to one of my favourite spots, Bedford Purlieus NNR. Finally, other people are seeing the light and what a fantastic place it is!
We were on the lookout for White-letter Hairstreak and White Admiral butterflies. We failed on the first count, but scored on the second, thanks to an excellent piece of spotting by Brian. The beautiful beast was up in a tree and was unphotographable, unfortunately. Still, it was a lifer for two of us and a ‘PBC tick’ for the other.
Speckled Woods were plentiful, though, and easily photographed.
This is a Soldier Beetle, Rhagonycha fulva, I think.
What's in my CD player: Aw Cmon - Lambchop
We were on the lookout for White-letter Hairstreak and White Admiral butterflies. We failed on the first count, but scored on the second, thanks to an excellent piece of spotting by Brian. The beautiful beast was up in a tree and was unphotographable, unfortunately. Still, it was a lifer for two of us and a ‘PBC tick’ for the other.
Speckled Woods were plentiful, though, and easily photographed.
This is a Soldier Beetle, Rhagonycha fulva, I think.
What's in my CD player: Aw Cmon - Lambchop
Blog fever hits Peterborough
Visit these blogs:
:: Toadsnatcher
:: Weedon’s World of Nature
:: The Natural Stone
:: Bogbumper
I seem to have accidentally started a trend among a few local digiscopers. Now, Steve, Mike and Brian all have blogs and are using them to display their digital photos. What have I done?
Seriously, Blogger is a really simple way to show off your pics, as long as you have somewhere to host them. But it looks like Blogger has thought of that, too, because for PC-users, there’s a program specially for it (don’t ask me how it works). I’m not exactly a HTML expert but even I can manage to get my photos to do what I want them to, and it’s much, much easier than trying to maintain a normal website.
If you're typing in Brian's web address, thenaturalstone.blogspot.com, be careful you don't accidentally end up at Natural Stone, which is all about "IRANIAN NATURAL STONTS" [sic].
:: Toadsnatcher
:: Weedon’s World of Nature
:: The Natural Stone
:: Bogbumper
I seem to have accidentally started a trend among a few local digiscopers. Now, Steve, Mike and Brian all have blogs and are using them to display their digital photos. What have I done?
Seriously, Blogger is a really simple way to show off your pics, as long as you have somewhere to host them. But it looks like Blogger has thought of that, too, because for PC-users, there’s a program specially for it (don’t ask me how it works). I’m not exactly a HTML expert but even I can manage to get my photos to do what I want them to, and it’s much, much easier than trying to maintain a normal website.
If you're typing in Brian's web address, thenaturalstone.blogspot.com, be careful you don't accidentally end up at Natural Stone, which is all about "IRANIAN NATURAL STONTS" [sic].
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Surprising Sweden...
Here's a feature written by my long-lost acquaintance, the wonderfully, incongruously-named Maria del Carmen Clegg: OUTDOORSmagic Features - Surprising Sweden....
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Ringing
Pics from this morning's CES ringing session at Ferry Meadows.
Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker
Juvenile Kingfisher
Female Reed Bunting 'control' - originally ringed by someone else at another site - click here for details.
Somewhere around 120 birds were trapped this morning - Chris's 100th CES visit to FM - from about 4am to 12.30pm when we packed up. We had the first juvenile Reed, Sedge and Garden Warblers of the year, plus what seemed like the entire juv Great Tit population of Cambridgeshire.
The weather conditions were good to start with, since it was overcast and not too breezy. Unfortunately, the vegetation was dripping with rain from the previous day, and it got hotter and more windy as the morning went on. There was a lot of deep, squelchy mud underfoot - as usual - and the mosquitoes took a toll on us - as usual. No amount of insect repellent seems to make a difference.
I felt like I made huge progress today. Extracting birds from nets is really tricky and it requires patience, a bit of problem solving, dexterity and a cool head! Today I finally felt like I was getting there. I'm still very slow (Chris can do about ten birds in the time it takes me to do one), but now I feel like I've got the basic hang of it and from now on I'll be able to get faster. Something clicked today. Hurrah!
What's on my iTunes: Gold - Ryan Adams
Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker
Juvenile Kingfisher
Female Reed Bunting 'control' - originally ringed by someone else at another site - click here for details.
Somewhere around 120 birds were trapped this morning - Chris's 100th CES visit to FM - from about 4am to 12.30pm when we packed up. We had the first juvenile Reed, Sedge and Garden Warblers of the year, plus what seemed like the entire juv Great Tit population of Cambridgeshire.
The weather conditions were good to start with, since it was overcast and not too breezy. Unfortunately, the vegetation was dripping with rain from the previous day, and it got hotter and more windy as the morning went on. There was a lot of deep, squelchy mud underfoot - as usual - and the mosquitoes took a toll on us - as usual. No amount of insect repellent seems to make a difference.
I felt like I made huge progress today. Extracting birds from nets is really tricky and it requires patience, a bit of problem solving, dexterity and a cool head! Today I finally felt like I was getting there. I'm still very slow (Chris can do about ten birds in the time it takes me to do one), but now I feel like I've got the basic hang of it and from now on I'll be able to get faster. Something clicked today. Hurrah!
What's on my iTunes: Gold - Ryan Adams
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
RSPB Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk
With some time off work I decided it would be nice to go to RSPB Titchwell for some digiscoping. Everything's close there, isn't it? All the birds seem tame.
Highlight was this male Ruff which showed well close to the main path. That's a real ruffy Ruff. And if that's not a mullet, I don't know what is...
I made numerous attempts at photographing Avocets (which were plentiful), but in 90% of my shots, the birds had their heads underwater. Never mind.
A very showy Sedge Warbler perched by the entrance to one of the hides and sang right out in the open, until it was flushed. That's the only problem with Titchwell - it's very busy.
There wasn't a lot on the beach, except for a few Oystercatchers.
A couple of summer-plumaged Spotted Redshanks looked smart but were a little distant for me.
What's in my CD player: Being There - Wilco
Highlight was this male Ruff which showed well close to the main path. That's a real ruffy Ruff. And if that's not a mullet, I don't know what is...
I made numerous attempts at photographing Avocets (which were plentiful), but in 90% of my shots, the birds had their heads underwater. Never mind.
A very showy Sedge Warbler perched by the entrance to one of the hides and sang right out in the open, until it was flushed. That's the only problem with Titchwell - it's very busy.
There wasn't a lot on the beach, except for a few Oystercatchers.
A couple of summer-plumaged Spotted Redshanks looked smart but were a little distant for me.
What's in my CD player: Being There - Wilco
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Macro at Houghton Mill
Gastrophysa viridula?
Went on an insect-hunting expedition to Houghton Mill, near Huntingdon. By the time we got there, it was very overcast and looked likely to rain, which I thought would work against us. But in fact the opposite was true.
Our chief quarry was White-legged Damselfly, Platycnemis pennipes, an uncommon species not present in the PBC area. I know next to nothing about insects so it was a good job that Steve was there to tell me what was what.
Since I bought my second-hand Nikon Coolpix 995 last year, I've become much more interested in insects because the brilliant macro function enables me, an unskilled idiot, to take excellent photos (even if I do say so myself). So please excuse me if I go over the top with my pictures in this post, because I'm delighted with them!
Female (top three) and male Banded Demoiselle, Agrion splendens
Male White-legged Damselfly, Platycnemis pennipes. The white legs are dangled in flight to attract females.
Freshly-emerged ('teneral') Scarce Chaser, Libellula fulva
Male (top) and female Red-eyed Damselfly, Erythromma najas
Blue-tailed Damselfly, Ischnura elegans
What's in my CD player: Grand Slang - City Slang label compilation.
Futbol
Even I enjoyed last night's Holland v Czech Republic Euro 2004 game. I was rooting for our Czech friends throughout, but it did seem a bit harsh on Holland that they eventually lost. However, there was a total absence of mullets on either side, though several of the Czechs wore their hair in the 'lank, greasy-looking with bit of elastic tied round it' style, and there was mullet potential on a few more.
This picture of Sweden's Christian Wilhelmsson does not do his barnet justice:
What's in my CD player: The Diary Of Alicia Keys - Alicia Keys
This picture of Sweden's Christian Wilhelmsson does not do his barnet justice:
What's in my CD player: The Diary Of Alicia Keys - Alicia Keys
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Football mullets
It appears I wasn't the only one to notice Fernando Torres' amazing mullet on Saturday.
"Torres has an unbelievable peroxide blonde mullet - sort of American truck driver meets Limahl, but he can certainly play. Within 10 seconds he swivels sharply before firing a volley that's blocked." - The Guardian
Amongst the Spanish side, Fernando Morientes also has a tremendous mullet. Do they pay good money to have their hair cut like this?
Why does the mullet persist among football players? Dan's Mullet Haven may yield some clues.
What's in my CD player: Fuzzy Logic - Super Furry Animals
"Torres has an unbelievable peroxide blonde mullet - sort of American truck driver meets Limahl, but he can certainly play. Within 10 seconds he swivels sharply before firing a volley that's blocked." - The Guardian
Amongst the Spanish side, Fernando Morientes also has a tremendous mullet. Do they pay good money to have their hair cut like this?
Why does the mullet persist among football players? Dan's Mullet Haven may yield some clues.
What's in my CD player: Fuzzy Logic - Super Furry Animals
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Euro 2004
I was alerted to a van Nistelrooy goal for Holland against Germany (now 1:1) by triumphant hoots coming from somewhere down the street. I don't usually pay much attention to football but sometimes you get sucked in.
Euro Mullet Watch
I have been scouring the Euro 2004 website for more mullet action, but it's been sadly lacking so far. I haven't even spotted any mullets on TV this evening - oh, hang on - there's one - Bastian Schweinsteiger - see those tell-tale curls creeping down his neck?
The ref is sporting a terrific, shaggy coiffure, but I am undecided as whether van Nistelrooy's wig counts as a mullet or not. Somehow he manages to get away with it. I think for it to be a mullet, you need fairly short 'sides'.
There is something nice about the European nations getting together to play football in the Portuguese park; it makes a nice contrast from the 60-year-old images of D-Day the other week. However, some idiotic Engerland fans cannot resist the temptation to smash some things up, be it at home or away...
Euro Mullet Watch
I have been scouring the Euro 2004 website for more mullet action, but it's been sadly lacking so far. I haven't even spotted any mullets on TV this evening - oh, hang on - there's one - Bastian Schweinsteiger - see those tell-tale curls creeping down his neck?
The ref is sporting a terrific, shaggy coiffure, but I am undecided as whether van Nistelrooy's wig counts as a mullet or not. Somehow he manages to get away with it. I think for it to be a mullet, you need fairly short 'sides'.
There is something nice about the European nations getting together to play football in the Portuguese park; it makes a nice contrast from the 60-year-old images of D-Day the other week. However, some idiotic Engerland fans cannot resist the temptation to smash some things up, be it at home or away...
Sunday, June 13, 2004
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