From the archives No. 6

This Black-winged Pratincole was at Stodmarsh in Kent back in May 2009. Always distant, as this record shot suggests. Pratincoles are always great value, even at a distance!

Fly Over

A past it's best Fly Orchid near Peterborough in early June. They were photographed in their prime a whole 7 days later last year, and multiple spikes. The dry spring hasn't done this species any good around here.

Dark Green Fritillary

We though this Dark Green Fritillary was fairly early when we found it on the 6th June at a site near Peterborough. They seem to have fairly recently colonised the Peterborough area and it's only the second time I have seen them around here! 

Black Tern at Deeping Lakes

Found on the Lake at DL by my Dad on Saturday 13th, it moved onto the East Pit later on in the day where it gave good views but unfortunately was too far for decent shots.

Scarce Chaser

This male Scarce Chaser was one of many seen at Woodwalton Fen NNR on Saturday morning.

Orchids on the patch

The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, or the (now voluntary) warden's, obsession with Orchids at Deeping Lakes has led to the mass man made spreading of  Orchid seed over the last decade or so. Consequently, thousands of Common Spotted Orchids are now around the reserve.

I remember when I did work experience on the reserve and we found the first Pyramidal Orchid on a part of the (at the time, new reserve), which hadn't been touched for 15 or so years. It was thrilling and don't get me wrong, seeing so many Orchids on site is amazing but it's not quite so the same; knowing it's throw someone spreading the seed.

Spoonbill again!

Hugh Wright found this bird at around 6am today and at 7am it was scared off by the bird scare canon in the field next to Deeping Lakes. It flew north and was picked up following the A15 past Baston & Langtoft GP by Josh Jones. Nicolas Watts' scrapes caught it's eye, at Baston Fen, where it remained for the rest of the day. I think this is the younger bird I first found with a sub-adult on the 3rd May and found again at DL by my father on the 13th May. As Hugh saw this arrive from the east, I again presume this bird came from the Wash.

Arctic Terns on the patch

It's been a poor spring on the patch for Arctic Tern passage but today's miserable conditions grounded two at Deeping Lakes LWT. They should be on breeding grounds by now, perhaps they belong to the Blakeney colony?

Little Owl

Been a pair of Little Owls at this small group of willows, on and off, for 20 years or more, along Deeping Highbank in south Lincs.

More Quail

An after work visit produced more amazing views of the less mature male Quail which did more or less exactly the same thing Saturday. It seems like there may only be one bird left.

Wet My Lips!

I've seen very few Quail in Britain, in fact only three times before today. The first photo appears to show a female with a male behind (we didn't spot the male at the time but obviously there was one singing). It seems like the first bird was singing but perhaps not, perhaps it was a female and not a first summer. Either way, it flew off and was replaced by the obvious male behind which eventually also flew off. Not great photos- but a great experience shared with Amy!

Avocets

Not a big deal in the east but still scarce spring visitors in the Deepings. Several have failed to breed on the Nene Washes this year, which has led to several pairs wandering north. I found three on Sunday morning at Deeping Lakes. The pair built two nests and did several courtship displays whilst I was there and the pair were still there today. However, this afternoon they headed north to Baston & Langtoft GP then to Baston Fen and then perhaps North Drove.

Squeaker!

This baby Long-eared Owl is part of two broods I have found this week at a site in south Lincolnshire.