Bitter Sweet Patch tick

This wasn't what I was expecting to find when I visited Deeping Lakes LWT after work, chasing a simple patch tick, Ruff. 

Having spent the past two weeks in Scotland and having seen plenty of dead Gannets around the shores of Shetland, but no live birds showing signs of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, you can imagine the surprise in finding a Gannet with HPAI on my inland patch in Lincolnshire!

At one point the Gannet was approached by an angry Mute Swan (pictured), the seabird still was alert enough to give the Swan a nasty nip. Perhaps the start of a spread of this deadly disease on my patch? We hope not but seeing what it has done on the coast has been genuinely heart wrenching.  

Nevertheless, despite the bitter sweetness of this bird; it is stunning a new species for the reserve and certainly livened up my Wednesday evening!

 

Scotland & Shetland bits

A fab few weeks on honeymoon, touring Scotland and Shetland. Naturally, not much birding done but we did see 7 Minke Whales, Basking Shark, Slavonian Grebe (scarce in Shetland in August), Golden Eagle (Scotland), heaps of Porpoise and of course the Northern Lights (see below). 

More Northern Lights

More Aurora from this morning, this time from our Scalloway balcony. We watched it for over an hour and even managed to capture a few 'shooting stars' in the dancing sky above Scalloway.

Aurora

Cape Gull- First for Britain

Today took an unexpected turn, when ace Cambs bird finder, found a first for Britain, in the form a sub-adult Cape Gull! Remarkable bird at a remarkable location! The harsh summer sun wasn't kind for photography but the bird put on a great show and was a true education and great to share with Dad. 

Late July, evening birding

 

A message during the late afternoon, on the local whatsapp group, surprised everyone with news of a drake Redstart at Eldernell. I headed down there after work, as I hadn't seen any of the few springs birds that had been around locally. As far as I can tell, there has never been a July Redstart in the area so a great record and lovely individual. Perhaps a 1st summer?

I call into my patch, Deeping Lakes LWT, on the way home for a quick check. A Little-ringed Plover first thing, was the first new wader (other than the usual Common and Green Sandpipers) in a while and with a stormy sky to the north, I thought it might be worth a look. Straight away found six, sleeping, Spoonbills. I watched them for an hour with fellow local birders, Mike Weedon and Martin Coates, before they departed north-east along the Welland, after a preen, in typical fashion. 

Spoonbill overload below.

Spoon Shapes!

 

At first I assumed it was an adult with a first summer and four juveniles (with tiny, bills!) but on closer inspection, the first summer actually has a fair few signs of maturity so perhaps a two year old and this is a family party? From where, is another question. But with a growing population in East Anglia, it would be great to think these hadn't come that far...

Red-belted Clearwing

 Had never seen a clearwing species until this year, so was absolutely thrilled to attract three Red-belted Clearwings to lure in my garden at the weekend- another first for me.

Lunar & Goat

Lunar Hornet and Goat Moths lured and caught by Hugh Wright.

Peach Blossom

Superb little moth, caught by Hugh Wright.

 

Peregrine family

 

The summer of Peregrine watching has began, as the Stamford three are on the edge of fledging. I took these last night and hear that at least one fledged this morning. I watched, with my father, the adult Tiercel and Falcon bring a Jackdaw and Feral Pigeon respectively. The young of course went mental each occasion. What a sight and sound!