Night Heron pics

Night Heron ( Copyright TD Wright )

I took a look from the Farm Gate yesterday. Nothing much, I thought. Then my phone got a message from Ian McLean saying there was a Night Heron from Tower hide. I could see said hide from where I was but not this bird, so I drove round to the car park and marched down the track to be confronted with Ian&Sue Smith photographing the legendary 'plastic bag' tree. The cracking bird, with breeding plumes attached, was snoozing just 10m from the track. The branches got in the way but the photos aren't bad I suppose...                                                                                                

Night Heron ( Copyright TD Wright )

Phonescoping was probably better than my DSLR! See below...                                                      

Night Heron ( Copyright TD Wright )

Night Heron ( Copyright TD Wright )

Night Heron ( Copyright TD Wright )

Still, great to get one here after an absence of 9 years I was told. A patch first for me, right after my Colyton Cranes on BHM! (That's Bank Holiday Monday not Black Hole Marsh) Keep 'em comin', that's what I say!

Lesvos 2015:The car Arrives

Pied Flycatcher ( Copyright TD Wright )

Mobile Hide 2015 ( Copyright TD Wright )

This year's mobile hide was a Kia Picanto. Very reasonable and light on fuel, which is important when you're alone. The small boot could take my scope just about and there was ample room inside the car. I wouldn't mind having a jeep or other 4-wheel drive/off-road vehicle there but it's possible to see the birds without driving miles along terrible tracks. A walk here and there can be fruitful at times and I lost 3 kilos in weight during my fortnight. I ate well too so it must be true what the W.H.O. says about the Greek diet being healthy. My half-board deal was well exploited morning and evening but during the day I might visit a Taverna for a cuppa or some ice-cream. Sigri has an excellent waterside establishment which didn't charge excessively. As for Skala Kallonis, you need to know where to go...                                                                                                                  

This is the lady who runs the Akti Cafe in Skala Kallonis. She welcomes English-speakers and will even serve a full cooked breakfast for just 6 and a half Euros, including toast & preserves and a giant mug of Lipton's tea. Her ice cream is also superb. Sorry if that seems like an ad but she was so friendly I had to put in a good word. Last year I ate here almost every day, so had to pop back when in the area. SK pool had Bittern, Little Bittern and Glossy Ibis on it as well!                                            

Apothika Area ( Copyright TD Wright )

Caterpillar ( Copyright TD Wright )

Anybody know which species this caterpillar is?

Lesvos 2015 - Pre-breakfast Cricket!

Cricket species ( Copyright TD Wright )

Good grief! Lots of fascinating insect life around the Hotel including these.  Millipedes(classed as arthropods?Or are they a genus on their own?) and small spiders(yes they're arachnids) were also about but nothing scary that I saw. The Hotel also had some interesting butterflies but those pics are on a different storage card so will come later.

Cricket species ( Copyright TD Wright )

Cricket species ( Copyright TD Wright )

Jackdaws ( Copyright TD Wright )

I took more notice of their Jackdaws this visit as there seemed to be more of them in the North. Clearly, they're not standard monedula monedula are they? More extensive grey nape and apparently more silvery than British ones, although the bright sunlight may be responsible for that. I'll post more pics next time and look in Steve Dudley's book to check which race they are so I can tell you the answer. Should've done that already, I suppose. Normal service has been resumed!

Petra & Petri - the first days on Lesvos 2015

Molyvos ( Copyright TD Wright )

This is the view North from the Ruppell's site which was close to my Petra Hotel, the glorious Panorama. I spent the first 2 days birding locally as there's plenty to keep me interested around Petra. The Hotel gardens alone had Black-eared Wheatear and Jay, plus Corn Bunting and many Hirundines. Hooded Crows were abundant, as were Greenfinches and Goldies.                                      

Greenfinch ( Copyright TD Wright )

Goldfinch ( Copyright TD Wright )

BW Stilts ( Copyright TD Wright )

The nearby beach had Stilts and YL Gulls.                                                                                          

Yellow-legged Gulls ( Copyright TD Wright )

Yellow-legged Gull ( Copyright TD Wright )

Yellow-legged Gulls ( Copyright TD Wright )

Masked Shrike ( Copyright TD Wright )

The bushes held shrikes and warblers, including a Marsh Warbler. Telegraph poles were fruitful too...

Hooded Crow ( Copyright TD Wright )

Hooded Crow ( Copyright TD Wright )

Hooded Crow ( Copyright TD Wright )

Mount Lepetimnos ( Copyright TD Wright )

The highest point on the North of the island loomed distantly from the Hotel, at which I was on half-board, so I returned to enjoy the evening buffet which was excellent. The various 'Petri dishes' (fnarrr) were superb throughout my stay, so I was glad I took the half-board deal. My car would be delivered in the morning, so I retired to my comfortable room to dream of more ornithological delights.

Apologies for Returning

I'm back in Devon now and have succeeded in annoying people already! I got back late on Saturday and the first thing I did was cajole Karen and Kev into giving me a lift to Meare Heath in Somerset to see the Hudsonian Godwit, which I seem to have got on its very last day-jammy blogger that I am! I couldn't help going on about Lesvos and suchlike so Karen decided to leave early and dump me back in Colyton as I was getting on her nerves. Thanks for the lift Karen! I didn't have my car as it's once again in need of attention. Yes, I should've scrapped it when it failed its MOT in Jan. but we all make mistakes. So, Bank Holiday Monday saw me taking a walk along the Coly to Heathayne farm/ Ratshole gate area. Lots of Hirundines present, especially House Martins but Sandies 'n' Swallows too. Satisfied with that, and keen to get back in out of the rain, I walked back along the road. At 2:30pm, I saw 3 large birds in the air, and whilst looking at them just with bins ( I was birding au naturel ) I realised that they were Cranes! Holy Cow, I exclaimed. Another self-found Colyton tick! They circled low three times, then headed off SW behind the trees on the hill. No pics I'm afraid, but I'm told that Phil caught up with them which should help his patch yearlist, eh? Oh well, what can I post then picturewise?

ColyTram ( Copyright T D Wright )

Spring has brought these back out in force. Wild times!

Apologies for Absence

Meadow Pipit ( Copyright T D Wright )

Meadow Pipit ( Copyright T D Wright )

This Mipit seemed to prefer a dense thicket by BHM to its usual habitat before I went away. Where did I go for the last 2 weeks? Well, this was the view from my balcony...                                          

Panoramic View ( Copyright T D Wright )

Yes, I went back to Lesvos. It was rather last-minute, as I thought I would go somewhere else this Spring. But Thomas Cook were offering some good deals and I snapped one up. Excellent value, even though I wasn't in Skala Kallonis where most birders stay. Having a car, it doesn't matter as you need to explore the West of the island wherever you stay, and being in the North I was also able to seawatch off Efthalou, which gave me excellent views of Scopoli's and Yelkouan Shearwaters,plus nice close Audouin's Gulls. I even had pratincoles on one seawatch. The weather wasn't so hot during Week One, strong winds and a bit of rain. Superb for seawatching! There was also a fall of flycatchers and warblers which enabled me to see species I missed last year.                                                                               

Pied Flycatcher ( Copyright T D Wright )

This fine-looking PF seemed to regard the little culvert at Faneromeni as his territory. There was another black-and-white flycatcher further down but he wouldn't let it get any nearer. This video shows him wing-flicking i.e. waving his fists at his rival. This prompted me to get the scope and take a closer look at the 'challenger'...                                                                                                                                                

Collared Flycatcher ( Copyright T D Wright )

            Ooooh Yeeeaaahh! My first ever Collared Flycatcher. I even missed the Portland one five years ago because I had to work so this was a case of 'At last I've seen one!' I failed to see this bird on Lesvos last year which rankled a bit ( No, a lot ) so this was a magic moment. As it turned out, I ended up seeing lots of them this time round which made me wonder why they were so elusive in 2014. Hope these phonescoped pics are OK but I've got some DSLR shots which are slightly better. I'll post those soon.                                            

Spring Gets A Second Wind

Sedge Warbler ( Copyright T D Wright )

Well, immediately after my last post I went to Seaton Marshes and realised that new birds were arriving. I saw and heard my first Sedge Warbler this year at the Borrow Pit then saw my first Common Sand from the Hide. This encouraged me to go to BHM and I wasn't disappointed. 30-40 Sand Martin were there, and from Tower hide I saw my first Whimbrel and Greenshank. Today (Thursday) Tim White had a Red Kite over Colyton and when I scanned the sky looking for it I got my first Swift this year over the Church. Things are happening now, KH had a Gropper reeling this morning at Bunts Lane too. Long may it continue!                                      

Blackcap ( Copyright T D Wright )

I still need to get a really good Blackcap pic!                                                    

Little Owl ( Copyright T D Wright )

The same could be said for Little Owl!                                            

Swallow ( Copyright T D Wright )

And a flight shot of a hirundine would be an achievement. The House Martins have just arrived to join the others so it's 'Game ON' from here on. I may have to go away soon but don't worry, any halt in posting will only be temporary. See you all soon!