I went along to Marsh Lane NR yesterday afternoon for an hour or so.
My favourite Sallow near the car park is starting to take on a gold tinge.
I spent most of my time in River Hide which overlooks both Car Park Pool
and Railway Pool. Sorry no bird photos - they really are too far away for the 70-300 lens. Sometimes its nice just to sit quietly and watch the ducks, geese, swans, waders and gulls going about their day to day lives and seeing how they interact with each other.
I am not sure how many more butterflies I'll see this year - so it was good to watch a Red Admiral basking on bramble leaves. Could this be my last butterfly sighting of the year? I haven't seen any in the garden recently.
Ivy flowers were attracting honey bees, wasps and this hoverfly - Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax)
After checking pools through the viewing screens I walked back along the causeway
and briefly visited Car Park Hide - the highlight here being two Common Snipe. I don't usually take the telescope when I visit reserves on my own (its bad enough carrying a camera and binoculars!) but over the winter months I may try and get in the habit of taking it along - the Car Park Hide is only about 50 yards from the car so carrying the 'scope and tripod wouldn't be a problem.
Back at home Common Carder Bees are still being seen on Cosmos flowers.
I haven't put the moth trap out mainly due to rain nearly every night but I did spot this Feathered Thorn - Colotois pennaria - (another new species for the year) on the garage window earlier this week.
7 comments:
Hi RR Yes that was lovely seeing a Red Admiral so late in the season. Lovely place to walk. Have a great weekend.
Margaret Adamson - Thanks Margaret - have a lovely weekend too :)
Saw a Speckled wood basking high up in the trees today. My first flutter in a while as everything is slowing down. Lovely to see the Admiral and the Carder Bee. Feathered thorn on the window here this week too- must've just emerged :o)
You are the Common Snipe expert! I find them tricky to spot because they blend right into their settings! We have a birding area similar to yours in that the birds are much too far to get any decent pictures....and yet they are very nice to have flying around the area. Enjoy the weather while you can....I know the much cooler temps are on their way.
It's nice to spend just a little time wondering and watching.
The Redwings are back at the park for winter, but yet I'm seeing Butterflies and bees feels a little odd.
Amanda xx
Hi Caroline, thanks for the comment. Its a pity you couldnt visit my moth, its really stunning, the best thing I've seen in years!
Cheers Stewart
Countryside Tales - Thanks so much :) Another Feathered Thorn in the moth trap last night and first November Moth agg :) but no MdJ :(
Chris Rohrer - Thanks Chris. Snipe aren't easy - these were on the edge of one of the islands not too far from hide. Reserve also gets Jack Snipe - but would need to take telescope to differentiate!!
Amanda Peters - Thank you. Was hoping for Redwings on the reserve but none around yet that I could see. Its gone even milder this weekend!!
Stewart - Thanks Stewart - yes, would so loved to have seen it - such a brilliant find!! :) Can imagine how excited you were and so good that so many people were given opportunity to see it :)
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