Highlights of the Year Part 3 - July - September

Garden Butterflies

A Ringlet visited the garden on 3rd July - the first garden sighting since 2005.

The first garden Red Admiral was seen on 9th July



followed by first Holly Blue 11th July, first Green-Veined White on 24th July



and first Gatekeeper on 28th July

Moths

July, August and September produced many more new garden moth ticks - both macro and micro moths

2nd July Heart and Club
Phlyctaenia coronata (photo below)




Also on 2nd July

Bird Cherry Ermine
Crambus pascuella
Agriphila straminella
Spilonota ocellana (Bud Moth)

23rd July Scarce Footman
Dark Spinach (photo below)



24th July - Clay (found in bathroom)

30th July - more micro ticks:
Acleris laterana
Tachystola acroxanthella
Agriphila inquinatella

19th August

Garden Carpet
Brown House Moth
Single Dotted Wave (photo below)



9th September produced an Autumnal Rustic (photo below)



plus Vine's Rustic and on 30th September a Rusty Dot Pearl

Falconry

One of the highlights of August was a visit to a Falconry Display at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens - a great opportunity to get up close to various species of falcon and owl and a chance to marvel at their flying skills in a flying display





Spotted Flycatchers

Throughout July I had checked out a few local churchyards hoping to see Spotted Flycatchers and on 28th July (tipped off by a local birding blog) I struck lucky at Berkswell and was able to watch a family of these lovely birds. They were too far away for photos so just a poor record shot of one of the juveniles below



Hoverflies

I spent a happy few hours in the garden at the beginning of August watching and taking photos of various species of hoverfly - below a Marmalade Hoverfly



Brandon Marsh - a Lifer and some "Flutters"

We went to Brandon Marsh on 5th August where we watched a Wood Sandpiper (3 ticks in one here - Year, Warwickshire and a Lifer!)

There were lots of juveniles around - long-tailed tits, chiffchaffs, common tern and lapwing.

I used the telephoto zoom lens to take some butterfly pictures

Speckled Wood



Gatekeeper



This Oak Eggar moth was a life moth tick although it was very sad to see one of its wings had been torn off and it was unable to fly



Peacock




Newts
We had sightings of up to 6 young newts, at various stages of development, in the garden pond in the middle of July

Dahlias at Baddesley

I always try to visit Baddesley Clinton at the beginning of September to see the dahlia display







and on 18th September we spent a fun few hours at Lapworth Scarecrow Festival




Hope everyone had a good Christmas - I have a new toy for my camera! A macro lens (a joint Christmas and Birthday pressie off Brian and my mom). Looking forward to trying it out although I suspect I am going to have to get used to utilising the tripod more and practising manual focusing!!!

Owls, Eagles, Hawks and Falcons at The Gardens

I spent several hours this morning at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens where they were holding a falconry event.

The photos aren't that sharp but I had a lot of fun experimenting and practising with the 70 - 300 mm lens!

This is "Woody" - a male Asian Brown Wood Owl (SE Asia) hatched in 2010. All the birds on display and taking part in the flights are captive bred.





"Scratchy" - a male Gyr x Saker Falcon Hybrid (hatched in 2008)





"Tock" - a female Harris Hawk - hatched 2004 (native to Central and Southern America)



"Bazil" a male Bengal Eagle Owl hatched in 1996 (native to India, Nepal, Pakistan)



"Tosca" - a female Steppe Eagle (Native to Central Asia) Hatched 2001



"Slate" - a Gyr x Peregrine Falcon Hybrid - hatched 2004





Here's a few photos from the hour long flying display. Didn't have much luck taking birds in flight - the speed of the birds was playing havoc with the autofocus so most of the photos were only fit for the delete button! Need to re-read the manual!

"Tock"







"Bazil" who preferred walking to flying!








"Buzz" - Common Kestrel





"Woody"



"Scratch"



Hopefully, I've got the birds' names and species correct - I lost half my notes!

It was a shame I couldn't be there for the second flying display with the remaining four birds at 3.30 but I had other arrangements (oh yes, top of the Premiership :D)!

Hopefully, Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens will hold a similar event next year - I will certainly return as it really was a super experience and brilliant for children as the flying display was very interactive.