Three Counties Birding

Sunday 17th September

GARDEN

We sat in the garden on this gloriously sunny morning, just to see what would pass through, these are photos of some of what we saw.

Bee on Dahlia

We planted a wild flower patch in the Spring - we'd have settled for a Clouded Yellow on Vipers Bugloss.

Fly Species

Green-veined White

Large White

Red Admiral

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

And finally - we ran the moth trap overnight on Friday and Saturday, and we caught one moth, an Angle Shades.

Saturday 16th September

NEW FOREST - BOLDERWOOD

From the Bolderwood car park we walked on the Bratley side. It was decidedly Autumnal, and apart from two Tit flocks decidedly quiet on the bird front; three Hawfinches flying over were the best of the walk. There were a few examples of fungi about, but on the whole it was very quiet.

Friday 15th September

KEYHAVEN

We had an unexpected afternoon off courtesy of Flexitime, so we went to Keyhaven. From the car park opposite the Gun Inn we walked the inland path to Pennington, returning along the sea wall. There were a good lot of birds, and we saw two superb Clouded Yellow butterflies at Pennington. The Semi-palmated Sandpiper was still on Butts lagoon in company with a Knot, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper. Unfortunately by the time we arrived at the Semi-P the light had almost gone, so the Digital slrscoped pictures aren't the best.

Clouded Yellow

Semi-palmated Sandpiper

Knot

New Camera

After months of agonising, I finally succumbed and bought a Digital slr camera. I spoke to a number of people, including Peter Simpson from Blue Sky Birds, and I'd decided upon a Canon EOS 350D, but when I tried one courtesy of a work colleague, I didn't like it at all, so I bought a Nikon D50 instead. At present I only have the package 18 to 55mm zoom lens, and it's fine. Having been told that digiscoping isn't possible with digital slr cameras, I connected it to the Swarovski scope, and it works OK. I have a feeling that it'll be even better with the 50mm standard lens, so that's the next purchase - followed by a longer zoom lens.

I bought the camera from Castle Cameras their website is www.castlecameras.co.uk I have no connection with them, other than as a very satisfied customer. Their prices are very slightly higher than the big boys, but their service is second to none. If you are in the market for camera equipment, follow the links and speak to Debra.

Here are some photos I took with the new camera.

Cormorant at RSPB Radipole
Digital slrscoped

Wheatear on Portland
Digital slrscoped

Wryneck on Portland
Digital slrscoped
(This really was too far away, but I gave it a go anyway)

Migrant Hawker at RSPB Radipole

We're Still Here

I can't think why, but we haven't updated the Blog yet this month, just haven't got around to it. The first weekend of the month was a complete washout, in more ways than one. As well as the rain, it was the last two days of the glorified car boot sale with a few steam engines hanging on to its coat tails, known as The Great Dorset Steam Fair. The traffic generated effectively traps us locals in our village. All we can do is to pray for rain, and hope that if it arrives it will put a dampner on proceedings, this year on the Saturday and Sunday we were not disappointed.

We've even done some birding, a planned afternoon off on Monday the 4th co-incided with the appearance of a Semi-palmated Sandpiper at Pennington, which gave excellent close views, only I didn't take a camera. It's been a Whinchat start to the month, we've seen them on each of the six birding days we've had this month.

As well as The Keyhaven/Pennington/Lymington area, we've had a walk in the New Forest, from Beaulieu Road down to Denny Wood and back, where two blokes drew our attention to a bright green Marsh Frog, and we also saw a Goat Moth caterpillar. We had a day at Portland and Weymouth on Sunday 10th. where it was a glorious day, but in truth not a lot about, an elusive Wryneck, which eventually showed very well in the Observatory Quarry, being the best.

Marsh Frog

Goat Moth Caterpillar
Thanks to Bryan Pinchen for confirming the ID.