After an autumn of lots of effort for little reward, finally a weekend with a couple of good patch birds. Unfortunately, both of the same species and not even new for the autumn! Despite a lot of searching, no Leachs or Little Auk

Grey Phal

The weather was pretty impressive

And washed this upon the beach

Physalia physalis - Portuguese Man O’ War

Today I managed a pic of the Rose-coloured Starling which showed up again for the first time since wednesday.

Still not much else doing apart from a couple of Wheatear though

Another year and another home patch, such is the life in science.  However  at least this time it might be a patch that lasts for a while. Anyway, finally I get to live by the sea with the chance of some migrants

For those who have never been there, it is Wembury on the south Devon coast.

Not a bad patch bird!!

Grey Phal was a nice find a couple of weeks ago

and a nice garden visitor

The best garden visitor however was todays…… a juv Rose-coloured Starling!! A lifer for me too as I have never been that bothered about travelling to see one – nice!!

Good spring!! A brief summary of what happened during the the past few months when I had nothing to write about.

Fulmar – off St Ives February

Juv Kittiwake – off St Ives February

Fluffling

Taste of the Med

Now there are more interesting things than Gulls to look at I might even get out once in a while!

Having never actually lived next to the sea before, it has been nice to see Med Gulls whenever I want. I have even managed a few photos.

Adult and 1st winter

Other good birds around included this Shag which posed nicely next to this Cormorant for a nice comparison

Also some escaped dross that was quite photogenic

Merry Christmas to all!!

Hmmm, it must have been 4 months since I last wrote an entry! That’s mainly because I have been busy doing all sorts of things like getting married and moving back to England. Therefore the blog name is a little out of place now but I’ll keep it anyway.

Here is where I am now:
For those who don’t recognise the town it is Plymouth in Devon.

A few local birds:

And some animals:
A British mammal tick!!

And finally an image from Italy from the summer and one from a trip last weekend:
Mantis!!

Some of a group of c. 1000 Cattle Egrets

I hope no one is getting bored of Dragonflies?

Anyone who likes Dragonflies should experience this at least once in life

Swarming Sympetrum depressiusculum

There were hundreds if not thousands. They will even perch on your fingers which explains the heavy metal type salute going on in the photo. You just have to stand in the middle of a field holding up one finger – if the men in white coats don’t get to you quick enough, this happens:

Cute little beasts

A little worn

Male

Not a scene from Apocalypse Now!

Cordulegaster bidentata

The comma mark on S1

Plenty of black on the Frons and the black occipital triangle

And finally…..

Orthetrum brunneum up to no good

Despite the summer type weather, it looks like passage is underway! In other words, before you can blink it will be cold and wet and there will be Christmas Carols playing in the shops! Don’t get too worried though….. Passage is a big word for a couple of waders. So yesterday there were at least 3 Wood Sands (Piro Piro Boschereccio) and 2 Greenshank (Pantana) along with 2 Common Sands (Piro Piro Piccolo) today. Apart from that, a juv Purple Heron (Airone Rosso), a Cuckoo (Cuculo) and a couple of Sand Martins (Topino) with some groups of Swallows (Rondine)  passing through.

Today was one of those days when the Dragonflies were lining up waiting to be photographed!

Female Onychogomphus forcipatus. Without the impressive pincers of the male.

While we are on Gomphids….

Ophiogomphus cecilia

Orthetrum coerulescens

Orthetrum brunneum

And finally a species that I’ve been trying to photograph for a while: Crocothemis erythrea

This individual is obviously still developin the red coloration.

Last week I had to go back to the UK as I had a couple of things to sort out. That at least gave me the chance to have a look at some of my old Somerset stomping grounds. Surprise of the week was this:

Libellula fulva (Scarce Chaser)

This is probably one of the first records for the levels of this scarce but expanding species. Given that I saw at least 3 males and a couple of probable females, they might have colonised providing a bridge between the Devon and the Bath populations.

A few other specialities of the area:

Libellula quadrimaculata

Coenagrion pulchellum (Variable Damselfly)

For those not familiar with British Odonata, the are basically three small blue coloured damselflies. They are quite easy to recognise close up or in the hand thanks to the markings on the second abdominal segment (S2).

Enallagma cyathigerum               Coenagrion puella                     Coenagrion pulchellum
Common Blue Damselfly             Azure Damselfly                          Variable Damselfly
Ball on a stick mark                       U mark                                          U on a stick mark
Thick antehumerals                      Thin antehumerals                      Broken antehumerals

Aeshna cyanea (Southern Hawker) Note the joined spots on S8-10

Not much in the way of birds at all but it was July. The only other interest was provided by 3 Foxes, a Badger and this Roe Deer in the garden:

Apart from that its been all dragonflies:

Crocothemis erythrea

Back to the beasts!

Platycnemis pennipes

Ophiogomphus cecilia (High quality Gomphid!)

Not a Dragonfly but a Coypu!

Who ate all the pies? Not even I have a double chin like that!