Birds & wildlife of Rhodes part 2

On 2nd September, at breakfast a Sub- Alpine warbler seen in the bushes and a Spotted Flycatcher seen in Pines on the hill opposite. At Rhodes town, walking up to the Grand Palace a slightly tatty Scarce Swallowtail was seen feeding on flowers enclosed by a rectangular wooden box. It was quite confiding. A Pallid Swift flew over the Knights Grand Palace of the Grandmasters, and going through the entrance a fine close view of a Crag Martin that flew and perched above the entrance arch. 2 Yellow- legged Herring Gulls seen perched on the rocks by the harbour. On 3rd September on Sunday in the Hotel grounds a Sub- Alpine Warbler was seen in the pines area. At Garoudas bridge, a repeat visit revealed an Egyptian Grasshopper seen jumping out of the vegetation near the bridge. A respondent Scarce Swallowtail flew across the dry riverbed fling west. Driving over to the east side, driving down the stoney track, a magnificent Short- toed Eagle flew up from the ground and flew away. Back at the Atrium Palace Hotel at Kalathos. By the bushes to the west side of the hotel, settled a Long- tailed Blue butterfly. On the lawn, 16 Black- headed Wagtails fed on the lawn, whilst close still was 1 White Wagtail seen. Also by the pool was a confiding Little Stint and 5 Crested Larks. On 4th September the other side of Lindos, a female Sparrowhawk flew past the road and under the ridge. A drive south down to genadi beach initially only revealed 3 Crested Larks and House Sparrows. By the side bushes on the south side of the dry river bed, a Sub- Alpine Warbler and a Sardinian warbler plus a Darter Dragonfly. At a pond at the end, 3 Stripe- necked Terrapins seen that plopped into the water as soon as they saw me, plus a Black- headed Wagtail that flew down to drink and then perched in the bush. Whilst overhead a Swallow flew by. A Scarlet Darter settled on vegetation close to the water whilst up to 3 male Lesser Emperors flew around and settled tantalisingly on reeds the far side. Scrambling back up the bank, a confiding Egyptian Grasshopper initially showed well. Whilst walking back I heard some unusual 'takking' near a bush I looked into a large Tamarisk with thick central branches and amazingly, an Olive- tree Warbler, there was no doubting what it was, a large (Great Reed warbler sized bird) grey Hippolais warbler with long dagger like bill and yellow on the lower mandible, came out and looked at me barely 10 feet away then hopped back and I had the presence of mind to change to my 150mm macro camera and take 2 pics of it. A fantastic new species for me. Also skulking right of that was a smaller Sub- Alpine warbler. On Tuesday 5th September, at Keraki Gorge, I dove down to a magnolia coloured bridge, a female Kestrel flew by. A 'chortling' Bee- eater was heard but not seen. I parked the car by some bushes, where a faded male Red- backed Shrike was seen. walking north along the dry river bed, Goats were seen, just past a Solar farm, where another male red- backed Shrike seen perched on a fence, a Blue Rock Thrush heard singing but not seen. In evergreen trees a Blue Tit seen, plus 3 Crested Larks seen around the dry river bed plus another male Red- backed Shrike by shrubs at the side of the dry river bed and assorted darters. Driving back near Lindos, a female Sparrowhawk flew across the road.

Birds & wildlife of Rhodes part 1

On the first day Wednesday 31st August, after our eventual arrival on the Greek island of Rhodes, the journey comprised seeing 4 Hooded Crows and 1 Raven. After arriving at Pefkos, which took an hour to find the hotel, pity there isn't an app to pinpoint your hotel as we always struggle to find our hotel, having always booked the hire car from the airport. From the hotel room, the next day Thursday 31st August, looking right past a fence into scrubby area I saw House Sparrows and a Sub- Alpine Warbler which hopped up from a distant bush, Collared Doves and a croaking Raven flying over. A female Red- backed Shrike hunted from the fence once dropping down and successfully catching an insect. 2 Hooded Crows also flew overhead. We then drove to the Valley of the Butterflies, on the journey a magnificent Scarce Swallowtail flew past. a real misnomer as it is actually the Valley of the Moths, specifically Jersey Tiger Moths. Paying our 5 euros entrance fee at the very tacky entrance, with sadly a stall selling actual pinned butterflies in cases which I find absolutely abhorrent and disgusting in this day and age. We made out way up a gently sloping path following a stream, first odd Jersey Tiger Moths were seen on the bark of the trees, but as we made our way further up more and more were seen until they completely covered the tree trunk of a tree and the lee of a wall, literally 10's of 1000's of Jersey Tiger Moths seen. An incredible sight, I half expected to bump into David Attenborough with a filming crew. At the end, one alighted on me briefly before 1 alighted on a German tourists jeans and he kindly allowed me a couple of pics. I also took some in relatively well lit bark of a tree. I made my way back and we saw people photographing something, it wasn't a moth but a fine Freshwater Crab, another Freshwater Crab was seen further down the stream. In the meantime by the bridge area, I saw a fine Jersey Tiger Moth underneath the bridge with its wings spread out showing the red colouration on the lower wings. A Wren was seen in the valley by the stream. Walking outside the entrance, 2 Wood Grayling butterflies were seen fluttering around the tree trunks. Jenny & I then went onto the Kalimaras Archaeological site, a wonderful female Black- eared Wheatear seen perched on one of the site walls, she then flew into a tree. There was a lot of white in the tail, typically extending and extending in dagger like white fronds, a distinct characteristic of this species. Also perched on the wall was one Starry Agama, one of 5 Starry Agamas seen in total. A Sardinian Warbler was seen in the heathy scrub, a Red- rumped Swallow flew past. One showy Starry Agama crossed the path and rested by the side of the path briefly. On the second morning on 1st September, of our visit to Rhodes, at Pefkos, it was wonderful to see a swirl of 12 Honey Buzzards appearing over the cliff edge swirling around and then they wheeled right over the hotel and then out to sea towards Turkey. Typically long winged birds with longish pointy heads and banded tails, compared to Common Buzzards. At breakfast a male House Sparrow came to beg for food, both a Swallowtail and Scarce Swallowtail flew past and left by the pool area. Moving onto the resort by the Atrium Palace Hotel, Jenny & I parked the car we first saw 1 Red- rumped Swallow flying about and then we saw 4 Red- rumped Swallows perched on the wires. On the well watered grassy lawn, 5+ Black- headed Wagtail walked around feeding. I also saw up to 3 large Hawker/ Emperor dragonflies in flight only. The notes of my observations at the time stated they had a yellow comma clip around brown eyes and a brown head, a light blue segment at the top of the abdomen and brown rest of the abdomen. On checking back home, there was no doubting they were 3 superb Vagrant Emperors, the only problem they didn't settle for any pictures. I left Jenny on the beach and drove to Genadi Bridge, over a dry river valley hoping to see Rufus Bush Chats, I didn't seen any. Some Skimmers seen either Keeled or more likely Southern seen on a couple of bushes they were also very shy and didn't settle for photos. A couple of Red- veined Darters seen. I also saw a Violet Dropwing, with violet abdomen and then tend to point down when perched rather than being vertical. On the east side of the bridge over the far side, a mysterious grey bird flew to another bush and then flew back towards the bridge, ID uncertain. Further down the valley, a female Red- backed Shrike perched in a bush was easier to identify. Up to 5 Crested Larks were seen too. Walking down the side of the hotel to get some much needed refreshment at a cafe, a tatty Lang's short- tailed Blue was seen on the flowers and 2 Lizards only heard scuttling away.

Wedding visit and unexpected array of woodland birds

On August 27th I visited Coleslaw Hall, Upper Peover, near Knutsford, Manchester for my cousins daughter's wedding. There was a very showy Heron in the grounds that allowed a very close approach even with my 150mm macro lens. One time it was by the bridge by the pond another time it stood near some reeds and posed beautifully for the camera. The following day and early morning walk revealed 3 Nuthatches in one Oak tree followed by 3 Chiff- Chaffs, Treecreeper, a GSW, Blue & Great Tits it was nice to see this one tree alive with woodland birds. 2 Nuthatches were also seen by trees closet to the Hall too. Looking over a nearby field, 3 Buzzards soared in the air including a very pale bird. An unexpected wildlife oasis!

Dotterel at Covehithe cliff field

Receiving a BINS message that Carl B had found an imm Dotterel at Covehithe cliff field just N of the metalled road. On a really close muggy afternoon, an hour or so later I walked down to the site. Tt was in the cliff field (formerly a pig field) now a potato field. Initially I couldn't see it but seeing a group of birders in the north-east corner path I knew where to go and sure enough the fine immature Dotterel was only 7 ploughed furrows in. Good to see Ali R, Carl B & Neville L here. Thanks to Ali for putting me in the best spot to see the bird. This fine bird spent most of it's time sitting down, it initially stood up but then sat down and spent the entire duration watching it sitting down. I then visited the Broad with Neville L it was immediately apparent there had been a massive amount of erosion, trees from the 'cliff' just south of there had fallen into the sea and the hide was only approx 30 metres from the beach and we saw around 60 Dunlin, a single Greenshank in front of the hide, Kingfisher fishing from the posts in front of the hide. Steve P popped in briefly to retrieve his notebook. We saw around 30 Black- tailed Godwits and a smart summer plumage Bar- tailed Godwit at the back. An Avocet flew into and settled in low water at the back. 4 Knot seen, 1 in wp, 1 in full sp and 2 in transitional plumage. Strangely enough no Sandpipers seen. Back at the Dotterel, Chris M & Peter N were in attendance an finally when the sun came out I managed to manoeuvre around without disturbing the bird and get some reasonable pics, the bird stood up once when some dogs on leads were passing on the path, once they had gone it soon settled down again where I left it. Several 5 Speckled Wood butterflies seen around the vegetation of the metalled road as I walked back.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth outside work!

On leaving work a tad late yesterday, Friday 25th Augus at 5.15pm, I was glad I did so as I instantly saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth taking an interest buzzing the guttering bordering the R&D offices, it flew gradually south, I shut the western doors to stop it flying in and it then flew strongly south, about 6 miles away it would receive a very warm welcome!

"Why does it always cloud over me?"

Sung to the tune of Travis' "Why does it always rain on me?", one of Jenny's favourite songs, I could well ask the question each time I walk the 2 miles to the top of Carlton Marshes it always clouds over! On Sunday 20th August, mid morning, again I was pleasantly distracted along the dykes, where I met an elderly couple who had spotted one Fen Raft Spider this time from the main boarded area where one was sat on a Lily pad, just right of a particularly thick Water Soldier plant sticking out of the water, by the three fronds cut off half way up. The lady also found a second further along past the big bush, in a bowl shaped indentation, along the far side of the dyke, another Fen Raft Spider was facing down onto the water. Walking around past Spratts water, a couple rather annoyingly trailed just behind me, so I was unable to get a shot of a Kestrel on a gate post and a Black- tailed Skimmer on the path ahead of me. I also saw Peacock & Small Tortoiseshell butterfly briefly here too. No birds seen on the Scrape apart from a Mallard! At the top, a female Great Diving Beetle (with finely lined back) was on the path and scurrying to get into cover, she safely negotiated the path into a side area. A slightly tatty Wall Brown butterfly was perched on the bare part of the path and later perched on the wall, it flew and is a very unobtrusive butterfly, but when it perched on the wall it was doing exactly what it says on the tin! Also on the wall, were up to 3 skittish tiny Common Lizards (boding well for the future) and slightly further along was the most obliging Common Lizard I have ever come across. It spent well over an hour on the wall just past a thistle and was an absolute joy to photograph, pity the sun had gone in. A very fine male Migrant Hawker flew in and perched underneath a weed. Nothing along the north die of Scrape. IN the dyke I saw an adult and 2 young Moorhens that just eluded the camera, It was really good to catch up with Alan & Edwina B in the car park afterwards and I hope they got to see some of the Fen Raft Spiders.

Trio of Goodies at Breydon

On Friday 18th August, following a tweet from Tommy C, I headed over to Breydon and was rewarded in seeing a trio of goodies (no, not Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke Taylor and Bill Oddie) but the first bird seen feeding vigorously with its long neck exercising its long spatular shaped bill from side to side was a Spoonbill in front of the Tern platforms. There were lots of Med Gulls, Avocets, Godwits and amongst the Gulls, I saw the magnificent Caspian Tern facing left. I couldn't see any smaller waders. It's black crown was starting to moult a little into whiter winter plumage. Its big bill looking more reddish than orange it was facing and left and slowly walked left. Suddenly, I spotted an immature Arctic Tern with very bouncy flight flying left and over the Tern platforms it even perched on one of them. It stood out from the more elongated Common Terns.