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Feckenham (1 Viewer)

Monday 13th........I should have known not to venture out on the 13th......it was sunny when I got home from work so dashed over to try for a better view of the Sedge warbler.AS I passed the Lickeys it was getting darker by the minute and as usual Feckenham was completely overcast.Still I was here so carry on...as I got by the log pile going toward the little hide I surprised (and was surprised) a Deer - think Roe -bigger than Muntjac-with horns.It ran straight for the wood,over the fence and zig-zagged through the trees.
No chance of pic....into hide and looked out of window and opened it....as I opened the next another Deer -same species turned tail from almost in the pond and into the reeds and gone.
For the next hour I was alone with hardly a thing making a noise even.
It was a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers with rumbling of thunder.When the rain stops it brightens up before going dark and rain again.
Decided to stretch legs...not easy in this "shed"....he he.
As I looked out of side window(open) spotted something by stile I had come over...a Fox which did the running off into the woods thing as well.
Apart from a few Male Orange Tips and a Small White and the Mammals it was a wasted day.....did get some landscape pics though.
After 2 1/2 hours went to the big hide for some Kingfisher action (???).
It was the same here for an hour.....then after more -worse -heavy rain with a gale.....things started to show...a Pair of Canada's with 7 Goslings...one Dabchick fishing,,,,,a Heron flew in fished and went again.....fighting pairs of Tufteds.....a few L.B.G's flitting.Think one was a Whitethroat.
No Kingfisher when I left at 7ish.....very late as I was supposed to be home at 6....:eek!:
In car park met one of the ringers from the other weekend who had come to check up on the nest of the Stock Doves...at last someone to chat to before getting home to ruined tea......
Keith .......As some one said "why do we bother birding".....:-O

pics...
1-3 ..small hide ...no wildlife.
4...Heron landing
5..and a Duck.
 

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Bigger Hide....

1-2...between the rain and sun.
3-4 Honk honk.....even the Goslings were noisy
5 .. munching a s Stickleback
 

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Weds 22nd May...

Blowing an absolute gale right into my face in the big hide and not a lot about.
I was still feeling bad from previous weekend (fluish) and I fell asleep in the draft.......ended up feeling like dead when got home...had to had day off and visit docs......but after waking up a Male Cuckoo flew right in front of hide (no pic) and as I was closing flaps a mallard mum showed up with 9 ducklings.....

Also I noted that the Little grebes were nest bulding )or adding to one) in overgrown grasses to left edge of pool about level with sloping post on island.

As I walked toward the lane the under trees gave some shelter from wind and was full of midges and a few a Small Whites and Male Orange Tips.Too close and narrow area for good pics but had a go.
Keith
 

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Sat 25th May.....10-1pm

Wind almost gone and IT'S SUMMER....pond full of chicks...2 lots of mallards...9 and 6....4 Coots the various Canada ones must be off in the fields......
They all kept me amused with their antics though with the Mallard ones jumping up to catch the millions of midges.
AQ Heron popped in and hid on left shore past 1/2 way waiting for chicks....a couple of scary moments as they came quite close.
Dabchicks....one only out and about - hope other on nest.

A few Swallows were joining in snapping up the midges off the water...no pics...too fast.

A Reed Bunting male had a few secs in the left tree then off to far end again.
A Buzzard flew over woods and around little hide then gone.
A Male (or maybe a few) kept calling all the time from when I got there to when I left...never saw it though.

AS I walked back along path again there was a few Orange Tips and Whites then as I got exit area just before I turned right I saw the Male Roe Deer that I saw on the 13th was standing looking at me in the grassy area before the marsh...could see him trying to locate me ...but I had camo on and was 1/2 hidden by undergrowth/fences.Despite having handfulls of cameras/bins/tripod/bean-bag and mobile I got a few shots off as he was starting to get out of there.He went left into area by far end of pool.
Keith :t:
 

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And here's one showing where the last brood probably ended up....

Watch out little'un...
Keith :t:
 

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Up to 4 male cuckoo calling and squabbling at one time 10 -11 am
Saw all four at one time ...watch out chicks...the herons turned up.
 
Large ,Small Whites,Orange Tips and the odd Peacock joined me around the reserve today...

Keith :t:
 

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Lots of different weather all week....spotted a Cuckoo on all of my 3 visits.
Finally got a shot as 2 flew across pool into trees to back.right of hide...could they be males chasing or a male and female.
Keith :t:

A shot that the word record was intended for...
 

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BIRD I.D. please.....

Had an hour to spare so popped in today...12.30-1.30.
Weather rubbish with rain on and off..
As I was writing in the book I looked up to see if it was still raining just as 2 birds "fell " into the grasses in a line to the small hide and in between the fences.
Immediately thought it was bird of prey and prey...think the smaller one might have been a Swallow (??) with the larger one being grey with large wings.
Got these CRAP shots off but the light was rubbish (honest).
Thoughts .....probably only a Sparrowhawk.
Keith :t:
 

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Thanks MB...we do get one visit quite often...first time I have seen one try for a kill.
Thanks again.
Keith :t:
 
Had a quick 1 1/2 hour visit ....overcast and windy but as I was leaving the sun was trying to come out.
Lots of Sedge Warblers flitting about...one greeted me on the way post by the hide...flew off and back again catching an insect.The rest were going between the left bank and the island with Reed Warblers joining them on the posts and in the fields.
A Heron flew in from left corner onto edge of 2nd island but only stayed a couple of minutes.
A lot more no I.D'd LBJ's in the trees to the right.....with a lot of singing going on everywhere.
A Swallow skimmed the water as I was closing up.

The main "spots" were the insects....like a swarm as I opened the door to enter...I opened all windows and left door open to let then out and get the temperature down.....no fun if you are not shivering in this hide....lol
Bees and hovers were buzzing around the giant White weeds that were obscuring the view out of the windows...are they Hogweed....very fragrant though.
A few Blue Damsels(Males) were in amongst the lower grasses and saw a couple of Female flitting around the waters edge.
A little Brown/orange Butterfly in the grass in front of hide then gone....Gatekeeper or Meadow Brown.

The greatest surprise was as I walked along the path back to the lane/car park....MILLIONS ON 2/3mm LONG AMPHIBIANS...FROGS OR TOADS...I must have killed a lot as I could not avoid them....a few birds hanging around...Wren ...Blackbird and one with white tail edges...could be Chaffy....think they were after the amphibians.

Getting in car and a butterfly went across just past gate and on edge of wood...got out the macro and got a snap...it threw me at 1st as it was so Orange like a Fritillary but it was only a Speckled Wood.

Keith :t:

1 and 2 ..The rung Sedge Warbler..
3 and 4 A Bee shot at 400mm...I was on step out the door and it was just out the window...he he.
% Speckled Wood
 

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My normal Sat morning visit was dominated by insects mainly although a Whitethroat popped in for a few seconds.....Steve dropped in and while talking and trying to snap the Swallow family skimming the water a Juvenile landed on a Kingy perch....
The reserve was alive -AT LAST- with life ...birds singing - insects buzzing...and it was HOT.

I put a note in the book last week about the Cow Parsley "in the way" and it was replied to that that's what Feckenham is about......correct...just make sure the Cows do not barge in and B***** it up like the other year.....

Keith :t:
 

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and the birds...
 

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Forgot to say that there were loads of these Burnet Moths hovering around in the meadows back to the car park...as well as the Sedge Warblers singing (think).
Keith :t:
 

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Visited a couple of times this week trying to find the reported Spotted Flycatchers but drew blanks both times.

The place is alive with Butterflies,moths,Damsels,Dragons and a few birds (lol)...also Millions of midges :eek!: :eek!:

Almost run over a Juvenile Green Woodpecker in Moors Lane on the way home.It was past the allotments where the houses start...if flew off to the left over the gardens.

Keith :t:
 
Red hot at midday yesterday and the Dragon pool was like Waterloo Station......don't know the names of all the species but got a few pics....

Keith :t:
 

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Some more insects ..including a Spider that walked across the pond....the flies that covered the little pond in the corner of the reserve and the ditch (at the little bridge)....and some Swallows next to the car park.
Keith :t:
 

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