Hi all
Lucky enough to be off work today and even more lucky was that so did Aiki, so we arranged a meet first going to her local nature reserve in Sevenoaks and then on to Fackenden Down reserve on the North Downs. The forecast had given a bright fine day but they forgot to mention the bitterly cold north wind which I was not really dressed for (more the fool me) anyway we both had a day off and were going to make the most of it especially as rain is due this weekend.
I picked Aiki up and we first went to Sevenoaks and despite the cold wind we saw quite a few things some were first time sightings on the reserve for Aiki, and for me as well come to think of it.
We went to the first hide and could see Lapwing, Greylag and Canada Geese Mallard, Coots, but eagle eyed Aiki spotted a Little Ringed Plover and then just to prove spotting that was not just luck she went on to spot the maker of the strange call we heard, a Whimbrel.
Greylag parades past the hide, the Little Ringed Plover was to far away and too small for me to get a recognisable photo but I did manage a poor record shot of the Whimbrel.
As we moved on we heard something from the trees above and Aiki recognised it as a Goldcrest but it was so hard to spot in the poor light and when I did see it and raised the camera it was off, heres the best I managed.
We then went to another hide to see what was on the lake, there we saw Swans, Mallard, Jay, Great Crested Grebes, Canada and Greylag Geese, Heron Coots and another first for Sevenoaks for us was a Manderin drake which seemed to have mistaken itself for a Greylag Goose. Aiki said it reminded her of a couple out with their little toy dog which amused me as it was an accurate description.
A video below of the strange little 3 some.
I then saw one of the Grebes with what I thought was weed but Aiki saw it was a fish when she used here bins and looking at this shot on max zoom and heavily cropped it looks like a Tench, so no wonder it had hard work swallowing it as their slime is really thick and sticky.
We moved on a bit more and again my walking guide book heard the call of a Garden Warbler, again it was very flighty like the Goldcrest but I again managed some photos.
We wandered further on and this time Aiki pointed out the call of a Willow Warbler which we found high up in the tree tops, this was another first for me but I managed a distant shot on nearly max zoom.
On the way back to the car we came across this butterfly and a wren having a dust bath in the middle of the path,
From Sevenoaks we went on to Fackenden Downs in the hope of seeing Butterflies and Adders but it was a little cool so were were uncertain but on arrival we came across a couple of Grizzled Skippers (one below) but other than a Brimstone we didnt find anymore Butterflies.
Aiki took me to some sheets that had been laid out for reptiles to hide under and warm up ready to get on the move, we came across one with a Slowworm under it, well actually there was 2 but Aiki spotted one and I the other. It was only after I spotted Aiki's one and said look there a young one we then realised I had been looking at the adult one and Aiki the little-un.
Just before we left the reserve we came across a gentleman who was researching the reptiles especially the Adders on the downs and he explaind all about the equipment he had including devices to measure the temperature of the air, on top of the sheets under the sheets and the Adders body temperature. It was amzing to hear the differences in the tempertures, Aiki guessed at the air temperature as being around 15 degrees and it turned out to be 16.5, the Adders body temp was over 30 degrees and the top of the tin was 40+ degrees.
Regards Shane
My Photos in Flickr.
Thanks for today, Shane, really enjoyed our walk (actually walks!). My photos are mostly the same as yours, will try to throw in a few different ones.
My go at the Whimbrel. Wish it had been closer (but still amazing to see a spring passage wader on my inland patch).
Tumbling Lapwing.
That pesky Goldcrest. It sat still long enough for pics but stayed in the shade so the pics are noisy.
The Mandarin, second patch-tick of the day (the first was the Whimbrel), and such a poser.
Far-away Jay. Nice colours, but rather fuzzy and noisy - oh well.
Green-veined White on Green Alkanet.
Popular plant, that Green Alkanet. Now it's attracted an Orange-tip.
And here's my Grizzled Skipper. These two must have just emerged, they look brand new (those feathery fringes wear away fast).
And the mini Slow-worm to finish :)
My blog: http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/
My Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124028194@N04/
Great photos from the pair of you. The Mandarin/Greylag combination is interesting.
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
Fabulous selection of photos from you both, saw my first yellow tip butterfly yesterday, but it wouldn't stay still LOL
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Thanks guys, and thanks for the app link, doggie, will check that out :)
What an incredible selection from you both, that mandarin is a colourful chap (or should that be manderlag? lol) and the Garden warbler and Goldcrest have me a tad jealous, only seen a couple of butterflies and none that you've captured. Well done both.
Terry
cheers Terry
my photo's here
Great set of photos Shane and Aiki and what a brilliant day out you had. I though I was having a case of deja-vu when you listed Lapwing, Greylag and Canada Geese Mallard, Coots,and a Little Ringed Plover as I visited a local reserve today and saw exactly the same group as you listed lol The L.R.Plover was smaller than I expected, especially when seen next to the other gulls and geese but a real thrill to see it. I love the photo of the Mandarin Duck with the water splash, superb but hard to choose a favourite as they are all beautiful.
_____________________________________
Regards, Hazel
Looks like you had a great day out & your orange tip is much better than my todays attempt, they just kept flying by. The whimbrel was a good spot, & lovely to have a goldcrest. All great photos!
Best wishes
Hazel in Southwest France
What a good day out you both had and like the others have said a great set of photos from you both. When I pressed play on the video the noise make me jump! I wonder what was going on with the mandarin and the greylags. He certainly wasn't letting them out of his sights was he? Great photos of the warblers and the slow worms.
See my Flickr photos here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/115745582@N04/
Aiki (M): Thanks for your contribution and company I am looking forward to returning to Fackendon, that Manderin shot is stunning I got one similar but no where near as perfect as yours.
Doggie: Thanks for your kind remarks, but credit for seeing the Whimbrel is down to M well most of the things really lol also thanks for the link.
MC: Thanks very much.
JudiM: Thank you and as for the Butterflies we had much the same problem they only settled for seconds.
Turboman: Thank you as well, I was pleased to get the Garden Warbler shot and even more pleased to see it came out reasonable
considering its location and the light. I have been after a good Goldcrest shot for years and still am but I am not too disappointed with this one.
Hazy: Thanks and Aiki and I were wondering who the lady was following us around now we know j/k glad you had a good day too.
Noisette: I would have missed the Whimbrel without Aiki's eagle eyes it was certainly an unexpected spot and thanks again for the kind remarks on the photos.
ChristineB: LOL sorry to have made you jump they were certainly a noisy pair, The Slow worms were great to see I had not seen one for a good while hence looking forward to a re-visit.
I forgot to mention when on Fackenden Down we also came across this egg shell which obvioulsy had been predated as it was right in the middle of the field. I am guessing at a Pheasant but am open to correction as always, not the best quality shots as trhey were taken with my mobile.