Spiders for Halloween

Found these spider webs across much of the scrub at Dungeness recently.

Pink Frass on the webs

When I zoomed in on the shot there was a 'bag' of red spider mite-type creatures.   Stunningly beautiful.

A long 'bag' hanging from the web

The bag containing hundreds or thousands of red spider mites

Jack Snipe

My most recent birding "quest" has been Jack Snipe.   After seeing my first on St Mary's, IOS in 1991, there has been a lack of attention to this species, so a couple of years ago, having achieved the previous goal (Lesser Spotted Woodpecker), JS moved to the top of my UK wish-list.

Not wishing to flush a bird has costs me several opportunities, but in the last couple of weeks I have been an extremely lucky lady.

First came a chance meeting with a local group of birders at Dungeness - and thanks to them for sharing!   Although being extremely hard to find amongst the rocks and legs of Northern Lapwing and Grey Heron, and with a rather annoying willow moving in a stiff breeze, it was a less than satisfactory view.   Added to which it didn't even have the good grace to "bob".

I said it was less than satisfactory!

However, my (fast becoming) local patch of Rainham Marshes awaited and last week gave fantastic views of a Jack Snipe - no Willows in the way, no Lapwing or Grey Heron complicating the view and with a Common Snipe nearby for comparison and joy of joy - it bobbed constantly!  Yippee!

Mission accomplished - wonder what's next? 

Bio-blitz in Dorset - aka Extreme photo-blogging!!

A few snaps from a recent trip to the Dorset Steam Fair - interesting what you can find around a  busy  site full of folk:

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Wild Clematis seeds

Swallow  

One of the few flowers in bloom

Wild Clematis flowers 

White Clover

Red Clover

It wasn't all flowers:

Swallow which had nested in a display "WWII bunker"

Ferret 

Ferret 

Bald Eagle

And just to bring some reality to the situation - here are a few cryptic entries into the list:

Owls 

The busy bee

A Sheep dancing competition!!

Enough said??

Ponta Delgado, Saõ Miguel, Azores

Day one, and after a very long journey and a good nights sleep, I was keen to get out and see where we had landed.

The volcanic landscape was dramatic, with the morning skies bright everywhere except over the nearby volcanic hills where the top was clad in a dark thick cloud from which it failed to emerge all day.  

Common Tern

A wander along the promenade seemed the best introduction to this iconic destination.   Having Azores on my wish list for over 20 years (with a short intermission when Andy and Fergie honeymooned there) to finally arrive was a thrill in itself.

Along the lowlands and the coast blue skies appeared.  One of the first birds seen was Common Tern  feeding in the small rock pools.   House Sparrow and Common Starling were the most numerous birds, with Blackbird appearing as we continued along the coast.   Yellow-legged was the only Gull seen (without bins!).

Along the marina wall, Voyagers have their motifs painted and shoals of fish swam alongside the pontoons.

After a leisurely breakfast, the rest of the day was spent walking around the south and east of the town "being a tourist" enjoying stunning architecture and beautiful scenes.

Churches were either stunningly ornate and slathered in gold or simple and welcoming.   Colours abounded with buildings painted in all colours of the rainbow.   The pavements are patterned with nautical symbols, stripes and even stars.   Not just in the main thoroughfares, but the backstreets as well.

Harbour decorations

Shops sell everything from food to garden tools, and then others just cheese or meat.    With a strong link to Brazil, the similarities are endless.   I see where Brazil gets its idiosyncrasies from!

Blackcap seemed to be everywhere - with their calls ringing out along the seafront from almost every tree we passed.   Try as we might, they were a nightmare to see - flitting from branch to branch as males chased each
other.

The main square

Coffee stops by the sea and ice cream - swiftly followed by caipirinha - were great ways to soak up the atmosphere.   Seafood and salads are served in amazing combinations.   Tuna salad composing of chick peas, tomato, lettuce, Apple, egg, croutons, shredded tuna, topped off with copious amounts of toasted, flaked almonds.   Absolutely delicious!

Knole Park - devoid of wildlife

Sometimes you wonder why you went out looking for wildlife.   This was one such day  :-(

Bracket Fungi

Apart from the Fallow and Sika Deer there was precious little else to find.  

Sika Deer enjoy the pondweed

Fallow Deer looking out for stray golfballs!

Not one butterfly, beetle, in fact no insects at all, few flowers but some beautifully mown golf fairways - Lol!

Decaying tree stump (complete with bag of dog poo)

Sadly, stinging nettle beds had been sprayed (presumably as they are too close to the path and may cause injury) and, probably more understandable, Arum lily clumps had been poisoned.    

Wood Spurge escapes the chop

Even in our "wild" open places we are tidying up, clearing out anything that we think might be of harm - well, everything has a downside to it, perhaps it is time we looked at ourselves and decided whether the 'pros' we add to the world are worth the weight of the 'cons'.

Finally, evidence of life - an Oak Currant Gall!

Sleep well dear friends.

How many species using one plant!

During my recent trip to Northward Hill, I noticed a small spider on the underside of a leaf which I think is an orb spider, possibly Metellina segmentata.

Metellina segmentata (?)

Then I realised that there were several reservoirs of rainwater gathered around the petiole/stem on the same plant and that there were various other creatures either using this water or had unfortunately met their end there!

Beetles

Lacewing, Chrysopa perla and unknown water beetles

Northward Hill Part II

Second trip to Northward Hill, this time visiting the Heronry and (with permission) a walk in the sanctuary area.   Lots to hear with birdsong all around us, but there were also plenty of smaller things to see.   Here's a selection:

Azure Damselfly

Hairy Dragonfly

At last some odonata to see - spring must finally be on its way, although it doesn't feel like it.

May blossom

Part of a fairy ring

Cinnabar Moth

Brown Tail Moth caterpillar

This hairy caterpillar has come in for lots of bad press as some people have a severe reaction to the hairs.   Rather harshly (apparently) my advice would be to leave it alone and not touch it, but I do have sympathy if you inadvertently come into contact.   I got admonished by one of the group for not advocating their extinction!

Weevil

I have no real knowledge of Weevils, but I absolutely love them as a species.   Usually so distinctive I can tell they actually are Weevils (which helps) and from there its down to "this is a Weevil!"   This individual was resting on the car when I returned from our morning walk, along with several flies which were not as obliging and quickly moved off as the camera appeared.

Two spot ladybird

Rye Harbour

Great day at Rye Harbour on Sunday, some photographs to bring my memories back!

Salsify

Dog Rose

Sedum Acre

Sea Kale

Pair of Cuckoo

Common Tern

Hounds Tongue

What ARE they looking at?

Mistle Thrush (or if you are on predictive text missile thrush!)