Hairy Dragonflies and Small Bues.

Having arrived a little late to see the roosting White Stork Alun Hughes and I  decided to spend a few hours
at Kenfig in the hope of seeing the Otters, but that was a waste of time! outside the Hide we saw several Hairy Dragonflies, Blue tails and a few Dingy Skippers. At least something to photograph. We then decided to look for Small Blues at another site, and with a strong breeze we still managed about a dozen or so.

Pembs.

Had a few days down west. My favorite place I enjoy birding is Martins Haven/ the Deer Park, problem is the car park attendant is over enthusiastic, he beats be every time and at £4 a go it gets expensive. Though  I gave a stern look when I arrived at 6.50 he let me off if I was to be only an hour and a half. The prick!!

      This Wren eventually came close enough to the hide at Marloes Mere.

Any way it was good to see Stonechats are still here and feeding young.

                             Shag on Wooltack Pt.

Llangennith again....

Decided to give the Woodchat Shrike another go, giving it some time I thought would get me better shots than earlier in the week.

Arriving very early hoping to get there before any other birders was in vain! the heavy overnight mist lingered and after about an hour it became evident that the Shrike had left. A few birders started to arrive and we left , just getting a few shots of anything that moved. This cobweb was nice, Leaving my macro lens in the car and using a 500mm.

A Pied Flycatcher was not easy as it fed in the canopy and the Skylarks were always that bit too far! Still, a nice place to visit.

Woodchat Shrike at Llangenith.

Showing very well late afternoon , unfortunately we had only about an hour available so it was straight in (without any fieldcraft) and out, on the one occasion when it we were able to get a reasonable distance the light went!  We had to get to Little Haven before dark.

The plan early today was to go to Skomer. The weather was awfull and no boats.Apart from the Blue-winged Teal at Sandy Water Park we saw very little.

Bees and Moths

Decided this week to start trapping Moths again, so dug out the Skinner trap, got it working.

It`s been a few years since I have done any trapping, struggled to identify them again, just like starting over!

Shoulder Stripe

                                            Early Grey

                                           Brindled Beauty

                                           Not from the trap- Grey mining Bee

                                               Oak Beauty

Painted Lady

This was unexpected at Aberthaw today. The earliest I have ever seen!