Anglesey, South Stack: Guillemots, Raven, a Puffin and a nice view! (and great weather)

A quick blog post...

A day off from work so I decided to drive to Anglesey in Wales and spend a few hours there. On the way I saw lots of Buzzards (even a few dead on the A55) a Kestrel and the usual commoners. I was hoping to see Puffin, Guillemots and Chough's on my visit. 

 What I saw:

• Guillemots
• Raven
• one single Puffin (which was spotted by friend Chloe, thank you)
• Stonechat
• Swallows
• Small and large White butterflies
• lots of Herring Gulls etc

Unfortunately I didn't see a Chough, hopefully will next time on my visit. I took a few quick shots of the Guillemots etc below.

Above, you can just about see the Puffin!

A #Starling obsession at the moment.

The last few weeks I have been getting even more visits from one of my favourite birds, Starlings. Over the week there has been fledging chicks that have also been making an appearance on the feeders. Some are still demanding to be fed by there parents and will sit stubbornly until they do! 

(photo's above were from 22nd May 2013 - if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook then you probably have seen them already!)

I have nearly been photographing these birds everyday. 

Here are some more from today, being mainly images of some of the youngsters.

About an hour later after photographing the above, I was at my desk and I heard a really loud bang on the window, quickly had a look and saw a young Starling on the ground which had flew straight into the window that had clearly been chased by the Magpie... (who was also with the Starling). When I got closer to the youngster the Magpie was still attacking it, which obviously I got involved! This Starling wasn't looking to great for a while, then eventually moved, fell further onto the ground and started hobbling around the place.

 

After 20mins or so he was back to normal and flew straight onto the feeders, then eventually flew off with the adult.

#HappyEnding!  well it was for me and the Starling :)

PIB's and over 4000 dead seabirds...

This was forwarded to me by South Stack RSPB. Please have a read and sign the online petitions!

Polyisobutene (PIB), the substance responsible for over 4,000 slow, lingering seabird deaths so far this year, in two separate incidents, is still legally allowed to be released at Sea.

You’ve probably seen it on the news, or even followed it on Facebook our blog or twitter – but did you know that it’s not just the RSPB and other NGOs calling for a change in the law?

The RSPB, along with other wildlife NGOs, have today joined forces with the UK Chamber of Shipping (supported by the wider industry association MaritimeUK) to make a ground-breaking collective call on the UK Government to press ahead with an urgent review of PIB’s discharge status. Together we are calling for the UK to step up to lead a review, and then present it to a future meeting of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

It may be a small change to ensure all PIB is removed from tanks while in port, but in the global world of shipping, it could make a real difference to seabirds and would be one less pressure on our marine environment in general

It’s a slow process, and as we’ve seen inaction risks further mortality of our already at threat seabirds.

You can show your support to ban this seabird killer by signing the online petitions at 38 degrees and Avaaz – we hope the more names they gather the quicker we can get the UK government to act.

Thanks for taking the time to read.

SPRING: Caterpillars/Butterflies/Moths/Bugs

SPRING one of my favourite times of the year as it means getting out the macro lens. Apart from that, it means moth trapping, new butterflies, bugs and outside is buzzing with life and colour!

Bluebells

Caterpillar - Drinker Moth

Thanks to Wendy @benjiandblossom, @inkednaturalist and @dorsetmoths for help identifying the caterpillar :)

Female Orange Tip

Below - male Orange Tip

Peacock - rather early!?

Maybe a Small Tortoiseshell? can't see the small blue bits around the edging though...

Above and below - a Small White

Speckled Wood

Above and below - Green-veined White

Some kind of Hover-fly - yet to identify it!

and below my first Ladybird of 2013! - Adalia 2-punctata

Hopefully I will get to see and photograph more butterflies etc over the next few months. I'm especially hoping to see at least ONE decent hawk moth this year!

The last one I saw was in 2010 (below) - Elephant Hawk Moth

A rather quiet bank holiday, but plenty of walking and a few little sightings.

My bank holiday was a rather quiet one... well more garden work, seeing friends and a few nice walks than going #birding. 

Still, had a few nice little sightings of Reed Buntings, a quick sighting of a Cuckoo at Burton marshes and also where I walk my dogs in the morning I could hear a Cuckoo but just couldn’t see it!

Lots of Swallows around flying over the house and a few House Martins too. 

On bank holiday Monday on my way back I quickly popped into Martin Mere, lots of Swallows there as well which I managed to get a few photo's through the scope/SLR.

The Caddis Fly - thanks to... @GrahamUney, @13art_Art, @Lincsbirders, @CWWMIKE, @Raptorwatcher and @artborist2222 for help identifying the fly! I had no idea what it was.

A few weeks a go I purchased a new scope. Since then I haven't stopped using it! It's a great piece of kit. The above image of the Reed Bunting was taken through the scope, it was extremely windy that day but the photo didn't turn out too bad.

Again below, I was having a mess around with the scope and came across this noisy Robin a few houses down from me.

Long Tailed Tit below, this year I have only had a group of about 16 who visited very quickly earlier in February, so it was good to see this little one perching rather nicely on the base feeder and then flying off with a mealworm! (again taken through the scope).

Over the last week we have been having even more visits from a few pairs of House Sparrows, but I have a feeling there are 4 pairs visiting the feeders in total. The usual pair are nesting in the house behind us, flying in and out from the nest getting food, you can also hear the sound of the chicks when the parents enter the nest which is pretty cool!

A few quick shots from Martin Mere...

Never seen such a greedy Heron in my life, must of caught about 8 fish easily.

I was only watching for about 20mins! 

The Otters were out as well this time #TooCute!

 

Above, taken on the #phone.