More Waders at Maple Lodge

It seemed a good idea to check out Maple Lodge and see the 5 reported Green Sandpipers,so with out further ado  I made the Teal hide and was soon viewing 2 then 3 then 4 then 5,and to top it all a superb

Greenshank,a couple of hours well spent including Kingfisher and Little Egret.

IN SEARCH OF SANDPIPERS ETC

On the 8th of Auugust Paul Lewis and I headed for Wilstone Res on route we walked to the hide ,but first noted the two Whooper Swans at close quarters ,water levels were low making most of the waders distant, alright for scoping but difficult for photography.
At the hide we met Steve Rodwell and Lee Evans turned up ,we grilled the variety of waders,overhead buzzard obliged as did  red kite and a few hobbys on leaving.
 BIRDS OF NOTE = 1 Spotted Redshank 1 Common Sandpiper2 Green Sandpiper,6 Greenshank,6 Black tailed Godwit,11 Little Egret.
On the9th ambled down to Maple Lodge to check out Green Sands where up to 5 are present but are mobile between mud patches,a single Little Egret still present while Little Grebes still feeding young.

Breeding birds at Stockers

Stockers Lake wet summers day

Got the bus to Mill End,where at Church Lane I crossed the road and met Louis from work we walked down to the River Colne,it was here we parted,as I crossed the causeway between Stockers and Bury gravel pits I noticed a juvenile Reed Warbler,never to miss an opportunity I photographed it at close quarters then ushered in to the undergrowth away from cyclists,dogs and general public unaware of its plight.
On dead trees opposite a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers obliged,while overhead Common Tern called as did a  gaudy Ring Necked Parakeets on an Oak on one of the islands on Stockers.
I made my way to the cafe in the park for a spot of tea.
Met Simone followed the lake to the causeway where Reed Warblers were in evidence,as we neared the
River Colne a Whitethroat was feeding  a juvenile.
We searched in vain for Kingfishers,plenty of herons and geese mostly Canadas and Greylags, a few ducks mostly Tufted and Pochards in eclipse plumage, as we reached canal side our first Great crested Grebe was on its nest prior to the Alder wood.
A real bonus was party of Bullfinch including juveniles,then it was more warblers, a family of Blackcaps also a Willow warbler or Chiffchaff,while on the boardwalk a party of wrens showed as the sun come out.
Finally another pair of Great Crested Grebes sitting on a single egg before the heavens opened so ended another day with Colne Valley Birding.

Purple Hairstreak at Bayhurst Woods

On the Border with butterflies

Paul Lewis and I had a small window today in between jobs and work,so we went to Harefield towards Ruislip where at  Bayhurst woods we went  in search of butterflies ,we parked and walked the circumference of the wood and saw that many butterflies,that we renamed the wood Speckled Wood as in every sunny glade they were abundant.
Birds were not at a premium but we did see juvenile nuthatch and heard tree creeper and blackcap.
Our main goal was some rare butterflies,but it was not until we had gone full circle and reached the car park we had a fleeting glimpse of White Admiral,then amongst the Oaks ,Paul saw our first Purple Hairstreaks I was surprised they were not much bigger than Common Blue,we managed some photos
and returned home happy with our good fortune.

Back on the circuit

Apolgies for my abscence, a trip to Thailand produced some good birding plus excellent food and lovely people I can understand while most men in Britain are here it could be all the women in Britain wan't to be men?.
Enough said I was with the wife but birding in Kaeng Krachan was good and the chance to cross the River Kwai was great for this old colonial.
Opposite the hotel there were Blue tailed bee eaters breeding in the ground as were Black winged stilts and Red wattled plovers on the ground with their high pitched call of "did you do it" harshly repeated.
Some impressive birds in KK WERE Green Magpie,Ratchet tailed Tree pie ,White rumped Shama, and a host of butterflies, along with Muncjac and Giant Black Squirrel.
Returning home to a phone call of a Night Heron at Stockers I was blaisie and left it too late missing it by an hour,I had been watching them in Thailand a few days prior but was gutted as it would have been a Herts tick.

So today I walked to Woodoaks the Little Owls were showing one ad and one juv,but my old mate Lewis told me to check out the butterflies at Lady Walk Wood where I photographed Ringlets,Marbled White etc on a lovely summers morning.