Monday, 23. June 2008, 19:52:02
white, butterfly, Darland, report
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Today on the way home I took a couple of large diversions. First up was Darland banks, a chalkhill nature reserve run by Kent Wildlife Trust. Entering the reserve I noticed a colourful 'fly' and knew instantly what it was since I've wanted to photograph one since I got my camera: a ruby-tailed wasp (
Chrysis ignita), and type of jewel wasp.
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Thursday, 1. May 2008, 21:16:16
common, butterfly, park, toad
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In between the rain on tuesday I managed to get to Bedfords Park, but the conditions turned sour on the way and so the red damselflys that had been reported had dived for cover. But i did manage my first speckled wood of the year
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Friday, 29. February 2008, 22:30:49
report, kent, riverside, slow-worm
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Today it was cloudy. Then it started to rain. But I tried looking for reptiles at a locality I know, with out much hope. And yet, under some roofing felt I found this guy (and a friend)
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Thursday, 28. February 2008, 21:50:36
gull, woodpecker, grey, heron
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Today I went for a wander around regents park. Activity at the heronry was the same as it has been recently. No sign of any chicks today, but I'm sure there are some up there. Hopefully when they get a bit bigger ill be able to see there heads poking up over the top of the nest. The first interesting thing I saw after walk on from the heronry was a pair of ruddy shelducks, one of which is shown here:
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Wednesday, 20. February 2008, 23:50:02
goose, park, coot, crow
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I start today with and admission. I missed something. Apparently some eggs have hatched in the heronry (I wasn't aware any had been laid!) and according to the writer of
regents park birds chicks have been heard. Thers no reason to doubt this as this guys obviously know his stuff and I believe surveys the park in the mornings when its quieter.
Anyway on with the report. The light was awful, as the fog never lifted so no photos of herons on the nest. However a foriegn school group turned up and the herons descended from their nests
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Tuesday, 5. February 2008, 14:52:53
gull, feeding time, common, grey
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No more developments on the nests to report. However will I was in Regents park someone began to feed the herons sprats and all hell broke loose
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Friday, 1. February 2008, 14:11:18
little, spoonbill, frog, harvest
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As promised last weekend here are the photos from my visit to wildwood. WARNING:THIS POST IS PHOTO HEAVY! First here is one of the American bullfrogs, which was out despite it not being that mild
There is population of these in Kent (and possibly elsewhere in the UK) They were brought over as pets, sold as giant tadpoles, and as they reach adulthood they then into big frogs which are often set free. Unfortunately they can breed sucessfully and will eat anything they can fit into there mouths - which includes native small mammals, amphibians, reptiles and bird chicks! Efforts have been to capture the bullfrogs with some success, but there have been reports of some still at large.
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Tuesday, 22. January 2008, 22:21:42
gull, pochard, common, park
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I thought I might start posting about the progress of the nesting Grey Herons at the heronry in Regents Park, London. ALthough there was not much activity today. Just 3 adults standing in a nest each and preening.
There were none down on the ground in the usual area either. Hopefully there busy feeding up getting ready for courting, mating and icubation etc.
There were other birds about however:
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