Green Hairstreaks and Marsh Fritillaries

A walk at Overstrand this morning revealed that at least a dozen Green Hairstreaks were present on the clifftop vegetation, with these being the first ones that I've ever seen there.

Other new butterflies for the year noted were at least one Wall, a Large White and a Small Tortoiseshell. A Hobby drifted over and a Large Red Damselfly was also seen.

Following a tip off, the afternoon was spent enjoying a number of freshly emerged Marsh Fritillaries which had been unofficially introduced to a site along the coast, and although initially elusive they eventually gave excellent views and were incredibly photogenic too.

Four-spotted Chaser emerging

With the warm weather, more dragonflies have started to emerge down at Felbrigg, and below is a sequence of shots of one of the Four-spotted Chasers there emerging which was excellent to watch. 

With the larva having climbed up out of the lake onto a reed stem, the emerging dragon broke out through its back in an initial crumpled up state, before it outstretched its wings and plumped out its abdomen, and then with the benefit of the warmth it slowly gained its colour and the wings hardened enough to fully open them out and was then eventually able to take its maiden flight.

Garganey - New for the Patch

Headed down to Felbrigg Lake today to look for Dragonflies, not really expecting any bird action, but how wrong I was, as when I approached the lake edge a pair of ducks were inadvertently flushed from the edge of the reedbed and getting my bins on them as they quickly landed again I was delighted to see that they were Garganey, my first ones ever for the patch.

One of these days I'll get round to working out the total number of species I've recorded on the patch over the years, but guess it'll be somewhere around the 260 mark by now. The resident Whooper Swan was as ever on the lake too, and although looking for Dragonflies understandably took a back seat to the Garganey, I did see my first Red-eyed Damselflies of the year to the south of the lake, where a Reed Warbler was singing, and Little and Barn Owls were also noted.

Osprey & Red-backed Shrike

News of a probable Black Kite over the patch this morning saw me dashing along the coast to see if I could relocate it, and as usual in such circumstances I headed for the highpoint of the layby by the council offices. Scanning round for a while revealed nothing but the local corvids, and with the ridge shrouded in low cloud and fine drizzle, I was just thinking to myself that no self respecting raptor would fly into that when I picked up two large birds of prey in the distance through the bins. I quickly established one was one of the local Common Buzzards, and that it was mobbing a longer-winged bird which banked in the tussel to reveal its white underparts - an Osprey!

Due to the weather it was barely clearing the tree tops and I watched as it slowly headed over Felbigg Park. Knowing that it was heading towards the lake I thought it was worth a shot to try and relocate it there, and indeed coming withing sight of the lake I picked it up again circling round before it carried on its way westwards being mobbed by the local corvids. Due to the weather and distance only a poor record shot was obtained, but it was still an excellent bird, and only my fourth ever for the patch.

With no sign of the kite, I embarked on a good slog round the patch although this revealed very little of note until a phone call alerted me to the presence of a Red-backed Shrike in East Runton. Typically I was a long way from the car, but thankfully it was still there when I arrived and despite being elusive at times, it gave some excellent views and was a really smart bird.

A Garden Warbler was seen mobbing it at one point and a Hobby flew over a couple of times to add to the excitement. A final check of the day around Sidestrand again drew a blank on the migrant front, but a couple of Common Sandpipers were still on the reservoir.

More Dragonflies at Felbrigg

A walk down to the lake in Felbrigg Park today revealed that the numbers of damselflies were on the increase with double figures of tenerals in the grass around the banks and a number of freshly emerged ones watched crawling up the wall around the southern end of the lake.

Also around the sheltered southern end were a number of more mature damsels, with in addition to a few Common Blues, I found my first Large Reds and Blue-tailed Damselflies for the year.

However the main highlight was this immature male Broad-bodied Chaser, which eventually allowed me to get close enough to get a pic, and its always a delight to see the first Dragonfly of the season.

A few butterflies were also out in the meadow to the south of the lake, including my first Peacock of the year on the patch, and birdwise the Cuckoo was still calling away from the trees along the western boundary of the park.

Elsewhere, a walk round Beeston Common produced my first Garden Warbler of the year, a Sedge Warbler was noted singing from the cliff-face between the lighthouse and the pier, and a single Wheatear was noted at West Runton.

Spotted Fly and Seawatching

A walk down to Felbrigg Lake this morning produced the annually returning Spotted Flycatcher in the trees along the western side of the lake, which brought the patch year list up to the 150 mark. On the lake itself the Little Grebe was still present along with the resident Whooper and Mute Swans, although the latter have now dwindled down from the high twenties to just four. Also a Greylag Goose perched at the top of a dead tree was a rather bizarre sight.

A duck which was mostly hidden amongst the vegetation on the water meadow got me excited for a brief second or two before it revealed itself as an escaped Ringed Teal, the second one on the patch in three years following one on the reservoir in 2010.

Due to the wet and windy conditions no butterflies or damselflies were noted today, but a few more teneral Common Blue Damsels and my first Speckled Wood of the year were noted over the weekend.

With the fairly stiff northerly breeze, a couple of sessions of seawatching were undertaken this afternoon which produced a nice selection of birds including two Arctic Skuas, which were my first spring record of the species for the patch, 10 Manx Shearwaters and a fairly decent passage of Little Terns. Other birds noted included Gannets, Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Sandwich Terns and Guillemots.

Some Butterflies at last

Having missed the warm spell in March due to being in Florida, I had only recorded one solitary butterfly so far this spring on the patch, which was a Small White. However with temperatures hitting 21 degrees yesterday and it still being fairly warm and sunny today, a few species had emerged with Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Orange Tips and Small Coppers all evident during a walk round Felbrigg Park.

Also the first damselfly of the year on the patch was seen with a teneral Blue sp. seen briefly before flying out of view. Birdwise in the park, a pair of Cuckoo's were calling, a large feeding flock of hirundines attracted a Hobby, a drake Mandarin flew onto the lake where the Whooper Swan remains along with a Common Sandpiper. A Moorhen was found to be nesting atop a tree stump, some six feet off the ground, but the most notable occurrence was a Little Grebe which was on the lake and which as far as I can recall was the first one I've ever recorded there.

Migrants continue to arrive

An early morning walk along the golf course on the 7th was rewarded with 2 Tree Pipits flying over, along with a few Yellow Wagtails. Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Common Whitethroat were present in the clifftop bushes and a single Wheatear was also noted.

A visit to West Runton produced the first Whimbrel of the year, 3 Ring Ouzels and more Yellow Wagtails around the cows there.

The southerly airflow and warm temperatures yesterday produced the biggest coastal movement of hirundines and Common Swifts of the spring so far, and 2 Hobbies circling round together over the golf course were also notable. West Runton produced more Yellow Wagtails, including a 'blue-headed' type and a few Wheatears.

A walk in Felbrigg today produced the hoped for Cuckoo in the trees surrounding the lake, along with the years first Reed Warblers, along with a Sedge Warbler, in the reedbed. Two Common Sandpipers were on the lake along with the Whooper Swan, and the Barn Owl was again noted.

A few more migrants

A walk round the patch Tuesday produced the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year at East Runton, where there was also a Ring Ouzel and another male Redstart. A pair of Gadwall were on the reservoir which were the first I've recorded there, and also present were two Common Sandpipers which brought the patch year list up to a respectable 142.

Birds noted on Wednesday included a Whinchat and a few Wheatears along the golf course, a couple of summer-plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits on the beach by the pier which are a notable occurrence this end of the coast, and the presumed released Whooper Swan was still on Felbrigg Lake.

The first Sedge Warbler of the year was found on Friday with one singing in Happy Valley. A walk round Felbrigg produced 2 drake Mandarins on the recently created water meadow, a Common Sandpiper on the lake, a few Swallows, Swifts and a House Martin feeding overhead and a Barn Owl hunting the meadow to the south of the lake. However the surprise of the day came in the shape of a White-fronted Goose which was by the lake with a few Greylags, and whilst it was maybe of feral origin, it quickly flew off and it will be interesting to see if it reappears in the future.

Florida - March 2012

Having solely birded Britain and Ireland for the last 35+ years, I finally took the plunge and embarked on my first foreign birding trip. Florida was the destination selected due to relatives having a place out there, and as they have developed an interest in birds since moving out there they were more than happy to go out in the field every day.

St Cloud, just to the south of Orlando, was my base for the trip, and we primarily concentrated on the central Florida sites within easy travelling distance, along with a couple of day trips over to the east coast, plus a two-day trip over to the west coast for waders etc. I've detailed the main sites that we visited along with the birds etc encountered there, which I hope will be of use to anyone visiting the area in the future, and a course included a few photos of the most notable species encountered.

Flying into Orlando early evening, Turkey Vulture was my first new bird as one sailed past the aircraft as we came in to land, and then a Great Blue Heron was noted on one of the airfield pools along with an American Great White Egret. Sadly after the time consuming clearing of immigration and customs darkness was quickly falling so any more birds would seemingly have to wait till the morning, although a pair of Sandhill Cranes were seen flying over the car on the way home along with a big flock of corvids heading off to roost.

Next morning I awoke to the sound of what transpired to be Northern Mockingbirds singing from the rooftops, Palm Warblers were noted feeding in the bushes around the house, and Mourning Doves adorned the rooftops along with the Mockingbirds.

A quick trip to the local supermarket to stock up on supplies produced a Northern Cardinal on roadside wires, and a family of Killdeer in the car-park! Turkey Vultures were evident overhead and a pair of Sandhills were feeding on a roadside verge.

It was then on to our first birding site, East Lake Toho, and visited the south shore on the north side of St Cloud. The lake is one of the best sites for one of the specialities of the area, Snail Kite, and two or three performed excellently as they hunted over the shoreline reedbeds occasionally landing too.

Having never visited the States before, it was a little overwhelming at first with birds and unfamiliar calls everywhere, making it very difficult to know which way to look, or what to look at. The waters edge held Common Gallinules, Limpkin, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis and Wood Stork, along with Little Blue Heron, Glossy Ibis, Cattle and Am. Great White Egrets and a Great Blue Heron.

As well as the Snail Kites, a fine adult Bald Eagle was seen soaring over the lake, along with Ospreys, Purple Martins and Tree Swallows were also noted overhead as were a couple of Red-shouldered Hawks soaring around with an Anhinga.

Aside from the eerie waling call of the Limpkin, the reedbeds and bushes were full of the noisy calls of Boat-tailed and Common Grackles, and Red-winged Blackbirds were busily chasing each other about.

A walk along the edge of the pools produced a Swamp Sparrow, a couple of Belted Kingfishers, Double-crested Cormorants, American Coots, a couple of female Hooded Mergansers, a Palm Warbler and a Sora Rail. Both American and Fish Crows were also noted, and with their calls being the best id feature to separate them, it was nice that they were pretty much always vocal.

Other species noted included Ring-billed Gulls, Northern Cardinals, Northern Mockingbirds, and a pair of Sandhills with young. Finally although they felt rather 'plastic' a number of the established population of Muscovy Ducks of varying plumage were also present.

It was then onto Lake Lizzie, and to explore the woods on the east side of the lake on the north trail loop, with a Red-tailed Hawk noted soaring overhead on the way.

A Hermit Thrush was the first bird encountered there, and then as we made our way through the trees both Downy Woodpecker and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were briefly seen. We then located our main target of the site with a Red-headed Woodpecker putting on an excellent show in front of us.

Walking along various birds could be heard rustling in the undergrowth and with a lot of patience Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee and Gray Catbird were all nailed. A number of songs were also heard as we went round and again with patience both White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos were seen, along with the now familar Northern Mockingbirds.

On the way back a flock of Chipping Sparrows were found in the car park, and a couple of Cedar Waxwings were watched feeding atop a tree along the entrance road rounding off a truly excellent and mind-blowing first day.

Joe Overstreet Road Area

Birding from the house first thing produced what became the regular Mockingbirds, Mourning Doves and Palm Warblers, and as the temperature started to rise birds making use of the first thermals of the day became evident with my first Black Vulture of the trip noted, along with Turkey Vultures, a Bald Eagle and Wood Storks.  A flock of Cedar Waxwings flew over calling, and these were to be noted most mornings, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk whizzed through the garden at ultra high speed.

Destination for the day was to be the Joe Overstreet area which runs down to the eastern shore of Lake Kissimmee. A stop by the property at the top of the road produced the first of many Red-bellied Woodpeckers to been seen on the trip, but more surprisingly it was seen sparring with a Red-headed Woodpecker. A Fox Squirrel was also noted here feeding on the ground amongst the trees.

As we progressed slowly down the road, the song of Eastern Meadowlarks soon began to fill the air, with one located sharing a tree with a Loggerhead Shrike. A number of others were then seen in the fields and then as hoped, we were treated to excellent views of one on a roadside post.

Driving further down the road towards the lake we noted Killdeer and the first Savannah Sparrow of the trip, and then the silhouette of a raptor heading towards us immediately rang alarm bells and getting it in the bins revealed the unmistakable sight of a stunning Swallow-tailed Kite effortlessly gliding over the tree-tops along the road.

Continuing down to the lake, more Loggerhead Shrikes were encountered on the roadside wires and a quick stop produced a distant American Kestrel perched up.

Arriving at the lake revealed a host of marsh birds were present, the usual Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds were along the reed edges and around the pools were Wilsons Snipes, Dowitchers and both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Great Blue Herons, White Ibis and Glossy Ibis fed around the pools as did this stunning Little Blue Heron.

A flock of 20 or so Brown-headed Cowbirds were feeding nosily around the car park, and then it was over to the raptors to entertain as a Crested Caracara flew down onto the marsh, a Turkey Vulture perched on the bonnet of a nearby car, and then a Bald Eagle flew along landing on a post where it posed for photos.

A walk further along the lake edge revealed a roosting flock of Ring-billed Gulls, Forsters Terns and superb Black Skimmers.

Killdeer, Common Gallinule, Savannah Sparrow and Palm Warbler were also noted, along with a couple of Mottled Ducks.

Heading back up Joe Overstreet Road, a confiding Bald Eagle was watched atop a roadside telegraph pole, and then a stop by the junction with Sailor Hammock Road produced a Burrowing Owl trying to hide up against a hedgerow.

Heading further back north along the road, a Wild Turkey ran alongside the car before crossing the road into cover, and the final highlight was the first Alligator of the trip in a roadside pool.

Merritt Island

Today was the first of two trips we made over to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and on the drive over Swallow-tailed Kite, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark and Wild Turkey were all seen from the car, along with a group of 2 Caracara's, a Black Vulture and a Bald Eagle feeding on a bit of road-kill.

Arriving at the causeway over to Merritt Island from Titusville, the first Willet of the day was noted feeding on the waters edge before flying off revealing its striking black & white wing pattern. Calling in at the visitors centre a Tufted Titmouse was watched in trees in the car park along with a Yellow-rumped Warbler. The v.c trail was fairly quiet aside from both White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireo's and a pair of Northern Cardinals. Gecko's/Lizards of various sizes and colours were seen everywhere we went during the trip, with this one having a peek out from its hiding place.

A walk round the scrub ridge trail failed to produce any Scrub Jays with the search being curtailed due to the mosquitoes deciding it was lunch time, so we cut our losses and headed for the 7 mile long Black Point Wildlife Drive, but not before a Pileated Woodpecker flew across the road on the way.

The pools along the wildlife drive produced a host of species including both Brown and American White Pelicans, and a small flock of American Avocets.

Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots adorned the pools along with Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teals and Lesser Scaups.

Waders included more Willets, along with Dowitchers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer and Dunlin, and a few Reddish Egrets were performing their famous dancing feeding action as they chased fish around the lagoons.

All the other usual Herons, Egrets and Ibis were well represented too including the Tricoloured Heron and Snowy Egret below.

A couple of Northern Harriers were watched quartering the marshes and a Roseate Spoonbill was also noted flying over.

Caspian Terns and Ring-billed Gulls were noted roosting on one of the pools, and a walk along one of the side trails produced a Sora feeding along a ditch.

Further along the ditch a Green Heron was flushed, but co-operatively only flew a short way along and landed in the vegetation on the waters edge.

Last highlight of the Wildlife Drive, and of the day, was this Belted Kingfisher perched up on a bush overlooking a pool alongside the track.