JUST BECAUSE ITS JUNE

Did my late BTO breeding bird survey on monday morning,the first half was as usual fairly disappointing,but eventually found a few warblers ,whitethroats blackcaps and chiffchaffs and even a garden warbler,the first for a few years,was singing,a pair of yellowhammers and families of great and blue tits robin and meadow pipit were also seen.two pairs of swallows had returned ok and a young great spotted woodpecker was out with mum.

JUVENILE GREAT SPOT

The house martins at the Hoe are back on the muddy pools after the rain and the two young black redstarts appear to be fending for themselves now,also the female wheatear was seen carrying food last weekend but I saw neither on tuesday,fingers crossed

MUD MUD GLORIOUS MUD

HOUSE MARTIN AT WORK

JUV BLACK REDSTART note the yellow gape is still evident.

EVERY SPERM WHALE IS SACRED

This morning at Samphire Hoe we witnessed the sad sight of a dead whale floating by on the incoming tide,it was some way off the wall and eventually passed by the harbour we think,probably heading for Pegwell Bay,it was belly up and bloated so ID not possible.

DECEASED WHALE WITH HERRING GULLS ON BOARD
On a happier note the black redstarts have fledged and a male wheatear is still singing from the fences,now that would be a feather in the cap if the female is sitting on eggs nearby?

MALE WHEATEAR SINGING

FEMALE BLACK REDSTART

Meadow pipit numbers have improved and the males are displaying and taking food parcels to her indoors.

MEADOW PIPIT WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VERY DEAD EMPEROR DRAGONFLY.

BUGS WITH MUSCLES

BUGS WITH SHIELDS

CREAM SPOT TIGER MOTH

HOLLAND AMERICA LINES "ROTTERDAM" AT  DOVER CRUISE TERMINAL

LA BRENNE A FEW ODDS AND ENDS

Having been through the photos again have found a few that escaped the first sweep.

ORCHID can you I D this please Steve?

GLANVILLE FRITILLARY only found on Isle of Wight in UK.

MALE SWALLOW note long tail streamers

FEMALE SWALLOW

WHISKERED TERNS

WHISKERED TERNS AT NEST SITE,they must be vulnerable to flooding!

HEATH FRITILLARY

GREAT CRESTED GREBE doing the conga!

RED CRESTED POCHARD

MELODIOUS WARBLER

BROAD SCARLET DRAGONFLY

KNAPWEED FRITILLARY
This really is the end I think.

INNOVATION AT THE HOE

This morning at Samphire Hoe the house martins that normally collect mud for nest building from the puddles in the car parks were seen collecting mud and sea weed from the exposed rocks as the tide dropped.
They build their nests under the many overhangs on the cliff face,no doubt before man provided houses this was the norm,perhaps in previous times collecting materials this way was also normal who knows whether this is a new action born out of necessity or a long forgotten art hiddden in the memory banks. Has anyone  seen this behaviour elsewhere?

C`EST LA VIE (FIN)

The last full day of the trip was spent making a quick resumez of the places visited previously and after a patient wait in the afternoon sunshine the black necked grebes finally came within range.

A FLEETING SIGHT OF A NIGHTINGALE



SERIN OUTSIDE HOTEL



SPOTTED FLYCATCHER


KNAPWEED FRITILLARY



SPOTTED FRITILLARY

SPOTTED FRITILLARY

BLACK KITE

LAKE AT GABRIAU

BLACK NECKED GREBE

LAKE BEAUREGARD

WHITE ADMIRAL

MONTAGU`S HARRIER

MONTY`S HARRIER.
The montagu`s harrier was found at the same place as the stone curlews  as we made our way to Preuilly for dinner.
So a good weeks wildlife watching ended on a high note and the area is highly reccomended to one and all.

C`EST LA VIE (DEJA VOUS)

The story of the trip to La Brenne continues mainly in pictorial form you will be pleased to read.The main reserve here is La Reserve Naturelle de Cherine,where you can get a guided walk to the main hide for 2 euros,here we saw a family party of water rails both adults and 5 youngsters,it must be a perilous task with all the imminent dangers from predators,to keep the young safe.

WATER RAIL

WATER RAIL CHICKS 4/5 they all followed mum across to another reed bed soon after ,unfortunately my camera was not to hand when this occurred, it would have made a great shot.
There were night herons here too as well as grey and purple herons and black kites were often overhead.

BLACK KITE

FOUR SPOTTED CHASER

GARDEN WARBLER



SCARLET DRAGONFLY (I think)












PERCH



ROACH?

COYPU

BLACK VEINED WHITE ON RAGGED ROBIN

BROAD BODIED CHASER

PURPLE HERON OVERHEAD.

WHISKERED TERN
The final day will follow shortly!