SPECSAVERS SEAWATCH

After all the fuss has died down from last Sundays infamous seawatch off Pendeen, Cornwall it still wrangles me that how in gods name did we miss such a cosmic mind fecker of a seabird as Red-billed Tropicbird....oh yes I was there!!!!!
The incredulous look on everyone's faces as the 'finder' nonchalantly wandered up the path from the rocks below and proclaimed he'd just photographed a RBT...25 BLOODY MINUTES AGO??? and then basically ran off. Bizarre or what?

Just before that fateful moment 08.45, I'd just taken a few record shots of the seawatching crew in action....

25 souls searching in vain for a mega seabird unaware its about to flyby under their noses

The view out towards the rocks off Pendeen where we were watching a feeding flock of Storm Petrels

Post RBT flyby and the hopefuls debunk to Sennan Cove just in case the biggy flew into the bay...alas no!

We tried round at Cape Cornwall but to no avail the mega gone to where ever who knows?

One last try before the agonizing drive home beckons...

All we can do is hope there's another, as Big Al would say...

TTFN

CATTLE EGRET

A welcome visitor to Frodders t'other day was this rather obliging adult Cattle Egret initially found by Groucho I think whilst searching for yet another dodgy duck (Marbled Teal) down on no.6 tank.

Also on show at bird fest no.6 tank...2 Black.necked Grebes and a rather nice Ruddy Shelduck (unringed and fully winged) good for a year tick what! Frodders looking good for some wader action as well, so watch this space or your pager actually.

TTFN

EARLY MORNING HERON

Work had me bombing down the M1 t'other day so I couldn't resist a quick peak at the
 1st summer Night Heron that's been on show at Thornton Reservoir in Leicestershire.
Arriving very early on site I had the place to myself, well no other birders were present just the usual morning keep fit? enthusiasts carrying water bottles around the reservoir...weird people!
Found the boy doing what Night Herons do best...skulking in the reeds fishing (hiding from the lycra brigade more like)...

Moving to the other side of the reservoir to get a better view and the sun behind me I got the following shots, all phone-scoped...

Not bad at all methinks...what a cracking bird and all before breakfast.
A boost to the seriously 'come of the rails' year list. Looks like the Doc has it in the bag (not that he's year listing of course).


TTFN

NORTHANTS EMPEROR

On me travels last week and I managed to bag the biggy down in Northamptonshire non other than the Emperor himself what an awesome butterfly...

Purple Emperor

The bugger just would not open its wings unfortunately but wow what a cracker anyway.

Just down the way another hard too see job was performing to the gathered throng of butterfly enthusiasts. I've never seen so many cameras before it was like a Canon convention in Japan.

Naff shot of a White-letter Hairstreak one of which was most probably on the local patch t'other day along with a Purple Hairstreak...watch this space as they say.

Competition time...what's this?

TTFN

THE WORLD'S GONE MAD

We all thought a Pacific Swift was a great bird and a mega twitch but since then the British Birding scene has gone mental....
White-throated Needletail.....Bridled Tern..... and now this cosmic mind fecker...

ASCENSION ISLAND FRIGATEBIRD...you just can't make this stuff up.

no doubt Britains finest will be heading North as I type

then last night the most bizarre event on the telly as The One Show delivers an armchair tick for the unwashed masses (weekend twitchers)...White-winged Scoter added to the list.

I wonder what the good old BOU thought of this...

Gok Wan with the tick bucket at a recent BBRC meeting

my new twitching hero...step aside Garry

TTFN

TWITCHING TAILS

No not that sort but an actual tail that I found whilst out searching for Brown Argus in Derbyshire.
Its's the tail piece of a Slow Worm.

I've been told about this shedding of the tail to escape predators but never realized the shed bit still wriggled.

Here's one I saw earlier complete, sunning itself on the road.

Dipped on the Argus but there's plenty of time for that one if we ever get any more sunshine.

TTFN

PACIFICOUS GRIPBACKOFFUS

The so called 'A'team were once again playing catch up with with the 'B'team. Gregsy and I set off for the long awaited grip back of  Pacific Swift  on the Sunday, 24 hours after the boy had been showing its tits off to the masses all day Saturday. Of all the months in the year to decide to have an op on her back the misses has one in mad June!
Having not joined the dipping crew of 93 cos quote ''its a swift and it won't stay'' the lads missed by 20 minutes having stopped 5 times to phone (remember those days)  Nancy's/Birdline for updates...if only they'd just driven!
Well here we are 20 years later and having tantalized birders at Spurn and Saltfleetby the Pacificous decided to give its self up to the hordes and show all day at Trimley Bird Reserve on Saturday 15th June. If only it had chosen one with a shorter entrance road we hear you all say. What a patch find, I wonder if the guy is doing the Patchwork Challenge cos the best find trophy would certainly be in the bag.
Cue to Sunday and the two aging crocks finally make contact with this long awaited mega..wow! what a bird.
Camera in hand I didn't get one piccy so here's some Cranes nearby...

My view of the swift over the Trimley Reserve hence no jaw dropping mouth watering flight shots.

That moves the list up another one and grips back Fred who's been on my coat tails for ages.

British List (UK and IRE old school) - 519

TTFN