Red, Gold, Dragons and Damsels...

Although not as much a surprise in recent years, this fly over Red Kite was still welcome.

With introductions in the East Midlands and large numbers west of London, it has become annual of late and will surely establish a population in Essex in the near future. 

What was unexpected though, was a superb Golden Oriole that flew along our hedge and carried on to some tall trees on the edge of the village. Three days later, it or another was reported on the edge of the Priory not a great distance from here.  

With the increase in daytime temperatures the first of the Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies) have started to appear. Invariably the first of these is the Hairy Dragonfly, aptly named for the fine hairs that cover the thorax. It can often be seen patrolling along Blackthorn hedges when the sun appears.

One of the most obvious dragonflies on warm sunny days is the Emperor, the males being most evident, patrolling over open water, sometimes at several metres above the surface then dropping down to the water to expel other males and dragonflies of other species from its territory. The female can be seen ovipositing (egg laying) some way out from the waters edge.



Two more species that share the same ponds as the Emperor are Broad-bodied Chaser and Black-tailed Skimmer. Both these species benefit from open areas on which they often spend long periods perched sunning themselves.

Often the last species to be on the wing, the Migrant Hawker can be seen well into the autumn. Now well established in the south east, this was an uncommon visitor up until the 1940's, as its name suggests numbers are often boosted by migrants in late summer. 

We are fortunate in having two uncommon damselflies on the farm. The first of these is the Small Red-eyed Damselfly, a species that was new to Britain in 1999, incidentally that first record was in Essex !

This damselfly enjoys shallow ponds with a good covering of floating vegetation.

  



The second is the Scarce Emerald Damselfly, a species that possibly became extinct in Britain, and again rediscovered in Essex. It is similar to the more widespread Emerald Damselfly, but can told apart by only having the powdery blue 'pruinescence' on the first one and a half abdominal segments. Also the inferior apical appendages on the male are broad and curved. They frequent the often brackish ditches that transverse the fields inside of the sea walls. These sites are often covered in Sea club-rush, which appears to be a factor in their success. 



Let Osprey...

Although not quite forty days and forty nights, we've had enough rain recently to partly flood the bean field below our garden. This in turn has encouraged a migrating Osprey to set up a temporary home. It can often be seen flying in over the seawall to land on a post with a fish, most likely Bass or Mullet, which it then consumes. This action has not gone unnoticed, the Osprey has on more than one occasion attracted the attention of local Buzzards which perch on adjacent posts, allowing an appreciation of how much larger it is.



Ouzel that girl ?

This female Ring Ouzel spent four days in the garden, suffering constant harassment from the territorial local Blackbirds. Ring Ouzels are the mountain equivalent of Blackbirds, breeding in the uplands of the UK and occur here in single figures most years, mainly in autumn on their way to their wintering grounds in north Africa.



On the third day it was briefly joined by a male, which found the local welcoming committees attention too much ! 

Other migrants are slowly beginning to find their way here bringing the garden list up to 93. These include Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat.

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                

It may seem along time ago but there have been a few days when the sun has shone and the temperature risen above 10 degrees ! This warmth prompted the appearance of the first butterflies basking in the sunshine. Amongst them have been Peacock, Comma and Orange Tip.

Another group requiring an increase in temperature before they become active are the reptiles, the first of these to emerge has been the Common Lizard, showing well at times often allowing a close approach.

                                         

 The 'Conquered Conker' 2012 RIP. 

                                         

"The answer my friend is blowing in the wind".



Firestarter....

The day got off to a good start with a pre-breakfast milk run to the dairy, resulting in finding a Firecrest calling from the front garden. These little 'crackers' have occurred twice before in the garden both in spring.
This brings the garden list up to 72 for the year, no doubt this will be boosted shortly by the incoming spring arrivals !



With the recent rise in temperature has come an increase in the number of moths caught in the traps. Along with the expected early season species was this Dotted Chestnut. Although not a new species for the farm, we had our first two last year, it is normally associated with the south and south west of the country though has showed a recent easterly expansion, with the first Essex record in 2002.

The other image is of a Pine Beauty, not a scarce moth, but always welcome to see. It raises the question of where they originate from, as the name suggests the larva feed on pines, which are absent from the immediate area.





Spring is in the hare !

It's official, with the advent of the first heavyweight bouts between boxing Brown Hare's, Spring is here.

Interestingly it is the female that starts the 'boxing' in an attempt to ward off the amorous advances of the male.



The accompanying sound track to the bouts is often the song of the Skylark, a species that has benefited from the 'Skylark' plots provided under the stewardship schemes.

                                                                                  

 Also making an appearance are several species of bee, the most obvious being the large queens of the Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), which along with the Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) are often the first bumblebee to be encountered during the year.



Always a welcome sight, the first returning Wheatear of the year appeared today. These 'chats' are often the first migrant birds of the Spring to appear on the farm, on their way northwards to breed in 'Breckland' and the uplands of Britain, having wintered south of the Sahara. 



Circus act

This winter has been a good one for Hen Harriers (Circus cyaneus). Whereas normally only a single individual would been seen during this period, with the help of photography it has been possible to determine that at least five different birds have been present. Four of these have been immature birds known as 'ringtails' and the fifth an adult female. Their presence often being heralded by the scorning of the resident Carrion Crows.





Also doing well are Short eared Owl's, with one site in Essex holding double figures, whilst locally up to seven have been seen across the river from Howland's Marsh. Not so fortunate was this individual that became a victim of overhead wires close to the seawall. 



Underground...overground

Free but not wombling! this moribund Mole was found by the children outside the front of the house. With no obvious signs of having been attacked, it allowed a rare opportunity for a closer view. It was released near to where it was found but sadly didn't recover.

The Harris's Hawk is still at large and being seen occasionally, allowing a close approach at times. Judging by the bulge in it's crop it is feeding well, though i've not yet witnessed it catch any prey.



Survival

With the recent covering of snow and drop in temperatures, some have been finding it difficult. This Snipe, a ground feeding wader would have found it's cryptic colouring of no use on a white background, coupled with the extra stress of foraging in the frozen soil could have led it more open to predation.

Several Woodcock, a close relative of the Snipe have been seen in the garden and adjacent fields mainly skulking at the base of Blackthorn hedges. It is a familiar bird of late autumn and often associated with hard weather movements, numbers increasing when there is a freeze on the continent. Although they are encountered frequently i have not been able to photograph one on the ground yet !

 

Other species of bird, notably the small passerines such as Long-tailed Tit have a higher metabolic rate and need to feed more often in colder weather, providing us with a constant stream of visitors to the feeders. Unusually some have taken to feeding under the feeders, taking small particles of peanuts that are dislodged by the others. 

Not all are finding it so difficult, this Fox has been several times, casually trotting along, even stopping to take in some of the sun's rays on occasion, no doubt benefiting from the misfortune of others !



Ice Ice Baby...

Ok it's not a baby but a second winter !
A brief phone call from local birder Simon Cox had me leave the confines of the farm and travel west for just under two miles to Stone Point. Here Simon had located a fine Iceland Gull sitting on the water between the point and Brightlingsea. Along with Glaucous Gull, Iceland is one of the so called 'white wing gulls' that are scarce visitors to Britain in winter from the arctic, although this winter has seen up to fifty Iceland's on Shetland !
The name Iceland is a bit of a misnomer as they breed on Greenland and not Iceland...work that one out.
The occurrence of this bird has led to what i believe is Toosey's first 'pelagic twitch' with a few locals commandeering the Harbour Masters boat to get closer to the bird !

The local crows had something a little more exotic than Marsh Harriers to harass today, in the form of a Harris's Hawk. This escaped falconers bird is a native of the southern states of the USA and regularly seen in captivity in this country. In their natural environment they hunt in family groups for small mammals and rodents. In the second image the leather jesses used by the falconer to tether the bird can be clearly seen.