Weds

Back to Morden this morning with Mark and Killian, this time looking for Woodlarks.

Managed to stalk this juvenile to within about 15 feet.

Back of the head much scruffier than the neat pale V of the adults

There were 3 juvs in this family party and could be readily located by their very Meadow Pipit like call.

Adult

Hartland Moor

Imm Spoonbills in Wareham Channel

Morden

At least 5 Hobbies flying around the area, rather oddly all were 2nd calendar year birds.

This one looks like it could still pass as a juvenile from underneath, although looking very closely at the body feathers there does seem to be a small splash of colour around the vent area

Very brown upper parts on this bird which might have been the same bird as above, it certainly hasnt done much in the way of moult with just a few scattered adult scapulars and rump feathers. The white blobs on the primaries show up well

The juvenile tail feathers can be seen well on this bird

This one is much more advanced having moulted all of its body feathers and its tail also by the looks of things. The wings are still its originals but it should be replacing them very soon.

Juv Great Spot with its red crown

Roe Deer

Dorset

Young Egret clambering about

Slightly younger one

This adults arm bones can be seen here through the right wing in particular

Garden juvs

Ad and juv Rook hijacking the bird table. If this juv was on its own it could easily pass for a Crow. Had to take the shot through a warped window!

Juv Goldfinch sat on here munching for a good 10 minutes. Largely due to the lack of competition for the niger seeds

Young Great Tit not quite old enough to feed itself yet

Juv Starling with its neatly edged flight feathers

Hinkley again

Back to Hinkley again for the week where its always best to take some shelter

This was some downpour. (click on image). Is that Chown in the distance? Not much cover out there Dave!

Local Skylarks nest

Swineham

Breeding plumage Spoonbill off Giggers Island, is there a mate somewhere near?

Reed Warbler in what looks like a rather more exotic location than Swineham gravel pits!

Had to stop the car for this bird which was just sat motionless in the road. Thought it must be a youngster but it turned out to be a rather stunned adult female that had presumably just had an encounter with a car. After a few minutes it came round and flew off

Studland beach

5 Sanderling feeding on the beach still at Studland in a variety of plumages including a couple of complete summer birds two transitional and one winter

Tatty Grey Heron

Later watched these birds head off east until out of sight