A Jay from the reserve.

One of the 7 or 8 Jays on the reserve has just popped over the fence into my garden for a peanut from the bird table. Hes a welcome flash of colour on this dull December morning.

November 2011 Summary.

November 2011 has been a very mild month as well as a quiet month for the reserve.

There has been plenty of fungi in the damp conditions which I can look at in the future.

The regulars have been about and I feel really sorry for the local buzzard who is constantly mobbed whenever it visits the reserve.

Every day I am almost guaranteed to see both Great spotted and Green woodpeckers.

My species count is currently at 33 (16 for November) but I'm sure it will get much higher in the new year as spring approaches.  

The Fragile Dandelion

How often is an interesting picture right under your feet.

This fragile Dandelion was just waiting for a gust of wind.

If you want an interesting image, take loads of pictures and look at things from a different angle and distance.
Did you know that the seeds are often carried as many as 5 miles from their origin!
The name dandelion is taken from the French word “dent de lion” meaning lion’s tooth, referring to the coarsely-toothed leaves.

Female Reed Bunting

Another first for me at Bourne Bottom is this Female Reed Bunting. I wasn't sure what it was at the time but the great thing about taking a picture is that when you get home Google comes to the rescue. I think the beak shape and head markings help with ID.

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

This Buzzard normally roosts on the edge of a nearby wood easily seen from the reserve path. I shot this picture as it flew overhead whilst being chased by two carrion crows. As usual the crows won and the Buzzard disappeared over the horizon.

Common Buzzard flying over Bourne Bottom, Poole, Dorset. 01/11/2011

October 2011 Roundup

I've had a busy month due to moving house but I have still managed 23 Species.
I still haven't seen a Dartford Warbler but its only a matter of time.
Next month I hope to increase not just numbers of bird sightings but other species.
Every time I leave the camera at home I miss a great shot so lessons have been learned.                      

Species	Category	Latin name	Commonality	RSPB Colour
Grey Squirrel	ANIMAL		Very common
Blackbird	BIRD	Turdus merula	regularly occurring	GREEN
Blue tit	BIRD	Parus caeruleus	regularly occurring	GREEN
Carrion crow	BIRD	Corvus corone	regularly occurring	GREEN
Common buzzard	BIRD	Buteo buteo	regularly occurring	GREEN
Dunnock	BIRD	Prunella modularis	regularly occurring	ORANGE
Great spotted woodpecker	BIRD	Picoides major	regularly occurring	GREEN
Great tit	BIRD	Parus major	regularly occurring	GREEN
Green woodpecker	BIRD	Picus viridis	regularly occurring	ORANGE
Grey heron	BIRD	Ardea cinerea	regularly occurring	GREEN
Jay	BIRD	Garrulus glandarius	regularly occurring	GREEN
kingfisher	BIRD	Alcedo atthis	regularly occurring	ORANGE
Long-tailed tit	BIRD	Aegithalos caudatus	regularly occurring	GREEN
Magpie	BIRD	Pica pica	regularly occurring	GREEN
Robin	BIRD	Erithacus rubecula	regularly occurring	GREEN
Song thrush	BIRD	Turdus philomelos	regularly occurring	RED
Sparrowhawk	BIRD	Accipiter nisus	regularly occurring	GREEN
Stonechat	BIRD	Saxicola torquata	regularly occurring	GREEN
Wood pigeon	BIRD	Columba palumbus	regularly occurring
Wren	BIRD	Troglodytes troglodytes	regularly occurring	ORANGE
Yellow wagtail	BIRD	Motacilla (flava) flavissima	regularly occurring	RED
Red Admiral	Insect	Vanessa atalanta
Small Copper	Insect	Lycaena phlaeas

Sightings roundup for Wk comm 10/10/2011

I have decided to start a regular roundup of my sightings in the three categories below. My aim is to show what can be seen at this time of year on  the reserve.

I am quite exited as the more I looked around the reserve I realise that I have no idea what many insects and plants are. As with the small copper butterfly I aim to take a picture home and then identified it from the web or reference books. 

BIRDS                                                  INSECTS                                 REPTILES

Blackbird                                            Red Admiral butterfly         None

Blue Tit                                               Small Copper Butterfly

Common Buzzard                                                                             

Crow                                                                                                  

Dunnock                                                                                           

Great Spotted Woodpecker                                                          

Great Tit                                                                                            

Green Woodpecker                                                                        

Heron                                                                                                

Jay                                                                                                      

Kingfisher                                                                                          

Long Tailed Tit                                                                                  

Robin                                                                                                 

Song Thrush                                                                                      

  Sparrowhawk

Small Copper Butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas)

It's still sunny but the weather will change very soon. This small tatty butterfly caught my eye and settled for just a few seconds before it disappeared. It's a small copper which is widespread throughout the uk and is often found on heathlands.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Todays sightings included 2 Green Woodpeckers  a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 4 Jays. In fact I saw so many things of interest I am wondering how to easily record them. This Red admiral was enjoying the late afternoon sun in my garden which I call part of the reserve as only a 6 foot fence separates the two.