Sunday, 30 October 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

Sunday, 16 October 2011

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

Saturday, 15 October 2011

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.