Thursday 31 January 2013

Ferruginous Ducks and Black-necked Swans

Black-necked Swan, Cygnus melancoryphus
Yesterday was Heyshott work party day. We were fortunate with the weather and enjoyed blue skies, though a cold wind blew on those working at the top of a hill. I called in at Arundel  on the way home. No Goldcrests by Lake Swanbourne, but plenty of photo opportunities at Arundel WWT. I saw the Kingfisher zoom to the other side of the lake and photographed Long-tailed Tits again. They move so fast in and out of the rambles and reeds that photography is a challenge, but the soft afternoon light was good. The beautiful  pair of Bewick’s Swans gave a lively display on the lake. They are so graceful and have a captivating call. A pair of Nēnē, the Hawaiian Geese, gave me some close-up shots. I added a few more species to my WWT gallery, including Ferruginous Duck, Black-necked Swan, Common Pochard, Pintail and a Dunnock.
Bewick's Swans, Cygnus columbianus
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna Autumnalis
Bewick's Swan, Cygnus columbianus
Common Pochard, Aythya Ferina
Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca
Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca
Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus
Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus
Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus
usual view of a Long-tailed Tit

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
taken from the Sand Martin hide 100 yards from the opposite side of the lake with a Nikon 70-300mm lens at full zoom.
Marbled Teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris

Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
Pintail, Anas acuta
Nēnē (Hawaiian Goose), Branta sandvicensis
Trumpeter Swans, Cygnus buccinator
Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina 
Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula
Dunnock, Prunella modularis
Dunnock, Prunella modularis
Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus

Tuesday 29 January 2013

Indian Clock Vines

Indian Clock Vine,
Thunbergia mysorensis
Today I made my first visit to the 2013 Wisley butterfly exhibit where I met Mark. This was a good place to be on a damp day. There were some great scents in the gardens and the snowdrops were in full bloom. We saw one new tropical butterfly, an Emperor Swallowtail which unfortunately was in very poor condition. The prize exhibits for me were the lovely red and yellow flowers of the Indian Clock Vine.
Cethosia biblis, Malay Lacewing
Catonephele orites, Orange-banded Shoemaker 
id needed
Hypolimnas bolina kezia, Eggfly
tatty Emperor Swallowtail, Papilio ophidicephalus
African Mocker Swallowtail, Papilio dardanus
Indian Clock Vine,
Thunbergia mysorensis
faded Morpho peleides, Blue Morpho
one of many orchids in the glasshouse
Owl, Caligo memnon
id needed
Parthenos sylvia, Clipper
Parthenos sylvia, Clipper
this butterfly varies in colour

Robin, Erithacus rubecula
 this robin sang heartily in the glasshouse

Tree Nymph, Idea leuconoe
Scarlet Peacock, Anartia amathea
Morpho polyphemus, White Morpho
Tree Nymph, Idea leuconoe
These hippos are a new addition to the glasshouse pool


Snowdrops, Galanthus species

Monday 28 January 2013

Nēnē, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and Long-tailed Tits

Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus
A trip to Arundel WWT this afternoon gave me Long-tailed Tits, Nēnē  (Hawaiian Geese - pronounced naynay) and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. The Nēnē is one of the wildfowl species that Wildlife and Wetland Trust has helped save from extinction.
Coot, Fulica atra
Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna Autumnalis
Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus



Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
This Moorhen was nesting 3 feet up in a bramble bush.

Marbled Teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris
Mute Swan, Cygnus olor 
Nēnē (Hawaiian Goose), Branta sandvicensis
Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator
Trumpeter Swans, Cygnus buccinator
Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator