Western Swamphen Alkborough Flats

What a turn up! Only ten minutes from home, if accepted only second record for Britain, the first being only weeks ago at Minsmere, possibly the same bird?  Distant views from main hide so images small but you can see what it is!

Squacco Heron 2

A couple more shots of the Squacco showing how the changing light conditions make all the difference.

Squacco Heron

Finally the Squacco Heron got pinned down and what a cracking bird.

Roosting Dunlin

 A nice group of Dunlin were found roosting over high tide on the Humber at the weekend which allowed very close approach in good light.

Squacco Heron, Far Ings, Barton Upon Humber

Was very lucky to see the Squacco Heron at 9.15 last night after a quick dash from a birthday meal out! Not so lucky today after fruitlessly searching in the heat from Target Pit to Hoe Hill but did have a very close encounter with this young Swallow.

Bombus Hypnorum

Otherwise known as Tree Bumblebee, this is the biggest one I have seen in the garden - absolutely fabulous if only I could get a sharp flight shot!

Caspian Tern

A new Britist tick for me this afternoon with a Caspian Tern on Trent Falls just off Alkborough, very distant so heavily cropped photos!

The return of Ivy Broomrape!

We thought we had lost these in the garden but suddenly two spikes appeared

Orchids and Burnets

I had a walk round our local pond yesterday The Blue Lagoon and was amazed at the amount of wildlife.  Top of the list but no photos were at least three Emperor Dragonflies hawking round the lake and hunting around the brambles.  Bird wise a pair of Great Crested Grebes were carrying chicks on their backs and Little Grebes have also bred. I counted 20 spikes of Marsh Orchids which was a surprise, I have seen Bee Orchids earlier in the summer also  and another surprise was a small colony of Five-spot Burnet moths.  Lots of Buff-tailed Bumblebees and Common Carders also feeding on the grassy bank. Here's a few snaps

Lesser Stitchwort

Five-Spot Burnet

Marsh Orchid

Cinnabar Caterpillars another increasingly rare sight

Centaury

Lady's Bedstraw

Red Soldier beetle on Ragwort

Lesser Stitchwort

This site also holds Grayling Butterflies a nationally scarce species!

Tallinn

Not often we head for the city but pleased we did this time, Tallinn is a beautiful medieval old city with some fabulous architecture...