Spain - Day 2, Sevilla, 18th July 2017

After waking up very early for a day trip to Sevilla, we were all on the coach by 6:30am. Much to my grief, I fell asleep for the journey through the mountains so saw nothing on the way bar a Peregrine nearer arrival.
When we arrived, there were lots of Sparrows, Goldfinches, Collared Doves and Swifts - this time the Swifts included both Common and a few White-rumped Swift. 
While walking towards the Spanish cathedral - where there were Lesser Kestrels nesting last year - and the 'Alcazar' I spotted a Short-Toed Treecreeper sidling up a tree. Since we were sightseeing not birdwatching I couldn't stop for pictures :(
After walking around all the normal birds had been seen with the bonus of a Sandpiper sp. on the River Guadalquivir, and a Spotted flycatcher in the park Maria Luisa.

Collared Dove

Spotted Flycatcher

Sparrow on lamp

Damselfly

In the Alcazar gardens, there was another Spotted Flycatcher and lots of Parakeets. A warbler species flew across, but I couldn't identify it from the fly-through.

Spotted Flycatcher

Soon after, with no sign of the Lesser Kestrels, we set off back towards Malaga.
What an incredible journey. The only downfall was that I couldn't take a single good flipping picture as the coach continually bumped along. On the way, it started with one bird of prey. Golden eagle. No pictures 😒. Within an hour, Black kite, Common Buzzard, Griffon Vulture, Booted eagle and Short-Toed Eagle had all made the list. With a rubbish tip on the way, around 30 Black Kites circled as did many more White Storks and a few Black. Another bird of prey arrived, but only a silhouette. . As did another. Not sure which species for either.

White Storks

?

??

In the evening, I thought I heard a Common Bulbul, but might have been mistaken for another bird.

The next day was a day where the plan was to go to Ronda in the mountains - a day I had been looking forward to for a long time!

Spain - Day 1, Malaga, 22nd July 2017

I've just returned from a trip to Malaga with school. 
After waking up at 2:30am, we travelled by plane and arrived at around 12pm. The whole day was spent in and around our hotel, and going down to the nearby beach and chilling. From our hotel window, many Collared Dove lazed around, a Yellow-legged Gull sat on the roof of a rotting building and House Martins flew around. A mix of House and Spanish Sparrows also were also seen. Quite a dull start.

House Sparrows

Collared Dove

House Martin

Yellow-legged Gull

On the beachside, a pair of Monk Parakeets squabbled while more gulls flew around. A Great White Egret flew down the coast, annoyingly evading the camera; meanwhile, I tested the camera's zoom with distant gulls out at sea.

Monk Parakeet

Yellow-legged Gull

1cy Yellow legged Gull

In the evening, we went for a walk to buy some drinks in the main part of the city. After watching some Spotless Starling fly up, I was alerted to my first bird of prey which seemed hungry, as it whizzed over allowing me possibly the worst record shot ever. It seems like a Red-footed Falcon?

Spotless Starlings 

falcon sp.

The next day we were off to Sevilla, on a near 3 hour coach journey. Plenty more to be seen!

A bonanza of Butterflies and Damselflies. 16th July 2017

Over the last week, while I've been playing cricket, I've noticed that all the butterflies and dragonflies have started to come out much more. 
A few days ago a Common and interestingly a Small Blue came through our garden.
Today a Small Skipper came through and landed on the grass, and one of the first Gatekeepers were around.

Small Skipper

Gatekeeper

In the afternoon, I went for a walk in Morden Hall. It was quiet bird-wise, so other than finding a Grey Wagtail nest, a Wren nest, the Reed Warblers and a pair of Kestrel I focused on the insects.

Two Comma at the front were very showy, a Small Copper flew past, Red Admiral and Peacock dashed around, while Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper were 'guarding the meadows?'

Lots of whites were around but never landed. 

Comma1

Meadow Brown

Comma2

Small Tortoiseshell

There were lots of different damselflies, including the below and a Southern Emerald and lots of blues.

Banded Demoiselle

Banded Demoiselle (fem)

Banded Demoiselle

Southern Blue Damselfly

Interesting behaviour from a male Banded Demoiselle, and I have no idea what it was up to. Be happy for suggestions. This is a sequence. 

And a bird pic. 

Grey Wagtail

Last few weeks and Morden Hall Park, 24th June 2017

Apologies for no recent posts, as I have been in the middle of an exam period at my school. While revising I have been drooling at the number of sightings coming in from nearby; a week long Red-Footed Falcon at Frensham, which we'd planned to see today had it stayed. The Elegant Tern down on the coast, as well as a Red-backed Shrike today at Thursley.
However, I have seen many little things, some unusual, some I've forgotten, everywhere.

26-May: A hawkmoth sp. was seen by my sister in our garden at 21:15 one night, but not seen again. After a Lime Hawkmoth flew onto a friends arm in Carshalton last July, she suspected the same species!
28 May: On route to India vs New Zealand in London, a Cinnabar Moth was flying around the tube.
June: A young robin has been commanding our garden, chasing adult Goldfinches off.
June 16: While waiting for a physio by Mitcham Common a Cuckoo briefly appeared, sang, then flew off. 
June 23: A pair of Blackcap have bred at school, distracting me considerably during me exams as they sing and chase each other around the entrance area!
June 23: A Hobby chased some Swifts over Wimbledon Common in a drive through.
June 24: Another cricket match near Woodmansterne held 5 Swallow, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffy, 9 Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Nuthatch and more owl reports without me seeing anything.
June 25: I found a Box moth at Putney Heath, as well as a few more common bird species.  


After a cricket match in the morning, the quickest walk in Morden Hall was quiet with a small shower causing all the butterflies reported to disappear, frustratingly. While the Reed Warbler sang briefly and 2 Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaff were around, the only butterfly found happened to be a Ringlet in the meadows, while Banded Demoiselles flew around and the breed of Grey Wagtails bobbed about on the channels. One Peregrine was seen when we left, chasing a few pigeons.

'Feed me'

Grey Wagtail

(What is this insect?) 

f Blackcap

Grey Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Banded Demoiselle

Flying Kites, 3rd June 2017

At about 19:15, I was outside in the garden looking west at the Swifts when I spotted a big silhouette coming our direction. I darted inside, and 30 seconds later was outside as 'the big silhouette' drifted over at about 80m up. Whilst I took a few snaps, it was easy to tell that it was definitely a Kite - and not a child pranking me. After it had gone into NW into the distance, I went inside to have a look at the pictures, which had come out as silhouettes - that annoyed me. So I went outside, and a starling alarmed as another Kite came over much higher, going SW. More poor silhouettes. So are they Reds, or is it a possible Black? Well, to me it is a...terrible picture, not offering anything, other than the conclusion they were probably Reds. But here they are.

(Red) Kite1

Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Kite

Another garden record!

Dungeness RSPB, 1st June - Surprise!

This morning we set off to Dungeness, which is another reserve which I'd never visited before. After stopping briefly in Ashford, we continued on and accidentally missed a turn. From the trees ahead, I saw a white bird appear. I sat up, as I was wary of Cattle Egrets, but I thought it was a Little Egret. Suddenly, as it went in front of the car, 10m or so up, I realised. BARN OWL!!!!
And it was gone. Although it was slightly odd as it was 11:07 in the morning, it is a day flying owl, so it wasn't ridiculous.
When we arrived at midday, we started to drive down the mile road leading to the visitor centre when a bird caught the corner of my eye. I turned hurriedly to glimpse it plunge into the high grass. When I had been allowed to leave the car after asking to get out, it came out.
After none in my life, 2 in one hour! It was an amazing sight, as several birders got out to watch it hunting over the road and fields, then disappear into the distance. A few awful but precious pictures as it flew around.

Barn Owl- it's not smoking but it seems to be the tail of a
vole/mouse which it had caught!

Barn Owl

Barn Owl

Barn Owl

While watching it, I was amazed to hear a Dartford Warbler behind - when I eventually tried to find it again it wasn't there, so no proof meaning no addition to my life list. What a cracking start to the day!

From the Firth Hide, there was unfortunately no sign of yesterday's Ortolan Bunting so I missed that rarity. 2 Avocet were there however, and there were lots of Shelduck.

Avocets

Shelduck

Avocet

Further around, a few insects were seen.

Green tiger Beetle

Silver-studded Blue

Silver Studded Blue

Small Tortoiseshell

Moth sp. - would be grateful for help on ID

Raptors began to flow, with 2 Marsh Harriers patrolling distantly. 

Marsh Harrier

There seemed to be countless Sedge and Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings and Chaffinch everywhere. 

m Chaffinch

Sedge Warbler

 Around 30 Whitethroat were also seen.

Whitethroat

Another Marsh Harrier soared distantly. 

Marsh Harrier

A few more things seen at the Denge marsh hide. 

Great Crested Grebe

Painted Lady

Little Egret

Lackey Moth butterfly

Further on, it started with 1 Hobby, then turned to 3 to 5 to 6. They never stop darting about, so I couldn't get a great picture. 

Hobby

Hobby

Hobby feeding

After watching Springwatch, we weren't surprised to see this covering a few bushes. 

A Sedge Warbler did a display flight in front of us, then sang in a tree. 

Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler

A fair number of Cetti's Warbler were noticed, and 2+ Cuckoo sang infrequently. A pair of Linet were added to the list, and a Hobby perched on a dead tree around 200m away. (How a helpful old woman spotted this I don't know!) 

Linnet

Hobby preening

We had heard that the 'rarer' birds included an Ortolan Bunting, 2 Great White Egrets - one of which did a fly-by but seemed to go towards Rye Harbour - and a Rose-Coloured Starling. When I spoke to a few birders, they had lost the Starling. On the way back, I spotted a small group of Starlings, with a few young birds and a pinkish bird, which I thought was this bird. Just as I focused on it, it went to the ground and then flew off 10 minutes later. Very frustrating. I can't add that to my life list yet. 

juv Starling

Oystercatcher

Silver-studded Blue

A great day, and a great place. I can only hope to come here more often. 

With exams coming up, I probably won't be posting often at all now, as I probably won't be heading to parks in spare time.