Great Knot - Road Trip, Norfolk

With news last week of the Great Knot a mega and a bird Dave had dipped on in the past, Dave was frustrated as he had been on nights and he was just drained so we wern't able to go so we were praying it would stay for the following weekend, meanwhile Dave's friend Tom had been in contact asking if we would like to go with him and Jules on the weekend, Dave was so excited bless him Saturday arrived and a very sleepy Donna got up early after a struggle, with not much sleep over the past couple of nights I wasn't in the best of moods lol
On the way the Great Knot had flown from Gore Point so we thought it might turn up at Titchwell so we tried there first but then news came through it was at Scolt head so back in the car and we drove there only a ten minute drive and then about a 20 min walk on the beach, the bird was so so distant over the water on the Island we all saw it through the scope but it was a dot I wouldn't of known what it was, I was not a happy bunny I think most of it is that I get frustrated with myself because the others still manage to pick up some detail but I just don't seem to be able to do that I couldn't even see it's face, but I was over the moon that Dave and the others saw it.
We went back to Titchwell and waited on the beach for a couple of hours as the bird goes back and for from Scolts head, Titchwell and Gore point but there was no sign at Titchwell, think there was just too many people about, on the walk back we had an added bonus Spotted Redshank really close made my day that is what bird watching is all about to me being able to see birds up close to be able to see all the detail is just amazing and such a stunning bird and got some photos :)
Then we headed back to the car by this time I was just crackered, just wanted to go home, but then news came through the Great Knot was at Gore Point which we knew it shows better there they all wanted better views so we headed there, we had much better views still not with are own eyes but great views through scope could see all the detail on him such a beautiful bird with that black breast, I was glad we had better views in the end, and was so happy for Dave and the others.
Had been a nice day and so nice of Tom to drive big thankyou to him, Dave seemed so relaxed and happy bless him don't know how he puts up with grumpy me lol I'm just crap with no sleep, but i'm happy I went it was a good laugh and beautiful birds with the Great Knot and Spotted Redshank :)

Long-tailed Duck - Alvecote Pools, Warwickshire

We headed to Alvecote Pools today for the Long-tailed Duck, Dave soon located it when we got there but it was distant and I couldn't make out any detail I wouldn't of known what it was, I was a little disappointed it's never about a tick for me I like to have nice views that is what bird watching is all about to me, Dave messaged Archie and Archie said to go round to the other side for closer views so we did, and wow much better could see all the detail on her, and the beautiful eye, I was over the moon now such a lovely Duck, and not only a lifer but a Warwickshire tick too which is always special and also an added bonus when we were walking down for the Duck, Dave shouted Osprey and there it was soaring in the sky, I just love them Two Ospreys in Warwickshire this year feeling very lucky such beautiful birds.
The Long-tailed Duck came in quite close giving stunning views but still distant for my camera but I got record shot so I was happy but then after awhile the photo Donna sets in I guess its just watching her and watching Dave taking photos knowing how stunning his photos will be I can't help it, it's natural when i'm standing there and love photography that the photography mode in my head is going to set in and its hard to except that at that distance i'm never going to get anything apart from a record shot, the lighting was not helping either, but even though I get frustrated, I'm just happy to of seen her such a stunning duck :) Thankyou to Dave for taking me and thankyou to Archie for the extra help for closer views :)

Here is one of Dave's stunning photos you can see how beautiful this Duck is :) 

Taken By Dave Hutton

Some of my Record Shot's they don't do the bird justice but i'm happy to of least got a few record shots love this Duck just something about her :)

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary - Cramer Gutter, Shropshire

Today with the weather looking better in Shropshire we headed to Cramer Gutter for Dragonflies,
we saw a couple of Broad bodied Chasers and a couple of nice moths, when we arrived but then as we started exploring the heavens opened it rained and it rained, as we started to walk back Dave found a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Butterfly, saved the day :) The weather was clearing and there was now lot's of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary's such beautiful Butterflies and lovely to be able to have such close views of them with there wings down and with the wings up and watching them mate is just amazing I just love nature, and being close to nature is just the best thing in the world :)
We both had a very enjoyable day just proves even a rainy miserable day can turn out to be a fun day, every weekend is fun, Dave always finds something amazing :)

White Marbled White Moth

Beautiful Demoiselle - Trittiford, Scribbers's Lane - River Cole

An enjoyable day at Trittiford, lot's of Banded Demoiselle's and amongst them was a Beautiful Demoiselle, I was trying to photograph the Baby Moorhen on the river when I saw what I thought was just another Banded but then I looked again and thought hmmm the wing looked very dark all over, he flew over to the other side of the River I relocated him got a record shot but I wanted closer so spent an hour trying to photograph him, got really close in the end he settled nice but was hard to get my angle right, I was so excited I hurried back to the car so I could get home and load photos so I could send Dave one to confirm that it was a Beautiful, I'm not sure if there has been any other records for that area, but there not very common me and Dave had one last year near Marsh Lane where the Melodious Warbler was that was my first ever one, so i'm over the moon to Have one near Trittiford :)
Also managed to get my first photos of Orange-tip Butterfly but he kept sitting funny lol

Beautiful Demoiselle

Beautiful Demoiselle

Banded Demoiselle

Banded Demoiselle

Orange-tip

Orange-tip

The Priory Fields Nature Reserve - Priory road near Old Mill Pond

Had a lovely day at the Priory fields near me, it has now been transformed into a meadow can't believe how quickly it grows. :)
Got some photos of a very obliging Chimney Sweeper moth, and also had Common blue Butterfly the first time I have had them on my local patch :)
Also lot's of other moths Burnet Companions and Latticed heath and Grass Rivulets.
It's so enjoyable in meadows like this I love exploring so much.

Chimney Sweeper Moth

Chimney Sweeper Moth

Chimney Sweeper Moth

Common Blue Butterfly

Common Blue Butterfly

Burnet Companion Moth

Burnet Companion Moth

Latticed Heath Moth

White-legged Damselfly- Stockton Cutting, Warwickshire

We headed to Stockton Cutting, Warwickshire for the White-legged Damselflies and in the hope we might see Hairy Dragonfly.
We had a great day very enjoyable and the weather was lovely, we had stunning views of White-legged Damselfly such lovely Damselfly's very striking I love the eyes was so nice to have great views and be able to take some photos.
We also had lovely views of Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper and also Dave found another Blood-vein Moth this one was in pristine condition he was stunning :)
We never got any photos of Hairy Dragonfly, we think one may of flew out of the grass when we walking through but it went high up never saw it again, but still had been a great day.
Also an added bonus we managed to photograph a Holly Blue Butterfly in Dave's Garden, lovely butterflies and Dave was over the moon as he hadn't got any photos :)

White-legged Damselfly

White-legged Damselfly

White-legged Damselfly

White-legged Damselfly

Grizzled Skipper

Dingy Skipper

Blood-vein

Holly Blue

Also over the weekend Dave's friend Adam had a Small Elephant Hawkmoth in his Trap in Garden, he was kind enough to let us go and photograph it :) 

It was a lifer for me and OMG how gorgeous so pink and bright, Elephant Hawkmoth are lovely but this Small Elephant is just amazing, I love them definitely become my Fav moth, a massive thank you to Adam Archer :)