Ruff- Shustoke

Stayed local and did Shustoke with me moaning that we wouldn't find anything lol but then Dave proved me wrong, he found a Ruff, beautiful birds got a few photos but Dave had left camera in the car so we decided to go back to Dave's and have dinner then try again later.
We headed back later but lighting was rubbish for my camera and the Ruff was hard work, i'm not very good with the skills needed to get photos of birds lol but still got some nice photos and Dave got some stunners :) Was lovely seeing the Ruff it had gone by the next day.

Gannet - Marsh Lane, Warwickshire

We were at Middleton Lakes when news came through that there was a Gannet at Marsh Lane so we headed straight there, and luckily it was still there, distant but still lovely to see, and a Warwickshire tick, and this was Marsh Lanes 200 bird species :)
It was worrying though because Marsh Lane is not deep enough for a Gannet and if it tried Diving it would bang its head on the bottom of the water :( Which would kill it, we were just praying it would fly off.
It had gone by the evening which was good news but then news came through of a Gannet in Leicstershire photos confirmed it was the same bird, it stayed there for awhile and on photos he wasn't looking good, then about a week later news came through that he had been found dead, Poor thing its such a shame someone couldn't of rescued him and took him back to the sea, heartbreaking that his died breaks my heart when things like this happen.
Gannets are so beautiful there like china looking, his at peace now and in my thoughts forever. R.I.P
Also had my best views of Stock Dove today :)

Marsh Lane Damselflies

Had a very fun morning at Marsh Lane photographing Damselflies, I love days like these exploring and photographing :)
Are aim was too get some photos of Small Red-eyed Damselfly with them being mainly in the water, Dave decided to go into the water lol bless him by the end of it he was wading right out into it, I decided for the easier option and concentrate on other Damselflies and Dragonflies got some photos of Common Blue my first proper photos :) Had lovely views of Common Darter, Brown Hawker and Black-tailed Skimmer too, after being there for awhile the Small Red-eyed Damselflies came out of the water onto some of the reeds so I got a few photos without getting wet lmao
Also had nice views of Small Copper and Common Blue Butterflies.

Small Red-eyed

Small Red-eyed

Small Red-eyed

Small Red-eyed

Common Blue Damselfly

Common Blue Damselfly

Small Copper

Small Copper

Small Copper

Common Blue Butterfly

 

Chalk Hill Blue and Silver-spotted Skipper Butterflies

We headed to Aston Rowant,Oxon today for Chalk Hill Blue and Silver-spotted Skipper Butterflies which were both lifers for me. We got Chalk Hill Blue pretty quickly such stunning butterflies but was on such a high hill and I don't like hights so was not comfortable at all lol
We went to a different location and there was more Chalk Hill Blue's there and we got Silver-spotted Skipper both very pretty Butterflies were hard work getting them to settle but managed a few photos, and also an added bonus Marbled Whites most were very faded but very friendly had one on my hand love moments like that :)

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper 

Chalk Hill Blue

Chalk Hill Blue

Chalk Hill Blue

Marbled White

Marbled White

Minsmere RSPB

After the Purple Swamphen being there a week and Dave waiting so I could come with him, we headed straight there Saturday morning, no news had come through on the way, but I just thought it's early I was sure it would still be there, but when we arrived people were saying it hadn't been seen all morning so it wasn't looking good, we headed to where the crowd was waiting we didn't wait long as it was becoming clear that the bird was not there it had always shown on previous mornings early and people had been there since first light and it hadn't showed.
We decided to have walk round the reserve and photograph some Butterflies which is always enjoyable :) we also saw the Beewolves and Pantaloon Bees both very fascinating, the Beewolf is a Digger Wasp that specializes in catching Honey Bees and stocking its larder with them as a food source for its young.
Also got some new Hoverflies species today also had a showy Rabbit this was my highlight I love animals so much he was so cute :)
It had been a nice day and very sunny and warm, and my first ever visit to Minsmere, but just felt so bad for Dave that he had waited for me and then the bird had gone :(

Minsmere RSPB 

Minsmere RSPB

Common Darter

Common Darter

Common Darter

Emerald Damselfly

Grayling

Grayling

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

Peacock

Peacock

 Eristalis arbustorum

Eristalis tenax

Bog Hoverfly- Sericomyia silentis

Beewolf

Rabbit

Yellow-legged Gulls learning curve - Draycote Water, Warwickshire

We spent the past couple of days at Draycote with the Juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls both me and Dave struggle with the Juveniles so it had been a learning curve for us both and very enjoyable I could spend everyday learning like this, but it is not every day you get such close views to be able to see the differences.
With the Help of Books and Tim Marlow who has been a very good teacher he explains everything so well in person and on his blog - http://www.rainsbrooknaturalhistory.com he goes through all the key points and the differences between yellow-legged, Lesser-Black Backed and Herring gull.

The main differences that have really struck me are, The much whiter face with dark eye mask, and the Bill is black with a more thick tipped end. Tertials with solid dark centres and pale edges and on some slightly oak-leafed at the tips only whereas in Herring Gull the Oak-leafed is more pronounced and in Lesser Black-backed there's usually none at all.
Mantle and scapulars dark brown with pale edges creating scaly pattern.
Also the Breast and flanks of Yellow-legged Gull is Brown-mottled but belly and central undertail - coverts pale and the legs are more of a fleshy light pink color and longer legged.
Yellow-legged Gulls tend to molt before Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Herring Gull (Juvenile) with Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Juvenile) 

Yellow-legged Gulls (Juvenile)

  

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

In flight the Pale window on the inner primaries is less obvious than on Herring Gull but much more obvious than on Lesser black-backed Gull. 

The Underwing coverts are dark brown more like Lesser black-backed than Herring Gull. 

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Juvenile)

Yellow-legged Gull (Juvenile)

Lesser Black-backed and Yellow-legged flying off