Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus L.), Hedge End

Thanks to Graham Barrett for putting the news out

That Gosport gull .. Finally !

ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis); black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus)

ring-billed gull; black-headed gull

common gull (Larus canus)

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus L.), Farlington Marshes

RBG and SEO at Farlington Marshes

red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) 
with dark-bellied brent goose (Branta bernicla)

one of two short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) seen on the day

all photographs © Ian Loyd

"Breaking the law, breaking the law" ..

kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) breaking the local byelaws
grainy photo courtesy of phone camera

Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus L.), Lodmoor RSPB, Weymouth

short-billed dowitcher

Photographs © Zara Hitchcock

Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis L.) Marazion, Cornwall

buff-breasted sandpiper in the company of dunlin (Calidris alpina) and ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

Old Winchester Hill, NNR

breathtaking .. the vineyard field margin ..

marbled white (Melanargia galathea)

chalkhill blue (Lysandra coridon) male

Cf Scabiosa columbaria

dark green fritillary (Argynnis aglaja)

cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)

kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)

six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae)

meadow brown (Maniola jurtina)

small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

chalkhill blue (Lysandra coridon) female

round headed rampion (Phyteuma orbiculare) - thanks Sarah !

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus L.), Farlington Marshes

glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) at Farlington Marshes

glossy ibis with Canada goose (Branta canadensis)

glossy ibis, Canada goose and bar-headed goose (Anser indicus)

The Grand Ol' Duke of Old Winchester Hill

the first record of 2012 for Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina) at Old Winchester Hill, Hampshire
according to the Volunteer Warden on the day ..

kite flying in Gwernogle, Carmarthenshire

red kite (Milvus milvus)

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), Stockbridge Down

blackcap via Stockbridge Down

Swift (Apus apus L.) hawking over Southsea sea-front

Apus apus L. (Iphone HDR setting)

60+ Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus L.) at Titchfield Haven

A return to The Devil's Jumps ..

The Devil's Jumps is a series of five bronze age bell barrows which are situated on Treyford Hill, Treyford, West Sussex. One of my favourite archeological sites, I return to them regularly when walking on The South Downs.

hedge laying at Wick Hill Hanger with HCV 3rd & 4th March 2012

the line of hazel (Corylus avallena) stools before pleaching

the hedgerow starts to take shape - day 1

trimming the brush of the hazel stools prior to pleaching

pleaching a hazel stool

A pleached hazel stool

tying in the end stake

heathering to hold down laid pleachers

hedgerow ongoing

reckoning the length of the hedgerow end of day 1

day 2 - pleaching hazel in the rain

day 2 activity stopped due to bad weather (rain,sleet then snow)
Thanks to Laura Parnell for photos 1,4 & 7
Hampshire Conservation Volunteers can be found at: www.hcv.hampshire.org.uk/