Heron

No picture again for the heron but we saw one perched on the top of a tall conifer at 8am yesterday. I have never seen a perched heron before. It has been cold for a few days now and much of the water around is frozen. I guess maybe he was looking for some unfrozen water. the only other species of note recently is the tawny owl who has been with us for months now. Hopefully he will nest on site.

It's Tawny Owl time again

For the last ten days or so it has been owl night every night. This the male hooting sound rather than the shriller female cry. It is the autumn territorial process rather than breeding. I tried to spot an owl I could hear calling from high up in one of the trees along our drive but he seemed to go silent as I got nearer so no luck tonight.

Property viewing or singles holiday?

We have seen few mallards in the last few months but yesterday a group of seven turned up, four drakes and three ducks. They swam round in a group checking out the moat as if they were viewing to check suitability for nesting. As the day wore on there was a distinct pairing off with one pair starting to separate themselves and the others swimming male and female together (except for the duck that had two drakes in tow).

TWO KINGFISHERS!!!

For the first time in a few months I saw a kingfisher this afternoon and it surprised me by staying on a lilac branch overhanging the moat despite the fact I was only about twenty feet away (without my camera of course). I stood motionless and watch for maybe a minute or so when to my astonishment a second kingfisher joined it on the branch. This is a first for me. They were facing opposite directions so I was able to see the unique blue of the back of the first bird next to the orangy red of the breast of the second. All at once they set off low over the water at speed - two brilliant blue flashes against the murky brown of the moat.

Dragonfly snippet

I was watching the male Common Darters chase each other as they vied for apparently important stretches of water when a much larger Southern Hawker came by. Immediately a Common Darter took on the Hawker. It hadn't occurred to me that they would be aggressive to other species. As usual no picture achieved of the dragonfly dogfights but a Comma alighted on a nearby thistle so that's all I can offer.

New Species - Barn Owl

It is good to record a new bird species - even if I only heard it rather than saw it. I have seen barn owls before in the area but this was the first one at the Moat House for me. I heard it from inside and went out to look. I had narrowed it down to the Norway Spruce just the other side of the moat but a couple of minutes later some idiot helicopter arrived noisily right above us and the owl was gone.

Common Darter common

Loads of Common Darters around in the last few days. Yesterday I was watching two males arguing about territory. There were a lot of 180 turns on the spot which is some feat I reckon. Today I saw a pair copulating which is even more of a feat seeing as they can fly while locked in their embrace. The effect is of slightly wonky wheel in flight. Unfortunately the picture is of neither event - whilst I had my camera the best pose I got was a male just resting on the ground.