Creatures of the night!

Well,early evening really!

Just recently we have been hearing strange noises coming from the trees behind our house, quite loud noises that can even be heard through our new double-glazing! It is of course a Tawny Owl which is extremely vocal from approximately 7pm and has been heard in the `wee` hours at 4 or 5am. This bird has remained invisible during the day, roosting in a very secretive spot, but I am determined to find it one day!

To join him we have also been having up to 3 Hedgehogs in the early part of the evening, munching away on mealworms that I put out for them. They also help to keep the slugs and snails at bay. In fact, I can`t remember the last time I saw either in our garden!

Best of all though we have had 2 Bats take up residence in our bat box which we have attached to the gable end of our house. The box has been in place for 2 years and this is the first year that I have noticed the bats emerging from it on clear nights. Unfortunately I cannot tell what species they are, but to be honest I am just `chuffed` that they are there!

Kittiwake

This juvenile Kittiwake was found today at Ferry Meadows CP by Chris Park. Brian Stone phoned me at lunch time to let me know that the bird was present and `showing well`. This is number 170 for the year for me in the PBC area and a PBC `lifer`.

Desperate Times!

These are desperate days on the local patch! Every area seems to be awash with Pectoral Sandpipers and Wrynecks. The only birds other than Black-headed Gulls at Maxey the other day was this Grey Heron and Common Sandpiper.

The pump is now on, so hopefully a bit of mud will be exposed and we will get our own Pec Sand!

Whinchat

This Whinchat was in the same place as the two in the spring, the south end of Maxey GP. It was my first of the autumn and the only bird of real note at this site that is surely due a nice wader or two!?

All Digiscoped using Lumix FS15 and Kowa TSN-883 x30

Hobby

I decided to pay a visit to the Nene Washes near Peterborough this morning, ostensibly to try and locate the Cattle Egret that was reported yesterday. No such luck! I did, however come across this obliging Hobby, lurking in the mist!

Garden Dragon

Our garden seems to be overflowing with dragonflies at the moment, they are everywhere! Nothing of major rarity value, just Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters. The one below perched briefly for me to get this shot.