Earlier this evening I noticed a very low flying Red Kite outside of my window. On closer inspection it turned out it was being pursued by a few Rooks (and others birds). Luckily my camera had the big lens mounted, so I quickly grabbed it, opened my fake balcony door and managed to get a few decent shots of the show:
Having been to Reading yesterday to run a few errands it was time to get out into the green again today. Late this morning I drove to the Moor Copse nature reserve (BBOWT site) in the Pang valley near Tidmarsh, West Berkshire. While my original plan had been to get some bird pictures I soon changed my focus to butterflies and/or moths (I’m not sure what any of these are, if anyone can help with identification please feel free to do so in the comments).
Having grown up in West Germany I don’t think I have heard this song during my childhood. Instead I had to move to the UK for Cerys Matthews to play it on BBC Radio 6 Music:
(not sure where the video images are from, some film may be?)
Following yesterday’s 1.5 hours walk I doubled my efforts today and walked for three hours until the clouds came in. Today I stayed locally and walked to Aqua Vitae Copse and Padworth college. On the way I spotted a variety of birds: a Sparrow was carrying grass in its beak, I assume for nest building. Two Blue Tits were sitting among the fresh shoots on a tree. But the highlight was a Red Kite eating its catch while in flight before resting on a tree. Finally I enjoyed Bluebells carpeting the woodland floor.
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to have a at least one hour walk of some sort every Saturday and Sunday (unfortunately having a daily one-hour walk isn’t logistically feasible). While I have already failed that resolution for various reasons I’m still trying to achieve that goal when possible. Today I managed 1.5 hours at the Hosehill Lake nature reserve near Theale.
Among many other birds I spotted two birds I don’t think I have taken pictures of previously. I’m not sure if I identified them correctly, if I’ve got it wrong please let me know in the comments. I believe the first one is a Gadwall Duck, the second one I think is a Garden Warbler. As I said, if I got it wrong please let me know so that I can update the post.