Lockdown Weekend 10
The weekend of the 24th consisted of two trips one to Dungeness and another to Coombe Valley else. Initially we had left with a few Target birds that we would have liked to have seen. There has been a White Stork at Coombe Valley and having seen it twice we wanted to see it again, as it happened we didn't see it but this does not mean it wasn't there.
Towards the end of our exercise period there was an interesting stand-off between two pheasants. It was quite clear that there was some sort of dispute and that the only way it was going to be settled was in the form of a fight. The two birds approached each other and then as can be seen in Adam's photograph they started to fight with their claws and beaks. At the end of the fight one bird left with his head held high the other sulked way to the corner.
Adam also decided to test his photographic skills trying to take a photograph of a swift one of the more difficult photographs when you consider how fast the birds fly. I think you'll agree that the image he has taken is a very good start.
The second part of the weekend was spent at Dengemarsh on the public footpath as the Dungeness RSPB site has not opened yet. We were looking to find a Yellow Wagtail on arrival but failed to do so. We crossed the footbridge onto the footpath noting the large number of geese in the field to the left. As we walked to the left there was a field containing a number of cattle. To our surprise there were a number of Cattle Egret in the field, this is one of the egrets that we had yet to see this year. Almost immediately they took flight and flew to the far end so they were out of range.
We made our way to the viewing platform hoping to see some Hobbies but on arrival were told that there had been very few around. We knew that the Hobbies tended to hunt here and decided to stay to see if they would arrive. As we were waiting the caterpillar pictured below made an appearance, after a little bit of research we now know that it is the caterpillar of a Tiger Moth. Eventually the Hobbies arrived and Adam was able to take some photographs. The real difficulty with these images is the brightness of the background but the images he achieved are detailed especially the one showing the talons of the bird.
