Summer Catch Up!

Where have the last 2 months gone!? I can't believe how quickly the Summer seems to race along and before long, we are heading into another exciting Autumn with migrants dotted along the east coast.

This Summer has been particularly busy, mainly due to the Birdfair in mid-August where I again had a highly successful and enjoyable 'Rebecca Nason Photography' stand in the Art marquee. Thanks go to the hundreds of people who popped in to say hello over a mad 3 days and especially those who purchased some of my prints, canvases, framed work & greeting cards!

Before the Birdfair preparations began, in early July, we ringed numerous Swallow chicks locally (now standing at 145 this Summer at one location!) and caught a fine, healthy adult Swift in the roof next door! This was a ringing tick for Phil as we did not ring the injured bird Phil freed from meshing earlier in the Summer (which incidentally after a good feed and a little time, took off and disappeared into the horizon! after we had placed it in a hanging basket in the garden!).

It is not every month I get both a British mammal and butterfly tick - however I saw both during July. I saw a beautiful little Dormouse in Surrey and a stunning White Letter Hairstreak. I found and photographed this uncommon and striking species whilst out walking along a field margin near Bath!

More Memorable Moths - Early July 2010.

This weekend saw us 'lure' in 2 more species of Clearwing, Red-belted & Yellow-legged! Around 6 of each came to the pheromones within 5 minutes of airing, the Red-belted in an old Apple Orchard & the Yellow-legged at our local Deben ringing site. . . .fantastic moths & so delighted the 'lures' have worked so well, both in such close proximity to Woodbridge. I also ticked 'Blotched Emerald', a species I had really wanted to see!

Also of interest, Phil noticed a Swift (bird not moth) hanging strangely from a roof guttering in Woodbridge this afternoon. On closer inspection it was trapped in some way and had been there hanging from near it's nest since yesterday at least. Phil called on his firefighter colleagues & took the fire engine which obviously has a huge ladder to access the poor bird. The Swift had been caught up around it's neck with nest material & was literally hanging itself. It is alive but not looking too sharp having been hanging for some time in high temperatures . It is now in the kitchen & I have to admit to having fed it a few of last nights moth catches (though not the Clearwings!). We are not holding up high hopes for a happy outcome but will keep it & feed it until (if!) it seems more lively & capable of managing if released. It is a shame to see much a stunning bird in such a state. It was only on Friday that we caught our first healthy adult Swift in Angel Lane, at the nest, a ringing tick for Phil & such a great bird to see in the hand.

21st May 2009 - Suffolk

From the bottom:  1 Red Kite over Sutton, Woodbridge on the 19th May (taken with 105mm macro lens), 1 Pine Hawkmoth trapped in the garden, 1 Swift & a very attractive young Robin chick! Enjoying the last few sunny days in Suffolk before heading up to Shetland!