Monday 23 March 2009

Noughts & Crosses

Record shots of Crossbills

Chiffchaff
Siskin
As yet Unidentified Moth

Reptiles = Nought ; Crossbills = c.5. On Saturday morning went looking for snakes with Hull birder and photographer John Sadler. (Check out his flickr site for his excellent recent pic of the Hornsea Garganey http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpsadler ). Unfortunately, we didn't see any Adders, Grass Snakes, Common Lizards or Slow-worms, although we did manage one amphibian - a Common Toad, plus plenty of frog spawn! The highlights were probably some very good views of a small group of confiding Crossbills, plus a Siskin performing a Greenfinch-like slow-motion 'butterfly' display, which I've never seen before. Also present were Redpoll, Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Yellowhammer, Treecreeper, several Chiffchaffs & we also heard Jay & Green Woodpecker. As we hadn't met before, we kept each other entertained with the highs and lows of our birding exploits, so time passed very quickly. A brilliant morning was capped with my first Brimstone of the year, although John had already seen a brighter one!

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