Two Megas, a Moth, and a Tern.

Burnished Brass. Katie Fuller.

There's a couple of 'Megas' in the country at the moment so if its another tick in your little book you're after you'll need to fly off to Norfolk and London. But first an excellent image of an excellent moth the Burnished Brass. OK this is a common moth but non the less a smart one which looks like it has gold leaf on its wings. Thanks to Katie Fuller whose website is HERE and currently has some rather stunning photographs of moths and are well worth a look....thanks again for the BB moth Katie it is much appreciated. 

The River Warbler is - and has been since it's discovery - at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe in Norfolk on land with no general access but some negotiations have been successful and ongoing to gain access at designated times for birders to view this rarity the first record in Britain of which was as recent as just under fifty years ago on Fair Isle, Shetland, 24 September 1961, it was found  by four men who gained very brief views of the bird before erecting a mist-net.The bird was soon caught but ironically escaped the hands of its captor during a photographic session, but it was soon caught again and taken to a safe place for release.

I myself remember racing down the M6 after work one evening in 1995 with my old pal and mentor John Leedal to Scotsman Flash in Greater Manchester to observe a River Warbler at a distance with its amazing song which is given with the bill fully opened, it is a high-pitched, pulsating z-z-z-z-z-z which rises and falls in pitch as the bird turns its head from side to side, the song is even more amazing in that at the same time it gives a metallic undertone which is more cricket-like and reminiscent of a slowly spinning bicycle wheel....a truly amazing experience to see/hear. 

The other rarity is that of another White-tailed Plover at Rainham Marshes in London, to follow the one in May this year at Seaforth in Liverpool which itself followed the famous Leighton Moss bird which stayed for eight days from 10-17 June 2007.

And finally....

Common Tern. Gary Jones.

Another cool image of another cool Common Tern at Preston Docks. I had no idea the terns were being accommodated and breed at this location until I read about them on Garys website HERE....Thanks for this photograph Gary. 

  

New Blood!

Red Grouse. Brian Rafferty.

Not for the first time I've been fortunate enough to have received some excellent images, this time of young birds illustrating some success in breeding at the early stage from the credited photographers and here I should point out that all codes of practice and the welfare of the birds were adhered and attended to in order to achieve these results, and includes holding the appropriate permits where applicable. In all these images it is irrelevant where they were taken but if you would like to see some more superb wildlife photography and where they were taken in the case of BR his website is HERE 

The photograph above is of the downy Red Grouse which will need some good luck on its side for several days yet until it fledges giving it the advantage of flying off from any potential predator of which there are many, the earliest days are the most dangerous ones for a creature so vulnerable and unprotected.

Oystercatcher. Brian Rafferty.

I have found one or two young Oystercatcher this summer including four on Conder Pool where the Grey Heron and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls often lurk ready to take out anything that moves, and I can assure you this young bird above is definitely not yet big enough to escape the powerful grasp in the bill of either the heron or the gulls to mention but two threats to birds as young and small as this.

Avocet. Peter Guy.

And thanks to Peter for this great shot of the recently hatched Avocet chicks, and once more to Brian for the Red Grouse and Oystercatcher photographs they are all very much appreciated.

Todays 'Mega Bird' (RBA) is a River Warbler in Norfolk at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe, a place I confess to never having heard of. Also 10,000 Swift through Spurn today....so what's going on there then?