Better Late Than Never!

It wasn't looking good for a post on B2B this week, that was until I received some excellent images in my inbox which prompted the title of my post.

I've not been birding since Wednesday 25 June, that's for different reasons, not least of which is the weather, and more to the point, at the moment it's not looking good that I'll get out any time soon....But let's bury that one.

Howard Stockdale.

I received an excellent illustrated update for Conder Pool....

After the disasterous and upsetting year which the birds of Conder Pool have suffered, it was pure delight for me to see this image of the juvenile, fledged and begging to the parent bird....

Two for the price of one, with siblings attended to by the adult....Magic.

I'm not entitled to publish details and numbers, but as I have indicated previously, the birds of Conder Pool have had a disasterous year, including Common Tern chicks lost from the platform. I am also aware the Little Ringed Plover were also unsuccessful with four attempts lost to predation, and I know I'm not alone in my thoughts, that this is an upsetting reality.

On the positive, recently there has been an inflow of immature birds prospecting Conder Pool. Perhaps Arctic, Little, and Black Terns may show here again as they did last year....here's hoping. 

Thanks to Howard Stockdale for keeping me posted with news and images on Conder Pool.

Ian Mitchell.

More in the inbox, were some moths....

The Burnished Brass is a common moth throughout the UK, but no less spectacular for that. It has areas of metallic colouring on it's forewings.

Another 'two for the price of one' image, this time a pair of Buff Arches. Some colours about this moth are, smooth grey with white and russet brown, make this for me, one of the prettiest of our moths.

Thanks Ian, much appreciated, and keep'em cumin!

Martin Jump.

Martin has been sending many hours around the Sand Martins, and also experimenting with macro photography. 

This picture is particularly special to me, in that the birds right wing tip just skims the water with some precise timing.

A brilliant macro image of one of the Colletes-Plasterer Bees.

I'm grateful for these, thanks Martin.

And Finally....

An image of my own, with two of the seventeen Mediterranean Gulls on Conder Pool 25 June. This male was posing in a display to the female, or was it a female posing to the male!

In The Garden.

It's been good to see a juvenile of, Blackbird, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, and 4 Swift high overhead one evening. Also at least 3 Red Admiral and 2 Comma.

We have also had a couple of interesting wasps....

Ectemnius sp

This species of solitary wasp is difficult to ID without close inspection.

Greater Pennant Wasp

This one....I couldn't decide whether it was something out of Star Wars, or a visitor from Mars!