Branching Out

Although I really wanted an extra hour in bed this morning, I forced myself out and was rewarded for my efforts. I tried a different site and almost from the minute I settled into my hide a young Little Owl appeared from out of the nest. It wasn't long before one of the adults arrived, but it remained in cover calling to the youngster. Only one chick was visible, but it had plenty of energy to climb around the tree.

Little Owl Chick

Balancing Act

First Chick

This morning I managed to get my first half decent photo of one of this year's Little Owl chicks. I was in my hide again for a couple of hours before work and at least one of the chicks came to the nest hole and the adult female also put in an appearance, but the light was a bit poor whilst she was posing.

Another session this morning (15/06/2012) produced almost constant views of two chicks and the female was ever present and fed both chicks. I thought the female was going to make me late for work as she wouldn't disappear and let me leave the hide unseen. She eventually flew off, but the chicks watched me emerge from the hide and were unconcerned by my presence.

It's Bright Out Here

Mum

What's for Tea Mum?

The nest is quite close to a busy road, but if you listen carefully you can hear the youngsters calling.

Summer Returns For a Few Hours

Waking up to sunny weather gave me a bit of a headache this morning - what should I do? Should I go in search of insects, go owling or revisit my sites in west Leicestershire. Little Owls won the early battle, as I returned to the site where I saw the juvenile last night. I didn't have to wait too long for mum to put in an appearance at the nest hole.

Morning

Ready For Take Off

After the first showing, the owls didn't want to play, so I left the site and met up with Adey Baker at Croft. We had a fruitful walk around the hill and quarry. The highlights were 14 Bee Orchids, a pair of Grey Partridge, a Kingfisher and two Grass Snakes that were out sunning themselves.

After that I went over to the Ashby Canal at Dadlington in search of White-legged Damselflies. I did manage to see an adult and two immatures, but compared to other years, at a similar time, this was very disappointing.

Teneral White-legged Damselfly, Ashby Canal

My last port of call was Brascote Pits where there was good numbers of damselflies, mainly Azures and a few Red-eyed Damselflies. 

Red-eyed Damselfly, Brascote Pits

I also saw my first Dragonflies of the year at Brascote Pits - a couple of Four-spotted Chasers, but I had no look photographing them today. However, I've included a photo of one from a couple of years ago.

Four-spotted Chaser

Going in the Right Direction

Earlier today I visited Brascote Pits and while I was there I met up with local birder Dave Taylor. Dave reminded me that there have been records of Bee Orchids at the site in previous years, so we decided to check out the area where we thought they might be. Dave spotted the first and then I quickly spotted another two. The weather wasn't really that good, so Dave took a quick record shot of one and I vowed to return later in the day as the weather was supposed to improve.  Birds seen included a single Redshank, a pair of Gadwall and several LRP's.

The weather did improve, so I went out this evening and photographed the orchid and I checked out three Little Owl sites: at the first there was no sign of the owls; at the second one of the adults was perched on the weather vane above the barn and at the last an adult flew into to what I suspected was the nest and a juvenile appeared at the entrance. This was my first view of a juvenile this year.

Please Stop This Thing Spinning 

Bee Orchid, Brascote Pits

Footnote: 13 Bee Orchids were located at Brascote Pits on June 24th 2012

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More Hiding From The Owls

Where's Summer Gone Again?

 Through my rose tinted spectacles, I can remember a time when summer meant long sunny days spent trying to photograph butterflies and dragonflies (I mean doing some work on the outside of my house). The weather at present is far from perfect for insects and although the weather improved slightly last year, the generally poor summer weather in Britain over the last four years has had a dramatic effect on the local butterfly and dragonfly populations. I hope to have a walk along the Ashby Canal at the weekend if the weather improves sufficiently to try and gauge how the White-legged Damselfly is doing there.

White-legged Damselfly, Ashby Canal, July 2007

I noticed that John Hague had had a good session the other day on the Grantham Canal recording Variable Damselflies and Hairy Dragonflies Click Here.

Variable Damselfly, Grantham Canal, May 2007