Another visit to the cliffs to see how the
Kittiwakes are doing. I was pleased to see that some of the usual nesting ledges (if you can call them that!) have been occupied, but can't objectively assess whether the population has fallen further - my impression is that it has.
Note in diary.....revisit in a couple of weeks, to see the chicks.
Chaos reigned when two
Peregrines flew around the nest cliffs, but after a number of passes they moved on towards the docks - I've seen one perched on the cliff above the entrance to the Eastern Docks in the past.
Above the rifle range, the Kestrels are still amorous....
as were these beetles - attractive-looking things!
One of the rarer species under the cliffs is
Oxtongue Broomrape, of which this may be an example (I've not tackled the subtleties of broomrapes). There is a colony here, but much of its area has been covered by a small rock fall, so I hope that they survive. Any broomrape experts out there?
Common Blue (female blue form)
Goatsbeard
Silverweed, flowering on the range
Another visit to the cliffs to see how the Kittiwakes are doing. I was pleased to see that some of the usual nesting ledges (if you can call them that!) have been occupied, but can't objectively assess whether the population has fallen further - my impression is that it has.
Note in diary.....revisit in a couple of weeks, to see the chicks.
Chaos reigned when two Peregrines flew around the nest cliffs, but after a number of passes they moved on towards the docks - I've seen one perched on the cliff above the entrance to the Eastern Docks in the past.
Above the rifle range, the Kestrels are still amorous....
as were these beetles - attractive-looking things!
One of the rarer species under the cliffs is Oxtongue Broomrape, of which this may be an example (I've not tackled the subtleties of broomrapes). There is a colony here, but much of its area has been covered by a small rock fall, so I hope that they survive. Any broomrape experts out there?
Common Blue (female blue form)
Goatsbeard
Silverweed, flowering on the range
6 comments:
The little bit of reading I have done on broomrapes indicated that you had to get the shape of the inside of the flower to clinch the species. Not sure if this went for all broomrapes but challenging none the less. Like the amorous beetles.
I can see why the population of the Kittiwakes is "fallen" when you look at where they have to perch! The photos of them are great! Look forward to the chicks. I think I would call the beetles....peculiar, rather than attractive :-) Lovely blue butterfly and flowers.
Wonderful shots as always. Broomrapes have all but died out up here I'm afraid with only Greater at one or two sites.
Wonderful shots as always. Broomrapes have all but died out up here I'm afraid with only Greater at one or two sites.
WOW! What a great collection of pictures. Love seeing the birds in their nests and the kestrels mating. What a photo op!
Thanks for the comments guys.....
and Mary - maybe you've solved the problem there!
Lin, the kestrels are very noisy when they're doing that (unlike, of course, the beetles)
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