THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

11 July 2013

ANOTHER SISKIN BROOD AND DAMSELFLY RESCUE


A couple of days ago, I heard very piercing bird shrieks coming from outside the kitchen window. They are normally closed, but the excessive heat has warranted their being open. At the feeding station, I was amazed to see the Siskin adults with one of the juveniles and two new fledglings. I never managed to get all three together in a photo I'm afraid but never mind. Here they are being demanding of both their parents and older siblings:
                                      





The juvenile, having to grow up quickly:


The parents:




Given that Stonechats can have four broods a year, I wonder if the Siskins will try and get another lot in. The fledglings shout and flap their wings at any other bird that tries to get them awayfrom food to great effect. No one will take them on, despite them being the smallest other than the Blue Tits. Amazing little things they are. Incoming Chaffinch......


...........and away with it.


I'm sitting in the garden as I write this and, other than the humming of bees, all I can here are Siskin-squeaks. I'm not complaining.

Yesterday, I found a damselfly about to drown in our local peety bog puddle:


 I managed to fish it out:



It seemed fine drying out in the sun. Caroline Gill (http://carolinegillwildlife.blogspot.co.uk/) has suggested it is a teneral Red-eyed Damselfly and I think she's probably right and would know far better than me! I only had a few minutes to try and identify it and failed miserably. Frankly, this is probably the only way I'm going to get any decent pictures of them. They are VERY active at the moment and won't let me get anywhere near them unless, obviously, they've had a near death experience. Same with the butterflies. I've been trying my best out on the moor, where I'm glad to say there are lots about, particularly of the Small Heath variety. I've never seen so many before. Since I have no butterflies to show you, here are a few more birds! 


Robin


Blackbird


Blue Tit


Meadow Pipit juvenile

A few more pictures from our walks the last couple of days:


Bell Heather is out everywhere on the moor now


The North Teign today....


........and Snippet in it.


One of the few remaining boggy places that haven't dried out in the intense heat


An ingenious way to get a drink yesterday....lie on the bog moss so that the water rises up in a handy little puddle


Rounding the corner of Fernworthy Forest


A Silver Ground Carpet moth that I found on the kitchen floor. Thanks CT & Ragged Robin for ID!


The Cotton Grass is about to broadcast its seed

I seem to have lost the followers section at the top of the blog which is very annoying. I do hope it comes back. I have a feeling I'm not the only person this has happened to. If you have any experience of it, I'd be grateful for any advice. 

I don't think I can take any more of the sun out here and I have to go and feed Trigger and his lady friends, so there I will end. Until next time, here is that little hound enjoying a walk on the dried out marsh.


41 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos, especially love the one of the cotton grass.

    All the heavy rain has been hard on the wildlife. Seems we have lost a number of birds.

    Can't help with the lost followers block. Have you looked on the design page?

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    1. Apparently the followers are back thank goodness. I can't quite believe it's so dry here!

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  2. Love these photographs from your garden, these little birds are amazing.
    Glad you saved 'Icarus' from the puddle!

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    1. I'm feeling slightly better for knowing how difficult damselflies are to identify!

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  3. HI EM Your followers are on your page that I have up now so i hope it comes on your page. I still cannot reply on my own post to people and it is very annoying as I loved this aspect of blogging. Loved the young birds and thought the close up of the cotton was lovely. Margaret

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    1. Hi Margaret, it took me ages to get the reply thing sorted out but in the end I worked out I needed to go through SETTINGS > posts and comments > comment location and then select 'Embedded'. I'll put this in a comment on your site too in case you don't come back and read this. If you already know this and it's still not working, please ignore me!

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    2. Hi Em It was very nice of you to try and help me with the problem however I did know about the embedded adn that has been done. I did check it again after yoursend the information but that is OK. I can leave a reply adn it ddoes say it is published adn indeed it does, however, when another person comments on my post, my reply disappears!! I have jsut come backfrom a few days away adn I had hoped thatit might have righted itself. I thnk I will jusst have to terms with it although it is very frustrating. anyhow, many thanks for your kindness. Margaret

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  4. The moth is a silver ground carpet Em :-)

    Loved all the siskin shots, ours are still absent :-(

    Well done with the damsel rescue and goodness the moor does look hot and dry now.

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    1. Thank you! It's getting a bit Savannah-like out there I must say.

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  5. Stunning photos,Em...simply stunning.
    Jane x

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    1. Thanks - I'm glad you like them. I do wish I had a REALLY good camera though. Never satisfied.

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  6. Gorgeous siskins.
    I'm glad you managed to rescue the damselfly. They seem such delicate insects.

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    1. I was surprised I didn't harm it getting it out but it seemed fine and had gone by the next day. I just hope it hadn't been eaten.

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  7. Wonderful photos. I guess hungry younglings and babies demand food and I would never mess with any of them. I saw "The Birds" and know better.

    Love the Snippet photos.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. All the other species seem to understand they have a place in the pecking order but these little ones don't.

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  8. Great photos as ever Em - love the action Siskin shots. Sorry can't help with id of dragonfly - I am not very good at identifying them or photographing them!!!
    Agree with CT that moth is a Silver Ground Carpet - one of the day flying moths.

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    1. I understand damselflies are particularly difficult to identify; that's my excuse anyway! Thanks to you too for the moth ID.

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  9. Wonderful photos. I love the Siskin juveniles and well done for rescuing the damselfly. The moor looks very hot and dry, so I'm pleased Snippet is finding different ways of keeping cool! The Cotton Grass photo is lovely too, the Cotton Grass is such a pure white.

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    1. I'm going to try and collect some seed for friends with boggy gardens - it's so beautiful.

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  10. Fab photos!! It looks like you have wonderful walking routes! Siskins are so pretty!

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  11. Nice to see the 'little hound' keeping cool feet Em.
    I love your wild life photographs. You are obviously having wonderful
    weather as we are too up here in the Yorkshire Dales, although thunder storms are a possibility this weekend i understand. Enjoy your weekend.

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    1. You too Pat. It's a bit too hot for me really and that's with the inevitable Dartmoor winds!

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  12. I'm sure, looking at your photos, you have far more exercise than me on my bike peddling down the flat lanes! The moor looks very inviting in the sun!
    Jenny

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    1. The problem is, I feel the need for a slice of cake when I get home from walking, which wipes out the benefits!

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  13. Wonderful siskins, Em! And that damselfly ... could it, I wonder, be a teneral Red-Eyed Damselfly? I'm really not sure. Teneral damsels and dragons are particularly hard to ID ... and there will be a lot about right now! Thank you for your seal comments!

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    1. I've had a look and I think you're as right as we're going to get. Thanks so much for that...I'll label it as such. Will show OB your seals today!

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  14. Forgot to say you will need to scroll down a little once link is clicked :-)

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  15. Wonderful photos as usual. Snippett seems to be such a happy dog! I thought the photo of the cotton grass was brilliant -- but that gorgeous blackbird photo was the best for me. I know the blackbird is common place over there and is rather noisy, though he has a beautiful song, but when you never see any and remember them so clearly, the photo was almost breathtaking.

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    1. I'm so pleased the Blackbird made you feel like that. Even being out of the country for a couple of weeks, the sound of them raises the spirits I think. It's SUCH an English noise. I like his ruffled feathers too!

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  16. Hi Em. Love all the bird photos, it's great to see the siskins so close up. Dartmoor looks terrific and fairly dry for a change! Well spotted on the damselfly rescue. Like you and ChrisJ the backbird song is my favourite of all our birds, I find it really uplifting.

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    1. We went swimming in the river today. Even me! We managed to walk right over bits of the marsh that are usually completely impassable.

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  17. Em, I'm still thinking 'Red-eyed damselfly' ... probably female!

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  18. Isn't that Silver Ground Carpet moth just lovely - I'm inspired to make a fan based on the lacy edges and lovely shaded patterns. I laughed at Snippet's method of finding a drink - he'd be a dirty dog after that! Our son's Goldie looks, and smells, fabulous after a bath, but she'll drop tummy down into puddles in summer too, and then she's definitely not gorgeous any more!

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    1. It would be a beautiful fan Virginia - please make one if you can!

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  19. Hi there - nice set of pictures from a part of the world that used to be on my doorstep (just!)

    Feel free to link any of your bird posts to Wild Bird Wednesday which runs though my blog on (wait for it!) Wednesdays!

    Stewart M - Melbourne

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    1. I will Stewart. Lovely to have you following!

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  20. Em, your lovely photos today remind me to look at bit closer at what's around me--I haven't done much of that lately, and I think I need to slow down and do just that.

    I hope all is well, and I hope you've enjoyed your weekend!! Take care!!

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  21. Fascinating photos as always, damselflies are so pretty, the blue and the red, but the prettiest are the demoiselles, trouble is they are too quick for the camera....
    p.s. have copied about the 'reply' facility you explained, will go and try it now...

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    1. Hope it works for you. I hated having to list everybody like that before!

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment. It's great to read them and I will always try to reply.