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2011 Diary
December 2011. Off to a Hotspot. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Crested Tit 

 

Off on travels to exotic lands mid-month, but till then hoping for a bit of sunshine in the ultra-mild Lithuania, the highlights off the first days of the month limited to the comings and goings in the garden.

With gloomy skies, I could think of nothing better to celebrate the new month than buy a new lens for the camera. Gave it a quick whirl in the garden - despite the poor lighting conditions, the results pleasing enough, a Crested Tit approaching a peanut feeder.

Last Updated ( Monday, 12 December 2011 )
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November 2011. A touch of Ice. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Middle Spotted Woodpecker

 

 

 

 

The transit of autumn to winter, woodpecker season in full swing, seaduck, sawbills and winter swans on the move. November, the traditional month of 'winding down', opened to no less than five species of woodpecker on or around the feeding stations, plus flocks of Velvet Scoter, Smew and Bewick's Swans on inland waters. Also an Eagle Owl to liven things up and White-backed Woodpeckers with the Middle Spots on the feeders. A mid-month Ruddy Duck was pretty phenominal, a new species for the country, also both Black-throated and Red-throated Divers on the move and, first of the winter, a Waxwing in my Vilnius garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated ( Friday, 02 December 2011 )
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October 2011. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Puffballs

 

 

 

 

 

October, the traditional month of bird departure from Lithuania, flocks streaming south in their thousands. In 2011 however, mild weather early to mid-month  slowed the movements to mere trickles, but still some nice titbits - good numbers of Brambling, a vagrant Kittiwake, the first incoming Smew amongst the spoils. Also, other delights on offer included Beech Martin, an impressive showing of various fungi and a variety of woodpeckers in and around my feeders, Black Woodpecker particularly confiding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated ( Thursday, 27 October 2011 )
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September 2011. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

 Red-breasted Flycatcher

 

Kiddies across the country depressed as schools start, half the nation in a frenzy as the European Basketball Championships take place in the country, but for me September is rather more glorious - the start of the mass exodus of birds from the country, frequently a month for the occasional surprise. And pick of the surprises this year, a Red-breasted Flycatcher in my garden, a Broad-billed Sandpiper in the north-east and a flock of Glossy Ibis south of Vilnus, the latter truly a rare bird in Lithuania.

Last Updated ( Saturday, 01 October 2011 )
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August 2011. End of Summer. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

What a difference a month makes - after tramping the wilds of the U.S. for the better part of July, I return to Lithuania to find the butterfly season past its peak, the bird breeding season basically over and the first dribs and drabs of migration already underway.

Highlights of the first two weeks included a Pine Martin in my Vilnius garden, a flush of Camberwell Beauties out and about, plus Queen of Spain Fritillary, Bath White, Silver-spotted Skipper and late Greylings and Rock Greylings. Also, reasonably uncommon in Lithuania, a pair of Canada Geese just down from my garden and, all on my land, flocks of White Storks, a pair of Cranes and lingering Red-backed Shrikes. Pretty much the pattern for the remainder of the month too - plenty of departing migrants, including an early Hen Harrier, plus a good selection of butterflies still .

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 31 August 2011 )
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