Monday 16 September 2013

Newtown Saltmarsh Reserve

This is a large reserve owned and managed by the National Trust on the Isle of Wight.  The habit is fragile and under threat.  It is bound together by the roots of cord grass and glasswort.  They form a delicate mat where other plants can grow and birds can nest.  Without these plants the march would be washed away.  Today I am showing you what birds and insects I found there.  My friend Eileen, who volunteers at this reserve was kind enough to show me around. 

 
Little Egret
The following birds were seen from the hide.
 
 
 
 
One of the view from the hide
 
 
Common Sandpipers  There were 4 that day.
 
 
Redshank  thinking, 'I look beautiful'
 
 
 
'I will strut around and show myself  to others'
 
 
 
 Greenshank
 
 
Grey Heron
 
 
 
 
The Heron flew off to the field behind the hide. 
We left the hide and made our way down to the Boathouse area.
 
 
 
 Canada Geese were seen flying past as we started out lunch at the Boathouse.
 
 
The tide was out and there is a Little egret and Black headed Gull in this shot.
 
 
Then we saw Turnstone and Oystercatcher with the Little Egret still in the background.
 
 
I have shown you in a previous post the wonderful Swans that came out the water and drank from a puddle at our feet.  
So these are a few more photographs I took of them. 
( see post - 7 September Swan - come down for a drink )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Another Curlew
 
 
 A common Seal
 
 
Lichen on tree bark
 
 
We left the Boathouse and made our way into the meadow and on the way we saw a this lovely little Robin.
 
 
 Speckled Wood
 
 
Common Blue female 
 
 
 Common Blue Male
 
 
 Wall Brown
 
 
 Wall Brown
 
 
 Small Copper
 
 
Meadow Brown 
 
 
Then we walked to this pond area within the reserve. 
 
 
Ruddy Darter
 
 
Emerald Damselfly - Common Spreadwing 
 
 
You have seen this Wasp Spider in the other post however yesterday Eileen sent  me the next four photos of  egg sac of this spider which is just outside the hide at the reserve.  Many thanks Eileen.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I hoped you have enjoyed this post.  I pressed a wrong button and it posted while I was making it and so it is really MONDAY'S POST.
 
Thank you for visiting whether is is Sunday or Monday!

41 comments:

  1. Lovely selection of shots here Margaret. I always enjoy seeing your sea pictures and although I'm not a spider person, that cocoon inside the web is amazing. CT :-)

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    1. Hi CT Many thanks for comments and glad you enojyed the post

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  2. Lots of variety in this post Margaret and it seems you still have plenty of butterflies and dragonflies in your neck of the woods. This is a great time of year for seeing some of the less common wader species isn't it :-)

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    1. HI David Many thanks for comments and glad you enjoyed this post. They are images I took when I was on the I.O.W. It is a good time to see the waders that are passing through on migration.

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  3. You are spoiling us today. This is a great selection. The Wasp Spider is a beauty. A bit more global warming should have them heading north.

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    1. HI Adrian Many thanks for comments and glad you enjoyed the post even tough it was meant for tomorrow!!

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  4. you got some great reflections in the first few shots. neat spider, too!

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    1. Hi Tex You saw my post when it was only half done because I pressed the wrong button. Anyway, thanks for comment

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  5. Wow, what a wonderful habitat for the wildlife. I love all the birds, butterflies and dragonflies. And the seal was a nice surprise. Wonderful post and photos, Margaret!

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    1. Hi Eileen Many thanks for your comments adn so glad you enjoyed birds, butterflies, Dragonflies adn the Seal. It was really MONDAY'S POST!!!! Pressed the wrong button!!

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  6. what a spectacular!
    what a wonderful reserve for the wild life.
    thanks for sharing:))

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    1. HI Betty Many thanks for comment and glad you enjoyed the reserve's wildlife.

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  7. One of my favourite places on the Isle of Wight - so brilliant for birds and butterflies. A wonderful post Margaret - thanks again for sharing and reminding me how lovely the Island is :)

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    1. HI RR Glad to bring back a few more memories for you and thanks for comments.

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  8. I love outings like you did, especially when you have someone to accompany you who knows the area well. Loved the photos from the hide; you did a little of everything on the day Margaret; lovely photos from you both

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    1. HI Carole Yes it was a lovely day out and great to have a freind to share it with. I am glad you enjoyed seeing this post. Thanks for commnets.

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  9. Another great post, Margaret. Wonderful bug pictures. I'd never seen the blue butterfly before. What a beauty that one is!

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    1. Hi Linda Many thanks for yuor kind comment and glad you enjoyed it.

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  10. The Redshank was right - he is beautiful, but no more beautiful than any of the other birds, the scenery or the other wildlife.

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    1. Hi EC You are so kind adnIthannks you for your comments. I am glad you enjoyed the whole post

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  11. I LOVE all of your bird reflections!! And the gorgeous ruddy darter, so colorful!! But my very favorite today are the two with the sunflowers and blue female, so beautiful!! I would make a collage of them, frame them, and put them on a living room side table!

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    1. HI Ginny I am glad you enjoed the reflection, Darter and butterflies in this post and that would be a lovely idea for a collage. Many thanks for your comments.

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  12. Hi Margaret, I don't care if it's Sunday's or Monday's post--but I enjoyed it. That was nice of your friend to show you around the reserve. You captured some great birds. I especially like the swans. Gorgeous birds!

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. Hi Betsy I am so glad you enjoyed the post and I think you might be right, the Swans take 1st prize. Many thanks for you comments.

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  13. I love the Swan shots, the spider the dragonfly, oh my goodness all of them :-).

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    1. HI Lynn I am glad you enjoyed the reserve and all that I found there. Many thanks for comments.

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  14. Hi there - great set of pictures - I went to the Isle of White on a school trip many, many years ago.
    There was a time, not all that long ago when the Little Egret would have been a mega bird.

    My Sunday was great - and it ended with a good frisbee session!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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    1. HI Stewart Glad you had a fun day with the family. Yes the Little Egret took even more time to reach Northern Ireland adn Iamg;ad it did. Many thanks for comments.

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  15. Beautiful series of photos Margaret.
    The mute swans are really great.
    All other pictures as well, but the swans are my favorite
    Greetings Irma

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    1. HI Irma I am glad you enjoyed the photos adn thanks for comment

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  16. Your pictures are wonderful any and every day of the week! The swans drinking are amazing (I had missed your earlier post, so very grateful you put more here and the link! I love the shore birds admiring their beautiful selves in that clear water...jus t lovely. And you are so expert at your butterfly photos and IDs as well.

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    1. Hi Sallie I jusststarted looking at butterflies etc this year so that is a big compliment soI thanks you for your comments. I am so glad you are enjoying my posst.

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  17. so wonderful to get a personal tour. your images are awesome, you saw some of my favorites!!

    i don't like spiders but you got some amazing pictures!!

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    1. Hi Debbie It was pleasure to give you a tour of the reserve. Many thanks for your comments.

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  18. You have so many pretty and interesting photos, Margaret! I love swans and it's interesting to see them drinking out of a puddle when they just got out of the water! It must have a taste they like! Have a nice week!

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    1. HI Cheryl That water was fresh but the water they came out of was salt. Glad you liked the Swans and thanks for comment.

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  19. wow, that´s a great day. :) Especially like the Little Egret. :)

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  20. HI Yes it was a great day and I am glad you liked the Egret. thanks for comment.

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  21. Margaret, I admire all of your photos and experiments.
    They are great. You live in a unique place.
    You can find many intresujących birds and insects.
    Butterflies and dragonflies are marvelous.
    Greetings.
    Lucia

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