Monday, May 30, 2005

Woodwalton Fen NNR




Scarce Chaser


Four-spotted Chaser


Mating damselflies. I think they might be Azures (Coenagrion puella) but I'm not sure...


Ragged Robin, Lychnis flos-cuculi


Yellow Flag, Iris pseudacorus

Since it was a nice morning, I thought Woodwalton Fen NNR would be worth a try for some insect-watching. There were hardly any butterflies on the wing but plenty of Red-eyed Damselflies on the Raveley Drain and, further in, a scattering of Scarce Chasers and Four-spotted Chasers (dragonflies).

I digiscoped the insects - they were usually perched up by the side of dykes and it was easier than getting my feet wet. I sacrificed some image sharpness in the process but it was enjoyable enough. The weather conditions weren't bad - though it was breezy there was cloud cover on and off, which kept the dragonflies low and forced them to perch up.

There were also lots of damselflies about but they were a bit too much like hard work!

insect photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 62 with 16x eyepiece

Saturday, May 28, 2005

Wildlife garden update


The pond's first inhabitant! A Common Frog.



As you can see (if you compare with this picture), my garden is coming along nicely. Things are starting to grow up and even the lawn has sprung back into life. Anyone worried about the buddleia that was hacked back savagely in April can breathe a sigh of relief, because that's OK, too.




Foxgloves (two colours)!


Daisy things!


Bluebells!


Don't know what this is...

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

Monday, May 23, 2005

Andalucia: Day Three

Melodious Warbler
Melodious Warbler
Beetle
Marbled White
Marbled White?
Moth and flower 
Clouded Yellow
Clouded Yellow
Rock Bunting
Rock Bunting
Flowers Flowers Flowers Flowers Flowers Mountains Mountainside

Hummingbird Hawkmoth
Hummingbird Hawkmoth
Hummingbird Hawkmoth


Stonechat
Stonechat

Three days, more than 400 photos, 139 bird species and umpteen plants and insects...

digiscoped photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 62 with 16x eyepiece

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Andalucia: Day Two

Azucarera Jerezana
White Storks nesting on an old sugar factory
White Storks
White Storks White Storks White Storks White Stork 

Great Reed Warbler
Great Reed Warbler, Laguna de Medina
Corn Bunting
Corn Bunting
Tarifa beach
The beach at Tarifa

Tarifa to Morocco
Looking across to the Moroccan coast
Spotless Starling
Spotless Starling
Black-eared Wheatear
Black-eared Wheatear
Tawny Pipit
Tawny Pipit
Marsh Fritillary
Marsh Fritillary
Marsh Fritillary Marsh Fritillary Marsh Fritillary

Meadow Brown
Meadow Brown
Spanish Gatekeeper
Spanish Gatekeeper
digiscoped photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 62 with 16x eyepiece

Saturday, May 21, 2005

Andalucia: Day One

These are generally in chronological order. More details will be added later. Sorry it's a bit photo-heavy, but then this is a photoblog...
Kentish Plover
Kentish Plover. Digiscoped from the back seat of a Fiat Punto!
Kentish Plover Kentish Plover Kentish Plover Kentish Plover Kentish Plover Kentish Plover

Slender-billed Gull
Slender-billed Gull
Slender-billed Gulls Slender-billed Gull
Blue-headed Wagtail
Blue-headed Wagtail
Salinas (salt pans)

Woodchat Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
Short-toed Lark
Short-toed Lark
Collared Pratincole
Collared Pratincole
Pines
Add caption
Collared Pratincole
Little Bittern
Little Bittern
Little Bittern Little Bittern Pines

Finished the day with Red-necked Nightjars

digiscoped photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 62 with 16x eyepiece