Sunday, September 28, 2008

Coast

Gibraltar Point
Gibraltar Point, early doors

In our usual perverse fashion, we went to Lincolnshire on Friday night because there were lots of good birds turning up in Norfolk and East Yorkshire.

Camping is usually filled with experiences to delight the senses; unsurprisingly, it was bloody cold at night, but we added Little Owl and Barn Owl to our tent list (Bittern is probably still the best bird on it).

The absurdly well-equipped (internet, gas heater, fairy lights) campers in the tent next to ours kindly loaned us their battery-powered airbed inflator, which was nice. Later on, they had a noisy argument, which was not so nice.

A wander round Skegness seafront early on Saturday was next to useless, due to thick fog which persisted until about 1pm. If there were any good birds, they were invisible. Eventually we went to Gibraltar Point (nice cafe) and wandered around the dunes. There weren't many birds around and nothing was moving, but a Yellow-browed Warbler gave itself away by calling from an inaccessible bush.

We'd nearly finished trudging around when a last look along the road revealed another Yellow-browed, flitting around in an Elder bush - briefly.

Sunday morning was less foggy, and sunny briefly before the sun got up behind the clouds. The skies were a bit more lively, with skeins of Pink-footed Geese heading for Norfolk, the odd Redwing, Brambling and plenty of Siskins and Redpolls.

photos taken with Canon Powershot A640

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Beeston

Kestrel
Kestrel

Meadow Pipit

We went to Del and John's ringing session at Beeston this morning. There were a few nets around the garden and a 'pipit box' out in a stubble field - a triangle of nets with a tape lure in the middle. It succeeded in attracting Meadow Pipits but also a Kestrel which dived helpfully into the nets. It was a bit grumpy and stuck a talon into Del's finger.

Elsewhere around the farm it was great to see hedges bursting with fruit and buzzing with insects.

Small Tortoiseshell
Small Tortoiseshell

Hedgerow berries
Hedge full of berries

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Sunny Saturday

Southern Hawker
This beautiful male Southern Hawker spent a good portion of the day patrolling the pond, but stopped for a rest on the buddleia

Ruddy Darter
Ruddy Darter

Across the road...

Dewy meadow

Rosehips

Apple

Haws
Yes, autumn's here

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Sunny Sunday

Comma
Comma on blackberries

Red Admiral
Red Admiral

Southern Hawker
male Southern Hawker basking

Painted Lady
Painted Lady on valerian

Hips
Rosehips

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Fight!Fight!Fight!

Jackdaws fighting

Jackdaws fighting

Jackdaws fighting on the lawn. The two main combatants were claw-to-claw, while the (apparent) loser's mate occasionally joining in with pecks to the aggressor's wings and tail. Eventually all three flew off when they spotted me peering out of the window at them.

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D + EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Small Coppers

Small Copper

Small Copper

Small Copper

Small Copper

Out in the gardens at lunchtime, Small Coppers were everywhere. I hardly saw any other butterflies. What photogenic little fellows they are.

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM