Beeston

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

Hedge full of berries

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

Sunny Saturday

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

Across the road...

Yes, autumn's here

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

Sunny Sunday

Comma on blackberries

Red Admiral

male Southern Hawker basking

Painted Lady on valerian

Rosehips

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D + EF 300mm f/4L IS USM, Extender EF 1.4x II

New Year's Day

Unfortunately, weather-wise, it's been one of these kinds of days:

Fen Drayton Lakes

Burdock

Rosehips

Reeds

Dog (OK, I was bored)

We've managed to clock up 80 species today, at Fen Drayton, Grafham, Warren Villas and Thurleigh - not too bad. Highlights were Hen Harrier, Barn and Short-eared Owls at the latter site, though the redhead Smew at FD were nice to get on 1 January, and the Woodcock that hurtled across in front of the car at Thurleigh was a surprise.

We didn't get Sparrowhawk, Linnet, Jay or Nuthatch, or the Scaup at WV, and the only bunting species was Reed.

Charlie Moores is (or was) in Japan today. He got better photos and some sunshine, but we saw more species...

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

Not far from home

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995