Cyder 1, Nightjars 0

We spent this weekend in Suffolk, based on a notion that we'd go looking for Nightjars so it would be nice to stay overnight somewhere.

It was our first camping trip of 2007 (something we do occasionally) and we stayed in a field in Eastbridge, a stone's throw away from Minsmere. The Eel's Foot in Eastbridge serves Aspall's, the best cider in the world, and after we realised that going Nightjarring would compromise our cider-drinking, we decided the 'jars could wait til later...

Swallow

The Black-headed Gull colony provided [noisy] entertainment

Green Hairstreak

Assorted damselflies which I haven't really thought about yet

drake Shoveler

Four-spotted Chaser

Male Stonechat

Female Stonechat

Possibly the highlight was adding Bittern to my Tent List (birds seen or heard while I'm in the tent). This was accomplished at 6am on Sunday morning when we heard at least two 'booming' from the Minsmere reedbeds.

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

Cornwall

Just got back from a week in Cornwall. Here is an assortment of landscapes, flowers, insects and duff bird photos. More notes to be added later...

Cot Valley


Maritime heath, Porthgwarra



View from Nanquidno

'Ciao!' said the Choughs. Two seen at Nanquidno, then Cot (where these record shots were taken)



Stonechat, Nanquidno


'Fall' of Meadow Pipits after torrential rain at Beachside

Butterflies:
Comma, Polgigga

Red Admiral, Polgigga

(click on this one for extra detail)


The ubiquitous Clouded Yellow - dozens seen during the week (this one at Nanquidno)

Speckled Wood, Polgigga

Flowers on set-aside at Nanjizal:
Corn Cockle

Cornflower

Poppy

The Firecrest tree, Cot Valley

Wryneck record shot, Porthgwarra


Juvenile Herring Gull

Adult Herring Gull

The ubiquitous Buzzard

Longhorn cow having a scratch, Nanquidno

digiscoped photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 77 with 20x fixed or 20-60x zoom eyepieces

Exmoor

View to Bridgwater Bay from Dunkery Hill, 7.35am

Male Stonechat, County Gate, Devon (only just)

Looking north across the Bristol Channel at County Gate

Small Heath butterfly

Caterpillar - identity unknown! As ever, please let me know if you recognise this insect

• Thanks to Charlie Moores for identifying the mysterious beast as an Oak Eggar caterpillar
  

digiscoped photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 77 with 20x eyepiece