Local Walk

Scenes from a recent local walk.

The image above is showing the yellow flowers of the Field Mustard Plant.

This is used to improve the soil structure ans suppress weeds. It is a way of helping the soil to recover for the season in order that it can produce good results the next planting time.

This Great Tit below was appearing in and out of the hedgerow for most of the time I watched it. It was calling to a partner in the hedge possibly sitting on the nest.

 A distant Little Egret was fishing in the river, which had reduced a lot from about a month ago when it was in full flood.

A common scene are these Red Campions that line roads, paths and hedgerows at this time.

A Speckled Wood Butterfly was settled on this Japanese Spindle Tree which forms a long hedgerow. 

A favourite spot for this species and the Holly Blue Butterfly.

I think this feather below is probably from the wing of a Common Buzzard.

Woodies Incoming.

1/3200 at f2.8. -150mm - ISO 500 - 0.3 ev

I was using one of my favourite lens on these shots. 

An Olympus 40-150mm f2.8 attached to an OM1 Mk 2. 

That is in 35mm terms an 80-300mm equivalent lens

The attractive red flowers of the Horse Chestnut Tree.

The Barley crop is showing well already

A lonely Common Bluebell is hanging on amongst the undergrowth.

Shooting the Duke

The Duke of Burgundy Butterfly

I am very fortunate that I live in the County of Dorset and just a few miles from where I live, I can at this time of year observe and photograph a very rare butterfly - The Duke of Burgundy. 

I can say that this year there is quite an encouraging number of this species at the location where it normally exists.

Early Purple Orchid

Dog Rose

Red Campion

Also observed at the site was the Dingy Skipper Butterfly.

Whitethroats and Linnets - This Week Elsewhere

This week I went to a location adjacent to the site of the ancient Hill Fort Maiden Castle. I knew that if I went along a pathway with brambles and small trees either side I would likely find a Common Whitethroat or two. More than one pair nest there each year.

The first shot is a Common Whitethroat getting airborne from a wire fence. The second and third is the same bird on the fence.

In a small Hawthorn Tree another Whitethroat was singing away with its extensive calls including the rasping sound.

In the same area, male and female Linnets were flying about and calling regularly.

This Week Elsewhere

A Little Egret that was tossing a freshwater shrimp made for a good exercise in catching the moment.

Green-veined White Butterfly

Male Brimstone Butterfly

Speckled Wood Butterfly in excellent condition.

The Cowslips are well out now.

Greater Stitchwort caught in the semi shaded area.

A White Bluebell for want of a better description. 

 A not so blue Bluebell. 

A rather hurried shot of the first Holly Blue butterfly I have seen this year.

Orange Tip Butterfly on a Herb Robert flower.