Better Late Than Never

Another post from my trip South last week.

I have not seen a Small Copper butterfly for several years, so it was good to find some on consecutive days at the same general location.

In the same area I found a Common Blue, a Small Heath and a Speckled Wood.

Small Heath

Speckled Wood

Wheatear

What a great character the Wheatear is and very photogenic as well.

I had to travel some 200 miles South to shoot these images. 

A delightful bird that will stand and pose for you providing you don't get too close.

Local Birding colleagues will recognise the light coloured stone this one is standing on.

In Search of Anything

Searching out birds at this time gets quite frustrating. You know they are there, but finding them is something else. Perhaps a field of well grown potatos is probably not the best place to look. 

However there was something moving about and peering out at me from a distance.

I don't know how many, but I am sure there was more than one female Pheasant amongst the spuds.

Almost certainly there was a male somewhere, but not sighted.

Somewhat easier to find by sound if not visually, are a flock of Starlings on blackberry bushes.

A few shots of the local Fenland areas taken whilst out searching.

Lesser Whitethroat

In the general area I observe birds it is usually at this time of year that if I am extremely fortunate I will, after much searching find a Lesser Whitethroat.

Around 80% of the shots I took of this Male, the bird was obscured by undergrowth of various sizes.

The colouring of a male of the species is rather nice I think.

Nearby in the same bush I took two shots of this bird, which may either be an immature female of this species or a common Whitethroat.

Parkland Walk

Scenes from my latest Parkland walk. 

A really dull day.

A marauding Mute just didn't want all these unattached swans around on his stretch of river.

Dace up for air.

Two heads are better than one. ?

Berries and flowers observed on the walk

Reflection