Portland Area Visit

I have not been around the Portland nature areas for a while now. Things are looking more Springlike.

The lovely Thrift or Sea Pink small flowers (Armeria maritima) are blooming on the pebble areas of the Chesil Beach at Ferry Bridge.

So on that area I went looking for Wheatears, but equally fortunately, I found Linnets.

Mostly males, they were feeding on the green shoots growing low to the ground.

In Penn Wood I did find there were Small White Butterflies on the wing. 

From their appearance they had survived overwinter.

This one below was searching for nectar in a 'Herb Robert' flower.

Another Lodmoor Reserve Visit

A two hour walk around Lodmoor Nature Reserve Weymouth produced images of a flock of 24 Black-tailed Godwits. Many of them still had some of their breeding plumage showing. The only problem again with these birds was like the last time a smaller flock was observed. They remained at some distance from the pathway. So a 600mm equivilant lens with a 1.4 converter attached was needed.

It is always good to find a plant of Lady's Smock (Cuckoo Flower) in bloom.

The Common Dandelion appears everywhere now. 

The first Speckled Wood Butterfly I have observed this Spring. 

This one would have emerged from hibernation recently.

The resourceful Wood Pigeon finds a variety of food throughout the year. 

Here it is tucking into some grass.

Blossom from a small Wild Apple tree.

It is a bit ragged and not the lovely cultivated Apple Tree blossom.

More scenes from around the Reserve.

Local Walk - Butterfly

A Local Walk 

This scene below reveals that the river levels have returned to normal after all the flooding that the area suffered for months. 

I didn't find much to photograph, but this Peacock Butterfly saved the day just before I decided to return home.

A distant view of this Grey Squirrel was snatched before it ran up the tree.

Bath time for a female Mallard in the local stream.

Red Dead-nettle.

Catkins of various kinds are still hanging on and the wind will disperse pollen from them onto the female seeds.