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Saturday 29 May 2021

A Butterfly Shoot

Most Butterfly enthusiasts would welcome the opportunity to observe and photograph the Duke of Burgundy Butterfly.  However, once seen one wonders what all the hype was about. It is not the most attractive species that can be observed in UK.

It is in serious decline.however and much conservation work is conducted to save it..

Duke of Burgundy.






Small Tortoiseshell.

A common species and certainly very attractive to observe.


Green-veined White

This one I shot would (from its appearance) have only emerged that day.




Brimstone

This male Brimstone was pitched for a change and has obviously been around for a few days now and not always on the wing searching for females.



Marsh Fritillary

The Marsh Fritillary was the only one I could find that day, It didn't wait around for long enough either. More attractive than the Duke above I think.




Small White.

A common species that can be found everywhere.


Orange Tip

Even if you don't know much about butterflies you can probably recognise and name the Orange Tip male.



Small Copper.

A small and colourful species common throughout the UK.



Small Heath.

Even smaller, the Small Heath is common, but not easy to see.


Dingy Skipper.

One of the early skippers on the wing.
Looks like a Moth.


Common Blue

The most common of our blue species.




Thursday 20 May 2021

Spotted Flycatcher

The Spotted Flycatcher is a Summer visitor that arrives in UK in May and leaves again in October.


The first dry sunny day for quite a while, I was able to go for a local walk. I left it to the mid afternoon and wasn't sure I would see much.
With that in mind I only took my 'walk around' camera kit that would cover most subjects OK.
The one bird I did not expect to see was the Spotted Flycatcher.
Where I lived previously I would normally only see this species around the September time. 





Monday 17 May 2021

Grey and Yellow

Grey Wagtails are in the process of nesting now and feeding young. 
I observed this male catching flies over a small river at a local village.













Tuesday 4 May 2021

A Country Walk

Another country walk taken on a sunny day, but with a cold wind blowing. 
The first image below shows a view across Barley and Oilseed rape fields.


Apple Blossom

Cock Pheasant

Red Campion

This Wren popped up out of the hedgerow and was quite amenable to a few photographs being taken.







Lady's Smock (Cuckoo Flower)

Three images below of birds that really didn't want to be photographed on this occasion.

Goldfinch

Blackcap

Grey Wagtail

Apple Blossom

On this particular country walk I looked closely at the various bluebells that were growing. It was surprising the variety of colours of the flower. This area of the walk was at least a mile away from any buildings and I believe that all the colours were natural and there had not been any crossover from garden plants.

Below are the variety of bluebell colours observed.







Hawthorn Flowers

Apple Blossom

Early Purple Orchid

Dingy Skipper Butterfly