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Date: 01 Aug 2009
View: D50_20090624_0727_044_FB5 Thrush with snail at anvil stone.jpg
Description: Thrush bashing a snail on the stone to get at breakfast.
He eat two like this in 5 minutes, and possibly more.
Date: 31 Jul 2009
View: DA1_20090623_1423_052+1515_183 FT1 Ringlet Butterfly in flight with Red campion (montage).jpg
Description: The ringlet butterfly is one of those quiet little browns that rewards
a closer look.
Date: 30 Jul 2009
View: DA1_20090623_1435_104+1516_194 FT1 Banded Demoiselle male in flight with grass head (montage).jpg
Description: The Banded Demoiselle is quite one of the most beautiful damselflies we know of.
This is the male - the female has no band on different coloured wings.
See in a few days.
Date: 29 Jul 2009
View: DA1_20090623_1618_325 FT1 Bumble bee in flight at clover flower head (web crop).jpg
Description: Far more bumble bees this year than we are used to, but distasterously
few honey bees.
View: DA1_20090623_1619_340 FT1 Bumble bee feeding on clover flower head (web crop).jpg
Description: A stop off for a mid-flight refuelling for once taken by
pressing the shutter button to override the normal computer
controlled trigger.
Date: 28 Jul 2009
View: DA1_20090624_1302_147+1310_192 FT1 four-spot chaser dragonfly male in flight bottom view with dead twig (montage).jpg
Description: This is a male 'four-spot chaser' (change of common name since the link below).
This species has been breeding on our plot for at least a decade.
It first came to our attention one day when a number were emerging in May 1999
after a warm night that turned cold in the morning and slowed down the usual
overnight emergence.
You can see it on the main web site at
Dragonfly Emergence Sequence.
View: DA1_20090624_1313_211 FT1 four-spot chaser dragonfly male on twig (orig).jpg
Description: Their favourite perches seem to be dead twigs by the waterside.
If you have a pond put a couple of sticks about half meter long
at 30 degrees from horizontal & overhanging the water, and you
will likely be graced with some dragonflies using the tip. If
they are already about they sometimes land on them within seconds
(but usually not).
Date: 27 Jul 2009
View: DA1_20090624_1604_233+20090623_1513_171 FT1 Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly in flight with buttercup (montage).jpg
Description: Just this one Small Tortoiseshell butterfly seen so far this year
was fluttering from buttercup to buttercup. The hedges used to be
awash with them. Instead we now have hundreds of Meadow Browns
and still dozens of Speckled wood. We don't know whether the
change is down to climate, our management, natural variation or
chance.
Date: 26 Jul 2009
View: DA1_20090627_1530_013+1545_085 FT1 Small skipper in flight with oxeye daisy (montage).jpg
Description: Among the hoards of Meadow Brown butterflies are a few Small
skipper butterflies. Normally seen perched with the wings
slightly raised & top wing partly hidden, this spread wings view
explains the orange shimmer as they fly.
Date: 25 Jul 2009
View: D3A_20090621_0458_036_FB2 rabbit on hind legs.jpg
Description: This rabbit photographed in the early hours (5 a.m.) is caught
in a pose like something out of children's story book!
Date: 24 Jul 2009
View: D3A_20090622_1953_034_FB2 Young fox with one paw on log.jpg
Description: The young fox is now known to be at least 2 individuals (seen
together on an Infra-red security photo). Can't resist giving
you a look from a different site.
Date: 23 Jul 2009
View: D3A_20090623_0550_049_FB2 Chaffinch coming in to land (crop 2).jpg
Description: The Chaffinches have been very obliging with 'in-flight photos'
in the last couple of days
View: D3A_20090625_0514_025_FB2 Chaffinch male in flight.jpg
Date: 22 Jul 2009
View: D3A_20090621_0621_054_FB2 Munjac fawn (crop 1).jpg
Description: We have been hoping the male and female Muntjac had produced a
fawn this year. Finally this beautiful creature has appeared.
This camera is set up for smaller animals so the top of the deer
is missing. Note the gangly legs and visible hoof of which we
often see the imprints when the ground is soft.
Date: 21 Jul 2009
View: D36_20090620_0649_077_FB3 2 chaffinch males squabbling in flight.jpg
Description: The male chaffinches are apparently still feeling territorial.
Date: 20 Jul 2009
View: D50_20090618_2143_016_FB5 Young fox (crop 2).jpg
Description: Young fox exploring the aromas of other visitors and peanut grit
at the thrush anvil (see yesterday).
Date: 19 Jul 2009
View: D50_20090620_0933_081_FB5 Thrush with snail at anvil stone (web crop).jpg
Description: Clearing up the site a bit and getting his stone back level with
the surface has brought back the thrush. Interesting what little
details are important.
Date: 18 Jul 2009
View: DB1_20090621_1744_189 Kestrel hovering 12 of 19 (web crop).jpg
Description: This kestrel has made repeated visits to one corner of the site,
most of the time in drab overcast condition when one enjoys
taking the pics (about 600) but only a few are worth keeping.
Date: 17 Jul 2009
View: DB1_20090619_1709_094+095 Swallow in flight (montage).jpg
Description: Swifts continue to delight us with a group of about 10 visiting
the area a few times many days. Here is the same bird in two
successive frames
Date: 16 Jul 2009
View: D35_20090615_1745_047_FB4 Mallard male walking in crouch followed by female (web crop 2).jpg
Description: Unusual view of a mallard drake. Maybe he has spotted a tasty
worm to catch. Out of frame in this crop a female mallard is
pattering along in the dark behind him The bright yellow beak has
faded but the orange feet remain vivid.
Date: 15 Jul 2009
View: D3A_20090610_0507_002 fb2 Chaffinch male.jpg
Description: Immaculate male Chaffinch collecting food.
Date: 14 Jul 2009
View: DB1_20090612_1233_275-278 Large Buzzard seeing off smaller 2-5 of 8 (mirrored montage).jpg
Description: A large buzzard seeing off a smaller bird.
Read left to right as pairs of birds
Date: 13 Jul 2009
View: DA1_20090614_1128_118 FT1 Elephant Hawk-moth on Honeysuckle flower (web crop).jpg
Description: The Moth trap caught 5 of these wonderful 'Elephant Hawk-Moths'.
We haven't touched up the colour - this is what they are like.
View: DA1_20090614_1140_176+1449_498 FT1 Elephant Hawk-moth in flight with clover (montage).jpg
Description: And here in flight. The clover head will give you more idea of
their large size.
Date: 12 Jul 2009
View: DA1_20090614_1348_394 FT1 Burnished Brass moth on Hawthorn twig (web crop).jpg
Description: Burnished Brass moths are quite small but really beautiful when
the light catches the 'burnished' areas properly.
Date: 11 Jul 2009
View: DA1_20090614_1452_513 FT1 Common Rustic (q) moth flying to clover flower & starting to feed (web crop) 2 of 6.jpg
Description: We are fairly sure this is a Common Rustic moth caught on clover so
we knew what to provide as a 'prop'. It then surprised us by feeding off
the 'prop' in front of the camera setup. First just landing.
View: DA1_20090614_1452_517 FT1 Common Rustic (q) moth flying to clover flower & starting to feed (web crop) 6 of 6.jpg
Description: And second the proboscis is uncurling complete with droplets or particles
from it's previous meal.
Date: 10 Jul 2009
View: DB1_20090614_1608_075 Poplar Hawk-moth on clover stem (crop 1).jpg
Description: The moth trap caught a couple of Poplar Hawk-moths.
Here is an image of one of them after release back in the meadow
View: DB1_20090614_1608_075 Poplar Hawk-moth on clover stem (crop 2).jpg
Description: More detail of the head and antennae.
Date: 09 Jul 2009
View: D36_20090604_1759_006 fb3 Great spotted woodpecker male and 2 chicks.jpg
Description: A chance moment of 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker chicks by the nut
feeder with their Dad. Mum uses a feeder on the other side of the
house to feed what we think is just one other chick.
View: D36_20090607_1730_088+1754_089 fb3 Successive frame montage (24 mins right to left) of Great Spotted Woodpecker in rain.jpg
Description: Montage of 2 successive frames in the rain, first on the RIGHT.
From the lack of intervening frames we deduce that the sodden
bird sat for 25 minutes preening, and all the better for it!
Date: 08 Jul 2009
View: D01_20090607_1405_006 Juvenile heron in middle of swallowing unknown item over about 3 minutes.jpg
Description: Juvenile Herons often seem to have trouble swallowing their catches.
We don't know what this one caught, but it took the bird 3 minutes to
swallow it before it flew off. There are more heron pics at the
Moorhen Site heron page
Date: 07 Jul 2009
View: D36_20090602_0556_082 fb3 Young Jackdaw with downy feathers.jpg
Description: The jackdaws chicks in a nest near the house have fledged.
You can still see the fuzz of down on the body feathers as
this youngster lands on the perch by the peanut feeders.
Date: 06 Jul 2009
View: DB1_20090601_1441_140 Azure Damselfly pair in Tandem on Lily frond.jpg
Description: A common site at almost any decent wildlife pond is pairs of Azure
Azure Damselflies mating.
In August 2007 we pictured them in 'Wheel' position as the
male transfers his sperm to the female (male to the left arching over the
female):-
Click for Image
This year we picture them in 'Tandem'. The male is on the right
and they can fly in this position.
View: DB1_20090607_1546_002 Azure Damselfly pair laying eggs in Duck pond.jpg
Description: The final act - the female depositing eggs onto pond weeds.
Date: 05 Jul 2009
View: D50_20090602_1033_003+selected_to_20090603_1811_062 fb5 2 Nights at the Thrush Anvil (rough montage).jpg
Description: The 'Thrushes anvil' site off the main paths by a conifer tree trunk
was 'baited' with a little peanut grit and suddenly loads of creatures
made appearances. This lot appeared over 32 hours appear all at
the same scale.
For the uninitiated in UK species, top left clockwise:-
- Blackbird male
- Young fox
- Robin
- Thrush (without snail!)
- Chaffinch female or young
- Pheasant
Todays image (view it Here)
Date: 04 Jul 2009
View: D50_20090603_1330_033 fb5 Thrush with snail at anvil stone (web crop).jpg
Description: We found a stone surrounded to broken snail shells - the first 'thrushes
anvil' we have ever found. Installing a camera and beam-break
at it with care not to disturb the anvil site was quickly rewarded
with some images of the thrush with snails. First a thrush with snail
approaching the stone which is at the left edge a quarter of the way up.
View: D50_20090603_1607_055 fb5 Thrush with snail near anvil stone (web crop).jpg
Description: Several hours later a closer image (with presumably a fresh snail).
Image Archive arch 2009 jul.htm (view it Here)
Date: 03 Jul 2009
View: DB1_20090601_1823_337 swallow and gibbous moon (single frame).jpg
Description: It always seems strange to see the moon in sunshine, but here
we caught a swallow flying by it. The bird is a little off focus
because it isn't 'quite' as far away as the moon (maybe 50 metres against
384,403,000 metres!). Other attempts with the bird sharp but the moon
even slightly blurred look awful.
Date: 02 Jul 2009
View: DB1_20090602_1526_107 Buzzard in flight from field to West heading North East at about 5 fps 75 of 83 (web crop).jpg
Description: Our friendly neighbour farmer phoned us from his tractor with news that the
'buzzard has just joined me on the posts' and out we rushed to not
be able to see it! But we were ready when it flew majestically over the hedge
in front of us. Here is one of images.
View: DB1_20090602_1548_171-1549_228 Buzzard and Crow skirmish (7 selected images montage - originals not kept).jpg
Description: 20 minutes later a buzzard and a crow had a little skirmish to the East.
Follow the pairs of birds from the top left.
Date: 01 Jul 2009
View: DC1_20090603_1638_155 Great Spotted Woodpecker male flying in & feeding chick on Ash tree trunk 09 of 33 (web crop).jpg
Description: 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker are being fed peanut fragments by the
adult male both at the feeders and more picturesquely on the trunk
of a nearby Ash tree. From 3 difference sequences, first the male flying in.
View: DC1_20090603_1634_129 Great Spotted Woodpecker male feeding chick on Ash tree trunk 09 of 15 (web crop).jpg
Description: The youngster (on the left) gets fed.
View: DC1_20090603_1640_213 Great Spotted Woodpecker male flying to & feeding chick on Ash tree trunk 16 of 22 (web crop).jpg
Description: The parent (on the left) having to back off from the youngster eager for
MORE!.
Image Archive arch 2009 jun.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Jun 2009
View: DB1_20090529_1633_034 ft1 Cockchafer (May Bug) male on leaf with antennae folded (web crop).jpg
Description: Caught in the Moth trap, but definitely NOT a moth was this
Cockchafer, also known as a May Bug (and caught in 29 May!).
First a view outdoors before it flew off.
View: D01_20090529_1527_241+1556_267 ft1 Cockchafer (May Bug) male in flight bottom view with Oak leaves (montage).jpg
Description: And here a view of it in flight providing a view from below.
It was not a very cooperative flyer & this was the only one worth showing.
Date: 29 Jun 2009
View: D01_20090529_1504_178+1556_272 ft1 White Ermine moth in flight with Oak Leaves (montage).jpg
Description: Some other moths in the trap included 'Ermine' moths which
have beautiful speckled wings. The first image is of the White Ermine.
View: D01_20090529_1521_210+20090530_1322_009 ft1 Buff Ermine moth in flight with grass heads (montage.jpg
Description: This is the Buff Ermine - a beautiful almost golden colour.
Date: 28 Jun 2009
View: D01_20090529_1346_001+1555_266 ft1 Poplar Hawk-moth 1 in flight with Oak leaves (montage).jpg
Description: The Moth trap caught its usual few hundred moths including a couple
of these Poplar Hawk-moths. Hawk-moths are BIG - see the typical size oak leaf.
Date: 27 Jun 2009
View: DB1_20090528_1423_073 Brimstone butterfly male fluttering round female on Red campion (web crop).jpg
Description: Brimstone butterflies have been a delight this week, the male
fluttering around the perched female and spiralling together into
the sky
View: CF1_20090528_1423_062+64+65+66+69 Brimstone Butterfly female flying off from Bluebell (20fps) 05+07+08+09+11 (montage).jpg
Description: The female hung about the garden for hours giving us the chance
to get this unusual sequence of her feeding from a late bluebell,
and then backing off from it. Note her rolling up her proboscis as she goes.
Sequence starts top left and goes clockwise.
Date: 26 Jun 2009
View: DB1_20090529_0659_002 Robin on wire scratching head with claw (not part of a preen).jpg
Description: One of those unplanned moments - a nice robin sitting quietly
on the wire not preening has a sudden itch just as the camera
takes it's pic.
Date: 25 Jun 2009
View: DB1_20090530_1451_143 Kestrel male in flight.jpg
Description: The Raptors are suddenly back.
We have seen both male and female kestrels in the sky at the same
time, and hope this is because there are chicks to feed.
This male was spending an inordinate amount of time
hanging in the strong breeze (sometimes unusually high up)
surveying the scene including giving the photographer some
quizzical looks.
View: DB1_20090531_1058_028 Buzzard in Flight.jpg
Description: The buzzards are also in evidence and flying quite low.
Date: 24 Jun 2009
View: D35_20090529_2112_028 fb4 Young Fox (web crop).jpg
Description: A young Fox has suddenly appeared and on the first night of
appearance visited all of the cameras. The next night the visit
was to two cameras about 15m apart were he took his pic about 10
times. This is one of them.
Date: 23 Jun 2009
View: D01_20090525_1517_011+1524_029 ft1 Honey bee in flight with Yellow Flag Iris flower (montage).jpg
Description: Honey bees are in short supply this year, so after we caught this
on flag iris and brought it in for some photos, it went straight back
out where it came from. Note the (yellow) pollen sack on the leg.
View: D01_20090525_1613_175+1631_209 ft1 Azure Damselfly in Flight with willow sapling (montage).jpg
Description: Most blue damselflies here are the Azure species - a beautiful
rich blue.
Date: 22 Jun 2009
View: DA1_20090523_1117_150 Bluetit flying to nest box on Ivans Black poplar with cranefly.jpg
Description: The Bluetit box on our tallest black poplar gets a delivery like this
every minute or two. What a supply of insects we must have!
View: DA1_20090524_1143_218 Bluetit flying to nest box on Ivans Black poplar with caterpillar.jpg
Date: 21 Jun 2009
View: P34_20090523_1053_440 Mackerel Clouds & cumulus to North.jpg
Description: Away from the detail for a moment - a delightful Mackerel sky ...
View: P34_20090526_1806_582 Buttercups in Kite meadow.jpg
Description: ... arching over a field of Buttercups now we have decided
to let the 'meadow' area run riot.
Date: 20 Jun 2009
View: D36_20090527_0551_106 fb3 Starling adult male and fledgling face to face in flight.jpg
Description: The starlings that nested in the loft have fledged and are appearing
round the house. We don't know what is going on here, but mostly
they are being fed by parents or feeding themselves. The parent is on the left.
Date: 19 Jun 2009
View: D3B_20090527_0125_132 fb1 Young Fox licking peanut butter from log (crop 1).jpg
Description: Our second view of a young fox this year - the first was an hour earlier of
it's backside only and may or may not be the same individual.
View: D3B_20090527_0125_132 fb1 Young Fox licking peanut butter from log (crop 3).jpg
Description: Detail of the above - the whole animal kingdom seem to like
the peanut butter this animal is licking off.
Date: 18 Jun 2009
View: DB1_20090520_1550_006 Fox in Field to East crouching and watching us.jpg
Description: We and this fox had a little 'who blinks first' encounter over the fence
for a couple of minutes before it decided that to run-away was it's
best option.
View: DB1_20090520_1551_011 Fox in Field to East giving us quizzical look (web crop).jpg
Description: Humans do this quizzical head turn as well.
Does it change the visual processing for an 'alternate reality'.
Does changing the ear positions help locate sounds (like owls have asymmetric ears).
Date: 17 Jun 2009
View: DB1_20090520_1602_070 Mallard duck mother & all 4 ducklings on round pond with reflections.jpg
Description: This first duckling family to grow up at our site spends
time at all three main ponds. First at 'Round' pond.
View: DB1_20090522_0934_112 Mallard mother and 3 of 4 ducklings (2 preening) in grass by edge of Dragon Pond (web crop).jpg
Description: And here they spent most of the day alternately on the bank of the main
pond and then feeding in it outside the kitchen window.
Date: 16 Jun 2009
View: D01_20090522_1334_192+1123_029 ft1 Red-eyed damselfly imm female in flight with blackthorn (montage).jpg
Description: A Red-Eyed damselfly with wonderful bronze and bright yellow-green body,
and of course red eyes. This is a female not yet ready to breed.
View: D01_20090522_1340_214 ft1 Red-eyed damselfly imm female on blackthorn leaf side view (crop).jpg
Date: 15 Jun 2009
View: D01_20090523_1527_075+1315_137 ft1 Brimstone butterfly female in flight bottom view with Red Campion (montage).jpg
Description: The Female Brimstone butterfly does not sport the vivid yellows of
the male (click to view top)
the male (click to view top) and (click to view bottom)
Date: 14 Jun 2009
View: D01_20090524_1339_038+1403_128 ft1 Broad Bodied chaser dragonfly male in flight with Flag Iris leaf (montage).jpg
Description: This Broad Bodied Chaser Dragonfly obliged with just this one flight
across the camera field
View: D01_20090524_1355_106 ft1 Broad Bodied chaser dragonfly male top view (web crop).jpg
Description: We include this static shot taken later to show the wonderful
powder blue abdomen (and it really is powdery and gets worn off
with 'living'). The blue is a strictly male feature - the female
is orange and not a powder.
Date: 13 Jun 2009
View: DB1_20090523_0924_019 Starling calling while launching from tip of 20yr black poplar (crop 1).jpg
Description: Loudmouth!
Date: 12 Jun 2009
View: DB1_20090523_1336_050 House martin in flight.jpg
Description: This is a House Martin in flight, the least frequent of our
three flycatchers which includes Swallows and Swifts.
Date: 11 Jun 2009
View: D35_20090513_1858_026 fb4 2 Robins fighting in mid-air (crop 1).jpg
Description: One of those moments that the patience of an automatic camera
may capture for you. They are perhaps a foot off the ground.
Date: 10 Jun 2009
View: D3B_20090515_2345_059 fb1 slug and fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Mice apparently staring at slugs and snails is uncannily common.
Date: 09 Jun 2009
View: DC1_20090516_1416_024 ft1 Large Red Damselfly female in flight (head on & bottom view) (web crop).jpg
Description: The Dragonflies and damselflies just starting to be seen.
The Large Red Damselfly (size being a relative measure) was found
in the long grass and photographic in flight.
The underside is NOT red - most dragonflies are different underneath.
View: P34_20090516_1454_293 Large Red Damselfly on blackthorn leaf.jpg
Description: Here the same species viewed more conventionally on a leaf.
Date: 08 Jun 2009
View: DC1_20090518_1323_037+1331_046 ft1 Scorpion Fly female in Flight with Blackthorn (montage).jpg
Description: The female Scorpion fly doesn't have anything that suggests a
scorpion. The face ends in a 'beak' pointing down and left here.
The body is about 2 cm long.
View: D01_20090522_1148_111+1124_035 ft1 Scorpion fly male in flight with Blackthorn (montage).jpg
Description: But this is the male with a harmless (its said - we are not going to try
it out) 'scorpion' tail complete with gap between the 'pincers'
Date: 07 Jun 2009
View: DC1_20090518_1407_160 ft1 Hairy dragonfly female hanging in Blackthorn (side view) (web crop).jpg
Description: This is a Hairy Dragonfly' - one of the earliest dragonflies of
the season. This was brought to us for some technical
photographs, after which we took this portrait. You can see the
hairiness along the top and bottom of the body in the first image
View: DC1_20090518_1506_047+1527_001 ft1 Hairy dragonfly female in flight with hawthorn (montage).jpg
Description: It was reluctant to fly indoors but we did manage this single
image of it in flight.
View: DB1_20090523_1638_154 ft1 Hairy Dragonfly male head and thorax detail side view (web crop).jpg
Description: About a week later we had the opportunity to photograph a male
and can't resist this close-up of the thorax where you can see the hairs
in detail
Date: 06 Jun 2009
View: DA1_20090519_1123_159-163 Bluetit parents arriving together at nestbox on Ivans tree with food 1-5 of 5 (overlap montage).jpg
Description: Although conditions were not ideal we were surprised to catch
this moment when the two parents arrived together both with beaks
full of food for the chicks. The bird starting on the left was
dropping down and initially moving backward while the other
whizzed in from the right. The one initially on the right veered
off to avoid a collision. These successive frames taken at about 7 fps.
Date: 05 Jun 2009
View: D35_20090519_1956_031 fb4 Mallard duck mother & all 4 ducklings (see P30_20090519_2011_078) (web crop).jpg
Description: In 20 years here this is the first known occurrence of a
mallard duck breeding here and then not immediately being
chased away by the moorhen. These ducklings have obviously been around for
a good number of days and mum holds her own against the moorhen.
We have seen the family at all 4 of our ponds, though this image was
taken by one of the automatic cameras.
View: D35_20090519_1956_031 fb4 Mallard duck mother & all 4 ducklings (see P30_20090519_2011_078) (detail of 2 ducklings).jpg
Description: A detail from the above image - one of the ducklings seems to have found
something tasty but maybe a bit too big to swallow?
Date: 04 Jun 2009
View: DA1_20090511_1232_034+_038+_039 Starling female taking whole worm to nest hole in roof 01+05+06 of 10 (accurate Montage).jpg
Description: Not just a few grubs, but a whole worm neatly folded in the beak
ready to stuff into some lucky chick's craw!
Date: 03 Jun 2009
View: DB1_20090511_1349_060 Orange tip butterfly male on teasel leaf.jpg
Description: Wow - an orange tip actually stopped flying long enough to get a pic 'in the field'!
Date: 02 Jun 2009
View: D50_20090511_1718_004 fb3 Jackdaw apparently staring at camera as it lands.jpg
Description: ... and who do you think you are staring at ...
Date: 01 Jun 2009
View: DB1_20090511_1736_007 Great Spotted Woodpecker hanging on in windblown swaying Cypress.jpg
Description: Windy day with trees blowing about had this great spotted
woodpecker determinedly hanging on,
Image Archive arch 2009 may.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 May 2009
View: D3A_20090505_1842_021 fb2 Robin in flight (sharp) & threatening another bird behind log.jpg
Description: The robin menacing what the feather colour suggests might be another
robin. For once the flying bird is 'pin sharp'.
View: DB1_20090508_1742_186 Robin with beak full of food for fledglings (q) (detail crop).jpg
Description: The robin nest has fledged and we THINK this is the robin parents for
that nest still collecting food for them. We haven't managed to see any of
the youngsters - mum and dad take the insect food deep into the wood piles!
Date: 30 May 2009
View: DB1_20090507_1631_009 Goldfinch and dandelion.jpg
Description: Goldfinches have moved from occasional sightings to 'all round the house'.
They are so attractive we can't resist including this portrait.
Date: 29 May 2009
View: P34_20090505_0759_947 Robin nest in tool shed (web crop).jpg
Description: Last decent pic of the robin family of 4 before fledging. Ahhhh.
Date: 28 May 2009
View: D3B_20090501_2045_050 fb1 Fieldmouse about to jump onto or over another.jpg
Description: Is the top mouse about to use the bottom one as a trampoline?
View: D3B_20090505_2146_064 fb1 Fieldmouse using head of another as a launch pad.jpg
Description: 4 days later we happened to get this one. Ouch!
Date: 27 May 2009
View: DC1_20090503_1500_159+1451_145 ft1 Brimstone butterfly male in flight top with bluebell (montage).jpg
Description: The Brimstone butterflies are a bit tatty and a little faded, but still lovely.
Seen feeding on these (probably hybridised) bluebells so we have
used them as 'decoration'.
View: DC1_20090503_1504_183+1453_150 ft1 Brimstone butterfly male in flight bottom with Bluebell (montage).jpg
Description: Did not get a good view of both sides of the wing together, so here is what you see from underneath
or when the wings are folded.
Date: 26 May 2009
View: D01_20090502_1629_116 Chaffinch female taking insects to nest in Golden Cypress (web crop).jpg
Description: The chaffinch nest barely visible in a Golden Cypress we showed
you on the Female taking in nesting (click to view)
is going well and both parents are taking in an 'endless' supply of insects
for the chicks. Here the female by the nest.
View: DB1_20090429_1804_017 Chaffinch male with beak full of insects on phone wire a few metres from nest.jpg
Description: And the male waiting on the wires for his turn. This brave
male continues to take on even pairs of jackdaws that get within
10m or so of the nest.
Date: 25 May 2009
View: D50_20090430_0810_027 fb3 Great tit and robin altercation.jpg
Description: A breakfast-time dust-up at the nut feeder.
Come on guys - there's plenty for everyone!
Date: 24 May 2009
View: DB1_20090502_1643_092 swallow adult with long tail streamers perched on wire.jpg
Description: The swallows are definitely back in pristine breeding condition.
View: DB1_20090502_1646_107 Robin singing on tip of Cypress near his nest with chicks in tool shed.jpg
Description: And the robins never go away!
This one really is beginning to look a bit scruffy with all the
effort going into feeding the chicks in the tool shed
chicks in the tool shed (click to view)
Date: 23 May 2009
View: DC1_20090501_1438_078+1543_214 ft1 Speckled wood butterfly in flight showing top of wing with Lilac Blossom (montage).jpg
Description: In the last couple of years speckled wood butterflies have moved
from occasional sightings to the most common butterfly here.
Unfortunately the previous holder of that title - the Small
Tortoiseshell - is becoming a once in a while siting. Anyway,
this slightly tatty individual make a nice pic with lilac.
Date: 22 May 2009
View: D50_20090427_1957_029 fb3 Starling on perch with Great Spotted Woodpecker female hanging beneath.jpg
Description: Our new camera position at a horizontal branch fixed to the
peanut feeder post produces some interesting top and bottom
moments of conflict - this one at dusk. The Woodpecker wing tips
were lost off the bottom of the frame - deciding what to cover in
the camera field really is a quality compromise and guessing
game.
Date: 21 May 2009
View: P34_20090423_1029_622 Robin nest in tool shed (2 chicks begging) (web crop).jpg
Description: A pair of robins build a nest on top of a rack in a dilapidated
tool shed (windows & door long gone) & they now have at least 4 chicks
in it. The parents usually come out and wait expectantly for a tit-bit
from us, so we can go in and get a picture. We can't see what we are
photographing even on the camera's LCD because it is so dark, but
switching the camera to automatic & flash and pointing it through the gap
in the fertiliser bags usually gets something. Only once a day though -
don't want to stress them.
Date: 20 May 2009
View: P34_20090424_1102_657 White bluebell (web crop).jpg
Description: We have been doing UV (Ultra violet) images of as many variants
of bluebells as we have (natural, white variant, a pink variant
and the invasive Spanish). We have a couple of clumps of the white
variant amongst thousands of naturals and Spanish hybrids.
We plan to add hundreds of UV images (flowers &
insects) as a special new section later in 2009 - if you want any
bluebells or others in advance just ask.
Date: 19 May 2009
View: D35_20090422_2009_094 fb4 2 robins taking off.jpg
Description: No idea what is going on here, but couldn't resist showing you.
On the Right hand bird notice the two raised Alulae (the clearest
is the spike on the wing immediately above the eye) we have
never noticed this before on any small bird.
They are rather more obvious on this
Kestrel (click to view))
and form part of the anti-stalling aerodynamics of the
magic of bird wings.
Date: 18 May 2009
View: D35_20090424_1801_103 fb4 Jackdaw pulling off strip of bark (for nesting (q)) against Red Campion.jpg
Description: We are often asked for pictures of birds collecting nesting material.
We won't loiter around birds actively nesting for fear of frightening
them off or showing predators where to look.
But these two 'chance' images show the supply end of the nest build.
First a Jackdaw ripping strips of some bark.
View: D3A_20090423_0810_118 Greenfinch male collecting nesting material.jpg
Description: And the more sedate Greenfinch collecting feathers to line the
cup of the nest hidden we know not where.
Date: 17 May 2009
View: DB1_20090423_1503_143 Long-tailed tit on teasel stem.jpg
Description: The tale of the Long-tailed tit (sorry).
Long-tailed tits have been rare sightings until this year when
one bird has spent hours each day fluttering at the windows.
Presumably he is defending his territory from his own reflection.
View: DB1_20090423_1501_118 Long-tailed tit flying towards living room window.jpg
Description: Here he is launching himself at the window to flap against it for
a few seconds, back to a perch, rest a few seconds, and off he goes again.
He does this whether we draw the curtains, put things in the
window or whatever.
Date: 16 May 2009
View: DC1_20090423_1345_185+1357_199 ft1 Orange-tip butterfly male flying over Red Campion (montage).jpg
Description: Only the orange tip butterfly male (shown here) sports the orange tip
that gives the species it's name. The female does share the
delicate green tracery with her mate.
Date: 15 May 2009
View: D35_20090420_0601_051 fb4 House Sparrow & Robin squabbling.jpg
Description: A house sparrow may not seem very exciting, but this is one of
the first of several sightings this year. Only seen here once last
year, and then not for years before.
Date: 14 May 2009
View: DC1_20090421_1653_244+1716_318 ft1 Green veined White butterfly over Ladys Smock they were feeding on (montage).jpg
Description: We have resurrected and upgraded our 'flight tunnel' last used 13
years ago making the best of what modern digital cameras have to offer.
Our site is awash with these Lady's smock flowers and
all the white butterflies, including this Green-veined, love them!
Date: 13 May 2009
View: DB1_20090418_1636_089 Pollen falling from Korean Pine (web crop 3).jpg
Description: We have a 30 year old 'Korean Pine' about 2m high that used to be
a pot plant when we lived in a town and we planted it out here.
After all these years it has suddenly exploded into life and it
was filling the air with pollen whenever the wind moved it.
View: DB1_20090418_1636_090 Pollen falling from Korean Pine (orig).jpg
Description: A rather more typically diffuse cloud.
Date: 12 May 2009
View: DB1_20090415_1511_023 Peacock butterfly feeding on Cherry blossom (web crop).jpg
Description: This Peacock butterfly has overwintered in remarkably good
condition & decorates the cherry blossom, or is it vice-versa.
Date: 11 May 2009
View: P34_20090414_1103_285 Snakes-head fritillary white variant clump & detail (web crop).jpg
Description: For some reason this year only a clump of the white variant of Snake's-head
fritillary has flowered.
Date: 10 May 2009
View: D01_20090415_1046_216 Heron Catching Great Crested Newts & Smooth Newts at Duck pond 13 of 15 (web crop 2).jpg
Description: On a rather overcast day this heron spent 10 minutes downing 6
assorted Great Crested Newts & Smooth Newts. This poor little
thing is the smaller Smooth Newt.
Date: 09 May 2009
View: D3B_20090414_1904_136 fb1 Rook picking up single corn grain (web crop).jpg
Description: The huge beak of this Rook can still pick up a single corn grain.
Our initial reaction to the beak and scaly foot was 'you can see
the dinosaur in that bird'.
Date: 08 May 2009
View: FJ1_20090413_0853_052 Squirrel on nut feeder by kitchen window.jpg
Description: We sometimes see grey squirrels sneering at us from high tree
branches, but most often wheedling bits of peanut out of the
various feeders.
Date: 07 May 2009
View: D3A_20090410_0837_053 fb2 Robin presenting worm to mate.jpg
Description: This is 'Courtship feeding' where the male feeds the female
to demonstrate he can be a good provider for their chicks, and
provide some extra food while she is making eggs.
But a nice fresh worm would not feature on OUR breakfast menu!
Date: 06 May 2009
View: D3B_20090409_1700_001 fb1 Reed Bunting male.jpg
Description: Rare sighting for us (and the first at any automatic photo site)
is this male Reed Bunting. He has turned up a few times since
and hope he may become a 'regular'
Date: 05 May 2009
View: DB1_20090407_1444_063-103 Kestrel female diving from post onto prey + eating it + flying to post (montage of 12 from 41).jpg
Description: All afternoon this kestrel hunted in a strong wind using fence posts as
launching platforms. She must have been very hungry to spend all
afternoon on nothing but worms and insects (all swallowed on the
ground before returning to a post).
The montage splits the approach and return because the images on
the ground and several more would have obscured one another.
White bits are where we have no decent background image to fill in.
Positions are genuine but the intervals between shots have been chosen to
get a decent montage. She spent some seconds on the ground. The round
insert is a near original resolution crop of the image on the ground.
Date: 04 May 2009
View: D50_20090405_1920_010 fb3 Great Spotted Woodpecker female landing.jpg
Description: There are a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers visiting various places around the house.
Do hope they are breeding somewhere near.
Date: 03 May 2009
View: DB1_20090407_1554_376 Kestrel female flying in to land on power pole horizontal bar 11 of 15 (web crop).jpg
Description: The Beauty and the beastly.
Note the raised Alulae forming part of the 'aerodynamic package' to prevent stalling.
Date: 02 May 2009
View: D50_20090408_0733_035+0734_036 fb3 Starling Female=pink beak base & Male=Blue (montage).jpg
Description: A starling image in our 'Weekly Assortment' email (join if you
want) included a comment about not noticing the '2-tone' beak
before. One of our recipients told us that its a breeding time
sex difference - males have blue base and females have pink (or
maybe 'natural'). This image is a montage with the left bird turned
round to show you a pair with the beaks adjacent.
Date: 01 May 2009
View: DB1_20090407_1609_535 Kestrel female on post top backed by blackthorn flowers (crop 2).jpg
Description: Our local female kestrel hunting from a fence post framed by the
emerging blackthorn flowers in the hedge behind.
Image Archive arch 2009 apr.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Apr 2009
View: D3A_20090403_1928_038+_1936_040+20090404_1927_084 fb2 3 different female pheasants montage.jpg
Description: On two nights running the site log got moved (by the rooks or
crows) and 3 of the female pheasants happened to photograph
themselves almost identically. From this we have made this
un-fudged montage of the three different birds showing differences
in feather colour, eyes, beak shapes etc - all the stuff of
genetic variation.
Date: 29 Apr 2009
View: D01_20090404_1533_021 Chaffinch female taking seed head to nest with nest out of frame lower left (web crop).jpg
Description: A pair of chaffinches seem to be nesting in a golden cypress
visible from a window in the house. At the moment a constant
stream of soft materials is going in.
Date: 28 Apr 2009
View: D50_20090403_1854_011 fb3 Sparrowhawk (web crop).jpg
Description: Our new kitchen window camera has bagged its first 'special' - a
sparrowhawk visited at dusk.
Date: 27 Apr 2009
View: DB1_20090403_1655_021 Comma butterfly on twig after hibernation.jpg
Description: A Comma butterfly (the characteristic comma is on the
Comma Butterfly underwing (click to view).)
basking in the sunshine after spending the winter in hibernation.
This is our first recording of one in Spring (and after a poor
2008 for butterflies in general) although its quite normal.
Date: 26 Apr 2009
View: DB1_20090403_1801_032 Mallard female & 2 males taking off from Kite meadow 4 of 8 (web crop).jpg
Description: Groups of 3 or 4 mallard ducks frequent us this time of year, usally one
female with 2 or 3 males. Here they are taking off against the daffodils
View: DB1_20090404_1620_157 Mallard female & 2 males in flight.jpg
Description: ... and an unrelated flight on the next day.
Date: 25 Apr 2009
View: DB1_20090404_1341_101 Common Bee-fly (bombylius major) hovering in front of blackthorn flower (web crop).jpg
Description: Took us a while to identify this as a 'bee-fly' - then discovered we first identified one last
year on 15 April 2008, so this sighting is over a week earlier. It is hovering in front of
the blackthorn flower - you can see the wings as smudges left and right of the insect.
Here is the 15 Apr 2008
Bee-fly on Leaf litter (click to view).
Date: 24 Apr 2009
View: P34_20090404_1246_950 Bumble bee on Blackthorn flower (web crop).jpg
Description: Bumble bee on Blackthorn flower. There seem to have been far more
bumble bees than usual this year.
Date: 23 Apr 2009
View: D3A_20090402_0800_074 fb2 moorhen stepping on log (web crop).jpg
Description: Our moorhens regularly visit this feeding site. Now the iris
fronds on the main pond have started to grow the pair that 'own'
the pond are starting to do the tentative nest-building things.
Date: 22 Apr 2009
View: D3A_20090402_2122_108 fb2 Fieldmouse rear view with tail & tail shadow.jpg
Description: I'm sulking - there's no grub left!
View: D3A_20090403_0207_113 fb2 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Oh well, I suppose I can lick up some of this peanut grit.
Date: 21 Apr 2009
View: DC1_20090402_1303_008+1304_031 Bullfinch male eating cherry buds (montage).jpg
Description: This single male bullfinch was eating the buds on a cherry tree
about 30m from the house. This pushes even our biggest lens to
the limit, so rather than a couple of rather poor images we have
accurately montaged two images about 1 minute apart. The
fantastic colours are 'real' and not enhanced.
Date: 20 Apr 2009
View: D3A_20090330_1853_032 fb2 Pair of Pheasants.jpg
Description: Pheasants are not exactly lovey-dovey, but these two spent a long
time quietly feeding together ...
View: SC1_20090331_0637_034 SC1 Pheasants mating.jpg
Description: ... and the next morning he got his 'oats', though whether with the same
female we don't know - there are at least 5 females on the plot.
(For those unfamiliar with our setup - this 'Stealth Camera' is useful but
rather poor quality, and does black and white in poor light as here.)
Date: 19 Apr 2009
View: D3B_20090331_1849_122 fb1 Robin tongue showing.jpg
Description: Our robins all continue to flourish and visit all the feeding
sites at all daytime hours.
Date: 18 Apr 2009
View: D3A_20090324_1607_010 fb2 Rook attacking (q) corvid on ground (web crop 2).jpg
Description: A dynamic crop of a Rook attacking another corvid bird on the
ground that we can't identify from the blurry mess of feathers in
the original image.
Date: 17 Apr 2009
View: DB1_20090327_0742_019 Heron at Dragon pond eating newt.jpg
Description: This heron arrived outside the kitchen window so we grabbed a camera and
took a few pics in the awkward light and through the double glazing.
We are not sure what the newt is, but from the size suspect Great Crested Newt
which have been positively confirmed in this pond.
View: DB1_20090327_0744_031 Heron at front of dragon pond (crop 3).jpg
Description: A portrait of the 'culprit' taken a couple of minutes later.
Date: 16 Apr 2009
View: DB1_20090323_1607_102 Fieldfare in flight.jpg
Description: This is the first year we remember fieldfares still being around
in March. We used to only see them on the windfall apples in the
Autumn.
Date: 15 Apr 2009
View: P34_20090321_1616_631 seven-spot ladybird on NE corner Cherry tree bark (web crop).jpg
Description: Our first ladybird of the year is a BRITISH 7-spot ladybird - not one of
those Harlequin things that are beginning to become dominant.
Date: 14 Apr 2009
View: DC1_20090320_1445_485 Heron catching & eating Frog at Round pond 51 of 66 (web crop).jpg
Description: A heron visiting Round pond has been feasting on frogs and a few
newts. Here is a moment from one of the sequences that is clear
but not too upsetting.
Date: 13 Apr 2009
View: D3A_20090321_0740_082 fb2 Moorhen pulling worm out of ground (web crop).jpg
Description: Rather surprised there ARE any worms in the trampled and pecked
over soil in front of the log, but obviously our moorhen has
found one.
Date: 12 Apr 2009
View: D3B_20090321_0244_081 fb1 Field vole.jpg
Description: Some of you have a soft spot for field voles, so here is this
weeks good quality sighting.
View: P34_20090321_1245_602 Field vole under corrugated iron sheet at stone wall (web crop).jpg
Description: As a casual sort of 'if you don't look you don't know' we lifted
the corrugated iron at the stone wall built last year by the
local RSPB youth group, and there was this horrified field vole
who didn't know what to do next. We think this is the first field
vole we have 'seen' rather than automatically pictured.
Date: 11 Apr 2009
View: DC1_20090320_1459_582+586 Heron takeoff from Round pond 04+08 of 11 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Herons are a great subject - majestic & ruthless killers.
These two images are an accurate montage probably about 0.5 seconds
apart of a heron lifting off almost vertically.
Date: 10 Apr 2009
View: D3A_20090319_0541_047 fb2 Robin sitting (Q) between log and rock with reed mace fluff.jpg
Description: This took both our fancies for no reason other than 'tweeness'.
Could be the male or female, but we can't help feeling its 'she'
trying out the quality of the bedding on offer before deciding
whether to add some to her nest.
Date: 09 Apr 2009
View: DB1_20090318_1750_080 Long-tailed tit against clear blue sky lit by setting sun.jpg
Description: This long tailed tit has been given an exotic colour by the
setting sun. The sky behind it was clear so it appears the
'normal' blue.
Date: 08 Apr 2009
View: D3A_20090315_1752_095 fb2 Pheasant male following female.jpg
Description: mmm - wonder what's on his mind - Spring!
Date: 07 Apr 2009
View: D50_20090315_0717_008 fb3 Starling.jpg
Description: Starlings don't visit our automatic photo sites much, but a new
camera setup on a long established perch next to a feeder
attracts them quite regularly.
Date: 06 Apr 2009
View: DB1_20090318_0819_043+051+056 mute swan in flight (montage).jpg
Description: On a different time scale to yesterdays bluetit, this mute swan
majestically flew by, turning as it went. We rarely see mute
swans here in flyovers, and they never land (they would need a
long stretch of water to take off again). These over several
seconds and laid out for artistic effect rather than accuracy.
Date: 05 Apr 2009
View: CF1_20090315_1039_601+603+605+616 Bluetit flying to nestbox hole on Ivans black poplar (accurate montage).jpg
Description: We could not resist montaging (accurately positioned) this
bluetit coming up to a nest box near the middle of the plot. The
pictures are at 25 fps so left to right are 0.08 Sec apart, and
the last interval .44 Secs after the birds head had stopped in
shadow and then moved back into the sun. This really is too
quick for the eye.
Date: 04 Apr 2009
View: DB1_20090315_1151_019 Brimstone butterfly male on Primrose flowers (web crop).jpg
Description: Harbinger of spring 2 - a male Brimstone butterfly on a primrose flower.
From a distance it is very hard to see the insect until it moves.
Date: 03 Apr 2009
View: DB1_20090315_1308_023 Bumble bee on Pussy Willow flower.jpg
Description: Harbinger of Spring 1 - a bumblebee visiting the flowers - in
this case pussy-willow.
Date: 02 Apr 2009
View: DB1_20090316_1738_020 Mallard female and 2 males in flight at sunset.jpg
Description: When walk about at this time of year we often disturb mallard ducks
at one or more ponds. These are 'wild' ducks rather than park ducks
looking for handouts! The female is between two males.
View: DB1_20090316_1738_046 Mallard female and 2 males in flight at sunset.jpg
Description: The females often keep going until none but the fittest male is
left. Here the male at the rear is beginning to tire.
Date: 01 Apr 2009
View: D3A_20090308_1748_052 fb2 Pheasant female carrying off apple.jpg
Description: A little silliness for April fools day:
So that's one of the places the apples go!
Image Archive arch 2009 mar.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Mar 2009
View: D50_20090311_1458_025 fb3 4 tree sparrows.jpg
Description: New camera setup in trial brought us a regular sight for us but not
often included in these pages because they rarely frequent the
ground level sites. These are Tree Sparrows - an endangered
species we are delighted to have breeding profusely on our little
patch. Genuine single exposure - all 'one peck apart'.
Date: 30 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090310_1732_015 Pair of collared doves in flight in low evening sunlight (web crop).jpg
Description: This pair of collared doves were 'playing' in the wind at sunset
with the orange sunlight 'playing' over them.
Date: 29 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090310_1753_035 Sun on West horizon simultaneously moon on Eastern horizon 3 of 6.jpg
Description: We saw the full moon just rising at the East horizon just as the
sun set in the West, and we alternated a few pics. These
successive frames have them both sitting on our horizon. First
the setting sun.
View: DB1_20090310_1753_036 Sun on West horizon simultaneously moon on Eastern horizon 4 of 6.jpg
Description: And now the rising moon, with vastly different camera settings.
The orange moon is not being 'lit' by the locally orange sun, but
is the same atmospheric effect that make the sun look orange.
Date: 28 Mar 2009
View: D3A_20090311_0613_055 fb2 Robin pair.jpg
Description: Isn't it strange how you can tell this is attraction and not
threat as these robins continue to court.
Date: 27 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090308_1018_195 Frogs mating (web crop).jpg
Description: Can't resist the inevitable image of frogs mating. Basically a
one day event in an area of 'Round pond' recently cleared of
overhanging branches to let the light, and consequently sun's
warmth, reach the water.
Date: 26 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090308_0954_130+_0955_131+132 Buzzard in flight against fields to North (accurate montage @ about 8 fps).jpg
Description: A different buzzard to 'usual' visitors flew over the brook to
the north. This is a montage of 3 frames at about 8 frames/second
accurately positioned by aligning the background details in each
image - not usually possible against the sky.
Date: 25 Mar 2009
View: CF1_20090306_0802_372 Robin about to land on post top.jpg
Description: A new 'breed' of camera (Casio EX-F1) can store good quality
pictures at high speed until you tell it to stop. Just right for
catching action you know will happen but don't know when.
Date: 24 Mar 2009
View: D3A_20090305_1558_091 fb2 2 rooks.jpg
Description: Doesn't this rook look like a teenage lad feeling proud of the
pretty girl he has taken to the cafe?
Date: 23 Mar 2009
View: DC1_20090306_1057_028 Mallard female filter feeding making bubbles while male stirs water with feet without feeding.jpg
Description: A piece of behaviour we have not seen/noticed before is the male
mallard duck helping the hungry female (eating to make eggs) by
stiring up the water with his feet but not feeding himself.
Note the bubbles as she (left) filters food out of the water and
ripples around him (right) as he paddles like mad keeping still.
The cooperation between mallard males and females breeding on a
quiet pond contrast markedly with the disgraceful frenzies at
over-populated public park lakes.
Date: 22 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090301_1539_002 Kestrel male flying in front of hedge near brook (web crop).jpg
Description: The 'small' raptors have been in short supply lately so this male
kestrel seen across the fields to the north was a welcome sight.
The female has also been spotted - unfortunately being harassed
by jackdaws and rooks.
Date: 21 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090302_0855_054+059 Heron in Flight (montage left to right).jpg
Description: First close flyover of a heron this year, so we have montaged 2
images less than a second apart to celebrate. Not that the frogs
and newts will be pleased when he/she spots them in the pond.
Date: 20 Mar 2009
View: D3A_20090301_1021_067 fb2 Robin attacking bird mostly out of frame (web crop).jpg
Description: We don't know what the bird on the right was, but love the acrobatic attack.
Date: 19 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090304_0924_006 Chaffinch male in Ash tree.jpg
Description: A slightly belligerent looking male chaffinch watches us watching
him in an Ash tree. With the pink front, blue beak and green
back, if it was a few times the size and unusual, even
non-twitchers would travel miles for a glimpse.
Date: 18 Mar 2009
View: D3A_20090226_0901_003 fb2 Pair of Collared doves.jpg
Description: We seem to have a number of pairs of collared doves.
This pair visited one of the photo sites and took their portraits.
Date: 17 Mar 2009
View: D3A_20090224_0708_135 fb2 Robin about to land on log.jpg
Description: A robin coming in to land on the log at site 2
Date: 16 Mar 2009
View: D3B_20090222_1703_077 fb1 Chaffinch male taking off with blue beak visible.jpg
Description: Male chaffinch taking off from site 1.
Note the distinctly blue beak the males develop in the breeding season
Date: 15 Mar 2009
View: D3B_20090221_1906_115 fb1 Fieldmouse clambering over log to apple.jpg
Description: 'More grub than I could eat in a week!'
Date: 14 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090220_1322_154 Buzzard in Flight.jpg
Description: Buzzards are occasionally circling over our patch making use of
the updraft from the North wind to gain height. First the classic
hanging in the air view.
View: DB1_20090221_1446_122 Buzzard in Flight (web crop).jpg
Description: And then a view that really makes it clear that this bird is a hunter.
Date: 13 Mar 2009
View: D3A_20090215_1321_155 fb2 robin and chaffinch fighting (web crop).jpg
Description: Some sort of skirmish between a robin & chaffinch male. A minute
or so later a chaffinch was back feeding so we assume the
exchange was short lived.
Date: 12 Mar 2009
View: D3B_20090216_0101_298 fb1 field vole.jpg
Description: We see a field vole at this site perhaps a couple of times a
week, but usually out of focus at the back triggered by something
else.
Date: 11 Mar 2009
View: P34_20090205_0937_721 Hazel Bud 5 Seq (web crop).jpg
Description: The Hazel catkins know it's time to go regardless of
the snow.
Date: 10 Mar 2009
View: D3B_20090213_0321_067 fb1 Fieldmouse with snow behind.jpg
Description: The melting of the snow has brought back the fieldmice.
Date: 09 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090211_0918_003 Redwing on snow.jpg
Description: The snow seems to have brought the redwings back into view.
Brrrr
Date: 08 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090213_1327_151 Pied Wagtail feeding in snow melt puddles (crop 2).jpg
Description: A less than usually nervous Pied wagtail spent quite a while
paddling and pecking the wet ground under the icy melt water.
View: DB1_20090213_1327_163 Pied Wagtail feeding in snow melt puddles (web crop).jpg
Description: Here it is wading in the inch of so deep 'stream' running along
vehicle ruts.
Date: 07 Mar 2009
View: D3B_20090211_1551_232 fb1 snipe (web crop).jpg
Description: Our first ever photo of a Snipe. The area round this automatic
camera was saturated with running melt water - just right to
attract this mud probing bird. We rate this the most unexpected
image at this site since
Kestrel with Mouse (click to view)
back in Feb 2007.
Date: 06 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090208_1101_035 Flock of Lapwing in flight.jpg
Description: About 200 sheep feeding in the adjacent field have attracted
Lapwing. Here one of the flocks flying overhead
View: DB1_20090210_1432_131 Lapwing standing on hay (web crop).jpg
Description: A couple of days after the above one of the Lapwing got sufficiently
used to us standing at the corner that we could get this pic.
We had not realised their feathers contained so much colour.
Date: 05 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090210_1456_189 Shag in Flight (web crop).jpg
Description: A chance flyover of a shag right over the house.
Date: 04 Mar 2009
View: D3A_20090208_1731_048 fb2 Fox in snow (head crop).jpg
Description: A visit from a healthy looking fox only just after dark.
Date: 03 Mar 2009
View: DB1_20090210_1608_247 barn owl in flight lit by setting sun from rear (web crop).jpg
Description: We startled this barn owl from one of our fence posts, which then
proceeded hawk the area for 10 minutes or so. Of hundreds of
images we managed to get, here is our initial view.
View: DB1_20090210_1608_255 barn owl in flight (web crop).jpg
Description: It didn't seem too bothered by our presence, and flew by
close enough for a 'portrait'.
View: DB1_20090210_1610_301-306 Barn owl landing on Fence post.gif
Description: The owl spent some time 'hopping' along the fence posts 70m or
so to our North. Not ideal for good images, but we rather like
this sequence probably lasting about 1 second in real time.
Date: 02 Mar 2009
View: D3B_20090209_0715_078 fb1 Dunnock in snow.jpg
Description: Elegant Dunnock on icy snow.
Date: 01 Mar 2009
View: D3A_20090206_0756_159 fb2 Pheasant female topped with falling snow.jpg
Description: Brrr.
Its presumably colder to let the cold air in shaking it off than
leaving it!
Image Archive arch 2009 feb.htm (view it Here)
Date: 28 Feb 2009
View: DC1_20090206_1007_077 pied wagtail appearing to look up at snowflake.jpg
Description: Through the study window this wagtail spent an hour picking up
peanut fragments dropping from the tit feeders. Here it is by a
snow hidden block of vegetable fat that he has been pecking at,
and we can't help thinking he is watching that snowflake above.
Date: 27 Feb 2009
View: DC1_20090207_1230_017 Goldfinch.jpg
Description: Goldfinches seem less than usually human intolerant
in the snow (though it has all melted or be knocked
from the branches in this image).
Date: 26 Feb 2009
View: DC1_20090207_1631_120 Lapwing striding on hay put out for sheep.jpg
Description: The farmer hiring the field to our North and East has put out hay
for the sheep when it is covered by snow. The lapwing decided the
disturbed soil was a good place for a feed at sunset.
Date: 25 Feb 2009
View: P32_20090205_1344_623 Great Spotted Woodpecker on dead wood through kitchen window.jpg
Description: A regular visitor outside the kitchen window we happened to get
in a 'test shot.
Date: 24 Feb 2009
View: D3A_20090202_0921_015 fb2 squirrel feeding in falling snow.jpg
Description: According to the 'book' squirrels only come out on mild days for
a feed. Ours obviously don't have the same book.
Date: 23 Feb 2009
View: D3A_20090202_1313_074 fb2 Blackbird male in snow.jpg
Description: Mr and Mrs. Blackbird at site 2.
Often seen fossicking about at this site when we visit it, but
rarely both by the log at the same time.
View: D3A_20090202_0932_020 fb2 Blackbird female with thrown up snow.jpg
Description: Like the flying snow ...
Date: 22 Feb 2009
View: D3A_20090203_0727_160 fb2 Robin under tail of Pheasant female in the snow.jpg
Description: Judging by the focus, flash shadow etc., the robin really is
under the pheasant's tail. The contrast in size is startling.
View: D3A_20090203_1313_183 fb2 Pheasant male in snow.jpg
Description: and so the female above doesn't feel lonely ...
Date: 21 Feb 2009
View: D3A_20090203_1348_196 fb2 moorhen in snow.jpg
Description: A number of moorhen sightings at this site.
This one's shield looks rather battered so we assume some
territorial fights are in progress even though we haven't seen
much.
Date: 20 Feb 2009
View: DC1_20090204_1041_079 Kestrel male hovering over snow covered field.jpg
Description: Kestrel watched intermittently hunting over the snowy fields. We
didn't see this one catch anything but it was out of view quite a
lot of the time.
Date: 19 Feb 2009
View: D3A_20090131_0907_008 fb2 Chaffinch male landing on log.jpg
Description: Chaffinch male twisting in to land on the log.
Date: 18 Feb 2009
View: D3A_20090129_1123_024 fb2 Blackbird female against winter woodland.jpg
Description: Coming up to midday some hazy sunshine balanced nicely with the
flash to produce this 'blackbird in the woods'.
Date: 17 Feb 2009
View: P34_20090131_0932_550 Sundog to Left of sun and almost as bright (web crop).jpg
Description: An amazing sundog that was so bright we thought it was the sun
hiding behind clouds with very atypical colour. Then the sun
started to appear to it's right.
Date: 16 Feb 2009
View: D3B_20090128_1119_118 fb1 Wet Robin landing on log (crop 2).jpg
Description: A robin had been bathing in a puddle at the flooded site
and jumped up onto the log to have a good preen.
Date: 15 Feb 2009
View: D3A_20090126_0608_048 fb2 Robin jumping down off stone with shadow.jpg
Description: The robins are everywhere, and getting frisky.
Date: 14 Feb 2009
View: D3A_20090123_1544_019 fb2 2 Rook heads together.jpg
Description: We don't normally think of rooks as 'tender' ...
Today is Valentines day so we couldn't resist including it.
Date: 13 Feb 2009
View: D3B_20090126_0036_082 fb1 Fieldmouse with apple in the mud.jpg
Description: Another horrid apple seems to be appreciated.
Date: 12 Feb 2009
View: D3B_20090124_0349_102 fb1 2 fieldmice.jpg
Description: 4 a.m. and full of life
Date: 11 Feb 2009
View: D3B_20090124_0733_111 fb2 Dunnock and Robin facing off.jpg
Description: Still pretty dark, but its seems it is never too early for a
dunnock and robin to have a squabble.
Date: 10 Feb 2009
View: D3B_20090123_0101_186 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Twee fieldmouse entry for this week.
Ever wondered what the world is like for a little creature
with such magnificent whiskers?
Date: 09 Feb 2009
View: DC1_20090123_1500_009+011 Female Pheasant flying to hedge (Montage right then left).jpg
Description: Along with the usual 'Panicking Pigeon' beating their wings on
the branches in panic at our approach we now have female
pheasants taking flight. They always see us before we spot them,
but on this occasion managed to get a few pics as this one flew
into the base of a hedge. We hope this little montage catches
the moment and almost surreal shapes of the departing bird.
Date: 08 Feb 2009
View: dc1_20090123_1505_028 muntjac deer male in field to south.jpg
Description: Two male muntjacs (which we assumed to be a 'pair' until we
studied the images) were foraging in the pasture to the South.
This one watched us for a moment before wandering away.
Date: 07 Feb 2009
View: DC1_20090121_1237_082 Pair of collared doves canoodling.jpg
Description: This pair of Collared doves were definitely in amorous mood and
they spent 10 minutes snuggling and cooing in an willow grown
from root stock of an ornamental. They didn't mate this time.
Date: 06 Feb 2009
View: D3A_20090117_2052_033 fb2 Fieldmouse in mid-air head down (web crop).jpg
Description: This mouse isn't movement blurred enough to have fallen the 2
meters from the conifer overhead, so is presumably at the top of
it's leap. Hope it made a better landing than looks likely.
Date: 05 Feb 2009
View: DC1_20090118_1543_190 Kestrel male flying into evening sun against bare hedgerow.jpg
Description: With the sun only a few diameters above the horizon the
kestrel flies along the bridlepath and disappears to the North.
Date: 04 Feb 2009
View: DC1_20090118_1300_055 Kestrel male hunting from high voltage cable at pole.jpg
Description: Happy to hover in a breeze, but the local male kestrel prefers to
hunt from wires in still air or (as here) strong winds. We
thought he was perched on the cross-beam till we saw this pic.
He contrasts nicely with the brutallic metalwork.
Date: 03 Feb 2009
View: DC1_20090118_1312_082 3 Rooks flying in vertical formation.jpg
Description: Genuine single frame (albeit a crop to get the effect) of
'formation flying' by the rooks.
Date: 02 Feb 2009
View: D3A_20090115_1322_012+1420_015 fb2 Montage of Pheasant males with brown & yellow eyes (web crop).jpg
Description: The startling eyes of the pheasant on the right made us suddenly
realise that at least 2 of 'our' pheasant males have very
different eye colour. From site 2, a montage of images about 1
hour apart. Normally we tell them apart by head colour and the
width & join gap of the neck ring.
Date: 01 Feb 2009
View: D3A_20090113_1024_019 fb2 Robin seeing off Great Tit.jpg
Description: That's MY log ...
Image Archive arch 2009 jan.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20090114_1300_100 fb2 Chaffinch male wing assisted step onto stone.jpg
Description: Its a big step for a little bird, so the characteristic little
flap of wings as a bird jumps up a step gets caught on camera.
Date: 30 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20090111_1544_053 fb2 Rook pecking at rotten apple.jpg
Description: Another disgusting apple is welcomed with open beak by this rook.
Date: 29 Jan 2009
View: D3B_20090111_2125_156 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Fieldmouse quietly nibbling in the night.
The orange fragments are lentils.
Date: 28 Jan 2009
View: D3B_20090112_1627_240 fb1 Fieldmouse and apple.jpg
Description: Our first reaction was 'ouch'. Coming back to it to add
to this selection it remains 'ouch'.
Date: 27 Jan 2009
View: DC1_20090106_1250_081 Robin on Ice.jpg
Description: The surface of frozen ponds have attracted a pair of Foxes,
pheasants, and many small birds including this robin.
Date: 26 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20090105_2054_036 fb2 Fieldmouse climbing up end of log.jpg
Description: A young mouse clambers up the end of the log.
Date: 25 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20090104_1526_069 fb2 Chaffinch male.jpg
Description: This male chaffinch shows no blue sheen on the beak yet,
so has not yet reached full breeding condition.
Date: 24 Jan 2009
View: D3B_20090103_1734_065 fb1 Fieldmouse nibbling corn grain.jpg
Description: A single grain of corn is a feast for a fieldmouse.
Date: 23 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20090109_1115_043 fb2 2 Moorhen.jpg
Description: Suddenly lots of moorhen about on the frozen ponds and repeatedly
at site 2 (but not site 1). Also seen up various trees - 'the old
moorhen up a tree ploy' as our expert at Swansea University
nicely worded it some years back when describing them nesting in
trees. We wait and see!
Date: 22 Jan 2009
View: D3B_20090105_0200_171 fb1 Fieldmouse after light snow.jpg
Description: A really cold period has limited the outings of most creatures
to only what is necessary for survival.
Date: 21 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20090101_1157_011 fb2 Jay.jpg
Description: On dingy new-years day we left the cameras on all day and were
rewarded with an assortment of jays of which this is one.
Date: 20 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20090101_1620_072 fb2 Blackbird female.jpg
Description: Still mainly the male blackbirds at the photo sites though we see
a reasonable mix when out and about, so this shot of one of the
'girls' gets her outing.
Date: 19 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20090102_1434_102 fb2 Squirrel.jpg
Description: A Squirrel still about practicing it's innocent 'what me?'
look as it chews everything it can reach.
Date: 18 Jan 2009
View: D3B_20090101_2324_145 fb1 2 Fieldmice.jpg
Description: Not sure how to interpret this one, so write your own caption!
Date: 17 Jan 2009
View: DC1_20090102_1007_022 Muntjac deer female bounding along bridleway fence.jpg
Description: Some unexpected morning sunshine tempted us out, and this
female muntjac took one look at us from 100m or so away
and off she went. Unusual to see all 4 tiny hooves at once.
Date: 16 Jan 2009
View: DC1_20090102_1249_081 Fieldfare in Windfall apples.jpg
Description: Apart from flying overhead or in distant trees we typically see
fieldfares in flocks of 30 to 100 tucking into the windfall
apples that we now deliberately leave for the wildlife. A few
apples moved to a more photographable spot tempted this bird.
Date: 15 Jan 2009
View: DC1_20081228_1034_041 Robin in Blackberry thicket.jpg
Description: On a freezing winter day this robin watched us hopefully in the sunshine sheltered from
the wind by a blackberry thicket.
More sense than us then, trudging around in the biting wind.
Date: 14 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20081226_1618_018 fb2 Rook lifting log.jpg
Description: Once again a rook is caught in the act of re-arranging the site.
This is the previous occasion from April 2008:-
Click for Image
Followed by the one taken on Boxing day 2008 and show an
amazingly similar stance and technique.
Date: 13 Jan 2009
View: D3B_20081226_1718_030 fb1 2 Fieldmice eating side by side.jpg
Description: A really sweet pair of fieldmice.
Date: 12 Jan 2009
View: DC1_20081221_1053_029 Buzzard in flight (web crop).jpg
Description: For just a few minutes the sun broke through the clouds luring us outside.
We were lucky that our 'noisy' buzzard chose this moment to make a lazy
flyby against the clouds and a patch of blue. The lack a thermals
provides a more active view than the usual hanging in the updraft.
Date: 11 Jan 2009
View: P34_20081217_1416_178 Sundog to East (web crop).jpg
Description: We have a bit of a 'thing' about 'sundogs' but this one was
particularly intense and only lasted a minute or two as a streak
in a largely grey sky.
Date: 10 Jan 2009
View: D3B_20081223_1542_117 fb1 Magpie.jpg
Description: A magpie nearly filling the width of the frame showing off it's iridescence.
Date: 09 Jan 2009
View: D3B_20081226_1743_038 fb1 2 fieldmice (crop 1).jpg
Description: A surprisingly frequent juxtaposition of two mice - one on the
ground eating while another on the log looks down at it.
Date: 08 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20081219_0738_016 fb2 Blackbird male.jpg
Description: There are now a pair of blackbirds at both photo sites
although it is the males that currently appear regularly.
Date: 07 Jan 2009
View: D3B_20081219_2111_129 fb1 Fox (crop 2).jpg
Description: After a long break a fox put in an appearance at one of the good
quality cameras, but the head was partly out of frame at the
left, hence this 'creative' interpretation of the
nose-to-ground investigation of the world in a way
humans can't even imagine.
Date: 06 Jan 2009
View: DC1_20081220_1108_012 Bullfinch in Blackberry & Elderberry hedge.jpg
Description: Bullfinch in the hedge along the Bridleway to the North of our patch.
The shrivelled remains of the blackberries are still an attraction, and
the leaves seem to have survived the recent frosts.
Date: 05 Jan 2009
View: DC1_20081220_1311_242 Squirrel eating Hawthorn berry.jpg
Description: A squirrel paid a visit to the hawthorn trees (decades overgrown
hedge) near the house and spent 10 minutes after we noticed
gorging itself on berries. In shade & diagonally through a double
glazed window limits the quality, but it was interesting to see.
Notice the Lichen on these old twigs.
Date: 04 Jan 2009
View: D3B_20081215_1721_154 fb1 2 fieldmice + ear of another.jpg
Description: A group of 3 fieldmice are often seen together at this site.
This looks like a picture of a pair until you spot the ear
just showing over the top of the log.
Date: 03 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20081213_1244_067 fb2 Squirrel (head crop).jpg
Description: Contrary to popular belief, squirrels don't hibernate but
build a better insulated dray and limit their outings to
short forays on warmer days. This one was picking over the
offerings at about mid-day.
Date: 02 Jan 2009
View: D3B_20081218_2010_050 fb1 2 fieldmice leaping off log.jpg
Description: Fleeing, playing or whatever we have no idea, but
they do it with huge energy.
Date: 01 Jan 2009
View: D3A_20081212_1039_004 fb2 Robin flying from site with corn grain.jpg
Description: Robins appear wherever we go.
We like the Joie-de-vie with which this one is carrying
off a single corn grain - something to emulate for the new year.
Image Archive arch 2008 dec.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Dec 2008
View: D3A_20081207_1910_092 fb2 Upright rabbit with fieldmouse in front of it (web crop).jpg
Description: On 17 Dec 2008 we showed you a rabbit and mouse with the comment
'Obviously rabbits are not frightened of mice,
unlike the proverbial Elephant.'
However looking at this image maybe its not true for all rabbits.
Date: 30 Dec 2008
View: D3A_20081209_1403_051 fb2 Robin picking grain out of cleft in log.jpg
Description: Another mini-feast for the robin.
Date: 29 Dec 2008
View: D3A_20081210_1452_010 fb2 Great Tit.jpg
Description: We haven't shown you a Great Tit for 6 months, and this one
put in a nice appearance.
Date: 28 Dec 2008
View: D3B_20081210_0326_187 fb1 2 fieldmice nuzzling on frosty log.jpg
Description: The chilly weather doesn't seem to reduce the fieldmouse ardour.
Its 3:26 a.m. as well!
Date: 27 Dec 2008
View: P34_20081204_1034_138 Lichen on young Oak tree at Round Pond (web crop).jpg
Description: As we walked down to the corner of the plot this bright green
display in the sunshine caught our eye, so we have tried to
capture the un-seasonal green.
Date: 26 Dec 2008
View: P34_20081211_1511_169 Full moon (largest for 13yrs) over trees to East (web crop).jpg
Description: The moons elliptical orbit brings changes in it's distance, and
we hear that this cycle brought the closest (therefore largest)
full moon for 13yrs. Not that we knew this when we photographed
it at 3:11 p.m. - it just looked appealing hanging in the sky.
Date: 25 Dec 2008
View: Bird Montage from top left - Osprey+Skylark+Red Kite+Sparrowhawk+Little Owl+Short-eared Owl+Tawny Owls.jpg
Description: A little Christmas day special.
This year has been exceptional for Dragonflies and Raptors,
so here is a little montage of birds:-
| Osprey | Skylark | Red Kite |
| | Tawny Owls | |
| Short-eared Owl | Little Owl | Sparrowhawk |
Date: 24 Dec 2008
View: DC1_20081206_1050_011 Bluetit on vertical wall by upstairs hall window (tight crop).jpg
Description: Give a bird a bit of rough rendering and the more agile will
happily walk straight up a vertical wall.
Date: 23 Dec 2008
View: DC1_20081206_1234_104 Buzzard circling over south sloping field to N.jpg
Description: A few minutes after yesterdays crow & buzzard montage the buzzard came back.
Despite the air temperature of about 5C it was sunny and it was
rising slowly in a thermal over the South sloping field to our
North. We were quite surprised that this near the winter solstice
even the midday sun had this much heating effect.
Date: 22 Dec 2008
View: DC1_20081206_1227_052+056+058 Buzzard looking back at harassing Carrion Crow mirrored montage.jpg
Description: This montage shows a buzzard being chased away from our patch by
a one of a pair of carrion crows that have bred here for the
last 2 years. Images are left to right over a second or two.
Shortly afterwards (out of photographic range) the buzzard
turned the tables and the crow took refuge in a distant tree.
Date: 21 Dec 2008
View: DC1_20081204_1523_127 Muntjac deer male struggling to eat windfall apple.jpg
Description: Awful quality in shade in the half dark through a window, this
male muntjac deer spent a couple of minutes trying to down this
windfall apple, but he did succeed.
Date: 20 Dec 2008
View: DC1_20081202_1402_061&062 Fieldfare in Flight Montage.jpg
Description: Flocks of fieldfares are about but very wary of humans, so we
were lucky to get close enough to this one 'out in the open' to
catch it departing.
Date: 19 Dec 2008
View: d3b_20081130_2152_103 fb1 fieldmouse leaping acrobatically.jpg
Description: Although a little blurred by movement and distance the
acrobatics of this little fellow could not be resisted.
Date: 18 Dec 2008
View: D3A_20081126_1535_038 fb2 Robin after take-off with wing blown debris.jpg
Description: As the robin takes off some corn grains and a fallen leaf go
flying as well.
Date: 17 Dec 2008
View: D3A_20081128_2100_055 fb2 Fieldmouse and rabbit.jpg
Description: Obviously rabbits are not frightened of mice, unlike the
proverbial Elephant. (But see also the image for 31 Dec 2008.)
Date: 16 Dec 2008
View: DA1_20081126_1643_014 Tawny owl on Raptor perch (web crop).jpg
Description: A little owl stopped for a few minutes on this perch, which spurred
us to set up a pre-focussed flash configuration at an openable window
in the hope of catching the next image. In one of those 'it never happens'
moments the same evening a pair of tawny owls showed up and the new kit
worked!
The 'red eye' effect is the same as in human pics the flash is close
to the camera - we decided not to tamper with the images.
View: DA1_20081126_1642_012 2 Tawny owls on Raptor perch (web crop).jpg
Description: A pair! The Tawny owl box has been up for a year - all we can do
is hope and wait.
Date: 15 Dec 2008
View: DC1_20081127_1103_103+102(right)+104(left) Kestrel on bends road sign viewed through hedge montage.jpg
Description: The same bird as yesterday spent a minute or two on a road sign
right next to the road with lorries etc. going by only 3m or so
away. These images were taken through a less dense patch in the
track-side hedge. We lost sight of him the moment he flew.
Date: 14 Dec 2008
View: DC1_20081127_1051_049 Kestrel in flight overhead.jpg
Description: A Kestrel flew about overhead. No doubt any mice out of their
holes bolted to cover.
Date: 13 Dec 2008
View: DC1_20081125_1321_157 Sparrowhawk male in flight low over fields in cold North wind (web crop).jpg
Description: A biting north wind limited the birds and us to short forays. The
birds were all trying to keep near the ground - even the corvids.
This sparrowhawk swooped by us skimming over the ground so close
to it that it's shadow is only just offset.
Date: 12 Dec 2008
View: D3B_20081122_2322_082 fb1 Fieldmouse with whiskers contrasted with apple.jpg
Description: The apple and mouse make an interesting juxtaposition and show
up the whiskers.
Date: 11 Dec 2008
View: D3A_20081116_2043_026 fb2 2 Rabbits head to head down in leaf litter.jpg
Description: Ear-Ear (sorry)
We never know what is going to go down well, and we only included
this in our weekly assortment email on a whim. But we got enough
feedback that we thought we would include it here as well.
Date: 10 Dec 2008
View: D3B_20081121_2106_154 fb1 2 Fieldmice.jpg
Description: A little domestic contentment in the Fieldmouse family.
Date: 09 Dec 2008
View: D3B_20081118_1559_015 fb1 Fieldfare (web crop).jpg
Description: A few weeks ago Redwings and Fieldfare arrived together but we
mostly saw Redwings. The balance of Fieldfares to Redwings has been
restored to its usual 10:1 in favour of Fieldfares.
Here a fieldfare visits at dusk.
Date: 08 Dec 2008
View: P34_20081119_1622_934 Orange clouds overhead at sunset.jpg
Description: At sunset the puffy white clouds over the whole sky turned to
candy-floss pink. This is pretty much the sky and cloud colours
we both remember.
Date: 07 Dec 2008
View: P34_20081120_0857_973 Red Admiral butterfly feeding on Viburnum flower.jpg
Description: A very late appearance of a Red Admiral butterfly enjoying the
sunshine on a flowering Viburnum. It might be the one we raised indoors,
but really don't know as we didn't mark it - see the
archive for 3 Nov 2008.
Date: 06 Dec 2008
View: D3A_20081116_1347_006 fb2 Jay with corn grain in beak (web crop).jpg
Description: The Jays made another afternoon appearance.
They are so photogenic we couldn't resist another, this time a
portrait. Note the haze of feather over some of the blue.
Date: 05 Dec 2008
View: DC1_20081119_1213_244+246+248 Kestrel female taking food from talon in flight Montage 1+3+4 of 5.jpg
Description: This Kestrel went down in the grass and lost site of it. When it
took off and we picked it up in the camera just as it was pulling
a piece of the prey from it's talon. The pictures are sequenced
top right to bottom left. In the last it still has some left
in its talon, and it went on to eat that a few second later.
Date: 04 Dec 2008
View: D3A_20081112_1554_010 fb2 Rook portrait.jpg
Description: Not often you manage to appreciate the lovely sheen on a rook.
Date: 03 Dec 2008
View: D3B_20081113_2347_065 fb1 2 Fieldmice with back to camera.jpg
Description: Did we say something to upset you?
View: D3B_20081114_0336_073 fb1 Fieldmouse with peel of red apple.jpg
Description: Apparently not. The red fruit comes from an ancient apple tree
in part of the original garden.
Date: 02 Dec 2008
View: D3A_20081109_1415_090 fb2 2 Jays.jpg
Description: Continuing our selection from the 'Day of the Jays',
first both of the pair (the bird on the right's beak tip
was just out of frame)
View: D3A_20081109_1455_111 fb2 Jay.jpg
Description: ... and here one about to launch into the air.
Date: 01 Dec 2008
View: P34_20081109_1229_863 Pineham Field from field to East (web crop).jpg
Description: During the walk that flushed the Short eared owl, we photographed
almost the whole East boundary of our patch. The tall poplar at
the back line the track down the West boundary.ÿ You can see the
'double hedge' - the taller one the one we planted and the
shorter one the Blackthorn sprouts along the barbed wire and
pig-net fence that grew without asking first. We fight to
maintain walking & maintenance clearance between the two and a
view over the top! The slope is real - not a wide angle lens
artifact.
Image Archive arch 2008 nov.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Nov 2008
View: D3B_20081108_2201_065 fb1 Fieldmouse climbing on apple.jpg
Description: Entry for twee fieldmouse of the week.
Date: 29 Nov 2008
View: D3A_20081109_1406_088 fb2 Jay.jpg
Description: Until this day Jays had been fleeting views and the odd photo.
This dingy and wet afternoon was cheered by a dozen
photos of Jays. Here is one of this beautiful bird from the
Magpie family - more in a few days.
Date: 28 Nov 2008
View: D3B_20081104_2231_035 fb1 fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Another corn grain becomes a feast.
Date: 27 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081107_0950_003+004 Great Spotted Woodpecker in Bounding flight (montage).jpg
Description: Montage of Great Spotted Woodpecker in bounding flight (flap like mad for
a second or two, then fold wings and coast).
Date: 26 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081109_0829_006 Muntjac deer female trying to find way back under the fence.jpg
Description: This Muntjac deer obviously knew there was a way through the fence,
but couldn't find it because it was at the wrong end of 300m of
fence. It spent 10 minutes before finally wandering in the right
direction They can jump the fence in a panic, but prefer not to.
Date: 25 Nov 2008
View: D3B_20081103_0035_085 fb1 Field Vole carrying off piece of peel.jpg
Description: Even in worst weather our night-time cameras capture something
interesting. Here a field vole carries off a piece of peel.
Date: 24 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081109_0839_036 Short-eared Owl in flight of grass (web crop).jpg
Description: A tramp across the adjacent field startled this Short-eared owl in
the grass perhaps 50m ahead. A new sighting for us here.
Apparently they are often seen in daylight. It flew about for a
minute or two before departing.
View: DC1_20081109_0839_057 Short-eared Owl in flight.jpg
Date: 23 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081109_0950_045 Sparrowhawk in Flight (web crop 2).jpg
Description: Its unusual to be able to photograph a flying sparrowhawk against
anything but sky, so here is an different perspective against
a poplar tree.
Date: 22 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081109_0954_071 Red Kite in flight showing top of wing.jpg
Description: Surprise first sighting here of a Red Kite.
The rooks took a dim view of this 'interloper' and soon chased it off.
View: DC1_20081109_0956_172 Red Kite in flight (web crop).jpg
Description: Light just right to pick up the colours even if the face is turned away.
Date: 21 Nov 2008
View: D3A_20081106_1814_014 fb2 Fieldmouse in mid-leap (vertical crop).jpg
Description: The ridiculous leaping fieldmice are back. There is no way this
one could be jumping down from anything, so we think it must be
mid-leap from the ground.
Date: 20 Nov 2008
View: D3B_20081103_2327_158 fb1 2 Fieldmice.jpg
Description: Two field mice come out after the rain.
Date: 19 Nov 2008
View: D3A_20081101_0926_046 fb2 Pheasant male head with autumn leaves.jpg
Description: The pheasants are back on a regular basis, at the moment the male
mostly visits this site and the female only visits the other.
Like the echoing of colours in the bird and the leaves.
Date: 18 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081031_0830_017 Female Kestrel in Flight.jpg
Description: On Thursday at 06:50 with it barely light we saw from the car a
Kestrel hunting over the local road. It flew off as we slowed
down & don't know which sex. But on Friday a bright start tempted
us out with the camera (until the rising wind at near freezing
drove us in) and this female kestrel obliged with a flyby
obviously giving us a number of suspicious glances.
Date: 17 Nov 2008
View: D3A_20081028_0649_029 fb1 Chaffinch pair disturbed by approaching magpie.jpg
Description: A little story helped along by a bit of brightening and
sharpening of the magpie in the gloom away from the flashgun, but
a genuine single frame.
Date: 16 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081029_1259_025 Pied Wagtail on roof ridge.jpg
Description: The Autumn return of the pied wagtail, this first view on the
roof ridge.
Date: 15 Nov 2008
View: D3B_20081026_2023_114 fb1 2 fieldmice one leaping from above (web crop).jpg
Description: Whee ...
We really can't work out where he came from and assumed he is mid-leap.
Date: 14 Nov 2008
View: D10_20081029_0906_020 weekly field 29oct08.jpg
Description: The carpet of snow barely lasted a day but this is the earliest
we remember snow laying at all and news broadcasts seem to
confirm this impression. A corner of the main pond is at the
bottom left of the pic, which is a slightly wider view of the 18
year sequence you can find at
http://www.vutrax.co.uk/the_field/the_field.htm.
Date: 13 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081028_0942_009 Osprey in flight with fish (web crop).jpg
Description: Almost a week to the hour since the previous sighting we arrived
at the corner of our patch to see an/the Osprey again with
another huge fish, this time a little closer to us than before.
One of our email group suggests that the fish is a carp.
There were a couple of rooks about but not close enough to be in
frame.
Date: 12 Nov 2008
View: D3A_20081020_1803_036 fb2 Fieldmouse with drying autumn leaves.jpg
Description: After a rain, out comes a fieldmouse to frolic on the drying
soil and leaves.
Date: 11 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081024_1517_067 Pipistrelle bat in flight with insect in mouth in daytime (web crop).jpg
Description: Almost a month after the last occurrence we saw a Pipistrelle bat
in the day time - this time about 3 p.m. The bat has what looks
like some sort of fly in it's mouth. Shortly after this it
disappeared back into the loft through an 'impossibly' small slit.
View: DC1_20081024_1517_068 Pipistrelle bat in flight (turned 90 left) with tail membrane pulled over mouth (web version).jpg
Description: In this following frame the bat has it's tail covering it's mouth
probably adjusting the bite on the fly. It was 'banking' with
wings vertical by then, but its so hard to interpret that we have
turned the image to 'normal' to help you work it out.
Date: 10 Nov 2008
View: D3B_20081020_0610_149 fb1 2 Fieldmice.jpg
Description: Pairs of creatures tend to make more appealing images
than singles, and this is a genuine single frame.
Date: 09 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081018_1221_020 Black-headed gull winter plumage.jpg
Description: One of many black headed gulls we see fly over.
What black head?
In the winter they have just the slight black patch behind the eye.
Date: 08 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081021_1036_038 Osprey carrying fish in talons (web crop).jpg
Description: We don't go on trips to see rare birds, and thought our only
sight of an Osprey would be on the TV. This one, complete with
classically streamlined fish in talon, flew by about 100m North
of our patch. Apparently it had been around the Milton Keynes
area for 3 weeks before we saw it on the 21 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20081021_1036_060 Osprey carrying fish in talons chased by rook (web version).jpg
Description: Like the buzzards, the Osprey got the go-away treatment from the
rooks.
Date: 07 Nov 2008
View: DB1_20081006_1044_001 Moorhen in Dragon pond iris fronds.jpg
Description: The adult moorhen have largely regained the main pond for
themselves, with the youngsters usually tolerated for a while
and then chased off.
Date: 06 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081016_1054_120 Kestrel female in flight.jpg
Description: Harvesting, ploughing and harrowing the in nearby field has
attracted the corvids flocks, and the kestrels get a few minutes
peace to hunt.
Date: 05 Nov 2008
View: DC1_20081016_1627_141 Collared Dove pair mutual preening on concrete post (web version).jpg
Description: A pair of collared doves canoodling on the top the mains cable
post. We seem to have quite a few pairs now, with this pair
usually to be found near this post.
Who doesn't enjoy a scratch where you can't reach!
Date: 04 Nov 2008
View: P34_20081012_1652_415 Spindle tree fruit detail (web crop).jpg
Description: The spindle tree fruit and fruit case provides the only really
strident natural colour clash we know of.
Date: 03 Nov 2008
View: P34_20081009_1616_310 Red Admiral Butterfly Chrysalis hanging from dogwood leaf (web crop).jpg
Description: We found and photographed this beautiful butterfly Chrysalis
without knowing the species. Next day we brought it into our
insect rearing tank to observe it ...
View: P34_20081015_0833_419 Red Admiral Butterfly emerged from chrysalis through glass tank side.jpg
Description: ... and here is the emerged insect - a Red Admiral butterfly.
Released when the weather improved in the afternoon, we saw it around for
several days feeding on our autumn flowers.
Click to see a
Red Admiral top view
taken in 2006.
Date: 02 Nov 2008
View: D3B_20081013_1741_052 fb1 Bluetit.jpg
Description: We haven't shown you bluetit for months, but they are now
back in prime plumage and regular visitors.
Date: 01 Nov 2008
View: D3B_20081014_0334_080 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: The Fieldmice visit both sites every night.
You realise these are what you may know of as Wood Mice?
Image Archive arch 2008 oct.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Oct 2008
View: DA1_20081011_1432_019 Frog on orchard path.Jpg
Description: We see very few frogs these days, so were rather pleased when
this one leapt out of the way of Marie walking down to the
greenhouse. All the frogs we see seem to be this light
yellow-green colour.
Date: 30 Oct 2008
View: DA1_20081012_1841_049 Pipistrelle Bat in flight.JPG
Description: A Pipistrelle bat in flight at night (see 14 Oct 2008 for
unexpected daytime visit). We have discovered yet another loft
access hole (that looks too small even for a bat but we have
watched them use it). Unfortunately the Long-eared bats didn't
show this year.
Date: 29 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20081011_1605_159 Kestrel male juvenile (Q).jpg
Description: We think this must be a juvenile male kestrel but are not very sure.
Anyway - why all this hovering nonsense when we can hunt from the
phone wires!
Date: 28 Oct 2008
View: P34_20081012_0953_368 Spider in Dewy web in East fence blackthorn (web crop).jpg
Description: The morning was drenched with dew, with hundreds of webs down the 100m east
fence now overgrown with Blackthorn. Most of the webs are disorganised tangles but
about 10% take some classic form, as here, complete with builder and natural dew.
Date: 27 Oct 2008
View: D12_20081012_1442_060 Green-brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae) (RGB) (web crop).jpg
Description: We put the moth trap out on a misty moonlit night (neither good
for catching moths). Something gave the trap a thump in the night
and partly knocked the top off, but there were still about 100
moths inside of which this rather attractive iridescent creature
took our fancy.
Date: 26 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20081011_1340_066 Buzzard mobbed by over 20 corvids (web crop).jpg
Description: The buzzard (largest bird) was hounded for several minutes by
this rabble of corvids until it got high enough on the thermal
that they didn't follow. There were no attacks either way -
sheer weight of numbers was enough to decide who won.
Date: 25 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20081009_0944_002 3 Jays in flight (Web version).jpg
Description: We are normally pleased to see just one jay fleeing from us, but
here 3 flew by some 10's of metres away. The one on the left was
not quite so well aligned, so we couldn't resist tweaking his
position.
Date: 24 Oct 2008
View: D3B_20081008_0237_088 fb1 2 Fieldmice face to face (web crop).jpg
Description: A little sweetie that is a genuine single frame.
Date: 23 Oct 2008
View: D3B_20081009_0148_162 fb2 Polecat (web crop).jpg
Description: Return of the/a polecat. This is the second of 2 images of
maybe/maybe not the same animal, and shows the whole creature.
Date: 22 Oct 2008
View: DA1_20081010_1104_020 Roesels Bush-Cricket (web crop).jpg
Description: In some long grass we came across this cricket, body about 2cm
long. One of our e-mail recipients suggests that is a
Roesel's Bush-Cricket (Metrioptera roeselii)
which seems to be correct and is a new sighting this year for
this area.
Date: 21 Oct 2008
View: D3A_20081004_1647_042 fb2 Pheasant male and falling leaf (orig).jpg
Description: The pheasants 'disappeared' when the adjacent meadow was cut. We
saw the female a few days ago, and now the male has appeared
perfectly judging camera frame and timing for the falling leaf.
Date: 20 Oct 2008
View: D3B_20080929_1853_022 fb1 2 Fieldmice with apples & berries.jpg
Description: Domestic bliss before its even properly dark (NOT a montage).
Date: 19 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20080929_1042_009 Buzzard surrounded by mobbing corvids.jpg
Description: We often mention corvids mobbing of Buzzards, and here is a single frame with
the bird surrounded by rooks, and what looks like a Jackdaw persuing it.
Date: 18 Oct 2008
View: P34_20081001_1231_134 Comma Butterfly on Blackberries (web crop).jpg
Description: In a sheltered little bramble thicket a number of Comma butterflies were
sunning themselves.
Date: 17 Oct 2008
View: DA1_20080928_1454_002 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male on Hawthorn (web crop).jpg
Description: On the last of the recent warm days this beauty was still on the
wing. We last showed you some indoor shots on 5 September - these
are a more natural (if technically more limited) views,
View: DA1_20080928_1456_064 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male on Hawthorn side view of upper body (web crop).jpg
Date: 16 Oct 2008
View: D3B_20080927_0253_099 fb1 Fieldmouse jumping on to end of log 1 of 6 (web crop).jpg
Description: Spoilt for choice ...
Date: 15 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20080927_1307_026 Muntjac deer male bounding over field 6 of 7 (web crop).jpg
Description: Several views of Muntjac deer in the past week, this one a male
with lovely new antlers. Bounding past us rather than the usual
'away from us' for the female in the image for 1 Oct 2008.
Date: 14 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20080926_1804_140 Pipistrelle Bat in flight before sunset (web crop).jpg
Description: 45 minutes before sunset this single
pipistrelle bat spent at least 15 minutes over the ponds and
rough grass hunting insects. Good for us for some pictures of a
species so small and fast that it is hard to get anything at
night, but not so good for the bat who must be very hungry to
come out so early. He seemed to get a good feed. Didn't see
him/her the next evening.
Date: 13 Oct 2008
View: D3A_20080923_1457_011 fb2 2 Juvenile moorhen among autumn leaves.jpg
Description: On a dingy afternoon we left the photo-kits running and these 2
Juvenile moorhen have discovered the easy-pickings at this site,
appearing in about a half-dozen photos.
Date: 12 Oct 2008
View: D3B_20080925_0335_081 fb1 Polecat (web crop 2).jpg
Description: Our last polecat 'sighting' was on 23 Feb 2005 at about 4 a.m and is
on the main site in the as
Part of the Mammals section
This new one-off image was at the corner of the site where a few days
ago we did some work to improve access from the field side. This time
it was at 03:35 - maybe their favourite time to be about.
Date: 11 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20080921_1250_405 Ruddy Darter dragonfly male head detail (web crop).jpg
Description: This is the only 'Ruddy Darter' dragonfly we have seen on our patch and was a rather
old and darkened individual on possibly his last day with the weather cooling down.
He sat quietly in the sunshine on a leaf as we took his portrait and later flew off
Date: 10 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20080921_1240_166+277+292 Sparrowhawk male & rook in aerial dogfight (montage).jpg
Description: The sparrowhawk seem to be getting the same treatment from the rooks as the buzzards
and kestrels. Being bigger than the kestrel it puts up more resistance, but not as casually
as the even larger buzzard. This is a montage of 3 images (dozens of frames apart - don't
try to read anything into the action). The top helps with identification and the bottom two
give an idea of the action.
Date: 09 Oct 2008
View: P34_20080920_1523_819 Great Willow herb seed head.jpg
Description: Rafts of Great Willow herb are in seed, looking like thousands of tiny parachutes.
It seems that as it opens the seed 'hairs' get stretched out. to form almost panels
of silky material before the wind carries them away.
Date: 08 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20080918_1214_235 2 Buzzards squabbling in flight 1 of 9 (web version).jpg
Description: Once high enough for the rooks not to bother harassing them,
these disagreeable birds squabble amongst themselves!
Love the aerodynamic stress bending the upper bird's primary feathers.
Date: 07 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20080918_1205_090 Rook harassing Buzzard.jpg
Description: At one point on Thursday (same day as this was taken) there were
6 buzzards riding a thermal over the area. But the rooks
harassed any at 'low' altitude.
Date: 06 Oct 2008
View: P34_20080914_1022_639 Poppy in field N of Bridleway.jpg
Description: A trudge over our neighbours field found a few items we have not
seen on our patch. Among them was just one tiny clump of poppies
of which this is one flower.
Date: 05 Oct 2008
View: P34_20080918_1103_744 Speckled wood Butterfly with Hawthorn Berries (web crop).jpg
Description: Speckled wood butterflies are the dominant butterfly species here
this year - here on hawthorn.
Date: 04 Oct 2008
View: D3B_20080916_1802_051 fb1 Fieldmouse leaping above field vole.jpg
Description: More rodents doing acrobatics - right at the right edge of
the frame. Did the mouse land ON the vole? There is a blackthorn
shoot just to the right at the back of the log we suspect the
mouse is jumping down from.
Date: 03 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20080915_1308_023 Kestrel female in flight.jpg
Description: The Kestrels are having a bad time with a flock of a few hundred
mixed Corvids in the area, and at the moment rarely manage more
than a minute or two hunting before being mobbed.
Date: 02 Oct 2008
View: D3A_20080912_2352_079 fb2 Rabbit examining snails on log.jpg
Description: A rabbit is giving this snail a close inspection, but the only
risk to the snail is if the rabbit accidentally treads on it.
Date: 01 Oct 2008
View: DC1_20080911_1602_065 Muntjac female (teats visible) bounding away.jpg
Description: The usual response of a Muntjac deer to the first scent or sight
of a human is to flee. This one bounding along a well flattened
trail in the grass along the hedge. The teats indicate that she
is probably feeding a fawn somewhere.
Image Archive arch 2008 sep.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Sep 2008
View: DC1_20080914_0948_023 Speckled Wood Butterfly on Buttercup leaf.jpg
Description: We have had huge numbers of Speckled wood butterflies this year
for what seems to have been the whole summer. First seen this
year 4 June 2008 - about 14 weeks so far.
Date: 29 Sep 2008
View: DC1_20080914_1315_058 Sparrowhawk juvenile (Q) in Flight (web crop).jpg
Description: Think this is a juvenile sparrowhawk doing a one-off pass.
Date: 28 Sep 2008
View: D3B_20080909_2030_018 fb1 Field vole holding peanut in paw.jpg
Description: We 'see' far fewer Field voles than Fieldmice holding
food in their paws to eat. Here is a nice example.
Date: 27 Sep 2008
View: P34_20080902_1619_532 Rainbow fragment with perpendicular streaks & lighter only beneath it.jpg
Description: Quite a lot of rainbows lately but this fragment seems
interesting. In this intentionally rather dark image you can see
streaking perpendicular to the bow, and that the traditional
light inside/dark outside of a rainbow is 'lightening inside'
rather than darkening outside from the way it cuts off.
Date: 26 Sep 2008
View: P34_20080906_1047_543 Harvestman Spider.jpg
Description: A Harvestman spider, first seen this year in the image
for 19 Sep 2008, is this time seen mid-morning
on buddleia leaves.
Date: 25 Sep 2008
View: D3A_20080908_1833_085 fb2 Aggressive Magpie.jpg
Description: A rather dynamically posed Magpie threatening we know not what.
Date: 24 Sep 2008
View: D3B_20080907_2223_061 fb1 Fieldmouse landing from leap.jpg
Description: The fieldmice population has exploded over the summer, and the
energetic and incautious youngsters are doing their customary
acrobatics.
Date: 23 Sep 2008
View: D3B_20080907_0141_109 fb1 Fieldmouse clambering over slug at flooded log.jpg
Description: Reminds us of the Olympic Steeplechase - with water splash and
slug for a barrier.
Date: 22 Sep 2008
View: D3B_20080905_2226_042 fb1 2 Fieldmice on flooded log.jpg
Description: These fieldmice are not actually marooned Robinson Crusoe style as it
looks - they can jump into their hole from the log.
Date: 21 Sep 2008
View: D3A_20080906_1908_051 fb2 2 Snails on log.jpg
Description: And down came the rain and out come the molluscs (slugs and snails).
Here a couple of the latter.
Date: 20 Sep 2008
View: D3B_20080831_0704_061 fb1 Robin threatening (crop 2).jpg
Description: A robin at photo site 1 is constantly aggressive and seem to be
willing to threaten anything - in this case a Dunnock out of crop
to the right.
Date: 19 Sep 2008
View: D3B_20080829_0344_035 fb1 Harvestman spider on Apple and Fieldmouse on log.jpg
Description: An assortment of creatures including a Harvestman spider on the
apple at the left, and a slug on the apple at the right. Oh - and
a fieldmouse!
Date: 18 Sep 2008
View: D3A_20080823_1843_053 fb2 2 Jackdaws.jpg
Description: However hard we try, we can't avoid thinking that they are
sharing a naughty joke.
Date: 17 Sep 2008
View: D3A_20080827_0754_033 fb2 Green Woodpecker juvenile (web crop 2).jpg
Description: Most years we are pleased to see at least one young Green Woodpecker,
but not usually at a photo site.
Note the muddy beak - they feed mainly by probing
soft ground for invertebrates.
Date: 16 Sep 2008
View: D3B_20080827_2241_121 fb1 Fieldmouse jumping down over slug & ant.jpg
Description: Note the ant on the piece of apple. Sets the scale nicely.
Date: 15 Sep 2008
View: DC1_20080827_1557_017 Buzzard soaring overhead & calling.jpg
Description: We have at least 5 buzzards seen together a few times soaring in
the thermals over and near our patch. You would think this was
the middle of nowhere rather than a few miles outside Milton
Keynes. One or two of them are particularly voluble as here
flying directly overhead (guess 20m high).
Date: 14 Sep 2008
View: D3A_20080824_0750_093 fb2 Chaffinches with female or juvenile jumping off log and male with faded beak.jpg
Description: What is probably a pair of chaffinches were seen in a number of
images at this site. Note how the blue sheen on the male's beak
has now almost gone.
Date: 13 Sep 2008
View: DB1_20080823_0845_029 Adult moorhen & 2 juveniles.jpg
Description: We are now sure that the moorhen have raised 5 chicks to this
stage. The juveniles can perfectly well feed themselves, but
alternately get given titbits by the parents or half-heartedly
chased off. We really don't know whether the parents are sitting
on another brood, & don't want to disturb them to find out.
Date: 12 Sep 2008
View: DC1_20080825_1517_035 hobby in flight (web crop).jpg
Description: The 2nd of two new raptor identifications over our patch 3 days later.
This Hobby came over a few times in a few minutes, presumably
circling round out of sight to the North and East. Spotted
momentarily on the top of a concrete post supporting our
mains cables the next day.
Date: 11 Sep 2008
View: DC1_20080822_1654_009 Merlin (q) female in flight (web crop).jpg
Description: The 1st of two new raptor identifications over our patch.
We wouldn't have known what they were without the photos.
On the 22nd August this Merlin did a single brief flyby.
Date: 10 Sep 2008
View: DC1_20080825_1533_056+057 Swallow flying towards insect (montage).jpg
Description: A single Swallow flew over jinking about obviously hunting insects.
We nearly missed that in two consecutive images it was flying straight towards an
insect visible in both frames. The next frame the insect had gone.
Here is an impression of the event.
Date: 09 Sep 2008
View: DA1_20080823_1111_023 Greenbottle Fly on Water Mint.jpg
Description: A visitor spotted that our watermint was covered in these
iridescent flies - Greenbottles according to our book
Date: 08 Sep 2008
View: P34_20080823_1342_384 Peacock Butterfly on down of thistle seeds (web crop).jpg
Description: Apparently our plethora of peacock butterflies is not typical this year.
This one was basking on a mat of thistle seed down on the ground.
Date: 07 Sep 2008
View: D3B_20080821_2233_119&120 fb1 Huge Slug & another being watched by rabbit (montage).jpg
Description: The slug is elegant in its own way - we don't skimp on the size
of our slugs! This is actually a montage to get a better view of
the slug from two successive frames a couple of minutes apart, but the
juxtaposition is accurate.
Date: 06 Sep 2008
View: DC1_20080822_1115_062 Buzzard in flight.jpg
Description: As the grass re-grows in the field to North & East the Kestrels
and Buzzards are taking an interest again. One that consistently
calls in flight did a low flyby and a few circles.
Date: 05 Sep 2008
View: P34_20080820_1515_350 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male.jpg
Description: A new dragonfly this week - a male Southern Hawker. Quite a
beauty and a strong flyer. Windy out, so no hope of photo in a
natural setting, so took some indoors before letting him go.
View: DA1_20080820_1521_020 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male eye detail (web crop).jpg
Date: 04 Sep 2008
View: P34_20080815_0742_284 Great Willow Herb drenched in dew (web crop).jpg
Description: A ridiculously dew-drenched sunny morning about a week ago (images not processed until
yesterday) provided this image of one of thousands of Great Willow Herb flowers.
Date: 03 Sep 2008
View: DC1_20080817_1151_001 Swallow about to swoop down from wire.jpg
Description: The swallows continue to delight, and this pair of consecutive
images at the start of a session show you top and bottom of
the bird.
View: DC1_20080817_1151_002 Swallow swooping down from wire showing top view (web crop).jpg
Description: You don't often see the dark top when in flight.
Date: 02 Sep 2008
View: D3B_20080814_1944_034 fb1 Young robin threatening bird off left (Head crop).jpg
Description: A chaffinch with head just in frame on the original was on the
receiving end of this tirade.
Date: 01 Sep 2008
View: D3B_20080815_0701_074 fb1 Yellowhammer male.jpg
Description: An adult male yellowhammer back to looking his best.
Image Archive arch 2008 aug.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Aug 2008
View: DA1_20080816_1306_023 common darter dragonfly female.jpg
Description: We brought you another Female Common Darter Dragonfly 11 days ago,
but this new set shows the female in a more normal pose.
View: DA1_20080816_1308_050 common darter dragonfly female head detail (web crop).jpg
Description: This is a head-on view of the 'face'.
Date: 30 Aug 2008
View: DA1_20080815_1459_035 Swallow failing to feed young on wires 2 of 4 (web crop).jpg
Description: To our relief the swallows have suddenly re-appeared complete
with families to feed. The lighting wasn't too good but we had a go anyway.
In a montage from last year they are seen feeding on the wing:-
Click for Image
This year first effort is easier to see yourself - look for this
wherever you see young swallows perched on wire, gutters, TV aerials etc.
If you would like a large version as a
September 2008 Calendar click on
Woodland Trust Calendars
Date: 29 Aug 2008
View: D3A_20080812_1739_015 fb2 Moorhen.jpg
Description: The moorhen have raised 4 chick to nearly adult size, and have started
on a new brood on a new nest close to the previous. Here an adult in
fine breeding condition comes for late afternoon snack but will have
had to have waited for our evening round.
Date: 28 Aug 2008
View: D3A_20080813_1840_065 fb2 Magpie with beak open to eat grain mixed with peanut butter.jpg
Description: Raw corn and peanut butter anybody? His beak isn't really suited
to this mix, but he is determined to get it anyway.
Date: 27 Aug 2008
View: DC1_20080814_0857_020 Little owl on fence post near bridleway gate (1 eye obscured by leaf).jpg
Description: The little owl has abandoned his original spoil heap and is
using other bare ground & standing on fence posts (where they are
'traditionally' seen). The first image is on a post with the stuck-open
bridleway entrance in the background. One eye is obscured by a leaf.
View: DC1_20080814_0912_046 Little owl standing on bare earth in field to N (web crop).jpg
Description: Here he is on his new choice of ground, the owl watching us watching him.
Date: 26 Aug 2008
View: DC1_20080814_1001_033 Buzzard calling in flight (web crop).jpg
Description: A buzzard appeared from nowhere, made a few loud calls that got
Roy stampeding out with the camera, and then did a couple of
circles at about 15m high before disappearing out of sight.
Date: 25 Aug 2008
View: P34_20080814_0839_204 Knopper Gall (insect deformed Acorn) Seq (web crop).jpg
Description: Huge number of our acorns have become deformed by insect
invasion. This type is called a 'Knopper Gall'.
Date: 24 Aug 2008
View: D01_20080810_1354_006 Heron Juvenile at Duck Pond.jpg
Description: A juvenile heron visited the 'Duck pond' and walked around for a
few minutes. It was obvious it didn't enjoy the strong wind ruffling
the feathers. We didn't see him catch anything.
View: D01_20080810_1357_022 Heron Juvenile taking off from Duck Pond.jpg
Description: He took off in no particular hurry - these two successive frames
were taken probably 150 mSec apart.
View: D01_20080810_1357_023 Heron Juvenile taking off from Duck Pond.jpg
Date: 23 Aug 2008
View: D3A_20080810_0621_114 fb2 Robin making awkward landing on end of log.jpg
Description: Most landings are perfect elegance (we could show you dozens a
night) but they don't all go as planned.
Date: 22 Aug 2008
View: D3A_20080809_1836_080 fb2 Young magpie cleaning beak on log.jpg
Description: All that sticky fruit pulp needs wiping off?
It's never occurred to us before that maybe birds can't
'wipe their beaks' with their tongues like we 'wipe our lips'.
Date: 21 Aug 2008
View: D3A_20080809_1945_084 fb2 Rabbit shaking out rainfall.jpg
Description: This rainy night (7.5mm in the rain gauge) was soaking the few
creatures who decided to venture out. Examining the twisting of
various parts and the flying raindrops suggests this rabbit was
doing the classic twist and shake to shed some of the wet.
Date: 20 Aug 2008
View: DA1_20080807_1533_047 Common Darter female 2 positioning herself to warm in the sun.jpg
Description: A female Common Darter dragonfly warming herself on the back of a
garden seat, positioned herself vertically to catch the
sunshine. A newsletter recipient tells us this is called the
obelisk position, normally used at midday
to keep cool.
View: DA1_20080807_1532_023 Common Darter female 2 head & thorax detail.jpg
Description: A minute or so before the above it was on a stone where we took this
close-up of the head and thorax.
View: DA1_20080807_1532_023 Common Darter female 2 eye detail.jpg
Description: ... and from the same frame extreme detail of the eye.
Date: 19 Aug 2008
View: d3B_20080804_0201_097_&_0218_099 fb1 Field Vole + Fieldmouse + slugs and snail (Montage).jpg
Description: The left and right halves of this pic are separated by 17
minutes at 2 a.m. but make an attractive pairing. We haven't seen
the vole for some time - the log had been sinking into the
ground so that it had not been breaking the beam.
Date: 18 Aug 2008
View: D3A_20080801_0504_047 fb2 Rabbit landing on front paws.jpg
Description: Hope you laugh at this is much as we did.
Nothing else animate in the original frame, so no real idea
what it's doing.
Practicing for the Rabbit Olympic High-jump, maybe?
Date: 17 Aug 2008
View: D3B_20080802_0525_143 fb1 Robin Chick begging from parent (crop with both birds).jpg
Description: Two views of a young robin begging for food from a parent.
First the whole story with an off-focus parent to the right.
View: D3B_20080802_0525_143 fb1 Robin Chick begging from parent (crop on chick).jpg
Description: ... and now a closer look at the chick.
Date: 16 Aug 2008
View: D3A_20080730_0508_038 fb2 Young robin with wing feathers spread.jpg
Description: Nice show of the underwing of one of 'our' developing young robins.
Date: 15 Aug 2008
View: D3B_20080730_2203_147 fb1 Fieldmouse with tail across face.jpg
Description: What must it be like to have a tail you can do this with?
From the position of the left front leg we rather imagine the mouse was
caught in the middle of giving it's tail a groom.
Date: 14 Aug 2008
View: D3A_20080729_0515_090 fb2 Pair of Rabbits possibly nuzzling over log like a kissing seat.jpg
Description: Rabbits have now replaced pheasants as the dominant species
visiting the camera site 2. This is a genuine single frame of
pair of rabbits possibly using the log like a 'kissing seat'.
But then maybe we are just too romantic.
View: D3A_20080729_0517_092 fb2 Rabbit and Robin (montage within single frame to bring Robin closer).jpg
Description: This is a bit of a fiddle, but the robin was originally off the
edge of the frame (with tail missing) so we moved him across to
make a more compact offering. Recently seeing more birds and
rabbits together than we are used to - any significance unknown.
Date: 13 Aug 2008
View: d3b_20080728_0005_031&_0014_034 fb1 Fieldmouse and (montaged) snail at fruit.jpg
Description: Fieldmouse and Snail at the Camera 1 fruit stall.
Their visit were actually 9 minutes apart but we could not resist bringing them together.
Date: 12 Aug 2008
View: DA1_20080727_1353_017 Southern Hawker dragonfly Female.jpg
Description: Dragonflies really are incredible creatures. Unlike the one shown
a few days ago this is definitely a female. Sexing can be
difficult - the colours change with maturity and even with
temperature and other characteristics don't appear in photos
View: DA1_20080727_1359_073 Southern Hawker dragonfly Female eye detail.jpg
Description: Here is a head shot with an inset showing the compound eye.
Compound eyes are an array of uni-directional cells rather
than lens and retina. Resolution is poor but they have huge angle
of view, are lightweight, detect movement quickly, and some
detect polarisation (used to navigate by skylight).
More info at
Wiki Compound Eye.
The streaks on the eye in the main image are Moire (artificial
digital patterning) effects at the reduced resolution used in
these archives.
Date: 11 Aug 2008
View: DC1_20080728_1112_084 Two Buzzards in aerial skirmish 2 of 8 (web crop@624 ).jpg
Description: 2 Buzzards in the same general area inevitably seems to lead to a
skirmish. These had several 'goes' at one another over about 10
minutes before they parted ways.
Date: 10 Aug 2008
View: DC1_20080726_1101_004 Common Darter Dragonfly female perched on stick (web crop).jpg
Description: This is the female Common Darter Dragonfly perched on a stick at the pond edge -
a favourite way of getting to see them close up.
View: DC1_20080728_1209_167 Pair of Common Darter Dragonflies laying in Dragon Pond.jpg
Description: We brought you a Male Common Darter Dragonfly last year on
21 Sep 2007 - here it is:-
Click for Image
To complete the cycle here are a pair coupled together (male
above) coordinating their flight to repeatedly dip the females
ovipositor (her tail tip) in the water to deposit eggs. In the
original you can see that the water surface tension is still
connecting her to the surface.
Date: 09 Aug 2008
View: DA1_20080726_1702_055 Banded Demoiselle Damselfly Male (web crop).jpg
Description: As promised in the image for 2 June 2008 we have tried to
photograph the Male Banded Damoiselle. Well some effort brought
the luck - here is the beauty.
Date: 08 Aug 2008
View: D3A_20080724_0541_035 fb2 Young robin in flight with body nearing inverted.jpg
Description: Continuing our unintentional 'birds twisting in flight'
sequence, this young robin's body is almost inverted with
head almost vertical.
'Look mum - upside down flying - ouch'.
Date: 07 Aug 2008
View: D60_20080725_1343_030 Little Owl Stretching.jpg
Description: The Little Owl is still spending hours on the dirt patch.
Here he was having such a satisfying stretch we almost
wanted to do the same.
Date: 06 Aug 2008
View: DA1_20080722_1626_029 Southern Hawker Dragonfly sex unsure (web crop).jpg
Description: This is a Hawker dragonfly - the largest type. In the words of
an old TV documentary we saw a couple of weeks ago, it will kill
and eat 'anything smaller than itself'! Our experts differ on
whether this is a male or female.
View: DA1_20080722_1624_011 Southern Hawker Dragonfly sex unsure (web crop).jpg
Description: Here is the powerful mouth and segmented eyes.
Date: 05 Aug 2008
View: D3A_20080722_0643_088 fb2 Young Robin with beak touching top of log.jpg
Description: Not seen a robin in quite this pose before. He is probably trying to
wheedle a bit of nut from in a crack in the bark.
Date: 04 Aug 2008
View: DA1_20080722_1631_062 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly Male (web crop).jpg
Description: Darter dragonflies are smaller than Hawker Dragonflies.
They tend to perch on twig, dash out for a fly round, and then
return.
View: DA1_20080722_1636_101 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly Male (web crop).jpg
Description: In this detailed shot you can see it is 'dusty' even over the eyes.
When he has warmed up he will probably 'preen' himself clean.
Date: 03 Aug 2008
View: DC1_20080722_1823_010 Little Owl on spoil heap (web crop 2).jpg
Description: Took the opportunity to get a closer image of the Little Owl
(see 26 July 2008).
It only stressed for us that they are about starling size.
Date: 02 Aug 2008
View: DA1_20080723_1556_070 Banded Demoiselle Female (web crop).jpg
Description: Some more Odonata (Dragonfly like insect) today and at least a
couple more alternate days. This female Banded Demoiselle (a
larger than average damselfly) is quite different to the male
which is blue and actually HAS got bands on his wings. Hope to
bring you her 'husband' if we can catch him for some photos!
View: DA1_20080723_1554_035 Banded Demoiselle Female (web crop).jpg
Description: Detail of the head - love the iridescence.
Date: 01 Aug 2008
View: D3A_20080720_1926_096 fb2 Blackbird male with worms + nuts in beak (web crop).jpg
Description: This male blackbird seems to be really going for a 'mixed diet'.
We make it 2 worms, a few chips of peanut all mixed up in sticky
fruit pulp. Forget the worms and it sounds lovely.
Image Archive arch 2008 jul.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Jul 2008
View: D3B_20080716_2034_080 fb1 Yellowhammer Juvenile.jpg
Description: This sweet little feather duster is a young Yellowhammer
seen where it's parents come and feed every day.
Date: 30 Jul 2008
View: D3B_20080718_0301_034 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Not seeing so many mice at the moment. This one seems to have
found some small piece of peanut (?) and is nibbling away.
Date: 29 Jul 2008
View: P34_20080712_1220_681 Oak marble gall.jpg
Description: Plant galls fascinate us. They are formed by insect parasites,
often eggs laid inside the plant which reacts to form a cavity to
the insect lavas liking. Eventually the insect bores its way out.
In the winter you find the woody galls with the exit holes
visible.
Date: 28 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080713_1634_094 Two Buzzards flying together with one light & other dark underwings.jpg
Description: The book describes Buzzard underwings as 'Variable', almost white
to almost black. Have both in one go ...
View: DC1_20080713_0923_009 Buzzard carrying rabbit in talons.jpg
Description: Earlier in the day we were surprised to see a buzzard carrying a
whole rabbit. The next surprise is that it didn't set off with it.
Instead it flew a few 100m over to a known morning 'thermal' and
despite the load circled without flapping and eventually
disappeared as a speck in the haze. We imagine it was
transporting it back a hungry brood some way away. A few days
later without the thermal we saw a smaller load being carried off
toward the M1 Motorway.
Date: 27 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080714_0816_012 Kestrel Female in flight.jpg
Description: Kestrels (the birds often seen hovering over motorways) are wonderful
to watch whether hovering or not.
Date: 26 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080714_0825_066 Little Owl on Spoil heap in Field to North (web crop).jpg
Description: After years of 'absence' a Little Owl (actual common name of
species) landed on a spoil heap of prospective stone quarrying
going on in the just cut meadow. This little fellow is fully
grown & is about the same size as a Starling. He is about 60m
away and just sat there for hours with his head turning at least
every half minute. Our presence seems to bother him/her not one
jot.
Date: 25 Jul 2008
View: D01_20080711_1311_024 Heron walking along bank of Duck Pond with beak open.jpg
Description: The heron visited the 'duck' pond and ate at least 3 Great Crested Newts
while we were watching. Considering that we only know he is there by chance
we wonder just how many newts he finds - and its been going on for years.
They must breed well here to survive this level of predation.
View: D01_20080711_1315_072 Heron clambering out of Duck pond with Great Crested Newt & pond weed in beak.jpg
Date: 24 Jul 2008
View: D3A_20080710_1944_066 fb2 Muntjac Fawn (web crop).jpg
Description: Ahhh. Its too small for a mature adult Muntjac deer so think
it must be this years fawn growing up nicely. We see a lot of
Muntjac droppings but haven't seen the nervous deer themselves
for months.
Date: 23 Jul 2008
View: D3B_20080711_0726_134 fb1 2 young (q) chaffinches squabbling (q).jpg
Description: We think this is a pair of young Chaffinches involved in a typical
sibbling squabble.
Date: 22 Jul 2008
View: SC1_20080710_0725_033 Rook in Flight (web crop).jpg
Description: After a day of rain an early bright period saw a lot of corvids
out looking over waterlogged soil for breakfast. This rook
silhouette with beak and eye rather appealed to us.
Date: 21 Jul 2008
View: D3A_20080708_1911_067 fb2 Jackdaw flying over site.jpg
Description: Jackdaws are powerful flyers and this moment seemed to capture
some of it.
Date: 20 Jul 2008
View: DB1_20080629_1233_014 Moorhen & three hopeful looking chicks.jpg
Description: The 5 moorhen chicks are two with the female and 3 with this
male. They just lined up nicely for a moment in the pic.
Date: 19 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080707_1736_019 Lapwing in Flight.jpg
Description: The lapwing and heron flew over the middle of our patch 5 minutes
apart, and these were taken from just outside the back of the
house. Lapwings are not often seen here, Herons are.
View: DC1_20080707_1741_041 Heron in Flight.jpg
Date: 18 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080628_1559_251 Swallow and Kestrel male in same frame ignoring each other.jpg
Description: Chance juxtaposition. They basically ignored each other. We
weren't going to include this one on this site, but
got a request from one of our e-mail group for the original to
print and frame, so it obviously has appeal!
Date: 17 Jul 2008
View: D3B_20080703_0507_129 fb1 Chaffinch male in flight (web crop).jpg
Description: The other end of the original is a yellowhammer disappearing out
of frame at the right edge of the frame. Don't know whether the
chaffinch was seeing off the yellowhammer, or something disturbed
them both.
Date: 16 Jul 2008
View: D3A_20080705_0451_036 fb2 Juvenile robin with first few red feathers flapping wings.jpg
Description: A sweet young robin just starting to get it's red feathers.
Date: 15 Jul 2008
View: D3B_20080628_0236_072 fb1 Magpie parent feeding youngster (web crop).jpg
Description: Magpie feeding its 'chick' if you can call that voracious creature a chick.
This is nothing wrong with the eye - just a protective membrane probably
like us closing our eyes when potential injury is near.
View: DB1_20080628_1358_010 Moorhen feeding 2 chicks (web crop).jpg
Description: All 5 of our moorhen chicks are doing fine with the parents
finding plenty of food for them.
Date: 14 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080628_0856_057 Rook harassing female Kestrel 4 of 7 (web crop).jpg
Description: The kestrels are not having it their own way. Rooks often seem to
harass kestrels - here is an example of a kestrel being seen off.
View: DC1_20080628_1559_270 Kestrel male in flight (web crop).jpg
Description: Nice image of kestrel.
Date: 13 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080628_1612_305 Kestrel carrying off Fieldmouse from cut meadow 3 of 4 (web crop).jpg
Description: All those mouse holes with nothing to disguise them makes easy-feeding
for the kestrel.
View: D3A_20080628_0159_054 fb2 Fieldmouse & slug.jpg
Description: The hole near this photo kit is in long grass on our side of the
fence so we expect most of them to survive.
Date: 12 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080626_1014_030 Rooks & other Corvids over newly cut grass.jpg
Description: Also interested in the half-baled field were masses (we guess 200)
of mostly rooks turning over the grass for morsels.
View: DC1_20080627_0732_008 Skylark ascending over partially baled meadow.jpg
Description: We assumed it was the end of seeing skylarks over the field but
no - he was back to full enthusiasm. He is further away now but
still a delight. They have had time for one brood & will hopefully
now manage another.
Date: 11 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080626_1808_049 Kestrel hunting over grass baling machine.jpg
Description: The fields to North and East have been cut and baled. This is of
great interest to opportunists like the kestrel. First he followed the machines
to catch anything that was forced from cover.
View: DC1_20080627_1016_017 Kestrel pouncing onto prey and eating it 02 of 18 (web crop).jpg
Description: Next morning the kestrel hunted from the tops of the bales - here he is
pouncing on some unfortunate rodent (one of many in a sequence we
hope to produce when time permits).
Date: 10 Jul 2008
View: P34_20080624_1618_274 All 6 peacocks who visited 24jun2008 (orig).jpg
Description: 2 Days of the Peacocks! 6 peacocks (birds not butterflies!)
wandered in from track and stayed for a few hours, elegantly
draped over oil tanks, shed tops etc. They came from the hotel
800m from us now under new management - they inherited 11 birds
but consider them a nuisance. Next day just 2 males visited, and
for the following days none.
View: P34_20080625_1549_359 Peacock male displaying tail not yet fully grown.jpg
Description: Just practicing ready for when his tail has more than 2 'eyes'
Date: 09 Jul 2008
View: D3A_20080623_1738_003 fb2 Pheasant pair mating (orig).jpg
Description: Here is a first - the pheasants mating at site 2 (their favourite haunt).
Here he is 'treading' the 'blonde' female.
10 minutes before he was apparently making overtures to the 'brunet'
female at the same site - naughty boy!
View: DB1_20080624_1613_008 moorhen feeding chick.jpg
Description: The moorhens have successfully produced 5 chicks from the nest
feared would be predated again. Here is the first being fed.
Date: 08 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080622_1023_115 Swallow over uncut meadow (web crop).jpg
Description: The shimmering back of a swallow flying over a meadow of
uncut grasses & buttercups.
View: DB1_20080616_0619_004 Great Spotted woodpecker female.jpg
Description: A surprisingly pristine female Great spotted woodpecker on the
peanut feeder crossbar. The youngster has learned how to use the
feeders, saving her a lot of work.
Date: 07 Jul 2008
View: P34_20080623_1941_234 Emperor Dragonfly Female hanging on pond grass (web crop).jpg
Description: The Emperor Dragonfly is big with 10cm wingspan
and absolutely beautiful intricate body and wings.
View: DC1_20080623_1919_041 Emperor Dragonfly Female Head detail.jpg
Description: Soak in the detail - on the original you can see the
segments of the compound eye.
Date: 06 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080623_1355_016 Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly Male perched on willow stick (web crop).jpg
Description: This is the first dragonfly we have seen here, with beautiful powder
blue (and powdery texture) abdomen. It has a wingspan of about 7cm.
View: DC1_20080623_1551_049 Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly Male head detail (orig).jpg
Date: 05 Jul 2008
View: D3A_20080620_0539_023 fb2 Stock Dove.jpg
Description: Expect we have seen them before, but this is the first image
of a Stock dove we have thought good enough to keep.
Date: 04 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080620_1411_165-167 Skylark descending (montage at about 7 fps).jpg
Description: Skylarks descend much faster than they rise. Sometimes they come down in
a chaotic flurry of legs and feather, at other times under more control
as this montage shows. The birds spacings are fairly accurate (based on
positions against the same clouds in different shots) taken at about
7 frames per Second.
Date: 03 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080620_0656_048 Bullfinch on edge of bird bath with part of flower in beak.jpg
Description: First time we have a decent image of a bullfinch, even if taken
through a window. This is a male - there were two males stripping
the flowerheads.
Date: 02 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080617_1607_325 House Martin in flight.jpg
Description: This is a House Martin in flight, the least frequent of our
three flycatchers which includes Swallows and Swifts.
Date: 01 Jul 2008
View: DC1_20080617_1610_338 Kestrel hovering.jpg
Description: The male Kestrel had a leg injury and was struggling a bit, but
now seems to be back to his old health.
Image Archive arch 2008 jun.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080617_1629_434 Skylark in Flight (web crop).jpg
Description: This joyous little creature flew for us 4 times at various
distances and lighting. Here are a couple of the best images we got.
This is the bird that normally hovers like a speck in the sky -
we were lucky to get this one hovering low down.
View: DC1_20080617_1629_442 Skylark in Flight with wings almost closed.jpg
Description: Skylarks seem to spend some their time in flight with
wings closed. Do wish we could include the liquid song, but even
if we recorded it the noise from the camera would drown it out.
Date: 29 Jun 2008
View: DB1_20080613_1438_010 Great spotted woodpecker chick and mother on vertical log (web crop).jpg
Description: The Great spotted woodpecker chick likes our peanut feeders and unfortunately
also the wooden post it hangs from! Here it is with Mother and
then on its own. Have not seen 'Dad' lately - may be sad, or
maybe feeding elsewhere with another chick.
View: DB1_20080613_1439_014 Great Spotted woodpecker Chick (web crop).jpg
Date: 28 Jun 2008
View: DB1_20080614_1134_037 Young Bluetit.jpg
Description: Baby Bluetits are so sweet. They have quickly learned
'peanut feeder technique'.
View: DB1_20080614_1135_047 Young Bluetit jumping down.jpg
Date: 27 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080614_0806_087&93 Green woodpecker male in bounding flight (Montage).jpg
Description: Have been trying for ages to get a photo of a Green Woodpecker in flight and
finally got lucky. Green woodpeckers go in for 'bounding flight' - flap like mad
and then streamline and glide/ballistic to save wind resistance.
Date: 26 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080614_0818_157 Field to N inc Elderberry + grasses + buttercups.jpg
Description: The surrounding fields have not been cut, and there is lovely show of purplish
grass heads, buttercups, and in the overgrown hedges, elderberry flowers.
View: D3B_20080612_2242_115 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Not much by way of acrobatics from the fieldmice recently, but still sweet.
We plan to move this camera 10-15m soon (the current site is badly
eroded and in a water run-off) and do hope they follow).
Date: 25 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080614_1258_192 Swift in flight (web crop).jpg
Description: Swifts and swallows are making intermittent appearances.
View: DC1_20080614_1302_215 Swallow in flight.jpg
Date: 24 Jun 2008
View: DB1_20080608_0956_018 Moorhen swimming from second attempt nest on Dragon Pond.jpg
Description: The moorhen are trying again after the fox scoffed the first lot of eggs.
Not sure they have chosen a better place but hope so.
Late News: By chance 16 days after this image was taken it turns out to
have been a good place - a chick being fed on the water.
Date: 23 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080613_0740_018 Cuckoo in Flight (web crop).jpg
Description: Out at 07:40 watching for larks, kestrel or anything else heard a
distant cuckoo call and saw a distant atypical bird flying in our
general direction. Beats the usual cuckoo call right over your
head as a sort of 'missed me'.
Date: 22 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080607_1822_038 3 adult wood pigeons on high voltage cables.jpg
Description: Two very different birds on 2 very different wires.
These pigeons on the high voltage cables just took our fancy -
not the usual 'one-peck-apart'.
View: DC1_20080614_1632_446 Goldfinch on wire.jpg
Description: Goldfinches have not 'disappeared' for the summer this year and
this one was sitting on the overhead phone wires looking beautiful.
Date: 21 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080611_1416_017 Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding chick on peanut feeder.jpg
Description: Fledgelings everywhere are 'begging' food from their parents. On a
gloomy afternoon through the kitchen window we watched the Great Spotted
Woodpecker chick on the left is being fed by Mum. Next day he had
fathomed out the feeder for him/her self.
View: D3A_20080609_1914_022 fb2 Magpie chick begging food from parent.jpg
Description: A couple of days earlier a magpie chick more 'demanded' to
be fed in several images over about 30 minutes.
Date: 20 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080610_1802_030 Pheasant Male in Buttercups.jpg
Description: The male pheasant strides through the buttercups in the adjacent
field making a ridiculously colourful pairing.
Date: 19 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080608_1345_002 Oxeye Daisies.jpg
Description: Anything not mown is beginning to be carpeted by buttercups or
these oxeye daisies.
Date: 18 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080609_1456_141 Jet plane making contrail flying by moon.jpg
Description: It's sad that planes litter the sky with trails and infuriating
when low ones drown out the birds and conversation,
but this seemed like too capricious a moment to miss.
View: D3B_20080609_0017_127 fb1 Fieldmouse gazing upwards.jpg
Description: We don't see Hares here anymore, so we have to 'make do' with a
fieldmouse gazing at the moon (well it might have been if it
hadn't set already!)
Date: 17 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080608_1357_029 Large Red Damselfly Male.jpg
Description: Damselflies are sort of miniature dragonflies, & just as alien.
View: DC1_20080608_1358_039 2 Pairs of Azure Damselflies laying in Duck pond (web crop).jpg
Description: This is two pairs of Azure damselflies laying eggs in
'Duck' pond among the miniature water lilies and duckweed.
The female on the right has her ovipositor under the water.
Date: 16 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080609_1126_067 Elephant Hawk-Moth side view on oxeye daisy stem with buttercups backdrop (web crop).jpg
Description: The Moth trap (see yesterday) also caught a Elephant Hawk-moth with its
incredible shocking pink colouration
View: D30_20010624_0943_696 Elephant Hawk-moth in Flight with Honeysuckle (web crop).jpg
Description: 7 years ago (24 June 2001) we photographed the same species in
flight using a electronically triggered camera and flash. Its a
genuine single image of a rather tatty individual, though the
'sky' was a painted backboard.
Date: 15 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080609_1133_125 2 Poplar Hawk-moths on moss (web crop).jpg
Description: An overnight run of the moth trap (a bright mercury vapour lamp
to attract moths who spend the night safely below in old egg
cartons) caught about 200 moths of 30 species.
These Poplar Hawk-moths have a body length of about 4cm.
We happened to catch two and couldn't resist showing them
together - they look different because their underwings are
differently positioned.
View: DC1_20080609_1134_128 Poplar Hawk-moth head & antennae.jpg
Description: Detail of the head and antennae.
Date: 14 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080605_1307_017 Bluetit adult with crest raised in Silver Birch with insect (web crop).jpg
Description: Bluetits are now being fed as fledgelings (left the nest) and
others still in the box (possibly from different boxes - at least 4
have bluetits in them).
View: DC1_20080605_1307_020 Fledgling Bluetit begging from parent in Silver Birch tree (web crop).jpg
Description: Youngster on the left, wings aflutter - FEED ME! FEED ME! FEED ME!
Date: 13 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080604_1903_203 Kestrel male being pestered by Chaffinch Male.jpg
Description: Bit of behaviour we have not noticed before - male chaffinches
pestering a perched kestrel until it moves on.
View: DC1_20080604_1905_217 Kestrel male taking off from phone pole 4 of 6 (web crop).jpg
Description: Here it is flying to the next perch along where another
male chaffinch almost immediately arrived to harass it.
Date: 12 Jun 2008
View: DA1_20080605_0907_005 Bluetit chick at box hole begging food from adult.jpg
Description: For an hour or so the Bluetit nest box in the back garden was
well enough lit for some images. Here one of the chicks has
clambered up to the hole to grab the incoming morsel.
View: DA1_20080605_0921_141 Bluetit parents queuing at Back garden nestbox (web crop).jpg
Description: The parents were arriving so often they had to queue up a few
times. Here one leaves over the head of the other waiting to go
in.
Date: 11 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080607_0721_004&010 Skylark in flight (Montage).jpg
Description: This is a montage of a single skylark ascending, images a second or two apart.
This is the first time we remember getting a skylark image that is more
than a speck in the sky.
View: DC1_20080607_0752_144 Kestrel Male Hovering.jpg
Description: Male Kestrel Hovering in the breeze.
Date: 10 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080603_1329_073 Swallow flying in rain (web crop).jpg
Description: We wouldn't normally try to photograph birds in flight in poor
light and even worse when raining. But about 6 were hunting
through the trees to our North only a few metres off the ground
and less then 10m from the house. So through an open window we
had a go until the rain got so hard it was too much even for the
swallows. This one seemed to catch the moment
Date: 09 Jun 2008
View: D3B_20080601_1712_020 fb1 Yellowhammer Female threatening bird flying off to right.jpg
Description: Not sure what the bird being threatened was, but the female yellowhammer
seems to have won the day.
View: D3B_20080601_1734_026 fb1 Yellowhammer male.jpg
Description: A picture of a male yellowhammer about 20 minutes later,
positively glowing yellow.
Date: 08 Jun 2008
View: D01_20080530_1034_006 Heron at Duck pond eating Great Crested Newt.jpg
Description: On a grander scale to yesterdays Blackbird and grub, a heron took
a few newts from the duck-shaped pond - this one at least being
the protected 'Great Crested' newt (which is the dominant
species on our patch).
Date: 07 Jun 2008
View: D3A_20080529_0729_050 fb2 Blackbird male with grub in beak.jpg
Description: Blackbirds all over the plot are feeding youngsters. At 7:30 a.m.
this male has found a grub for one of his.
Date: 06 Jun 2008
View: D3B_20080528_2332_039 fb1 2 Fieldmice and at least 20 slugs.jpg
Description: Wet weather brings out the slugs. Looks like the mouse on the
right has an obstacle course to run. The mouse just left of
centre is behind the log.
Date: 05 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080530_1409_109 Collared Dove pair on Raptor Perch (web crop).jpg
Description: This pair of collared doves seem to have commandeered the 'raptor
post' and spend much of the day there in contentment and
affectionate mutual preening.
Date: 04 Jun 2008
View: P34_20080530_1429_435 Stone Walling from CCTV pole Seq.jpg
Description: After a year of planning, stone acquisition and foundation
laying, the RSPB Phoenix youth group descended on our little
world to build a short length of drystone wall as a suntrap to
attract lizards & snakes (and who knows what else).
View: D10_20080531_1039_028 Stone walling build day 31May2008 Seq (web crop).jpg
Description: Work in progress. Less than half the people who turned up
are in this picture
View: P34_20080531_1251_492 Stone Walling from CCTV pole Seq.jpg
Description: The finished item - now we wait and see what likes it.
Many thanks to all concerned.
Date: 03 Jun 2008
View: DA1_20080529_1319_193 Bluetit flying to nestbox (web crop).jpg
Description: The Bluetits in the box on the dead elm post are feeding chicks.
Both parents feed the young for 15 to 23 days (book info) taking
in a grub, caterpillar or adult insect every few minutes. Phew!
The insects now are noticeably larger than shown on
30 May 2008 taken a week before.
View: DA1_20080529_1320_207 Bluetit flying from nestbox (web crop).jpg
Date: 02 Jun 2008
View: DC1_20080529_1208_114 Orange Tip Butterfly Female on Red Campion (web crop).jpg
Description: This is an orange-tip butterfly - the female has no orange tip but the
beautiful green and white mottled underwing is the giveaway.
Haven't seen a male for a week or two.
Date: 01 Jun 2008
View: P34_20080528_1125_286 Fungus on old log in orchard.jpg
Description: Wet - Wet - Wet. The fungi are popping up in the grass and more
interestingly on a log in a partly overgrown woodpile.
Is this one 'fungus' (a single mycelium) or a number of 'fungi'
fruiting bodies.
Image Archive arch 2008 may.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 May 2008
View: D3A_20080522_1743_004 fb2 Pheasant pair with male drab after dust bathing on bonfire ash.jpg
Description: The male pheasant often arrives before we have finished checking
over the camera kits to get the first helping. On this occasion we
thought he looked very drab but assumed it was just the light.
But even in flash he looks dusty, and now Marie remembers she has
seen him dust-bathing on the bonfire ash. He was back to vivid next day.
View: D3A_20080520_1838_021 fb2 Pheasant male portrait (web crop).jpg
Description: From a few days before, a head portrait of proud male pheasant
lording it over a feeding female (out of focus on the left of the
original).
Date: 30 May 2008
View: DA1_20080520_1416_265 Bluetit flying to nestbox with food (wings open).jpg
Description: The new bluetit nestbox on the venerable 'elm' post contains
really young chicks - no calls audible & for a while one parent
was passing food to the other inside.
View: DA1_20080521_1300_073 Bluetit flying from nestbox (web crop).jpg
Date: 29 May 2008
View: DC1_20080520_1544_079 Buzzard flying low over grass (shadows tinged green).jpg
Description: A buzzard did a few low circles about 20m high over our 'meadow'.
All the photos have the
green cast in the shadows which we assume is light coming off the grass.
View: DC1_20080520_1745_050 Swift in flight overhead with beak open.jpg
Description: Some swifts did a few low circles. Here one has it's mouth open to
catch the insects it feeds on.
Date: 28 May 2008
View: DC1_20080518_1300_030 Kestrel in Flight.jpg
Description: The male kestrel is about this area a number of times each day
at the moment.
View: D3B_20080517_0704_067 fb1 Rabbit.jpg
Description: Rabbits are a constant presence that we don't often feature, but
this one could take a nice portrait of itself because the rooks
had moved away the log.
Date: 27 May 2008
View: P34_20080518_0901_757 Natural Horse Chestnut Bud 6 Seq zoom 2 (web crop).jpg
Description: You see these by the thousand on flowering horse chestnut, but
have you ever looked at the detailed mix of colours and forms?
View: D3B_20080518_0459_102 fb1 2 magpies.jpg
Description: 'Double trouble' or '2 for Joy'. NOT a montage.
Date: 26 May 2008
View: DC1_20080514_1528_077 House Martin in flight with head horizontal but body sideways.jpg
Description: At last got some decent images of House Martins. We have selected
one that again illustrates birds flying with their heads 'still',
in this case still horizontal, with the body, wings & tail all
sideways (See Yellowhammer from 22 May 2008).
View: D3A_20080514_1817_019 & 1809_018 fb2 Pair of Blackbirds (shifted montage).jpg
Description: A pair of blackbirds appeared quite regularly together at this
site, but never both good images together, so here is a montage
(from successive frames) with the male moved for better effect.
Date: 25 May 2008
View: D3B_20080511_1950_098 fb1 Yellowhammer pair displaying (Q).jpg
Description: We really don't know what is going on with this pair of Yellowhammers,
but its an interesting moment.
View: DC1_20080513_1103_094 Pollen clouds from pines (web crop).jpg
Description: A gust of wind produced a cloud of pollen metres across
from a stand of pines. The photo of this is not as impressive as
the event, so here is a little induced but genuine mini-cloud.
Date: 24 May 2008
View: DC1_20080512_1004_012 Kestrel male in Flight (web crop).jpg
Description: The male Kestrel did this lovely flyby, but then proceeded to hover
against the sun.
View: DC1_20080510_1743_023 Brimstone butterfly male on Red Campion.jpg
Description: Lovely pairing of colours. The female Brimstone is white but
with the orange spot.
Date: 23 May 2008
View: P34_20080509_1827_191 Blackbird fledgling still in toolshed (web crop).jpg
Description: The Blackbirds nest fledged successfully (while we weren't watching)
but we found this fledgling still in the shed sitting on the junk.
View: DC1_20080511_1723_022 Squirrel eating bulb dug up from grass.jpg
Description: We watched this squirrel dig up and eat about 6 bulbs from the
grass patch we call the lawn.
Date: 22 May 2008
View: DC1_20080506_1113_004 Starling carrying food to nest entrance in roof 4 of 5 (web crop).jpg
Description: Starlings nesting in our roof-space now have young to feed. The
chicks are being well supplied with an 'airlift' of all kinds of
squishy nutritious yucks.
View: D3B_20080506_1927_019 fb1 Yellowhammer male in flight head upright and body & wings turned vertical.jpg
Description: Birds generally fly with their heads 'still', using the neck to
adjust for orientation and oscillation of the wings - the kestrel
is the best example. But this isn't bad - the head is clearly
normally oriented while the body and wings are almost at a
right-angle.
Date: 21 May 2008
View: DC1_20080506_1116_019 Great Tit eating undeveloped fruit base of cherry blossom (web crop).jpg
Description: The great tits have created a carpet of complete fallen blossom heads. They
seem to be biting them off, eating the unformed fruit under the flower, and then
dropping them. There is so much shade in the tree now the leaves are out its
hard to get a clear image - this is the best illustration.
View: P34_20080506_1135_970 Great Tit dropped flowers after eating undeveloped fruit base of cherry blossom (web crop).jpg
Description: The debris from the above - there are hundreds of these flower heads.
Date: 20 May 2008
View: DC1_20080506_1353_005 Swallow male on wire with curvy profile.jpg
Description: The swallows are back. This one seems rather elegant balancing
in the wind. They have even been in the house through an open window
and needed rescuing when caught in curtains.
View: P34_20080506_1401_972 Blackbird nest in Toolshed with Chicks.jpg
Description: Our dilapidated toolshed is apparently the ideal nursery for these
blackbirds. Visits limited to one a day for a quick photo and
to grab any tools we need.
Date: 19 May 2008
View: P34_20080506_1759_986 apple blossom.jpg
Description: The apple blossom this year has been prolific. Distant shots never
seem to capture the feel, so here is a closer sample.
View: DC1_20080505_1502_090 Holly Blue male (Q) Butterfly on Dyers Bugloss flower (Anchusa officinalis).jpg
Description: The Holly Blue butterfly is a rare visitor photographed here only 4
times: 1997 (Kodachrome - in flight, date unknown), 21 May 2001, 16 May 2002, 5 May 2008.
Note the date drift.
The identification of the plant is
wrong - it should be Green Alkanet (sometimes Evergreen Bugloss)
(Pentaglottis Sempervirens). Thanks to Rory Morrisey
for the correction.
Date: 18 May 2008
View: D3B_20080504_1811_224 fb1 Robin begging insect from mate (web crop).jpg
Description: We have to assume the female is on the left begging the insect in
the male's beak as part of courtship feeding.
Date: 17 May 2008
View: D3B_20080430_2117_053 fb1 2 fieldmice chasing.jpg
Description: This pair of fieldmice seem to be having a energetic
chase around the site.
View: D3A_20080502_2208_044 fb2 Fieldmouse clambering up side of log viewed from end of log.jpg
Description: At the other camera rooks moving the logs sometimes blocks the
beam, blocks the camera, or as here generates an interesting new
view.
Date: 16 May 2008
View: DB1_20080430_1740_012 Green Woodpecker Pair with male top left (web crop).jpg
Description: Mr & Mrs Green woodpecker - we hope they are nesting somewhere!
The male is the one with the extra red on the cheek.
View: DC1_20080501_1014_014 Clump of Snakes-head Fritillaries white variant.jpg
Description: Some Snakes-head Fritilliaries are 'white', but this is the first time
we have seen a 'clump' of them here. Unspectacular but rather pretty.
Date: 15 May 2008
View: DC1_20080501_1328_060 Dunnock singing in hedge.jpg
Description: A lot of sound from a little bird.
Human singers are taught to open their mouths wide to sing.
The dunnock does it naturally.
View: DC1_20080501_1809_079 Muntjac male resting in grass (web crop).jpg
Description: Don't usually get such a good view. He obviously saw us so perhaps
he is getting used to us - 'mostly harmless'.
This isn't as close as it looks (guess about 30m).
Date: 14 May 2008
View: DC1_20080501_1020_021 Sparrowhawk female in flight (web crop).jpg
Description: This week the Sparrowhawk has replaced the male Kestrel as flyby
tease of the week. Have always loved the mad yellow eye.
View: D3B_20080430_0102_116 fb1 Fieldmouse carrying peanut.jpg
Description: Now the bird breeding season is upon us we will ensure that no
more whole peanuts (that might choke a nestling) go out - the
grits get sieved for the next few months! So here is a last
'fieldmouse with peanut' for a while ...
Date: 13 May 2008
View: DA1_20080428_1737_023 Chaffinch male singing in Hawthorn.jpg
Description: Chaffinches everywhere we are delighted to say - this one singing
his heart out from the hawthorn 'tree' growing out of the hedge
over camera site 1.
View: P34_20080427_0851_182 Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) Adult on Horse Chestnut leaf.jpg
Description: While about to photograph the growing 'candle' on our selected
horse-chestnut we noticed this Shieldbug. Now we have the
authoritative and nicely presented tome on the subject 'The ...
Shieldbugs and Squashbugs of the British Isles' by 'Evans and
Edmondson' we are (reasonably) confident of the identification.
Date: 12 May 2008
View: DA1_20080428_1745_031 Curlew in Flight (web crop).jpg
Description: A first for us - a fly-over by a curlew in the evening sunshine.
View: DA1_20080428_1752_058 Jackdaw flying with piece of fruit in beak (web crop).jpg
Description: We at first thought the beak contained something rather
unfortunate, but it seems to be a piece of waste fruit.
Date: 11 May 2008
View: D3B_20080425_2011_158 fb1 Robin in flight.jpg
Description: The unusually sharp image of a Robin flying through the site
View: DA1_20080426_1258_029 Wren in ivy on bramble stem on garage wall.jpg
Description: Wrens are so quick its usually 'look - there was a wren there'.
In a shady corner this one was exploring the ivy on the garage
wall giving us a chance for a photo.
Date: 10 May 2008
View: DA1_20080426_1101_008 Muntjac Male (asymmetric Antlers) on S side of N hedge in bands of shadow.jpg
Description: The Muntjac deer like we usually see them - distant and nervously
moving away from us. We rather like the horizontal bars of light
and tree shadows.
View: DA1_20080426_1757_080 Muntjac male and Fox ignoring each other in Field to E.jpg
Description: NOT a montage. We watched with amazement as the muntjac walked
past the clearly visible fox without a qualm, being much more
worried about us standing quietly about 100m away.
Date: 09 May 2008
View: DA1_20080424_1643_072 Rook in Flight showing damaged wing feathers.jpg
Description: We have recently seen this rook with a load of wing feathers missing
but it doesn't seem to effect his flight one iota.
View: D3B_20080422_2221_089 fb1 Fieldmouse standing vertical by another.jpg
Description: There were a couple of images like this at different places along
the log, so we presume the stance has some significance. In the
others its not so obvious that is isn't about to clamber up the
log.
Date: 08 May 2008
View: D3B_20080421_1854_149 fb1 Yellowhammer female.jpg
Description: The yellowhammer female at last poses properly. The male appears
in the images for 1 May 2008.
View: DA1_20080418_1213_013 Starling gathering nesting material.jpg
Description: Starling (nesting in our roof-space) collecting old reed mace
for the nest.
Date: 07 May 2008
View: DA1_20080422_1316_050 Bluetit on open Black Poplar Catkins (web crop).jpg
Description: Black poplar's moment of glory is (for us) the red catkins.
The dropped catkins make a slippery mess all up the track.
The trees don't leaf for a few weeks yet.
Oh - and there is a blue tit!
View: P34_20080422_1137_851 First daisies of 2008.jpg
Description: And down on the ground the first daisies smile at the sun.
Date: 06 May 2008
View: D3B_20080419_0607_140 fb1 Chaffinch Male in flight.jpg
Description: Don't often get Chaffinches in full flight, so have to forgive
this one for leaving his tail out of frame!
View: D3A_20080421_1915_075 fb2 Chaffinch pair (Female moved).jpg
Description: A more static image of the pair of chaffinches at this site.
Date: 05 May 2008
View: D3A_20080418_1746_020 fb2 Robin with worm and mate.jpg
Description: When did your partner last offer you a nice slimy worm as a
token of love?
View: D3B_20080418_1946_054 fb1 Pair of robins with one singing.jpg
Description: ... or sing to you at 100dB
Date: 04 May 2008
View: D01_20080417_1602_532-537 Heron Takeoff from Duck Pond Anim.gif
Description: Yesterday's newt eating heron finally got startled and took off.
Fingers were not fast enough to catch the launch, but the
wonderful wing shapes during lift-off do make a good sight.
This image should animate showing about a second during the
takeoff as 6 images.
Date: 03 May 2008
View: D01_20080417_1540_283-324 Heron catching and swallowing Newt (montage of 5).jpg
Description: This mature heron spent about 45 minutes catching at least 15 newts
(mostly the protected great-crested!) at the duck shaped pond.
Here is a sequence of one such taken over about 1 minute.
(1) Grab from water, (2 & 3) manoeuvre head first, (4 & 5) down it goes.
Date: 02 May 2008
View: DB1_20080415_1204_057 Mallard pair drowsing after feeding.jpg
Description: This pair of mallard have been feeding together in various ponds
for some days. After a couple of hours in the main pond they
pulled out onto the bank near the house for a drowse in the
sunshine.
View: D3B_20080417_2108_253 fb1 2 Fieldmice.jpg
Description: Another inexplicable moment in the fieldmouse family.
Date: 01 May 2008
View: D3B_20080414_1841_020 fb1 Yellowhammer male.jpg
Description: A pair of Yellowhammer are visiting this site as they did
last year. The bright yellow head is the male - the less
brilliant female has yet to take a good pic of herself
View: DA1_20080415_1245_021 Common (q) Bee-fly (Bombylius major (q)) on orchard leaf litter.jpg
Description: This might be a 'common' bee-fly (one of 12 or 15 species
according to which book you look in but neither has any detail)
but it is new to us.
Image Archive arch 2008 apr.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080414_0909_040 Cherry (Q) Blossom with Chaffinch.jpg
Description: Sure he was eating the buds/flowers but never caught him at it.
View: D3B_20080412_2049_058 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: The fieldmice are now making several visits most nights, so
here is a sample.
Date: 29 Apr 2008
View: p34_20080414_0938_338 Cuckoo Flower aka Ladys Smock.jpg
Description: Have finally identified a pretty lilac coloured 'weed' in various
parts of the oldest land as Cuckoo Flower also called Lady's Smock.
View: D3B_20080413_0001_082 fb1 young rabbit.jpg
Description: Rabbits look sweet and innocent at this age. Its later that they
eat the flower, make warrens under sheds and tear the bark off
trees!
Date: 28 Apr 2008
View: D3A_20080410_1836_017 fb2 Rook lifting end of log gripped in beak.jpg
Description: The log at camera 2 keeps getting moved, once .5m away from the
site. Here is a culprit. The log is not particularly heavy, but
we are amazed that a rook can lift it in it's beak. We had
assumed that it has been rolled or kicked out of position.
View: D3A_20080416_0633_091 fb2 Robin on ground watching dunnock twist towards him in the air.jpg
Description: Birds are just so agile in the air. There is the head of another
Dunnock at the right edge of the original frame, so maybe this is
the male showing off. You can see the log is in one of its
'rook-adjusted' positions
Date: 27 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080412_1244_117+119+120 Kestrel male whiffling in dive (montage).jpg
Description: An attempt to catch the feel of 'our' kestrel tumbling down out
of the sky onto an unfortunate in the grass.
Maybe should have spaced them out more vertically, but you get the idea.
Date: 26 Apr 2008
View: da1_20080408_1112_014 buzzard.jpg
Description: Before 'lunch' (his or ours?) the thermals haven't got going much
yet so for once he is more than a spec in the sky.
View: DA1_20080409_1602_003 Pheasant Male striding along.jpg
Description: One of the male pheasants strutting his stuff in the sunshine.
Date: 25 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080409_1602_015 Mallard male in flight.jpg
Description: The Mallard duck pairs often take off together, but not so far
close enough for a satisfactory 'pair of ducks in flight' pic. So
here they are one at a time having panned from one to the other.
First Him ...
View: DA1_20080409_1602_020 Mallard female in flight.jpg
Description: ... and now Her ...
Date: 24 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080409_1620_103+105+106+107+108 2 Buzzards in aerial fight (montage of 5 of 14).jpg
Description: We watched as a buzzard flew lazy circles and then another came into view and they quietly
circled for a couple of minutes before one closed in on the other and surprise 'dogfight' ensued.
Here is the crux of the first encounter all taken within a second or two. They separated and drifted
out of camera range continuing to spar.
Date: 23 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080408_1118_059 Kestrel Male Hovering ever lower to drop on prey 13 of 42.jpg
Description: There are 41 more of these and we haven't got the time at the
moment to do more than label and store them against future
effort. It was the classic hover, down-a-bit, hover, down-a-bit
several times, pounce on the ground, eat it, and fly away. Never
saw what was caught. Goes nicely as precursor to
Kestrel Catching & eating Weasel
as an illustration of his technique although he went straight down off the
wires onto the weasel.
View: DA1_20080408_1604_037 Marsh Tit in Japanese Larch with seed in beak.jpg
Description: Many trees have matured enough to start producing seed in the
last couple of years, and the seed eaters are becoming regular
visitors.
Date: 22 Apr 2008
View: p34_20080406_0845_681 mallard drake with snow and daffodils.jpg
Description: The snow here has not lasted long, but a quick rush out with the
camera produced some rewarding results. The 'Duck & Daffodils' sounds
like it ought to be the name of a country pub.
View: D3B_20080403_2254_116 fb1 2 Fieldmice squabbling.jpg
Description: Whether they are squabbling or loving we are not really sure.
Date: 21 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080405_0753_006 Cherry Blossom.jpg
Description: A little break from the fauna to appreciate the flora.
View: D3A_20080401_1909_061 fb2 Pheasant Male against Sunset.jpg
Description: A study in glowing colours.
Date: 20 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080403_1513_038 Muntjac female by back garden silver birch with daffodils & forget-me-nots.jpg
Description: A Muntjac deer pair came for a visit to the back garden/orchard
on a gloomy day. This was taken in similar place & viewpoint to
one of our long term favourites from 25 Apr 2005 - click on
Muntjac mother & Fawn
View: DA1_20080403_1514_047 Muntjac male head detail.jpg
Description: The head detail of the male Muntjac that was following the previous female.
This is not the male deer we featured in January you can see by
clicking on
Muntjac male with asymmetric antlers
Note the swollen scent gland and pit below the eye and the tiny tusk
at the mouth which always makes us think of 'vampire muntjac'.
Date: 19 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080401_1746_082 Mallard female taking off from main pond.jpg
Description: A Mallard duck (the female) leaping from the water in the evening
sunlight. The background are some flower daffodils and silver
birch trunks.
View: DA1_20080330_0930_040 Pair of moorhen on main pond with female right.jpg
Description: Pairs of moorhen seem to be nesting at two ponds and in a
woodpile in the back garden. The two on the main pond are the
only ones we can photograph easily, so here is a little portrait
of them being affectionate.
Date: 18 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080330_1013_076 Jackdaw carrying twig to nest.jpg
Description: A pair of Jackdaws have taken over an old Magpie nest in the
Hawthorn trees about 5 metres from the house and are
'refurbishing' it - i.e. adding even more sticks.
We rather like the stark gargoyle-esque silhouette.
View: D3B_20080328_1934_108 fb1 Fieldmouse carrying potato peel.jpg
Description: Mrs. Fieldmouse doing an evening shop for potato?
The white streak in the foreground is a bit of grass blown in the wind.
Date: 17 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080330_1535_188-222 Kestrel male catching Weasel in grass & eating it on post (14 image Montage).jpg
Description: From about 100m away we watched this male Kestrel hunting,
catching a weasel in the grass, carrying it in its talons to a
fence post, where it ripped it apart and ate it over about 5 minutes.
In the 5th image (lower right edge) the prey is hidden by the
body of the banking bird as it circled round to the fence post.
All images are full resolution crops from huge originals. (Make
sure you see the whole width).
Date: 16 Apr 2008
View: D60_20080327_1540_133 Kestrel male flying from evergreen tip.jpg
Description: Think this is the same Kestrel male a few hours after his
airborne skirmishes.
View: DA1_20080329_0914_046 Robin singing standing on Blackthorn thorn in hedge W of track.jpg
Description: Another ridiculously tame robin 2m from us engaging in a song duel with
two other robins each 20m or so away.
Date: 15 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080327_0950_213 Kestrel male and Rook in vertical mid-air fight (web crop).jpg
Description: A dogfight of several minutes between a male kestrel (a female
kestrel staying with the two but at a 'safe' distance) took place
too high for first class images, but this will give you an idea
of the action. This is not a 'line-of-sight' effect - the
adjacent frame taken a fraction of a second before has the rook's
beak overlapping the kestrel - here the kestrel's wing overlaps
the rook.
View: DA1_20080321_1024_039 Long-tailed Tit in Hedge E of Arch.jpg
Description: Unusual pose of a Long-tailed Tit with it's tail pushed out of
position by the twigs and feathers fluffed out. Sweet little
face.
Date: 14 Apr 2008
View: DA1_20080326_1215_020 Sparrowhawk Female in Flight.jpg
Description: We believe this is a female sparrowhawk - normally viewed here as a
'woooosh - what was that' experience as a small bird exits existence :-(
On a not very fine day a surprisingly good thermal raised this circling
bird from just about photographable distance to a speck in the blue
in a couple of minutes with barely a wing flap.
View: DA1_20080327_1010_441 Long-tailed Tit with beak full of nesting material.jpg
Description: Looks like we might be lucky enough to have long-tail Tits not
only beautifying our patch, but breeding as well.
Date: 13 Apr 2008
View: D3A_20080323_1812_055 fb2 fox.jpg
Description: Fox arrives just as the sky (top left) fades away.
View: DA1_20080326_1233_049 Mallard pair in Violets.jpg
Description: At least two pairs of mallard visit the ponds and other areas.
This pair moved out of the back-garden pond into the violets as
we approached, thought about flying off (agitated bobbing etc.),
but calmed down and we took this as we left the area, and they
stayed for another hour or so.
Date: 12 Apr 2008
View: D3A_20080323_1019_157 fb2 Redwing portrait with patches of snow.jpg
Description: This year Redwings have moved from brief glimpse in autumn
to regular views on the camera and physical sightings.
View: D3A_20080325_0544_125 fb2 Robin threatening Redwing.jpg
Description: A brave/crazy Robin getting stroppy with a Redwing many
times its weight.
Date: 11 Apr 2008
View: D01_20080321_1331_018-021 Heron take-off from Round Pond Montage.jpg
Description: Heron(s) are still hunting in 'Round' pond and this one spent 30m wandering
around. We caught the moment that it left, springing upwards before disappearing out of frame,
something we hope this little montage expresses.
Date: 10 Apr 2008
View: D3B_20080323_0801_170 fb1 Dunnock & Pheasant in Snow (web crop).jpg
Description: A striking example of size contrast. You just never see
such size contrasts in books which are separated into separate
sections. Despite the room for more brain in the pheasant, we
think the Dunnocks make better use of what they have.
Date: 09 Apr 2008
View: D3A_20080320_1313_072 fb2 Rook head detail.jpg
Description: A pair of rooks have found both photo sites. Unfortunately they
are strong enough to knock the logs about causing beam-break and
focus problems. Here is the detail of the beak with its
characteristic pale unfeathered skin at the base.
Date: 08 Apr 2008
View: D3A_20080318_0626_049 fb2 Pair of Robins.jpg
Description: The robins continue to display and generally show-off.
Love the eye-to-eye contact.
Date: 07 Apr 2008
View: D3B_20080314_1917_097+1803_087+2014_105 fb1 Field vole collecting peanuts montage.jpg
Description: This vole or voles had many forays to collect peanuts and take
them we know not where. Here is a montage of three images over
about 2Hrs chosen so as not to overlay one another.
Date: 06 Apr 2008
View: D3B_20080315_0359_179 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Another entry for 'Miss Winsome Whiskers of 2008'?
Date: 05 Apr 2008
View: D01_20080314_1339_028 House Sparrow male at Great Tit nest box 4 of 7 with Tree Sparrow flying by.jpg
Description: For 17 years here we have hardly seen a House sparrow (though Tree Sparrows
breed freely). Suddenly a Great tit (hole size) nest box on the dead elm stump
is being investigated by a male House sparrow. He can only just squeeze in and
out, and other potential occupants were lurking. Here a Tree
sparrow has just made a hesitant flight by the House sparrow at
the hole.
Date: 04 Apr 2008
View: D3A_20080313_0543_165 fb2 Blackbird male.jpg
Description: A picture of a male blackbird to go with the female
we presented on 19 Mar 2008 - Click
Female collecting nesting material
to see the 'girl'.
These may not be a pair - the sites are about 100m apart.
Date: 03 Apr 2008
View: D3B_20080309_1716_034 fb1 Robin head-on with wings and tail vertical.jpg
Description: A robin manages to get itself all in-focus for this
geometric display of wings and feathers.
Date: 02 Apr 2008
View: D01_20080306_1358_129 Heron catches mating frogs (web crop).jpg
Description: The image you see is a heron that has just caught a pair of
mating frogs.
If that is gruesome enough for you stop here!
The bird couldn't swallow the linked pair, so repeatedly threw
them back into the water to separate them, and then ate one. We
didn't find any remains of the other and assume it survived. A day
or so later we spotted spawn in the area - maybe success in their final act.
An animated sequence of 15 images is at
Heron Eating Frog Sequence.
Date: 01 Apr 2008
View: D3A_20080306_1703_077 fb2 Male and Female Pheasants eating together.jpg
Description: Don't see often see male and female pheasants together.
Its just getting dark at tea-time!
Image Archive arch 2008 mar.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Mar 2008
View: SC1_20080305_1613_012 sc1 Female pheasant + 9 magpies + a magpie tail left edge.jpg
Description: Does the tail at the left make this 9 or 10 magpies in the old rhyme:
1 for sorrow,
2 for joy,
3 for a girl,
4 for a boy,
5 for silver,
6 for gold,
7 for a story never to be told,
8 for a wish,
9 for a kiss,
10 for a bird you can not miss.
Date: 30 Mar 2008
View: D3B_20080303_1644_072 fb1 Aerial fight between Robin & Lesser Whitethroat (Q) (web crop).jpg
Description: A Robin and what we think must be a Lesser Whitethroat
having a mid-air skirmish.
Date: 29 Mar 2008
View: DA1_20080305_0957_058 & 059 Bluetit removing & then dropping Ash bud (montage).jpg
Description: The Bluetits are now stripping buds from the Ash trees. In this
montage the bird can just get the bud in it's beak, but a moment
later has dropped it (and it let it go).
Date: 28 Mar 2008
View: D3A_20080301_1720_008 fb2 Pheasant male Side & back as abstract patterns.jpg
Description: A typical 'head out of frame' image of a male pheasant suggested
this abstract study of all those different patterns of feathers
on just the side and back.
Date: 27 Mar 2008
View: P34_20080302_0834_198 Violet Flower.jpg
Description: Violets under an old Silver birch have appeared every one of
our 17 years here, and probably for decades before.
Date: 26 Mar 2008
View: D3B_20080227_0621_055 fb1 Robin with head turned.jpg
Description: Is this robin looking up, down, or just showing off?
Probably a minor head turn for a bird that can preen
it's back.
Date: 25 Mar 2008
View: D3B_20080228_1801_042 fb1 Fieldmouse and Fir cones.jpg
Description: Not many fieldmice for some weeks, but this is the most
appealing of the recent week.
Date: 24 Mar 2008
View: P34_20080228_1227_158 Snowdrop.jpg
Description: A session clearing overgrown bushes from the W side of the main
pond exposed some snowdrops the rabbits had missed.
Date: 23 Mar 2008
View: D01_20080226_1109_007 moorhen in breeding colours on dragon pond.jpg
Description: Moorhen feeding on the main pond with the full red beak and
shield of breeding colour.
Date: 22 Mar 2008
View: DA1_20080227_1227_159 Kestrel Male with (out of focus) pussy Willows.jpg
Description: Both male and female kestrels are about again. Here the male is
flying by some willow catkins.
Date: 21 Mar 2008
View: DA1_20080227_1231_178 Squirrel about to eat previous years conker in Black Poplar tree.jpg
Description: This squirrel found/un-buried a last autumn conker and sat
ignoring us in a black poplar chewing his way through it. When it
was eaten we got one stare and off he/she went. Obviously they
are not poisonous to squirrels.
Date: 20 Mar 2008
View: D3B_20080221_1621_076 fb1 Bluetit about to take off.jpg
Description: The sweet face of the bluetit, raising its wings, to launch to the sky.
Date: 19 Mar 2008
View: D3B_20080218_1545_035 fb1 Blackbird female collecting nesting material (Q).jpg
Description: Blackbird female collecting nesting material. No sign of the male
helping, which doesn't mean he isn't collecting elsewhere.
Date: 18 Mar 2008
View: DA1_20080217_0923_028 Frost cherry blossom (web crop).jpg
Description: The cherries were already starting to blossom when the frosts
came. Here is a detail of a frosty flower.
Date: 17 Mar 2008
View: DA1_20080217_0942_065 Frosty Blackberry leaf lit from rear.jpg
Description: Blackberries seem to keep a few of their spent leaves until spring.
Here the morning sun from the rear makes some lovely colours.
Date: 16 Mar 2008
View: P34_20080218_0931_953 Frosty Hazel Catkins (web crop).jpg
Description: Several days of overnight frosts and fog provided for some
opportunities for those wrapped up warm! Here the details
of some Hazel catkins become an almost abstract image in
soft shades of orange, yellow and green.
Date: 15 Mar 2008
View: D01_20080215_1352_005 Robin in flight over ice.jpg
Description: We sometimes see a robin hovering over water to pick off floating
food. While testing a setup to photograph this (even though it
was icy when they just land!) happy chance got this. The unusual
look isn't flash - light reflecting off ice has strange effects.
Date: 14 Mar 2008
View: DA1_20080216_0958_017 Long-tailed Tit (web crop).jpg
Description: Suddenly we have a flock of about 8 long tailed tits visiting
our North hedge.
Date: 13 Mar 2008
View: D3B_20080214_0727_191 fb1 Blackbird female pecking at log with open beak with nictitating membrane over eye.jpg
Description: A female blackbird having a good peck at the log. Her beak is open and
her orange tongue is visible.
There is nothing wrong with her eye - it's covered by the protective membrane
(a sort of third eyelid) that birds have. In other shots it is clear.
Date: 12 Mar 2008
View: P34_20080212_1429_815 Alder Cones & catkins.jpg
Description: The handful of surviving alder trees are producing some
attractive tracery against the sky. What we call 'cones' seem to
be officially 'corky outgrowths to keep the seeds afloat in
water'. Cones seems easier!
Date: 11 Mar 2008
View: DA1_20080213_1355_070 Bluetit with willow catkin fragment in beak.jpg
Description: The catkins are out on a few of the willows, and the bluetits are
making the most of it. Catkins contains load of individual
florets and the bird has pulled out a single one in it's beak.
Date: 10 Mar 2008
View: D3A_20080209_0658_031 fb2 Male Robin displaying to female (web crop).JPG
Description: We often see Male robins doing crazy show-off displays to the
females, but for once they obliged on camera.
Date: 09 Mar 2008
View: D3B_20080210_0048_136 fb1 Fieldmouse diving head first onto ground by another.JPG
Description: The mice have returned to their normal manic behaviour.
Date: 08 Mar 2008
View: D01_20080205_1300_015 Robin on Mossy Stump (web crop).JPG
Description: The classic robin on the classic old tree stump.
Date: 07 Mar 2008
View: D10_20080203_1311_017 Bluetit about to jump off branch.jpg
Description: Bluetit about to jump off some dead-wood we hang the
peanut feeders on.
Good thing he doesn't know a tawny owl occasionally
hunts from the same perch (see archive for 21 Dec 2007)
Date: 06 Mar 2008
View: D3A_20080206_1606_010 fb2 Squirrel with hazel nut in mouth.JPG
Description: The Christmas nuts are now rather stale, but the squirrel doesn't mind.
Date: 05 Mar 2008
View: D3B_20080203_0742_050 fb1 Dunnock and Blackbird Female.JPG
Description: This caught our fancy because it shows the difference in size so well.
(NOT a montage)
Date: 04 Mar 2008
View: D01_20080208_1141_102 Robin singing on lichen covered branch (web crop).JPG
Description: This robin was singing alternately in competition with another
only 30m or so along the farm track.
Date: 03 Mar 2008
View: D3B_20080206_2247_070 fb1 Fieldmouse.JPG
Description: The fieldmice are making occasional appearances.
This must be the first 'Miss Winsome Whiskers of 2008' entry.
Date: 02 Mar 2008
View: P34_20080204_1044_663 Snowdrops at bottom of Viburnum.JPG
Description: A snowdrop quietly decorating the base of an ornamental bush.
Date: 01 Mar 2008
View: D3A_20080201_1539_028 fb2 Blackbird male showing underwing.JPG
Description: An elegantly poised male blackbird. We see pairs at both sites,
but so far not both usably at the same time.
Image Archive arch 2008 feb.htm (view it Here)
Date: 29 Feb 2008
View: D3A_20080202_0710_056 fb2 Pair of Robins.JPG
Description: Most pics of robins now include a pair. Perhaps, as it is leap year
day, you might think the girl robin is 'popping the question' :-)
Date: 28 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080129_1539_029 fb2 Bluetit with wing spread.jpg
Description: Colourful bluetit showing of a spread of grey underwing feathers
and powder blue top of tail feathers.
Date: 27 Feb 2008
View: D3A_20080129_1543_023 fb2 Pheasant male with white head streaks.jpg
Description: A 'new' pheasant in our menagerie - a male pheasant with heavy
white streak each side of the head and very broad neck ring.
With 5 females about we will have to keep out of the long
grass for fear of treading on a nest.
Date: 26 Feb 2008
View: D01_20080130_1007_036 Bluetit eating Silver Birch Unopened Catkin (web crop).jpg
Description: What are Tits eating up there in the birches? Answer - the unopened catkins.
One foot is holding an unopened catkin while the beak tip attacks the
hard surface.
Date: 25 Feb 2008
View: D01_20080130_1231_066 Robin singing on twig (web crop).jpg
Description: The Robins are getting ridiculously tame. This one was singing in
a pool of sunlight from a twig a couple of metres away and didn't
seem the least bothered by camera noise or the lens waving about.
This is a tight crop so you can enjoy the detail.
Date: 24 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080125_2140_072 fb1 Field Vole and fleeing fieldmouse.JPG
Description: Feels a bit like peek-a-boo, but is probably just chance. The
mouse needs lessons in portraiture - his nose and whiskers were
out of frame.
Date: 23 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080126_1605_109 fb1 Pheasant male frightening off Robin.JPG
Description: The Robin decides to avoid the relatively gigantic pheasant coming
though the fence.
Date: 22 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080123_1403_004 fb1 Bluetit.jpg
Description: Bluetits apparently had a poor breeding year, but we are
delightfully surrounded by these little blue and yellow jewels.
The Sparrowhawk is enjoying them as well.
Date: 21 Feb 2008
View: D3A_20080119_2247_024 fb2 Fox (web crop).JPG
Description: Very few visits from foxes at the moment, but they all seem
to include a hungry look.
Date: 20 Feb 2008
View: P34_20080120_1221_400 Bristlecone Pine fully open Female Cone.JPG
Description: The Pine trees are now old enough to be producing worthwhile
size cones. This one is fully open, but a few seeds haven't
been found by the various mouths
Date: 19 Feb 2008
View: P34_20080121_1446_461 Silver Birch Copse looking N.JPG
Description: In the Winter you can really appreciate the intricacy of
the branches of these Silver Birches.
Date: 18 Feb 2008
View: D3A_20080118_1557_030 fb2 Leaping Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: The only fieldmouse in 2 days at both sites, but a rather fun one
at that ...
Date: 17 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080117_1525_003 fb1 2 Robins.jpg
Description: We have this theory - if you see 2 robins together and they are
not fighting then they are 'in love'. Spring must be on the way.
Date: 16 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080118_1532_097_&_1505_087 fb1 Bluetit and Great Tit both in flurry of wings (Montage).jpg
Description: Within 30 minutes our two most common Tits obliged with similar
poses, and we couldn't resist montaging them together to make
this fun composition.
Date: 15 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080115_1806_064 fb1 2 Fieldmice tumbling.jpg
Description: Wheee ... & we have not a clue what triggered this.
Date: 14 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080116_2040_164 fb1 Fieldmouse on hind legs over puddle.jpg
Description: After a flood to almost the log top the previous night, scrapes
left by other 'visitors' are still filled with water making this
little mouse go paddling for a meal.
Date: 13 Feb 2008
View: D3A_20080113_0600_050 fb2 Startled Pheasant female running with tail spread.jpg
Description: One of our hen pheasants, startled by some trivial or major event
in the dark, bolts over the log with tail spread.
Date: 12 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080112_1503_132 fb1 Pheasant female.jpg
Description: The afternoon after a deluge our 'blondie' pheasant visits
in more clement weather.
Date: 11 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080112_1648_163 fb1 Field Vole & 2 Fieldmice.jpg
Description: The Field Vole is becoming quite a regular visitor, here having 'tea'
with a couple of Fieldmice. We have yet to see 2 voles at once.
Date: 10 Feb 2008
View: D3A_20080110_0144_019 fb2 Robin with wings vertical & shadow of primaries.jpg
Description: Just love the horizontal streak shadows of the leading primary feathers
across the trailing primaries.
Date: 09 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080110_2211_192 fb1 2 fieldmice leaping + 1 obscured.jpg
Description: The fieldmice seem to be getting lively again.
Must think its spring.
Date: 08 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080110_1539_139 fb1 Great Tit showing fibrous underwing feathers.jpg
Description: Great tit gives us a look at almost hair like yellow filament feathers
under the wing.
Date: 07 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080106_0740_078 fb1 Blackbird probing mud (web crop).JPG
Description: Run-off from the adjacent field saturated this site so this
blackbird probes the mud for morsels.
Date: 06 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080106_1542_105 fb1 Robin chasing off Great Tit with grain in beak.JPG
Description: A Robin (nearer with red breast hidden) chases off a Great Tit with
vivid yellow body normally hidden by the wings.
Date: 05 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080107_0554_198 fb1 Fieldmouse eating corn grain.JPG
Description: Overnight storm over, a fieldmouse comes out in the still black
hours to clamber through the fallen twigs to find a sodden grain
to eat.
Date: 04 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080103_0750_328 fb1 Robin threatening Dunnock above.JPG
Description: Just as it was getting light, this Robin and Dunock disagree
about who owns this patch of land. Doesn't look like there was
much left by way of nibbles left to fight over.
Date: 03 Feb 2008
View: D3A_20080101_1526_009 fb2 Female Pheasant with male (selectively processed) lurking behind.JPG
Description: This 'new' female pheasant has joined us and seems to be exciting
the male lurking in the dark on the right. We have selectively
lightened the male somewhat so you can see him - he is well out of
the flash range and we almost didn't notice him.
Date: 02 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080102_1555_134 fb1 Magpie.JPG
Description: In its immaculate plumage ready for winter, and then attracting a mate.
Date: 01 Feb 2008
View: D3B_20080103_0737_321 fb1 Blackbird Female with wings vertical.JPG
Description: For once a view of the wings with the head in good focus.
Image Archive arch 2008 jan.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071230_1340_014 fb1 Robin feeding on Peanut grit.jpg
Description: A robin getting down to a serious attack on the peanut grounds.
Date: 30 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20080101_0343_248 fb1 Brown Rat.jpg
Description: For 'Ratatouille' fans: a real life 'Remy' who has arrived rather
late on the scene (quarter to 4 a.m.) and have to make do with the
'left-overs' - and its new-years morning too.
Date: 29 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071228_1217_021 fb1 Jackdaw.JPG
Description: Jackdaw showing off those immaculate glossy feathers.
Date: 28 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071226_1517_022 fb1 2 Jackdaws + Magpie + another (top right) with fresh bait.JPG
Description: We try to put out food around sunset to give the birds a chance
to feed up before night without taking it ALL. While robins always
get the first pick, the Corvids soon descend to get the lion's
share as this uncropped image (whole camera frame) of this site
shows.
Date: 27 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071227_0735_072 fb1 Robin about to land.JPG
Description: A bit near the right edge of the field of view for artistic crop,
but this robin, about to land with claws outstretched and legs bent
ready to absorb the impact of landing, catches our fancy.
Date: 26 Jan 2008
View: D3A_20071225_1705_043 fb2 2 Fieldmice head to tail.jpg
Description: Could be chance, but we rather fancy some romance mouse style.
Date: 25 Jan 2008
View: D3A_20071225_1714_045 fb2 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Another entry for twee mouse of the year.
Date: 24 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071226_0744_205 fb1 Robin and Dunnock squabbling.jpg
Description: The recent peaceful coexistence seems to have been ruffled.
Date: 23 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071220_1834_060 fb1 Leaping Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Whiskers gleaming, a fieldmouse bounds across the site.
Date: 22 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071221_0839_121 fb1 Robin taking off towards camera.jpg
Description: We seem to be inundated with Robins this year - everywhere we go
there will be a robin waiting hopefully on a branch. Here one is
taking off directly towards the camera - for once not an out of
focus blur.
Date: 21 Jan 2008
View: D3A_20071218_1523_003 fb2 Pheasant eating peanut grit.jpg
Description: One of our male pheasants demonstrating that even the most
beautiful of creatures can have bad table manners.
Date: 20 Jan 2008
View: D3A_20071220_0731_046 fb2 Song Thrush.jpg
Description: The first showing this season of a Song Thrush. The stone lower
left was put there in the hope he will use it as an 'anvil' for
the traditional opening of snails.
Date: 19 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071217_0203_055 fb1 Fieldmouse in Frost.jpg
Description: Another chilly 2 a.m.!
We must have put out the food too late for the birds to get all the nuts!
Date: 18 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071218_1621_218 fb1 2 Female Pheasants.jpg
Description: 'Our' (or perhaps more correctly the male's) 2 female pheasants.
We have seen a male and female together in a very poor IR image.
We also know there are two healthy males which we saw wandering
together over the frozen pond.
Date: 17 Jan 2008
View: D3A_20071214_1513_082 fb2 Squirrel with mouthful of Cherries.jpg
Description: Squirrel (Rats with Good PR) making off with a mouthful of
cherry waste from jam making hidden behind the log.
Date: 16 Jan 2008
View: D3A_20071214_1832_103 fb2 Fox (Head crop).jpg
Description: The fox makes a one-off appearance at the 'woodland' site for the
first time in a couple of months.
Date: 15 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071213_0818_055 fb1 Robin in Frost.jpg
Description: Brrr!
Date: 14 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071214_0837_142 fb1 Redwing head-on view showing head pattern.jpg
Description: Unusual view of a Redwing showing the pattern over the head.
Having spent several hours watching them, we are surprised that
they frequently feed on the ground.
Date: 13 Jan 2008
View: D01_20071210_1409_115 Marsh Tit standing on Russian Vine with Ivy leaves.jpg
Description: Lurking in a sunny spot on the south wall of the house and out of
the bitter wind, a Marsh Tit casts it's shadow on the wall.
Date: 12 Jan 2008
View: D3A_20071209_0101_022 fb2 Fieldmouse leaping with peanut in mouth.jpg
Description: Surprised there were any peanuts left at 1 in the morning!
Date: 11 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071209_0856_052 fb1 Magpie.jpg
Description: Too big for the field of view of this camera, this magpie
nevertheless makes a startling sight.
Date: 10 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071209_1624_071 fb1 Bluetit clambering up log with wings spread.jpg
Description: Bluetits look almost luminous when photographed by flash. Colour
not fudged - honestly!
Date: 09 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071210_1222_184 fb1 Robin in aggressive position (another bird out of frame upper right).jpg
Description: The wing tip of an unidentified bird at the top right (out of
this crop) is the reason for this robin's aggressive position.
Date: 08 Jan 2008
View: D01_20071209_1132_010 Muntjac Deer Male showing asymmetric antlers.jpg
Description: Now we can see why the male Muntjac deer (image of 5 Jan 2008)
has unmatched antlers - his left side is a single long point
while the right has two points.
Date: 07 Jan 2008
View: D01_20071210_1346_043 Blackbird in Flight with Blackthorn Berry in beak (web crop).jpg
Description: While trying to photograph Fieldfares flying out of a hedge top
this Blackbird carrying a Sloe in its beak came out instead.
Date: 06 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071207_1908_044 fb1 2 leaping Fieldmice.jpg
Description: Fieldmice in a leaping competition.
A recent Woodland Trust competition for children named our mouse
pairs 'Roy & Marie' after us. How we wish we were that athletic!
Date: 05 Jan 2008
View: D01_20071207_1444_018 Muntjac Deer Male with asymmetric antlers & torn ears viewed over hedge.jpg
Description: At last a decent pic of 'our' Muntjac male. Judging by the
unequal antlers and torn ears he is the same individual we have
seen a few times in surveillance pictures. We were on opposite
sides of a low hedge which seemed to give him some courage to
stay, but not for long.
Date: 04 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071205_1903_099 fb1 Fieldmice Squabbling.jpg
Description: A couple of fieldmice having a squabble from either side of the log.
Rory at the Woodland Trust suggests the title "The Two Mousekateers".
Date: 03 Jan 2008
View: P34_20071203_1458_915&917 Full Rainbow Montage.jpg
Description: An imperfect montage of 2 images showing a full (double) rainbow
over our plot. With the sun nearing the horizon you get almost
the full semicircle.
Date: 02 Jan 2008
View: D3A_20071201_1436_078 fb2 Magpie collecting beakful of peanuts.jpg
Description: We put out a few whole peanuts this time of year (usually the
dregs of the nut feeders). The bigger birds make the most of this
and stuff loads of nuts into their beaks. This magpie is picking
up at least it's third - it probably collected another half dozen
before flying off.
Date: 01 Jan 2008
View: D3B_20071201_1640_090 fb1 Rook.jpg
Description: Don't see many rooks at the photo sites, so have to include one that
takes it's photo.
Image Archive arch 2007 dec.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Dec 2007
View: D3B_20071201_1824_112 fb1 Fieldmouse leaping and another scrambling onto log.jpg
Description: The fieldmice continue their antics.
Date: 30 Dec 2007
View: D3B_20071202_0835_160 fb1 Dunnock Takeoff.jpg
Description: A dunnock makes an elegant takeoff.
Date: 29 Dec 2007
View: D3B_20071125_1729_116 fb1 Robin & Fieldmouse in flight.jpg
Description: Although probably a line-of-site effect, this juxtaposition
of Fieldmouse and Robin has a certain drama.
Date: 28 Dec 2007
View: D3A_20071123_0717_040 fb2 Pheasant Male among autumn leaves.jpg
Description: Contrast the lovely golden colour of the pheasant with those of
the surrounding leaves.
Date: 27 Dec 2007
View: D3B_20071123_1754_109 fb1 2 fieldmice squabbling.jpg
Description: This couple of fieldmice look like they are having a bit of a
squabble.
Date: 26 Dec 2007
View: D01_20071123_1419_196 Fieldfare flying through Hawthorn hedge.jpg
Description: The fieldfares and redwing flutter through these tangles hedge tops
without any apparent difficulty.
Date: 25 Dec 2007
View: D01_20071123_1437_285 Redwing eating Hawthorn berry (web crop).jpg
Description: To go with the fieldfare eating a hawthorn berry (shown on 18 Dec 2007)
here is a redwing that moves around with the Fieldfare group.
Date: 24 Dec 2007
View: D01_20071123_1436_271 Fieldfare in flight.jpg
Description: The fieldfares were fluttering through the Hawthorn hedges and we
love the spread and translucency of the wings in this fleeting
moment.
Date: 23 Dec 2007
View: D01_20071123_1107_032 squirrel sunbathing(Q) on black poplar branch.jpg
Description: Taking it easy in the sun this squirrel found a little
suntrap about 5m up in one of the black poplars lining the track
and stayed there regardless of us, vehicles and other distractions.
Date: 22 Dec 2007
View: D3A_20071120_1556_017 fb2 Robin Landing.jpg
Description: Robin just about to land on the stone - bet he slid off the
slick wet stone!
Date: 21 Dec 2007
View: P34_20071121_2001_545 Tawny Owl on Birdfeeder support outside kitchen window (crop & proc).jpg
Description: Spotted unexpectedly on the Night-time CCTV over the pond was the
glowing eyes of a tawny owl perched on the peanut feeder support
facing the house. This image was taken in darkness through the
kitchen window by educated guesswork. Next days CCTV replay
showed it stayed for about 10 minutes mainly with head turned
180 to watch the grass/pond behind.
Date: 20 Dec 2007
View: d3a_20071118_1536_030 fb2 magpie (web crop).jpg
Description: An ever cheeky Magpie gives the camera the eye.
Date: 19 Dec 2007
View: d3b_20071119_1703_010 fb1 robin twisting in flight.jpg
Description: The aerial antics of a robin twisting through a right angle
as it leaves with a crumb of peanut.
Date: 18 Dec 2007
View: d01_20071119_0950_016 fieldfare eating hawthorn berry (web crop).jpg
Description: Having passed us by when there no apple windfalls, a flock of about
30 Fieldfares (with a few redwings) are making merry in the hawthorn
hedge.
Date: 17 Dec 2007
View: d3a_20071115_1700_049 fb2 fieldmouse leaping in front of rabbit.jpg
Description: This atypical juxtaposition just took our fancy .
Date: 16 Dec 2007
View: d3a_20071117_1436_028 fb2 squirrel.jpg
Description: We seem to have a number of Grey Squirrels doing various degrees of
damage, and often looking very innocent and twee.
Date: 15 Dec 2007
View: d01_20071115_1143_075-077&084 pied wagtail hunting insect on slate roof (montage).jpg
Description: Montage of 4 images of a pied wagtail. In the first 3 (top left
downwards) it just fails to catch an insect (we think a wasp) on
the slates ahead of it. The bird on the ridge has in his beak
the result of a successful hunt a few seconds later.
Date: 14 Dec 2007
View: d3b_20071110_2237_054 fb1 fox.jpg
Description: Fox with his eyes firmly focussed on a hoped for pre-midnight snack.
Date: 13 Dec 2007
View: p34_20071109_0955_194 mixed autumn colours (web version).jpg
Description: Autumn colours including Black Poplar, Cypresses, Bristlecone
Pine, Silver Birch, Oak, Sweet Chestnut, Hazel & Beech.
Date: 12 Dec 2007
View: d01_20071109_1030_073 kestrel (web crop with foreground willows removed).jpg
Description: A kestrel-jackdaw altercation gave us the opportunity for this
image. The 'sky' has been cleaned up to remove out of focus
foreground branches, but was this beautiful colour.
Date: 11 Dec 2007
View: d3a_20071107_1817_056 fb2 rabbit grooming (web crop).jpg
Description: This rabbit suggests a Rabbit form of 'Jessica' from the mixed
Live & animation movie 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'. We can't
remember seeing a rabbit like this in thousands of (discarded)
rabbit images.
Date: 10 Dec 2007
View: d3a_20071108_1607_003 fb2 pheasant male.jpg
Description: The Pheasant have been about, but have not obliged with picture
since the Spring (See image for 18 Apr 2007).
Date: 09 Dec 2007
View: d3b_20071108_0317_205 fb1 fieldmouse leaping face on.jpg
Description: We think the mouse must have leapt from the ground to be in
sharp focus over the log.
Date: 08 Dec 2007
View: d3a_20071104_1740_013 fb2 muntjac deer.jpg
Description: We have seen the Muntjac deer by Infra-Red and on surveillance
cameras, but this is the first time for months that one (a
female) has shown up in a high quality image.
Date: 07 Dec 2007
View: d3b_20071104_1823_020 fb1 Fieldmouse holding partially eaten food.jpg
Description: The way this mouse is holding its food puts us in mind of a
human munching down a stick of celery.
Date: 06 Dec 2007
View: d3b_20071104_1844_025 fb1 2 fieldmice mid leap.jpg
Description: Leaping mice seem to be a consistent favourite among our visitors
to this site, so here is another.
Date: 05 Dec 2007
View: d3a_20071103_1827_038 fb2 young fieldmouse surrounded by autumn leaves.jpg
Description: Looking so lonely in a sea of autumn leaves, a young fieldmouse
looks for what's left of the peanut grit on the log.
Date: 04 Dec 2007
View: d01_20071031_1613_012 muntjac deer (web crop).jpg
Description: Its rare to get an extended view of a Muntjac deer while
we are outdoors, but on this evening this female came out of the
hedge and wandered away from us along the 'rabbit' run taking an
occasional peek back at us. See image for 22 Nov 2007 for a fox
from the same viewpoint.
Date: 03 Dec 2007
View: d3b_20071030_1936_200 fb1 fieldmouse nuzzling pyracantha berries.jpg
Description: We can see that some of there pyracantha (firethorn) berries have
already been nibbled.
Date: 02 Dec 2007
View: d60_20071030_1619_021 Kestrel female on dragon island ash tree tip regaining balance.jpg
Description: The Ash tree on the main pond island has just become an
attractive perch this female kestrel. In the evening sun she
lost her balance momentarily and provided this unusual view of
her exquisite feathers.
Date: 01 Dec 2007
View: p34_20071029_1538_845 Sundog to West over House.jpg
Description: Its the time of year for strange lights in the sky.
This is a 'sundog' - patch of refracted sunlight to the
left and/or right of the sun.
Image Archive arch 2007 nov.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Nov 2007
View: d3b_20071027_1625_032 fb1 Robin flying in with bluetit on log.jpg
Description: We would love to run a 'what happened next' competition, but
we have no idea what did happen.
Date: 29 Nov 2007
View: d3b_20071029_0202_207 fb1 Fieldmouse sniffing (Q) Blackthorn berry.jpg
Description: The hedge bottoms are now full of fallen fruit and the denizens
are making the most of it. Amazing how the peanut feeders empty so
slowly at this time of year.
Date: 28 Nov 2007
View: d3a_20071026_2020_058 fb2 fox with water droplets looking up.jpg
Description: Shortly after dark this fox looks up showing the fully dilated
irises of its eyes. There are a few water drops on its muzzle -
maybe it stopped off at a pond for a drink.
Date: 27 Nov 2007
View: d3b_20071025_1653_009 fb1 Great Tit taking off by Hawthorn berries.jpg
Description: A flurry of wings as this Great Tit (all things being relative)
launches itself into the grey afternoon sky.
Date: 26 Nov 2007
View: d3b_20071026_1709_082 fb1 Chaffinch Female with peanut.jpg
Description: Peanuts are definitely the favourite.
Date: 25 Nov 2007
View: d3a_20071025_1416_052 fb2 squirrel.jpg
Description: The squirrels are now all over the place, jumping from
tree to tree over our heads as we walk round.
Date: 24 Nov 2007
View: d3b_20071023_1859_041 fb1 fieldmouse with hawthorn berries & apple.jpg
Description: Another entry for twee fieldmouse of the year.
Date: 23 Nov 2007
View: d01_20071023_1350_039 kestrel in flight (web crop).jpg
Description: Not the female kestrel this time (possibly a juvenile male)
spent quite a while hovering into the wind over some of our
rough grass. The wind/sun directions were hopeless for good
photos, but it did do a few sweeps round offering this opportunity.
Date: 22 Nov 2007
View: d01_20071023_1610_116 fox staring at camera (web crop).jpg
Description: This fox spent about 15 minutes 30 to 50 metres from us. Slightly
bothered by the noisy camera shutter, but with no 'Human' scent
from being upwind of us, it carried on foraging.
Date: 21 Nov 2007
View: d3b_20071021_1853_049 fb1 fieldmouse among hawthorn berries and blackberries.jpg
Description: A fieldmouse looking so sweet with elegantly draped tail
among autumns bounty.
Date: 20 Nov 2007
View: p34_20071021_1045_590 spider silk.jpg
Description: A sparkling tangle of spider silk drenched by a morning mist.
Date: 19 Nov 2007
View: d3b_20071019_1844_037 fb1 fieldmouse leaping over field vole by blackberry twig.jpg
Description: Jumping off a brick just out of frame to the left, the fieldmouse
has obviously startled the vole that was probably nibbling a
blackberry.
Date: 18 Nov 2007
View: d3a_20071015_2353_019 fb2 fox.jpg
Description: Absent for a while from the camera sites (though seen regularly at
an Infra-red site) the fox has a midnight visit.
Date: 17 Nov 2007
View: p34_20071017_1040_482 Natural Horse Chestnut Bud 6 Seq (detail with murky raindrop).jpg
Description: 'Next years' horse chestnut bud drenched after a night with 62mm
of rain in 24Hrs. The water drop was murky, unlike the ones for 14 Mar 2007
and 28 Dec 2006 (see the archive).
Date: 16 Nov 2007
View: p34_20070924_1041_762 shieldbug troilus luridus.jpg
Description: Another delightful bug photographed in September was held back
because we were unsure (& wrong!) about identification.
Kindly identified for us Sheila B via Judith K.
Date: 15 Nov 2007
View: p34_20071005_1001_183 beech in autumn colours.jpg
Description: More typical British autumn colour - beech trees nicely
showing all the colours at once.
Date: 14 Nov 2007
View: p34_20071005_1002_184 red oak leaf in autumn.jpg
Description: A little Canadian colour in an English wood. Unlike typical UK
deciduous leaves, individual plant cells seem to go from green to
red very quickly - very few are orange. Decades ago a Canadian
Friend of Marie's commented on the gentle change of British
autumn colour, and at last we see why.
Date: 13 Nov 2007
View: d01_20071014_1606_066 rook chasing off female kestrel (web crop).jpg
Description: We have mentioned before the corvids chasing off the female kestrel
and for once the flyby came moderately close.
Date: 12 Nov 2007
View: d36_20071009_2125_088 fb1 fieldmouse pawing snail out of its shell.jpg
Description: The younger mice are seeing snails for the first time and
obviously don't know what to make of them.
Date: 11 Nov 2007
View: d36_20071010_1733_119 fb1 dunnock & great tit in aerial dogfight.jpg
Description: A small scale dogfight by human standards, but it must be a pretty
major scrap for these birds.
Date: 10 Nov 2007
View: d3a_20071010_1736_027_&_20071010_1738_028 fb2 chaffinch pair 2 minutes apart (montage with female at left).jpg
Description: We guess this must be a pair of Chaffinches - they arrived only
2 minutes apart.
Date: 09 Nov 2007
View: D36_20071008_0112_079 fb1 Fieldmouse eating elderberry (web crop).jpg
Description: We have been putting out fresh twigs of various hedge fruits each
day for whatever wants. Here a fieldmouse is nibbling at a single
elderberry in it's paws.
Date: 08 Nov 2007
View: D36_20071008_1906_127 fb1 2 young fieldmice nose to tail.jpg
Description: What more to say ...
Date: 07 Nov 2007
View: D36_20071009_1608_188 fb1 Dunnock.jpg
Description: Nice quiet portrait of a Dunnock contrasts with it dive-bombing
a robin (see 10 Oct 2007).
Date: 06 Nov 2007
View: D36_20071005_1937_066 fb1 3 fieldmice among rose hips.jpg
Description: 3 Fieldmice in domestic bliss among the rose hips (which
they don't seem to eat).
Date: 05 Nov 2007
View: D36_20071004_1912_099 fb1 3 Fieldmice.jpg
Description: Out at dusk, 3 fieldmice quietly investigate what the birds have left.
Date: 04 Nov 2007
View: D36_20071003_1731_017 fb1 Great Tit & Bluetit.jpg
Description: Its months since we included any Tits (even though they are
regulars) but this '2 in 1' opportunity can't be passed up.
Date: 03 Nov 2007
View: D36_20071002_1902_079 fb1 Fieldmouse in hawthorn berries eating one (Q).jpg
Description: With all those chewed hawthorn berries we think this fieldmouse
is finishing off another piece. As far as we have seen everything else
(birds, rabbits & foxes) eat whole berries or remove clusters.
Date: 02 Nov 2007
View: D3A_20070929_2227_048 fb2 2 fieldmice fleeing the site.jpg
Description: The mouse on the log looks as if it is about to do a vampire leap.
Date: 01 Nov 2007
View: D3A_20070929_1751_018 fb2 Female Chaffinch flying over a male.jpg
Description: Fortuitous focus captures the female Chaffinch's face as
it flies over the male.
Image Archive arch 2007 oct.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Oct 2007
View: D3A_20070930_1947_099 fb2 2 fieldmice facing each other from log top and ground.jpg
Description: A sort of mousy balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet?
Date: 30 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070930_1935_186 fb1 2 Fieldmice face to face.jpg
Description: Oh dear - another anthropomorphic 'kiss'.
Date: 29 Oct 2007
View: D01_20070930_1241_009 Comma Butterfly on Blackberry fruits (web crop).jpg
Description: Another source of energy for butterflies is damaged fruit berries.
Normally spotted on apple windfalls (very few this year) this Comma
butterfly is finding the fruit-juice welcome.
Date: 28 Oct 2007
View: P34_20070923_0957_699 Red Admiral Butterfly on yellow buddleia.jpg
Description: 17yrs ago we inherited a buddleia that flowers for months after
the others finish. Here the original plant (though much
propagated) is providing nectar for a Red Admiral Butterfly.
Date: 27 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070924_1851_072 fb1 Fieldmouse with rose hips (web crop).jpg
Description: A fieldmouse inspecting a hip on a 'fallen' rose twig.
Date: 26 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070922_1948_129 fb1 2 Fieldmice jumping down onto Firethorn berries.jpg
Description: Jumping, fighting or loving - who knows. But a colourful group.
Date: 25 Oct 2007
View: D12_20070923_0614_064 Natterers Bat.jpg
Description: Concentrating near the entrance hole to the loft as they
congregate in the dawn light gives a chance of some closer
images. Note the lovely leather texture on the wing and tail
membranes and the ears pointing in different directions as it
'looks about' with sound.
Date: 24 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070920_2234_181 fb1 Fieldmouse and Snail.jpg
Description: Almost the hare and the tortoise.
Many later images (snails don't rush!) show the snail survived the
encounter unscathed.
Date: 23 Oct 2007
View: D3A_20070919_1959_039 fb2 2 Fieldmice with one leaping.jpg
Description: Our acrobat mice continue their ... err ... acrobatics.
Date: 22 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070918_2150_239 fb1 Fieldmouse eating some sort of berry.jpg
Description: We are tempting the fieldmice with various berries, but we
have no idea which it is eating here.
Date: 21 Oct 2007
View: D60_20070918_1806_022 Kestrel Female (crop & proc).jpg
Description: A Kestrel Female stayed on our new 'Raptor post' for 10 minutes
giving us time to get some portraits. See also 14 Oct 2007 and
9 Sep 2007.
Date: 20 Oct 2007
View: P34_20070915_1751_397 Grass seedhead pulled into spiral by spider silk (web crop).jpg
Description: Spiders have pulled this stem of grass into an almost
abstract art form.
Date: 19 Oct 2007
View: D35_20070915_1828_006 fb2 Chaffinch about to land.jpg
Description: A Male Chaffinch coming in to land on the log
Date: 18 Oct 2007
View: D35_20070916_1828_029 fb2 2 Rabbits each with piece of carrot.jpg
Description: Traditionally rabbits love carrots, but what's the chance of
catching a pair of rabbits each carrying away a piece.
Date: 17 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070914_2158_122 fb1 Fieldmouse and Cranefly (web crop).jpg
Description: Craneflies are everywhere (including in the house) and this mouse
seems to be interested in this one. Whether just curiosity or a
potential snack we don't know.
Date: 16 Oct 2007
View: D12_20070916_0548_050 Brown Long-eared Bat (Web Crop).jpg
Description: Now we know where the Brown Long-eared Bats are roosting we can
time our expeditions into the cold, dark and windy a bit
better and get more chances.
Date: 15 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070911_2137_043 fb1 2 affectionate fieldmice.jpg
Description: To help you get over the last 2 traumatic images, here is a
sweetie. These two were in several consecutive shots enjoying
each other's company.
Date: 14 Oct 2007
View: D35_20070911_1836_008 fb2 Kestrel Female in flight with piece of rabbit (Q) prey (web crop).jpg
Description: We were surprised by one visit by a kestrel (see 28 Feb 2007)
and now we have another. This site is more enclosed and the bird
seems to be flying from a clearing where we felled a falling tree
a few weeks ago & had a load of Blackthorn removed by local RSPB
volunteers. We think the claw contains a piece of rabbit rather
than a whole rodent.
Date: 13 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070909_2000_027 fb1 Fieldmouse trampling on another.jpg
Description: Ouch!!
Date: 12 Oct 2007
View: P34_20070909_1314_216 Unidentified Shieldbug (10mm long) by Clover leaf next to self-heal flower.jpg
Description: This little creature landed on Marie while picking blackberries.
We now have an experts confirmation that this is a Palomena prasina nymph
that will be adult at it's next stage.
Thanks to Judith K. for getting the expert assessment for us
Date: 11 Oct 2007
View: P34_20070911_1843_273 Female Kestrel & Magpie on Buggle Perch.jpg
Description: The magpie on the left and the female Kestrel surprised us by
seemingly ignoring each other. When massed Jackdaws and Rooks
(corvids like the Magpie) come across a Kestrel in the air they
mob it until it leaves.
Date: 10 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070907_1810_009 fb1 Dunnock Diving at Robin.jpg
Description: Several shots in a row show a battle between a Dunnock and a
Robin. Here the dunnock is diving on an apparently nonchalant
Robin.
Date: 09 Oct 2007
View: D12_20070910_0601_076 Long-Eared Bat.jpg
Description: The return of the Long-eared Bats - not identified since
the image of 26 Aug 2005. Again a 'morning' bat, but this
time seen with Pipistrelles.
Date: 08 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070906_2150_175 fb1 Fieldmouse making heavy landing.jpg
Description: We often see mice in positions we can't see they can land
properly from, and now we see that sometimes they don't.
Date: 07 Oct 2007
View: D35_20070905_1741_002 fb2 Magpie tossing peanut in beak.jpg
Description: We often see birds tossing food picked up by the tip of their
beaks into the back, but have never had a photo before.
Date: 06 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070905_1806_008 fb1 Robin.jpg
Description: Particularly immaculate robin.
Date: 05 Oct 2007
View: D35_20070904_2026_065 fb2 Fox running (web version).jpg
Description: Full speed across the site. We suspect the camera was triggered
by whatever the fox was chasing for supper.
Date: 04 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070903_2334_080 fb1 Fieldmouse looking at slug that has peanut fragment on it.jpg
Description: All the peanut grits have gone, and we can't rid ourselves of the
feeling that the mouse is wondering whether to eat the piece on
the slug.
Date: 03 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070904_2139_194 fb1 Fieldmouse taking no notice of rabbit jumping right over it.jpg
Description: The relative sizes of these two is startling when you see them
together. The mouse seems not the least bothered.
Date: 02 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070902_2000_112 fb1 Fox.jpg
Description: The foxes continue to appear overnight, but have not seen them
in the daytime recently.
Date: 01 Oct 2007
View: D36_20070901_2336_061 fb1 Fieldmouse standing on hind paws.jpg
Description: Looks to us like this sweetie is conducting the orchestra
for the Ballet dancing fieldmouse of 1 Sep 2007.
Image Archive arch 2007 sep.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Sep 2007
View: D01_20070904_1741_050_to_54 swallow feeding young in flight Montage of 1 to 5 of 5.jpg
Description: Montage of about .75 seconds of a swallow passing food to it's
chick.
Date: 29 Sep 2007
View: P34_20070902_1007_876 Speckled Wood butterfly on Willow leaves.jpg
Description: Welcome annual return of what has become one of our regulars now
the wood is more established - a speckled wood, here sunbathing
on a willow leaf.
Date: 28 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070831_1938_094 fb1 Fieldmouse clinging to end of log.jpg
Description: A fieldmouse clinging to the end of the log. For scale - the red
slice is a small crab apple.
Date: 27 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070831_2136_119 fb1 Fieldmouse mid-leap over another.jpg
Description: Wheee... Slight blur suggests it is moving fast right to left.
Date: 26 Sep 2007
View: D12_20070912_0556_065 brown long-eared Bat in Flight.jpg
Description: Bats are suddenly in evidence. They are difficult to identify even in
photos, but we think we are seeing Pipistrelles in the evenings
& these brown long-eared some mornings.
Date: 25 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070827_0221_066 fb1 2 fieldmice nose to nose.jpg
Description: The more anthropomorphic of us will consider this 'kissing',
but actually they are rubbing noses very sweetly.
Date: 24 Sep 2007
View: D01_20070829_1338_037 Swallow Feeding Juvenile on wires 3 of 4 (web crop).jpg
Description: A new 'late' family feeding on the wires. Hope they can feed up
enough before migration.
Date: 23 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070827_2006_150 fb1 Vole and fruit.jpg
Description: Its easy to forget just now small these creatures are - the
purple-red wild plum is barely larger than a cherry.
Date: 22 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070824_2011_032 fb1 4 Fieldmice.jpg
Description: A quiet family scene at the log.
Date: 21 Sep 2007
View: D01_20070826_1514_272 Common Darter Male Dragonfly.jpg
Description: Darter dragonflies are smaller cousins of hawkers (see
18 Sep 2007) but no less beautiful.
Date: 20 Sep 2007
View: D01_20070827_1127_121 Swallow landing on wires (web crop).jpg
Description: A new family of swallows are being fed on the wires. This
youngster was just coming in to land.
Date: 19 Sep 2007
View: D01_20070826_1120_194 Tortoiseshell butterfly drinking from pond.jpg
Description: While 'yesterdays' dragonfly was hawking this butterfly came down
to drink. We half expect the dragonfly to attack it (yes - they
can catch & eat butterflies on the wing) but it didn't.
Date: 18 Sep 2007
View: southern hawker dragonfly 20070826 (anim).gif
Description: The flying jewellery are delighting us with acrobat displays
of glorious colour. Here one hovered for a second or two
providing a chance for a set of images in flight. The wingbeats
are far faster than the camera can manage, so don't try to
interpret the wing positions.
Date: 17 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070823_0216_093 fb1 2 Fieldmice holding claws.jpg
Description: Another pair of fieldmice in a face-to-face encounter.
Date: 16 Sep 2007
View: D01_20070824_1557_327 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly (web crop).jpg
Description: The dragonflies are now zooming around like fighter pilots.
When they stop for a moment you can get a pic.
Date: 15 Sep 2007
View: D35_20070823_2138_080+083+089 fb2 Montage of Fieldmouse over 93m.jpg
Description: The same fieldmouse seems to spend hours at this site.
Here is a little montage.
Date: 14 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070820_1930_019 fb1 Fieldmouse nestled in fallen Hawthorn berries (web crop).jpg
Description: A hawthorn branch overhangs this camera site, and this fieldmouse
is burrowing under the dropped twigs to get at the food.
Hawthorn berries obviously not first choice!
Date: 13 Sep 2007
View: D01_20070823_1718_046&049 Goldfinch Juvenile on wire and adult just taken off (Montage).jpg
Description: This montage shows a real occurrence of an adult goldfinch taking
off leaving a juvenile (and a few more out of the crop) on the
wires. They don't seem to indulge in feeding on the wires.
Date: 12 Sep 2007
View: D35_20070819_1843_024 fb2 Juvenile Moorhen showing huge feet.jpg
Description: There are at least 5 Juvenile moorhen on the main pond, along
with alternate adults as they incubate another clutch. Here you
can see the huge feet that allow them to walk on water weeds.
Date: 11 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070816_2055_056 fb1 2 Fieldmice face to face with whiskers touching.jpg
Description: Fighting or loving - isn't it hard to tell the difference.
Date: 10 Sep 2007
View: D35_20070818_0415_083 fb2 Montage of 3 Fieldmice including young one centre of log.jpg
Description: The fieldmouse population at the new camera site includes a new light
grey youngster we have not seen before even though only a dozen
metres from the old site. This is a montage of 3 separate photos.
Date: 09 Sep 2007
View: D01_20070813_1543_052 2 Kestrels in flight possibly mother and Juvenile.jpg
Description: Two kestrels in flight together (NOT a montage). Neither is an
adult male, and according to the books juveniles and females are
difficult to tell apart. From the behaviour our guess this is
mother and her offspring.
Date: 08 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070813_2017_109 fb1 Fieldmouse leaping down to Field Vole at feed site.jpg
Description: A sort of 'leave some for me'? Have not previously noticed that
voles also hold food in their paws.
Date: 07 Sep 2007
View: D01_20070812_1616_040 Kestrel Female (web crop).jpg
Description: The crows & jackdaws have gone back to mass mobbing every appearance
of a kestrel, so we have had only a few fleeting good views in the
last few days.
Date: 06 Sep 2007
View: D35_20070811_1821_024 fb2 Moorhen Adult and 2 Juveniles.jpg
Description: Part of our moorhen family - one adult and 2 of the most
recent broods juveniles, against a shaft of evening sunlight.
Date: 05 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070812_0603_104 fb1 Young robin with more red feathers.jpg
Description: What we think might be the same juvenile robin as show on
28 Aug 2007 now added a few more red feathers to his 'first'.
Date: 04 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070808_2031_031 fb1 Fox with teeth.jpg
Description: Could this be a Mouse's eye view of it's last moment on earth?
Date: 03 Sep 2007
View: D01_20070811_1638_096 Goldfinch male attempting to mate.jpg
Description: A Goldfinch having a half-hearted attempt at mating.
Goldfinches have not been seen here in previous summers,
but this year they have a family. Having delighted in their sweet
chittering and little groups flying about, we understand the
collective name 'charm of goldfinches'.
Date: 02 Sep 2007
View: D35_20070809_1759_024 fb2 Grey Squirrel.jpg
Description: We do hope the squirrels leave us a few of the hazel nuts.
Unripe nuts are being taken even from the only netted tree.
Date: 01 Sep 2007
View: D36_20070807_2244_130 fb1 Fieldmouse leaping towards another.jpg
Description: No - we have no idea what is going on here. Thanks for Christine's
suggestion of a ballet 'entrechat' (look it up in your dictionary
if you are as ignorant of ballet as we are).
Image Archive arch 2007 aug.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Aug 2007
View: D01_20070806_1513_067 Fox bounding in rough grass (web crop).jpg
Description: Mid afternoon, in a rough grass field adjacent to our plot,
two young foxes foraged and frolicked 50m away from us for
half an hour.
Date: 30 Aug 2007
View: D36_20070804_2251_160 fb1 2 Young fieldmice.jpg
Description: Young fieldmice spent an hour or so at the site. How many
individuals there are we can't say. Here are two of the sweeties.
Date: 29 Aug 2007
View: D36_20070731_0059_099 fb2 2 Fieldmice.jpg
Description: Another inexplicable happening in the Fieldmouse world.
Date: 28 Aug 2007
View: D36_20070801_0546_038 fb1 Young robin with first red feather.jpg
Description: A young robin proudly showing off his one red feather.
Date: 27 Aug 2007
View: swallow_feed_20070731_410.gif
Description: A 4 frame animation of an adult swallow delivering beakful of
insects to a youngster waiting on our mains wires. The whole
sequence took less than 0.5secs in real time - no wonder it all
seem over in a moment. (1) Parent approaching
(2) Delivery (3) Departure (4) Chick demands more NOW
but that was all. Some of the feed hanging out of it's beak.
Date: 26 Aug 2007
View: D35_20070727_2349_009 fb2 Fox calling at midnight (web crop).jpg
Description: Almost midnight a fox calls in the dark.
Date: 25 Aug 2007
View: D36_20070727_2148_012 fb1 Fieldmouse climbing onto back of another.jpg
Description: Mmm - make your own caption!
Date: 24 Aug 2007
View: D01_20070727_1806_020 Common Darter Dragonfly male head detail (web crop).jpg
Description: The intricacy of the dragonfly head is amazing. Reflections from the
multi-segment eye produces the gleaming patch.
Date: 23 Aug 2007
View: D01_20070728_1120_016 Azure Damselfly Pair in wheel position.jpg
Description: A pair of Damselflies mating on a lily frond. See
image for 17 Aug 2007 for Dragonflies in similar position.
Date: 22 Aug 2007
View: D01_20070728_1131_058 Brimstone Butterfly Male on Purple Loosestrife with Fly on butterfly wing.jpg
Description: You know the saying about fleas have little fleas ...
This newly emerged Brimstone butterfly feeding on nectar didn't take
any notice of the fly that had perched on it
Date: 21 Aug 2007
View: Kestrel Hovering 20070727 (anim).gif
Description: Facing into and moderate wind this Female Kestrel (the 'Motorway
bird') hovered and eventually dived onto prey over an adjacent
hay meadow. Once loaded the sequence runs about 5 times slower
than life (a bit over 1 second of real time) - what an athlete.
Date: 20 Aug 2007
View: D36_20070724_2215_139 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Another entry for Miss Mouse-World 2007?
Date: 19 Aug 2007
View: D10_20070724_1504_045 Yellow-winged darter dragonflies in Wheel position.jpg
Description: This a mid-sized pair of dragonflies in the 'wheel' position in
which they mate. The male is the red insect on the top clasping the
female by the neck. They can actually fly coupled like this.
Date: 18 Aug 2007
View: D35_20070723_0034_017 fb2 Fox (web crop).jpg
Description: Fox with a sense of a dramatic entrance steps through the fence.
Date: 17 Aug 2007
View: P30_20070724_1424_049 Kestrel Female taking off from post (Web Crop).jpg
Description: We haven't photographed a female kestrel since 1999 so this
takeoff is a nice addition. For a male kestrel look in the
archive for 28 Feb 2007 (killing a mouse) and 9 May 2007
(hovering).
Date: 16 Aug 2007
View: D35_20070722_0508_019 fb2 Robin with 3 chicks.jpg
Description: Never managed to catch so many robins together in one image (even
if the end chick is out of focus). Another successful family.
Date: 15 Aug 2007
View: D10_20070722_1031_049 Southern Hawker Dragonfly Immature Male (web crop).jpg
Description: This Hawker dragonfly (about 10cm wingspan) landed in a sunny hedge
in front of us. To see an image in flight look in the archive for
20 Sep 2006.
Date: 14 Aug 2007
View: D35_20070720_0619_048 fb2 Robin chick begging from parent about to land with food.jpg
Description: Lots of Robin families this year. Here the chick is begging before
the parent has even touched the ground.
Date: 13 Aug 2007
View: D36_20070720_0412_051 fb1 Fox nuzzling Cherry (web crop).jpg
Description: Foxes are making many appearances, here nuzzling a cherry
frozen from last year.
Date: 12 Aug 2007
View: D36_20070721_2216_015 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Peanut chippings are a favourite with just about everything.
Date: 11 Aug 2007
View: D60_20070722_1820_022 Moorhen pair canoodling on Dragon pond edge.jpg
Description: The moorhen are nest-building and getting 'In the Mood for Love'.
Date: 10 Aug 2007
View: P34_20070722_1013_612 Hawthorn Shieldbug (web crop).jpg
Description: New species for us. Found on agricultural fleece and moved
to adjacent bush which could have been hawthorn if we
had identified it at the time.
Date: 09 Aug 2007
View: D35_20070720_0522_036 fb2 Young robin leaping to catch insect (web crop).jpg
Description: The insect top right must be in front of the young robin
or it would be out of focus (like MOST are) so the bird
is jumping to catch it.
Date: 08 Aug 2007
View: Wren Dust Bathing (anim).gif
Description: Here is yesterday's Wren having a dust bath as a 14 frame animation
shown at about one third natural speed. Note the flying sand in
frames 2 and 12, and the apparent extasy in frame 10.
Date: 07 Aug 2007
View: D10_20070719_1558_041 Wren dust bathing (web crop).jpg
Description: Views of Wrens are usually very fleeting, but this bird spent
a couple of minutes bathing in the sand and dust by a hydrant.
Tomorrow an animation of a few second of his joy.
Date: 06 Aug 2007
No image for this day.
Description: Fault corrected late today - updated ready for tomorrow.
Date: 05 Aug 2007
No image for this day.
Description: Fault at Demon prevented any update for this day.
Will slide them all along when restored.
Date: 04 Aug 2007
View: D35_20070717_2001_018+D35_20070718_0519_031 fb2 Robin Landing on Log (montage).jpg
Description: Taken one evening and next morning (both in sufficient darkness for
the flash to swamp the natural light) this is a montage of a
robin who obviously has a preferred landing style at the site.
Date: 03 Aug 2007
View: D36_20070717_2321_027 fb1 Elegant Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Looks to us like 'she' is posing for Victorian period
pin-up with 'her' head turned for best effect and tail
draped elegantly as a dress train.
Date: 02 Aug 2007
View: D35_20070711_0253_052 fb2 Fox (web crop).jpg
Description: Eyes focussed and ears pricked, this fox is probably
hunting worms which we often see crawling over the site.
Date: 01 Aug 2007
View: D35_20070710_1841_031 fb2 Moorhen with good view of foot.jpg
Description: The pair of moorhen on the main pond are raising 6 chicks with
the help of 2 juveniles. This looks like an evening visit to 'get
a break from the kids'.
Image Archive arch 2007 jul.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Jul 2007
View: D35_20070710_1913_037 fb2 Pair of collared doves.jpg
Description: Aaaahhhh - a romantic supper of cherries for this pair
of collared doves.
Date: 30 Jul 2007
View: D35_20070711_0111_050 fb2 Pair of Foxes.jpg
Description: A first - two foxes in one frame. We don't know how they
are related.
Date: 29 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070708_0552_066 fb1 Robin with feather detail.jpg
Description: The fluffed-up feathers on this robin show up the structure
unusually well.
Date: 28 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070711_0023_094 fb1 Fieldmouse carrying off food.jpg
Description: Could this fieldmouse cram any more food into its mouth?
Date: 27 Jul 2007
View: D35_20070706_2058_050 fb2 Fox (Web Crop).jpg
Description: At least two different foxes are now regularly visiting the
camera sites. This is a young fox with wonderful pristine fur.
Date: 26 Jul 2007
View: D10_20070707_1455_037 Buzzard gliding (web Crop).jpg
Description: A buzzard gliding across the site showing some good detail.
Date: 25 Jul 2007
View: D10_20070708_1112_046 Speedwell and Scarlet Pimpernel flowers.jpg
Description: Tiny Speedwell and Scarlet Pimpernel flowers fortuitously
next to each other on another unworkable area of soil.
Date: 24 Jul 2007
View: D10_20070708_1121_062 Hover-Fly on Thistle flower.jpg
Description: The wet weather has made some of the vegetable beds unworkable
and they have become wild flower meadows. This one is covered
in thistles on which this hover-fly was resting.
Date: 23 Jul 2007
View: D10_20070708_1450_095&1453_112 Thick-legged Flower Beetles Male (left) and Female (right) on Blackberry flowers (Montage).jpg
Description: These iridescent beetles really catch the eye. At the time we
unknowingly photographed male (bulbous legs) and female 3 minutes
apart on the same patch. Get to it!
Date: 22 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070705_0113_145 fb1 Fox (web crop).jpg
Description: A fox photographed itself 3 times in an hour. In this last image
it has come back into the plot through a hole in the fence. The
many shiny black items are slugs on which it may well be feasting.
Date: 21 Jul 2007
View: D60_20070704_1415_016 Moorhen on brood platform tugging at Lily frond (web crop).jpg
Description: Mid afternoon the parents frantically refurbished an old brood platform
ready for the new arrivals, tugging like mad at this dead lily frond with
leg braced against the stems. Note the beak marks on the live foliage.
Date: 20 Jul 2007
View: D60_20070704_1606_095 Moorhen chick being fed (web crop).jpg
Description: One of the chicks who has just taken a beakful of wiggly about
to be offered some more by Mum or Dad.
Date: 19 Jul 2007
View: P34_20070704_1243_042 7 moorhen chicks + adult + juvenile.jpg
Description: 'Our' moorhens have just produced another 7 chicks, with the two
parents & 2 juveniles from this years earlier brood feeding them.
Never did get all 11 birds in one frame, so here are all the
chicks, 1 parent & a juvenile.
Date: 18 Jul 2007
View: D35_20070629_1921_008 fb2 Juvenile Blackbird.jpg
Description: The plot is delightfully full of unidentifiable juvenile brown
birds of various sizes! But we are fairly sure this is a juvenile
Blackbird.
Date: 17 Jul 2007
View: Buzzard Hovering in Strong wind (anim).gif
Description: For a few seconds a Buzzard turned into the wind and hovered
keeping position as impressively as a kestrel.
This sequence of 7 images plays in approximately real-time.
Date: 16 Jul 2007
View: D10_20070623_1212_069 Robin in hedge with caterpillar.jpg
Description: Robins used this patch of hedge to pause with beaks full
of food before diving across the path into a dense growth
on the other side where the nest must be.
Date: 15 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070627_2134_049 fb1 3 Fieldmice and a Field Vole.jpg
Description: After a top-up of the chopped bark that keep the site from
becoming a sea of mud, 3 fieldmice and a field vole have a
feed without any obvious squabbling.
Date: 14 Jul 2007
View: D35_20070626_0547_030 fb2 Carrion Crow.jpg
Description: Another newly 'permanent' resident is the carrion crows.
The tree they nested in this year is a transplanted
Cupressus Leylandii which is toppling and will have to be
felled this autumn.
Date: 13 Jul 2007
View: D35_20070626_0428_027 fb2 Grey Squirrel.jpg
Description: They break the nut feeders (including the one featured on 9
July), dig up the bulbs, and kill tree branches. But from a
yearly visit they have moved to adults and youngsters around all
day, so we will just enjoy them, and buy some better feeders!
Date: 12 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070626_0540_092 fb1 Chaffinch Male in flight.jpg
Description: This male Chaffinch is flying off with some morsel
from the offered food.
Date: 11 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070623_1855_005 fb1 Great Tit.jpg
Description: Adult Great tit takes classic pose for portrait.
Date: 10 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070623_2048_024 fb1 Field Vole & Fieldmouse (stump tail).jpg
Description: Good comparison of Field Vole and Fieldmouse. The fieldmouse
is one we see regularly with a truncated tail and torn ear,
but seems otherwise healthy
Date: 09 Jul 2007
View: P34_20070620_1257_598 8 Great tit youngsters on peanut feeder (web crop).jpg
Description: This Great tit family of 9 youngsters (9th is round the back)
have been introduced to the 'big' peanut feeder. The sparrowhawk
is making regular appearances to catch young birds, but none of
this family so far.
Date: 08 Jul 2007
View: D35_20070621_2033_006 fb2 Rear view of collared dove.jpg
Description: We don't usually 'go' for back views of which we get altogether
too many, but this collared dove particularly appeals. Think of
a Victorian lady with bustle and fantail skirt (but no corset!).
Date: 07 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070617_2205_067 fb1 Fieldmouse and slug head-to-head.jpg
Description: The impression is of a who-gives-way confrontation.
Probably a moment later the mouse walked over the slug.
Date: 06 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070618_0352_102 fb1 Yellowhammer with beak detail.jpg
Description: We just love the curvacious beak of the yellowhammer.
Date: 05 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070619_0720_210 fb1 Carrion Crow (web crop).jpg
Description: A lot of people don't like crows, but they are not (yet?)
a problem here. You have to admire their cheek.
Date: 04 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070619_2148_033 fb1 4 fieldmice on log surrounded by flood (Crop and processed).jpg
Description: As the rains continue we have here 4 fieldmice (one is
behind the mouse at the top) retreat to the only dry bits.
Date: 03 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070616_2138_121 fb1 3 fieldmice with one mid-leap.jpg
Description: Another rain storm floods our little site. The fieldmouse in the
air has a paw between us and the nearest mouse,so we wish we had
another photo 1 second later as it landed in the puddle!
Date: 02 Jul 2007
View: D36_20070617_0121_144 fb1 2 fieldmice almost paw to paw.jpg
Description: Try to make up your own non-anthropomorphic caption.
If you can think of a good one do email it to us!
Date: 01 Jul 2007
View: P34_20070610_1356_247 Pink Wild Rose & bud.jpg
Description: Comparing images for 2003-2007 years has shown us that the Pink
form of wild rose has first flowered 2 to 3 weeks later than the
white form each year. We don't know whether this is local or more
general. Even the Woodland trust 'first flower' records treat
all 'dog rose' as equivalent and match our 'white rose' timings.
Much less perfume from the pinks than the whites.
Image Archive arch 2007 jun.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Jun 2007
View: P34_20070615_1806_343 Robin Fledgling startled from drenched hedge.jpg
Description: As we brushed by a hedge this drenched robin fledgling hopped
out and crouched not knowing what to do next. We moved away
and a parent came down to guide it to safety.
Date: 29 Jun 2007
View: D36_20070614_0006_050 fb1 Fieldmouse and slug with corn grains.jpg
Description: Wet night brings out the slugs and mice.
Date: 28 Jun 2007
View: D36_20070613_1929_025 fb1 Carrion Crow with potato in beak.jpg
Description: Spuds peelings and spoilage seem to be appreciated by the crows.
Date: 27 Jun 2007
View: D35_20070614_1646_047 fb2 Robin begging for food in beak of another (Courtship feeding (Q)) (web crop).jpg
Description: The Robin on the left appears to be begging for the morsel
in the right robin's beak. These are both adults so this is
probably 'courtship feeding'.
Date: 26 Jun 2007
View: D36_20070610_2112_088 fb1 Fieldmouse eating apple peel.jpg
Description: You can see the nibble marks where this fieldmouse eats the
flesh off this piece of apple peel.
Date: 25 Jun 2007
View: D36_20070607_0145_110 fb1 Fieldmouse & snail.jpg
Description: A sort of Hare and the Tortoise?
Date: 24 Jun 2007
View: D36_20070607_1948_021 fb1 2 Magpies open beak threatening each other (web crop).jpg
Description: These 2 magpies look like they really aren't keen on each other.
Its amazing that you see so few injured birds when you see the fights.
Date: 23 Jun 2007
View: D36_20070605_0246_050 fb1 2 fieldmice in some sort of chase (Q).jpg
Description: These fieldmice seem to be chasing one another through a sea of
slugs and beans.
Date: 22 Jun 2007
View: D60_20070605_1323_006 Young moorhen.jpg
Description: A growing young moorhen (one of 3) caught in the middle of a preen.
Date: 21 Jun 2007
View: D60_20070605_1500_009 Great Spotted Woodpecker Male feeding youngster above with peanuts.jpg
Description: 2 young woodpeckers are currently begging for food at various
places. Here Dad provides some peanuts crumbs he has just hacked
out of a feeder on the other side of the house (rather than
the one a foot above this photo).
Date: 20 Jun 2007
View: D36_20070605_0135_038 fb1 Field Vole.jpg
Description: The baked beans have also attracted back a field vole to join the
slugs in a feast.
Date: 19 Jun 2007
View: D36_20070605_0256_054 fb1 Young Fieldmouse & adult eating baked beans.jpg
Description: Tesco baked beans seem to be a huge hit. Here a young fieldmouse
and (probably) it's mother sample the delights.
Date: 18 Jun 2007
View: D60_20070602_1746_054 Moorhen youngster in buttercups.jpg
Description: One of the 3 healthy moorhen chicks stomping through the
buttercups.
Date: 17 Jun 2007
View: D60_20070604_1331_064 Great spotted woodpecker youngster.jpg
Description: One of the Great Spotted Woodpecker youngsters waiting
impatiently for a feed.
Date: 16 Jun 2007
View: D36_20070603_2121_018 fb1 Fieldmouse on log surrounded by storm water (crop).jpg
Description: Can I swim? Of course fieldmice can swim but dry is better.
A storm on 3 June delivered 31mm of rain, most of it in the 2
hours before this photo. Water is streaming through the site. The
vignetting blur is a fun side effect of a drenched camera window.
Date: 15 Jun 2007
View: P34_20070524_1535_474 Pollen drifting from Pine flowers (web crop).jpg
Description: Pollen drifting in the breeze (with a little help from us) from
the male flower of a pine tree.
Date: 14 Jun 2007
View: D35_20070530_2137_019 fb2 Fieldmouse leaping onto another (Q).jpg
Description: From the perspective given by the shadow it looks like the mouse
in the air is leaping onto the one underneath.
Date: 13 Jun 2007
View: D3C_20070528_1708_028 fb1 Robin with food in beak.jpg
Description: Robins are still collecting food for their youngsters.
Date: 12 Jun 2007
View: D3C_20070529_2156_211 fb1 adult and young fieldmice.jpg
Description: This looks like an adult fieldmouse and a recent sprog.
Note the different fur colours.
Date: 11 Jun 2007
View: D3C_20070524_2030_034 fb1 Yellowhammer showing beak detail.jpg
Description: Here is a nicely posed Yellowhammer showing how the upper and
lower mandibles (top and bottom parts of the beak) differ in
shape, presumably giving them some advantage tackling their diet
of seeds and grain.
Date: 10 Jun 2007
View: D10_20070524_1636_019 Common Blue damselfly Female Brown form (Q) (web crop).jpg
Description: There are a number of damselfly species (smallest members of the
Dragonfly family) around. Expert opinion suggests this is
an Azure Damselfly Female of the green persuasion, rather than
our identification in the filename with (Q) to indicate '?' - unsure.
Date: 09 Jun 2007
View: D3C_20070522_2144_051 fb1 2 fieldmice.jpg
Description: If we didn't know better we would think the Fieldmouse on the
right was telling a joke.
Date: 08 Jun 2007
View: D3C_20070523_0444_084 fb1 Roblin Fledging.jpg
Description: This disagreeable looking bird is a Robin fledgling - just a few
days out of the nest. The red breast is an adult characteristic.
Date: 07 Jun 2007
View: D10_20070524_1621_013 Buzzard.jpg
Description: Over the last 15 years Buzzards have moved from a few sighting a
year to a few a week. This one glided over the house on a warm
afternoon.
Date: 06 Jun 2007
View: D10_20070518_1753_014 Swift with open beak (web crop).jpg
Description: We have been visited by swifts more than in previous years.
On one of the few bright days we managed to photograph
this one with its beak open collecting insects.
Date: 05 Jun 2007
View: D10_20070522_1439_077 Cockchafer Beetle.jpg
Description: Normally we have only occasionally seen Cockchafer beetles
whizz by, but this one was playing dead (and wasn't!) in a
shed so we took some pictures before putting it somewhere safe.
Its BIG - the body is 3cm long.
Date: 04 Jun 2007
View: D3C_20070521_1916_076 fb1 Yellowhammer in flight attacking chaffinch.jpg
Description: The territorial disputes continue - this time a Yellowhammer
we are sure is breeding nearby attacks a chaffinch which is
probably the one who regularly sings in a hedge top a few metres away.
Date: 03 Jun 2007
View: D35_20070520_0639_065 fb2 Blackbird Male.jpg
Description: A Blackbird male looking unusually spruce for the breeding
season.
Date: 02 Jun 2007
View: D3E_20070518_1855_019 fb1 Yellowhammer.jpg
Description: A yellowhammer looking a bit scruffy - we often see a pair
in this corner of the site so they a presumably breeding nearby.
Date: 01 Jun 2007
View: D3E_20070517_0202_091 fb1 2 fieldmice.jpg
Description: We have no idea what our mad fieldmice are doing here.
Image Archive arch 2007 may.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 May 2007
View: D35_20070518_0709_140 fb2 Grey Squirrel running.jpg
Description: The grey squirrel has put in an appearance months before it's
usual nut-season visit and made many visits to this camera site
as well as the bird nut feeders by the house. 'Rats with good
PR' is one description of these tree damaging rodents, but you
have to admire them.
Date: 30 May 2007
View: D3E_20070516_1721_018 fb1 Yellowhammer turning in flight.jpg
Description: This yellowhammer is turning in flight right on the edge
of the frame.
Date: 29 May 2007
View: D3E_20070517_0240_093 fb1 Fieldmouse & slugs & worm.jpg
Description: A bit of damp weather has brought all the slimy inhabitants
out.
Date: 28 May 2007
View: D35_20070514_1631_006 fb2 Great Tit and Robin face-off.jpg
Description: Looks like a little territorial disagreement in progress.
Date: 27 May 2007
View: D3E_20070516_0141_182 fb1 Fieldmouse carrying cherry.jpg
Description: These cherries weigh about 8gm and the mouse looks mid size
of range 13 to 27gm so it is probably carrying 40% of its
own weight in its mouth.
Date: 26 May 2007
View: D60_20070514_1754_004 3 moorhen chicks.jpg
Description: This is the 3 surviving chicks in the evening sunshine
near the edge of the pond.
Date: 25 May 2007
View: D60_20070514_1755_010 Moorhen looking for food & offering it to chick (2 of 2).jpg
Description: The adult moorhen has found something (possibly a small snail) and
is offering it to the chick who wouldn't take it - they only
want squishy stuff at this age.
Date: 24 May 2007
View: D3E_20070509_0335_053 fb1 Fieldmouse running.jpg
Description: A fieldmouse elegantly bounding down the log.
Date: 23 May 2007
View: D3E_20070509_1934_090 fb1 Yellowhammer shaking off water in heavy rain.jpg
Description: This Yellowhammer is shaking off water in heavy rain. We are used
to seeing this in dogs and larger animals, but in birds it is usually
so quick you don't see a thing.
Date: 22 May 2007
View: D3E_20070507_0349_064 fb1 2 Fieldmice & snails and slugs (1st substantial rain for weeks).jpg
Description: After the first decent rain for a month out come the
slugs & snails to join the fieldmice.
Date: 21 May 2007
View: D35_20070504_2046_016 fb2 3 Fieldmice.jpg
Description: These delightful little creatures sometimes behave
as if they are completely mad (genuine single frame).
Date: 20 May 2007
View: D3E_20070504_1813_005 fb1 Chaffinch and robin in aerial fight (web crop).jpg
Description: Its the time of territorial disputes and these face-to-face
fights are typical.
Note the vicious claws of the robin on the right going for
the chaffinch.
Date: 19 May 2007
View: D3E_20070505_2123_110 fb1 Fieldmouse eating.jpg
Description: A fieldmouse tucking into one of last years frozen cherries
we stored for the animals.
Date: 18 May 2007
View: D3E_20070502_1902_013 fb1 Robin with food in beak.jpg
Description: A robin paused on the log while collecting food for
his young. Note the insect or worm in the beak.
Date: 17 May 2007
View: D35_20070430_1935_020 fb2 Fox.jpg
Description: This fox visited one site twice in an evening & looks in good
condition. Neither images gives a clue as to sex but it is in
much better condition than a mangy creature we have glimpsed a
few times.
Date: 16 May 2007
View: D3E_20070429_1900_127 fb1 Robin.jpg
Description: The robins are all looking a little the worse for wear as the
breeding season progresses.
Date: 15 May 2007
View: P34_20070430_1105_420 Dandelion Clock (web crop).jpg
Description: Dandelions are making their 'clocks' so beloved of children
of all ages.
Date: 14 May 2007
View: D35_20070425_1906_051+0700_043 fb2 Adult & Young Rabbits (montage).jpg
Description: We don't often feature rabbits so here is a montage of
an adult and a youngster.
Date: 13 May 2007
View: D3E_20070424_2050_046 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Fieldmouse tucking into some fruit or other. Note the snail
behind.
Date: 12 May 2007
View: D3E_20070425_0749_113 fb1 Chaffinch Male.jpg
Description: Portrait of a male chaffinch
Date: 11 May 2007
View: D3E_20070418_2032_037 fb1 Field Vole & Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Only the second time we have seen a field vole (last in 2005
running about on the patio). Slightly larger than the
fieldmouse on the left.
Date: 10 May 2007
View: D35_20070420_2010_013 fb2 Fieldmouse leaping off log onto or over another.jpg
Description: Are imagining that the fieldmouse on the left has a lecherous
gleam in his eye?
Date: 09 May 2007
View: D10_20070420_1754_015 Kestrel hovering (web crop).jpg
Description: In the evening sun a Kestrel swooped and hovered over our patch
for a few minutes, the sun for once lighting the underside.
Here is one while it was hovering - we didn't see it catch anything.
Date: 08 May 2007
View: D10_20070407_1028_004 Mallard duck and drake dozing on Dragon Pond edge.jpg
Description: There seem to be 3 drakes and 2 ducks lurking round the site. Here a
pair drowse in unusually warm early April sunshine.
Date: 07 May 2007
View: P34_20070418_1746_285 Peacock butterfly on Self-Heal (Rotate & crop).jpg
Description: The plant 'Self-Heal' has gone rampant this year. The Peacock Butterfly
(which will have hibernated away the winter) has a welcome feed.
Date: 06 May 2007
View: D60_20070419_1234_032+1234_030 Montage of Wren building nest try 2.jpg
Description: Wrens usually offer only a fleeting glimpse, but we spotted this
bird furiously taking nesting material to about .5m up a reed mace
clump. This is a composite of two images (bird at the left a second
or two before the right).
Date: 05 May 2007
View: D3E_20070415_2349_160 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: When the fieldmice are not leaping about they practice
looking sweet.
Date: 04 May 2007
View: D3E_20070416_0715_225 fb1 Blackbird Male with food in beak.jpg
Description: A number of blackbird pairs are nesting somewhere around us.
Here a male is collecting 'squishy' morsels.
Date: 03 May 2007
View: D35_20070413_1836_026 fb2 Collared Dove.jpg
Description: A collared dove showing off his/her wings.
Date: 02 May 2007
View: D3E_20070412_1949_044 fb1 Chaffinch male with spread wings and back.jpg
Description: All the colours and detail of a chaffinches back and wings.
Date: 01 May 2007
View: P34_20070414_1653_612 Daisies pushing through fallen Oak leaves.jpg
Description: This years daisies pushing aside the fall of last years old oak
leaves.
Image Archive arch 2007 apr.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070412_0411_046 fb2 Blackbird female with wings up-stretched.jpg
Description: The Blackbirds are nesting somewhere. Here the female appears to
be about to take-off.
Date: 29 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070411_0020_171 fb1 Mouse with peanut.jpg
Description: Another peanut finds a worthy home.
Date: 28 Apr 2007
View: P34_20070425_1112_903 Bluebell Dell Seq (Web Crop).jpg
Description: Our first planting of (hopefully mostly) natural English
bluebells are at last beginning to form a swathe in a stand
of sycamores.
Date: 27 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070411_0744_205 fb1 Great Tit with peanut.jpg
Description: Whatever we put out, the peanuts go first. This was taken 11 April
and we will be crushing loose nuts for a while so parents don't
accidently choke their young on them
Date: 26 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070411_1909_234 fb1 Chaffinch threatening Yellowhammer.jpg
Description: All the birds are very territorial. Here a male Chaffinch appear to
be threatening an innocent yellowhammer.
Date: 25 Apr 2007
View: D12_20070410_1440_747 Bluetit with nesting material at box (Web Crop).jpg
Description: A long unused Bat box has been 'modified' by something and now
appears to be attractive to Bluetits - the widened slot is a nice
tight squeeze for a bluetit. We were lucky to see nesting
material being taken in & will be watching events.
Date: 24 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070407_1956_093 fb1 Chaffinch Male taking off.jpg
Description: A rear view of the glorious colours of a male chaffinch
as it takes off.
Date: 23 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070409_0431_227 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: A fieldmouse with tail upraised patters along the log.
Date: 22 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070407_0834_026 fb2 Moorhen.jpg
Description: The first moorhen brood sadly failed, but the parents are
obviously getting ready for another go.
Date: 21 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070406_0828_062 fb2 Collared Dove Pair.jpg
Description: We adore these delicate collared doves which appear to
be paired and probably have a nest somewhere.
Date: 20 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070405_1802_107 fb1 Great Tit.jpg
Description: A slightly cheeky looking Great Tit.
Date: 19 Apr 2007
View: P34_20070407_1118_787 Snake's-Head Fritillary unopened.jpg
Description: A slightly sinister Snake's-Head Fritillary not yet quite opened.
Date: 18 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070401_1600_040 fb2 Pheasant Male.jpg
Description: Our male pheasant drapes his tale through the beam.
Date: 17 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070402_0706_061 fb2 Chaffinch male and female in flurry of wings at dawn.jpg
Description: These male and female chaffinches are probably a pair
attempting to mate or having a little squabble.
Date: 16 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070327_2001_006 fb2 2 Fieldmice with one mid-leap.jpg
Description: The Fieldmouse at both sites (100m apart so must be separate
nests) continue to amaze us.
Date: 15 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070327_1746_001 fb2 Great Tit in flight with food (web crop).jpg
Description: Unusually clear picture of a Great tit in flight. In it beak is a
wet peanut, and a flake of chopped bark (we have used to stop the
sites becoming mud-wallows) stuck to it's chest.
Date: 14 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070328_2035_079 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: A fieldmouse spoilt for choice just after dusk.
Date: 13 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070328_1928_073 fb1 Great Tit.jpg
Description: Classic style portrait of a Great Tit.
Date: 12 Apr 2007
View: D60_20070331_0840_013 Moorhen feeding chick on dragon pond.jpg
Description: Well this is the 'moorhen' web site, and our moorhens have beaten
all our records by hatching 7 chicks before March was out. One or
both groups appear periodically at the pond by the house
where we get the opportunity for photos like this.
Date: 11 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070324_1954_011 fb2 2 Fieldmice with one mid leap.jpg
Description: The fieldmice continue to show their amazing athleticism.
Date: 10 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070325_1545_029 fb2 Great Tit in Flight.jpg
Description: This great Tit was caught in flight over the site.
Date: 09 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070325_1456_062 fb1 Pheasant Male (web crop).jpg
Description: The male pheasant has appeared again on both cameras after a few days
absence. He really is magnificent.
Date: 08 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070323_2134_036 fb1 fieldmouse.jpg
Description: A repaired camera kit damaged by rabbits chewing the cables
caught this sweet fieldmouse.
Date: 07 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070318_1751_005 fb2 Robin flying in to land.jpg
Description: A robin coming in to land on the end of the log.
Date: 06 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070318_2152_027 fb1 Fieldmouse with cherry.jpg
Description: This fieldmouse is carrying off a (ex-frozen) cherry almost
as big as it's head.
Date: 05 Apr 2007
View: D60_20070321_1257_017 Green woodpecker from rear with head turned.jpg
Description: A green woodpecker is finding the moist but not waterlogged
soil on the pond islands good hunting grounds.
Date: 04 Apr 2007
View: D10_20070321_0929_015 Heron catching Great Crested Newt in Dragon pond (3 of 4) (web crop).jpg
Description: Slightly earlier than previous years a heron is catching great
crested newts in at least two of the ponds. The only time we get
to see these cautious newts is in the beak of a heron.
Correction
12 Jan 2009: This is a Smooth Newt -
thanks to Barry Kemp for the info.
Date: 03 Apr 2007
View: D3E_20070322_0839_045 fb1 Dunnock in Snow.jpg
Description: In the hour or two after a snow shower before the snow melted
this Dunnock took its portrait.
Date: 02 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070315_1635_008 fb2 Magpie Feeding.jpg
Description: The magpies seem to have finished their nest near the house,
but we can't see whether there are eggs or a bird on the nest.
Date: 01 Apr 2007
View: D35_20070315_1608_003 fb2 Chaffinch female in Flight.jpg
Description: Perhaps this female chaffinch is the object the fight
in yesterdays image (same site and similar time next day).
Image Archive arch 2007 mar.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Mar 2007
View: D35_20070314_1659_104 fb2 2 Chaffinch males locked together in aerial combat.jpg
Description: This time of year you often see birds sparring in the air but it is
hard to see what is going on. Here something else has triggered
the camera as these two Chaffinch males fall into shot with claws
still engaged in each other.
Date: 30 Mar 2007
View: D3E_20070310_1559_006 fb1 Dunnock in dynamic position.jpg
Description: This dunnock swoops in to the site.
Date: 29 Mar 2007
View: D3E_20070310_1626_014 fb1 Great Tit with Corn grain in beak.jpg
Description: Corn is the favourite of the tits.
Date: 28 Mar 2007
View: P34_20070313_1028_389 Willow Warbler in Cherry blossom.jpg
Description: This Willow warbler teased us for a while before we got this little
portrait in the blossom.
Date: 27 Mar 2007
View: D3E_20070313_0159_211 fb1 Fieldmouse mid-leap in unusual vertical position.jpg
Description: This fieldmouse is unusually vertical. We have no idea why.
Date: 26 Mar 2007
View: P34_20070315_1034_541 Primrose 4 Seq.jpg
Description: Peeping from under a bush and sharing its land with an ivy, the
primrose flowers face the sun.
Date: 25 Mar 2007
View: P34_20070313_1017_352 Cherry Blossom.jpg
Description: Cherry blossom is the dominant feature at the moment. Whole trees
just don't work as small photos, so here is a sprig against the
spring sky.
Date: 24 Mar 2007
View: D35_20070307_1957_013 fb2 3 Fieldmice with one mid-leap.jpg
Description: Can you find the third fieldmouse? It is possibly pleased the one
above didn't land on him, a bit like we feel about helicopter
pilots practicing over our patch.
Date: 23 Mar 2007
View: D35_20070307_1502_004 fb2 Pheasant male sitting.jpg
Description: First time we have seen the male sitting at the buffet.
Date: 22 Mar 2007
View: D35_20070309_1836_051 fb2 2 Fieldmice with one mid-leap.jpg
Description: The fieldmice are obviously feeling very frisky (as if
that is anything limited to Spring).
Date: 21 Mar 2007
View: D35_20070308_1600_032 fb2 2 Magpies.jpg
Description: We have now found the nest this pair of magpies are building from
scratch in an un-topped hedge a few metres from the house. Their
nest of the last few years is being 'refurbished' by jackdaws.
Date: 20 Mar 2007
View: D35_20070304_1810_011 fb2 Flying robin and leaping fieldmouse.jpg
Description: The Robin may be chasing off the Fieldmouse, or they may both
have startled by something to the right.
Date: 19 Mar 2007
View: P34_20070308_1039_915 Cherry Twig 2 Seq.jpg
Description: Can't resist another cherry blossom.
Date: 18 Mar 2007
View: D35_20070306_2121_048 fb2 2 fieldmice in mid-leap.jpg
Description: The gymnastics these mice achieve beggars belief. There is
nothing above for them to jump down from so these are free-standing
leaps.
Date: 17 Mar 2007
View: P34_20070301_1547_287 Silver Birches & Black Poplar against dark clouds.jpg
Description: Sunlight playing over trees against dark skies is always
dramatic. The tallest tree in the image is a black poplar - the
tallest of all our plantings. The rest are silver birch.
Date: 16 Mar 2007
View: P34_20070302_1041_428 Violet Flowers.jpg
Description: A detail from a bed of violet flowers
Date: 15 Mar 2007
View: D3E_20070303_0645_081 fb1 Pair of Yellowhammer.jpg
Description: Yellowhammer are ONLY seen at this site and are so often seen
as a pair that they have obviously found a nest site.
Date: 14 Mar 2007
View: P34_20070303_1024_502 Cherry blossom with dewdrops imagings.jpg
Description: Not noticed when photographing this Cherry blossom, there is a
whole miniature (upside down) world in the big water drop. If you
like this sort of thing see the image for 28 Dec 2006.
Date: 13 Mar 2007
View: P34_20070303_1037_532 Bee on Cherry Blossom.jpg
Description: Relief to see a bee with all their recent woes. We have also had
a few visiting the flowers in our conservatory come greenhouse.
Date: 12 Mar 2007
View: D3E_20070303_1701_151 fb1 Robin in vertical dive.jpg
Description: Robins are laying in town nest boxes already. In this
more exposed environment the Robins are still in territorial
and show-off modes. We don't know which this is.
Date: 11 Mar 2007
View: P34_20070303_1039_541 Ladybird and violets.jpg
Description: Warm enough to tempt out this Ladybird for a walk on the violets.
Date: 10 Mar 2007
View: P34_20070303_1043_555 Snowdrop.jpg
Description: Mouse's eye view of a snowdrop.
Date: 09 Mar 2007
View: P34_20070303_1022_490 Cherry blossom.jpg
Description: Spring flowers are here! This is Cherry blossom - indeed
'loveliest of trees'.
Date: 08 Mar 2007
View: D10_20070209_1210_006 weekly field left 09feb2007 (web crop).jpg
Description: From the snowfall almost a month ago, even here the colours
of spring can be spotted in the willows.
Date: 07 Mar 2007
View: D35_20070226_2307_013 fb2 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Fieldmouse with tail elegantly draped over the end of the log.
Date: 06 Mar 2007
View: D3E_20070222_1604_011 fb1 Great Tit dropping corn grain as it launches.jpg
Description: Whatever has spurred this Great Tit into flight is obviously
higher priority than the corn grain it has dropped.
Date: 05 Mar 2007
View: D3E_20070222_2326_047 fb1 Fieldmouse mid-leap.jpg
Description: Judging from the lack of movement blur this fieldmouse is at the
top of its leap (or it is doing the 'Indian Tail Trick').
Date: 04 Mar 2007
View: D3E_20070223_1636_077 fb1 Dunnock.jpg
Description: Portrait of a Dunnock.
Date: 03 Mar 2007
View: D3E_20070222_2227_043 fb1 2 fieldmice squabbling (Q) on log.jpg
Description: The loss of one (probably many more) to the Kestrel has had
no noticeable effect on the numbers or behaviour.
Date: 02 Mar 2007
View: D3E_20070220_1658_090 fb1 Great Tit Flying off with peanut.jpg
Description: Great Tit flying off with a whole peanut to eat elsewhere.
Once the breeding season is underway we avoid putting out whole
nuts in case young birds choke on them.
Date: 01 Mar 2007
View: D3E_20070222_0711_202 fb1 Chaffinch female with small worm in beak.jpg
Description: The worms are being forced to the surface by the waterlogged
soil, pleasing this female Chaffinch who has a tiny one in her beak.
Image Archive arch 2007 feb.htm (view it Here)
Date: 28 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070221_1731_187 fb1 Kestrel male holding fieldmouse in claw (web crop).jpg
Description: Don't often see Kestrels here because the resident corvids drive
them off. So we are surprised, pleased & sad to see that,
at sunset, this male had just caught one of the fieldmice.
Date: 27 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070216_1649_048 fb1 Blackbird male.jpg
Description: Nice portrait of a blackbird male.
Date: 26 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070217_1713_073 fb1 Robin (Q) & Dunnock squabbling.jpg
Description: A couple of birds arguing over who get the grub.
Date: 25 Feb 2007
View: P34_20070217_1131_918 Ladybird in elm bark.jpg
Description: This ladybird was hiding in the creases in the bark of a
diseased elm.
Date: 24 Feb 2007
View: D35_20070213_0444_013 fb2 Blackbird male.jpg
Description: The blackbirds are also breeding (seen collecting nesting
material) but we don't know where. This is the male - the
females are brown (typical naming!)
Date: 23 Feb 2007
View: D35_20070214_1629_026 fb2 Collared dove.jpg
Description: A pair of collared doves are nesting in a evergreen whose
trunk is hidden in the darkness behind the bird.
Not a good angle to see the 'collar' - we hope for better.
Date: 22 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070213_0731_074 fb1 Yellowhammer threatening Great tit in Air top right.jpg
Description: A great tit is just out of the original frame at the top right and
this yellowhammer is defending its patch.
Date: 21 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070214_1754_120 fb1 2 Fieldmice mouth to mouth.jpg
Description: To our anthropomorphic eyes these two are kissing. The one
on the right even has (her?) eyes closed! We notice this was
taken the evening of Valentines day.
Date: 20 Feb 2007
View: D35_20070205_1454_006 fb1 2 magpies.jpg
Description: What are these two magpies up to - the posture of the one behind
suggests that this is a pair. There is certainly a nest being
'refurbished' in an old tree in front of the house.
Date: 19 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070205_1547_026 fb1 Great Tit.jpg
Description: The Great tits are now regularly visitors.
Date: 18 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070207_1851_179 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: A fieldmouse jumping down from the log
Date: 17 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070210_1143_308 fb1 Robin on flooded log.jpg
Description: Only about 4 Hours after yesterdays portrait the snow thaw has
turned into a minor flood as the ground beneath is still frozen
and the water can only run over the surface. Unfortunately we
didn't realise in the summer that this site is in the preferred
run-off.
Date: 16 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070210_0707_286 fb1 Robin in Snow.jpg
Description: The snow is melting in this robin portrait.
Date: 15 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070209_1541_221 fb1 Jackdaw in Snow.jpg
Description: A moderate snowfall when seen at the scale of even a
big bird. There is food under and on the snow, and
this jackdaw wants his share.
Date: 14 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070202_1747_038 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: A fieldmouse looking very twee in the flashlit dusk.
Date: 13 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070204_1625_094 fb1 Robin against sunset lit hedge.jpg
Description: Robin admiring the light of sunset on the hedge?
Date: 12 Feb 2007
View: P34_20070203_1044_507 Hazel Catkin & Flower.jpg
Description: The hazel trees are waking up. The yellow tassels
generate the pollen and the tiny red flowers are the
females that develop the nuts.
Date: 11 Feb 2007
View: D35_20070127_1413_009 fb2 Pheasant male (web crop).jpg
Description: Our Pheasant managed to get himself bang in focus for this
portrait.
Date: 10 Feb 2007
View: D35_20070128_1208_029 fb2 2 Magpies.jpg
Description: Its the time of year of everything to pair up,
including these magpies,
Date: 09 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070127_1429_030 fb1 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: Another pic of our handsome pheasant.
Date: 08 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070127_1512_037 fb1 2 robins.jpg
Description: Aha! 2 robins not locked in mortal combat - they must
be courting.
Date: 07 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070128_1147_072 fb1 Robin calling to bird out of frame top left (crop).jpg
Description: This striking robin is calling to or at a bird flying away to the
top left (it is partly in the original frame but is too poor to
include).
Date: 06 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070128_1330_082 fb1 2 Jackdaws.jpg
Description: Jackdaws no longer have our chimneys to nest in, and are finding
old magpie nests and other sites for this year. Here are two
(maybe a pair) in early afternoon.
Date: 05 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070129_1935_163 fb1 Fieldmouse with heap of fruit.jpg
Description: Fieldmouse heaven?
Date: 04 Feb 2007
View: D3E_20070128_1455_100 fb1 Great Tit.jpg
Description: Dynamic shot of a great tit.
Date: 03 Feb 2007
View: D35_20070130_1641_067 fb2 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: Probable 'Hubby' for yesterdays female pheasant.
Date: 02 Feb 2007
View: D35_20070131_0802_088 fb2 Pheasant female with tail covered in frost.jpg
Description: A real surprise - on only a moderately frosty (-1C) & dry night this
female has managed to get a thick crust of frost on her tail.
We have seen the male sheltering under trees and bushes and suspect
she did likewise but left her tail outside and dew formed or fell
onto it.
Date: 01 Feb 2007
View: D35_20070121_0527_013 fb Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Fieldmouse leaping over a fallen branch
Image Archive arch 2007 jan.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Jan 2007
View: D35_20070121_1635_022 fb2 Muntjac Deer.jpg
Description: Muntjac deer picking over the fruit.
Date: 30 Jan 2007
View: D3E_20070123_1814_058 fb1 Fieldmouse on Apple.jpg
Description: The apple is still attracting the gymnasts of the
fieldmouse population.
Date: 29 Jan 2007
View: D3E_20070120_1331_017 fb1 Magpie.jpg
Description: Cheeky magpie
Date: 28 Jan 2007
View: D35_20070115_1643_011 fb2 Muntjac Deer (web crop).jpg
Description: This lovely Muntjac deer is now visiting one site regularly.
Judging from a similar image 2 minutes before it has just rolled
the apple to one side and nibbled a cherry stored for them.
Date: 27 Jan 2007
View: D3E_20070115_2338_023 fb1 fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Is this fieldmouse practicing apple rolling? We think not - just
a convenient foothold.
Date: 26 Jan 2007
View: D32_03434 Sparrowhawk (web crop).jpg
Description: Another sparrowhawk image, this time from Jan 2002.
Date: 25 Jan 2007
View: D3E_20070116_0627_040 fb1 fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Fieldmouse caught mid-leap.
Date: 24 Jan 2007
View: P34_20070119_1130_147 Hazel Bud 5 Seq.jpg
Description: The hazel catkins have started to open on one of our
regularly recorded twigs. Spring is on the way despite
rain, gales, and a sea of mud.
Date: 23 Jan 2007
View: P32_20060402_1730_534 Sparrowhawk male (web crop).jpg
Description: A sparrowhawk has been visiting regularly but not where he can be
photographed well. So here is an image from April 2006 not shown
before.
Date: 22 Jan 2007
View: D35_20070112_1654_015 fb2 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Fieldmouse running towards the food
Date: 21 Jan 2007
View: D3E_20070114_1213_039 fb1 Great Tit.jpg
Description: Great tits stay with us all year at the peanut
feeders, but we haven't seen one at the remote sites
for months.
Date: 20 Jan 2007
View: \D3E_20070109_0502_069 fb1 Muntjac deer eating apple.jpg
Description: Apples appear to be a favourite of the Muntjac deer.
Date: 19 Jan 2007
View: \D35_20070109_0816_078 fb2 Pheasant male and patch of dawn.jpg
Description: We rather like the way the colours of the pheasant are echoed
in the sky of this gloomy dawn.
Date: 18 Jan 2007
View: \D35_20070109_1208_081 fb2 Jackdaw.jpg
Description: Jackdaws are frequent subjects of the automatic cameras, but
rarely present themselves in a suitable pose for publication.
Date: 17 Jan 2007
View: \D35_20070109_1430_093 fb2 Muntjac deer.jpg
Description: The muntjac deer looking over the offerings.
Date: 16 Jan 2007
View: \D3E_20070104_1508_012 fb1 Chaffinch female.jpg
Description: Chaffinch female with muddy leg poised on the log.
Date: 15 Jan 2007
View: \D3E_20070110_0348_096 fb1 Muntjac deer carrying off apple from flooded site.jpg
Description: A muntjac deer is suddenly visiting both sites. Here she is
'paddling' through a temporary puddle at the site carrying off an
apple.
Date: 14 Jan 2007
View: P34_20061231_1209_933 Nest in E hedge of Wren(Q) (web Crop).jpg
Description: One of the 'joys' of winter is seeing all the nests you had no idea
were there when they were occupied. From the small size and
seeing wrens many times in this area during the summer we think
this is a Wren's nest.
Date: 13 Jan 2007
View: P34_20070107_1056_952 Ivy Seq.jpg
Description: The Ivy fruits almost completely devoured in this patch of ivy.
Date: 12 Jan 2007
View: D3E_20070102_0731_032 fb1 Robin.jpg
Description: A robin elegantly pauses on the log.
Date: 11 Jan 2007
View: D35_20070102_1519_013 fb2 Pheasant male head.jpg
Description: Our male pheasant brightens up a really grey
January afternoon.
Date: 10 Jan 2007
View: D35_20061226_1303_039 fb2 Redwing (web crop).jpg
Description: We rarely see Redwings (usually scattered in flocks
of Fieldfares which have been sparse this year) and
had not spotted any this year. But one by chance took its
own picture to record it's fleeting visit..
Date: 09 Jan 2007
View: D35_20061227_1559_062 fb2 Robin in Flight.jpg
Description: A robin flying at speed through the beam break is
inevitably a bit blurred but rather fun.
Date: 08 Jan 2007
View: P34_20061220_1213_737 Frosted Horse Chestnut buds.jpg
Description: More hoar frost, this time on Horse chestnut buds we
photograph every few days.
Date: 07 Jan 2007
View: P34_20061220_1215_739 Frost on Ivy Berries and Leaves (web crop).jpg
Description: The fruiting ivy was also frosted. This sort of crystaline
frost freezes moisture straight out of the air (like in freezers)
and is called 'Hoar' frost.
Date: 06 Jan 2007
View: P34_20061222_1232_752 Frozen Water droplets on Conifer.jpg
Description: Some very cold night have produced some interesting frost
and other effects. Here water has frozen clear. Note the
vertical icicles where water drops have build up on spider silk.
This 'frozen water' frost is called 'Rime.
Date: 05 Jan 2007
View: D35_20061222_1307_016 fb2 Chaffinch Female.jpg
Description: A beautifully poised Female Chaffinch. Until we started
these automated photos we had no idea that chaffinches
had such lovely green backs you don't see in the
standard 'pose'.
Date: 04 Jan 2007
View: D35_20061223_0945_038 fb2 Pheasant Male.jpg
Description: The whole of our large male pheasant just squeezing
into the frame.
Date: 03 Jan 2007
View: D3E_20061222_1947_076 fb1 2 fieldmice squabbling.jpg
Description: A rather muddled image of two fieldmice appearing to
be having a squabble.
Date: 02 Jan 2007
View: D35_20061222_1612_030 fb2 Robin jumping down off log.jpg
Description: A Robin jumping off his Christmas log?
Date: 01 Jan 2007
View: D35_20061218_1453_064+1416_055 fb2 Pheasant Pair probing mud (montage).jpg
Description: We often see the pheasants with their beaks smothered in mud.
This montage shows the female (right) really getting stuck in - the
patch of ground here is now very soft.
Image Archive arch 2006 dec.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061220_1306_095 fb2 2 male Chaffinches squabbling (Web Crop).jpg
Description: These 2 male chaffinches are already squabbling over territory.
Date: 30 Dec 2006
View: D3E_20061216_2043_018 fb1 3 Fieldmice (triple montage).jpg
Description: Montage of fieldmice.
Date: 29 Dec 2006
View: P34_20061217_1118_702 Autumn Oak leaf speckled with frost (web crop).jpg
Description: A slight frost on this damp autumn oak leaf left it sparkling.
Date: 28 Dec 2006
View: P34_20061217_1120_711 Sycamore twig with pond mist dewdrop imaging trees (enlarged & rotated dewdrop insert).jpg
Description: The night before this photo was very still and mist off the ponds
soaked trees in the drifting mist. The bottom right is an 180
degree rotated & enlarged image of the drop where you can see the
distorted image of the trees in the main image.
Date: 27 Dec 2006
View: D3E_20061215_1556_029 fb1 Robin taking off.jpg
Description: An elegant robin take-off.
Date: 26 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061214_1407_023 fb2 Pheasant female (Blondie).jpg
Description: The following day the wind had dropped and the female pheasant
looks her prim self again.
Date: 25 Dec 2006
View: d30_01205 leaves holly frosted.jpg
Description: Christmas greetings to you. This is the original orientation
and textless version of one of the Woodland Trust's web-Christmas
cards.
Date: 24 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061213_0218_061 fb2 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: Earlier hours of next morning the male Pheasant passed by - this
time with his head into the wind.
Date: 23 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061213_1426_013 fb2 Pheasant female (Blondie) with feathers ruffled by gale.jpg
Description: Our 'blonde' Female Pheasant with her back to a gale ruffling
her feathers. This was 2:26p.m. with the weather and day length
conspiring to leave little sign of light in the sky.
Date: 22 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061209_1623_012 fb2 Robin and fieldmouse.jpg
Description: The Robin seems to have been startled by the fieldmouse.
Date: 21 Dec 2006
View: D3E_20061213_0232_068 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Fieldmouse scampering along the log.
Date: 20 Dec 2006
View: D3E_20061209_1559_002 fb1 Dunnock & Robin facing off (poor focus).jpg
Description: The Robin and Dunnock appear not to like one another's company.
Rather out-of-focus behind the log but a genuine single frame.
Date: 19 Dec 2006
View: D3E_20061210_0711_032 fb1 Robin on frosty log.jpg
Description: Robin posing for the 2007 Christmas card?
Date: 18 Dec 2006
View: D3E_20061210_0810_036 fb1 Dunnock on frosty morning.jpg
Description: Haven't seen a dunnock for 3 months and suddenly they
are back day after day.
Date: 17 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061209_1544_003+D35_20061209_1554_005 fb2 Pheasant Pair (Montage taken 10mins apart).jpg
Description: At last, even if a bit of a cheat - images of the pair of pheasants
at the same site (but taken 10 minutes apart)
Date: 16 Dec 2006
View: D3E_20061206_0612_012 fb1 2 fieldmouse leaping with one showing underside & teeth.jpg
Description: This messy picture is two field mice leaping in the air, one showing
its underside and lower jaw teeth.
Date: 15 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061206_0716_016 fb2 Robin launching.jpg
Description: This robin was caught in the act of take-off.
Date: 14 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061206_0759_020 fb2 Pheasant male head.jpg
Description: Just a riot of colour in the pheasant's head.
Date: 13 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061208_1610_043 fb2 2 Moorhen, one with slightly immature beak.jpg
Description: The moorhen are being seen only occasionally at the moment,
so it was nice to see these two after sunset. The one on the
right appears to be an immature with beak just finishing its
change to adult red.
Date: 12 Dec 2006
View: P34_20061129_1026_437 Hazel Bud 6 Seq.jpg
Description: Even as winter starts to bite signs of Spring buds are already
in evidence, as on the Hazel (Cob nut) tree.
Date: 11 Dec 2006
View: D3E_20061206_1623_020fb1 Robin.jpg
Description: This place has always had an abundance of robins of which
this one posed nicely.
Date: 10 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061203_0348_023 fb2 Two fieldmice in mid leap.jpg
Description: Don't know what these were escaping from but they can leap
many times their own height.
Date: 09 Dec 2006
View: D3E_20061203_0729_033 fb1 2 Magpies.jpg
Description: 2 Magpies - the saying says '2 for joy'.
Date: 08 Dec 2006
View: D3E_20061203_1751_040 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Sweet fieldmouse.
Date: 07 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061203_1605_034 fb2 Pheasant Female (Blondie).jpg
Description: To follow yesterdays, female pheasant 'Blondie' has obliged with
a picture. Next day they appeared together at the same site (but
she still had her head out of frame).
Date: 06 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061130_1529_024 fb1 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: The male pheasant is now about most days. The morning before this
afternoon picture one of 'his' females (that we call 'Blondie'
because her plumage is unusually light) visited the same site
but left her head out of the picture.
Date: 05 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061130_0045_018 fb2 Fox Hunting.jpg
Description: A fox on the hunt - we wonder what he/she can see behind the log
that we can't!
Date: 04 Dec 2006
View: D3E_20061129_2041_011 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Fieldmouse picking over the offerings.
Date: 03 Dec 2006
View: D35_20061127_1444_019 fb2 Pheasant.jpg
Description: A gloomy mid-afternoon is illuminated by the iridescent
plumage of this male pheasant. We have 2 male pheasant visitors,
one with a strong white neck-ring (see image for 18 Nov 2006),
and this one almost none.
Date: 02 Dec 2006
View: P34_20061126_1033_392 Hawthorn Branch 1 Seq (web crop).jpg
Description: One of the now leafless Hawthorn trees (the leaf you see is from
a black poplar) has a supply the berries the birds will soon be
desperate for.
Date: 01 Dec 2006
View: P34_20061126_1038_404 Willow Branch Seq (web crop).jpg
Description: The willow buds are already swelling to make next February's
pussy willows even before its finally shed the last leaves
Image Archive arch 2006 nov.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Nov 2006
View: P34_20061126_1039_407 Ash Branch Seq (web crop).jpg
Description: A detail of the ash tree from yesterdays image taken from
the ground. The Ash trees have only been mature enough to seed
in the last year or so we don't know when they will drop
- rather wait and see than look it up!.
Date: 29 Nov 2006
View: D10_20061126_1242_014 weekly field left 26Nov06 (web crop).jpg
Description: Autumn view over the main pond looking North West. On the island
is an Ash tree still clinging to its seeds (detail tomorrow).
The tall trees in the background are one Lombardy poplar and a
row of male black poplars
Date: 28 Nov 2006
View: D10_20061126_1242_017 weekly field right 26Nov06 (web crop).jpg
Description: Storms in the last few days have removed any leaves that were
going to drop soon, so here are a few autumn views.
This one looks east from an upper window.
Date: 27 Nov 2006
View: D35_20061120_1527_006 fb2 Falling Leaf.jpg
Description: A leaf falling in gloom of an autumn afternoon. The leaf is still
above the trigger beam so this must have been capriciously
triggered by an event out of the frame.
Date: 26 Nov 2006
View: D3E_20061122_2102_053 fb1 Fieldmouse bounding away with peanut.jpg
Description: This fieldmouse has found a half peanut the birds missed and
is streaking off with it.
Date: 25 Nov 2006
View: D3E_20061123_0657_070 + 0709_077 fb1 Robin portrait & takeoff (Montage).jpg
Description: A montage of (probably) the same robin taken 12 minutes apart.
Date: 24 Nov 2006
View: D35_20061119_2029_069 fb2 Fieldmice in Fallen Leaves.jpg
Description: Fieldmice seem to be unfazed by anything - even having their
world cluttered with detritus.
Date: 23 Nov 2006
View: D35_20061119_2159_084 fb2 Falling Leaves.jpg
Description: A bunch of leaves falling or blowing in the strong winds (keeping
us awake until late - this was at 10pm). The light coming from
the upper left cast shadows from some of the leaves.
There is fresh worm cast just to the left of the log that was
flattened by morning.
Date: 22 Nov 2006
View: P34_20061115_1024_201 Muntjac Deer Male running across field to N.jpg
Description: Standard reaction of our Muntjac deer to a human, This male (note
horns and an interesting appendage at the rear) fled from our
patch hurdling the fence and running off across the pasture.
Date: 21 Nov 2006
View: P34_20061116_1416_261 Autumn Leaves scattered on grass path.jpg
Description: An assortment of fallen leaves.
Date: 20 Nov 2006
View: D3E_20061115_0449_077 fb1 Fieldmouse with vertical tail.jpg
Description: Why this fieldmouse has it's tail vertical is anyone's
guess. Does it have a built-in cellphone antenna?
Date: 19 Nov 2006
View: D3E_20061115_0647_078 fb1 Robin launching (Close crop).jpg
Description: This robin is just launching itself from the log nicely
in the focal plane for once.
Date: 18 Nov 2006
View: D3E_20061112_1541_009 fb1 Pheasant Head & Shoulders.jpg
Description: Two female pheasants have been about but have not yet graced one
of our photo sites. The male is visiting both sites - here is a
sample - his passport photo maybe?
Date: 17 Nov 2006
View: D3E_20061109_2026_038 fb1 Fieldmouse looking through gap in fallen hawthorn leaf.jpg
Description: A fieldmouse 'hiding' behind a fallen hawthorn leaf with a twig
of hawthorn berries fallen on the log.
Date: 16 Nov 2006
View: D3E_20061104_1922_012 fb1 2 Fieldmice (one possibly leaping on another).jpg
Description: We really aren't sure what is going on here, but it looks a bit
like a 'leap from the mantelpiece' to us. (Added later: 3rd party
suggestion is 'Nobody seemed to like Jerry's Tommy Cooper Impression')
Date: 15 Nov 2006
View: D3E_20061106_0652_047 fb1 Robin.jpg
Description: All the robins are now immaculate, as in this example.
Date: 14 Nov 2006
View: P34_20061109_1030_075 Natural Horse Chestnut Bud 6 Seq (web crop).jpg
Description: The horse chestnuts have mostly shed their leaves. With the
optimism of nature here are the buds for next year, not yet with
the sticky sheen.
Date: 13 Nov 2006
View: D3E_20061104_1933_013 fb1 Fieldmouse.jpg
Description: Back to the present day, now the camera setup is fixed the
fieldmice have not deserted us.
Date: 12 Nov 2006
View: D32_05152 fb Fox (web Crop).jpg
Description: Our night photo kit was originally adjusted for larger animals.
So here is a whole fox from Sept 2003.
Date: 11 Nov 2006
View: Mvc1162x Rainbow.jpg
Description: The vertical approach of this rainbow to the horizon indicates
that the sun is about to set. Equally interesting for the state
of tree growth in Oct 1999 - the last 6 years have made a
startling difference. A view including this area can be found in
the archive for 2 Feb 2005
Date: 10 Nov 2006
View: MVC1177X Stagshorn Autumn.JPG
Description: Sumach (aka Stagshorn) trees produce some wonderful autumn
colours. Not so good this year but this one from 31 Oct 1999
shows the earlier leaf turn to good effect. We 'inherited'
this tree with the house & it would take over the garden if
we didn't keep hacking it back.
Date: 09 Nov 2006
View: MVC-506X Fox (Web Crop).JPG
Description: We had a particular human tolerant fox visiting us in June 1999.
Date: 08 Nov 2006
View: MVC1188X Sunbeams in Smoke.JPG
Description: Some images from this time of year taken several years ago on
early digital cameras. This one from 12 Nov 1999 showing sunbeams
through the trees filled with smoke from autumn leaf burning.
Date: 07 Nov 2006
View: D3E_20061029_2116_069 fb1 Fieldmice.jpg
Description: Long after sunset this pair of fieldmice tuck into the
food on offer.
Date: 06 Nov 2006
View: P34_20061031_1536_807 Round Pond against storm clouds.jpg
Description: Sunshine on trees against storm clouds has always appealed to us
for drama. This was looking East with the sun low in the sky to
the west.
Date: 05 Nov 2006
View: P34_20061029_1257_747 Sparrowhawk in Flight.jpg
Description: While photographing some hedge plants Marie spotted this
sparrowhawk (probably the pigeon predator) as it momentarily
circled a few times overhead.
Date: 04 Nov 2006
View: P34_20061024_1233_624 Cowslip 1 Seq Seed Head detail.jpg
Description: We have been photographing a cowslip all year to make a
'sequence' but the seed heads are particularly attractive so here
is the detailed image.
Date: 03 Nov 2006
View: P34_20061029_1245_713 Oak Branch with Green to desiccated leaves.jpg
Description: An oak twig with leaves all the way from green to dried out.
Date: 02 Nov 2006
View: P34_20061029_1253_733 Common Sympetrum Dragonfly pair in Tandem on Grass.jpg
Description: This pair of coupled Common Sympetrum Dragonflies spent some time
laying eggs in the adjacent pond & warming themselves in the sun on a
patch of dry grass where they are surprisingly difficult to spot if you
don't see them land.
Date: 01 Nov 2006
View: D10_20061029_1335_044 Red Admiral Butterfly on Apple Tree Bark.jpg
Description: Surprised to see a few Red Admiral Butterflies about even on a sunny
and not too cold day this late in the year.
Image Archive arch 2006 oct.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Oct 2006
View: D35_20061021_1846_032 fb2 Fieldmouse mid-leap.jpg
Description: At the other site another fieldmouse hurtles through the air -
probably startled by something out of frame on the left.
Date: 30 Oct 2006
View: D3E_20061016_2347_031 fb1 Fieldmouse running along log towards apple.jpg
Description: This fieldmouse is running along the log (to catch the apple
before it runs away?). Eadweard Muybridge (pioneer photographer
of moving subjects) might have enjoyed this moment in the gait of
a mouse. Try pasting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eadweard_Muybridge
into your browser's address bar if you are interested.
Date: 29 Oct 2006
View: D3E_20061016_1929_013 fb1 Rabbit carrying off whole small apple.jpg
Description: We don't often feature rabbits though they appear in many night
images. But this one carrying off a whole small apple quite
surprised us that they could carry something this big.
Date: 28 Oct 2006
View: moorhen walking on water IMG_0006 at Mill Bridge in Leamington Spa by Jim Kelly.jpg
Description: This sparkling image sent to us by Jim Kelly of Leamington Spa
shows how moorhen (and coots) run across the surface leaving a
lovely sequence of splashes. There really isn't enough room on
our ponds for them to get up to speed.
Date: 27 Oct 2006
View: D3E_20061012_2312_036 fb1 2 fieldmice.jpg
Description: Another pair of twee fieldmice. For the first time we notice
a tiny gland on the nose si