Hummingbird Hawk Moth

2nd August 2018

The Hummingbird Hawk Moth is a summer visitor to the U.K, being a migrant from Southern Europe, I usually catch up with one or two during the warmer months, this one putting in a brief appearance feeding  on our Geraniums, luckily I had my camera to hand and managed a few quick shots .

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

One good Tern.

5th July 2018

We had a good day out on Brownsea Island in Poole harbour , Dorset, where Terns were the main attraction, good numbers of Sandwich Terns and a few Common Terns nest on the islands here and great views can be had from the hides as they bring fish to the youngsters.

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich ( with Squid)

 deserves another...

Common Tern

Common Tern

Common Tern

Common Tern

 And a couple of others taken on the day

Black Headed Gull chicks

Shelduck family

Oystercatcher and chick

Oystercatcher chick

Bempton Cliffs

27th July 2018.

Spectacular chalk cliffs on the East Yorkshire coast, the hundreds of thousands of breeding seabirds are an onslaught on your senses, with the sheer sight, sound and smell of the nesting Gannets ( largest mainland colony in Britain), Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and a few Puffins . Run by the RSPB, there are viewpoints where superb views can be had, we made sure we got there early as it can get pretty crowded in the middle of the day, and the weather was warm and sunny, so we returned again in the evening.

Gannet pair

Gannet flight

Gannets

Gannet pair bonding

Two headed Gannet

Gannet portrait

Gannet with nesting material

Gannet fly by

Gannet approaching

Gannet 

Gannet greeting

Gannets togetherness

Gannets squabbling

Gannet with feather

Gannet fly past

Guillemot ledges

Guillemot pair and chick

Guillemot tending the chick

Razorbill pair

Razorbills

Razorbills with youngster

Puffin preening

Puffin

Scarborough Kittiwakes

25th June 2018.
We visited Scarborough on the Yorkshire coast where the Kittiwakes appear to have take over the town, nesting on any available ledge on any structure that substitutes for a cliff face, with the town bridge and the ( not so ) Grand Hotel being particular favourites. Their  cries are the constant soundtrack as you walk around. (Joyce even got a nice present as we walked through the high street when one pooped on her from the nest above, she was not best pleased!), But good luck to the birds for their opportunist nature is what I say.

Yellow

May 2018.

A pair of Yellowhammers are daily visitors to the garden here in Devon, probably breeding nearby , I often here the male singing away. I've left a patch of Buttercups and Daisies on the lawn and scatter seeds amongst it for some colourful images.

Female Yellowhammer

Male Yellowhammer