Golden Eagles in Spain

24th September 2017.

A great week with five friends from Cornwall in the Spanish countryside, based in the old town of Bocairent,( not to far from Alicante) for the annual congress of the International Federation of Wildlife Photography.
The highlight of the trip had to be close views of Golden Eagles, seeing them in their natural habitat  like this is  a dream come true for me, and very exciting watching two adults and a juvenile. The juvenile stayed in front of me for fifty minutes  devouring a Rabbit before the female came in and finished off the leftovers (fur and all). Lots of frame filling photos ( a bit too close for my 500mm lens at times), but hey just to watch these magnificent birds would have been enough.

I used my 150mm macro lens for these last two to try and get a little of the environment included

Buff Breasted Sandpiper

17th September 2017.

Buff Breasted Sandpiper must rank as  be one of my favourite birds, and Davidstow airfield in Cornwall is probably one of the most reliable sites in the country to catch up with one during September. Three birds have been present this autumn and I managed a few nice photos of one on a sunny evening

Buff Breasted Sandpiper

Buff Breasted Sandpiper

Buff Breasted Sandpiper

Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egrets

2nd & 6th August 2017.

Two visits to Walmsley sanctuary at Wadebridge to see the recent arrival of both Glossy Ibis and Cattle Egrets. Fourteen Ibis have been seen here (I saw seven of them) and it looks like the Cattle Egrets have bred here or nearby as two juvenile birds have been observed along with seven adults.

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Cattle Egrets

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret flyby

Cattle Egret -a little closer to the hide

Cattle Egret- odd posture something  must have flown over

Cattle Egret

Gadwall family

Gadwall family

. Who knows what might be visiting and nesting here in a few years time? The birds were all a little distant for decent photos but nice to just sit and see what turns up ( like the family of Gadwall which swam by).

Locals

Six Spot Burnet Moth

17th July 2017.

Marbled White Butterfly and Six Spot Burnet Moth, both fairly easy to find in my local area of Devon, and although I've photographed them many times ,still cant resist.

Marbled White

Marbled White

Comma

13th July 2017.

The Comma is a fairly common Butterfly but still always nice to see. this one on Verbena was taken at Rosemoor RHS gardens in Devon.

Comma on Verbena.

Upton Towens

9th July 2017.

A day out with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Photo Group at Upton Towens near Hayle , an area of sand dunes and coastal vegetation ,fantastic habitat for a great variety of species . Specialities here include Silver Studded Blue and Dark Green Fritillary Butterflies as well as a host of other wildlife.

Looking across to Godrevy Lighthouse

Silver Studded Blues mating

Silver Studded Blue

Whilst  photographing these Pyramidal Orchid a Silver Studded Blue landed and posed just long enough for me to get a shot.

Dark Green Fritillary

Small Skippers 

Scarlet Tiger Moth

Scarlet Tiger Moth

Scarlet Tiger Moths

The Colour Purple

7th July 2017.

Nanquidno in West Cornwall is ablaze with colour in the summer with fields of Purple Bugloss and Corn Marigold,  a feast for the eyes, a joy to behold, just sitting in the sun trying to take it in, where better in the world could you be...A Peacock Butterfly finds a thistle among the Bugloss to feed on to add to the scene.