Dartmoor

One day last week had a great day out around Dartmoor in the good company of Adrian Langdon and Iain Stewart, saw some good birds including Cuckoo, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Whinchat plus Lesser Spotted Woodpecker feeding its young.

Male Pied Flycatcher

Female Pied Flycatcher

Female Lesser  Spotted Woodpecker

Female Lesser Spotter Woodpecker

Song Thrush

Its nice to know that the Song Thrushes have nested sucessfully locally this year, they have been busy finding worms on our lawn.

Song Thrush

Light Orange Underwing

Quite a few of these were flying around in the grass a couple of weeks ago, they are either Orange or Light Orange Underwings, I,m plumping for Light Orange. Taking photographs of insects makes you learn to identify the ones your not sure of or at least try to,so its a worthwhile exercise even if the photos are'nt brilliant..

Light?Orange Underwing

Mating pair.

Green Dock Beetles

Loads of these Green Dock Beetles (Gastrophysa viridula )

Green Dock Beetle

around in the field at the moment ,they and thier larva munching away on the Docks, a common Beetle throughout tha country measuring onle 4-6 mm. This photo shows a pregnant female with the swollen abdomen.

Wood White

I photographed this Wood White butterfly at Cookworthy forest near Holsworthy,Devon., now I know where they are I'll try to get back and get some better shots, but I quite liked this one with the Ant.

Wood White and ant.

A week on Mull

A weeks holiday on the beautiful Isle of Mull, the weather was sunny all week and we managed to see most of the wildlife on the wish list, with the highlight being a morning boat trip out with Mull charters to see the Sea Eagles,which were fantastic at such close range.We also had good views of Golden Eagle, Divers, Otters,and heard ths Corncrakes calling on Iona. A really enjoyable week.

Drake Eider at last light-Bunessan

Hooded Crow hitchen a ride-Fidden

Golden Eagle overhead -Uisken

Guillimot from boat

This Iceland Gull joined us on the boat trip

Sea Eagle-Magnificent birds

Sea Eagle

Sea Eagle

Oystercatcher-Fidden

Great Northern Diver moulting into summer plumage-Kintra

Grey Heron fishing-Bunessan

One of the Feral Goats that feed on seaweed on Carsaig beach.

Some more usual garden birds.(except for the Redpoll)

A few photos of some of the commoner birds visiting the garden, although saying that a pair of Redpolls was a surprise-the first for my garden, although I thought they may put in an appearance on day. I still get a lot of enjoyment trying to get a half decent photo of common species ,and just watching them come and go is a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Redpoll

Redpoll

Sisken

Sisken

Sisken