Friday 29 July 2011

Brown Hairstreak.

During a brief afternoon visit to Bookham Common I was fortunate to add another species to this years list ... a Brown Hairstreak ( Thecla betulae).
Although this individual didn't open its wings I'm guessing that it was a female feeding inbetween egg-laying.   Click here for more images of this speciesFAB.


Camera Critters

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Fallow Buck.

A young Fallow Buck showing of his new velvet. You will be able to view some more images on my main blog in a few days time.   FAB.

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Fluffy Bundle.

One of a number of fluffy visitors to the garden today.  
For more images of the Long-tailed Tit please visit my main blog post.      FAB.

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Speckled Wood and a Fly.

A Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) is being watched by a Fly!     FAB.
 
Please check out this link for more of our Winged Friends hosted by NatureFootstep.

Thursday 7 July 2011

White Admiral.






White Admiral (Limentis camilla), a species that graces sunlit woodland glades.    FAB. 

Please check out this link for more of our Winged Friends hosted by NatureFootstep.

For more Critters of all kinds visit our friend Misty at Camera Critters.

Friday 1 July 2011

Large Skipper

A female Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata) captured using the Canon Powershot S95.  FAB.


Camera Critters

Wednesday 29 June 2011

Silver-washed Fritillary.

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

Photo taken during a very recent visit to my favorite woodland glade within Hill House Wood at Bookham Common. For more images please check out this link to my main blog  FAB.

Thursday 23 June 2011

Resting Chaser.

After the long journey home from a very wet and windy Cumbria I am resting just like this female Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) that conveniently placed herself in front of the lens during a short walk around a local woodland glade today without the need for any waterproof clothing!   FAB.

[ 1/200; f/10; ISO 400 @ 300mm and cropped]

Monday 13 June 2011

Bird Food?

You never know what might find lurking at ground level .......
... including this Cranefly, otherwise know as Daddy-long-legs, which could easily become someones quick snack if it sits here for too long.

This pair were doing what comes naturally amongst the lush green grasses.

All these shots were taken with the compact Canon Powershot S95.

N.B. This is a scheduled post and I will respond to comments when we return from Cumbria.  FAB.

Friday 10 June 2011

Adulthood in two years.

Just one of the numerous recently fledged Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) that is starting out on its two year quest to reach maturity.

The juvenile plumage initially develops with the head and upper parts becoming more ginger-brown. Its first moult (post-juvenile moult) usually starts after the bird first flies [check out  this link] when just the head and body feathers will be renewed.

This is a 1st winter bird still showing the retention of some of its juvenile feathers including the dark tail but with the distinctive black tipped yellow bill. Through its first summer it will hold onto some of the faded juvenile plumage but may acquire a partial dark hood, often heavily spotted white, plus the legs and bill base will change to a more orange-red.

Above is an adult in its winter plumage sporting the bold dark ear spot and black tipped red bill. Its spring moult is also a partial moult when only the head and body feathers are renewed.
 
At the end of the its two year moult cycle this years juvenile (image 1) will look much the same as its adult parent showing that distinctive dark chocolate-brown cap plus the red bill and legs.   FAB.

Sunday 22 May 2011

Great Crested Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) showing off its adult breeding plumage.  FAB.
[ISO 320; 1/400; f/13 @ 300mm and cropped]

Monday 9 May 2011

Common Tern.


A bit of pointing skywards for this weeks WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY entry.
 
During a recent visit to Stodmarsh, Kent I failed miserably at getting any decent flight shots of a Hobby or a Marsh Harrier but an overflying Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) just managed to get into the frame.

You have to marvel at the distances this species travels from West and South Africa just to find a lake with a floating raft here in the UK so it can breed before its return ticket southwards expires in October.    FAB.

Thursday 5 May 2011

Banded Demoiselle.

Another sign of Spring is the emergence of the Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens). The metallic sheen of the blue-green body and the formation of its distinctive blue-black wing band glistened as  this male soaked up the filtered sunshine. Taken during a visit to Stodmarsh, Kent today.  FAB.



Camera Critters

Wednesday 13 April 2011

Flying Godwit.

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) captured from below as it noisily displayed over a coastal pool last week. In the winter they are just a drab plain grey but as the breeding season progresses the adults aquire a rich rusty orange-red to the head, neck and upper breast with the barred flanks. The black tail band is far more distinctive in flight than when they are feeding or sleeping on the ground plus the much long legs than the Bar-tailed version projecting beyond the tail .... all good visual aids when you are trying to compare the two species we regularly see in the UK.   FAB.

[ f/6.3; 1/2000; ISO 320 @ 300mm and cropped]   

Friday 8 April 2011

Absolute Concentration.

A little bit of treading softly, softly (otherwise known as FAB in stealth mode) enabled the watcher to creep up on a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) earlier this week probably helped by the fact that it was totally immersed in hunting for its dinner.     FAB.

Sunday 3 April 2011

Shoveler and Tufted Up Close.

Male Shoveler (Anas clypeata).
[ F/18; 1/80; ISO 400 @ 95mm ]

Female Tufted (Anthya fuligula).
[ F/13; 1/200; ISO 400 @ 190mm ]

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Common Snipe.


Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) photographed at Barnes WWT in January. 

For more images and information on this species please check out the post entitled 'Cryptic Plumage' for World Bird Wednesday on my main blog.  [F10; 1/125; ISO 800 @ 300mm and cropped] FAB.

Mossy Mouthful.

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) bringing more bedding material to the nest box.  For more nesting updates please check out the recent posts on my main blog.    FAB.

Wednesday 16 March 2011

Ducks in Breeding Plumage.

Many of our resident and over-wintering migrant ducks are now sporting their full breeding plumages.

Northern Pintail (Anus acuta)
I intend to share a series on this elegant species on my main blog very soon.

Pochard (Common)  (Aythya ferina)

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
For more images of this species click this link to my main blog.

Northern Shoveler (Anus clypeata)

All photographed within Surrey in the last few weeks ..... FAB. 

Thursday 10 March 2011

Listening.


A study in concentration as this Red Deer doe pricked her ears to monitor any possible danger.   FAB.

Friday 25 February 2011

Branta bernicla.


Dark-bellied Brent Geese - Farlington Marshes - 24 Feb 2011.

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Far Eastern Exotic.

The colourful and exotic male Mandarin (Aix galericlata).   [ISO 800; F/9; 1/250 @ 300mm].


A species that breeds in East Asia and was initially introduced into the UK in the 18th century with the first feral breeding probably occurring in the 1930's but also found in a number of other European countries. It prefers ponds, lakes and rivers with fairly dense overhanging vegetation and can often be seen perched high in trees nearby.
 
His partner is much drabber in colour but still very distinctive with the 'spectacle' eye stripe ( not unlike their cousin, the American Wood Duck). [ISO 800; F/7.1; 1/400 @ 300mm].

For a previous post on this species on my main blog check this link ..... Magnificent Mandarin.
I am hoping that at least one pair will return to a pond on my local patch and successfully rear another brood this year although predation of the young tends to be rather high.  FAB.

Please click here for more WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY images hosted by Springman.

Friday 11 February 2011

Pintail Portrait.

(Northern) Pintail (Anus acuta).  

Tuesday 8 February 2011

Splash n Dash.

A male Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) in a racing hurry across the water. Taken during a photo session at a local pond today. ISO 400; F8: 1/1000; @ 140mm and cropped.    FAB.

For more WATERY WEDNESDAY images, please follow this link. 

Monday 24 January 2011

Play Fighting.

Two young Red Deer bucks enjoying a bit of friendly play fighting. Taken during a recent visit to Richmond Park.    FAB.

Saturday 22 January 2011

Green Interloper.

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) is now a regular visitor to our gardenFAB.

Monday 10 January 2011

Double Trouble.


   Coot (Fulica atra) in a reflective pose for once!      FAB.