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Date: 05 Jan 2024
View: E64_20231123_1620_047+1605_041+1553_037_FB2 Grey Squirrel foraging at woodland site (montage over 25m).jpg
Description: What looks like the same squirrel spends 25 minutes feeding at the Woodland site
just as it is getting dark.
View: E63_20231123_1816_083_FB1 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: Two Fieldmice (Wood Mice) apparently enjoying each other's company at the hedge bottom
Date: 04 Jan 2024
View: DF3_20231122_0911_052 Moth trapped in surface tension of Round Pond making concentric ripples with insert.jpg
Description: Another Moth trapped in the water of Round Pond makes some fantastic ripples, but ...
View: BU5_20231122_0911_088_SC1 Roy fetching long stick to rescue Moth caught in surface tension.jpg
Description: ... soon to be rescued across several metres of deep water using this long
thin branch extracted from one of the dozens of woodpiles around the sites.
View: DF3_20231125_1105_058-061 Gull (poss Lesser Black-backed) juvenile flyby @7fps (accurate montage).jpg
Description: We are fairly useless at IDs for Gulls, but the mottled plumage tells
us that this is a juvenile.
Our best guess is a Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Date: 03 Jan 2024
View: DF3_20231128_1238_004 60 Rooks + 120 Starlings on adjacent spans of 11kV cables.jpg
Description: At the end of our access track we find the 11kV power cables to our north smothered in birds.
Nearest us are about 60 Rooks, on the further span about 120 Starlings - the first Starlings in
any numbers since last year.
View: DF3_20231128_1238_007 120 Starlings on 11kV cables + 1 Carrion Crow.jpg
Description: From a bit closer here are the starlings, accompanied by one of the two local Carrion Crows.
View: DF3_20231128_1239_009 80 Starlings in flight.jpg
Description: The Starlings were not a single group - this flock of about 80 seemed to appear
out of nowhere, only slightly depleting the number on the wires.
View: DF3_20231128_1239_008 9 Starlings in flight part of flock of about 80.jpg
Description: From another frame of the flock of 80 Starlings, here is an extraction of 9 for more detail.
Date: 02 Jan 2024
View: D71_20231123_0721_086 Sunrise in chaotic sky 05 of 15 (orig & final).jpg
Description: What started as a remarkable mottled grey morning sky (never satisfactorily
photographed) developed into a 15 minute visual delight. While we watched two
separate cars came up from the main road to stop and take pics with their
cellphones - most unusual.
View: D71_20231123_0727_118 Sunrise in chaotic sky 09 of 15 (orig & final).jpg
View: D71_20231123_0727_129 2 Mute Swans fly across sunrise in chaotic sky 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: As the light show continued a pair of Mute swans winged quietly across the sky.
View: D71_20231123_0729_158 Sunrise in chaotic sky 13 of 15 (orig & final).jpg
Description: The crescendo of the overhead blanket of illuminated clouds, before
descending into a rather dull morning
Date: 01 Jan 2024
View: D01_20231124_2103_029_FB6 Tawny Owl on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: The neatest of one of several Tawny Owl visits this week.
View: D01_20231121_2108_047+2109_049+20231122_0518_057_FB6 Tawny Owl visits to Meadow post each end of night (montage).jpg
Description: What looks like the same Tawny Owl visited the Meadow post a few hours after dark and
then a couple of hours before dawn of the same night.
View: D01_20231129_2330_001+20231130_0112_003_FB6 Tawny Owl short visits either side of midnight (montage).jpg
Description: What looks suspiciously like 2 different Tawny Owls make brief stops on
the top of the Meadow post over a couple of hours on either side of midnight.
Date: 31 Dec 2023
View: E64_20231121_1828_103_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer Fawn at Woodland site.jpg
Description: We THINK this is the Reeves' Muntjac Deer Fawn (as opposed to 'Mum" - based
mainly on the perfect ears - its seems that all moderate sized mammals quickly
get nicks and tears to their ears as the years roll by.
We hardly doubt that somebody has created a research report on determining
the age of mammals by ear damage!
View: E64_20231120_2350_058_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer Fawn at Woodland site.jpg
View: E63_20231121_0541_058_FB1 Rabbit juvenile at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: A juvenile Rabbit with the usual immaculate ears of young mammals.
Date: 30 Dec 2023
View: E64_20231116_1002_040_FB2 Grey Squirrel feeding among autumn leaves.jpg
Description: Grey Squirrel etiquette varies from carefully nibble a single
corn grain ...
View: E6A_20231120_1421_061_FB5 Grey Squirrel carrying Teasel head.jpg
Description: ... to here carrying away a whole Teasel head.
We assume that it will get ripped to bits to get out the seeds, rather than
the delicate plucking out of the seeds by birds.
Date: 29 Dec 2023
View: BU8_20231118_2324_064+066 Fox walks past Duck Pond (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Quite close to Midnight this Fox walks past the Duck Pond
View: BU8_20231119_1425_079+081 Fox stops to look over Duck Pond (montage).jpg
Description: Next afternoon this Foxes stops for a moment.
"Anything to eat here?"
View: BU7_20231116_0232_044+045 Fox crossing ditch at south hedge gap (montage).jpg
Description: Foxes are nightly visitors - this Fox is here entering by the
hedge gap at the south west corner, showing their wonderfully luxurious tail.
Date: 28 Dec 2023
View: D01_20231117_1143_066+1139_057_FB6 Buzzard makes 3 visits to meadow post in 3 Hrs 01+06 of 11 (montage).jpg
Description: This Buzzard makes 3 visits to the Meadow Post in 3 hours.
View: D01_20231117_1143_066_FB6 Buzzard makes 3 visits to meadow post in 3 Hrs 06 of 11 (crop 1).jpg
View: D01_20231117_1423_071+072+1424_074_FB6 Buzzard 3 visits to meadow post in 3 Hrs 08+09+11 of 11 (montage 500mS + 1 min).jpg
Date: 27 Dec 2023
View: D01_20231115_1828_009+1829_011+1832_017_FB6 Tawny Owl 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl makes a welcome visit.
View: BU5_20231116_0542_040_SC1 Owl eye reflection from high in tree at Round Pond 2 of 3 (crop + insert).jpg
Description: A surprise just in the Trail Cams field of view is undoubtedly some species
of Owl high in a tree by Round Pond. The insert shows an enlargement of the
two specks top left.
There are hundreds of places around the 2 acres for Owls to hunt - just because
there are no visits to the Meadow Post doesn't mean nobody visited!
View: D01_20231117_0122_035+036+0125_041_FB6 Tawny Owl 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 1-2 of 3 (montage over 500mS & 3 mins).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl made a nice landing, but then turned their back to camera
for the next 4 minutes of pics.
Date: 26 Dec 2023
View: E60_20231115_1501_001_FB3 Robin in flight threatening Great Tit on Bird Table.jpg
Description: A Robin twists in flight to try to remove the Great Tit already on the
Kitchen Bird table. It looks like the Tit is altogether ready to defend their position.
View: E63_20231116_1627_103+1628_104+1626_102_FB1 Robin by hedge bottom stone over 3 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: The Hedge Bottom Robin takes a few selfies.
View: E63_20231120_1526_049+0750_007+0747_006_FB1 Great Tit(s) visiting hedge bottom over one day (montage).jpg
Description: Great Tit(s) visiting the hedge bottom over one day.
View: E63_20231119_0914_268_FB1 2 Blue Tits at hedge bottom (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A couple of Blue Tit visiting the Hedge Bottom.
We have massaged the pic to get them closer together, but this is from a single frame.
Date: 25 Dec 2023
View: DF3_20231107_1003_016 Muntjac Reeves Deer Fawn under bush behind garage (crop 1).jpg
Description: We are suckers for this Reeves' Muntjac Deer Fawn.
One of their (or perhaps their mother's) favourite safe daytime hiding places is
under a bush behind the garage. We see an occupant perhaps 2 or 3 times a
week as we walk quietly by.
Here we watch each other for a moment - we are the ones that 'blinked first'
and left the youngster in peace.
View: DF3_20231107_1003_016 Muntjac Reeves Deer Fawn under bush behind garage (crop 2).jpg
Description: Admire my eyelashes in this close-up!
Date: 24 Dec 2023
View: BU7_20231114_1210_031-033 Muntjac Reeves Deer male crossing ditch into orchard (montage).jpg
Description: This male Reeves' Muntjac Deer crosses the ditch to enter our patch.
View: BU7_20231110_1350_046+047 Muntjac Reeves Deer female climbing out of ditch to south (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Lunchtime sees this female Reeves' Muntjac Deer crossing the again
dry ditch on their way to gracing our patch.
View: BU7_20231111_1722_091 Muntjac Reeves Deer mother in ditch accompanied by Fawn on near edge.jpg
Description: A rather nicely aligned 'mother and growing Fawn' moment at the end of the orchard.
Mum, slightly ahead behind, is in the ditch, while the Fawn is on the edge providing an eye
confusing size comparison.
Date: 23 Dec 2023
View: E63_20231113_1309_076_FB1 Grey Squirrel female pregnant clasping breast with nipples developing.jpg
Description: This is the time of year for Grey Squirrels to breed.
This female looks almost like a pregnant Mum-to-be protecting her 'bump'
with her paws. You can see the nipples developing but not yet the
mess they become once the youngsters start using them.
View: E64_20231110_1426_106_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels squabbling.jpg
Description: 2 Grey Squirrels in a tumble of fur.
View: DF5_20231110_1438_001 Grey Squirrel brings apple to Hedge top outside Kitchen to eat more of it.jpg
Description: In the top of the hedge outside the Kitchen window there suddenly
appears this apple being nibbled by a Grey Squirrel. The apple has since
remained there for 7 days but we haven't spotted anything else taking a bite.
Date: 22 Dec 2023
View: D01_20231113_1142_049_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post for 10 minutes including (out of frame) Kestrel swoops 14 of 23 (crop 1).jpg
Description: This was the Buzzard's reaction to another Kestrel flyovers.
View: D01_20231113_1142_049_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post for 10 minutes including (out of frame) Kestrel swoops 14 of 23 (crop 2).jpg
View: D01_20231113_1145_076_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post for 10 minutes 20 of 23 (crop).jpg
Description: The Kestrel now given up the unequal confrontation, the Buzzard gives themselves a pedicure.
Difficult to make out? The birds head is tilted horizontal to the viewers right
with the lifted claw just below the beak.
View: D01_20231113_1147_080+081_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post for 10 minutes - departure 22+23 of 23 (montage).jpg
Description: After 10 minutes the Buzzard suddenly dives down out of site from the house.
A couple of minutes waiting was NOT rewarded with a return to the post.
Date: 21 Dec 2023
View: D01_20231113_1138_013+014+1139_016_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post for 10 minutes 01-03 of 23 (montage).jpg
Description: This magnificent Buzzard spent 10 minutes on the Meadow Post.
Initially caught by the camera's beam break, the sequence was continued
by manually firing the same camera.
View: D01_20231113_1141_037_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post for 10 minutes 07 of 23 (crop 1).jpg
Description: 'What's that flash - oh - nothing to bother about"
View: D01_20231113_1141_037_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post for 10 minutes 07 of 23 (crop 2).jpg
View: D01_20231113_1141_038+040+041_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post for 10 mins - out of frame Kestrel swoops 8+10+11 of 23 (montage).jpg
Description: A Kestrel suddenly appears over the meadow and makes a few threatening passes above the Buzzard,
never getting quite close enough to appear in the fixed camera's frame.
Here the Buzzard is following the bird across the sky.
Date: 20 Dec 2023
View: DF3_20231111_1002_094+099+1003_104+108 Red Kite turning in flight 1-4 of 4 (close spaced montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A Red Kite spent a couple of minutes flying around to our west ...
View: DF3_20231111_1003_118+119+121 Red Kite landing in tree by Brook 1+2+4 of 4 (approx montage @7fps).jpg
Description: ... before flying north to land in a tree at the brook.
Date: 19 Dec 2023
View: DF3_20231111_0956_053-0959_069 Heron hunting near Brook to north 1+4+7+8 of 8 (spread montage).jpg
Description: Some 100m north of the farm entrance, at the Brook this Heron was hunting along the bank of
the brook behind.
Not the first sighting of a Heron down here, but quite unusual to spot.
Date: 18 Dec 2023
View: DF3_20231109_1333_003-006 Kestrel flies over 11kV cables (slightly stretched montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A Kestrel flies over the 11kV cables.
Slightly stretched positions to avoid overlaps.
View: DF3_20231109_1333_011-14 Kestrel turning in flight @7fps (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A contracted montage of the Kestrel turning away in flight.
She didn't seem in the slightest bit bothered by the humans stuck on the ground below.
Date: 17 Dec 2023
View: D73_20231101_1324_045-049 Carrion Crow in flight (close spaced montage 2 as silhouette).jpg
Description: We watched this Carrion Crow for a couple of minutes, first in the distance gradually
moving closer until passing us perhaps 20 metres away. The black bird against blank
clouds both prevent an 'accurate' montage, and make seeing detail in the feathers
seemingly impossible. So here we go the other way as a Silhouette.
View: PK1_20231108_1341_219 Great Spotted Woodpecker male on Kitchen peanut feeder.jpg
Description: Great Spotted Woodpeckers have returned for the easy largess of the
peanut feeders. This is a male (the red patch behind the head is the
easiest indicator) on the Kitchen feeder (north side of the house) while
the female (not shown here) seems to prefer the feeder on the south side.
Date: 16 Dec 2023
View: E60_20231106_1601_013_FB3 Sparrowhawk male on Kitchen perch.jpg
Description: The Daytime Hunter: In the late afternoon, now mostly lit by the camera
flash, the male Sparrowhawk makes a short stop on the Kitchen perch.
View: E6A_20231106_1816_075_FB5 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at Meadow Site.jpg
Description: The Nighttime Prey: Two Fieldmice (Wood Mice) frolic in front of the Meadow
camera.
NOT a montage.
View: E6A_20231106_1820_076_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) in wet grass.jpg
Description: The Nighttime Prey: Here a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) looks up into the
dark.
At this moment all is clear.
View: D01_20231106_1900_013+014+E6A_1902_080_FB5 Tawny Owl 3 min visit to Meadow Post then ground attack 1-3 of 3 (2 min montage).jpg
Description: The Nightime Hunter:40 minutes later Winged death in the form of a Tawny Owl lands
on the Meadow Post a few metres away and scans the ground for a meal.
2 minutes later the Owl dives onto the ground where the mice were.
Whether the Owl caught one, or something else, we will never
know.
The owl's body looks a bit odd but that is what the camera original is like.
Date: 15 Dec 2023
View: E60_20231106_1429_012_FB3 Buzzard lands on Kitchen Bird table (crop 2).jpg
Description: The Buzzard is landing right outside the kitchen window.
View: D01_20231106_1446_004+003_FB6 Buzzard makes 2 visits to Meadow post in 6+ minutes 2+1 of 6 (montage over 500mS).jpg
Description: A Quarter of an hour later the Buzzard arrives at the Meadow Post.
View: D01_20231106_1449_008+1447_006_FB6 Buzzard makes 2 visits to Meadow post in 6+ minutes 5+4 of 6 (montage over 2 minutes).jpg
Description: The Buzzard didn't stay long, but comes back just 3 minutes later for another dramatic landing.
Date: 14 Dec 2023
View: E64_20231101_1557_029_FB2 Grey Squirrel making racing turn with Pine Cone in mouth.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel makes a racing turn to leave the site,
complete with a Pine cone they have collected, undoubtedly to be added
the hundreds of Conkers this creature has already buried as winter food.
View: E64_20231103_1258_091_FB2 Grey Squirrel nibbling food from paws.jpg
Description: Doesn't the Squirrel tail look like a lovely warm Duvet / Eiderdown (depending
on your age). In the Drey it probably forms a major element in the Squirrel
armoury against the cold.
View: E63_20231106_0843_005_FB1 Grey Squirrel nibbling single corn grain.jpg
Description: A single corn seed gets the Grey Squirrel nibble.
View: D01_20231107_0856_024_FB6 Grey Squirrel on Meadow Post top in morning sunshine.jpg
Description: Morning sunshine glances off the tail and whiskers of this Grey Squirrel.
Date: 13 Dec 2023
View: BU8_20231104_1324_043+045 Fox walks past Duck pond 1+3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: We have been experimenting with changing the viewpoint of this trail-cam
at Duck Pond, and were pleased to get this passing moment of a Fox walking
by in the early afternoon.
View: BU5_20231103_0220_090_SC1+BUA_20231103_0256_091+092_SC8 Badger touring site over 25 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: A Badger on one of their night time rambles over our patch.
View: BUA_20231106_0403_566_SC8 Hare moving toward East hedge gap.jpg
Description: This Hare is, for now, a regular visitor. This moment before sitting down
really highlights the unequal length of the front and rear legs that gives
Hares their characteristic gait.
Date: 12 Dec 2023
View: BU7_20231102_0644_030+031+033 Muntjac Reeves Deer female stops on finding water in ditch 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A half day of heavy downpour has brought up the level of water in the
western end of the south ditch. On arrival this female Reeves' Muntjac Deer
seems a bit taken aback, not having seen water here for many months,
and turns back to find another route onto our patch.
View: BU7_20231103_0448_081 Muntjac Reeves Deer mother leads Fawn across muddy ditch.jpg
Description: 2 days later the water level in the ditch falls quickly when the
ground is not yet saturated, and Mum is now happy to lead her Fawn across
Date: 11 Dec 2023
View: E63_20231101_1105_004_FB1 Robin at Hedge bottom.jpg
Description: This same Robin takes several selfies at the hedge bottom - here is our favourite.
View: E63_20231106_1329_041_FB1 Robin aerial attack on just landing Great Tit.jpg
Description: The Great Tit (bottom left) is barely landing and already the Robin
is launching a territorial attack
Date: 10 Dec 2023
View: BUA_20231029_1857_082_SC8 Fox near East hedge gap.jpg
Description: Now that the South boundary is largely blocked by hundreds of tonnes of soil and
hardcore left by Farm works, more entrances and exits take place at the East
hedge gap. Reeves' Muntjac deer appear a few days earlier, and here are some
of the other visitors.
One of the Red Foxes enters the site to continue his nights prol.
View: BUA_20231030_1726_174_SC8 Hare near East hedge gap.jpg
Description: The 'Eastern Hare' continues to appear.
View: BUA_20231030_2159_203_SC8 Badger near East hedge gap in rain.jpg
Description: One of the bigger Badgers out for a night-time 'trundle'.
Date: 09 Dec 2023
View: DF2_20231029_1352_024-030 Kestrel female on telephone pole top disturbed by overflying Rook 1+2+5-7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: This female Kestrel seems to be very relaxed while perched on the top of the
Telephone pole. But very soon a Rook arrives in the air above and she quickly
takes exception to the interruption and launches in what in retrospect is more
like a beak open response rather than fleeing.
A week ago we watch a female Kestrel just ignoring a Rook nearby on powerlines,
and here we have one actively chasing an interfering Rook. For us this is a new
form of behaviour. Whether the Kestrel will be able to sustain this when
it has several Rooks ganging up on her remains to be seen.
View: DF2_20231029_1352_028+030 Kestrel female on telephone pole top disturbed by overflying Rook 5+7 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A closer look at the Kestrel's Launch, beak open and probably calling
that we can't hear through the double glazing with our 76 year old ears.
Date: 08 Dec 2023
View: DF4_20231028_1501_001 Kestrel female in main pond island Ash tree 1 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: Investigating a flash of brown whizzing by the window finds this female Kestrel
perching in the Ash tree growing on the main pond island.
View: DF4_20231028_1502_003 Kestrel female in main pond island Ash tree 2 of 9 (crop).jpg
View: DF4_20231028_1502_026+028+030 Kestrel female in main pond island Ash tree 4+6+8 of 9 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The female Kestrel disappeared into the trees behind the pond where we
left her in peace.
Todays image (view it Here)
Date: 07 Dec 2023
View: D01_20231026_1735_027+028+1737_031_FB6 Buzzard makes 2 off 3 minute visits to Meadow Post 1-3 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: This Buzzard seems to have taken a liking to hunting from the Meadow Post.
In 20 minutes this bird makes 2 visits each about 3 minutes long.
View: D01_20231026_1752_033+1755_039_FB6 Buzzard makes 2 off 3 minute visits to Meadow Post 4+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
View: D01_20231029_0807_069+070_FB6 Kestrel female lands on Meadow Post in rain (montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels made a landing on the Meadow Post, but didn't stay.
View: D01_20231026_1755_039+_20231029_0807_070_FB6 Buzzard & Kestrel female on Meadow post at identical scale (montage).jpg
Description: One of the eternal problem with optical instruments and photographs is judging
the size of subjects without accompanying references. Here is the stark contrast
of size between a Buzzard and a female Kestrel that surprised even us.
Image Archive arch 2023 dec.htm (view it Here)
Date: 06 Dec 2023
View: BUA_20231026_0036_055+0044_069_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer female + Fawn (montage).jpg
Description: The Reeves' Muntjac Deer Fawn has now mostly lost their juvenile spots.
Here 8 minutes apart we see Mum and her youngster.
View: BUA_20231026_0045_076_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer Fawn reaching toward mothers teats.jpg
Description: The spots may be gone but 10 minutes later it looks like the youngster still wants a feed
from Mum's milk bar. How long she will be able to oblige remains to be seen.
View: BU7_20231029_1702_016 Muntjac Reeves Deer mother leaves ditch as Fawn follows enters it.jpg
Description: 3 days later we see the Mother and Fawn Pair entering the site 100m away
at the south hedge gap. Mum is climbing out of the nearside of ditch as
the Fawn climbs down the back side to follow her.
Date: 05 Dec 2023
View: DF3_20231023_1025_002+007+009 Rook caller from 11kV cable (montage).jpg
Description: Images of one Rook 'spread' along the power cable showing him calling.
These calls are 'whole body' affairs with the bird bending and spreading feathers.
View: E63_20231023_0938_020-0948_022 FB1 3 Robin visits to hedge bottom in 10 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: Possibly the same Robin makes 3 visits to the hedge bottom in 10 minutes.
View: E63_20231024_1212_121+1232_122_FB1 2 Great Tit visits to Hedge bottom in 20 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: Most likely the same Great Tit visits the hedge bottom twice in 20 minutes.
Date: 04 Dec 2023
View: D71_20231022_0836_021 Rose hips on bush growing through Lodgepole pine tree.jpg
Description: A vigorous Rose Bush has for several year grown through and is supported by
the Lodgepole Pine at the end of the row. The Rose Hips glow in the sunshine.
This patch happens to be right above fungi above - a busy little patch.
View: D71_20231022_0834_010 Fungi extending over several square metres under lodgepole pine.jpg
Description: The drenched carpet of Lodgepole Pine needles several square metres
is now decorated with hundred of these fungi perhaps average of 2cm across.
This patch happens to be right under the Rose hips in the previous image.
View: D71_20231022_1052_030 Fungus on long ago felled branch (orig & final).jpg
Description: Behind the 'Round Mound', these long felled branches have produced
some mahogany coloured fungus bodies perhaps 15 cm across.
Date: 03 Dec 2023
View: DF3_20231019_1055_002 Buzzard on small post at centre of Duck Pond island 01 of 14 (crop).jpg
Description: The Buzzard doesn't fly away as we expect, but flies about 50 metres away from the house
to land on a quite flimsy 'post' on Duck Pond's tiny island.
This pic was taken with a hand-held camera from outside the house, largely
obscured by a piece of non-boundary hedge. Original is badly underexposed.
View: DF3_20231019_1055_006+008+010 Buzzard on small post at centre of Duck Pond island 03+05+07 of 14 (impression montage).jpg
Description: The Buzzard now quickly spotted the humans and made their departure to the South ...
View: DF3_20231019_1058_038-040 Buzzard in flight 1-3 of 3 (approx montage @7fpsg).jpg
Description: ... but immediately another Buzzard appears from somewhere in the woodland trees
adjacent to the south. They circled the site and this is the second flyby 3 minutes later.
View: D01_20231021_1147_200+201+1152_210_FB6 Buzzard 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 1+2+5 of 5 (montage right to left).jpg
Description: 2 days after the Rodent kill, there is a single visit by what appears to be the
same Buzzard. Read right to left.
Date: 02 Dec 2023
View: D01_20231019_0954_069_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post dives on Rodent & returns to eat 28 of 46 (crop).jpg
Description: After the success catching a Rodent on the ground below, the Buzzard resumes his
intense hunt, but another hour of intermittent searching doesn't catch anything else.
View: D01_20231019_1006_105_FB6 Buzzard lands on Meadow Post + dives on Rodent & returns to eat 38 of 46 - watching crows (crop).jpg
Description: About 15 minutes later Rooks seem to have spotted this (to them)
unwelcome visitor and the Buzzard keeps an eye on the swooping Rooks.
View: D01_20231019_1042_135+146+1050_159+160_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post dives on Rodent & returns to eat 43-46 of 46 (montage).jpg
Description: The bird stops for a bit of a preen before defecating. The cameraman expected
the bird to launch (they often defecate immediately prior to take-off) but the
eventual launch occurred about 8 minutes later.
Date: 01 Dec 2023
View: D01_20231019_0939_001+002+0950_013_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post dives on Rodent & returns to eat 01+02+04 of 46 (montage).jpg
Description: This Buzzard spends over an hour on our patch, mostly hunting from the Meadow
Post on which we have a tripod mounted high resolution camera. First we see them
landing (right), stabilising (0.4 seconds later) and 11 minutes later intensely
hunting the rough cut meadow below from the post top.
View: D01_20231019_0951_022&025_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post dives on Rodent & returns to eat 05+08 of 46 (montage).jpg
Description: A minute after diving out of frame (and vision from the house) to the left of the post the
Buzzard unexpectedly returns with this Rodent in their beak.
View: D01_20231019_0952_034-0953_050_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow Post dives on Rodent & returns to eat 11+14+18+22 of 46 (montage).jpg
Description: Over the next couple of minutes the Buzzard first seems to attempt to swallow the Rodent
whole, but then bites off the head to swallow before ripping the little body into further
'bite size' pieces.
Image Archive arch 2023 nov.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20231016_1317_046-048 Kestrel female in flight (close spaced montage @7fps).jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels spends a few minutes hunting the area using the usual
fly along a bit and then hover for a few seconds.
Spacing is closer than reality.
View: DF3_20231016_1318_068 Kestrel female hovering in strong wind.jpg
Description: One of the more interesting moments in one of the Kestrel's hovers.
Kestrels always face into the wind when they hover and apparently can not
hover in still air. A well established common name is the 'Windhover'.
View: DF3_20231016_1318_069-073 Kestrel female in flight (accurate montage @7fps)jpg.jpg
Description: Away the female Kestrel goes - this one accurately spaced using the foliage for
reference - a bit over half a second of flight.
Date: 29 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20231016_0923_008-017 Buzzard in flight @7fps 01-10 of 23 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Starting at our South west and disappearing at our South East, this Buzzard wings their way
through the sky.
All of these montages are accurately positioned at about 7 frames per second.
View: DF3_20231016_0923_018-027 Buzzard in flight @7fps 11-20 of 23 (accurate montage).jpg
View: DF3_20231016_0923_008-010 Buzzard in flight @7fps 01-3 of 23 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A closer look at the first three moments
Date: 28 Nov 2023
View: BU7_20231011_1024_125 Hare by south hedge gap in mid-morning.jpg
Description: After the farm Harvest dropped corn bonanza there is not much to feed on
in the fields where there is no quick access to safety cover.
So at least this Hare is enjoying the sanctuary of our little 2 acres
View: BU7_20231015_1730_070+072+073 Hare pauses on way toward south hedge gap (montage).jpg
Description: 2 weeks later this Hare seems to be almost 'resident' at this South West corner.
View: BUA_20231017_1812_315_SC8 Hare near east hedge gap.jpg
Description: 2 days later an obviously different Hare makes one of their regular visits to
the East hedge gap about 150 metres from the hedge gap above.
Date: 27 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20231015_1232_208 Muntjac Reeves deer Fawn alone by NW corner of garage 1 of 3.jpg
Description: At the North East corner of the Garage, behind a bramble hedge, the Reeves' Muntjac Fawn
and we appraise each other.
View: DF3_20231015_1232_212 Muntjac Reeves deer Fawn alone by NW corner of garage 2 of 3.jpg
Description: The Fawn isn't panicked, and quietly moves to the back of the garage out of sight.
View: E64_20231017_1829_113_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer Fawn at Woodland site (crop).jpg
Description: The Reeves' Muntjac Fawn is growing well.
An interesting 'gait' - opposing corner legs raised simultaneously.
View: E63_20231015_1742_056_FB1 Muntjac Reeves Deer male at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: The hedge behind the photo 'stage' at the hedge bottom is now completely
devoid of hedging stems through years of attrition by the many wild visitors.
So this male Reeves' Muntjac Deer can just walk through from the path behind.
But right at the left edge of the camera frame as seems inevitable.
Date: 26 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20231015_1218_019+024+029+034 Red Kite turning in Thermal (close spaced montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: After the Buzzard on the meadow post, the next day brought a series of Red Kite
fly-overs and circles in Thermals.
View: DF3_20231015_1218_058-115 Red Kite circling in thermal (selected montage from top-right over 8 seconds).jpg
Description: A genuine close-spaced selection of a single circle of this Red Kite climbing in a Thermal.
The sequence starts top right and ends middle right where the bird is a
bit higher and appears a bit smaller.
View: DF3_20231015_1218_058 Red Kite circling in Thermal.jpg
Description: More detail of the top-right image - the photographer feels 'spotted'.
View: DF3_20231015_1221_154+161+168+175+179 Red Kite turning in thermal (close spaced montage @7fps).jpg
Date: 25 Nov 2023
View: D01_20231013_0929_045+46+0932_051+0933_054_FB6 Buzzard 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 1+2+5+7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: A busy couple of days for Buzzard(s) visiting the Meadow Post.
View: D01_20231013_0929_046_FB6 Buzzard 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 2 of 7 (crop 1).jpg
View: D01_20231013_0929_046_FB6 Buzzard 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 2 of 7 (crop 2).jpg
View: D01_20231014_0851_059+060+0855_067_FB6 Buzzard 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 1+2+5 of 5 (montage 500ms+4mins).jpg
Date: 24 Nov 2023
View: E60_20231012_1607_018_FB3 Grey Squirrel on Kitchen bird table eating nut (possibly a conker).jpg
Description: On the bird table outside the kitchen window we see this Grey Squirrel doing what
they do best - eating.
View: E6A_20231012_1640_081_FB5 Grey Squirrel carrying Pink Fir Apple potato peel.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel has raided the compost bin to carry away a piece of
cooked Pink Fir Apple potato peel.
View: DF3_20231016_1312_033 Grey Squirrel digging up food by Silver birch at NE corner of garage.jpg
Description: We have watched Grey Squirrels burying freshly fallen (and we are sure 'helped down') conkers.
Here we see a Squirrel digging up something to eat.
Despite taking dozens of frames during several excavations we still don't have a
clear pic of the item unearthed - but it is probably a conker!
View: E63_20231017_1607_182_FB1 Grey Squirrel holding food in right paw.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel at the hedge bottom is holding some sort of nut -
possibly a Hazelnut from a nearby tree.
Date: 23 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20231009_1209_007 Small White Butterfly feeding on late blooming Dandelion.jpg
Description: In some fitful sunshine this slightly tatty Small White butterfly sips nectar
from an equally late arrived Dandelion growing from one of the hundreds
of tons of stripped soil dumped outside our south hedge.
View: DF3_20231009_1518_018 2 Harlequin Ladybird from group of about 50 on south wall of house.jpg
Description: After a summer of very few Ladybird sightings, but almost all of them as
native 7-spot, we can't decide whether to be pleased or sorry to find about 50
of the invasive Harlequin Ladybirds on the south wall of the house.
Here are a couple of them along the edge of the 'Patio Doors'.
Unlike the UK varieties, Harlequin individuals vary enormously in appearance.
View: DF3_20231009_1215_010 Fungi on western base of Duck Mound.jpg
Description: Fungi are fascinating (and VERY important members of the wildlife community)
but we have no expertise in identifying them.
Date: 22 Nov 2023
View: BU7_20231009_1201_062 Muntjac Reeves Deer Fawn near south hedge gap.jpg
Description: The Reeves' Muntjac Deer Fawn is gradually becoming more precocious.
Here we see them at the end of the Orchard, unfortunately awkwardly lit.
View: E64_20231009_1831_062_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer Fawn at Woodland site investigating Fir cone (crop 1).jpg
Description: 6 hours later the Reeves' Muntjac Deer Fawn finally make a visit to a high
resolution camera site.
View: E64_20231009_1831_062_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer Fawn at Woodland site investigating Fir cone (crop 2).jpg
Description: The Fawn is now ready for a close-up.
A detail from the same original frame.
Date: 21 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20231007_0917_157+0918_175 Kestrel female disturbed by 3 Magpies in Conifer at SE corner (montage).jpg
Description: We came across this female Kestrel surrounded by at times up to 4 Magpies (never
all on camera at once) scattered in the branches around her. They were not
really making an effort to mob her, but she wasn't at all pleased with the
interruption to her hunt. These two images taken from slightly different viewpoints.
View: DF3_20231007_0920_197+205 Kestrel female keeping head still in swaying conifer (montage over 1 second).jpg
Description: The Kestrel stayed on as we walked round the corner of our patch were she was
clinging to a branch of this swaying conifer. Maintaining a stationary eye
position in flight is carried to a similar behaviour when perched on moving
perches. Here the perch is swaying left and right, and the body and neck
compensates to keep the eyes still and focussed on their target.
Date: 20 Nov 2023
View: D01_20231004_1558_053-056_FB6 Kestrel female arrives and departs Meadow Post in 1 min 1-4 of 4 (montage 500mS+60s+500mS).jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels stopped for almost exactly a minute (the repeat rate
of the camera auto-watching the post) so we could build this rather attractive
montage of this lovely bird.
View: DF3_20231005_1037_007 Kestrel female on 11kV cable at North bridleway.jpg
Description: A portrait of one of the female Kestrels standing on one foot on the gently swaying
11kV power cable over the Northern Bridleway. She watches us go by before continuing her hunt.
View: DF3_20231005_1609_039+1610_047+048 Kestrel female launches from pile of rubble (montage).jpg
Description: We do loathe having the outside of our south boundary being turned into a
building yard, but every cloud may have a silver lining if you look hard enough.
This Kestrel uses the top of the heaps of broken concrete as a convenient hunting perch.
Date: 19 Nov 2023
View: D01_20231004_1147_031_FB6 Buzzard makes 2 off 5+ minute visits to Meadow Post over 15 minutes 01 of 13 (crop).jpg
Description: Over a quarter of an hour, this Buzzard made two landings of the Meadow Post,
each including an at least 5 minute stay.
View: D01_20231004_1147_032_FB6 Buzzard makes 2 off 5+ minute visits to Meadow Post over 15 minutes 02 of 13 (crop).jpg
Description: This is half a second after the first image.
View: D01_20231004_1158_041+042_FB6 Buzzard 2 off 5+ min visits to Meadow Post in 15 mins 08+09 of 13 (montage rt to lt 500mS).jpg
Description: The second landing (right) along with the regaining of balance half a second later (right then left).
View: D01_20231004_1159_043+1202_049_FB6 Buzzard 2 off 5+ min visits to Meadow Post in 15 mins 10+13 of 13 (montage over 3 mins).jpg
Description: A couple of more 'static' moments of the Buzzards visits
Date: 18 Nov 2023
View: D71_20231004_0829_052+054+057+0830_058 Kestrel female perched in conifer at SE corner (multi-view montage).jpg
Description: Are you familiar with those 'rotating around the action' sequences in SF movies
(e.g. The Matrix), made by firing off dozens of SLR cameras in sequence?
Well here is our walking pace version of the same thing, travelling almost 180 degrees
around this very tolerant female Kestrel perched on a conifer inside the SE corner of our patch.
She is about 5m up the tree, far from the top, photograph from the outside.
View: DF3_20231004_1001_024-1004_040 Kestrel female on Footrest flies south to 11kV crossbar 3-10 of 10 (flight accurate montage).jpg
Description: 90 minutes later found this female Kestrel using the footrests of the disused
Telephone pole for a hunt. We have seen this behaviour before, but for some
reason not last year. We know that we have at least 2 female Kestrels hunting
around the area, and think that this is the 'other' one to the tolerant
individual. She flew off across the adjacent field and landed on an 11kV
crossbar to the south.
View: DF3_20231004_1002_026 Kestrel female on Footrest of disused telephone pole flies to south to 11kV crossbar 04 of 10 (crop).jpg
Description: Here is a more detailed pic of this female Kestrel just before launch.
View: DF3_20231004_1009_046+048+050050 Kestrel female (2nd bird) on Rubble pile pounces onto hardcore ground 1+3+4 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: A glimpse of a bird on the top of one of the rubble piles now 'gracing' the
outside of our south boundary turns out to be another female Kestrel, our first
positive ID that there are two female Kestrels. She dived to the unpromising
ground (basically tractor flattened hardcore) but she didn't seem to catch anything.
Date: 17 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20230929_1603_079-1604_135 Buzzard at Dead Rabbit fails trying to fly off with it 02+006+010+012 of 12 (montage).jpg
Description: A glance from the SE corner at the field margin to our east show this Buzzard on
(what turned out to be) a dead Rabbit from which the bird has already taken some
lumps of meat. He spotted the humans and tried to take off with the prize, but
it was obvious over a couple of tries that it was too heavy for the bird.
View: DF3_20230929_1604_117 Buzzard at Dead Rabbit fails trying to fly off with it 10 of 12 (crop).jpg
View: DF3_20230930_0850_155-161 Red Kite launching from dead Rabbit carrying a small piece (approx montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Next morning we spied this Red Kite on the same kill. The Kite grabs a lump of
meat and powers their way away. The shadowed area is from the hedge just out of crop.
View: DF3_20230930_0850_181-184 Red Kite in Flight with piece of Rabbit in claw (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Meat still clamped in one of the talons, the Red Kite makes their exit.
Date: 16 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20230929_0844_061 Kestrel female in conifer at SE corner flies off 1 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: This female Kestrel and we stood watching each other, when suddenly a
beam of sunshine lit her for a few seconds.
View: DF3_20230929_0845_062-065 Kestrel female in conifer at SE corner flies off 2-5 of 5 (acc montage - perch springs up @7fps).jpg
Description: A minute later she decided to depart.
The montage is accurate, but the branch she was perched on sprung back up
as she left - the white bar is to excuse the end of the branch 'being in the wrong place'.
Date: 15 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20230810_1045_008 Cloud in shape of airliner (orig & final).jpg
Description: A ghostly airliner haunts the sky.
View: DF3_20230922_1017_007 Spiders web covered in dew (orig & final).jpg
Description: A humid morning outlines this, among many, spiders webs.
View: DF3_20230930_0903_191 Spiders Web soaked in dew (orig & final).jpg
Description: A large (about 30cm across) and finely spaced Spiders web.
View: D71_20230929_0900_004 Bracket fungus inside decades old broken branch hollow.jpg
Description: While picking up some wind-blown rubbish Marie spotted this fungus glowing INSIDE
a cavity in a many decades old apple tree.
Date: 14 Nov 2023
View: E64_20230915_0851_033_FB2 Wood Pigeon shaking out feathers.jpg
Description: A good shake-out of the feathers probably settles them comfortably.
View: E64_20230926_0901_027_FB2 Wood Pigeon wet from bathing.jpg
Description: The wet breast tells us that this Wood Pigeon is 'shaking out' after a morning bathe.
Date: 13 Nov 2023
View: D01_20230925_0838_001+002+0841_007_FB6 Buzzard 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 1+2+5 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: An early morning visit by this Buzzard to the meadow Post lasts at least 5 minutes.
Left and centre are about half a second apart, and the bird hunting on the right 3 minutes later.
At this time we had started clearing the Meadow back from scrub to rank grass - starting at the
base of this post, so it is probably now a become more productive place to hunt.
View: D01_20230925_0838_002_FB6 Buzzard 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 2 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: The middle pic in a more glorious crop.
View: D01_20230925_0840_005_FB6 Buzzard 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 4 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: Another moment from the same visit.
Date: 12 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20230922_1315_021 Common Darter Dragonfly female over mature perched on break of week stem.jpg
Description: Its not been warm enough in the last few days to tempt out even the
Migrant Hawker Dragonflies, who seem to fly at lower temperatures than
our other regulars, but there are several Common Darter Dragonflies of
both sexes making the most of their final weeks.
View: DF3_20230926_1540_063 Common Hawker Dragonfly female on sun warmed corrugated iron.jpg
Description: One of several Common Hawker Dragonflies that spend time on this
corrugated iron sheet, this female gives a double dose of her lovely
wings - the real wings echoed in the shadow on the iron.
View: DF3_20230926_1544_069 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly male resting on twig.jpg
Description: This male Migrant Hawker warms on a twig in the fitful sunshine.
The beautiful vivid Blue/Cyan colour is the real appearance.
Date: 11 Nov 2023
View: E64_20230921_1641_016_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male at woodland site.jpg
Description: Our current male Reeves' Muntjac Deer takes his portrait at the
Woodland site. The 'lips' below his eye in this pic is his scent gland
he uses to 'perfume' tips of sticks and similar.
It always seems a dangerous place to aim for stick so close to then eye,
but many deer use the same arrangement so it must have advantages.
View: BU5_20230922_0034_046-048_SC1 Muntjac Reeves Deer mother and Fawn walk by Round Pond (montage).jpg
Description: Just after midnight Mum and Fawn have a moment of 'gentle contact' as they
amble past the Round Pond.
View: BU7_20230924_1836_334 Muntjac Reeves Deer family returning at South hedge - Male + Fawn + Mother.jpg
Description: A couple of minutes after passing through the south hedge into the area the farm
owner has turned into a builder's yard including about (500 tones of earth and
numerous heaps of hardcore and sand) our little family
returns - we suspect that they decided it was better 'inside'.
View: BUA_20230925_0259_261+BU8_0323_146+BUA_0341_276 Muntjac family over 40 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: After midnight the little family (Fawn + Doe + Buck) wandered about the
east side of our patch.
Date: 10 Nov 2023
View: E64_20230921_0628_097_FB2 Hare bounding across Woodland site (crop 2).jpg
Description: Walks around the patch just don't get to see Hares in the fields, now stripped of the
growing wheat they can use as a refuge. A few seem instead to be making the
most of the comparative cover and largess of our little patch.
We particularly like this portrait at the Woodland site.
View: BU5_20230916_1543_209_SC1 Hare by Round Pond.jpg
Description: Round pond is currently dry, and we are seeing Hares, Squirrel
and Deer visiting the water trough. No way near enough rain yet
to raise the water table to re-fill the pond.
Date: 09 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20230921_1251_080+1350_076 Common Darter Dragonfly male perched on wooden bench eating midge 2+1 of 2 (montage+insert).jpg
Description: This male Common Darter dragonfly perched on an old wood bench
is busy sucking the juices from some unfortunate midge.
View: DF3_20230914_1035_069 7-spot Ladybird on fresh stinging nettle leaf.jpg
Description: A really poor year for Ladybirds here this year -
this is the first we have noticed for weeks.
It's a 7-spot Ladybird - a common UK species rather than the almost absent Harlequins.
Date: 08 Nov 2023
View: D01_20230917_0949_191+0950_193+1029_195_FB6 Green Woodpecker male visits to Meadow Post (montage).jpg
Description: This looks like the juvenile male Green Woodpecker has almost transitioned to adulthood.
This is two visits - on the left sequential frames a minute apart, and the right hand landing
40 minutes later, now looking much sleeker but many details indicate the same bird.
View: D01_20230918_1704_004-1707_039_FB6 Green Woodpecker male pecking at top of Meadow Post 1+2+6+7 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: A male Green Woodpecker (possibly one of this years sprogs) seems intent
on pecking at the now badly split top of the Meadow Post.
View: D01_20230918_1708_042_FB6 Green Woodpecker male pecking at top of Meadow Post 8 of 8 (crop).jpg
Date: 07 Nov 2023
View: BU7_20230916_1251_115+120 Muntjac Reeves Deer female & Fawn entering at south hedge gap 2+7 of 7 (accurate montage + bar).jpg
Description: The Fawn is Back!
On the left the Fawn is following Mum from the 'building site' outside
through the hedge gap to follow her over the dry ditch.
On the right of the white bar (included in this accurate montage so as not to
imply that the Fawn is looking back at Mum) we get a view of the Fawn looking
at nothing we can see in the original pic.
View: BUA_20230916_1305_155_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer female & Fawn near east hedge gap.jpg
Description: 15 minutes later the camera at the east hedge gap catches the Reeves's Muntjac
Mother and Fawn moving past the camera at enough speed to blur the image.
View: BU7_20230915_1856_093 Muntjac Reeves Deer male grooming with tongue out and tusk exposed.jpg
Description: As the daylight dwindles, 'our' male Reeves' Muntjac Deer stops for a groom
on the grass patch near the south hedge gap. His enormous tongue is
deployed to groom his face, and the small tusk shows up rather well.
Date: 06 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20230915_1546_219-223 Kestrel female on disused Telephone pole then flying off 4-9 of 8 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: The (new) local female Kestrel sometimes perches on the top of this disused
telephone pole. She ignored us for a couple of minutes before quietly 'moving on'
to a new hunting perch - see where in a moment.
This is accurately spaced at 7 fps except for the bird on the pole.
View: DF3_20230915_1551_240 Kestrel female on 11kV crossbar with Jackdaw on cable above.jpg
Description: 5 minutes later we see her on the 11kV cross bar some 300m north.
Rooks habitually chase off any Kestrel they see, but the Jackdaw (above)
chose to co-exist without a hassle.
View: DF3_20230915_1552_259-262 Kestrel female in flight @7fps 1 to 4 of 4 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: We didn't get any closer, but the female Kestrel decided to move on, flying
past us at full flying speed, again accurately montaged at 7 fps.
View: DF3_20230917_1045_357 Kestrel female flying overhead.jpg
Description: Two days later we see the female Kestrel again. She seems to be getting used
to us being 'mostly harmless'.
Date: 05 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20230914_1038_078 2 Comma Butterflies facing each other on Black fruit clump with Proboscises partly unfurled (crop 1).jpg
Description: These two Comma Butterflies almost seem to be having a little battle.
The insect on the right clearly shows his proboscis only partly furled or unfurled.
View: DF3_20230914_1038_079 Comma Butterfly feeding on Blackberry fruit with incidental insect flyby.jpg
Description: The Comma Butterfly on the left 'won' the encounter and quickly got back to feeding.
An inadvertent fly didn't disturb the Butterfly.
View: DF3_20230914_1034_066 Red admiral Butterfly feeding on Blackberry fruit.jpg
Description: The previously generation of Red admiral Butterflies enjoyed feeding on the
Blackberry flowers, and may even have fertilised the fruit from which this
one is taking their fill.
View: DF3_20230914_1041_085 Red admiral Butterfly showing proboscis in Blackberry fruit.jpg
Description: A close look at a Red Admiral Butterfly with his figure-of-eight cross section
proboscis deep between Blackberry druplets.
Blackberries are actually known as an 'aggregate fruit 'composed of small druplets.
Date: 04 Nov 2023
View: E64_20230912_1601_043-20230913_1428_072_FB2 Grey Squirrel carries Horse Chestnut conkers across site over 1 day (montage).jpg
Description: In just one day (including a night) we see this Grey Squirrel make 6 almost identical
passages across the Woodland photo site, each time carrying a conker.
The Squirrel may have taken dozens more by a different route.
There are a Red and normal Horse-Chestnut trees a few metres from this site -
a search found no signs of any conkers on the surround woodland floor - the
Squirrel is doing a thorough job!
View: E64_20230913_1316_071_FB2 Grey Squirrel carries 2 Cherries across site.jpg
Description: Just these two cherries make for a bit of variety.
But the Conkers will store much better and provide more nutrition - the
Squirrel will be pleased he made the effort in the privations of Winter.
Date: 03 Nov 2023
View: D71_20230819_0918_033 Fungi in shade SW of Duck Mound.jpg
Description: One of about 4 groups of similar fungi fruiting bodies in a few square metres.
View: DF3_20230912_0904_009+011 Fungi (different species) on felled & fallen branches North of Round Mound (montage).jpg
Description: A couple of fallen branches (one probably cut to release it from other branches)
only a few metres apart are of the same wood but an obviously a different
species of bracket fungus.
Date: 02 Nov 2023
View: DF3_20230910_1005_066-070 Hawker Dragonfly looping round in flight @7fps 1-5 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Hawker Dragonfly does a hairpin turn in about half a second.
View: DF3_20230910_1208_086 Mallow flowers + Green Shieldbug + fly (crop with insert).jpg
Description: Mallow flowers grow in convenient cracks along the edge of the access track.
While photographing this pair of open and opening flowers we didn't even notice
that there was a Green Shieldbug perched on the group of buds. Good Camouflage.
View: D71_20230911_0715_034 Comma Butterfly perched on BU2 Trail cam overnight.jpg
Description: While touring the cameras to exchange photo-cards we came across this Comma
Butterfly perched on the camera that 'watches' the Round Mound. On this cold
morning the insect is torpid, and we managed to open the camera door it is
perched on, exchange the photo card, and close up again without obviously
disturbing the creature. It was gone later in the warmer day.
Date: 01 Nov 2023
View: BUA_20230909_1310_059_SC8 Muntjac Deer adult + Fawn - detail 2 of 3 (crop with processing).jpg
Description: Our first (and so far only) sighting of a Reeves' Muntjac Deer Fawn, here
near the east hedge gap. We have seen neither in the following weeks and assume
that they are just elsewhere.
View: BU7_20230910_0433_089+SP1_0449_053+BUA_0614_080 Muntjac Reeves Deer male visits over 2Hrs (montage).jpg
Description: On the morning after the above pic, the male spends a couple of hours
wandering around the 2 acres. It is likely that this is the Fawn's father
who is imaged by one or more cameras on most nights at the moment.
View: BU7_20230913_1028_044 Muntjac Reeves Deer male staring at camera from ditch.jpg
Description: This Reeves' Muntjac Deer wins the staring contest.
Image Archive arch 2023 oct.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Oct 2023
View: D71_20230908_1101_020+021 Shepherd in field far to north in Land Rover + 2 dogs 2+3 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Shepherding - 21c Style!
The main picture shows the van at the far hedge to bring back 4 sheep along the
hedge, but they have already started moving - possibly the dogs did the trick.
The insert taken a few seconds later shows the van returning to the main flock -
you can see his two dogs as well as 2 sheep.
View: D71_20230908_1104_023 Shepherd in field far to north in Land Rover + 2 dogs 4 of 4 (orig).jpg
View: DF3_20230904_1553_014 Wheatear perched on top of distant straw bale.jpg
Description: About 100 Straw bales 'litter' the crop fields, and on one perhaps 50m away
this Wheatear didn't take flight.
We rather like the idea of a Wheatear on Wheat bales
Date: 30 Oct 2023
View: D01_20230908_0836_007+008_FB6 Kestrel female 2 minute visit to Meadow Post 1+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This female Kestrel is becoming a regular visitor around the area, but
so far not often at this post.
View: DF3_20230909_1046_037-041 Kestrel female in flight @7fps 4-8 of 8 (approx montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Next day the female Kestrel makes a fly-by.
View: DF3_20230914_1032_045+048+050 Red Kite flying overhead 1-3 of 3 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: A Red Kite flyover- quartering the land to his right and then left.
About 1 second of flight here - tightly montaged for effect.
Date: 29 Oct 2023
View: DF3_20230904_1606_021 Comma Butterfly perched on Blackberry leaf - wings slightly open showing underwing comma marking.jpg
Description: We used only to see Comma Butterflies in the autumn feeding on rotting
windfall apples. Now we see them intermittently through the year as they
produce a mid-year brood before the autumn brood which over-winters
to breed in the Spring.
This one has their wings open a little, so you get a good view of the
underwings including the white marking that gives the insect their
name, plus a strip of the orange along the top of the wings.
The scalloped edge of the wings is an amazing camouflage.
View: DF3_20230903_1257_109 Common Darter Dragonfly female perched on seed head.jpg
Description: A female Common Darter Dragonfly perches on the seed head.
View: DF3_20230904_1550_007 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female perched on dead blackthorn twig.jpg
Description: Migrant Hawker Dragonflies have this year outnumbered all of the
other species combined.
Date: 28 Oct 2023
View: DF3_20230901_1614_002 Buzzard on 11kV crossbar over bridleway to north.jpg
Description: Most years one or more Buzzards decides that the crossbars for the 11kV power
cables make good hunting perches.
Only young birds perch on the wires - the wider angle iron section is presumably easier
on the feet for the full weight bird. And it doesn't sway in even light winds.
View: DF3_20230902_1602_055 Red Kite in flight.jpg
Description: A Red Kite flies by.
Date: 27 Oct 2023
View: E63_20230831_1953_096+1935_095_FB1 Robin juvenile and adult on hedge bottom stone (montage).jpg
Description: On the left a juvenile Robin starting to develop their red breast.
On the right an adult - Robins are very territorial so most likely Mum or Dad.
View: E6A_20230904_1036_025_FB5 Blackbird juvenile at Meadow Site.jpg
Description: A juvenile Blackbird stops off at the Meadow site.
Date: 26 Oct 2023
View: D01_20230901_1446_062+1445_060+1442_058_FB6 Green Woodpecker male juvenile spends 5 minutes on Meadow Post (montage).jpg
Description: A juvenile male Green Woodpecker spends a few minutes on the meadow post.
View: D01_20230906_0954_034+0953_032_FB6 Green Woodpecker male young adult on Meadow Post (montage).jpg
Description: We seem to be rather fond of our skittish Green Woodpeckers - more usually heard
(fleeing away and calling) than seen. This is a adult male showing front and back.
Date: 25 Oct 2023
View: BU3_20230831_0322_142+144+0323_147+148_SC6 Muntjac Reeves Deer pair foraging on access track (montage).jpg
Description: In the small hours a pair of Reeves' Muntjac Deer quietly forage along the concrete
access track.
View: DF3_20230828_0706_009+004+0707_019 Muntjac Reeves Deer male browsing newly harvested crop (accurate montage).jpg
Description: While the Wheat crop is standing tall (actually much shorter nowadays than
the crops of our Childhoods) a Muntjac Deer could be making this journey
and we would never know. To the saying
"As clear as Bird nests in Winter"
we would like to add
"As clear as a Muntjacs after Harvest".
Date: 24 Oct 2023
View: E63_20230828_2139_018_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: The Fieldmice (Wood Mice) are back at the Hedge Bottom. On this night just the single visit
View: E63_20230830_2155_134-20230831_0457_143_FB1 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at Hedge bottom over one night (approx montage).jpg
Description: Two night after the solitary Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) sighting we captured over a dozen
moments of single and pairs of Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at the hedge bottom over one night.
We had a little fun montaging some of them.
Date: 23 Oct 2023
View: DF3_20230827_1307_288 Holly Blue Butterfly feeding on mint flower along with large fly.jpg
Description: Holly Blue Butterflies appear in cycles as they produce new
generations through the year. This one is enjoying a feed from a mint flower.
View: D71_20230827_1316_035 Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) about 14mm long in bowl of Blackberries.jpg
Description: Shieldbugs and Squashbugs are interesting visitors.
Here the larger and sharp insect is a Dock Bug just over half-an-inch long we found
in a bowl of just picked Blackberries - actually our most productive wild harvest.
View: D71_20230827_1315_016 Woundwort Shieldbug (Eysarcoris fabricii) about 6mm long in blackberry pot (ID only).jpg
Description: In the same bowl of blackberries were several Woundwort Shieldbugs, only
about a quarter of an inch long.
Bowls of fruits and other harvests are spread out on a tray for a day to let
any animate life escape the washing and cooking.
Date: 22 Oct 2023
View: DF3_20230826_0949_058-060+066-069 Red Kite in flight @7fps 1-3+4-7 (discontinuous) of 7 (2 accurate montages).jpg
Description: This Red Kite fly-by turns into a glide ...
View: DF3_20230826_0950_139-142 Red Kite in flight harassed by Rook @7fps 2-5 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: ... until a local Rook takes exception.
View: DF3_20230826_0950_140 Red Kite in flight harassed by Rook @7fps 3 of 7 (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: More detail of the above with the obvious choice of Red Kite, along with the
accompanying Rook shown a little closer than reality for clarity.
Date: 21 Oct 2023
View: D01_20230825_1825_069_FB6 Green Woodpecker juvenile male lands on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: We are currently seeing male and female adults and juvenile Green Woodpeckers,
so our 'local' pair must have had a successful summer's nesting of at least 2 youngsters.
View: D01_20230825_1857_071_FB6 Green Woodpecker just juvenile female lands on Meadow Post.jpg
View: D01_20230826_0843_084_FB6 Green Woodpecker juvenile male pecking top of Meadow Post.jpg
View: DF3_20230827_0934_201 Green Woodpecker hiding behind 11kV power pole.jpg
Description: As we approach the south field we often disturb a Green Woodpecker
that has been probing the soil, flying either into our patch or away across
the field. This one flew behind this 11kV power pole and didn't appear on
the other side. Waiting a minute or two was rewarded by this beak tip
peering around the lower left of the pole.
What a mix of brutalic human and elegant nature.
Date: 20 Oct 2023
View: BU9_20230824_2352_022_SC2 Fox leaving orchard.jpg
Description: An atmospheric Fox stalking through the orchard just before midnight.
View: BUA_20230826_1524_048_SC8 Fox nearly full grown near east hedge gap.jpg
Description: What looks like a nearly full grown 'perfect' young Fox takes his selfie.
This may be one of the cubs raised in the earth of 'Round Mound' earlier this year.
Date: 19 Oct 2023
View: E6A_20230819_0735_107_FB5 Hare youngster passing through meadow site.jpg
Description: A young hare bounding through the meadow site.
View: DF3_20230822_0751_072+073 Hare running from field margin past soil dump into our patch (accurate montage).jpg
Description: We startled the regular Hare in this area, but only managed these
two pics as they ran behind the ever growing mound of farm top soil.
View: BU7_20230823_1850_096+1846_092 Hare pauses at end of orchard before departing through south hedge gap (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The Hare, with particularly dark ears, seems to frequent the end of the orchard
and area immediately outside despite it now being more like a building site.
Date: 18 Oct 2023
View: E6A_20230823_1429_189+1438_191+_FB5 Green woodpecker male juvenile 10 minute visit to meadow site (montage).jpg
Description: Photographed about 10 minutes apart we twice see this juvenile Green Woodpecker
picking over the meadow site.
View: E6A_20230823_1429_189_FB5 Green woodpecker male juvenile 10 minute visit to meadow site (head detail).jpg
Description: A Detail from the above.
We really can believe that birds descended from Dinosaurs!
Date: 17 Oct 2023
View: E63_20230821_0415_182_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) at Hedge bottom (1st for many weeks).jpg
Description: This is the first (and so far only) sighting of a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) for weeks - fortunately
a rather delightful effort.
View: E63_20230820_0936_124_FB1 Grey Squirrel male upright on hedge bottom stone.jpg
Description: On the same hedge-bottom stone but at rather different scale, this rather obviously
male Grey Squirrel gazes at the automatic camera.
View: DF3_20230822_0754_078+090 Grey Squirrel spots humans on Farm Road (montage).jpg
Description: Here out on the Farm Road it is a human behind the lens.
Why hope for a human hand-out - there's 100 acres of corn 'fresh on the stalk' all around.
Date: 16 Oct 2023
View: BU2_20230817_1624_015_SC7 Roy Photographing dead Rabbit on Round Mound (orig & final).jpg
Description: Here is the start of a little story that we only know in parts. Here Roy is
photographing something originally intended for the archive, having spotted
a dead young Rabbit on the edge of one of the many holes in this mound.
View: BU2_20230819_1433_081+1417_077+076_SC7 Buzzard visits Round Mound to pick up dead Rabbit 07+03+02 of 13 (montage 2+3 acc).jpg
Description: 2 days later the trail cam watching the mound catches this Buzzard landing right over the
dead Rabbit (right image), now to be found about 3 metres from our original sighting without
any indication in the 2 days of photos of what moved it.
Later we get to see the Rabbit in the bird's talons (middle image) and then perched on the
fallen branch (centre) and 15 minutes later a much reduced carcass in the talons on the
top of the fallen branch.
View: BU2_20230819_1742_089+1735_085_SC7 Buzzard visits Round Mound again 12(IR)+08 of 13 (montage).jpg
Description: 3 hours later we catch the Buzzard on the mound again, possibly as two visits but
more likely a single visit. Accurately montaged, even though the camera flipped to IR
lighting between the two moments. No sign of any Rabbit remains.
Date: 15 Oct 2023
View: DF3_20230816_1252_032 Green-veined White Butterfly.jpg
Description: A pristine Green-veined white - at this time of year it must be the second of the years two broods.
View: D71_20230819_1227_043 Holly Blue Butterfly on Ivy leaf.jpg
Description: A Holly Blue Butterfly perched on the edge of an Ivy leaf.
Date: 14 Oct 2023
View: D71_20230819_0910_019 Snails mating on field margin.jpg
Description: A moment of snail passion - we left them in peace on their carpet of slime.
Snails are Hermaphrodites - both sexes at the same time.
View: D71_20230819_0911_026 7-spot ladybird with silhouette of photographer reflected on carapace.jpg
Description: A major dearth of ladybirds this year, and so far all are original UK species.
The shiny carapace shows a reflection of the photographer outlined by the sky.
Date: 13 Oct 2023
View: D01_20230817_0701_001_FB6 Sparrowhawk prob Juvenile landing on meadow post 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: This Sparrowhawk made a short visit to the Meadow Post an hour or so after sunrise.
This looks like a female, but more probably a new juvenile, sussing out the area.
View: DF3_20230819_1554_060+070 Red Kite hunting in slow glide overhead (impression montage over 1300mS).jpg
Description: This Red Kite, flying into a moderate breeze, glided slowly overhead with
attention clearly scanning the surrounding area. Humans aren't edible for a
Kite so of no interest!
View: DF3_20230822_1213_088-092 Red Kite gliding overhead in crosswind (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A Red Kite gliding by in a strong cross-wind.
Accurate positioned at about 7 fps.
Date: 12 Oct 2023
View: DF3_20230811_1315_095 Scarlet Pimpernel clump.jpg
Description: Scarlet Pimpernel is mainly found here growing over disused concrete tracks
View: DF3_20230811_1316_101 Scarlet Pimpernel detail + insert.jpg
Description: To really appreciate the tiny flowers you have to get really close.
Date: 11 Oct 2023
View: E63_20230813_0941_197-1004_202_FB1 Grey Squirrel at hedge bottom over 20 minutes (approx montage).jpg
Description: 20 minutes of Grey Squirrel's activity at the hedge bottom.
View: E60_20230815_1638_024+022+025_FB3 Grey Squirrel grooming on Kitchen bird table post top (montage).jpg
Description: It may be more difficult to balance on the limited area of the bird table mount
with the table detached, but this squirrel stops for a good scratch on it anyway.
Date: 10 Oct 2023
View: D71_20230810_0712_007 Wood Pigeon catching sunlight in conifer by garage.jpg
Description: Exiting the house this Wood Pigeon caught the eye as if 'in the spotlight'.
View: D71_20230814_1214_013 Pigeon youngster on blackberry hedge at front of house.jpg
Description: It looks like this juvenile Wood Pigeon is fresh out of a nearby nest and has crash
landed in the hedge at the front of the house. He seems to instinctively 'know'
that the best way of avoiding detection is to keep perfectly still.
We almost missed spotting them.
Date: 09 Oct 2023
View: DF3_20230812_1006_128 Common Darter Dragonfly female perched on corrugated iron sheet.jpg
Description: Lots of invertebrates like to use this corrugated iron sheet to get warmed
up from the sun-warmed metal. This is a female Common Darter Dragonfly.
View: DF3_20230812_1252_166 Common Darter Dragonfly male on tip of cut blackberry stem.jpg
Description: A male Common Darter Dragonfly on the cut tip of a Blackberry stem.
Darter Dragonflies are intermediate in size between Damselflies and Hawker Dragonflies
and hunt in a different style to both.
Date: 08 Oct 2023
View: DF3_20230816_1303_042-047 2 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly females in flight over wheat to Nth 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Over the Wheat crop in the field north of our patch several Migrant Hawker
Dragonflies swoop and swerve in the search of midges. These two were
close enough for the photographer to get both flights in frame at the same time.
View: DF3_20230816_1303_044-046 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly in flight carrying prey in mouth 3-5 of 6 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: At the time we couldn't see that the Dragonfly at the top left was busy
carrying a midge, undoubtedly sucking it dry for the nutritional fluid.
Here are 3 of the pics from the montage in more detail.
View: DF3_20230811_1307_079 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female.jpg
Description: Its easier to see the detail of a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly when perched in a hedge.
View: DF3_20230813_1218_196 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female.jpg
Description: This time we find a female Migrant Hawker Dragonfly awaiting her Portrait.
Date: 07 Oct 2023
View: DF3_20230817_1039_006 Muntjac Reeves Deer male in woodland (crop).jpg
Description: A mid-morning encounter between us and the current male Reeves Muntjac Deer.
He wasn't pleased to see us, but not panicky enough for a high speed departure.
Perhaps we are considered 'Mostly Harmless'.
View: DF3_20230817_1039_006 Muntjac Reeves Deer male in woodland (head detail).jpg
View: DF3_20230817_1039_007 Muntjac Reeves Deer male in woodland (crop).jpg
View: DF3_20230817_1039_007 Muntjac Reeves Deer male in woodland (head detail).jpg
Date: 06 Oct 2023
View: DF3_20230807_1437_013 Fungus carpet around base of dead tree.jpg
Description: In one walkabout of our 2 acre patch we find two dead trees attracting
a carpet of fungus growing from the roots.
View: DF3_20230811_0850_043 Fungi in shade south of Duck Mound.jpg
Description: Its not really autumn yet but various Fungi have been appearing in many shady corners.
Date: 05 Oct 2023
View: E63_20230811_0103_059_FB1 Yellow Slug climbing stone at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: This Yellow Slug climbs over the stone.
View: DF3_20230813_0858_182 Slug 11cm long crossing Farm Road before moving to hedge.jpg
Description: A couple of days later we find this similar sized slug struggling across the dry and
dusty concrete farm road. We took his picture (also with a size reference not shown)
before picking them up and moving to safety of a hedge.
Date: 04 Oct 2023
View: E60_20230810_2348_010_FB3 Tawny Owl visits to crossbar of fallen Kitchen feeder 3 of 8 (crop).jpg
Description: The fall of the Kitchen Bird table resulted in 3 visits on the same night by this Tawny Owl.
View: E60_20230811_0052_013_FB3 Tawny Owl visits to crossbar of fallen Kitchen feeder 6 of 8 (crop).jpg
View: E60_20230811_0055_014_FB3 Tawny Owl visits to crossbar of fallen Kitchen feeder 7 of 8 (crop).jpg
View: D01_20230817_0121_128+129+0125_136_FB6 Tawny Owl 5+ minute visit to meadow post 1+2+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: We left the feeder 'broken' for a week in the hope of a similar flurry of visits
but we were disappointed. But in the following week there were 3 Tawny Owl visits to
the Meadow Post, each for 5 or more minutes.
Date: 03 Oct 2023
View: DF3_20230810_1515_025-033 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male flies low hovers & swerves @7fps 1+2+4+7-9 of 9 (approx montage).jpg
Description: This male Southern Hawker was dashing around over the (rather low) surface
of the main pond. Here is just over a second of flight, including a pause for
4 frames (at top right - only one shown) before dashing off in the reverse direction.
The rightmost image shows his blurred head turning in preparation for the banking.
View: DF3_20230810_1515_030 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male flying low over main pond and swerving 6 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: Another moment during the 4 frame hover (not included in the montage).
Date: 02 Oct 2023
View: D01_20230810_1302_015_FB6 Green Woodpecker male launching from Meadow Post.jpg
Description: We hear Green Woodpeckers more often than we see them.
Here is a rather dynamic moment of a male launching from the Meadow Post.
View: E63_20230810_0811_003+20230813_0611_180_FB1 Robin juvenile(s) on stone at hedge bottom 3 days apart (montage).jpg
Description: It seems that we have another brood of Robin around the hedge bottom.
The ID book suggests that pairs may have three broods.
Poor Mum!
Date: 01 Oct 2023
View: BUA_20230724_0039_028-030_SC8 Fox probably hears prey and turns to investigate (montage).jpg
Description: Shortly after midnight the entering Fox suddenly detects (most likely with those wonderful ears)
some unfortunate creature, and swings round for a proper look.
In the soil it could be a beetle, worm or whatever - the Fox isn't fussy.
View: BUA_20230810_0006_116_SC8 Badger near East hedge gap lounging on ground.jpg
Description: Rather than squatting or sitting, this good sized Badger is what we have to describe
as 'lounging' near the east hedge gap.
View: SP1_20230810_0458_153_SP1 Muntjac Reeves Deer female eating blackberry leaves.jpg
Description: At the back of the main pond this female Reeves' Muntjac Deer is chomping
away of blackberry leaves.
Presumably not Ouch if you are a Deer
Image Archive arch 2023 sep.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230809_1543_051 Ant Alates on weeds at bottom of shrub pot.jpg
Description: Outside the front door this pot plant is smothered in Ant Alates.
We normally only see them here emerging from cracks in sun-warmed concrete tracks.
View: DF3_20230809_1543_064 Ant Alates on weeds at bottom of shrub pot.jpg
Description: More detail of Ants and their alates.
Date: 29 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230809_1245_037 Holly Blue butterfly male 2nd brood on Ivy leaf.jpg
Description: The second brood of Holly Blue Butterflies are out and about.
This is a male nicely lit on an Ivy plant.
View: DF3_20230809_1247_044 Holly Blue butterfly male 2nd brood disguised on leaf.jpg
Description: Here is the same individual showing that the wing shape and even colour don't do
a bad job of camouflage when perched. In flight their path is so erratic it will
evade a lot of predators - it certainly evades this cameraman - though probably
not the agile Dragonflies.
View: DF3_20230809_1552_085-089 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly in flight @7fps (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The dominant Dragonfly here at the moment (and most years) is the Migrant Hawker.
There are sometimes 5 or more in flight over the meadow.
The style of annal appendage tells us that this is a female - missing from the filename.
View: D71_20230807_1102_010 Common Darter Dragonfly female (1st of 2023).jpg
Description: Our first photo of a Darter Dragonfly this year - a female Common Darter.
Date: 28 Sep 2023
View: D01_20230807_2037_027_FB6 Merlin male short visit to Meadow Post when almost dark 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A male Merlin unexpectedly spends a couple of minutes on the meadow post.
We have only ID'd Merlins twice before, both times in flight you can see at
Sep 2008 and
May 2010
View: D01_20230808_0211_031+032+0223_033+034_FB6 Tawny Owl 2 short visits to Meadow Post 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: After some weeks of absence, this Tawny Owl twice lands of the Meadow Post
about 15 minutes apart.
Date: 27 Sep 2023
View: BU7_20230809_0808_010+009+0809_011 Hare arrives near south hedge gap and scans surroundings 2+1+3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This Hare ran up (centre) and stopped on the grass near the south hedge gap.
Look left. Look Right. All clear to stay for a moment.
Sounds like the 'Kerb Drill' 'drilled' into us 65 years ago - well it must have
worked!
View: D01_20230806_0756_176_FB6 Wood Pigeon landing on meadow post back to camera backlit by morning sun.jpg
Description: Morning light produced some interesting effects.
Date: 26 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230809_0804_022 Teasel head smothered in dew drenched Spider silk (crop).jpg
Description: Dewy mornings can create some attractive effects when backlit by the low morning
sun.
First a well 'encrusted' Teasel.
View: DF3_20230809_0804_025 Teasel head on leaning stem smothered in dew drenched Spider silk (orig).jpg
Description: A differently 'dressed' Teasel.
The picture isn't 90 degrees off - some teasels fall over and then
start to grow upwards at the tip.
View: DF3_20230809_0805_034 Spider web drenched with dew.jpg
Description: The more conventional 'spider's web'
View: DF3_20230806_0718_003 Spider web pulling grass stem into semi circle.jpg
Description: A single grass seed head bent over by this the tiny spider's web. The long
strand from the tip of the grass back out of from on the right looks like some
sort of structural entity - that minute speck of a creature know how to do
structural engineering!
Date: 25 Sep 2023
View: D01_20230805_1528_122_FB6 Magpie lands on Meadow post holding large birds foot in beak 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: Ugh!
This it second of two pics of this Magpie landing on the Meadow post with a most
disgusting set of claws in their beak. In the third pic in the sequence, taken a
minute later, there is still a Magpie on the post but with empty beak.
What this foot belonged to, and what happened to it, is anybodies guess.
Date: 24 Sep 2023
View: BU7_20230721_1458_046-047 Muntjac Reeves Deer male enters south hedge gap & rubs antler velvet (part accurate montage).jpg
Description: We see this male Reeves' Muntjac Deer most nights at one or more Trail cameras.
Here, unusually in mid-afternoon, he enters at the south hedge gap and soon starts
rubbing his most likely itchy 'velvet' over his antlers on the ground.
View: BU7_20230803_0551_099 Muntjac Reeves Deer male with small Antlers exposed & tusk visible.jpg
Description: 2 weeks later the male Reeves' Muntjac Deer ambles towards the south hedge gap as the
day starts to lighten. It looks like he has at last shed the 'velvet' on the Antlers.
The antlers are mostly hidden by his ears.
View: BU8_20230802_2111_045+2112_046+049+050 Muntjac Reeves Deer female leaves after drink from Duck Pond (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Meanwhile the female Reeves' Muntjac Deer climbs down into the Duck Pond to reach the
water for a drink. Here she is climbing back out before ambling across the adjacent grass.
Date: 23 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230721_0703_117 Sundog to right of sun (none to the left) (crop).jpg
Description: The first sundog we have seen for months. The lens on the camera with us can only just manage the
width between the sun (left) and the dog (right), but in any case the sky to the left of the
sun was both cloud and 'Dog-less'.
The effect was gone inside a minute as the clouds and sun moved out of optimum position.
View: DF3_20230731_0538_003 Sunrise (orig & final).jpg
Description: Red sky in Morning - Shepherd's Warning.
Date: 22 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230729_1557_046-056 Roe Deer male runs to field to south 03+05+07+09+11+13 of 13 (acc montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Dashing from somewhere near or through the south hedge, this male Roe Deer makes
a dash across the grass into the ripening corn, catching us by surprise.
View: DF3_20230729_1557_054 Roe Deer male running from south margin across field to south 11 of 13 (crop).jpg
Description: This is a moment that shows that while Horses may not run like they are shown in
Victorian paintings, the spread out leap is perfectly accurate for Roe deer.
View: DF3_20230729_1557_070-072 Roe Deer male running across field to south 14-16 of 16 (impression montage @7fps).jpg
View: DF3_20230729_1557_084-091 Roe Deer male running across field to south 05+08+10+12 of 12 (approx montage @7fps).jpg
Date: 21 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230729_1004_041 Peacock Butterfly perched on ground level thistle leaf.jpg
Description: A Peacock Butterfly perched on a ground-level thistle leaf.
When you are small enough, all those sharp spines become just a bit of 'texture'.
View: DF3_20230801_0758_023 Red Admiral Butterfly warming themselves on corrugated iron sheet + Shadow.jpg
Description: This Red Admiral Butterfly suns themselves on a corrugated iron sheet.
The shadow just adds to the majesty.
Date: 20 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230728_1621_018 Fungus along several year old fallen branch (orig & final).jpg
Description: Behind 'Round Mound' some fallen branches are now growing an interesting
and rather attractive bracket fungi.
View: DF3_20230728_1622_022 Fungus along several year old fallen branch (orig & final).jpg
View: D71_20230803_0726_011 Fungus growing from log in woodpile (crop + insect detail).jpg
Description: Fungi on cut and fallen branches normally seem to be of the 'bracket fungus'
type, so this one is an unusual sighting.
The insert shows an insect on the right slope of the main fungus cap.
Date: 19 Sep 2023
View: E63_20230727_1708_037_FB1 Great Spotted Woodpecker juvenile (prob female) with right leg ringed (crop).jpg
Description: This juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker has a ring on this right leg - a nice
shiny new one at that - but even though the ring is 'sharp' it is too restricted
a view to read it reliably. We have passed the image and an enlargement of the
ring to our local RSPB recorder.
Date: 18 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230725_0844_011+0845_017 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female perched in hedge - side and top views (montage).jpg
Description: This female Migrant Hawker Dragonfly is the first confirmed sighting this year.
Here perched on a rolled up leaf photographed from 2 angles while warming in the sunshine.
A few days later 3 of this annual visitors where in flight over the same stretch of concrete
track, but moving so fast that in-flight pics have so far all failed :-(
View: DF3_20230726_1256_113 Southern Hawker Dragonfly female.jpg
Description: Another sighting of a female Southern Hawker Dragonfly warming quietly in the sunshine.
Date: 17 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230725_1313_054 Holly Blue Butterfly (2nd brood) feeding on Blackberry flowers.jpg
Description: The second brood of Holly Blue Butterflies has emerged.
View: DF3_20230725_1546_079 Brimstone Butterfly female feeding of Thistle flower.jpg
Description: This years brood of Brimstone Butterflies has emerged, this female is feeding on a thistle flower.
With luck she will spend the summer building up her strength, hibernate for the winter
and emerge next Spring to mate and lay her eggs. They do not have a second brood.
Date: 16 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230726_1256_108 2 Peacock Butterflies on single thistle head.jpg
Description: We had begun to think that this year was a disaster for our normally healthy
population of Peacock Butterflies, but suddenly there a 'a few' about.
The early start of the season seems to have had quite the opposite effect
here on this species.
View: DF3_20230725_0850_029 2 Red Admiral Butterflies feeding on Teasel head with 2 rings of flowers.jpg
Description: We are delightfully 'awash' with Red Admiral Butterflies in numbers we don't ever remember seeing
before. Here are two feasting on a Teasel flower with the two rings of flowers now working their
way up and down.
View: DF3_20230725_1301_039 7 Teasel heads flowering in various stages of rings of flowers.jpg
Description: This clump of Teasel flower heads catches the development of the heads in
just a single moment. The initial single ring of flowers splits into rising and
falling rings as the days go by.
Date: 15 Sep 2023
View: D01_20230725_0718_085_FB6 Wood Pigeon landing on Meadow Post backlit by morning sunshine.jpg
Description: The early morning sun backlights this Wood Pigeon and makes the
mass of Teasel heads positively glow.
View: D01_20230726_0642_131_FB6 Wood Pigeon landing on Meadow Post backlit by morning sunshine.jpg
Description: Half an hour earlier the next day the Teasels are still in shade, and the
wind is now Easterly (towards the camera) so we get a rather different image.
View: DF3_20230707_1618_042 Pigeon Egg very neatly opened.jpg
Description: We find dozens of 'opened' Wood Pigeon eggs around the sites, but they are
usually partly chipped open and then broken open by the incumbents exit.
When you think about the balled up chick opening the egg its amazing that
the chips accurate arrived back at the starting point.
Date: 14 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230721_0711_153-163 Hare running down Farm Road grass verge (approx montage @7fps alternate frames).jpg
Description: Accurate positioned alternate frames from this Hare's 'run-by'
So this sequence covers about 1.5 seconds.
View: BUA_20230725_0632_094_SC8 Hare running towards east hedge gap with front leg behind rear.jpg
Description: A Hare 'caught' in an amazing position with 3 legs on the ground, but
the one front leg behind the rear legs.
View: BU8_20230725_2024_074+075 Hare standing vertical (grass near Duck Pond) (montage moved for overlap).jpg
Description: On the grass by the Duck Pond the trail cam catches this moment of a Hare
rearing upwards. The interval between the images is probably 2 or 3 seconds -
much longer than the moment we photographed a few days earlier (Shown on 11 Sep 2023)
Date: 13 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230720_1248_050 Buzzard makes complete circle in Thermal @7fps every 5 frame 06 of 19 (crop).jpg
Description: Here we have a Buzzard spiralling across the sky.
View: DF3_20230720_1248_055-115 Buzzard makes complete circle in Thermal @7fps every 5 frames 07(top)-19 of 19 (montage).jpg
Description: The real size of the circles is many times as big as this, but a spiral of 'brown dots' is
not very satisfying. So here we offer an 'impression' made from a genuine sequence
from an original over 100 frames.
Date: 12 Sep 2023
View: BU7_20230720_1347_006 Grey Squirrel walking down tree trunk with seed head in mouth as another climbs.jpg
Description: The centre Grey Squirrel is 'walking' down the tree trunk by
turning round his rear claws - a wonderfully evolved trick.
They seems to have collected a seed head they are carrying in their mouth.
At the left another is climbing upward - there is food to be had!
NOT a montage.
View: E60_20230717_1647_013+018+1648_025_FB3 Grey Squirrel grooming on Bird Table (montage).jpg
Description: "Hunt the Flea?"
View: E64_20230723_1931_040_FB2 Green Squirrel with head of wheat crop from 30m away.jpg
Description: 100 acres of ripe corn around us keeps many of the wild omnivores well fed.
Even after harvest they will be able to find dropped seeds for weeks.
Date: 11 Sep 2023
View: D71_20230717_0709_043+049 2 Hares chasing about off and on Farm Road (accurate montage over about 1 second).jpg
Description: A pair of Hares, more interested in each other than humans about 100m away down the Farm Road,
were having a little low-key chase - two on the right and the same pair on the left about a
second later. You have to keep really still not to frighten them away.
View: D71_20230717_0709_082-087 Hare off edge of Farm Road suddenly rears upwards 1-6 of 7 (montage @8fps).jpg
Description: One of the Hares stayed well back, while the other approached along the edge
of the Farm Road, suddenly reaching upwards before dropping down again.
All over in less than 1 second.
View: D71_20230717_0709_083-085 Hare off edge of Farm Road suddenly rears upwards 2-4 of 7 (montage @8fps).jpg
View: D71_20230717_0711_110 Hare crouching on Farm Road with another in distance.jpg
Description: The nearby Hare then wandered back down the concrete road.
Here is a moment when you can again see both of them.
If you follow Japanese Anime from studio Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli you
may know of director Kondo Yoshifumi's sweet film 'Whisper of the Heart' where a
rendering of 'Country Road' as a humorous 'Concrete Road' has a special resonance.
Date: 10 Sep 2023
View: D72_20230715_1249_026 Red Admiral Butterfly feeding from Blackberry flower.jpg
Description: A Red Admiral, here NOT showing their vivid top of wing colours,
has their proboscis deep into the nectary of this blackberry flower
View: DF3_20230717_1322_009 Red Admiral Butterfly feeding on Purple Loosestrife in main pond (crop + insert).jpg
Description: A Red Admiral Butterfly tucking into the nectar from a Purple Loosestrife flower
growing in a patch in the main pond. The insert shows their figure-of-eight
proboscis tucking into the flower.
View: DF3_20230718_1028_072 Red Admiral Butterfly hanging from grass stem.jpg
Description: Another Red Admiral Butterfly, this time hanging from a grass stem.
The Proboscis is rolled up and hidden away.
Date: 09 Sep 2023
View: D01_20230714_0947_101+0948_104+1018_114_FB6 Green Woodpecker male visits to Meadow Post (montage).jpg
Description: Green Woodpeckers are active birds, flying about looking for their small invertebrates.
They most like ants, but unfortunately we don't have any suitable to auto-photograph.
And Green woodpecker flee at the first hint of a human.
View: E6A_20230714_1031_044_FB5 Green Woodpecker male juvenile + adult male at Meadow site.jpg
Description: Here we catch the adult male Green Woodpecker (right) with a juvenile male -
undoubtedly 'his' youngster.
View: D01_20230716_0643_335_FB6 Green Woodpecker adult male (left) with juvenile male.jpg
Description: 2 days later probably the same adult and juvenile male Green Woodpecker are sharing the meadow post.
Date: 08 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230713_1352_006 Gatekeeper Butterfly on leaf with shadow of antennae on leaf below.jpg
Description: The Gatekeeper Butterfly is smaller than the larger Red Admiral (lots of these this year)
and Peacock (only one seen this year on 18July2023).
Their antennae are shadowed on the leaf below.
View: D72_20230715_1116_012 Gatekeeper Butterfly pair mating on grass leaf (crop).jpg
Description: A couple of days later this pair of Gatekeeper Butterflies are mating on a grass blade.
View: DF3_20230719_1430_175 Brimstone Butterfly female on newly flowering Teasel.jpg
Description: Both male and female Brimstone Butterflies are on the wing.
This female is on a newly flowering Teasel head.
The first Teasel flowers appear as a ring near the 'equator'. Then the ring splits
into 2 rings that 'move' upwards and downwards to reach the 'poles'.
Date: 07 Sep 2023
View: BU8_20230707_2236_120+121+2237_127+135 Muntjac Reeves Deer female enters Duck Pond to drink (approx montage).jpg
Description: This female Reeves' Muntjac Deer has to walk right down into the duck pond
to reach the water for a drink.
View: D72_20230705_0813_015 Moth caught in surface tension makes ripple pattern before rescue.jpg
Description: Ponds are an important feature of our wildlife sanctuary, but inevitably there are misfortunes
with the water. This incredibly symmetrical rings of ripples in the Round Pond turned out to
be a poor little moth struggling to get free of the water. Freeing him with a long piece of
fallen branch was a most frustrating endeavour, eventually accomplished.
Date: 06 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230712_0809_008-0810_038 Hare runs across south grass margin up onto Farm Road @7fps 08-38 of 38 (impression montage).jpg
Description: We hadn't spotted this Hare before they took exception to our approach and set
off in the not particularly panicked run away across the hedge margin and up onto
the Farm Road. They paused by the tree before setting off again for the concrete road.
Date: 05 Sep 2023
View: D01_20230711_1758_126_FB6 Sparrowhawk female or juvenile on meadow post in rain 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: For the first time in 4 months we get a good sighting of a Sparrowhawk.
This is a female or well a developed juvenile, out in the rain on the Meadow Post.
View: D01_20230708_1552_200-1554_204_FB6 Magpie adult brings food to juvenile on Meadow Post for 3 min visit 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: On the left of each pair of magpies is an adult, first bringing some food for the
youngster on the right, and then staying for a rest.
Yes - the youngster looks plumper than the adult, as we have seen every year!
Date: 04 Sep 2023
View: D01_20230711_1046_090_FB6 Green Woodpecker male landing on Meadow post with disheveled feathers.jpg
Description: It is clear that we have regular visits from a family of Green Woodpeckers - Mum, Dad
and now at least one sprog.
Here is the male landing in an extremely poor state - probably still wet from a bath.
View: d01_20230711_1214_095_fb6 Green Woodpecker male on Meadow post joined by juvenile below 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: Here we see the male at the top, with a juvenile clambering up the post.
View: D01_20230711_1224_098-1226_102_FB6 Green Woodpecker male 3 minute visit to Meadow Post (montage).jpg
Description: Dad Green Woodpecker on the post top ...
View: D01_20230711_1232_104-1235_110_FB6 Green Woodpecker juvenile 4 minute visit to Meadow Post (montage).jpg
Description: .. and a few minutes later the young Green Woodpecker takes over the position.
Date: 03 Sep 2023
View: BUA_20230708_2040_142+2041_145+147_SC8 Hare inside East hedge gap at twilight 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Lots of activity takes place in the hours of darkness
On the evening of the same day we first see this lovely Hare inside our east hedge
just as it is getting dark.
View: BUA_20230708_2103_156_SC8 Fox looking back at east entrance.jpg
Description: Lots of activity takes place in the hours of darkness
This fox is probably looking back at another fox we witnessed following them a few minutes earlier.
View: BU2_20230708_2107_197_SC7 Badger on Round Mound ar dusk.jpg
Description: Lots of activity takes place in the hours of darkness
Quite a lot of Badgers pass through the site even in winter, but the pics
are normally so poor that we don't keep them.
But this one took our fancy as much clearer than usual.
Date: 02 Sep 2023
View: DF3_20230707_0827_019 Small Skipper Butterfly female perched on grass seed head.jpg
Description: A female Small Skipper Butterfly perched delicately on the delicate grass seed head.
View: D72_20230711_1621_036 Comma Butterfly on leaf on Duck Pond island.jpg
Description: Comma Butterfly, named for the white mark on the bottom of the wings that
you only see when the wings are closed, can be seen all over the sunny areas.
View: DF3_20230712_1730_052 Comma Butterfly on teasel stem.jpg
View: DF3_20230712_1731_054 Comma Butterfly on almost hidden nettle leaves.jpg
Description: Here we rather like the contrast of the scalloped edges of both Butterfly and plant leaf.
Date: 01 Sep 2023
View: D01_20230706_0927_028-0940_052_FB6 Green Woodpecker male preening on meadow post for 14 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: The male Green Woodpecker arrives on the Meadow post looking appallingly dishevelled,
probably fresh from a bath somewhere. 15 minutes later, as good as he will get during
his moult, he looks much more like his old self.
View: D01_20230706_1024_057_FB6 Green Woodpecker adult + juvenile together on Meadow Post 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: An hour later we delightfully see parent (back to camera - sex uncertain) and juvenile
Green Woodpeckers together on the meadow post.
We have been so hoping to see a successful nesting - wherever they chose to nest.
View: D01_20230707_0700_114_FB6 Green Woodpecker juvenile on Meadow Post (crop).jpg
Description: Next morning, with the sun originally flaring out the camera, we see just a juvenile
Green Woodpecker on their own, the sun outlining head and shoulders.
Image Archive arch 2023 aug.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Aug 2023
View: E6A_20230703_2004_181_FB5 Green Woodpecker female looking upwards at Meadow Site.jpg
Description: A female Green Woodpecker stands at the log at the Meadow site and gazes upwards.
View: D01_20230704_1236_144+1239_146+1245_150_FB6 Green Woodpecker male visits to meadow post (montage over 10 minutes).jpg
Description: Green Woodpeckers seem to be very active when on the top of the Meadow Post.
View: D01_20230704_1335_160+1441_164+1444_166_FB6 Green Woodpecker male + female + Great Spotted juvenile (montage).jpg
Description: A little size comparison exercise. Green Woodpeckers are quite a bit bigger than the
more common (in general - just not this year here) Great Spotted
Woodpecker.
Left to Right:- Male Green, Female Green, Juvenile Great Spotted (which is a similar size to the adult).
View: D01_20230705_1508_203+1509_206_FB6 Green Woodpecker male on Meadow Post (montage 1 minute apart).jpg
Description: Two rather different aspects of the same male Green Woodpecker.
Date: 30 Aug 2023
View: BU5_20230702_1518_027+1519_028+035_SC1 Muntjac Reeves Deer male browsing at edge of Round Pond (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The male Reeves' Muntjac Deer with antlers in velvet spend a few minutes
foraging by the now much water-depleted Round Pond.
View: BU8_20230702_1541_017+021+1544_023 Muntjac Reeves Deer male pauses at Duck Pond for a drink (accurate montage).jpg
Description: 20 minutes later the Deer has arrived at the Duck Pond where he walks down the
bank for a drink. This pond doesn't leak but evaporation takes it's toll.
It is topped up by water pumped from a water-butt with a catchment area
about a third of the roof, but we will need a long wet period to really raise the level.
Date: 29 Aug 2023
View: D01_20230628_0918_338_FB6 Green Woodpecker male perched on side of Meadow Post.jpg
Description: The fluffed up male Green Woodpecker is using his tail as a 'third leg'
View: D01_20230702_0937_004+_0924_002_FB6 Green Woodpecker male visits to Meadow Post (montage over 13 minutes).jpg
Description: A male Green Woodpecker on the meadow post.
Probably 2 different visits 15 minutes apart (right then left).
Date: 28 Aug 2023
View: DF3_20230703_0708_066-0715_114 Hare grooming on edge of Farm Road for 8 minutes 1-6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: The Hare then set about an 8 minute long wash-and-brush-up session.
View: DF3_20230703_0713_091 Hare grooming on edge of Farm Road for 8 minutes.jpg
Description: Another moment from the 8 minute groom
View: DF3_20230703_0716_125+126+128+130+133 Hare running across Farm Road @7fps (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Finally deciding to depart, the hare lolloped across the concrete towards the
grass outside our east hedge.
View: DF3_20230703_0717_140 Hare against our east hedge.jpg
Description: The Hare decided to go through the hedge into our patch, but surprisingly reappeared
at the same place, only to scamper away, mostly hidden by the uncut grass, to
vanish around the North East corner into the crop or a 'proper' entrance to our
patch.
Young hares can undoubtedly walk straight through uncut pig-net, and this
hare may remember when it didn't matter where you walked through!
Date: 27 Aug 2023
View: DF3_20230703_0708_021 Hare sitting on Farm Road with speed limit sign.jpg
Description: An early Monday morning walk came across this Hare standing on
the Farm Road aligned with a 10 mph speed limit sign.
We stopped still to watch from about 50 metres away.
View: DF3_20230703_0708_032+035+038+040 Hare running towards camera (approx montage @7fps).jpg
Description: The Hare left the concrete road and started an amble towards the camera ...
View: DF3_20230703_0708_040+043+050+052+055 Hare running towards camera (impression montage).jpg
Description: ... this montage continuing with a repeat of the same image Right and here left.
View: DF3_20230703_0708_058+063 Hare stepping up onto Farm Road (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The land by the Farm Road has shrunk so that the step up is now about 30cm (a foot) high.
Date: 26 Aug 2023
View: DF3_20230629_1544_059 Rose of Sharon flower fully open.jpg
Description: A reliable patch of Rose of Sharon appears again this year.
We love the generous sized (perhaps 8cm across) and busily
stamened flowers.
View: DF3_20230702_1219_010 Convolvulus white flowers (1st of 2023) with Marmalade Hover-fly.jpg
Description: White Convolvulus flower appear each year along one side of the east-west
path across the centre of the meadow. This photo also caught a Marmalade Hover-fly
making the most of the nectar.
View: DF3_20230702_1220_016 Ragwort flowers (1st of 2023).jpg
Description: Patches of Ragwort pop up at random over the meadow.
We expect the Cinnabar Caterpillars to soon appear, and then
the vivid red and black moths that emerge.
Date: 25 Aug 2023
View: DF3_20230703_0718_181+0719_185 Grey Squirrel (small youngster) eats Wheat seeds under Lombard Poplar 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: A few times we have come across this distinctly under-sized Grey squirrel at the
base of a young Lombardy Poplar. Here they are systematically stripping unripe
Wheat heads of their seeds The Squirrel left as we walked down the concrete
track, and the insert shows the remains of their efforts.
View: DF3_20230703_0718_181 Grey Squirrel (small youngster) eats Wheat seeds at base of Lombard Poplar 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
View: E63_20230628_1639_037_FB1 2 Grey Squirrel juveniles.jpg
Description: These two young Grey Squirrels already have one food supply sorted - always check this hedge bottom.
View: DF3_20230629_0939_009 Grey Squirrel sprawled in tree branch in south hedge.jpg
Description: An adult Grey Squirrel spread-eagled on a sunny branch in the south hedge couldn't
care less about the 2 humans 10 metres away. "This is the life!".
If this is a 'mum' squirrel, we completely understand her point of view.
Date: 24 Aug 2023
View: DF3_20230627_0954_019-034 Red Kite gliding overhead (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: This Red Kite glided lazily overhead.
These 16 images are accurately montaged at about 7 frames per second,
so about 2 and a half seconds of flight.
View: DF3_20230627_0954_025-027 Red Kite gliding overhead (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A detail from the centre of the above.
Date: 23 Aug 2023
View: DF3_20230625_1251_222-224 Emperor Dragonfly female in flight (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: This is our first sighting of an Emperor Dragonfly for 3 years.
Positioning is accurate at about 7 fps.
View: DF3_20230625_1251_223 Emperor Dragonfly female in flight 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: The middle pic in the montage at a more easily identifiable scale.
View: D71_20230625_1611_071-075 Brown Hawker Dragonfly in flight @8fps (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Brown Hawker Dragonfly veering upwards to avoid the cap wearer
This camera-lens pairing is a little faster at 8 fps.
The black at the bottom left isn't a privacy thing - following the insect just didn't
catch the cap-wearers head!
View: D71_20230625_1613_181 Brown Hawker Dragonfly female - 1st of 2023 (ID only).jpg
Description: Brown Hawker Dragonflies really live up to their name - brown bodies and brown wings
really do look 'brown' in flight even at a glimpse.
Date: 22 Aug 2023
View: D01_20230623_1835_115+1837_120_FB6 Green Woodpecker female landing on Meadow Post & later preening (montage).jpg
Description: We have both male and female Green Woodpeckers visiting the Meadow Post.
This is the female with a black stripe under her eye.
View: D01_20230624_0911_156+0933_158_FB6 Green Woodpecker male (left) and female (montage 22 minutes apart).jpg
Description: This is the male with Red outlined with black under the eye.
View: D01_20230624_1324_171+172_FB6 Green Woodpecker female lands on meadow Post and starts calling 1+2 of 2 (montage over 500mS).jpg
Description: Here the female landed and within half a second was already calling.
View: D01_20230624_1324_171_FB6 Green Woodpecker female lands on meadow Post and immediately calls 1+2 of 2 (animation).gif
Description: The above pair of images were recorded about half a second apart and
we couldn't resist making this silly animated GIF to show the effect.
Date: 21 Aug 2023
View: BUA_20230624_0726_132_SC8 Hare near East hedge gap biting top of weed 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: This Hare just inside the East hedge gap seems to be biting off the leafy part
of this solo weed on the otherwise barren ground.
View: DF3_20230626_1619_007-010 Hare jumping from south grass border onto Farm Road (slightly stretched montage @7fps).jpg
Description: This Hare about 100m away from us across the south margin decides to depart
and gave a nice little illustration of 'high jump' as they left.
Date: 20 Aug 2023
View: BU7_20230623_1701_020 Fox near south hedge gap early evening.jpg
Description: An adult Fox near the south hedge gap, very much on the hunt.
View: E63_20230626_0036_332_FB1 Fox adult at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: Three days later the same or another adult Fox inspects the leavings at
the hedge bottom site.
Date: 19 Aug 2023
View: E60_20230622_1743_017_FB3 Wood Pigeon pair watching something.jpg
Description: "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
View: E6A_20230627_1621_167_FB5 3 Wood Pigeons at Meadow site.jpg
Description: 3 immaculate Wood Pigeons check over the Meadow feeding site.
Date: 18 Aug 2023
View: D72_20230619_1218_013 Oxeye Daisies covering about 20 sq m east of Meadow photo site (orig & final).jpg
Description: This year we have two major patches of Oxeye daisies - this one by the
Meadow camera (far end in this pic) and another near the north edge of the meadow.
View: DF3_20230622_1015_010 Thistle in bud and flower on same stem.jpg
Description: The wonderful intricacies of a Thistle Flower-head.
View: DF3_20230625_1237_079 Blackberry blossom with pink petals.jpg
Description: The Blackberry plants are all starting to flower.
Flower petals range from white to the deep pink we see here.
Date: 17 Aug 2023
View: E63_20230621_0913_096+0916_097_FB1 Grey Squirrel picks up Fir Cone and start to eat it (montage).jpg
Description: This Fir Cone appeared a few days earlier, and finally this Grey Squirrel has
decided that it is worth the trouble to rip apart for the seeds within.
View: PK1_20230621_0947_954+968+956 Grey Squirrel repeated dozes in warm sunshine on kitchen bird table (montage).jpg
Description: The hot sun beats down on the bird table in the summer months.
This Squirrel spent at least 10 minutes hanging over the bird table soaking
in the warmth and falling in and out of a drowse.
View: PK1_20230621_1629_025 5 Great Tit juveniles on Kitchen Peanut feeder.jpg
Description: From not having seen any Great Tits for months, we now have at least 5
Great Tit youngsters feeding around the Kitchen Window.
Where's the fifth? Just the tail appears below.
Date: 16 Aug 2023
View: D01_20230618_0909_240+0911_242_FB6 Green Woodpecker female on side of Meadow Post 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: Both female and male Green Woodpeckers are visiting the site - most usually caught on
camera on the Meadow Post. This is the female - no red stripe under the eye.
View: D01_20230619_0601_362+0602_363_FB6 Green Woodpecker male on side of Meadow Post (montage).jpg
Description: Here the male Green Woodpecker with red stripe under the eye.
View: D01_20230617_0850_157+0939_161_FB6 Green Woodpecker male & Blackbird male size comparison (montage).jpg
Description: Giving an indication impression of the actual size of creatures in photographs is something
that doesn't seem to have been solved.
Here are a Green Woodpecker and a Blackbird at the same scale.
Date: 15 Aug 2023
View: BU8_20230618_0903_151+153+0905_154-155 Fox stops at Duck Pond for a drink (approx montage).jpg
Description: An adult Fox stops by the Duck Pond for a drink.
The image nearest the centre looks particularly fierce.
View: BU5_20230619_2247_041_SC1+BU8_20230619_2249_043 Fox at Round Pond seen with prey item at Duck Pond 2 mins later (montage).jpg
Description: Two trail cameras catch a Fox time-stamped 2 minutes apart (we try to keep them
accurate to a minute) we have to assume that between a visit to the Round Pond (left)
and passing the Duck Pond the Fox captured an unwary bird, from it's size we
guess a Rook or Jackdaw.
View: BUA_20230621_2201_157_SC8 Fox staring at trail camera.jpg
Description: A pristine fox, we think a growing cub from our first earth,
stares suspiciously at the low-glow infrared lamp.
Date: 14 Aug 2023
View: BU7_20230616_2042_030-2122_034 Roe Deer female enters at south + visits ponds + exits at south (montage over 40m).jpg
Description: This female Roe Deer spent about 40 minutes wandering around the site before exiting
at the same point she arrived
View: BU5_20230617_0445_145-0455_052_SC1 Road Deer female visits Round + Duck Ponds + Orchard + tree at south (montage over 10m).jpg
Description: After midnight on the same night we see the female Roe Deer for 10 minutes.
The final shot looks amazingly similar to the start of the sequence above - while building
the montage we initially thought we had made a mistake - but it is a genuine second moment.
View: BU3_20230617_0507_063_SC6 Roe Deer female exits hedge onto access track.jpg
Description: 20 minutes later the female Roe Deer is on the concrete access track exiting the hedge at
the left. There is an animal-worn trail through the hedge here, but the barbed wire
and Pig-net fence may be passable for smaller creatures but not for a Roe deer without the space
to make a running leap. So she has probably entered the ditch out of sight of the camera,
and chosen to cross back to the track at this conveniently sparse point.
Date: 13 Aug 2023
View: DA1_20230616_1319_065+20230614_1526_044_FT1 Meadow Brown Butterfly in flight with Red Campion (montage).jpg
Description: A second day photographing flying insects starts with this Meadow Brown Butterfly.
View: DA1_20230617_1349_180+1435_430_FT1 Eyed Hawk-moth perched on box with eye-spots hidden and then exposed (montage).jpg
Description: Our 'won't fly for us' Poplar Hawk Moths have been supplemented by 2 or 3 Eyed Hawk-moths.
Here you see the trick appearance of the 'eyes' used to frighten off an attacker.
View: DA1_20230617_1359_236+1433_401_FT1 Eyed Hawk-moth in flight - both sides of eye spots (montage in inverted & normal flight.jpg
Description: The Eyed Hawk-moth was a bit reluctant to fly for us, but we got a few
frames which actually had a moth in them.
Here is a montage of two flights, the right image shows the underside of the moth,
and the left the top of the moth (with the eyes) because the moth is flying inverted.
View: DA1_20230617_1413_301+300_FT1 Small Elephant Hawk-moth in 2 flights (montage).jpg
Description: The catch also included a few Small Elephant Hawk-moths.
Here is a montage of this colourful not-so-little delight.
Date: 12 Aug 2023
View: DA1_20230615_1408_164+1331_044_FT1 Burnished Brass Moth with Blackberry buds (montage).jpg
Description: The Burnished Brass Moth has patches of iridescent scales that really do shine
brightly when the light and viewer angles are appropriate. Here we got lucky in-flight.
View: DA1_20230615_1410_176+1331_046_FT1 Burnished Brass Moth in inverted flight with Blackberry leaf (montage).jpg
Description: Here the Burnished Brass Moth is flying upside down - we often see images
of insects flying inverted.
To small insects the viscosity of air must be a bit like Humans in water -
the sense of up and down becomes blurred.
View: D71_20230616_0730_011 Burnished Brass Moth in box.jpg
Description: Here is a Burnished Brass Moth sitting quietly in the standard insect 'Pill-box'
The camera was angled to catch the 'brass' iridescence at its maximum, but
without any 'photo fiddling'.
View: D71_20230616_0731_013 Burnished Brass Moth on ground detritus.jpg
Description: Upon release the Burnished Brass Moth chose a bit of stem
lying of the ground. Here the shiny areas are just a dull green,
the same appearance as seen in many ID books.
Why would anybody call it 'Burnished Brass'?
Date: 11 Aug 2023
View: DA1_20230615_1350_110+1352_119+1518+329_FT1 Scorched Wind Moth two flights with Cranesbill (montage).jpg
Description: The Moth trap catch this time was something between 200 and 300 moths - a more
typical number than the thousand or so a few days earlier.
This is a Scorched Wing Moth caught in two moments of flight.
View: DA1_20230615_1355_127_FT1 Brimstone Moth with Field Mouse-ear Chickweed (montage).jpg
Description: A Brimstone MOTH - in its own way just as beautiful as it's namesake Butterfly.
View: DA1_20230615_1430_218+1433_239+1517_321_FT1 Peppered Moth in flight with Grass seed head (montage.jpg
Description: The Peppered Moth (on the large side for 'ordinary' moths) has this wonderful
intricate pattern of black spots on white background.
View: D71_20230615_1451_002 Peppered Moth chooses withered blackberry leaf to hide after release (crop 1).jpg
Description: After we released one of the Peppered moths he chose a desiccated Blackberry leaf
to hide on. The camouflage really works rather well.
Date: 10 Aug 2023
View: DA1_20230615_1304_008_FT1 Banded Demoiselle Damselfly male in Flight (crop).jpg
Description: After the finish of the Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies season we didn't expect to see any
Banded Demoiselles, but unexpectedly came across the single individual male.
He obliged with several elegant flights across our little photo-stage for us
before we put him back where we found him.
View: DA1_20230615_1305_010+1306_013+016_FT1 Banded Demoiselle Damselfly male in Flight (montage).jpg
Description: 3 moments of flight constructed into an attractive montage.
Date: 09 Aug 2023
View: DA1_20230614_1521_039+1526_049_FT1 Speckled Wood Butterfly in flight with Red Campion Flower (montage).jpg
Description: This Spring's dearth of Butterflies since the glut of Orange-tip Butterflies is rather alarming.
The only butterfly we see in more than one per hour is the Speckled Wood.
Here are a couple of photos taken in our refurbished insects-in-flight camera kit
View: DA1_20230614_1526_043+1526_043_FT1 Speckled Wood Butterfly with Red Campion flowers (montage).jpg
Date: 08 Aug 2023
View: E63_20230613_1747_188_FB1 Grey Squirrel youngster chasing off (probably) Rook.jpg
Description: A young Grey Squirrel already practising leaping at some corvid just out of frame.
View: E63_20230613_1907_208_FB1 2 Grey Squirrel youngsters at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: And its not just one - here we have Double Trouble.
View: E64_20230613_1757_061+1822_069_FB2 Pheasant male (1st recent sighting) + attack by Grey Squirrel 25m later (montage).jpg
Description: After months of absence a male Pheasant returns.
It doesn't take long for a Grey Squirrel to attack.
Date: 07 Aug 2023
View: E6A_20230613_1639_053_FB5 Rook juvenile begging from parent (crop 3).jpg
Description: This young Rook makes it very clear to the rather depressed looking parent
that it wants F O O D !
Date: 06 Aug 2023
View: E60_20230612_0940_010+014+015+0943_034_FB3 Great Spotted Woodpecker juvenile on Kitchen perch (stretched montage).jpg
Description: We don't know where they nested, but a family (well so far one youngster and
'Dad) of Great Spotted Woodpeckers has appeared. This juvenile spent several
minutes at the kitchen perch and bird-table making so many moves that we used
separate cameras to try to catch the action.
This first is the automatic camera at the kitchen window being manually fired ...
View: PK1_20230612_0941_750+758+0942_786+807 Great Spotted Woodpecker juvenile on Kitchen bird table (montage).jpg
Description: ... and this the Kitchen 'grab camera.
View: D01_20230612_1008_021_FB6 Great Spotted Woodpecker male lands on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: Here, within 20 minutes, is most probably Dad on the Meadow post some 30 metres away.
Date: 05 Aug 2023
View: DF3_20230608_1036_010 Field Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium arvense) flowers (crop 1).jpg
Description: Chickweed is just a 'weed'.
But that doesn't mean it can't have beautiful flowers.
View: DF3_20230608_1036_010 Field Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium arvense) flower (crop 2).jpg
View: DF3_20230608_1036_014 Fox-and-Cubs (Pilosella autantiaca) head of flowers.jpg
Description: The Fox-and-Cubs are now starting their flowering in earnest.
Gorgeous little blobs of sunshine.
View: DF3_20230610_0932_106 Dog Roses - left fresh & right sun bleached.jpg
Description: This pair of Dog Roses on the same branch show very different conditions -
one freshly open and the other sun-bleached. We think that the lack of fertilising
insects means the flowers stay open for longer, giving the UV from the sun time to
do it's damage.
Date: 04 Aug 2023
View: E64_20230607_2258_183_FB2 Fox Cub hunting at woodland site (crop).jpg
Description: An hour after dark - what's for 'breakfast'.
The naming of meals for nocturnal animals / night-working humans seems to quite a muddle!
View: SP1_20230612_2053_608_SP1 Fox adult hunting behind main pond - still except head for at least 9 seconds.jpg
Description: A new Trail Cam at the back of the main pond catches this Fox on the hunt
as darkness descends
View: E64_20230614_0336_114_FB2 Fox Cub at woodland site.jpg
Description: One of the Fox Cubs alone at the Woodland site.
Date: 03 Aug 2023
View: P10_20230611_0724_486 Poplar Hawk Moth perched on human hand face to camera (crop).jpg
Description: Poplar hawk moths are big and take a while to warm up for flight, providing
a chance to get this portrait 'in the hand' 'on the thumb'.
View: P10_20230611_0727_495+498 Small Elephant Hawk Moth + Elephant Hawk Moth (montage).jpg
Description: These two pink apparitions are respectively a Small Elephant Hawk-moth (big by
average moth standards) and the 'normal (bigger)' Elephant Hawk-moth.
Although they share the same strange mix of drab green and purple pink their
markings are distinct.
We wanted to know whether these two species were separately evolved (convergent evolution)
or one evolved from the other. A hopeful paper at
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9021678/
contains lots of detail, but without technical background in genomics
the various charts don't divulge much. There is no 'summary' to help.
If any expert finds this and can help, we would be delighted to
update this entry.
Date: 02 Aug 2023
View: D72_20230602_1300_025 Woodland Canopy from edge of Meadow (orig & final).jpg
Description: Trying to get a pic of the Caterpillar damage caught this pic of one of the more
open areas of leaf canopy that just catches our fancy.
View: DF3_20230528_0826_356 Morning sunlight streaming into woodland (orig & final).jpg
Description: Morning light streams about 50 metres into the woodland.
View: BUA_20230613_0834_030_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer male at east hedge shaded from morning sunlight.jpg
Description: What's going to happen on this new day?
Date: 01 Aug 2023
View: D01_20230607_1015_150-1025_191_FB6 Green Woodpecker male spends 12 minutes on Meadow Post 01-04+06-07 of 15 (montage).jpg
Description: First glimpsed probing soil in a recently mowed grass path, the male Green
Woodpecker spent several minutes on the top of the Meadow Post. Spotting him on
the CCTV caused a stampede to the room with the camera covering this post to
fire off lots more pics (well over 100) of this event. Here are an assortment of
pics taken in the 12 minutes of the birds vigorous activity.
View: D01_20230607_1025_192_FB6 Green Woodpecker male spends 12 minutes on Meadow Post 08 of 15 (crop).jpg
View: D01_20230607_1025_198-1027_247_FB6 Green Woodpecker male spends 12 minutes on Meadow Post 09-11+13-15 of 15 (montage).jpg
Image Archive arch 2023 jul.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Jul 2023
View: BU7_20230604_0716_173 Roe Deer male in dappled sunlight with grass stem hanging from antlers (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: This male Roe Deer makes a majestic entry at the south hedge gap.
We are not impressed by his 'choice' of necklace.
View: DF5_20230606_0618_002 Muntjac Reeves Deer male at front of main Pond.jpg
Description: Breakfast was enhanced on this morning by the male Reeves' Muntjac Deer
having his 'breakfast' along the edge of the main pond viewed from the kitchen.
View: D71_20230605_1308_010 Toad found in vegetable bed released on bank of Duck Pond.jpg
Description: At a different scale, work in the vegetable bed came to an instant halt on
discovering this Toad under a weed. We released it onto the bank of Duck pond.
It could have stayed in the long grass, but chose to dive into the water.
Date: 30 Jul 2023
View: E63_20230604_1838_378+2332_385_FB1 Fox Cub visits in evening light (left) and darkness (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The highly photogenic Fox Cubs photographed themselves at least 30 times over
4 days. Here is an assortment
View: E64_20230604_2108_258+20230603_0300_134+20230604_2110_259_FB2 Fox Cub visits to Woodland site (montage).jpg
Description: A montage - whether the same or different cubs is hard to judge.
View: BU7_20230604_2211_202+204 Fox enters south hedge with 2 Cubs - one of which runs off to right (montage).jpg
Description: Foxes following an adult suggests that this is the 'new' fox family.
Mum or Dad has entered through the hedge gap showing 3 pairs of glowing eyes.
After crossing the ditch the adult stopped along with one of the cubs, while
another Cub goes dashing off to the right.
View: E63_20230605_1816_087+20230607_2219_229_FB1 Fox Cubs showing day (left) & night eye irises 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: This montage of Fox cub visits in evening light (18:15 - left) and early night
time (22:20 - right) gives us a good look at the Foxes Iris changing to suit
the lighting - vertical slit while light and wide open circle in the dark
Date: 29 Jul 2023
View: D72_20230602_1301_036 Stems of Dock flowers (crop 2).jpg
Description: Dock plants (to most people just weeds!) don't get much appreciation.
Their thin flower spikes include hundreds of tiny florets
View: DF3_20230603_1344_015 Bee feeding on Oxeye Daisy flower head (crop 2).jpg
Description: The Oxeye Daisies are starting to flower, and along come a few insects to feast.
What appears to be a Bee is in fact a hoverfly - an Eristalis.
Oxeye daisy flowers are actually a multiple flower head - the yellow section
containing hundred of tiny flowers, while the white petals are another form of
flower, the whole assembly making a visually attractive magnet for insects.
View: DF3_20230603_1345_016 Greenbottle Blowfly feeding on Oxeye daisy flower head (crop 2).jpg
Description: This appears to be a Greenbottle enjoying a similar Oxeye Daisy flower.
View: D72_20230602_1547_061 Wasp Beetle about 15mm body (Clytus arietis).jpg
Description: A new insect for us, lurking on a twig, is a 1.5 cm (half inch) Wasp Beetle.
It is a Wasp Mimic as a form of defence.
Date: 28 Jul 2023
View: D72_20230602_1300_024 Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillar infests whole tree (crop with insert).jpg
Description: The Spindle Ermine Moth infestation this year is not as bad as last year (we estimate
about 30% of last years) , but some of the trees are very badly smothered.
View: D72_20230602_1300_028 Spindle Ermine Moth Caterpillar infestation (ID only).jpg
Description: Illustrating the damage Spindle Ermine Moths do, here is a silky bagful of soon to
leave caterpillar along with half a leaf completely stripped.
Date: 27 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230604_1505_057 Long-tail Tit juvenile in willow tree at Duck Pond.jpg
Description: A family (of we guess 8) of the usually reticent Long-tailed Tits spent several minutes
feeding in the Willow trees at the back of the Duck Pond while we stood still at the front.
The fast moving little birds. and all those willow leaves and twigs, made it difficult to get
a decent pic, but here are a couple of this delightful little bird.
Both of these are 'new' this Spring. The red rim of the eye is normal.
View: DF3_20230604_1509_069 Long-tail Tit juvenile in willow tree at Duck Pond.jpg
Date: 26 Jul 2023
View: E6C_20230530_1653_054_FB4 Chaffinch female with cranefly in beak.jpg
Description: The female Chaffinch has an unfortunate Crane-fly in her beak.
We have thousands of crane-flies - almost anywhere you look you can find one.
View: E63_20230531_0519_138_FB1 Blackbird male at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: We have not seen much of Blackbirds, so its nice to see this male in apparently good condition.
Date: 25 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230528_1333_451 Common Blue Damselfly female blue form perched on leaf.jpg
Description: A female common Blue Damselfly perched in hazy sunshine.
View: DF3_20230521_1751_509 Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly female 4 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: A female Broad-bodied chaser in the evening sunlight gave us a few minutes to enjoy her
- albeit some 4 metres away over impenetrable brambles.
The male has similar body form but the body is powder (literally) blue.
Date: 24 Jul 2023
View: E64_20230527_0014_197+20230526_2353_196_FB2 Fox Cub(s) visits to Woodland site over midnight (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Fox Cub(s) over midnight. Their fur is now turning into the classic Foxy Red and
their faces taking on the fiercer more pointed look of the adult fox.
Taken 20 minutes apart the different tints of the fur suggest that this is two individuals.
View: E63_20230528_0333_157+20230527_2251_247_FB2 Fox cub(s) visits to Woodland site over midnight (montage).jpg
Description: These two Fox Cub visits are 4 hours apart over midnight.
View: E63_20230530_0124_076_FB1 Fox juvenile at hedge bottom (crop 2).jpg
Description: Another Fox cub learning his craft - we wouldn't want to be at the end of that stare.
View: DF3_20230528_1015_362+365+360 Fox adult hunting along back of main pond (montage)jpg.jpg
Description: A glimpse of a brown shape at the back of the pond induces a stampede to an
upper floor window to see this adult fox stalking the back margin of the pond.
We didn't see him catch anything, but he was out of sight before and after these
moments, so may have.
A new Fox family with obviously younger cubs has been glimpsed around the
sites - this adult may be from either family.
Date: 23 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230526_0858_017 Burnet Roses in East hedge (orig & final).jpg
Description: The outside of the East hedge smothered in Burnet Rose flowers.
Downwind of this patch is like walking into a perfume shop!
View: DF3_20230526_0858_021 Burnet Roses in East hedge - flower and stamens detail.jpg
Description: A Burnet Rose flower with petals fallen make an interesting abstract shape.
The stamens are shadowed on the leaf to it's right.
Date: 22 Jul 2023
View: E64_20230523_0553_078_FB2 Moorhen (Vee-beak) turning at Woodland site.jpg
Description: This Moorhen (Vee-beak) is one of the Moorhen we think may have a nest
on Round Pond island. Here they are caught in a rather awkward looking twist
one way while looking the other way.
View: E64_20230524_0556_138_FB2 Moorhen Vee-beak) catches worm at Woodland site 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: Next early morning the same Moorhen has caught and is carrying a worm for a chick.
If the Moorhen was going to eat it themselves it would have gone 'straight-down-the-hatch'
View: DF3_20230524_1248_053 Moorhen chick paddling in Round Pond.jpg
Description: A few of this years first brood of Moorhen chicks are occasionally spotted
at the back of Round pond where is a gently shelving mudbank. The little
chick makes ripples in the water.
View: DF3_20230524_1249_071 Moorhen Chick on North bank of Round Pond with reflection.jpg
Description: A few of this years first brood of Moorhen chicks are occasionally spotted
at the back of Round pond where is a gently shelving mudbank. Keeping
still in the mud allows the still water to catch their reflection.
Date: 21 Jul 2023
View: BU5_20230522_0826_010_SC1 Moorhen adult followed by 5 chicks by Round Pond (crop).jpg
Description: We lost track of the Moorhen family after the second adult joined in to help
the single parent. Here see one adult followed by 5 chicks of about the right age.
View: E64_20230526_2007_190_FB2 Moorhen visits with up to 3 chicks at Meadow Site 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: The 'replacement' adult was feeding 3 of the 8 chicks a week ago, so it is possible
that there are still all extant and that this is the second group.
Date: 20 Jul 2023
View: BU5_20230524_1910_407_SC1 Chinese Water Deer male visits Round Pond poss for a drink.jpg
Description: The occasional sighting of a distant Chinese Water Deer is here supplemented
by this male visiting Round Pond.
View: BU5_20230522_0123_423_SC1 Roe Deer male by edge of Round Pond.jpg
Description: A third male Roe Deer has appeared, and doesn't he look majestic.
Date: 19 Jul 2023
View: D01_20230525_1209_012_FB6 Green Woodpecker male landing on Meadow post.jpg
Description: Green Woodpeckers are back to frequenting the Meadow Post.
This beautiful male lands on the side - tail acting as a third landing 'leg'.
View: D01_20230525_1920_056_FB6 Green Woodpecker female landed on Meadow post.jpg
Description: Here a female Green Woodpecker pays an evening visit.
If they are nesting here we don't know where, but do hope for the
'patter of tiny claws' in the fullness of time.
Date: 18 Jul 2023
View: E64_20230523_0339_074_FB2 Fox Cub hunting at Woodland site.jpg
Description: Another 'sweet' little Fox Cub - learning how to kill to survive.
View: BU7_20230523_2216_076 Fox Cub carrying small prey item towards south hedge gap.jpg
Description: Many hours later this Fox Cub heads for the South hedge gap with a
sizeable looking prey item in the obviously not-so-tiny mouth.
View: E64_20230526_0403_093_FB2 Fox Cub at Woodland site presumably wet from dew-soaked grass.jpg
Description: It hasn't rained here since the coronation (3 weeks), but this
Fox's fur is sodden. No-mow May means that even the grass paths
become dew-drenched each morning.
Date: 17 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230528_0811_278-289 Roe Deer male bounds across Farm Road into crop 11+13+15+17+19+22 of 22 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Concluding the 4 day Saga of the Roe Deer
Here is the second half of his final run across the Farm Road.
View: DF3_20230528_0811_280 Roe Deer male bounds across Farm Road into crop 13 of 22 (crop).jpg
Description: A detail from the above
View: DF3_20230528_0811_297 Roe Deer male checks on photographer from inside farm crop.jpg
Description: The male Roe Deer stuck his head above the crop for a last look - perhaps to
check that we were not chasing him, and he then 'disappeared'.
Date: 16 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230528_0811_268-289 Roe Deer male bounds across Farm Road 01+03+05+07+09+11+13+15+17+19+22 of 22 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Day 3 of the 4 day Saga of the Roe Deer
Having taken a few steps toward us the male Roe Deer obviously decided that
discretion was better than valour, and streaked back to the farm crop to
disappear within. This is the odd-numbered frames at 7 fps, except for skipping
one frame as he slowed.
View: DF3_20230528_0811_268-276 Roe Deer male bounds across Farm Road into crop 01+03+05+07+09 of 22 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Here are bits of the montage in shorter sections (for more detail) and some stills from the even numbered frames.
View: DF3_20230528_0811_277 Roe Deer male bounds across Farm Road into crop 10 of 22 (crop).jpg
Date: 15 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230528_0810_132 Roe Deer male bounding over Farm Road by speed limit sign 7 of 8 (crop).jpg
Description: Day 2 of the 4 day Saga of the Roe Deer
Undeniable evidence: Caught speeding!
View: DF3_20230528_0810_153 Roe Deer male stops to stare at cameraman.jpg
Description: Instead on continuing into the crop, the Male Roe Deer stopped and stared
at us as if he didn't know what to do.
View: DF3_20230528_0810_174-196 Roe Deer male bounding over Farm Road to East Hedge 13+16+18+19 of 19 (slightly stretch montage).jpg
Description: To our surprise he decides to cross back over the Farm Road,
before another session staring at us.
View: DF3_20230528_0811_246 Roe Deer male edges toward cameraman along East hedge 6 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: Even more surprising was that he then started to walk tentatively towards us.
Date: 14 Jul 2023
View: BU8_20230528_0625_153 Roe Deer female followed by male.jpg
Description: Here starts the 4 day Saga of the Roe Deer on Sunday 28 May.
A quiet day sandwiched in before a UK bank holiday, so very little traffic or other
disturbances. Here at about 05:30 (early morning) the trail cam catches a glimpse of a
pair (not a montage) of Roe Deer browsing on the long grass inside our patch
View: DF3_20230528_0810_106+108+110 Roe Deer male trotting towards Farm Road 1+3+5 of 5 (spread montage).jpg
Description: An 8 a.m. walk around the perimeter of our 2 acre 'paradise' surprised us with
seeing the female Roe Deer leap into the crop. Never spotted again & no photo.
But the male appears right by our east hedge (left here) and to set off in the
same direction as the female into the crop over the Farm Road on the right.
View: DF3_20230528_0810_126-133 Roe Deer male bounding over Farm Road by speed limit sign 1+3+5+8 of 8 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: First having to cross the concrete Farm Road.
View: DF3_20230528_0810_126 Roe Deer male bounding over Farm Road by speed limit sign 1 of 8 (crop).jpg
Description: More detail of the image on the left.
When we see such pics we are always amazed that Roe Deer don't get their legs tangled up.
Date: 13 Jul 2023
View: BU7_20230525_1455_012+005 Muntjac Deer male growing new antlers grooming near South hedge gap (montage).jpg
Description: This male Muntjac Deer stops in front of the trail cam for a groom.
His new Antlers are growing apace.
View: BU7_20230525_1501_045 Muntjac Reeves Deer male (behind) and female near South Hedge Gap (crop).jpg
Description: Five minutes after his groom, we catch the male and female Reeves' Muntjac Deer
aligned in a way your couldn't get even if you planned for it.
The female is nearest the camera.
Date: 12 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230521_0832_242-252 Red Kite pursued by Rook who grab a Kite feather 02+04+06+10+12 of 14 (impression montage @7fps).jpg
Description: After a few minutes circling in a weak thermal the Red Kite started to depart.
But the Rooks started to take exception to Kites presence. Most of these in-air
pursuits are more 'threat' than substance, but on this occasion (the first time
close enough to us to see, let alone photograph) the Rook managed to grab one of
the tail feathers of the Red Kite who really obviously took exception and twisted
round to see off the annoyance with his fearsome claws.
We don't have anything static to accurately align the images, so the pairs of bird images are
arranged mainly for clarity and to fit them into a single image by horizontal overlapping.
We have all 14 original frames should anybody be interested.
View: DF3_20230521_0832_245 Red Kite pursued by Rook who grab a Kite feather 05 of 14 (crop).jpg
Description: This image (5 of 14) would fit between the second and third pair of birds in the montage.
View: DF3_20230521_0829_043+045+047 Red Kite gliding 1+3+5 of 5 (approx montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A few minutes earlier the Kite glided by perhaps 50 metres away, underside lit by the morning sun.
View: DF3_20230521_0829_074-078 Red Kite turning in flapping flight 1-5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: Here undisturbed by the 'pesky' Rooks, we see a few moments of powered flapping flight.
Date: 11 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230520_1245_060+1246_064 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female perched on leaf flutter down to lower leaf (montage).jpg
Description: Our now (and hopefully continuing) annual appearance of Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies
(the common name of the species) is underway. Their usual appearance on the sunny
side of the inner hedge near the South east corner is this year limited to just a couple of
insects, but they are also appearing at various sunny patches on warm days.
View: DF3_20230522_1550_013 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly occasionally fluttering wings.jpg
Description: Perched Demoiselle Damselflies normally perch with all four wings
aligned to produce a rather dark effect. This female Beautiful
was repeatedly flicking her wings providing an opportunity to
appreciate the subtle colour of mixed overlaps.
View: DF3_20230522_1552_021+1557_022 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies male (top) + female (montage).jpg
Description: In this montage we see male (top) and female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies.
This is a montage of the two about half a metre apart on the same bush.
Date: 10 Jul 2023
View: D72_20230519_1017_010 May bush in blossom climbing 11kV power pole (orig & final).jpg
Description: Installing utility poles in the centre of hedges is great for avoiding them
cluttering up agricultural fields where they slow down the seemingly endless
series of sprays, but as you see here the tractor flails can't cut right up to
the poles.
Don't despise tractor flails - they are the only practical method of hedge
management open to farmers - a flailed hedge is a lot better than no hedge. Even
a previous eco-friendly owner of the Farm was going to get the hedges hand laid
and cut, but it never happened.
View: DF3_20230522_1526_002 Hawthorn Hedge 200m metres in bloom (crop).jpg
Description: To the north runs a 200 metres long Hawthorn hedge that apparently wasn't cut
at the end of last year. Lovely!
View: D72_20230519_1248_410 May trees in blossom at north of meadow (orig & final).jpg
Description: The Hawthorn blossom has been really spectacular this year.
This mass is growing over our east hedge from a few metres inside.
View: DF3_20230521_0846_372 Field covered in Buttercups far to NW (orig & final).jpg
Description: Over the pastures to the North west, the Buttercups are having a great time!
Date: 09 Jul 2023
View: E64_20230519_0118_052_FB2 Fox Cub at Woodland site (crop 2).jpg
Description: Some of the Fox Cubs seems to have become quite independent, and can be seen
on their own at various sites. Some visit the high resolution sites despite
the camera noise and flash.
View: BU7_20230519_2134_128 Fox Cub follows mother entering at south hedge gap.jpg
Description: As well as Fox cubs on there own, we also see single Cubs following
one of Mum or Dad.
View: DF3_20230521_1048_419+413+410+403 Fox Cub exploring field Margin to South (approx montage).jpg
Description: This sequence is a Fox cub on the crop margin along the north-south hedge to our south.
View: E64_20230522_0255_214_FB2 Fox Cub at Woodland site.jpg
Description: A Fox Cub apparently on his own at the Woodland site.
Date: 08 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230518_1634_043 Blue Tit with 2 grubs in beak about to to feed chick in Main Pond Nest Box.jpg
Description: The 'ugly woodcrete' nestbox on main pond island is successfully housing a
family of Blue Tits. The Blue Tits seem to tolerate us at the edge of the pond
so we can snatch a few pics of the parents industrious activities. Here we see
one of the parents with 2 green 'grubs' ready to be delivered to the box.
View: D72_20230519_1034_171-173 Blue Tit flies to nest box with food for chicks (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: The entrance hole to the Blue Tit box is unintentionally smothered in Hazel tree
leaves, and completely invisible from the house. There is only one viewpoint
where we can snatch a pic of their doings from around the 'back' of the pond.
Fortunately at about 8 metres away we don't seem to bother the busy birds in the
slightest so we can get a little record of the events. First a an accurate
montage of an adults arrival at 8 fps (about .125 Seconds between images)
View: D72_20230519_1240_264 Blue Tit leaving nest box with Fecal Sac.jpg
Description: The parents keep the nest (relatively) clean by taken away Fecal Sacs
that the youngster produce.
View: D72_20230519_1240_279 Blue Tit at nest box hole with grub in beak.jpg
Description: The Next mouthfuls arrives
Date: 07 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230518_1044_022 Brimstone Butterfly male feeds on Red Campion flower.jpg
Description: Red Campion is flowering in many locations.
This pristine male Brimstone Butterfly makes the most of the nectar.
View: D72_20230519_1302_412 Small White Butterfly feeding on Red Campion flower.jpg
Description: Another visitor to Red Campion is this Small White Butterfly.
View: DF3_20230520_1259_089 Green-veined White Butterfly (1st of 2023).jpg
Description: This Green-veined White Butterfly is basking on a leaf.
View: D72_20230519_1302_415+DF3_20230521_1615_458 Orange-=tip Butterfly male (left) and female feeding on Red Campion (montage).jpg
Description: At last we get to see a female Orange-tip Butterfly, here on the right of the male.
They share the wonderful intricate green tracery on the underside of the wing.
Date: 06 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230510_0754_018 Spider on dew soaked web with very close rings (cop + 4 x insert).jpg
Description: In the 'flower' bed east of the conservatory the light catches this near perfect
spider's web accented by fine dew. The circular strands seem very closely spaced,
but when you see the size of the builder in the middle it more that the web is
a huge construction for such a tiny creature.
View: DF3_20230520_1312_308 Aquilegia flowers.jpg
Description: Aquilegia are delightful flowers that insects adore.
Although most samples are now cultivated, they are native in most of Europe.
Date: 05 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230517_0912_012 Moorhen Chicks in Brood platform built in new Hop sedge clump in Duck Pond (crop + insert).jpg
Description: We celebrate the return of Breeding Moorhens
Moorhen rarely return to their incubation nest, and instead build a series of
'Brood nests' to keep the youngsters dry and safe at night.
Normally the 2 parents make different brood nest for their group of charges,
but our single parent is just building one big one for the whole contingent.
View: BU8_20230517_1042_355 Moorhen investigates Camcorder recording Duck Pond.jpg
Description: Wanting to see what is going on, we set up a Camcorder to watch for a few hours.
After about an hours adult came for a look at the kit, decided it was 'mostly
harmless', and then proceeded to frantically collect morsels from the water
surface. The chicks remained hidden in the Hop-sedge throughout.
View: PC2_20230517_13XX_001 Moorhen (line-beak) on Duck Pond taking food to hidden chicks at left (video capture).jpg
Description: This single bird made about dozen passages across the water in the remaining 20
minutes, sometimes avidly pecking at the water to pick up food items invisible
to the camera.
This is a cropped screen dump from the 4K image.
Here is a 10 second video of one pass collecting food - at the actual speed it happens:-
17 May 2023 Moorhen nest on Duck Pond - Adult hurridly collecting food for chicks (12MB)
View: PC2_20230520_xxxx_002 Moorhen nest on Duck pond - new adult joins feeding.jpg
Description: Three days later we discover that a 'new' Moorhen has joined our single parent and
is helping with the brood. Both sexes know how to Brood and feed youngsters
(normally sharing the duties) and second broods are often assisted by juveniles
from the first brood, so a bird coming to help, and possibly hope for a second
brood in due course, is not particularly surprising.
Here is a 36 second video of one pass collecting food:-
20 May 2023 Moorhen nest on Duck pond - new adult joins feeding 36s.mp4 (64MB)
Date: 04 Jul 2023
View: D73_20230513_1249_047 Moorhen nest on Duck pond - 2 Chicks hatched (crop).jpg
Description: We celebrate the return of Breeding Moorhens
Next day we see the first 2 hatched chicks.
Normal Moorhen behaviour is for incubation to start after the first 2 or 3 eggs
and then continue, causing the first few chicks to appear on the same day,
and the rest to follow piecemeal.
'Mum' normally takes the initial hatchlings off to start feeding making an overnight
'brood' nest, leaving the male to brood and raise the rest.
But it seems that this is now a 'one-parent' family, because all of the chicks stayed
around the nest until all were hatched. We haven't recently seen two adults around
at the same time. Both sexes (visually indistinguishable) can incubate, feed and
defend their charges, so we don't know whether it was Mum or Dad that survived
A litter of 4 Fox Cubs about 60 metres away could catch Hares, and may well have
also taken one of the Moorhen.
View: DF3_20230514_0928_012 Moorhen nest on Duck pond - 5 Chicks visible (crop).jpg
Description: Next day we see 5 little heads looking out of the nest.
View: D71_20230514_1007_007 Moorhen nest on Duck pond - 5 Chicks visible one climbing out of nest (crop).jpg
Description: Half an hour on one of them has decided that it is time to climb out of the
nest to investigate 'water'.
View: DF3_20230514_1210_007+20230515_1244_019 Moorhen nest on Duck pond - 1 Chick + Egg - next day last chick (montage).jpg
Description: All but one chick left the nest in the next two hours, leaving one plus
an egg. About the same time next day there is just one chick in the nest
and the egg has gone. The last to hatch gets known as the 'Runt'.
More tomorrow ...
Date: 03 Jul 2023
View: BU8_20230418_1611_187+188+1612_189 Moorhen chasing away Grey Squirrel at Duck Pond 1-3 of 3 (approx montage republish).jpg
Description: We celebrate the return of Breeding Moorhens
This year Moorhen successfully nested on the 'Duck Pond'.
The first hint of such activity was seeing the heightened aggression
of the Moorhen towards any other creature near the water.
Here we see one of the adults chasing away a Grey Squirrel.
View: DF3_20230429_1117_081 Moorhen nest at Duck Pond - 4 eggs (crop republish).jpg
Description: The nest turned out to be built in a clump of badly anchored Hop Sedge - the
dominant plant in the Duck-shaped Pond
Here we see the nest with 4 eggs - probably 4 days in to clutch laying.
The nest is tilting alarmingly away from this viewpoint with the extra weight
on top. We expected an imminent collapse into the water, but a seeming
endless supply of new nesting material was ferried in and kept the nest viable.
View: BU8_20230501_1139_028+030 Moorhen carrying nesting material to nest on Duck Pond - chance Grey squirrel (montage republish).jpg
Description: Another piece of vegetation arrived to build up the nest.
At the top of the montage a Grey Squirrel decides on a quick exit.
View: D72_20230512_1002_033 Moorhen nest on Duck pond - 7+ eggs (crop).jpg
Description: 14 Days after seeing the nest with 4 eggs, it now has 7 eggs visible
(we believe 8 altogether). The incubating bird always detects the humans
before we can see them, and quietly slides off into the water and 'vanishes'.
We only bother the bird long enough for a quick picture before leaving them
in peace for the day.
More tomorrow ...
Date: 02 Jul 2023
View: DF3_20230517_1238_077 2 Bee-flies stationary on concrete spend a minute vibrating wings 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: These two Bee-flies spent about a minute perched on concrete near the house buzzing
their wings like mad but going nowhere. Suddenly they flew off and we lost site of them.
We have to assume that this is some sort of courtship ritual, but attempts to find
more information on-line found only research papers from Australia which have an
obviously different species with the same name.
View: DF3_20230518_1040_012 Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars Infesting a few metres of south face of south hedge (crop + insert).jpg
Description: First seen 4 days earlier (14 May 2023) as a single infested stem of a Spindle tree,
we now see that this years infestation of Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars has
moved to several Spindle trees and the sunny side of the south hedge.
The Caterpillars appear identical to last years.
View: D72_20230504_1320_050 Green Shieldbug.jpg
Description: The Green Shieldbugs are doing well this year.
Here is one on a damaged leaf showing some lovely colours at the damage.
What this inherited spiky leafed shrub is called we have never tried to find out!
Date: 01 Jul 2023
View: E63_20230516_2105_159+0306_097+20230517_0059_162_FB1 Fox Cubs at hedge bottom (montage).jpg
Description: Getting bolder every night here are three moments of Fox Cubs at the hedge bottom.
The 'perfection of these young creatures means we can't even try to tell the 4 apart.
View: E6A_20230516_2329_151_FB5 Fox Cub at Meadow site.jpg
Description: Just this one visit to the Meadow Site.
View: E64_20230516_2334_144-20230517_2352_217_FB2 Fox cub(s) visit to Woodland site on 2 nights around midnight (montage).jpg
Description: A selection of a dozen moments at the Woodland site.
That's Fox cubs visiting all three ground level high-resolution cameras.
Image Archive arch 2023 jun.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Jun 2023
View: E64_20230516_0338_096_FB2 Fox cub carrying food across Woodland site (incidental rodent at left edge) (crop).jpg
Description: The Fox cubs are now seen mostly singly and they don't seem to be troubled by
the flash and noise of the high resolution cameras. We are unable to identify
the 'horror' that this Cub is carrying.
View: B20_20230516_0946_290 Fox Cub exiting Fox Hole (no longer resident).jpg
Description: All of the visits to the Fox hole by Foxes have been very short (typically
less than a minute) as they check out their old home.
View: B20_20230515_0712_105+_0806_139 Fox earth no longer in regular use as Rabbit visits (montage).jpg
Description: The Foxes seem to have stopped occupation in the Mound, and the hole
seems to becoming safe to access again.
Date: 29 Jun 2023
View: BU7_20230515_1515_054+056+1516_061 Muntjac Deer male with both antlers shed 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Our last sighting of the regular male Muntjac Deer had lost just one Antler.
Here he is now Antler free with the stubs flat-topped ready to grow a new set.
View: BU7_20230516_0954_127 Muntjac Deer male with both antlers shed chewing cud.jpg
Description: Next day we see him contemplating the camera as he chews the cud.
Date: 28 Jun 2023
View: DF3_20230514_1212_012 Burnet Rose with one open flower and 3 buds.jpg
Description: Wild Rose flowers are arriving all over the sunny bits of the site.
We normally see these (white) Burnet Roses a week or two before the
(pink) Dog Roses, but this year were barely a day or two apart.
The smell of the Burnet Rose is sweet and incredibly strong -
down wind you notice them 20 metres away - far more intense
than the Dog Rose, though a similar fragrance.
View: DF3_20230514_1212_017 Burnet Rose with 3 open flowers.jpg
View: DF3_20230528_1059_396 Dog Rose flower.jpg
Description: A Dog-Rose flower - the classic 'Spring wild Rose'.
Date: 27 Jun 2023
View: E63_20230514_0851_178_FB1 Moorhen (Vee-beak) at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: One of our regular moorhen takes a quite exquisite selfie.
View: E63_20230507_1223_278+1313_282_FB1 Blackbird female collecting nesting material at hedge bottom (montage over 1 hour).jpg
Description: At the smaller end of the bird spectrum, Blackbirds are still nest building.
These two pics an hour apart.
Date: 26 Jun 2023
View: D73_20230512_1609_009 Bracket Fungus on small dead tree trunk (poss Polyporus squamosus).jpg
Description: Lurking in a dark patch near Duck Pond this bracket fungus (we have had a go
at an ID - see the image Ref) almost shines in the gloom. About 15cm across.
View: D73_20230513_0914_026 Fungus on dead part of Willow pollard (poss Funghi Radioattivi) (crop).jpg
Description: Here in a sunny patch these hemispheric fungi fruiting bodies look most
incongruous. We can't find them in our huge fungus ID book, and only
find this reference on an Italian site which may be accurate or not.
Date: 25 Jun 2023
View: DF3_20230429_0824_045 Dandelion Clock spangled with dew.jpg
Description: A Sparkling Dandelion clock.
View: DF3_20230507_0845_045+041 Dandelion clocks after heavy rain (montage).jpg
Description: The day of the King Charles III Coronation produced more daily rain than any
single day so far this year. We do feel sorry for the thousands getting soaked
for a glimpse of some people going by in a nice dry coach!
The next day we had a fair proportion of pea-sized hail mixed in. These two
downpours gave a lot of the blossoming flowers a thorough beating.
Dandelion clocks had shed most of their parachuting seed.
View: DF3_20230507_0845_045 Dandelion clock after heavy rain (centre detail crop).jpg
Description: Intact Dandelion heads are difficult to see into, but here this partly
stripped head shows how the seeds grow from the white base attached
by a tiny weak speck that breaks when the parachute catches a gust.
View: DF3_20230507_0846_055 Snail lying on its side to eat Dandelion flowers 2 of 4 (crop 1).jpg
Description: We don't see much of snails here, and after the rains were surprised to come
across this large snail lying on its side to eat a closed Dandelion flower.
Date: 24 Jun 2023
View: E63_20230509_2321_151_FB1 Fox Cub in rain at hedge bottom (70m from Mound - no banana or slugs taken) 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: About 70 metres from 'Home' in the Round Mound we catch this Cub, apparently
unaccompanied, investigating the hedge bottom site. The cub may be 'tasting' the
banana peel, and or the various slugs, but the next frame (without Cub) includes
all of the food and slugs we see here, albeit the slugs rushing over the stone
at about 10cm per minute (0.004 m.p.h :-) )
View: B20_20230509_2044_327 4 Fox Cubs on East of Round Mound (crop IR with selective exposure correction).jpg
Description: Here all (we are now fairly sure) 4 cubs out to 'play' as darkness descends.
View: B20_20230509_2048_349 3 Fox Cubs by Fox hole (another Cub up mound out of crop) (crop).jpg
Description: A fourth Cub is cropped out near the top of the frame.
View: BUA_20230510_0107_085-087_SC8 Fox Cub carrying small prey (q) joined by another at east hedge (montage over a few seconds).jpg
Description: At the Eastern hedge gap over a few seconds, we see one Fox Cub with something
dark in his mouth. The arriving Cub seems to want a piece of the action, but the
original cub makes a prompt exit.
The black 'prey' is about Blackbird sized, but may be just a wet piece of wood.
Date: 23 Jun 2023
View: E64_20230507_2324_296+297+2336_298+0354_303_FB2 Fox Cub(s) at Woodland site 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: A 3 frame visit of this Fox Cub at the Woodland site half and hour before midnight,
and a single visit at about 4 a.m. (same or different Cub - we can't tell).
No signs of an adult at this site which is some 30m from the Fox Earth.
View: E64_20230507_2324_296_FB2 Fox Cub(s) at Woodland site 1 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: A detail from the top left of the above montage.
Date: 22 Jun 2023
View: BUA_20230507_1704_162-1705_164_SC8 Hare near East hedge gap (montage TR+BL+BR).jpg
Description: A Hare spends a couple of minutes wandering around near the East Hedge gap. We
have seen at least one Hare being carried back to the Fox earth to feed the four
hungry cubs, and it is a relief to see that there are enough Hares to tolerate
the predation.
View: B20_20230503_xxxx_xxx Fox Cubs around Round Mound Fox hole (montage - date+times not recorded).jpg
Description: Over a couple of days and night the camera on the east of the mound caught
several visits by 1 to 3 Fox Cubs.
Timestamps & frame count were lost by a camera fault, so it's just 'on or around 03 May 2023'.
Date: 21 Jun 2023
View: DF4_20230425_1818_002 Long-tailed Tit outside living room window.jpg
Description: Long-tailed Tits appear in small groups, spend a minute of two feeding on bushes,
visible through windows, before departing. A couple of the regulars delightfully hover
in front of the bushes - a behaviour not yet satisfactorily captured on camera.
View: BU8_20230504_0742_004 Heron.jpg
Description: At the other end of the size scale, we get another visit by a Heron to the Duck
Pond - this time only this one frame contains the whole bird.
Date: 20 Jun 2023
View: DF3_20230429_1106_059 Bee-fly hovering.jpg
Description: A Bee-fly in flight.
View: D72_20230501_1640_044+071 Bee-fly hovering over and landing on Corrugated Iron sheet (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A bee-fly hovered over the corrugated Iron sheet for several seconds before landing.
That's 27 frames at 7 fps skipped to get this pair 4 seconds apart.
Date: 19 Jun 2023
View: BU2_20230502_2308_281_SC7 Roe Deer male (new individual) on Round Mound.jpg
Description: This male Roe Deer is a new individual - the Antlers more developed than
the previous male, and once free of 'velvet' they do not continue to grow.
View: BU7_20230509_1501_031 Muntjac Reeves Deer female at camera followed by male (with both Antlers).jpg
Description: The female Reeves' Muntjac Deer approached the camera as 'her' male
dutifully follows. Here he clearly has both of his Antlers ...
View: BUA_20230511_0457_148_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer male with left antler shed.jpg
Description: ... but 2 days later we catch this image of probably the same male Reeves' Muntjac Deer
having shed his left antler.
Date: 18 Jun 2023
View: D72_20230504_1318_028-030+036 Holly Blue Butterfly male flying to feed from Green Alkanet 1-4 of 4 (spread montage).jpg
Description: Several of these male Holly Blue butterflies come out on warn early afternoons.
Here we catch one flying to a Green Alkanet flower (which are blue!) where he
landed on the less obvious flower to the left of the full-face, turning over to feed.
View: D72_20230504_1320_055 Holly Blue Butterfly male feeding on Green Alkanet.jpg
Description: 2 minutes later this male Holly Blue butterfly shows us a better view of the
top of his wings.
View: D72_20230501_1632_017 Orange-tip Butterfly male perched on Blackberry leaf.jpg
Description: A male Orange-tip Butterfly perched on a three-leafed 'hand' of Blackberry Leaves.
Date: 17 Jun 2023
View: D01_20230503_2157_167+2158_169+E60_2332_049_FB6 Tawny Owl 2 minute visit to Meadow Post + Landing at Kitchen (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl spent a couple of minutes on the Meadow post, only to arrive 90 minutes
later at the perch by the kitchen window. Facial features strongly suggest that it the same bird.
There are many good hunting perches around our patch, so Owls may spend many hours
moving around out of site of cameras.
Date: 16 Jun 2023
View: BU2_20230502_0127_148+150+0128_151+152_SC7 Fox carries Corvid up Mound but carries it back from rear (accurate montage).jpg
Description: An hour after midnight this adult Fox arrives with what must be a Corvid (Rook
or Jackdaw). The Fox carries it up the mound, probably over the top, and a
minute later reappears going the other way.
"Where are those cubs this is for?"
View: B20_20230501_2147_069+2148_083 3 Fox Cubs moving over east of Round Mound (accurate montage).jpg
Description: About a minute apart this group of 3 Fox cubs wandered up the mound near to the Fox hole.
The cubs range all over the mound through the night, now occasionally joining
a parent in a more distant outing.
View: BU7_20230430_1547_052 Fox slinking out of south ditch before sunset.jpg
Description: The adult Foxes face growing pressure to find food for their ever
growing and more hungry cubs. This one entering through the South
hedge looks to already be in hunting mode in the middle of the afternoon.
Date: 15 Jun 2023
View: DF3_20230503_1311_094 Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) female fulvipes form (1st of 2023) (crop).jpg
Description: Last seen in 2020 (and then after a 5 year gap) we again see a female Large Red Damselfly.
Here on some desiccated foliage ...
View: DF3_20230503_1313_109 Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) female fulvipes form (1st of 2023) (crop).jpg
Description: ... and she then moved onto a fresh Blackberry leaf.
She is a hunter - all the foliage does is provide a lookout perch.
Date: 14 Jun 2023
View: B20_20230430_0525_368 Fox Cub in Fox hole looking east (crop IR without illuminator).jpg
Description: A Fox cub confirming that the Fox hole really IS a Fox hole. Taken while the
camera light thinks its light enough not to turn on, but dark enough that the
camera is still working in 'dark' (monochrome) mode.
So much for electronic intelligence.
View: B20_20230430_0543_376 Fox Cub by Fox hole (crop 1).jpg
Description: Still out as the day begins we catch this Fox cub in all natural, if shade-muted, colours.
View: B20_20230502_2022_272 Fox Cub at Fox Hole (crop).jpg
Description: A Fox cub out early in the evening as the nights get shorter.
View: BUA_20230504_0552_124_SC8+B20_0556_452 Fox adult carries prey item and gives it to Cub 1+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A couple of nights later sees Mum or Dad Fox homeward bound with breakfast in
the mouth. Just 4 minutes later we see one of the cubs most likely carrying the
same prey item into the Fox hole.
Date: 13 Jun 2023
View: DF3_20230429_1613_095+1613_095 Green Shieldbug walking along steel gate (montage showing top and bottom of insect).jpg
Description: What has become a regular Spring visitor - this Green Shieldbug, here using
the conservatory's security gate instead of a branch.
View: DF3_20230503_1634_119 Green Shieldbug.jpg
Description: Another Green Shieldbug in a more friendly setting.
View: D72_20230501_1747_122 Pair Sloe Bugs (Dolycoris baccarum) mating on opening Lilac Blossom (crop).jpg
Description: In a photo of Lilac in flower we find these two Sloe Bugs mating amid the blossom.
Date: 12 Jun 2023
View: DF3_20230429_0815_004 Crab-Apple blossom.jpg
Description: Crab-Apple blossom is a delightful mix of white to deep red.
View: DF3_20230503_1259_074 Fruit Tree Blossom.jpg
Description: One of our anonymous fruit tree blossoms.
View: D72_20230501_1633_020 Red Crab Apple tree in blossom (orig & final).jpg
Description: One inherited tree in the orchard is this Red Crab-apple tree.
Everything is red - the wood, sap, leaf tinge, flowers, apple skin and
flesh.
After a few years of almost no yield this year the tree is smothered in
blossom.
Red apple crumble, Red apple sauce ... slightly sharp but tasty compared
to most supermarket varieties.
View: D72_20230501_1633_023 Red Crab Apple tree in blossom (flowerhead detail).jpg
Description: Details of one of the Red crab apple flower-heads.
Date: 11 Jun 2023
View: BU9_20230420_1459_080-1503_093_SC2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male foraging in brambles in orchard (approx montage over 5 minutes).jpg
Description: This male Reeves' Muntjac deer spent 5 minutes foraging at the end of the orchard.
To left his is pushing his way into a Bramble (Blackberry) bush to reach some
attractive morsel.
View: DF3_20230429_0817_029-034 Muntjac Reeves Deer fleeing through crop north of hedge (spread montage).jpg
Description: Here the female Deer gets surprised by the humans, and a speedy exit
demonstrates her athletic abilities.
Date: 10 Jun 2023
View: PK1_20230429_0735_505+527 Goldfinch with face splattered with pollen (montage).jpg
Description: The Goldfinch has his red face splattered with pollen.
That's what the plant wants!
View: E6C_20230430_1808_099_FB4 Chaffinch pair mating on Tree-stump (crop).jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch having his way with 'his' female on the tree-stump!
Date: 09 Jun 2023
View: D72_20230428_1255_079+082 Orange-tip Butterfly male on Garlic Mustard flower - wings open and closed (montage).jpg
Description: Garlic Mustard has just started flowering, and here at least it is the favourite
food of Orange tip butterflies. Here we catch a male (only males have the orange
tips) with wings both open and closed, showing the entirely different appearances
View: DF3_20230503_1308_088 Holly Blue Butterfly male (1st seen 01May2023).jpg
Description: Seen transiently 2 days before, at last we get a photo of a male Holly Blue Butterfly.
The 'top' of the wing of the male is this light blue - the females look similar on the multi-dotted
underwing, but has a much darker top wing. We haven't photographed a female yet this year
Date: 08 Jun 2023
View: BU7_20230423_0806_049+051 Hare approaches south hedge gap but stops (montage).jpg
Description: Hares have become regular visitors at the south hedge gap.
View: BU8_20230425_0544_097-099 Fox carrying large prey slowly across grass by Duck Pond 1-3 of 3 (approx montage).jpg
Description: Just before dawn 2 days later we see this adult Fox carrying a quite large prey item
rather laboriously across the grass by the Duck Pond. Other images suggest that this
is most likely a Hare. Regular visits by prey animals get noticed by their hunters.
View: DF3_20230503_0619_031 Hare Carcass north of Round Mound.jpg
Description: A week later on the back (North side) of the mound we find this sad front end of a hare,
body mostly eaten but head and ears still very recognisable bottom left of the ribs.
View: B20_20230503_2110_410 Fox Cub carrying remains of Hare down Fox Hole (crop).jpg
Description: By the next morning the dead Hare was gone, and on downloading images from the
trail cam at the Fox Hole we see a cub carrying the now light carcass into the Fox hole.
Running a wildlife sanctuary frees the inhabitants from some of the Human pressures,
but the carnivores do tend to eat their neighbours :-(
Date: 07 Jun 2023
View: DF3_20230420_1046_024 Garlic Mustard Flower (1st of 2023).jpg
Description: Our first Garlic Mustard flowers - favourite of the Orange-tip butterfly
View: DF3_20230429_1251_091 Dandelion flowers and clocks near access track entrance.jpg
Description: Please don't mow away Dandelions in your lawn. They are becoming an important
food resource for Bees now that there is so little flowering meadow, and are
really rather pretty viewed with the right perspective.
Date: 06 Jun 2023
View: BUA_20230422_0624_144-0627_166_SC8 Roe Deer male browsing near East hedge gap 2+4+6+7 of 7 (montage over 4 minutes).jpg
Description: Another 3 days on we again see what seems to be the same male Roe Deer.
His back shows several patches of missing fur in similar pattern (though viewed
from the other side) to the individual seen previously.
At Bottom left we see him giving the Trail cam the eye!
View: BU8_20230422_1006_241 Roe Deer male walking across meadow.jpg
Description: 4 hours later he walks past the Round Pond in the general direction of ...
View: DF3_20230425_0738_074 Roe Deer Hoof prints on path SW of Duck pond made over several days.jpg
Description: ... a narrow bit of path between the south hedge and the Duck pond has been
eroded to bare mud by thousands of our and creatures winter footsteps.
Roe Deer obviously pass this way as well - multiple overlapping hoof-prints
would be all we know of them if not for the trail-cams.
Date: 05 Jun 2023
View: D72_20230421_1552_013+1621_068 Grey Squirrel takes Fir cone to breeze block to eat seeds 1+2 of 2 (montage insert).jpg
Description: Through the conservatory window we see this Grey Squirrel spending several
minutes ripping this fir cone apart for the seeds.
The insert taken at the site 30 minutes later shows the debris.
Date: 04 Jun 2023
View: E6A_20230418_1517_127_FB5 Green Woodpecker male.jpg
Description: A male Green Woodpecker on the grass at the Meadow photo site.
View: D01_20230419_1415_111_FB6 Green Woodpecker male short visit to Meadow Post 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: A male Green Woodpecker visits again this time at the Meadow Post ...
View: BU8_20230419_1448_250 Green Woodpecker flies over Duck Pond.jpg
Description: ... and half-an-hour later is seen flying over the Duck Pond
Date: 03 Jun 2023
View: DF3_20230418_1230_087+091+088 Goldfinch singing in all directions (impression montage).jpg
Description: A Goldfinch broadcasting his song to all and sundry.
The bird moved a little (you can see the feet in different positions)
but the montage is spread so that it makes sense.
Date: 02 Jun 2023
View: DF3_20230418_1059_052 Bee-fly feeding on Ladys Smock (Cuckoo Flower) flower.jpg
Description: A Bee-fly enjoying a Lady's Smock (Cuckoo Flower) flower.
The insect is hovering as well as touching the flower with their legs.
It was quite windy and probable hard to maintain position without a little 'help'.
View: DF3_20230418_1059_082 Bee-fly feeding on Ladys Smock (Cuckoo Flower) flower.jpg
Description: A Bee-fly enjoying a Lady's Smock (Cuckoo Flower) flower.
The insect is hovering as well as touching the flower with their legs.
It was quite windy and probable hard to maintain position without a little 'help'.
Date: 01 Jun 2023
View: DF3_20230418_1053_032 Orange-tip Butterfly male feeding on Ladys Smock (Cuckoo Flower) 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: An Orange-tip butterfly feeding on Lady's Smock (Cuckoo Flower) flowers. Only the male has the
orange tip to the white top of the wing. Both sexes share the intricate green
and white pattern on the underside of all 4 wings. An absolute delight!
View: DF3_20230418_1058_050 Speckled Wood Butterfly (1st of 2023).jpg
Description: An apparently pristine Speckled Wood Butterfly (1st appearance in 2023).
Image Archive arch 2023 may.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 May 2023
View: BU8_20230417_1720_076 Moorhen leaving Duck Pond to chase away Mallard Duck Pair.jpg
Description: At this time there was no Moorhen nest visible at the Duck Pond, but this Moorhen
sure considers it 'his' and will see off anything short of a 'Parliament' of Rooks.
View: BU8_20230418_1611_187+188+1612_189 Moorhen chasing away Grey Squirrel at Duck Pond 1-3 of 3 (approx montage).jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel gets the same treatment!
View: BU8_20230421_0929_169 Moorhen chases away 2 Mallard Duck males from grass by Duck Pond.jpg
Description: This Moorhen just won't tolerate birds on the banks of HIS pond!
Here he tackles two male Mallard Ducks.
We have also seen him attack 4 Rooks, but 9 Rooks was a challenge too far!
Date: 30 May 2023
View: BU9_20230416_2209_007_SC2 Roe Deer female at end of Orchard 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: After many months Roe Deer have returned to grace our little site.
First a Trail-cam sees this female Roe Deer at the end of the orchard.
View: BU5_20230416_2239_035_SC1 Roe Deer at Round Pond 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: The inevitable male appears at the Round Pond only half-an-hour later.
This male's antlers are still 'in-velvet' - covered in skin and fur.
According the various web sites Roe Deer don't Rut until mid-July.
View: BU8_20230419_0735_208-210 Roe Deer male walking past Duck Pond 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: 3 days later we see this male Roe Deer walking past the Duck Pond.
This one's antlers have shed their velvet to expose the special bone they are
made of. It seems likely that the same Deer has shed his velvet in the intervening 3 days.
View: BU5_20230419_0956_249_SC1 Roe Deer male at Round Pond 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: Presumably the same individual Roe Deer 2 hours later at the Round pond
shows his fur has sustained several patches of damage.
Date: 29 May 2023
View: E63_20230416_1726_018_FB1 Moorhen (Line-beak) reaching down by stone.jpg
Description: One of the at least 3 Moorhen around the site digs around in the eroded clay
washed out around the hedge-bottom stone.
Date: 28 May 2023
View: E63_20230411_1442_200_FB1 Moorhen (Line-beak) at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: One of the at least 3 Moorhens now frequenting the plot. The feet are
partially hidden by the eroded soil around the stone.
View: BU8_20230413_1533_058 13 Corvids feeding by Duck Pond watched by Moorhen.jpg
Description: Our brave little Moorhen may see off single Squirrels and the like, but it seems that 13 Corvids
(mostly Rooks) is better watched from the distance of the middle of the pond.
Date: 27 May 2023
View: D72_20230415_0920_010 Blackthorn Blossom after rain has removed most of the petals (crop 1).jpg
Description: A heavy rain removed any of the blossom petals that we 'thinking' about falling, leaving
this intricate pattern of stamens and large water drops supported but also misshapen
by the stamens within.
View: D72_20230415_0920_010 Blackthorn Blossom after rain has removed most of the petals (crop 2).jpg
Description: A detail from the above, complete with magnified stamens and an inverted image of the world behind in
the water drop at the bottom.
Date: 26 May 2023
View: E6C_20230408_1216_037_FB4 Chaffinch male in breeding condition.jpg
Description: A pristine male Chaffinch in full breeding colours, including the blue coating
over his beak. No sign yet of Bumblefoot on his legs or feet so probably a
first-year breeder.
View: E63_20230415_0703_110_FB1 Dunnock youngster at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: 7 a.m. sees the arrival of a start-of-life Dunnock at the hedge bottom.
The 15 April is really early to see a fledged small bird.
View: D72_20230415_1043_024 Dunnock fledgeling struggling to fly in top of hedge.jpg
Description: 4 hours later, with no knowledge of the photo taken at the hedge bottom 100 metres away,
We see that Young Dunnock doing some very wobbly attempts at flight at the top of the
hedge along the south end of the access track.
Date: 25 May 2023
View: BU7_20230413_1858_018 Muntjac Reeves Deer male rubbing top of head on grass.jpg
Description: It surprising how often these automatic camera catch a male Reeves' Muntjac deer
rubbing his 'forehead' on the grass or other soft vegetation.
View: DF3_20230416_1418_065 Muntjac Reeves Deer male hiding behind overgrown ant-hill.jpg
Description: 3 days later it is the Humans that spot a male Reeves' Muntjac Deer
partly hidden behind a huge overgrown ant's nest.
View: DF3_20230416_1418_068 Muntjac Reeves Deer male licking muzzle.jpg
Description: He didn't seem particularly phased by the humans, but kept foliage
between him and us. Here we see his impressive tongue doing 'wet-wipe' duty.
Date: 24 May 2023
View: DF3_20230413_1524_016+017 Mallard Duck male vertical take-off from Main Pond 1+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: The cameraman arrives near the pond to find a male Mallard Duck quietly floating
on the water. A handful of seconds as the photographer aims and focusses before
the bird decides on a prompt departure - 'Discretion is the better part of Valour' -
the ducks here are not 'tame' like you find at the local park.
The camera was too zoomed in (and the cameraman too surprised) to catch the bird
in their vertical rise, but the water does make an interesting 'frozen in action' including
an airborne swirl at the right edge.
View: E6A_20230413_1758_076_FB5 Mallard Duck pair at Meadow site.jpg
Description: Togetherness, Mallard Duck style.
Date: 23 May 2023
View: BUA_20230413_0554_105+0557_106+107+0602_110_SC8 Hare spends 7 minutes working toward East hedge gap (impression montage).jpg
Description: As Dawn arrives this Hare spent 7 minutes making the 3 metres journey across the
path toward the east hedge gap. What animals find in this, to us barren, bit of ground
we just don't know, but an awful lot of creatures pause here to feed.
Date: 22 May 2023
View: DF3_20230411_1237_019+033+036 Heron flying overhead (montage from exposure bracketing sequence).jpg
Description: This Heron flies by at about tree-stop height.
Here 3 moments illustrate the passage.
View: DF3_20230411_1237_028 Heron flying overhead.jpg
Description: A closer look at the Heron as it flew almost overhead.
Date: 21 May 2023
View: D01_20230410_1238_056_FB6 Jackdaw aerobraking to land on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: A Jackdaw caught a little earlier in the landing sequence than normal.
View: D01_20230413_0733_003_FB6 Jackdaw landing on Meadow Post backlit.jpg
Description: A Jackdaw making a head-on landing on the Meadow Post.
View: D01_20230410_1557_072_FB6 Rook landing on meadow post already folding wings.jpg
Description: A Rook showing an attractive 'fan' of feathers as they close their wings.
Date: 20 May 2023
View: E63_20230407_2051_191_FB1 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at hedge bottom (adjusted crop 2).jpg
Description: An unexpected moment at the hedge bottom where these two Fieldmice (Wood Mice) suddenly
appeared. The soil around the stone has been washed away, and food collects at
the bottom of the now sunken stone.
We expect that the Tawny Owl may soon find this bonanza.
View: D01_20230408_2335_125-20230409_0358_133_FB6 Tawny Owl makes 3 visits to Meadow Post over 4 hours 1-3+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: In one night the Meadow Post sees 3 Tawny Owl visits spread over 4 hours.
The bird probably spent the whole night feeding from the variety of posts and
branches around the meadow.
Tawny Owls are known to prefer Voles to Mice, but anything that squeaks seems to
be fair game
Date: 19 May 2023
View: DF3_20230403_1549_145 Bee-fly resting on fallen Oak leaf (1st of 2013).jpg
Description: We didn't even know Bee-flies existed until we started seeing them here.
This one is resting on one of last years fallen Oak Leaves.
The proboscis at the front is clearly visible, and the structure of
the wings is best seen in the shadow cast by the left wing.
View: DF3_20230407_1033_120 Bee-fly resting on ground level leaf with natural water drops on grass tips.jpg
Description: Bee-flies don't stay around for long, so we tend to photograph them whenever we see one.
The water drops on the tips of two grass stems are as yet un-dried dew.
View: DF3_20230408_1247_170 Bee-fly hovering to feed on Blackthorn blossom (crop).jpg
Description: This Bee-fly is feeding by hovering in front of a blackthorn flower.
The 'sharp' wing is just changing the direction of movement - the rest of the 20 or so
pics of this moment have wings a blurry mess even at 1/1000th second exposure.
View: DF3_20230408_1252_187 Bee-fly resting on Nettle leaf.jpg
Description: Finally a Bee-fly on a nettle.
Some patches of sheltered nettle just didn't die back in the frosts this year,
giving it a head-start this year.
Date: 18 May 2023
View: BU3_20230407_0113_033+0122_036_SC6 2 Foxes together on concrete track 9m later just one watches Muntjac Deer (montage).JPG
Description: The Trail-cam along the access track caught this moment as one Fox quietly
nuzzles another that is sitting on the track facing north. The arriving Fox
(left) is a bit smaller than the sitting Fox. Nine minutes later we see the
smaller Fox lying on the track facing south, as one of the Reeves' Muntjac Deer
stops a few metres away. Our assumption is that this is a juvenile Fox that one
of their parents is showing around the area.
View: BUA_20230407_0525_160_SC8 Fox trotting towards east hedge gap with Pigeon (q) in mouth.jpg
Description: Four hours later a Fox passes the camera at the East hedge gap carrying
what appears to a Pigeon in the mouth.
View: BU8_20230407_1957_193-195 Fox walks past Duck Pond with Rabbit in mouth 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The same day (next night) as we see the Fox with a Pigeon near the east hedge
gap, a Fox here carries what looks like a Rabbit past Duck Pond - probably also
making for an exit to the east. There are 3 such, only the 'busiest' has a
camera.
We judge 'busiest' by the depth of the track in the grass outside worn by the endless feet.
Date: 17 May 2023
View: DF3_20230406_1326_004 Peacock Butterfly on mud.jpg
Description: A Peacock Butterfly lands on a patch of bare mud.
Butterflies need water and minerals, and find it where they may.
View: DF3_20230408_1257_195 Peacock Butterfly on blossom.jpg
Description: The more usual place to find a Peacock Butterfly is feeding on Blossom.
Unlike the bird-pecked individual above, this one is hardly damaged.
View: DF3_20230408_1247_169 Comma Butterfly on Blackthorn blossom (1st of 2023).jpg
Description: First sighting this year of a Comma Butterfly, out from Hibernation to start a
new generation this year. This individual is in remarkably good condition after
spending 6 months 'asleep'.
Date: 16 May 2023
View: BU7_20230406_1925_026 Hare near south hedge gap.jpg
Description: On the patch of grass near the south hedge gap is this exquisite Hare.
View: BU7_20230406_1237_009 Rabbit (Three Ears) near South hedge gap.jpg
Description: Sharing the same patch of grass as the Hare, an easily recognisable Rabbit is
this 'three-eared' individual. Now fully healed, and not apparently a problem,
we can only assume a tear from the barbed wire surround some of the fields.
View: DF3_20230325_1449_006 Rabbit youngster in salad bed.jpg
Description: The twee-est pic of the week - Baby Bunny eating the weeds in the vegetable bed.
The soil is so sodden that we don't want to compact it by walking on it.
Cultivation is currently along one edge accessible from the already ruined grass.
Everything we grow gets covered in bits of old dishwasher baskets to keep off
this Rabbits, Squirrels, and more recently Reeves' Muntjac Deer.
Date: 15 May 2023
View: DF3_20230403_1247_118+121+122 Rook launching downwards from top of conifer (impression montage).jpg
Description: A Rook high in a straggly Conifer launches itself by basically falling off the
top while stretching out the wings.
An 'impression' - don't read too much into the timing or exact positions.
View: E64_20230407_0755_047_FB2 Rook flipping over piece of broken branch at woodland site.jpg
Description: We had assumed that this bit of broken branch was being moved around by Squirrels,
but it seems that Rooks may be the main 'culprit'.
The wood is now desiccated, and not as heavy as you might expect.
Date: 14 May 2023
View: E6A_20230401_1415_192_FB5 Grey Squirrel carrying short stick over Meadow site.jpg
Description: What the Grey Squirrel wants this short thick stick for only the Squirrel really knows.
Perhaps the Drey is suffering from subsidence - like our old House :-(
View: E6A_20230508_1249_035_FB5 Grey Squirrel runs off with stick from Vegan Choc-ice.jpg
Description: A month later this Squirrel is showing the same behaviour, this time with
the stick from a Vegan Choc-ice.
View: E63_20230407_1043_138_FB1 Grey Squirrel leaping towards intruder out of frame.jpg
Description: "Get out of MY patch!"
View: E63_20230409_1550_314_FB1 Grey Squirrel at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: "Aren't I a stunner?
Date: 13 May 2023
View: BU5_20230330_1539_046-048_SC1 Muntjac Reeves Deer male walks along edge of Round Pond (montage).jpg
Description: Male Reeves' Muntjac Deer have made several visits to the various sites.
Here is one of the visits, walking quietly along the edge of Round Pond.
View: DF3_20230408_1735_244 Muntjac Reeves Deer male browser margin grass tries Wheat crop but prefers the grass.jpg
Description: This male Reeves' Muntjac Deer saw us perhaps 50 metres away while browsing the
grass along the field margin to our south. Over several minutes, as we watched
each other, he wanders left to the edge of the wheat crop, takes a bite, but
obviously is not impressed and quietly walked back to the grass by the hedge.
Date: 12 May 2023
View: DF3_20230403_1246_111 Blackthorn blossom detail.jpg
Description: Blackthorn Blossom is wonderfully delicate.
Blackthorn blossoms before the appearance of any leaves, while Hawthorn
leafs before flower appear.
View: DF3_20230403_1554_155 Daffodil clump reflected in Round Pond.jpg
Description: We planted Daffodils in around 1992, in swirling patterns. But the patterns soon
broke up into now perhaps 50 clumps over the whole site.
They really bring some 'Zing to Spring'.
View: DF3_20230322_1314_060 wild violets in soil over crack in disused farm track.jpg
Description: Soil wells up through the cracks in the disused part of the old farm track,
and this patch of wild violets are thriving nicely in the mud.
Plant life (and undoubtedly insects we never see) take advantage of all of
these patches of unmanaged soil.
Date: 11 May 2023
View: DF3_20230324_1102_045-069 Rooks changing incubation duties with some reluctance 1+3+4+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: In one of the 5 nests on a single Black Poplar tree along the access track
we first spot the tail of the bird incubating the eggs. Their mate arrives,
the sitting bird leaves the nest and starts chivvying the arrived bird before
flying off. The new arrival spends a few seconds on the branch before giving
into the inevitable, and taking their place on the nest.
We suspect that Rooks must have a way of saying
"OK - I'll get on the nest in a minute - off you go".
Why some humans expect creatures to understand English or some other of the
thousands of Human languages when Humans can't even work out what
a Rook has to say, is beyond us.
View: DF3_20230403_1106_078 Rook pair changing nest incubation duties.jpg
Description: A week later Rook nesting change-overs continue to be slightly fractious affairs!
View: E6A_20230404_1757_128_FB5 2 Rooks at Meadow site.jpg
Description: A pair of Rooks at the Meadow site.
We have no idea what is going on.
Date: 10 May 2023
View: DF5_20230401_1009_056+057+061 Long-tail Tit collecting feathers for nest 01-03 of 20 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This Long-tailed Tit spent some minutes moving through the branches with what looks like
two feathers already held in the beak.
View: DF5_20230401_1010_087 Long-tail Tit collecting feathers for nest 13 of 20 (crop).jpg
Date: 09 May 2023
View: E64_20230331_1732_186_FB2 Moorhen.jpg
Description: One of the resident Moorhen stepping over the branch at the Woodland site.
View: E64_20230404_0625_048_FB2 2 Moorhen at Woodland site (single frame).jpg
Description: 2 Moorhen sharing the Woodland site.
We are sure that they must be nesting somewhere - we can't find the nest
and hope that predators can't either.
View: E63_20230405_1023_176_FB1 Moorhen at Hedge bottom.jpg
Description: One of the Moorhens takes a rather well 'posed' selfie at the hedge bottom.
Note how the toes are a compromise for walking on land, walking on floating
vegetation, and just plain swimming.
View: BU8_20230405_1443_248+249 Moorhen chases away Pheasant male (montage).jpg
Description: Male Pheasant (Goliath) vs. Moorhen (David).
It seems that the Moorhen wins.
Date: 08 May 2023
View: D01_20230330_0355_031+0140_029_FB6 Tawny Owl visits to Meadow Post lasting a few minutes (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl spends a few minutes on the Meadow post.
View: BU7_20230404_2048_032+031 Tawny Owl near South hedge gap 2+1 of 3 (spread montage).jpg
Description: Without any other Owl sightings this night around the site, this Tawny Owl stops off near the ditch
by the south hedge gap.
Right at the bottom of the camera frame as ever :-(
Date: 07 May 2023
View: DF3_20230327_1054_084 Moth (Poss Powdered Quaker) - 1 of several trapped in water surface & ripples from struggle to escape.jpg
Description: Circumnavigating our patch takes us by the Round Pond which is showing several
unexplained ripples. They turn out to be moths trapped in the water's surface
tension, making remarkably deep ripples for such a small insect's struggle.
So some fallen branches provides us with the tools to 'fish' them out and leave
them to dry out.
View: BU5_20230327_1145_103_SC1 Roy & Marie Rescuing more Moths trapped in water surface.jpg
Description: An hour later there were some more to rescue - here we are caught in action
by the trail-cam that 'watches' the pond.
View: DF3_20230327_1145_097 Moth (poss Powdered Quaker) rescued from pond surface (crop).jpg
Description: Here is one of the rescued Moths - we think a Powdered Quaker - looking
lovely on the richly coloured end of his rescue stick.
Date: 06 May 2023
View: BU5_20230327_0027_073_SC1 Fox completely still at edge of Round Pond (orig).jpg
Description: What does this midnight Fox detect that we can't see in the daylight?
Original (reduced) untouched frame.
View: BU5_20230327_0027_074_SC1 Fox completely still at edge of Round Pond (crop as negative).jpg
Description: A lightly cropped version of the above presented as a negative.
It seems weirdly 'natural' as if a backlit misty morning.
Date: 05 May 2023
View: DF3_20230327_1047_066-071 Rook lands on 11kV cable @7fps 1+2+4-6 (spread montage).jpg
Description: A Rook lands on an 11kV cable.
View: DF3_20230327_1046_012 Rook calling repeatedly in Black Poplar Tree.jpg
Description: We don't feel very welcome as we walk under the tree containing 5 Rook nests.
He is one of the objectors to those interfering humans - even through we couldn't
possible reach the nests to do any harm.
View: DF3_20230327_1047_055 Rook in low level flight catching sun reflections (crop without contrast adjustment).jpg
Description: It's not unusual to see a Corvids (Crow, Jackdaw etc.) in the distance, usually in the general
direction of the sun, looking so bright that you momentarily think it must be an Egret
of other white bird. Its just the sun glistening off the shiny feathers, and here you see
the effect as sunlight catches the far wing of this flying Rook
Date: 04 May 2023
View: D01_20230328_0052_109+0550_119+120_FB6 Tawny Owl makes 2 visits to Meadow post 1+3+4 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: The Tawny Owl(s) continue regular visits.
On this night there were two visits to the Meadow Post post an 00:54a.m
and 5:50a.m., neither having obviously had a successful hunt.
What was the Owl doing meanwhile?
View: E63_20230328_0108_149_FB1 Tawny Owl attacking at hedge bottom (crop).jpg
Description: Here at the Hedge Bottom 15 minutes after the first visit to the Meadow Post, but out of
sight from the post, we see another Tawny Owl attack - target unknown.
View: E63_20230328_0125_150_FB1 Tawny Owl attacking slug (q) at hedge bottom (crop).jpg
Description: Another 15 minutes pass and then another attack. This time the Owl seems to have
picked a slug on the stone. Like many genuine images of hunting animals there is
nothing majestic about the attack - more a hungry pounce into the mud.
Date: 03 May 2023
View: BU7_20230327_2200_100-102 Muntjac Reeves Deer female at South hedge leaps over flooded ditch 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Crossing the flooded ditch - Reeves' Muntjac Deer style - leap over.
View: BU7_20230326_2342_046-048 Badger at south hedge gap finds ditch is flooded & detours 1-3 of 3 (montage over a few secs).jpg
Description: Crossing the flooded Ditch - Badger Style - go another way!
View: BU7_20230327_2221_106 Badger walks through flooded ditch.jpg
Description: Crossing the flooded ditch - Badger Style - just get wet!
Date: 02 May 2023
View: E64_20230326_2311_103_FB2 Fox carrying Rabbit (q) in mouth past Woodland Site (crop 1).jpg
Description: A Fox walk past the meadow site with what looks like a young Rabbit clamped in
their jaws.
View: E64_20230326_2311_103_FB2 Fox carrying Rabbit (q) in mouth past Woodland Site (crop 2 - head and prey detail).jpg
Description: More detail of the victim.
View: BU2_20230328_0234_295+296+298_SC7 Fox on Round Mound carrying prey returns 2 minutes later 1-3 of 3 (acc montage + insert).jpg
Description: Next night what is probably the same Fox appears with a different sort of prey.
It's too black for a Rabbit we assume a bird about the size of a Jackdaw grabbed by
this opportunist hunter. The insert shows the return journey only 2 minutes later.
Date: 01 May 2023
View: E60_20230325_1534_008_FB3 Grey Squirrel with leafing willow tig in mouth on Kitchen Birdtable.jpg
Description: This Squirrel has bitten off a bit of twig with some catkins, and has
brought it to the Kitchen bird table to strip off the yummy bits.
View: DF3_20230327_1741_105+106+108 Grey Squirrel bites off Catkin twig in willow tree 15m up (vertically spread montage).jpg
Description: 2 days later, and about 15 metres (50ft) up this even taller willow tree, we see
this Grey Squirrel clambering about to bite off another choice twig, which the
squirrel then runs down the tree to eat in a safer/more convenient place.
Image Archive arch 2023 apr.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Apr 2023
View: D01_20230324_2152_039_FB6+E6A_2156_172_FB5+D01_2205_049_FB6 Tawny Owl hunts mouse hole from Meadow Post (montage).jpg
Description: The interesting Tawny Owl visiting saga continues on the fourth day with 3
visits to the post, one of which was followed by the bird attacking at the
meadow site, apparently diving into the collapsed mouse hole. We never got to
see the outcome of the pounce. The return to the post was about 10 minutes later.
View: D01_20230324_2222_067_FB6 Tawny Owl 3 visits to meadow post in 35 minutes 8 of 8 (crop).jpg
Description: The last pic of the Tawny Owl on this night shows them facing the other way
into the rough-cut 'meadow' where we suspect that most of the Fieldmice (Wood Mice)
and voles now live - we see very few in the camera looking at the Meadow site
Date: 29 Apr 2023
View: D72_20230323_0653_016 Dug-out mole tunnel over 2m long by Badger (q) on crop margin south of Farm entrance (orig & final).jpg
Description: In the margin between the farm crop and the main road this over 2 metre long
trench appeared overnight. It doesn't seem to have been touched since.
Our guess is this a mole tunnel has been dug out by a badger hoping to
catch the mole. We doubt that it had any success, and didn't bother to try
again.
Mole nurseries are substantial mounds, so this isn't an attack on youngsters.
View: DF3_20230327_1051_080 Badger footprint in soft mud near house (orig & final).jpg
Description: A few metres from the house a patch of soft mud captures this perfectly formed
paw print as evidence of Brock's night-time passage.
Date: 28 Apr 2023
View: DF3_20230322_1013_005 7-spot Ladybird on Blackberry Leaf (1st of 2023).jpg
Description: All the Ladybirds we have seen so far have been 7-spot Ladybirds - no
signs of Harlequins yet, but that won't last.
View: DF3_20230322_1053_046 Peacock Butterfly (tatty overwintered) feeding on hedge blossom.jpg
Description: An overwintered Peacock Butterfly is enjoying some of the early blossom.
The wings are a bit tatty from what looks like multiple bird pecks, but
that won't stop this butterfly completing their life cycle to make eggs
for the next generation. Its a fragile existence isn't it?
Date: 27 Apr 2023
View: D01_20230322_0132_066_FB6 Tawny Owl makes 5 visits to Meadow Post midnight to Dawn 01 of 14 (crop).jpg
Description: 4 days running now we have seen a Tawny Owl (we think the same individual each time)
landing on the Meadow post for a hunt. Five times on each of the first two visits, once on the
third day, and three on the last including a visit to the meadow site.
The following two nights saw no visit.
We suspect that this is a female in the middle of laying a clutch of eggs, and
badly needed the fuel and protein of a few tasty mice and voles.
View: D01_20230322_0133_068-20230324_0406_021_FB6 Tawny Owl hunting from Meadow Post over 3 days (montage).jpg
View: D01_20230322_2103_175+20230322_0133_069_FB6_FB6 Tawny Owl makes 10 visits to Meadow Post over 2 night (montage).jpg
Date: 26 Apr 2023
View: E6A_20230315_1315_205_FB5 Rook at Meadow site looking backwards.jpg
Description: Rook eyesight seems to be binocular, so like humans they can't see behind them!
View: D72_20230310_1248_002 14 Rooks + 1 Jackdaw attracted to corn on concrete block.jpg
Description: A handful of corn on the top of this concrete road-block attracts a dozen or more
Corvids within a minute even if none are visible as we walk away.
Should we feel 'watched' by something other than the Farm's CCTV?
View: BU2_20230310_1256_034_SC7 14 mixed Jackdaws & Rooks + 1 Pheasant Male on Round Mound.jpg
Description: Similar behaviour at the mound 12 minutes later, though this time about 50-50% Jackdaws
and Rooks. The male Pheasant neither intimidates the Corvids, nor vice-versa despite
desiring the same food.
Date: 25 Apr 2023
View: E6A_20230319_0721_222_FB5 Mallard Duck male visits meadow site around sunrise.jpg
Description: Aren't male Mallards in breeding colours exquisite?
It always seems such a shame that by the time visitors to public parks get to see
them in the summer, their vibrant colours have returned to 'eclipse'.
View: BU5_20230318_0558_055_SC1 Fox walks along bank of Round Pond past Mallard Duck pair.jpg
Description: This Fox walks along the edge of Round pond as the pair of Mallard Ducks keep their
distance on the water.
The gap between predator and prey is rather bigger than it look from this angle.
Date: 24 Apr 2023
View: DF3_20230318_1208_123+121 Muntjac Reeves Deer male on grass path 2+1 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: Male and female Reeves' Muntjac Deer have been making intermittent visits.
This male was walking down one of the grass paths, stopping for a momentary
groom before continuing on his way. We kept still as he passed - him either not noticing
us or just confident that we are 'mostly Harmless'.
Date: 23 Apr 2023
View: E64_20230318_0816_120_FB2 Jay (crop).jpg
Description: We don't see many Jays - so this one-off rather attractive pic is a pleasure to show you.
View: DF3_20230318_0921_078+081+091 Great Tit singing from young Lombardy Poplar tree (montage left to right).jpg
Description: A Great Tit sings from one of the hundred or so young Lombardy Poplars along
the farm road. For once we were close enough for some of his song to just make it
through our now 'cloth ears'.
The bird didn't move along the twig - its just a pleasant montage.
Date: 22 Apr 2023
View: DF3_20230317_1243_047 White violet along front of garage door.jpg
Description: Along the concrete edge by the garage door White Violets appear each year.
View: DF3_20230319_1308_165 Daisy a few metres north of farm entrance.jpg
Description: The first daisy sighted - probably bigger than life size even on a 'phone display.
Date: 21 Apr 2023
View: D5C_20230316_1258_024-1300_031 Grey Squirrel attempting to break into Peanut feeder outside study (montage).jpg
Description: If you watch TV wildlife documentaries you can't have failed to see 'Squirrel intelligence'
tests made of ropes, boxes and other tricks they have to solve for a peanut or similar.
Here is one of our equivalents is by way of a mass of peanuts frustratingly locked away
from the Squirrel but not the birds.
Squirrels mainly use persistence and then memory to solve these problems. In the final
pic you can see that the Squirrel probably remember that the knob on the top of the
lid is sometimes the gateway to food heaven!
Date: 20 Apr 2023
View: E6C_20230311_1507_053_FB4 Grey Squirrel eating tomato with lower tooth visible (crop 2).jpg
Description: A nicely profiled Grey Squirrel eating a slice of tomato. In this detailed crop we can
clearly see the bottom lower tooth.
View: DF3_20230314_1405_016+017+020+1406_025 Grey Squirrel raiding bait bag 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Normally when we arrive back to find a Squirrel at the bait bag, the Squirrel waits
a moment before running off with their prize. But this one had the cheek to dive
back into the bag to grab a bit more before scuttling away.
Date: 19 Apr 2023
View: E63_20230314_0956_130_FB1 Pheasant female on muddy hedge bottom site (orig & final).jpg
Description: "Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud"
View: E63_20230315_1524_236_FB1 Magpie with beak coated in mud.jpg
Description: This Magpie has been making the most of the mud at the hedge bottom to probe
for invertebrates. Their beak might almost have been 'painted' with mud!
Date: 18 Apr 2023
View: E63_20230310_0835_047+1211_054_FB1 Moorhen visits to hedge bottom (accurate montage over 4 hours).jpg
Description: Just this one Moorhen visited the hedge bottom twice during a morning.
View: E64_20230315_0616_083_FB2 Moorhen at Woodland site.jpg
Description: One more Moorhen image this week - passing through the Woodland site.
Date: 17 Apr 2023
View: DF3_20230314_1633_050 Chinese Water Deer secreted in tractor rut of winter Wheat.jpg
Description: A brown shape in the middle of the farm crop at first seems so low that
we thought it must be a Fawn or Hare - but the ears are wrong for either.
View: DF3_20230314_1635_071-076 Chinese Water Deer fleeing over Winter Wheat crop 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: The Deer decided it didn't like our approach and took off into a run out of our sight.
It turns out that this is a Chinese Water Deer who had found a deep tractor rut to
hide in, in the perhaps 15cm high crop.
View: DF3_20230314_1635_075 Chinese Water Deer fleeing over Winter Wheat crop 5 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: Much more detail of the 5th image of the Chinese Water Deer.
Date: 16 Apr 2023
View: DF3_20230314_1354_002 Cherry blossom in bud + opening + open bloom.jpg
Description: The west face of a Cherry tree in front of the house is erupting with flowers.
Here is a twig hosting the stages from white sphere to open flower.
View: DF3_20230314_1404_008 Primrose clump in full flower.jpg
Description: Can't resist this little clump of Primrose flowers by the garage.
Their cheerful faces always brighten our day.
Date: 15 Apr 2023
View: PK1_20230313_0700_258 Mallard Duck female repeatedly pecking at weed clump at back of main pond.jpg
Description: This female Mallard Duck spends about half a minute pecking furiously at this
clump of pond-edge vegetation. We never discovered what she was after. At this
time of year the females are often feeding frantically - making eggs is an
energy and protein sapping business.
A few days later a Grey Squirrel was standing in the morning half-light
digging into the same clump while standing in the water.
View: PK1_20230313_0701_313-326 Mallard Duck male stretching on main pond 1+2+4+5 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Her accompanying male Mallard just stands or floats on watch.
Here he was apparently feeling a bit stiff and had a stretch that makes us want to stretch
in similar manner - rather like Yawning being 'catching' even between species.
View: DF3_20230314_1512_034 2 Mallard Duck males who seem to be friends.jpg
Description: The female Mallard Duck has vanished from the main pond, and now these
two male Mallard Duck are back to frequenting the whole site as a pair.
We don't ever see them fighting even when pursuing the same female.
So 'friends', or more likely brothers.
Date: 14 Apr 2023
View: PK1_20230311_1231_248 Blue Tit _Long-tailed Tit + Great Tit.jpg
Description: Here are the three species of Tits we normally see, as named in the title.
That feeder needs refilling ...
View: DF3_20230311_1313_048 Grey Squirrel eating fruit raided from bait bag.jpg
Description: This old camera bag is a great hit with the Squirrels now they have discovered
that there is food inside. OK, we could do up a clip - but actually its rather fun to
come back and see what been pulled out already.
On the left you see the replacement Peanut feeder for the nearly empty one with
the 3 tits in it. This one still have the original red paint job on the lid.
View: E60_20230311_1419_037+1428_038+1435_040_FB3 Grey Squirrel breaks into top of Peanut Feeder 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Here about an hour later you see the replacement Peanut feeder being raided by a Grey Squirrel
who managed to get the top off. Back to a cable tie to hold this one on - the spring clips
intended to provide the security rusted away years ago.
Date: 13 Apr 2023
View: BUA_20230310_2131_042_SC8 Fox and Badger face-off at east hedge gap 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A Fox vs. Badger confrontation.
The Fox is already crouched (bottom left) before the badger becomes more than a
pair of reflecting eyes. As the Badger emerges from behind the tree they too
stop and we have a face-off. Adult Fox - Badger conflicts normally end up the
worse for the Fox. This is the last we see of the encounter - we hope they
avoided a needless fight.
Date: 12 Apr 2023
View: E6A_20230309_0956_024_FB5 Pheasant female with ice spangled back at the moderately snow covered meadow site.jpg
Description: A first of consecutive overnight light snowfalls fortunately didn't hang around to the
ends of the following days.
View: D01_20230310_0751_194_FB6 Wood Pigeon on Meadow Post in snow (full frame).jpg
Description: Next morning sees another fall of snow which quickly melted.
View: DF3_20230310_0900_001 Snow and Ice covered top of weeping Silver Birch.jpg
Description: The venerable weeping Silver Birch in the back garden catches the snow on
the top, but the lower twigs retain their attractive brown.
Date: 11 Apr 2023
View: PK1_20230308_1356_167 2 Wood Pigeons (one hidden behind other) feeding on edge of Main Pond island with reflection.jpg
Description: Two Wood Pigeons, one mostly hidden behind the other, sport a near perfect
reflection in the still water of the main pond.
View: E63_20230310_1347_075_FB1 Robin at hedge bottom reflected in flood water.jpg
Description: A Robin catches their reflection in the flood water resulting from
thawing snow.
The positioning of the camera frame means most of the water is
below the frame, so we try to give an impression of 'more water' in
the paint package. The actual bird reflection is untouched.
Date: 10 Apr 2023
View: D72_20230309_0714_015 Trees with snow shadow & streak of snow down opposite side (crop).jpg
Description: Two nights with snow fortunately didn't hang around for long. The second shower
was accompanied by a strong East wind, and you can see here the snow has stuck
to the east side of these trees, but also left a 'tree snow shadow' on the west
side. The morning was overcast - the dark is not a sunshine shadow.
Date: 09 Apr 2023
View: E63_20230308_1036_189_FB1 Moorhen(s) visits over 20 hours 1 of 8 (crop).jpg
Description: A most welcome return visitor is this Moorhen - or maybe two.
Over 20 hours we got about 12 sightings, of which we kept 8, and
show most of them here.
View: E63_20230308_1424_214+1036_189+1208_198_FB1 Moorhen(s) visits over 20 hours 4+1+3 of 8 (accurate montage).jpg
View: E64_20230308_1750_220+1749_219+20230309_0641_221_FB2 Moorhen(s) visits over 20 hours 7+6+8 of 8 (montage).jpg
Date: 08 Apr 2023
View: bu7_20230307_0151_001+e6a_0154_074_fb5 polecat enters at south hedge & 3 mins later reaches meadow site 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: We glimpsed the first Polecat for months at the end of February 2 weeks, but now
get a couple pics worth showing. On the left they cross the ditch at the south,
and 3 minutes later we assume that same individual takes a selfie about 50m away
at the meadow site.
Date: 07 Apr 2023
View: BU7_20230305_1006_127 Dog leaping over ditch - no other sightings (crop).jpg
Description: This is an amazing pic to get from a cheapish trail camera.
The dog must have been moving fast - the dog is not present on
the previous or next frame.
The dog's owner appears to be the brown directly above the black area
on the dog's back. The dog was photographed nowhere else on the site,
so we assume that the owner called the dog back immediately.
Date: 06 Apr 2023
View: BU5_20230305_0014_042_SC1 Fox drinks from Round Pond as Mallard pair keep away.jpg
Description: A midnight moment - the fox takes a drink as the pair of Mallard Duck
watch from a safe place on the water.
View: BU5_20230307_2010_033_SC1 Badger pair on bank of Round Pond with Mallard Duck pair on water.jpg
Description: 2 nights later we see that the Mallard Duck pair may be regularly spending the
night on Round Pond. They are here keeping their distance from a pair of
Badgers stopping by for a drink.
Date: 05 Apr 2023
View: E60_20230302_1443_008_FB3 Grey Squirrel grooming tail.jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels have a bad reputation as being flea-ridden tree-rats.
But its not from lack of effort in their grooming.
View: E64_20230306_1453_028_FB2 Grey Squirrel Grooming.jpg
View: DF3_20230304_1350_192 Grey Squirrel inside bait bag eating strawberry end.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel has found the way into the bait bag (a decades old dilapidated
camera bag!) and could eat anything it wanted.
What did they pick? A piece of strawberry.
Date: 04 Apr 2023
View: BU8_20230302_0744_004-06 Pheasant male displaying to female (montage).jpg
Description: One of the male Pheasants with one of his Harem by the Duck Pond goes
in for a set of exaggerated postures intended to impress the female.
Trampling down the Snowdrops doesn't seem to be an issue.
View: E63_20230306_1613_058_FB1 Pheasant pair at hedge bottom (orig & final).jpg
Description: Here at the hedge bottom a few days later we see (probably the same) male
pheasant courting a different female.
View: E64_20230306_1723_042_FB2 Pheasant male after chasing away Grey Squirrel (orig).jpg
Description: An hour later this male Pheasant has just seen off a Grey Squirrel,
and isn't he proud of himself!
Date: 03 Apr 2023
View: BUA_20230224_0502_057_SC8 Badger with snout deep under leaves.jpg
Description: This Badger spent several minutes with muzzle deep in the leaf litter.
View: E63_20230308_0008_167_FB1 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: This Badger visits the Hedge bottom site.
There hasn't been a single week this winter when we haven't seen a badger.
Date: 02 Apr 2023
View: E63_20230224_1457_128_FB1 2 Wood Pigeons in elegant positions at hedge bottom (crop).jpg
Description: These two beautiful Wood Pigeons remind us of a Pas de deux.
Actually ballet seems very artificial compared to the elegance of these two.
View: DF3_20230302_1019_013 Wood Pigeon sunning themselves on branch.jpg
Description: Wood Pigeons may be a scourge, but their beautiful matt feathers
seem to set Pigeons apart from most common birds.
Date: 01 Apr 2023
View: BU2_20230302_0310_168_SC7 2 Badgers romping at bottom of Round Mound.jpg
Description: This pair of Badgers continue to spend a lot of time romping, or whatever, at
the Round Mound and near the east hedge gap
View: BU7_20230302_0432_058+060 Badger clambering up tree before crossing dried out ditch (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This Badger seems to be climbing the tree near the South hedge, but thinks
better of it and crosses the dry ditch into our patch.
Looking through our 30 years of rainfall records for Februaries we see
5.8cm this year, the lowest since 5.4cm in 1993. The average is about 40cm,
peaking at 66.8 in 2001 - a quite different expectation.
Image Archive arch 2023 mar.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Mar 2023
View: DF3_20230227_1402_013 Hazel tree corkscrew outside conservatory mass of Catkins.jpg
Description: A decades old Corkscrew Hazel near the house has exploded with Catkins.
View: DF3_20230227_1401_010 Hazel tree corkscrew outside conservatory mass of Catkins (detail crop of Catkins & flowers).jpg
Description: A more detailed pic also shows the tiny red flowers that 'hope' to catch the Pollen
from another Hazel.
View: DF3_20230227_1403_019 Wild Violet (1st of 2023).jpg
Description: Deep in the 'weeds' beneath the Hazel tree grows another 'weed' - a Wild Violet.
Date: 30 Mar 2023
View: E60_20230227_1220_008_FB3 Sparrowhawk male on kitchen bird table (crop).jpg
Description: The male Sparrowhawk lands on the kitchen bird table.
We haven't seen the female for a few weeks - this may be good or bad.
View: DF3_20230226_0944_109+114 Bird window impact powder image 80cm Wingspan (montage as insert).jpg
Description: We missed the sound of this bird strike on an east facing window of the conservatory.
The wing span is about 80cm - the most likely source is a Wood Pigeon, but it could
also be the male Sparrowhawk.
No telltale scatter of feathers to examine - good - at worst a bad headache.
Date: 29 Mar 2023
View: E63_20230226_1256_254_FB1 Rook with corn grain in tip of beak.jpg
Description: Enormous bill, Tiny seed.
View: E63_20230226_1501_295_FB1 Pheasant male walking through hedge bottom as Dunnock flees.jpg
Description: The biggest risk for the Dunnock is being stepped on, but why take the chance.
Date: 28 Mar 2023
View: D01_20230225_0151_017-0152_019_FB6 Barn Owl 2 minute visit to Meadow Post (Montage @400mS+60S).jpg
Description: A short visit from a Barn Owl to the Meadow Post.
View: E63_20230224_1938_163+1853_159+1942_165_FB1 Mouse visits at Hedge bottom (accurate montage over 1hr).jpg
Description: What may be just the one individual Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) spends an hour feeding at the woodland site.
View: E63_20230226_1819_310_FB1 Tawny Owl hunting at Hedge Bottom (crop).jpg
Description: Without visiting the Meadow Post on the same night we see this Tawny Owl diving
into the hedge bottom site, possible targeting that Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) we saw a couple of days before.
Date: 27 Mar 2023
View: DF3_20230224_1603_002 Snowdrops on NW bank of main pond (orig & final).jpg
Description: The Snowdrops have been a real delight this year.
View: DF3_20230226_0744_076 Snowdrops on bank of Duck Pond.jpg
Description: A much smaller clump at Duck Pond is better lit and easier to get close-up photos.
Date: 26 Mar 2023
View: BU5_20230219_1218_007_SC1 Muntjac Reeves Deer male crosses pond to follow female onto island 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: This is something we have not seen before - a Reeves' Muntjac Deer splashing
through a pond. On the right edge a female Reeves' Muntjac Deer is already on
the Round Pond island, as the male, dutifully following, splashes his way
across the water. 2 further pics in the sequence (typically 3 seconds later) show
no signs of either Deer, but are clearly properly timed from the ripples still
spreading. We wondered whether the Fawn has been secreted on the island, but a
check next day with a small Thermal imager didn't show any unexplained 'hot
spots'.
View: BU8_20230220_1146_049-051 Muntjac Reeves Deer pair walking by Duck Pond (montage).jpg
Description: Next day we again see the male dutifully following the female, this time in a less
spectacular setting past the Duck shaped pond.
Date: 25 Mar 2023
View: E6A_20230222_2054_406+2150_405+2057_407_FB5 Rat visiting Meadow site over 8 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: First a not very welcome night-time visitor at the meadow site - our first Rat for months.
Once we have seen Rats we make sure we don't leave out food near the house
that they could find.
View: D01_20230223_2115_053-2119_061_FB6 Tawny Owl 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: But now a visitor missed for several weeks, this Tawny Owl makes an at least 5 minute visit.
We didn't get to see the bird hunting at the nearby Meadow site.
GO GET THAT RAT! But a Rat is too big for any UK Owl.
Date: 24 Mar 2023
View: D5C_20230221_1037_029+1036_013+1028_002 Long-tailed Tits waiting in hedge to access peanut feeder (montage).jpg
Description: Outside the study window Long-tailed Tits visited the peanut feeder in relays,
stopping in this tangle of bramble and other hedging plants to wait their turn.
This montage over about 10 minutes is probably different individuals.
Date: 23 Mar 2023
View: E63_20230220_1421_105_FB1 Grey Squirrel feeding with Robin very close to head.jpg
Description: One Squirrel will attack anything that gets near.
Another quietly ignores arrivals even when they are so close they could easily attack.
How can the bird be sure the Squirrel isn't in an attacking mood. 'Theory of Mind?'
View: E63_20230220_1426_106_FB1 Robin flying from Hedge bottom with seed as Grey Squirrel continues to feed.jpg
Description: A few minutes later the brave Robin flies off with his prize.
Date: 22 Mar 2023
View: E63_20230220_0648_065_FB1 Robin pair at stone with shadows (crop).jpg
Description: The Robin over the stone is actually in the air without the bird on the ground (back to us)
apparently being concerned.
View: E6A_20230222_1440_366_FB5 Robin pair at Meadow site.jpg
Description: Two days later we see what is probably another pair of Robins not fighting, this
time at the Meadow site.
Robin territories here seem to be about a 20-30m radius
here, about the distance between these two sites.
Date: 21 Mar 2023
View: DF3_20230221_0848_072-0849_103 Muntjac Deer male walking across south grass margin (montage).jpg
Description: We spotted this male Reeves' Muntjac Deer in our orchard as we left for a walk,
but he quickly departed. We find him on the grass outside our south hedge. He
gave us a look, but just decided to ignore us and continues his foraging, at one
point starting to walk closer to us.
View: DF3_20230221_0849_116 Muntjac Deer male walking onto crop margin.jpg
Description: After crossing the concrete track he makes a bee-line for the farmers crop ...
View: DF3_20230221_0851_139 Muntjac Deer male eating a little of the crop.jpg
Description: ... where he took only a couple of mouthfuls before wandering on.
Reeves' Muntjac Deer here rarely seem to eat much of any one thing, much preferring
to eat a wide mix of grass, leaves and twigs.
View: DF3_20230221_0851_145+142+146 Muntjac Reeves Deer male arrived at hedge & decides to go through (spread montage).jpg
Description: The Deer finally makes it to the west boundary hedge, gives us a withering stare,
before disappearing into the hedge.
Date: 20 Mar 2023
View: E64_20230219_0852_377_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying away small apple.jpg
Description: Our stock of small apples continues to be a favourite of anything that can carry them off.
View: E64_20230222_1448_244_FB2 Grey Squirrel nibbling tip of Pear.jpg
Description: The stalk end of pear makes a decent meal for this Grey squirrel.
Date: 19 Mar 2023
View: D72_20230218_0939_004+DF3_20230219_0858_013 Rook nest construction over 24 hours 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: We sometimes mention that some birds can build nests incredibly quickly.
Here in just 24 hours the nest just up and left of centre changes from
a few twigs to big enough for the female to 'try it out'.
View: DF3_20230220_0950_017 Rook perched longways along 11kV cable.jpg
Description: This Rook was watching us suspiciously, unusually lined up ALONG the wire.
View: DF3_20230220_1341_020 3 Rook over and 1 in Rooks nest.jpg
Description: A genuine single frame of three Rooks lined up over a nest with a fourth trying it out.
Date: 18 Mar 2023
View: BU9_20230216_1441_024_SC2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male eating Blackberry leaves at end of orchard.jpg
Description: The regular male Reeves' Muntjac Deer eats some Blackberry leaves, somehow
avoiding, or resistant to, the thorns.
View: BU7_20230218_0706_023+022 Muntjac Reeves Deer male at south hedge (montage).jpg
Description: Two moments of our male Reeves' Muntjac Deer at the South hedge.
The males little tusks look rather more robust when viewed from 'underneath' as
we see on the right.
Date: 17 Mar 2023
View: BU7_20230212_2000_058-060 Badger entering over ditch at south hedge gap (montage).jpg
Description: A couple of hours after dark this Badger makes their way into our patch at
the south hedge. More usually Badgers are first seen entering at the east hedge.
View: BUA_20230222_1930_151+154-156_SC8 2 Badgers near east hedge gap romping or mating (montage).jpg
Description: Near the East hedge we catch this pair of Badgers 'Romping, play fighting or
mating'.
A web search indicates that February is the peak mating time, but the females typically
delay implantation until December. for a 7 week gestation.
View: BU2_20230222_2001_326_SC7 2 Badgers at Round Mound.jpg
Description: Half an hour later what we assume is the same pair still 'mucking about',
this time at the bottom of the Round Mound.
Date: 16 Mar 2023
View: D72_20230213_1240_013 Viburnum burkwoodii flower head.jpg
Description: Two of the Viburnum Burkwoodii bushes are in full flower.
The range of colours in each flower-head varies from dark red to almost white.
View: D72_20230213_1052_005 Snowdrops (mixed species) at bottom of Apple tree in Orchard.jpg
Description: This year there seem to be clumps of Snowdrops to be found hiding all over the
meadow area and orchard. Here it seems that we have two species in separate groups.
View: D72_20230213_1255_026 Snowdrops at base of Willow tree south of meadow (crop 2).jpg
Description: A little detail from an untidy clump hiding at the bottom of a willow Tree
currently overwhelmed by Blackberry bushes
View: DF3_20230211_0955_181 Snowdrops along NW bank of main pond with reflection.jpg
Description: The newly cleared pond now sports several metres of Snowdrops in flower
along the North East bank. This patch has gradually expanded from a
single clump over a couple of decades - a slow but sure progress
Date: 15 Mar 2023
View: BU7_20230212_1203_046-048 Fox hunting by south ditch (montage over a few seconds).jpg
Description: An unusual time for 'our' Fox to visit - bang on Noon, so
possibly a female with lots of cubs to grow or feed.
View: BU7_20230212_1638_053 Fox.jpg
Description: Four hours later what may be the same Fox makes their way towards
the south exit.
Date: 14 Mar 2023
View: BU7_20230209_1850_012 Badger near east hedge gap.jpg
Description: We think the same Badger visiting first the South ditch ...
View: E63_20230209_2004_128-2009_131_FB1 Badger visits hedge bottom for 8 mins 4+5+2 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: ... spending several minutes rummaging around at the hedge bottom ...
View: E64_20230209_2047_109_FB2 Badger at Woodland site.jpg
Description: ... and then making a visit to the Woodland site.
Date: 13 Mar 2023
View: DF3_20230210_0950_145 Muntjac Reeves Deer newborn Fawn with mother & father 46 of 65 (crop).jpg
Description: New Fawn Continued ...
Once the Fawn has apparently exhausted the current supply of milk, the pair
wander off in the direction the male went.
View: DF3_20230210_0952_162 Muntjac Reeves Deer newborn Fawn with mother & father 53 of 65 (crop).jpg
Description: Here is a detail of the wobbly Fawn.
View: BUA_20230210_0956_041_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer newborn Fawn with mother & father 57 of 65 (crop 2).jpg
Description: Mum and Fawn arrive at the east hedge and the automatic trail-cam
catches another image of the Fawn.
View: BU3_20230210_1001_059_SC6 Muntjac Reeves Deer newborn Fawn with mother & father 60 of 65 (crop).jpg
Description: The last we saw of the pair is of them, without the male, walking down the
access track on the West side only about 5 minutes later. Since then we have
seen the female a few times, but not with the Fawn - we hope that she has just
'parked' the Fawn somewhere for safety in the daytime as deer do.
Date: 12 Mar 2023
View: DF3_20230210_0946_033 Muntjac Reeves Deer newborn Fawn with mother & father 11 of 65 (crop).jpg
Description: At 09:45 in the morning we come across this sight - a very wobbly and wet Fawn
sucking on Mums teats. The bottom of the fawn shows a red patch we assume to be
the bitten through umbilical cord. Mum spends a lot of effort licking over the
fawn who is wet all over despite their having been no rain - we have to assume
amniotic fluid.
View: DF3_20230210_0946_049 Muntjac Reeves Deer newborn Fawn with mother & father 18 of 65 (crop).jpg
Description: The Fawn seems already adept at sucking the milk, and at times got quite
vigorous to get out the 'last drop'. Mum has noticed us standing still perhaps
10 metres away, but seemed to consider our presence 'harmless'.
View: DF3_20230210_0948_073 Muntjac Reeves Deer newborn Fawn with mother & father 29 of 65 (crop).jpg
Description: Dad (presumably) strolls in and we can only describe his viewing of the
Fawn as 'proud Dad' sharing for a moment in the licking duties.
The male (with antlers) is on the left.
View: DF3_20230210_0949_114 Muntjac Reeves Deer newborn Fawn with mother & father 41 of 65 (crop).jpg
Description: Dad wanders off 40m towards the east hedge gap while the Fawn gets really
busy moving from teat to teat. You can see 2 of the teats against the white fur
above the Fawn's muzzle.
More tomorrow ...
Date: 11 Mar 2023
View: E63_20230207_2001_174_FB1 Badger at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: Two rather nice portraits of probably the same Badger on visits 2 nights apart.
Here they are at the hedge bottom.
View: E64_20230209_0143_219_FB2 Badger at Woodland site - then knocks over IR sensor for FB4 at Tree Stump 1 of 2.jpg
Description: Two nights on after midnight this second visit turned into a minor disaster when they
knocked over and smashed some equipment at another site.
Enjoy seeing Badgers - just accept what they blunder into!
Date: 10 Mar 2023
View: DF3_20230205_1233_080 Chaffinch female in budding cherry blossom.jpg
Description: Perched among the budding Cherry this female Chaffinch is probably
protected by the surrounding wood from one of the many Sparrowhawk
attacks we see many times a day.
Date: 09 Mar 2023
View: E63_20230204_1820_343_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) holding opened sunflower seed (crop).jpg
Description: Here is a first for us - a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) has opened a sunflower seed and is just
about to eat the Kernel from the 'opened' case held in their paws.
View: E6A_20230206_1841_148+1829_146_FB5 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) - 2 original pairs left and right - one with white fur patches (acc montage).jpg
Description: The left pair of Field Mice and the right pair are accurately montaged about
10 minutes apart. The mouse second from the left has a patch of white fur
on their rump that is also not as sleek as the remaining fur.
View: E6A_20230207_1837_301_FB5 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) - one with white fur patches.jpg
Description: Next night another appearance of the white furred Mouse.
View: d3e_11444 fb1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) with white patch on back 2005feb28_22-41-00 (crop).jpg
Description: Remembering something like about a patch of white fur on a mouse, we trawled our
archive, and from our early photos we found some unpublished pics from February & Mar 2005.
So here is the clearest of the set resurrected from 18 years ago - 28 Feb 2005!
The filename doesn't match our current date and time style.
Date: 08 Mar 2023
View: BU5_20230204_1306_350-352_SC1 Grey Squirrel fails in attack on Pheasant male (montage).jpg
Description: One sort of assumes that a Grey Squirrel leaping at you would make anything move.
But apparently not - we suspect that the Pheasant did a quick turn and
kick back with a spur that the Squirrel didn't expect!
View: E64_20230208_1648_205+1652_206+1653_207_FB2 Grey Squirrel attacks Pheasant female 3 times in 5 minutes 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: In 5 minutes we catch 3 instances of presumably the same Grey Squirrel and
female Pheasant disagreeing about who can have the food. The action moves in
pairs from left to right, the last including the last sighting of the Pheasant
until the next day.
Date: 07 Mar 2023
View: DF3_20230204_1249_026 Muntjac Reeves Deer male (healing tops of rear legs) looking back at camera.jpg
Description: Some of the meadow is a brush of dead grass in which we surprise this
male Reeves' Muntjac Deer.
View: BU7_20230128_1327_088-090 Muntjac Reeves Deer male approaching south hedge gap with scraped back legs (approx montage).jpg
Description: Over the wet ditch and out onto the farm land.
Date: 06 Mar 2023
View: E6A_20230203_1535_197_FB5 Green Woodpecker male (crop).jpg
Description: This gorgeous male Green Woodpecker stops for a look around the Meadow Site.
The missing tail is off the left of the original frame.
Date: 05 Mar 2023
View: PK1_20230203_1111_333 Sparrowhawk bathing at SW side of main pond 01 of 18 including reflection (crop).jpg
Description: If you enjoyed the Sparrowhawk bathing from a few days earlier, here is the
sequel from a few days later.
A lovely reflection from the almost still bird - the moment the bathing starts
the water is too rippled to make a coherent reflection.
View: DF4_20230203_1112_016+113_053+055+068 Sparrowhawk bathing at SW side of main pond 03+08+09+13 of 18 (montage).jpg
View: DF4_20230203_1113_069-072 Sparrowhawk bathing at SW side of main pond 14-17 of 18 Takeoff (montage @7fps).jpg
Description: This time the take-off was from just in the shallow water a bit further along the bank.
Right to left - crouch down and spring into flight!
Date: 04 Mar 2023
View: E63_20230202_0754_011_FB1 Great Tit on stone at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: A Great Tit standing expectantly on the hedge bottom stone.
View: E6A_20230202_1306_073_FB5 Blackbird female showing detail of underside of tail.jpg
Description: A female Blackbird at the meadow site unusually gives us a look at the
underside of her tail - more contrasty than the whole of the rest of her.
View: E63_20230203_1356_168_FB1 Robin + Blackbird male + Dunnock fracas.jpg
Description: A little Fracas at the hedge bottom - Robin + male Blackbird + Dunnock.
View: E63_20230206_1639_072_FB1 Pheasant female + Wood Pigeon + Magpie at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: We just enjoy mixes of our visiting species NOT fighting!
Date: 03 Mar 2023
View: DF3_20230201_0909_110 Sheep and Rooks in field over road to west inc 3 sheep moving as one (orig & final).jpg
Description: A flock of about 100 sheep has been systematically moved from field to field to
our SW and South to eat the untidy crop obviously grown for them and as a green
mulch. They have here arrived in the field across the main road. Rooks are
equally enjoying the recently exposed ground. These 3 Sheep were strangely
moving about pushing together to make a sort of 12 legged 3 headed creature.
They could move apart but most of the time seemed to enjoy the comfort of each
others presence.
Date: 02 Mar 2023
View: D01_20230130_1524_009+010+1528_013+014+1529_015+016_FB6 Rook + Jackdaw + Rook landing over 6 mins (montage).jpg
Description: In just 6 minutes we get three Corvid landings - a Rook. then a Jackdaw and
then a different Rook. Between each first-second, third-fourth, and fifth-sixths
images 400mS has elapsed.
View: DF3_20230131_1532_091+095+098 Red Kite turning in flight changing light of low sun over underbody (montage).jpg
Description: Red Kites have, in our 30 year tenure, become a delight to watch, thanks to
an army of enthusiasts working on their re-introduction.
When the sun is low in the sky, as here, the underside of the birds are
struck by an ever changing pattern of light and shadow.
Date: 01 Mar 2023
View: E6A_20230129_1029_453_FB5 Great Tit with Sunflower seed in beak.jpg
Description: Great Tit with a sunflower seed in the beak tip.
View: DF5_20230130_1357_004 Long-tailed Tit on Willow twig.jpg
Description: At last a decent pic of a Long-tail Tit, here perched on a sloping Willow twig.
Image Archive arch 2023 feb.htm (view it Here)
Date: 28 Feb 2023
View: DF4_20230129_0933_050 Sparrowhawk bathing in main pond 24 of 82 (crop).jpg
Description: ... Continued.
A Sparrowhawk stopped for a bathe in the main pond, visible from the house window.
View: DF4_20230129_0935_178-0936_206 Sparrowhawk bathing in main pond 66+76+78-80 of 82 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Finally the bird clambered on to the bank, had a shake, and flew off
into the Woodland obscurity.
View: DF4_20230129_0936_204 Sparrowhawk bathing in main pond 78 of 82 (crop).jpg
Description: Finally a portrait of him on the bank.
This turned out not to be an isolated instance. A major effort to clear the pond
of being choked by Irises roots has opened up a line-of-sight to this end of the
pond. A few days after these photos we had a 'repeat performance', so these
sessions might be a regular feature of these images.
Date: 27 Feb 2023
View: PK1_20230129_0935_252 Sparrowhawk bathing in main pond 75 of 82 (crop).jpg
Description: A Sparrowhawk stopped for a bathe in the main pond, visible from the kitchen window
despite some obstructions.
View: DF4_20230129_0933_022-0935_178 Sparrowhawk bathing in main pond 09+21+66+36+58+55 of 82 (montage).jpg
Description: From an upstairs window we get a better view of the Sparrowhawk's bath-time routine.
More tomorrow ...
Date: 26 Feb 2023
View: E63_20230128_1255_201_FB1 Magpie collecting peanuts in beak.jpg
Description: Magpies gobble up peanuts and hold them in their beak with the tongue.
Pigeons on the other hand swallow them straight away - when they eat a lot their breasts bulge
out as we discovered while watching a Pigeon eating dozens of peanuts.
View: BU2_20230122_1255_004-005_SC7 2 Magpies flying to Round Mound - one bird shows iridescence without flash (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This montage shows a pair of Magpies landing on the fallen branch laying on the
Round Mound. The bird on the right shows a remarkable level of iridescent colour
on the tail. We have often wondered whether the flash at high resolution sites
selectively highlights the colours, but here a trail-cam with no visible light
flash shows just as startling effect.
Date: 25 Feb 2023
View: D72_20230127_1259_024 Buzzard on 11kv cable at blocked gate.jpg
Description: The local Buzzard (a quite large bird) slightly dwarfed by all the
11kV cable supports.
View: DF3_20230131_1042_032-050 Rook flying along 11kV cable turns to land on one (stretch montage including cable sway).jpg
Description: This Rook flew a dozen or so metres along the side of the 11kV cables before turning
in to land on the most distant cable. The landing images are spread along the
cable.
The cable discontinuities reflect that even in quiet weather these heavy cable are
continuously swaying, and don't match up between shots.
Date: 24 Feb 2023
View: BU8_20230126_2133_045 Badger pair at Duck Pond.jpg
Description: This pair of Badgers (NOT a montage) stop by the brim full
Duck Pond for a drink.
View: BU2_20230127_0154_137+156_144+146_SC7 Badger foraging over Round Mound (approx montage).jpg
Description: This montage shows just one Badger foraging over the Mound.
View: BUA_20230128_0402_064_SC8 Badger near east hedge gap.jpg
Description: A rather nice portrait of one of the visiting Badgers.
Date: 23 Feb 2023
View: E64_20230126_0835_015_FB2 Grey Squirrel attacking Pheasant female.jpg
Description: Judging by the shadow on the Pheasant, that attacking claw is not far from it's target.
View: DF3_20230131_1053_064 Grey Squirrel hiding from humans.jpg
Description: "What me - attack a poor harmless Pheasant?
Grey Squirrels have a love - hate relationship with humans here.
They are basically wary of us, but know that we are a source of easy to find food.
So they tend to run away to the safety of a tree-trunk and then peer
round the side so as not to miss any goodies going.
Date: 22 Feb 2023
View: E63_20230125_1530_341_FB1 Dunnock in flight threatening Chaffinch female on ground.jpg
Description: There isn't much food left at the hedge bottom, and these two birds are
prepared to fight over access.
Date: 21 Feb 2023
View: BU8_20230124_1519_125 Hare standing by house gutters feed pipe to Duck Pond.jpg
Description: By the Duck Pond the trail-cam catches a pic this Hare surveying the scene.
The yellow pipe is a 19mm hosepipe (so larger than typical garden hoses)
that transports pumped water from a gutter filled water butt to top up this pond.
That's when the water isn't frozen solid and the 50m pipe also blocked by ice!
View: DF5_20230125_1126_027 Fieldfare on Iced-over Main Pond.jpg
Description: After a couple of distant sightings we see this Fieldfare out on the
main pond ice pecking up corn.
There are about 50 quartering the surrounding countryside, but, unusually,
going over pics of the groups doesn't find any Redwings - usually accounting
for about 10% of Fieldfare flocks.
Date: 20 Feb 2023
View: DF3_20230124_1304_072-099 Red Kite circling in small thermal (selected montage).jpg
Description: This Red Kite doesn't seem at all bothered by us, and
is happy to climb in thermals right next to us.
View: DF3_20230124_1329_132 Rook calling from Black Poplar tree.jpg
Description: Rooks are really noisy birds!
Date: 19 Feb 2023
View: E6A_20230123_1944_194_FB5 Fox hunting on heavily frosted ground.jpg
Description: A Fox checks over the frozen ground, probably disappointed at the lack of
Fieldmice (Wood Mice) and Voles who tend to stay underground when the condition are poor.
View: E6A_20230125_1844_490-20230126_0503_563_FB5 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) re-appear on night of thaw 1-6 of 6 from 74 images (approx montage).jpg
Description: 2 days later overnight the thaw finally arrives. Between 18:44 and 05:03 the next
morning the camera was triggered by Fieldmice (Wood Mice) an amazing 74 times -
compared to a norm of 5 to 10. Here is a small sample.
View: D01_20230126_0406_131_FB6 Tawny Owl visit to Meadow Post.jpg
Description: It seems unlikely to be chance that a Tawny Owl made the first visit to the
close-by Meadow Post for the first time since the frosts started.
We didn't pick up any pics of the bird's successful hunt, but suspect that
the Owl may have done quite well 'off camera'.
Date: 18 Feb 2023
View: DF3_20230123_1227_029+030 Chaffinch male flies from twig (slightly spread montage).jpg
Description: Chaffinches are suddenly more 'visible' than for the last few months.
Here, trying to get a portrait of this male not yet in breeding plumage
and beak, the camera instead catches this lift-off.
View: DF3_20230124_1303_040+043 Chaffinch male (winter colours) + Chaffinch female (montage at adjusted scale).jpg
Description: Here are male (left - with pink beak out of breeding colours) and female Chaffinches.
Don't compare sizes which have been adjusted to be about the same size.
Date: 17 Feb 2023
View: PK1_20230124_1342_893 2 Long-tailed Tits on kitchen peanut feeder.jpg
Description: A few sightings of Long-tailed Tits in the trees are very difficult to
photograph here - one sight of the human and they magically 'vanish'. But they
can't see us in the Kitchen with the light turned off, so we get a chance at a
photo or two in the shade of the house. Here are two Long-tailed Tits and one
(blurred) Blue Tit at the peanut feeder. Long-tailed Tits understand Peanut
feeders but never stay more than a minute or two.
View: DF3_20230120_1541_078+079 Long-tailed Tit flying from twig (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Here one Long-tailed Tit makes a delayed departure on the arrival of humans,
for which the cameraman caught these two moments about 140mS apart.
Wildlife programs are forever telling us how herds of animals confuse predators
who need to concentrate on one individual, and it seem that flock of birds in
flight has a similar effect on the 'Photographer' species.
Date: 16 Feb 2023
View: E64_20230121_0342_153_FB2+E63_1939_254_FB1 Badger visits to woodland site and same evening the hedge bottom (montage).jpg
Description: We think that this is the same Badger visiting the Woodland site in the small hours,
and a couple of hours after dark on the same day, the Meadow site.
View: BU2_20230120_0328_104+0506_106+107+2202_165_SC7 3 Badger visits to Round Mound in 1 day (approx montage).jpg
Description: Here what looks like the same badger wandering over the Round Mound several times.
The positions on the mound are real but the apparent 'progression' is chance.
View: E64_20230123_0151_057_FB2 Badger pushing up ground debris by fallen branch.jpg
Description: A Badger stops by at the woodland site in the hope of at least a snack.
We don't know whether the Badger gobbled down the very obvious Banana peel.
Date: 15 Feb 2023
View: E63_20230119_1558_089_FB1 Pheasant female at Hedge bottom.jpg
Description: One of the female Pheasants at the hedge bottom.
View: E63_20230120_1404_137_FB1 Pheasant male and Grey Squirrel together.jpg
Description: Next day, also at mid-afternoon we see one of the males - a larger bird than the
females but shown here at a smaller scale to include the Grey Squirrel
apparently letting the Pheasant be.
View: BU5_20230122_1509_089_SC1 Pheasant pair on edge of Round Pond.jpg
Description: One of the male Pheasants is seen here 'squiring' one of his 'ladyloves'
on the bank of the solidly frozen surface of Round Pond.
Date: 14 Feb 2023
View: E63_20230119_1331_051_FB1 Grey Squirrel holding apple in paws to eat.jpg
Description: Some of the behaviour of Grey Squirrels is agonisingly human.
View: DF3_20230121_1338_158 Grey Squirrel eating corn outside conservatory door.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel is out in sub-zero temperatures gobbling up the food
scattered outside the back door. We don't often get to see the open
mouth - usually hidden by the paws while nibbling corn.
The orange cable powers the heated water tray much used by birds and
mammals.
Date: 13 Feb 2023
View: D01_20230119_1319_015+016_FB6 Magpie glides down from meadow post (accurate montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: This Magpie looks like it is gliding down from a perch on the top of the
Meadow Post down to the 'Meadow' photo site.
Date: 12 Feb 2023
View: D01_20230118_1309_088+089_FB6 Rook lands on Meadow Post as Jackdaw aborts own landing (montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: Both the Jackdaw (smaller bird) and the Rook seem to have been intending
to land on the Meadow post. Size wins!
Date: 11 Feb 2023
View: E64_20230117_1600_132_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male rear view of feeding at Woodland site (crop 1).jpg
Description: A male Reeves' Muntjac Deer overfills the camera frame feeding at the woodland site.
View: E64_20230117_1600_132_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male rear view of feeding at Woodland site (crop 2 - tusk detail).jpg
Description: In a detail from the extended image we see that the little tusks look really
tough and ready for a fight - males use their tusks in dominance disputes.
The male's Antlers are also used in fights, even though they only have them for some of each year.
View: DF3_20230118_1256_137 Muntjac Reeves Deer female quietly walking out of sight of humans.jpg
Description: We don't often get an outdoor view of Reeves' Muntjac Deer that lasts very long -
'Human - flee!'.
But this female was less bothered than the others and just quietly walked away.
Date: 10 Feb 2023
View: DF3_20230116_1400_003+006+007 Red Kite turning in flight while hunting over corn crop (impression montage) @7fps.jpg
Description: Here a Red Kite is hunting (unsuccessfully while we watched) over the farm Wheat crop.
View: DF3_20230116_1400_008 Red Kite in flight hunting over corn crop.jpg
View: DF3_20230116_1400_025+028+031 Red kite turning in flight to avoid trees (contracted montage).jpg
Date: 09 Feb 2023
View: DF5_20230119_1249_019 Magpie in top of Black Poplar tree.jpg
Description: Perhaps 20 metres high, this Magpie is nicely framed by the
curved twigs of this 30 year old Black Poplar.
View: E63_20230116_1028_037_FB1 Robin on hedge bottom stone with reflection.jpg
Description: This Robin at the hedge bottom includes an almost complete reflection
in the water that floods the path between camera and subject as run-off
from the farm fields to our east.
Date: 08 Feb 2023
View: E6A_20230116_0852_013_FB5 Grey Squirrel feeding by muddy hole.jpg
Description: All that pristine fur with mud all over the paws they manage to keep
off the white chest.
View: E60_20230118_1131_051_FB3 Grey Squirrel female (bad right eye (q)) appearing pregnant.jpg
Description: On the Kitchen bird table we spot what looks like the female Grey Squirrel
with the wonky right eye, here looking very 'knocked up'!
View: E63_20230118_1315_308_FB1 Grey Squirrel carrying off small apple watched by another.jpg
Description: Another apple get the Squirrels 'take-away' treatment.
Is the second Squirrel at the left edge watching or preparing an ambush?
Date: 07 Feb 2023
View: D01_20230115_0637_133-0641_141_FB6 Tawny Owl visit to Meadow Post over 5+ minutes 1+5+3+4 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl here spend at least 5 minutes on the meadow post at the end of the night.
View: D01_20230116_1720_041-1722_45_FB6 Tawny Owl 3 minutes visit to Meadow Post 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Next day shortly after dark this Tawny Owl makes a short visit.
Date: 06 Feb 2023
View: BUA_20230115_0257_139+138_SC8 Badger pair near east hedge gap (accurate montage upper right first).jpg
Description: This pair of Badgers seem to have spent about an hour wandering the sites together.
View: BU2_20230115_0345_320+0342_312_SC7 2 Badger rough & tumble for 4+ minutes at bottom of mound (accurate montage right first).jpg
Description: At the bottom of the mound things get more boisterous.
Courting is a rough game for badgers!
View: BU2_20230116_0111_420+0122_422+0348_431_SC7 3 Badger visits to Round Mound over 3 hours (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Next day after midnight this solitary Badger wanders over the Round Mound.
Date: 05 Feb 2023
View: D01_20230113_1510_045_FB6 Wood Pigeon landing on meadow post showing plumage on top of wing.jpg
Description: This landing Wood Pigeon provides a rather nice view of the top of her wings.
View: E60_20230114_1148_028_FB3 Wood Pigeon landing next to another catching standing birds shadow.jpg
Description: Spring is 'round the corner' and its time for the birds and bees
mammals to start the first overtures of 'romance'. This includes
trusting your potential partner not to be crashing into you.
View: E60_20230114_1548_031_FB3 Wood Pigeon landing next to another catching standing birds shadow.jpg
Description: The bird at the back (with eye shut) is still folding their wings.
View: DF5_20230102_0935_002+0936_006+013 Wood Pigeons courting in young Silver Birch tree1- 3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A pair of Wood Pigeons getting 'Romantic'.
Date: 04 Feb 2023
View: E63_20230109_1109_052_FB1 Blackbird male at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: A perky male Blackbird
View: E63_20230111_1422_257_FB1 Blackbird male with water spangled tail stepping across hedge bottom.jpg
Description: A raindrop spangled male Blackbird walks across the hedge bottom.
View: E6A_20230108_1418_357_FB5 Blackbird female with worm in beak (crop).jpg
Description: The early mid-afternoon bird get the worm.
OK - its way out of focus and off the edge of the frame, but its
a fun moment to catch - except for the worm.
View: E63_20230105_0930_022_FB1 Blackbird male looking at food on ground.jpg
Description: A pair of Blackbirds seem to own the territory including both the hedge bottom
and meadow sites (about 30 metres apart).
Date: 03 Feb 2023
View: E6A_20230108_1217_305_FB5 Dunnock in flight challenges Robin on ground.jpg
Description: Dunnock tries to chase away Robin
View: E63_20230108_1436_539_FB1 Robin in flight challenges Great Tit on ground (crop 2).jpg
Description: Robin tries to chase away Great Tit
View: E60_20230106_1643_019_FB3 Robin in flight over Kitchen bird table (crop).jpg
Description: A Robin perhaps a metre above the hedge bottom aerobraking to land.
Date: 02 Feb 2023
View: DF3_20230108_1233_041 Chinese Water Deer female (left) and male on crop margin to east (crop).jpg
Description: From about 100 metres away we get this photo of a pair of Chinese Water Deer
relaxing in the grass.
The left deer is a female and the right (with a generous sized 'tusk') is the male.
Date: 01 Feb 2023
View: BUA_20230107_2041_089_SC8 Fox near East hedge gap.jpg
Description: One or more Foxes visit on most nights, this one providing a rather nice
portrait in the IR lit blackness.
View: BU7_20230110_0419_052 Fox about to jump over partly flooded ditch.jpg
Description: The ditch at the SW corner is now partly flooded - it seems from other
blurred messes of photos that the Fox simply jumps over it rather than
getting his paws and lower legs wet with the cold and muddy water.
View: BUA_20230111_0005_070_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer male foraging under leaves at midnight.jpg
Description: MIDNIGHT! - time for the current male Reeves' Muntjac Deer to enter our
patch and continue his nightly forage.
View: BU5_20230112_0138_297_SC1 Muntjac Reeves Deer male on bank of Round Pond.jpg
Description: An hour or so after midnight the male Reeves' Muntjac Deer walks by the side
of the Round Pond.
Image Archive arch 2023 jan.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Jan 2023
View: D01_20230107_1801_123_FB6 Barn Owl visits to Meadow Post over 7 minutes 1 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: One of the rare visits of the Barn Owl starts with this delightful spread of wings.
View: D01_20230107_1803_127+1807_135+1802_125_FB6 Barn Owl visits to Meadow Post over 7 minutes 3+7+2 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: Over the next 7 minutes the Barn Owl turned their back to the camera as they moved
around searching the area - mostly with their ears!
Date: 30 Jan 2023
View: E63_20230111_1508_263_FB1 Pheasant male at hedge bottom in full length.jpg
Description: Our lovely male pheasant manages to take a selfie including his whole length.
View: E64_20230106_1338_103_FB2 Pheasant female at woodland site (previously only seen at Round Pond).jpg
Description: The female Pheasant appears to be the individual we have only previously seen
lurking around Round Pond.
View: E64_20230109_1209_015_FB2 2 Pheasant females feeding at Woodland site.jpg
Description: Our two friendly (sisters?) female Pheasants feed quietly together in a vague
interpretation of the Yin-yang symbol.
Wanting to have Yin-yang spelt correctly, we discovered spaced, hyphenated,
joined together and various capitalisations. Pick your favourite
View: DF3_20230109_1050_004-008 Pheasant male soaked by rain running over farm crop 1-5 of 5 (slightly stretched montage @7fps).jpg
Description: What looks like our regular male Pheasant is here seen outside our patch on the
farm crop. Although over 100m away he wasn't pleased to see us, and started
running off over the crop to the hedge at the bridleway. The droopy tail feathers
suggests that the overall dark colour is because his feathers have become soaked
in the seemingly endless rain.
Date: 29 Jan 2023
View: D36_20230105_2008_022_FB4 Tawny Owl landing on Tree-stump (orig & final).jpg
Description: An evening landing by a Tawny Owl on the Tree-stump
View: D01_20230106_0418_045_FB6 Tawny Owl 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 1 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: At 4 a.m. of the same night probably the same Tawny Owl visits the meadow
post for at least 5 minutes.
View: D01_20230106_0419_047-0422_053_FB6 Tawny Owl 5+ minute visit to Meadow Post 2-5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Date: 28 Jan 2023
View: E64_20230105_0810_006+1329_036_FB2 Grey Squirrel visits to Woodland site morning and afternoon (montage).jpg
Description: 5 hours apart we see what looks like the same Grey squirrel in almost
identical positions on either side of the fallen branch.
View: E6A_20230109_1239_051_FB5 Grey Squirrel with Carrot in mouth.jpg
Description: Carrot ends seem to be a favourite among some of the Grey Squirrels.
Date: 27 Jan 2023
View: E63_20230104_1342_218_FB1 2 Pheasant females giving impression of two headed bird.jpg
Description: "Frankenpheasant!"
Absolutely no photo-fiddling here - just a line-of-sight effect.
View: E64_20221229_1523_088_FB2 Pheasant male stepping over fallen branch.jpg
Description: Our current male Pheasant takes his selfie.
View: E6A_20230104_1453_281+1455_284+1459+284_FB5 Wood Pigeon feeding at meadow site (montage).jpg
Description: This Wood Pigeon spends a few minutes searching around the Meadow site.
After the easy access stuff, its head-down into the collapsed mouse tunnel 'pothole'.
Date: 26 Jan 2023
View: BUA_20230102_2041_068_SC8 Hare near East hedge gap showing length of legs.jpg
Description: Caught in an atypical position we see this Hare investigating the Leaf-litter
with rear legs partly unfolded showing just how long they are.
View: BU5_20230104_0622_136-138_SC1 Tawny Owl lands near edge of Round Pond 1-3 of 3 (montage spread horizontally).jpg
Description: The only 'sighting' of an Owl in a week is this Tawny Owl landing
at the edge of Round Pond at the end of a night's hunting.
Date: 25 Jan 2023
View: DF3_20230102_0957_006-0958_015 Jay flying to branch at Brook 1-6+9 of 9 (accurate montage 1 @7fps)jpg.jpg
Description: Sightings of Jays here are normally restricted to the automatic camera sites or
glimpses on bird tables. But here we see one feeding on the grass along the
field margin by the brook (about 100m away). The Jay takes off and rises up
to land on a branch of one of the trees lining the brook.
We offer 3 montages - the flight and landing in context, a closer view, and finally
the last 3 moments in nearly camera resolution.
View: DF3_20230102_0957_006-0958_015 Jay flying to branch at Brook 1-6+9 of 9 (accurate montage 2 @7fps)jpg.jpg
View: DF3_20230102_0957_010-0958_015 Jay flying to branch at Brook 5+6+9 of 9 (accurate montage 3 @7fps)jpg.jpg
Date: 24 Jan 2023
View: DF3_20230101_1223_021 Dead Willow stump extensively chewed by Grey Squirrel (crop).jpg
Description: Some of you may remember the saga of the deeply ring-barked Willow pollard that
just didn't die. Some minor trunks of the pollard did, and have been used for a few
years by basking Squirrels. Their endless chewing of the dead wood has accumulated
to the point where the remains are an almost abstract sculpture.
View: E63_20230101_1322_192_FB1 Grey Squirrel partly hidden by hedge trunks.jpg
Description: "GUILTY!"
View: E60_20230101_1422_031_FB3 Grey Squirrel poised elegantly on Kitchen Bird Table.jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel poses elegantly on the Kitchen bird table.
A little reminiscent of women in our youth looking at the back
of their legs to see if the stocking seam is straight!
Date: 23 Jan 2023
View: E63_20221230_1222_107_FB1 Grey Squirrel carries away small apple.jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels really do seem to have a 'thing' for apples.
This is at the Hedge Bottom.
View: E6A_20221230_1231_176+1234_177_FB5 Grey Squirrel probably pushes apple into hole to hold still while eating (montage).jpg
Description: 10 minutes later at the Meadow site we see another 'Apple attack' by what the
different fur pattern suggests is a different Squirrel. We THINK the Squirrel
is rolling the apple into the collapsed Mouse hole to keep it still to dig
into the apple with their teeth.
View: E64_20230104_1244_147_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying away whole small apple.jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels seem to go 'ape' over small apples left over from Autumn.
View: E64_20230102_1257_056_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying away whole Banana peel.jpg
Description: No Apples left? This whole banana skin will have to do.
Date: 22 Jan 2023
View: PK1_20221230_1206_754 Muntjac Deer male foraging at edge of main pond at noon.jpg
Description: Reeve's Muntjac Deer are mainly creatures of the night, but here at noon out
of the Kitchen windows we see this male quietly foraging along the edge of
the main pond.
View: DF3_20230102_1000_019+023+025 Muntjac Reeves deer male foraging along north bridleway (approx montage).jpg
Description: A mid-morning sighting of a male Reeves' Muntjac Deer quietly foraging along the
Bridleway to our north. He must have been pretty intent on feeding not to notice
us stopping for these pics and then passing some 50m away.
View: BU7_20230103_2204_018 Muntjac Deer pair around south hedge gap.jpg
Description: The female Reeves' Muntjac Deer (left) has entered through the normal hedge gap.
The male (right) seems to have come in by another route - these seemingly
impenetrable hedge stems are little barrier to creatures of this size.
Date: 21 Jan 2023
View: E64_20221227_1243_106_FB2 Grey Squirrel scraping out Chestnut husks.jpg
Description: As Vegans we eat quite a lots of nuts all year, and enjoy the Christmas glut
of fresh nuts available from the supermarkets.
Here this Grey Squirrel is using his sharp front teeth to scrape out the cooked
Chestnut husks of fragments that our cutlery missed.
Date: 20 Jan 2023
View: E64_20221223_1916_112_FB2 Tawny Owl at Woodland site (crop).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl landing at the Woodland site, not apparently catching anything.
The shadows of the primary feathers make this pic a bit confusing - the bird
is facing right with their right eye just above the centre of the frame.
View: D01_20221226_1654_059+1655_061_FB6 Tawny Owl makes 2 short visits each end of single night 1+2 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: The first of just 2 visits in one night to the Meadow Post by a Tawny Owl - this one
just after dark. There is nothing close by over the post so we don't know
what the owl is looking at.
View: D01_20221227_0707_065-0809_069_FB6 Tawny Owl makes 2 short visits each end of single night 3-5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: The second of just 2 visits to the Meadow Post by a Tawny Owl - this one
just before dawn. Again we don't know what the owl is looking at in the middle frame.
Date: 19 Jan 2023
View: E6A_20221226_0755_006_FB5 Wood Pigeon with head turned to pick up corn.jpg
Description: A Wood Pigeon delicately swivels their head in an arc to pick up and swallow all the
corn they can reach before moving on.
View: E63_20221226_1127_051_FB1 Grey Squirrel nibbling corn grain in paws.jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels don't 'shovel in' corn - they always carefully nibble it
held in their paws. While endearing to watch, it is probably that the
corns need to be crumbled up for their digestive systems to extract
the goodness.
Birds have a gizzard to break up hard foods that Squirrels do not.
Date: 18 Jan 2023
View: DF5_20221226_1340_042+1334_104 Sparrowhawk female preening in Ash tree after bathing 1+9 of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: Sparrowhawk sightings are normally rather transient affairs, but this Sparrowhawk,
obviously wet from a bath, is now having a bask and a preen in an Ash tree on the other
side of the main pond.
View: PK1_20221226_1343_659-DF5_20221226_1344_109 Sparrowhawk female preens in Ash tree after bath 2+4+5+8 of 9 (montage 2 views).jpg
Description: These moments of the Sparrowhawk are here a little rescaled for consistency from 2 different cameras.
View: PK1_20221226_1345_718+728-731 Sparrowhawk female launching from Ash Tree branch 1-5 of 6 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Here is the Sparrowhawk departing.
Left to right the bird is perched, turns and looks behind, and dives down
and out of sight. This montage is extremely stretched horizontally.
Date: 17 Jan 2023
View: E6A_20221223_1404_125_FB5 Grey Squirrel standing in Mouse cavity eating Banana.jpg
Description: A collapsed mouse tunnel is now big enough for a Grey Squirrel
to comfortably stand in. Banana is on the menu at this moment.
View: E6A_20221223_1441_139_FB5 Grey Squirrel head down in Mouse cavity.jpg
Description: What else is there down here?
View: E6A_20221226_1513_104_FB5 Wood Pigeon with head in collapsed mouse hole.jpg
Description: This Wood Pigeon has their head down into the ever expanding hole started by the collapsed mouse hole.
Date: 16 Jan 2023
View: E63_20221221_1303_231_FB1 Pheasant male neck down rear view for feather detail (crop).jpg
Description: At the hedge bottom the male Pheasant manages to photograph himself
with his head out of the top of the frame. It seems likely that he is making
his characteristic call, fluffing out his feathers as he does so making this
what we think is a lovely almost abstract study
View: E6A_20221224_1425_256_FB5 Pheasant male standing in mouse cavity.jpg
Description: The male Pheasant here standing in the collapsed Mouse tunnel.
View: E64_20221221_1319_258_FB2 2 Pheasant females feeding together at woodland site.jpg
Description: Here are two of his four 'lady friends' / Harem
Date: 15 Jan 2023
View: E63_20221217_1454_295_FB1 Rook walking across hedge bottom.jpg
Description: The camera catches this lovely Rook at the hedge bottom.
His feathers are glistening in the camera flash.
View: DF3_20221227_0951_014 20 Rooks in Black Poplar with 4 last-seasons nests (orig & final).jpg
Description: Rook Central - 4 old nests and about 20 birds in various stages of courtship.
View: D01_20221217_1413_172+1423+180_FB6 Rook and later Jackdaw on Meadow Post (montage).jpg
Description: An interesting size comparison - Rook on the left, Jackdaw on the right.
Date: 14 Jan 2023
View: DF5_20221224_1150_008+013+011 Jay preening on silver birch after bathing 1+3+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: It is very unusual for us to get to see a Jay other than as a photo in one of
the automatic cameras, but here we see one across main pond having an extensive
preen after a rather thorough bath. After grabbing a few pics through the window
a magpie decided they wanted the same perch and chased off this
little delight before immediately flying off themselves.
Date: 13 Jan 2023
View: DF3_20221220_1256_004-006 Sparrowhawk in flight 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: We surprise the local Sparrowhawk as we exit from the front of the house.
The images are at 7 fps but arbitrarily spaced.
View: DF3_20221220_1256_004 Sparrowhawk in flight 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A closer look at the first of the sequence.
View: E60_20221220_1502_045_FB3 Sparrowhawk landing on Kitchen perch.jpg
Description: Obviously being startled by humans does not deter this particular Sparrowhawk
for very long, here landing on the Kitchen perch about 20m away a couple of
hours later. Some individuals abandon an area for a day or more if disturbed,
others just give it 'a while' before returning.
Date: 12 Jan 2023
View: D01_20221220_0111_101+0117_107_FB6 Tawny Owl visits to meadow post over 13m includes part swallowed prey 2+3 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: In a few minutes sequence of Tawny Owl visits in the whole week, one of the arrivals includes
the tail end of some unfortunate creature still on the way down the hatch.
View: E60_20221220_0134_025_FB3 Tawny Owl landing on Kitchen Perch (crop).jpg
Description: A few minutes later the same Tawny Owl lands on the Kitchen Window perch to
take this selfie.
Date: 11 Jan 2023
View: E63_20221219_1206_011_FB1 Pheasant male with beak caked in mud.jpg
Description: The male Pheasant has been getting himself into a sticky mess pecking
through the clay based soil.
This is at the hedge bottom.
View: E6A_20221219_1320_149+1326_150+1327_151_FB5 Pheasant male with muddy beak makes 7 minute visit to Meadow site (montage).jpg
Description: 80 minutes later, his beak still caked in mud, he spends 7 minutes at the Meadow Site.
Date: 10 Jan 2023
View: BU8_20221217_1601_151 Muntjac Reeves Deer female foraging in snow.jpg
Description: Snow is really miserable for grazing and foraging mammals.
They must eat to keep warm but finding every mouthful is an effort.
View: BU3_20221218_1130_058-060_SC6 Muntjac Reeves Deer male crossing snowy access track (montage).jpg
Description: The following morning we see the male crossing the access track.
Date: 09 Jan 2023
View: E64_20221215_1050_035_FB2 Pheasant female.jpg
Description: Four female Pheasant have suddenly started frequenting the sites.
This one is at the Woodland site before snow ...
View: E6A_20221216_0925_106_FB5 Pheasant female on snow at Meadow site.jpg
Description: ... and a day later after overnight snow this female Pheasant
may be a little bewildered at the Meadow site.
View: E64_20221217_0805_186_FB2 Pheasant pair at Woodland site (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Our first Pheasant 'pair' sighting this season, as this male 'guards' one of his Harem.
This site is largely sheltered by a large conifer and the snow has
already melted just a day later.
Date: 08 Jan 2023
View: E6A_20221211_0346_450_FB5 Rabbit hops toward camera.jpg
Description: The cold weather has increased the incidence of Rabbits at the camera sites.
This one appears at about 4 a.m.
No Hares seen recently inside or outside our patch.
View: E6A_20221213_1628_268+1629_269_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) and Robin close together at Meadow site (montage).jpg
Description: Something we don't see often is these 'night' and 'day' shifts quietly co-existing.
View: E63_20221214_1105_255_FB1+E6A_20221215_0846_444_FB5 Grey Squirrels feeding at Hedge Bottom & snow covered Meadow (montage).jpg
Description: Splashes of colour in a sea of nearly greys on the right seem a little
strange.
Reminds us of movies where the editor does tricks (sometimes CGI
and sometimes set design) to colour only the character or thing they want
to highlight.
Date: 07 Jan 2023
View: D72_20221210_1246_104-107 Lapwing flying overhead (from flock of about 8) 1-4 of 4 (impression montage @8fps).jpg
Description: We last saw any Lapwings 11 years ago (2011) on the last year that the fields
around us were used as pasture. Stepping out of the back door finds a flock of
about 8 were flying over, and the camera was swiftly swung up to catch
'tail-end-Charlie' flap their way across
Date: 06 Jan 2023
View: D72_20221210_1059_092 Viburnum Flower buds with frost spikes.jpg
Description: At the back of the main pond we have 2 Viburnum Birkwoodii bushes that
create some lift from the winter gloom by flowering in the winter.
This group of buds is covered in frost icicles, but expect to flower anyway.
View: D72_20221211_0907_137 leaves covered in icicle spikes.jpg
Description: Many of the plants are covered in these spiky icicles.
We can't see quite why they form and may spend a little while researching it.
View: D72_20221211_0905_119 Spider web in heavy frost on IR sender.jpg
Description: This is the back of the IR beam sender that triggers the camera focussed
on the top of the Meadow Post, with a still intact Spider's web now heavily frosted.
Date: 05 Jan 2023
View: BU5_20221212_0139_106_SC1 Fox (possibly carrying prey) in wind blown snow.jpg
Description: Most of the snow (about 2.3mm of water which lays at something over 10 times the depth of snow)
arrived overnight on the early hours of Monday (12th Dec) in what looks like a strong north
wind. This passing fox triggered this camera which shows them probably carrying some
prey in their mouth. Inspecting the frame that immediately follows, there is no sign of the
pale area below the muzzle being in the background.
The wind is from the North, and this and other camera facing even vaguely north soon
becomes totally iced over. Tree trunks show snow adhering only to the north side.
View: E64_20221212_0733_116_FB2 Blackbird on freshly fallen snow at woodland site.jpg
Description: "What's gone wrong with the world?"
View: D72_20221212_1226_009 East hedge looking south covered in frost.jpg
Description: Brr!
This is our east hedge viewed from outside of the NE corner
Even the evergreens are white.
View: BU8_20221213_1700_086-1703_093 Fox youngster pauses near Round Pond on snow (impression montage).jpg
Description: What looks like a young Fox spends a few minutes by the thoroughly frozen Duck Pond
before wandering across to look over the ice.
Date: 04 Jan 2023
View: E64_20221209_1318_189_FB2 Grey Squirrel bounding over fallen branch with Hazelnut in mouth.jpg
Description: Where this Grey Squirrel found a clean Hazel nut we don't know.
We have several Hazel trees but the nuts are normally snaffled by the
Squirrels long before ripe.
View: E64_20221209_1323_191_FB2 Grey Squirrel nibbling apple from paws.jpg
Description: After the high protein nut, some apple to fill the tummy.
View: E60_20221212_1251_019_FB3 Grey Squirrel chasing another over snow covered kitchen bird table (crop).jpg
Description: Making their own snow shower, these 2 Grey Squirrels dispute ownership of the bird table.
View: E63_20221209_1114_241_FB1 Dunnock with corn kernel in beak.jpg
Description: This Dunnock has selected a corn kernel for a mid-morning feed.
Date: 03 Jan 2023
View: D72_20221208_1259_009-037 Buzzard in flight landing on 11kV cable (selected montage @8fps).jpg
Description: We catch this Buzzard's flight while the bird is over the main road in flapping
flight, and watch as the bird changes to gliding along the 11kV cables before
swooping up to arrive at a cable at 0 m.p.h. Masterful control!
First a montage of the whole sequence, starting at one frame intervals, changing
to alternate frames and finally a few 'selected' as the bird lands (the last 2
shuffled along the wire in the paint package).
View: D72_20221208_1259_009-015 Buzzard in flight landing on 11kV cable (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: Now 2 halves of the montage for more detail.
View: D72_20221208_1259_016-037 Buzzard in flight landing on 11kV cable (selected montage @8fps).jpg
Date: 02 Jan 2023
View: D72_20221208_1257_002-004 Blue Tit in thin hedge (montage).jpg
Description: This Blue Tit makes a glowing dot in the hedge.
View: E63_20221210_0829_338+0811_334+0800_333_FB1 Robin spends 30 minutes feeding at hedge bottom (montage).jpg
Description: What looks like the same Robin spending 30 minutes at the hedge bottom
View: E64_20221209_1612_235+1617_236+237_FB2 Pheasant male feeding at Woodland site (montage).jpg
Description: Our dominant male Pheasant spends several minutes working his way along
the fallen branch
Date: 01 Jan 2023
View: E64_20221207_1131_313_FB2 Song Thrush.jpg
Description: Song Thrushes are not regular visitors at any camera site,
and even more unusual to see one here at the woodland site.
View: D01_20221203_1547_074_FB6 Green Woodpecker (rear view) on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: The colours on Green Woodpeckers are really quite intense.
We have NOT 'wound up the colour' - its something about the
strange evening light
Image Archive arch 2022 dec.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Dec 2022
View: E64_20221206_0751_149_FB2 Grey Squirrel starting to collect leaves for Drey.jpg
Description: As the thermometer continues to fall (its -3C at 10 a.m. on Friday 9th) this Squirrel
has apparently decided that insulation for the drey is a rising priority.
Here the first leaf has been selected.
View: D72_20221205_1229_005 Fir cone shredded by Grey Squirrel.jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels find it worthwhile to shred fir cones to eat the seeds.
This one chose the dip in a 'firebrick' used to weigh down the lid
of this camera box as the dining table.
View: E60_20221206_1251_011_FB3 Grey Squirrel starting to drop from bird table with Peanut in mouth.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel has found a peanut on the Kitchen bird table (you can
see another not yet collected) and turns around the rear claws to control
the impending nose-dive with the prize.
Date: 30 Dec 2022
View: D36_20221201_1703_020_FB4 Tawny Owl on Tree-stump at twilight.jpg
Description: Two visits by what looks like the same tawny Owl to the Tree-stump in the Woodland
on 2 successive evenings.
Rodents are attracted to the ground here because of the corn knocked from the
tree-stump top each day.
Here about an hour after sunset ...
View: D36_20221202_1629_033_FB4 Tawny Owl on Tree-stump at dusk (crop).jpg
Description: ... and next day just half-an-hour after sunset.
Note that the camera flash overwhelms both dim backgrounds!
Date: 29 Dec 2022
View: E63_20221201_0751_003_FB1 Blackbird male at hedge bottom with fresh grass growing behind.jpg
Description: This immaculate male Blackbird has selected some sort of seed now in
his beak. His shadow shows the partly open beak.
View: E63_20221205_1021_051_FB1 Blackbird male with muddy beak.jpg
Description: The soil here is wet enough for probing the ground to leave your lovely
yellow beak clogged with mud.
Date: 28 Dec 2022
View: DF3_20221128_1241_007 Green Woodpecker on trunk of leaning silver birch (crop 1).jpg
Description: This Green Woodpecker flies high above us and lands on this Silver Birch mostly
obscured by trees closer to us. A creep along the path across the meadow finally
finds a clear view without alarming the bird again, allowing this pic.
View: DF3_20221128_1241_007 Green Woodpecker on trunk of leaning silver birch (crop 2).jpg
Description: If you prefer more detail of the lovely bird, here it is.
The red patch below the eye identifies this is an adult male.
Date: 27 Dec 2022
View: BUC_20221126_1331_306+308+1332_311_SC7 Muntjac Reeves deer male foraging over Round Mound (montage).jpg
Description: The male Reeves' Muntjac Deer (long antlers) spends a few minutes foraging on the side of Round Mound.
Date: 26 Dec 2022
View: D01_20221126_1004_044_FB6 2 Magpies contesting Meadow Post 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: A couple of Magpies both want to occupy the Meadow Post, or at
least not let any other Magpie occupy it.
NOT a montage.
Date: 25 Dec 2022
View: D36_20221124_1238_011_FB4 Robin on Tree-stump.jpg
Description: A Robin stopping for a moment on the tree-stump deep in the now
far-from-dark woods. A Christmas day Robin - sans snow!
View: E63_20221124_1822_125-20221125_0507_130_FB1 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) visiting hedge bottom over one night (montage of 4 frames).jpg
Description: From 4 frames of Fieldmice (Wood Mice) over one night we build this little fun montage.
Date: 24 Dec 2022
View: BUA_20221124_2256_015_SC8 Badger entering through east hedge gap.jpg
Description: Near the east access, this Badger gazes up at the camera.
View: BU5_20221127_0047_188_SC1 Badger climbing out of Round Pond.jpg
Description: Round Pond has self-filled sufficiently to be back as a 'watering hole'.
View: BU7_20221127_2227_054 Badger gazing upward near south hedge.jpg
Description: Near the south hedge this badger stops to gaze upwards.
Date: 23 Dec 2022
View: DF3_20221126_1231_053 Speedwell flowering in late Autumn on shingle by garage.jpg
Description: The plants world has gone crazy in the atypically benign November weather.
Here we have patches of Speedwell actually in flower.
View: DF3_20221126_1251_064+65+69 Late Autumn leafing & flowering - Dead Nettle + Groundsel + Blackberry + Sow Thistle (montage).jpg
Description: The plants world has gone crazy in the atypically benign November weather.
Here near a shed near the house one sweep of the camera catches four out of season events:-
A White Dead Nettle in flower (The stinging variety are not flowering but are growing all too well).
Patches of Groundsel flowers.
A Blackberry stem growing fresh leaves.
Flowering Sow Thistle.
View: D72_20221130_1209_026 Herb Robert flowering out of season & drenched in dew (crop 2).jpg
Description: The plants world has gone crazy in the atypically benign November weather.
This is Herb Robert in flower absolutely drenched in dew (NOT a water spray!)
View: D72_20221130_1347_042 Blackberry plants fruiting and flowering on last day of November.jpg
Description: The plants world has gone crazy in the atypically benign November weather.
One of several places with both fresh Blackberry fruits and even new flowers.
Date: 22 Dec 2022
View: BU5_20221120_1234_400-402_SC1 Roe Deer female trotting past Round Pond (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Our only sighting of this Roe Deer on this day - just after noon - at the
quietly rising Round Pond. She is 'trotting along' in the foreground around the
edge of the pond left rear.
View: E64_20221122_1609_181_FB2 Roe Deer feeding at Woodland site (full height crop).jpg
Description: 2 days after the sighting at Round Pond we catch this moment at the Woodland site
of a Roe Deer picking up scraps.
We see this from the rear with head down between the front legs.
Date: 21 Dec 2022
View: E60_20221119_1603_031+1617_032_FB3 Sparrowhawk passing over Kitchen perch twice in 15 minutes 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: Sparrowhawks continue to make regular passes around our house.
Here only 15 minutes apart are 2 consecutive frames on the Kitchen Window camera
that see them passing and sometimes trigger the IR sense beam.
Date: 20 Dec 2022
View: BU7_20221118_1914_063 Badger scratching cheek with claws.jpg
Description: A Badger delicately scratching the fur with one of those awesome claws.
View: E63_20221119_0203_227_FB1 Badger at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: Hours later in the same night, this Badger inspects the food still left
at the hedge bottom. The White stripes are lightly spattered with mud.
Date: 19 Dec 2022
View: E63_20221118_0204_146_FB1 Tawny Owl pouncing on prey at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl pounces on another rodent.
View: D01_20221120_1810_053_FB6+E6A_456+457_FB5 Tawny Owl Flies from Post to pounce on prey at Meadow site 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: 3 pics here all with the same timestamp just after dark 6:10 p.m.
The mouse had already scarpered when the Tawny Owl pounced presumably
onto a less vigilant member of the family.
We positioned the Post and Meadow site years ago in the hope of catching pairings
like this, but this year the numbers of such events has soared.
View: E60_20221122_2152_014_FB3+D01_2152_049_FB6+E63_2213_152 Tawny Owl Hunt - Kitchen + Meadow + Hedge bottom (montage).jpg
Description: Left: 21:52 The Tawny Owl Leaves the Kitchen Perch in a flurry of
feathers.
Centre: 21:52 (same time) arrives at the Meadow Post staying for a few minutes.
Right: 22:13 (21 minutes later) pounces on a Rodent at the Hedge bottom.
Date: 18 Dec 2022
View: BUA_20221116_1956_020+021_SC8 Fox standing still turns head and rotates ears towards camera (montage).jpg
Description: Just look at those steerable ears!
The fox is standing stock still with ears turned to pick up sounds from behind.
Perhaps noticing the dark-red IR lamps, or detecting a sound old humans can't
hear, turns their head towards the camera and swivels the ears in the same direction.
View: BU5_20221123_0448_235-237_SC1 Fox walks in Round Pond (approx montage.jpg
Description: The leaky Round Pond has filled from ground water and is now half a metre deep at some points.
We suspect that this Fox is going down for a drink.
Date: 17 Dec 2022
View: D01_20221116_1045_074_FB6 Green Woodpecker male on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: A local male Green Woodpecker takes a selfie in the sunshine.
His beak is coated with mud - at this time of year an 'occupational hazard'
for a bird that feeds by probing the ground and Ant nests.
Date: 16 Dec 2022
View: D72_20221115_1348_022+1349_027 Muntjac Reeves Deer male (partial antlers) looks for gap in hedge pig-net (montage).jpg
Description: "I'm sure there's a way through along here"
Our walk round the circling Farm Road surprises this male Reeves' Muntjac Deer
outside our east hedge. The Deer promptly dives into the hedge but a few seconds
later he reappears, and then every few metres down the hedge dives in and
returns. The pig-net now buried in the hedge decades ago after an invasion of about
100 sheep is sufficient to stop the deer. Eventually he finds one of the patches
where we have cut away a bit of the netting at the bottom and in he goes - this
time NOT to be seen again.
This individual has his antlers in a half grown state we have not seen recently
- so another male to add to the one we regularly see.
Date: 15 Dec 2022
View: D36_20221114_0454_060_FB4 Tawny Owl on Tree-stump - small and light coloured (crop).jpg
Description: Surprise - a rather small and light coloured Tawny Owl stops off at the Tree-stump
in the Woodland. Our initial impression is one of this year's brood.
There is a small woodpile housing a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) nest about 10 metres in the direction
the bird is staring!
View: D01_20221118_0101_031+0102_033+0228_035_FB6 Tawny Owl making 2 visits to Meadow Post 1+2+3(mirror) of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: The small hours of Friday saw this Tawny Owl making a 2 minute & later 3 minute visits
to the meadow post 2 and a half hours apart.
Date: 14 Dec 2022
View: E60_20221113_1559_027_FB3 Sparrowhawk female landing on Kitchen perch (crop).jpg
Description: Another female Sparrowhawk portrait at the kitchen window.
Date: 13 Dec 2022
View: BU7_20221112_0147_055+056 Badger walks down from base of tree-trunk (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Something is 'going on' with Badgers at the tree-trunk near the south hedge gap.
Here we see a Badger apparently already climbed part way up the tree near the
south hedge gap is now walking off along the ditch edge.
View: BU7_20221115_0159_031+033 Badger entering site and reaching up tree-trunk (montage).jpg
Description: In three images in the middle of three successive nights a Badger continues to
take special interest in the bulge at the tree-trunk's base.
View: BU7_20221116_0246_070-073 Badger clambering up Tree-trunk at south hedge gap 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: On the next night we see the badger clambering as high as they can up the tree trunk.
View: BU7_20221116_2008_004-006 Badger momentarily reaching up tree trunk 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Next night another clambers up the tree-trunk near the south hedge gap.
This is the highest we have seen one get so far
Date: 12 Dec 2022
View: BU7_20221111_1143_030 Grey Squirrel eating food item held in paws.jpg
Description: Near the South hedge gap this Squirrel has found a toothsome item
to nibble their way through.
View: E6A_20221111_1311_122_FB5 Grey Squirrel female (bad right eye) eating large root held in paws.jpg
Description: 90m minutes later the female Grey Squirrel (with bad right eye) is chomping away
at something substantial.
View: E64_20221114_1404_037_FB2 Grey Squirrel eating cooked potato peel from paws.jpg
Description: All that 5-a-day healthy fruit going begging as this Grey Squirrel prefers a piece of cooked potato peel.
View: E63_20221114_1553_089_FB1 Grey Squirrel biting into red Crab Apple.jpg
Description: Here is the female Grey squirrel with wonky right eye, apparently getting
on absolutely fine. A piece of apple seems to be the choice of the moment.
Date: 11 Dec 2022
View: E63_20221104_1812_191_FB1 Tawny Owl attacks hedge bottom site (crop).jpg
Description: The previous week we saw no owls on the Meadow Post or Kitchen perch, but see a
Tawny Owl probably attacking (apparently unsuccessfully) a rodent at both the
Hedge Bottom site ...
View: E64_20221106_2035_535_FB2 Tawny Owl attacks woodland site (crop).jpg
Description: ... and at a similar time 2 days later, at the woodland site.
View: E63_20221111_0110_078_FB1 Tawny Owl hunting at hedge bottom (crop).jpg
Description: These regular on-camera attacks by a Tawny Owl are a new phenomena - normally
we catch this only once or twice a year. At this site the direction of approach
indicated that the bird perches in the conifer overhanging the camera, so we
can't ever expect to get a face-on pic here :-(
Date: 10 Dec 2022
View: D01_20221108_0922_017_FB6 Magpie landing in heraldic position.jpg
Description: Touchdown!
The first claw of this majestic Magpie has just touched the edge of the post.
View: D01_20221108_0932_020_FB6 Magpie on Meadow post.jpg
Description: 10 minutes later this camera catches this Magpie in a more stable pose.
Date: 09 Dec 2022
View: E63_20221107_1019_041_FB1 Blackbird male.jpg
Description: A little sequence of portraits of the more regular small bird visitors ...
View: E63_20221107_1035_045_FB1 Robin.jpg
View: E63_20221107_1522_104_FB1 Chaffinch male in winter colours.jpg
Description: Note that apart from generally paler markings in winter, this male Chaffinch now
has an all pink (natural colour) beak rather than the blue coating of the breeding colours.
Date: 08 Dec 2022
View: DF2_20221103_1358_007 Muntjac Reeves Deer male in overgrown vegetable bed making call.jpg
Description: Spotted in the 'Salad Bed' which is resting for the Winter (our excuse for the weeds),
this male Reeves' Muntjac Deer was intermittently eating the weeds and
barking.
You can eat as many of the weeds as you like!
View: BU3_20221108_0813_093+0814_095_SC6 Muntjac Reeves Deer pair female then male 1 minute apart (montage).jpg
Description: This pair of Reeves' Muntjac Deer follow the 'tradition' - the male (bottom pic)
following the female (top pic), here caught in uncannily similar positions about
1 minute apart.
Date: 07 Dec 2022
View: E60_20221105_1324_030_FB3 Sparrowhawk male.jpg
Description: The male Sparrowhawk stops off on the kitchen perch.
View: E60_20221108_1634_013_FB3 Sparrowhawk female landing on Kitchen perch (crop).jpg
Description: 3 days later this female Sparrowhawk - the female is a bigger bird than the male -
makes a startling landing facing in the opposite direction to male.
Date: 06 Dec 2022
View: DF3_20221104_1115_015 Wood Pigeon squatting on branch in sunshine.jpg
Description: Breeding season done, the Wood Pigeons spend a lot less time camped out on post
and tree tops doing guard duty. This one has tucked themselves out of the wind
by a young tree-trunk and just watched us watching them a few metres away.
View: DF3_20221104_0905_014 Rook pair in Black Poplar tree nearest house.jpg
Description: On the other hand, Rooks are already courting in the Black Poplar trees for
their early start to breeding in the nearby trees. This pair are in the tree
nearest the house. Further down the track 3 pairs are occupying the three last
seasons nests that have so far survived the Autumn gales.
View: D01_20221109_1516_055_FB6 Rook on Meadow post.jpg
Description: A Rook stops off on the Meadow Post for a well lit portrait highlighting the gorgeous feathers.
Date: 05 Dec 2022
View: BU5_20221103_2303_113_SC1 Fox on edge of Round Pond.jpg
Description: A Fox slinks by the Round Pond.
View: BU7_20221108_0517_013 Fox entering through south hedge.jpg
Description: A Fox (possibly always the same one) enters the site at
this south hedge gap on most nights.
View: BU7_20221109_0224_049 Fox entering through south hedge.jpg
View: BU5_20221108_2155_115+117+20221109_0318_121+123_SC1 Fox excursions into Round pond twice in a night (montage).jpg
Description: In the dark of the night what looks like the same Fox twice walks down into the
partially filled Round Pond, taking what may be a well trodden path down to the water.
Date: 04 Dec 2022
View: E63_20221103_1604_098_FB1 Grey Squirrel with lips stained by strawberry (crop).jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel seems to have stained the inside of their mouth with what
must be strawberry juice.
View: E63_20221107_0719_005_FB1 2 Grey Squirrels at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: Not much food left at 7 a.m. - but at least these Squirrels aren't fighting for the scraps.
Date: 03 Dec 2022
View: E60_20221101_1517_028_FB3 Wood Pigeon landing on kitchen bird table in drizzle.jpg
Description: An elegant landing for this Wood Pigeon in a light drizzle.
View: E60_20221101_1518_029_FB3 Wood Pigeon landed on kitchen bird table in drizzle perches into wind.jpg
Description: A minute later the Wood Pigeon has turned to face the prevailing wind - better
than having your feather ruffled up.
Date: 02 Dec 2022
View: BU7_20221101_0516_061+0517_062+063 Fox enters at south hedge & circles behind tree before crossing ditch (adjusted montage).jpg
Description: Most creatures enter at the south straight down into the ditch.
For some reason this Fox slinks behind the tree to cross the ditch a few
metres to the right.
View: BU7_20221101_2244_115+117 Badger entering at south hedge (slightly adjusted montage).jpg
Description: A few hours after dark this badger trundles into the site.
Date: 01 Dec 2022
View: BU7_20221028_1900_033 Muntjac Reeves Deer male head on ground from rear with both tusks clearly visible.jpg
Description: Head down, this male Reeves' Muntjac Deer inelegantly forages the edge of
the ditch. You can clearly see the two little tusks pointing upwards,
View: BU7_20221030_0116_101 Muntjac Reeves Deer female enters at south closely followed by male 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: An hour after midnight the female Reeves' Muntjac Deer pauses on her way
through the south hedge to check that her suitor is following.
We often see moment of 'respect' both ways between male and female Muntjac
Deer, quite unlike the domineering behaviour of larger deer that 'Rut'.
View: BUC_20221031_0523_055+059+063_SC7 Muntjac Reeves Deer female foraging quietly on Round Mound (accurate montage).jpg
Description: On 'Round' mound this female Reeves' Muntjac Deer quietly forages.
View: BUA_20221101_1934_167_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer pair arrive near east hedge gap.jpg
Description: A pair of Reeves' Muntjac Deer forage quietly together near the East hedge gap.
Image Archive arch 2022 nov.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Nov 2022
View: E60_20221028_1722_019_FB3 Sparrowhawk male (crop 2).jpg
Description: Some days we see a Sparrowhawk flashing by the conservatory window
a few times an hour. The size, speed and behaviour tell us that it is a
Sparrowhawk, but sexing at their blurred speed is impossible.
We know that a female is a regular visitor, but here was see a male
perched outside the kitchen. So we may therefore be seeing a 'pair' of
Sparrowhawks hunting our peanut feeders.
View: E60_20221028_1722_019_FB3 Sparrowhawk male (crop 3).jpg
Date: 29 Nov 2022
View: D72_20221028_1342_029-035 Rook chasing Kestrel female both land on 11kV cables 1-7 of 7 (approx montage @8fps).jpg
Description: We watched this Rook chasing the Kestrel for about a minute as the action
gradually moved towards us. As the Kestrel approached the 11kV cables we expect
the chase to go by them, but the Kestrel chooses to land on the furthest cable
(bottom) and the Rook unexpectedly lands on the middle cable where they both
spent several minutes thereafter.
This final sequence covers about 1 second all
accurately positioned.
Date: 28 Nov 2022
View: E60_20221027_1324_003_FB3 Grey Squirrel carries teasel head to kitchen bird table to nibble.jpg
Description: Teasel heads make an important contribution to winter diet of both
mammals and birds. From somewhere nearby this Grey Squirrel has already
found (and possibly bitten off) a head and has for some reason taken
it up onto the Kitchen bird table to wheedle out the seeds.
View: E64_20221028_1857_198_FB2 Grey Squirrel nibbling food held in paws.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel delicately holds what it is eating in their paws.
The food looks like a piece of old fruit.
View: E63_20221102_1312_264_FB1 Grey Squirrel female inspecting food while scratching back.jpg
Description: "Quite an appetising 'plate' - I'll look it over while scratching my back."
Date: 27 Nov 2022
View: BU7_20221027_0557_121-124 Muntjac Reeves Deer female enters through south hedge followed by male (montage).jpg
Description: As the day begins this female Reeves' Muntjac Deer ambles
through the hedge gap (near left edge), down into the ditch and up into
the orchard. On the far left you can see the glow of the eyes of the
attentive male quietly following her, shown on the right 20 second later.
Reeves' Muntjac Deer don't have a 'Rut' season - the 'girls' come into heat
in any season. Lucky 'boys'. Fawns can appear even in the middle of winter.
View: BU7_20221023_0315_073-075 Badger enters at south hedge via ditch (approx montage).jpg
Description: This is a well trodden route in and out of our patch.
Here a Badger lumbers their way down the still dry ditch and up into the orchard.
Date: 26 Nov 2022
View: E64_20221025_1044_117_FB2 Grey Squirrel in carpet of autumn leaves.jpg
Description: Twee moment of the week is this pristine Grey squirrel ensconced in a bed
of fallen leaves nibbling food from their paws.
View: E6A_20221026_1704_261_FB5 Grey Squirrel nibbling corn from lump of mud in paws.jpg
Description: This site tends to get the food mixed with mud - so this Squirrel
picks up the mud and nibbles off the stuck-on corn.
Date: 25 Nov 2022
View: E63_20221024_1232_059_FB1 Great Tit a few mm from landing on stone.jpg
Description: Talk about Lartigue's 'decisive moment' - this Great tit is perhaps 3mm
from actual landing on the stone!
View: E63_20221021_1425_142_FB1 Great Tit on stone with glossy head against autumn leaves.jpg
Description: A Vividly marked Great Tit shows the lovely glossy feathers over the head.
Date: 24 Nov 2022
View: D72_20221023_1348_172-176 Red Kite in flight (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: A Red Kite glides by.
Accurately spaced over about three-quarters of a second.
Date: 23 Nov 2022
View: E6A_20221021_0533_147-20221023_2128_549_FB5 7 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) portraits frolicking over 3 days (montage).jpg
Description: At the meadow site seven Fieldmice (Wood Mice) leap about in the night.
Date: 22 Nov 2022
View: E6A_20221013_1359_039_FB5 Grey Squirrel tackling rotten side of apple.jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels seem to adore apples.
This one is 'chiselling' out the rotted side of this one.
View: D01_20221016_1525_095_FB6 Grey Squirrel arriving on Meadow Post top with part of small apple in mouth.jpg
View: E64_20221016_1642_334_FB2 Grey Squirrel youngster eating strip of potato peel from paws.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel either prefers or put-up-with' cooked potato peel.
Date: 21 Nov 2022
View: E60_20221018_1517_018_FB3 Sparrowhawk flying over Kitchen bird table.jpg
Description: The Sparrowhawk makes another lightening fast pass over the kitchen
perch/bird table/peanut feeder complex. The bird often circles the house
several times a day to check all of the peanut feeders.
Date: 20 Nov 2022
View: BU3_20221013_1302_016+18+1302_019+020_SC6 Muntjac Reeves Deer female walk across track followed by male (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Across our access track walks the female Reeves' Muntjac Deer, followed
about a minute later by the male.
View: BUA_20221015_0024_143_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer male scratching muzzle with rear hoof.jpg
Description: 100m away on the other side of the plot this male Reeves' Muntjac Deer pauses to
scratch his muzzle with his hind hoof.
Date: 19 Nov 2022
View: BU5_20221013_1906_436-438_SC1 Tawny Owl lands near Round pond Water tray 1-3 of 3 (spread impression montage).jpg
Description: A rare occurrence (and never before here that we can remember) a Tawny Owl
lands on the bank of dried out Round Pond. The final moment sees the Owl
staring up at the dark red glow of the Trail cams IR lamp.
View: E60_20221014_0053_010_FB3+D01_20221014_0056_029+0058_033_FB6 Tawny Owl landing on kitchen perch & Meadow Post (montage).jpg
Description: On the other side of the same midnight this Tawny Owl first landed on the kitchen window
perch. A few minutes later what we think is the same Owl spends a few minutes on the
meadow post.
View: D01_20221017_2334_021-2336_025_FB6 Tawny Owl visits to meadow post 1-3 of 8 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: A single night sees most probably the same Owl make 3 visits to the Meadow post
in 4 hours across midnight. In this first sequence the final pic shows the Owl
staring intently at the meadow camera site where there are Fieldmice (Wood Mice) each night.
View: D01_20221018_0234_027-0341_033_FB6 Tawny Owl visits over several hours 4-7 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: From the camera point of view two untidy landings, but the Owl doesn't land for the camera.
Date: 18 Nov 2022
View: DF3_20221017_1025_004 Cherry tree at east hedge in autumn colours (crop).jpg
Description: Part of the east hedge, now dominated by the trees inside the plot.
For scale - hedge is about 1.5 metres tall.
View: D72_20221010_1001_023 Autumn leaves in trees behind main pond (orig & final).jpg
Description: We adore these intricate tapestries of leaf colours.
View: DF3_20221018_1517_032 Staghorn Sumac tree turning to autumn colour.jpg
Description: Staghorn Sumac really turns a wonderful red as autumn progresses.
Date: 17 Nov 2022
View: D72_20221010_1232_037 Green Shieldbug on plastic bunker.jpg
Description: A Green Shieldbug on the side of one of our storage bunkers.
View: DF3_20221011_1156_011 Green Shieldbug on window pane.jpg
Description: Next day we find one on the glass of the conservatory.
You can see here that the brown patch at the rear is actually the
tips of the mostly covered wings.
Date: 16 Nov 2022
View: E60_20221009_0806_033_FB3 Moorhen on Kitchen Bird table.jpg
Description: After a brief sighting on the concrete access track over the CCTV,
we later find this portrait of a Moorhen standing on the Kitchen Bird table.
View: E60_20221009_0808_034_FB3 Moorhen on Kitchen Bird table.jpg
Description: Here the Moorhen is licking corn out from under the perch clamped
to the bird table.
Date: 15 Nov 2022
View: BU3_20221009_0533_093_SC6 4 Roe Deer walking up concrete access track (crop).jpg
Description: A major Roe Deer event during the morning of the Hunter's Full Moon
starts with this sighting of 4 Roe Deer walking up the side of the
access track. The first is just starting to enter through the hole in
the netting. The next 2 are obvious and the last is more a pair of
reflecting eyes brought up by a bit of moderate photo processing.
View: BU5_20221009_0617_114+115+0618_122_SC1 Roe Deer female foraging in dry pond climbs out (adjusted montage).jpg
Description: This pond has a serious leak and for now provides a foraging area
for all of the larger mammals, The white tray provides water that after
several weeks most of the Deer and Badgers regularly use.
View: BUC_20221009_0631_418-0632_425_SC7+BU9_0643_090_SC2 Roe Deer female on Round Mound then in Orchard (montage).jpg
View: BU3_20221009_0708_102_SC6 Roe Deer female leaving.jpg
Description: Bye-bye
Date: 14 Nov 2022
View: E64_20221008_1808_228_FB2 Jay (crop).jpg
Description: Possibly the same Jay we saw last week continues to make visits.
Here they are standing on the fallen branch at the Woodland site.
View: E64_20221011_1334_178_FB2 Jay visit to Woodland site.jpg
Description: 3 days later we see the Jay in an amazingly similar position.
View: D36_20221011_1335_034_FB4 Jay reaching down from top of Tree-stump (crop).jpg
Description: 1 minute later the Jay has moved about 10 metres to the tree-stump,
reaching down to catch the insect a few centimetres from the tip of the beak.
Date: 13 Nov 2022
View: DF3_20221007_1232_074 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly male on warm concrete track (1st of 2022).jpg
Description: A belated first sighting this year of a Ruddy Darter Dragonfly here, this male taking
advantage of the warm concrete track.
View: DF3_20221007_1237_079 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly female on warm arm of wooden bench.jpg
Description: 50 metres away we find this female Ruddy Darter Dragonfly on the sun-warned
armrest an old bench seat.
Date: 12 Nov 2022
View: DF3_20221007_0930_067 Haw berries (Hawthorn fruit) in east hedge trees.jpg
Description: Hawthorn trees over the east hedge are turning to autumn colours
and ripening their berries.
Date: 11 Nov 2022
View: E6A_20221010_1920_113_FB5 Rabbit youngster at meadow site.jpg
Description: We don't see many Rabbit in recent years.
One reason is that the trees now shade out most of what used to be grass
between the trees, and the meadow area is mostly wild plants. But rabbits
still breed somewhere near - here this young Rabbit visited the Meadow feeding site.
View: BUA_20221008_2102_166+167_SC8 Fox carrying prey (Rabbit (q)) to east hedge gap (slightly adjusted montage).jpg
Description: Another reason for the lack of Rabbits is the increasing activities of the Fox,
here carrying off another young Rabbit.
No - its NOT the Rabbit above - this photo was taken 2 days earlier.
Date: 10 Nov 2022
View: E63_20221004_1813_198_FB1 2 Grey Squirrel youngster feeding together at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: A pair of young Grey Squirrel sharing the food at the hedge bottom.
View: E64_20221005_1401_189_FB2 2 Grey Squirrel youngsters play fighting.jpg
Description: Possibly the same pair of young Grey Squirrel 'play fighting'.
The claws are folded and the mouth barely open. More of a wrestling match perhaps.
View: E6A_20221005_1508_214_FB5 Grey Squirrel carrying small apple.jpg
Description: These small apples are very hard, but this Grey squirrel thinks it
is worth carrying this one away.
Date: 09 Nov 2022
View: D36_20221003_1106_012_FB4+D01_20221003_1117_003+004_FB6 Jay at tree-stump & 12m later at Meadow Post 1+2 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: We don't see many Jays here, but presumably this individual visited 3 days running (only
the first two visits shown here).
Don't get confused here, the pic on the left is on the tree-stump inside the woodland
while all the rest are on the Meadow Post. The right pair are half a second apart.
View: D01_20221004_1140_021+022_FB6 Jay visit to Meadow Post taking jump after landing 3+4 of 6 (montage over 400ms).jpg
Description: These two pics taken half a second apart - the Jay probably lands a little too upright,
and instead of falling forward did a little jump to gain balance.
Date: 08 Nov 2022
View: D01_20221001_1645_107_FB6 Magpie on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: Sunshine really brings up the wonderful plumage of this Magpie.
View: E63_20221003_0736_005_FB1 Great Tit.jpg
Description: Plumage immaculate for the ravages of winter to come, this
Great Tit is out looking for breakfast at the hedge bottom.
Date: 07 Nov 2022
View: D72_20221001_0941_085 Southern Hawker Dragonfly female perched in sunny hedge.jpg
Description: A female Southern Hawker Dragonfly warming herself in the sunshine.
Soon only her ghost will haunt the hedge.
View: DF3_20221004_1354_087 Common Darter Dragonfly Mature male (on corrugated iron sheet).jpg
Description: Although the peak temperatures are dropping Common Darter Dragonflies
still look for warm places (like this corrugated iron sheet).
View: D72_20221006_0941_006 Common Darter Dragonfly over-mature female warming on east wall of house.jpg
Description: This over-mature Common Darter Dragonfly surprised us before 10 a.m. on
the warm east wall of the house, in the sunshine and sheltered from a
cold and fierce wind from the west.
Date: 06 Nov 2022
View: D72_20221001_0920_070-073 Red Kite gliding in large circle (spread montage at 8fps).jpg
Description: A Red Kite, this one with beautifully manicured feathers, glides overhead
making an unusually large circle, hence the only slight change of orientation.
View: DF3_20221004_1357_119-124 Red Kite in flight twisting tail (close spaced montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A study in tail adjustments as this Red Kite flies past.
Date: 05 Nov 2022
View: D01_20220930_1610_070+1612_074+1634_076_FB6 Sparrowhawk visits to Meadow Post in rain over 25 minutes 1+2+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: The female Sparrowhawk makes visits to the Meadow Post about 25 minutes apart.
View: D01_20220930_1634_076_FB6 Sparrowhawk visits to Meadow Post in rain over 25 minutes 4 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: Its not obvious in the montage, but more detail of the last image shows that
it is pouring with rain, with water dripping from that fiercesome beak and water
drops clinging to her tail.
View: E60_20220930_0708_015_FB3 Sparrowhawk lauching from Kitchen Bird Table.jpg
Description: At the kitchen window as it is only just getting light at 7 a.m. this Sparrowhawk seems
to have landed on the bird table avoiding the sense beam, and is now launching back in to flight.
Date: 04 Nov 2022
View: D72_20220929_1443_022+025 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female Ovipositing into polystyrene packaging 2+5 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: Some polystyrene foam put out for recycling attracts this female Migrant Hawker Dragonfly
to lay her eggs in it. The texture must be similar to that of suitable pond weeds.
Her ovipositor is sticking vertically downwards 2 segments up from the two flappy
bits (anal appendages). The ovipositor was repeatedly pushed down hard into the
plastic foam were we assume an egg was deposited.
View: D72_20220929_1445_041 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female Ovipositing into polystyrene packaging 8 of 8 (detail crop).jpg
Description: Here is more detail of another egg deposition.
We didn't want her wasting her eggs on this fruitless venture, so chased her away.
View: D72_20221001_1511_126 Common Darter Dragonfly female perched on polystyrene packaging (crop).jpg
Description: This photo (again on polystyrene foam - what's the attraction?) is a Common Darter Dragonfly.
View: D72_20221001_1513_135 Common Darter Dragonfly female perched on withering Hawthorn leaf.jpg
Description: Here she is now on a Hawthorn leaf.
Date: 03 Nov 2022
View: E64_20220924_1758_153_FB2 Grey Squirrel clutching rotting apple.jpg
Description: "Just testing the apple for Ripeness"?
View: E6A_20220927_1450_146_FB5 Grey Squirrel carries away rotten windfall apple.jpg
Description: "Just ripe enough!"
View: E64_20221001_1452_205_FB2 Grey Squirrel runs off with rotten apple.jpg
Description: Another 'perfect' apple?
View: E64_20220928_1736_215_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels youngsters feeding together.jpg
Description: Here a couple of young Grey Squirrel, possibly siblings, share the food left
only a few minutes earlier.
Date: 02 Nov 2022
View: DF3_20220924_0914_172-174 Blue Tit pecking at Spider web in crevice of wall at SW corner of house 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: About 3 metres up the SW corner of the house this Blue Tit is industriously
pulling at what looks like Spider silk in a hole broken into the brickwork
by one of the many BT / Openreach 'fixtures' we have suffered over the years.
The bird eventually moved out of sight into the wall :-(
View: DF3_20220925_1050_058-060 Great Spotted Woodpecker very short calls perched in 11kV cable 2-4 of 4 (montage @7fps).jpg
Description: We don't ever remember hearing a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling, so were
surprised to find this adult female perched on an 11kV cable making soft short
squeaks every couple of seconds. The middle image shows her beak slightly
open and eyes closed as she makes the call.
The WWW assures us that this is normal behaviour that we would not hear through
double glazed windows or would have recognised over the CCTV microphone.
These 3 pics are at about 7fps - about 140mS apart left to right.
Date: 01 Nov 2022
View: DF3_20220923_1504_168 Green-veined white butterfly feeding on Mint flower.jpg
Description: The weather has been quite cold and rarely sunny, but we did find this
Green-veined White butterfly feeding on the still flowering mint plants.
View: DF3_20220924_1112_004 Convolvulus flower white very late flowering.jpg
Description: Each year we get a few out-of-season flowers.
This Convolvulus flower has definitely overslept.
View: DF3_20220924_1114_005 Rose hips growing 3m+ supported by Lodgepole Pine.jpg
Description: Rose plants have for several years thrived by growing up through the lodgepole
pine at the east end of the row. Now the multiple flowers has become a sea of red Hips.
Image Archive arch 2022 oct.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Oct 2022
View: DF3_20220922_1242_016+014+017+019+023 Kestrel female hovering in strong wind (montage).jpg
Description: More usually Kestrels around here hunt from perches on the numerous cables and
their support posts. But with a decent wind this one follows the traditional
behaviour for a 'Windhover' of hanging staggeringly stationary head-on into the
breeze using judicious wing flaps and manoeuvring her various flight feathers
and tail. She suddenly dived down behind a hedge and, for us, disappeared.
View: DF3_20220923_0840_151+0843_161 Kestrel female in 11kV cable from South and East viewpoints (montage 2).jpg
Description: This female Kestrel is perched on an 11kV cable over the Bridleway to
the north. Images from the north and from the bridleway.
We left her to continue her not very intensive hunt.
View: DF3_20220922_1549_113 Red Kite gliding overhead looking at camera.jpg
Description: This tatty Red Kite glides overhead, balefully glaring at us as they pass over.
Date: 30 Oct 2022
View: D01_20220919_2325_013_FB6 Tawny Owl 3+ minute visit to Meadow Post 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: A flurry of feathers a bit before midnight heralds the arrival of this Tawny Owl for a short visit.
View: DF3_20220918_1057_562 Field (q) Grasshopper.jpg
Description: Another Field Grasshopper less camouflaged than the last one
but along the same path. There are now several along the same 20m
path on warm days.
View: DF3_20220917_1344_447 Green Shieldbug.jpg
Description: A Green Shieldbug (species common name) is walking along the edge
of our potted Mullein plant.
Date: 29 Oct 2022
View: DF3_20220917_1746_464 Kestrel female on harrowed field with bird prey in claws 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: It looks like the female Kestrel has captured some sort of small bird.
She seems to have a small piece of it in her beak.
We tried to find a more informative viewpoint through a gap in the farm hedge
kept open for farm machinery, but she took off immediately we re-appeared.
View: DF3_20220920_0949_001+002+-950_004 Kestrel female struggling to balance on swaying Fibre Optic cable 1+2+4 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels is here having a really hard time balancing on this swaying
cable, tail sweeping backwards and forwards every second of so to retain balance.
Of the 3 cables, she has chosen the Fibre-optic cable. It is much lighter than the other
copper/aluminium cables and this bird, that on average weighs only '184 g (6+1/2 oz),
is able to noticeably bend the cable where she stands.
Date: 28 Oct 2022
View: DF3_20220916_1525_085-087 Red Kite climbing in Thermal 05-07 of 26 (montage bottom to top @7fps increasing separations).jpg
Description: At the other end of the biological flight scale this rather Tatty Red Kite made a few
lazy circles in the sky above us.
View: DF3_20220916_1525_102 Red Kite climbing in Thermal @7fps 22 of 26 (crop).jpg
View: DF3_20220916_1525_103-106 Red Kite climbing in Thermal @7fps 23-26 of 26 (accurate montage).jpg
Date: 27 Oct 2022
View: DF3_20220916_1518_066-069 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female in flight @7fps 05-08 of 18 (Close-spaced montage).jpg
Description: we had a couple of days seeing Migrant Hawker Dragonflies at various of their favourite haunts.
This first montage is more tightly spaced than reality.
View: DF3_20220917_1329_393 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female in flight.jpg
View: DF3_20220917_1330_420-423 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female in flight @7fps 01-04 of 11 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This montage is accurately spaced at about 7 frames per second.
Date: 26 Oct 2022
View: BU8_20220916_0421_057 Roe Deer male at Duck Pond.jpg
Description: We are graced with a visit from this male Roe Deer - probably looking for a drink.
View: BUA_20220917_0103_037_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer male at east hedge gap.jpg
Description: A male Reeves' Muntjac Deer may here be calling at an hour past midnight.
Muntjac Deer are much smaller than the Roe Deer - imagine a creature
about the size of a medium Dog.
View: BU7_20220920_0727_059 Muntjac Reeves Deer male near south hedge gap.jpg
Description: Foraging near the South hedge gap this male Reeves' Muntjac Deer collects
his breakfast.
Date: 25 Oct 2022
View: E6A_20220915_2353_067-20220919_0154_324_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) Montage (approx montage from 7 frames).jpg
Description: The Fieldmice (Wood Mice) are back with a vengeance, first here at the
camera site in the Meadow.
View: E6A_20220917_2158_241_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse).jpg
Description: Proper detail of the obvious individual above.
Doing the "Indian tail trick"?
View: E63_20220921_2222_223-20220922_0533_230_FB1 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at hedge bottom over 2 nights (montage of 5 frames).jpg
Description: Not so many Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at the hedge bottom as we see at the Meadow site,
but we think that the bird at the top probably holds this year's high-jump record.
You can see his shadow just left of the bottom of the hedge trunk on the right.
View: D36_20220916_1558_015+20220915_1757_008_FB4 Magpie(s) collecting dead Fieldmice (Wood Mice) (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Sadly mice in the house have to be promptly stopped before they breed under
the floorboards and becomes a major problem. This speaks from experience :-(
Many mice are caught and released from live traps, but some individuals won't use them.
We put the sad little bodies on the tree-stump where one or more Magpies reliably
collect them. These two moments are on different days but make a rather interesting
montage of an imaginary take-off.
Date: 24 Oct 2022
View: E63_20220915_1005_020_FB1 Dunnock reaching down from stone.jpg
Description: A Dunnock probably about to 'hop' down to the ground.
View: E6A_20220921_0704_140_FB5 2 Dunnock colliding (q) in flight (crop).jpg
Description: This looks to us like a heavy collision between two Dunnocks both apparently flying in
to land in opposite directions. It not a line of site effect - the shadow of the bird on
the left clearly shows an almost zero gap between them.
No injuries as far as we know.
Date: 23 Oct 2022
View: DF3_20220914_1250_051 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly male perched in hedge (crop).jpg
Description: This perfect male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly teased us a bit before perching about 2 metres up
in a hedge where we could get his portrait.
View: DF3_20220914_1429_097 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly flying past small hover-fly.jpg
Description: As the afternoon warmed up we found this Migrant Hawker Dragonfly hunting
near the blocked gate - one of their favourite places every year.
The small Hover-fly was only spotted as we prepared the image.
View: DF3_20220914_1430_105-107 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly in flight @7fps (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This flying Migrant hawker dragonfly montage is accurately spaced at 7 frames per second.
View: D72_20220909_1241_025+029 Hobby in flight 2+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Even a few Dragonflies bring along visits from the Hobby who specialise
in hunting these insects.
We miss most of them of course, but here caught this one flying overhead.
Date: 22 Oct 2022
View: DF3_20220914_1425_079 Small White Butterfly feeding on Great Willowherb flower.jpg
Description: A Small White Butterfly feeds on a Great Willowherb flower.
View: DF3_20220914_1554_156 Sloe Bug (Dolycoris baccarum) on Mullen leaf (crop).jpg
Description: In a self-set Mullen plant in a pot protected outside a window, this Sloe Bug
is wandering around.
Shieldbugs and Squashbugs are fascinating insects with multiple
appearances as they develop into adults.
Date: 21 Oct 2022
View: DF3_20220913_1034_013 Dandelion Seed Head by conservatory door (crop 1).jpg
Description: In a sheltered spot by the side of the Conservatory door we find this
perfect Dandelion seed head.
View: DF3_20220913_1034_013 Dandelion Seed Head by conservatory door (crop 2).jpg
Description: Details from the centre.
All that intricacy just to hold about 200 seed 'parachutes'.
Date: 20 Oct 2022
View: D72_20220912_1050_070 Bracket Fungus on fallen Willow branch (orig & final).jpg
Description: These bracket fungi fruiting bodies are on a Willow branch broken in
a storm a couple of years ago.
We had a go at identifying the species in our 640 page 2400 species
ID book, but found sufficient near matches to leave us stumped.
So 'Bracket Fungus' it remains.
View: D72_20220912_1050_073 Bracket Fungus on fallen Willow branch (orig & final).jpg
Description: More detail.
Date: 19 Oct 2022
View: D72_20220912_0726_245-252 Swan in flight @8fps (accurate montage 1).jpg
Description: We rarely see Mute Swans here, so this flyby by just this one Swan was especially welcome.
The corvids on the 11kV cables and poles couldn't care less.
View: D72_20220912_0726_245-247 Swan in flight @8fps (accurate montage 2).jpg
Description: More Detail of the three images at the left.
View: D72_20220912_0730_274-277 Pigeon flies under the morning moon (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: A few minutes later we see this Pigeon flying 'under the moon'.
Date: 18 Oct 2022
View: BUA_20220908_2217_003_SC8 Badger entering site at east hedge gap.jpg
Description: Brock strolls in - what's on the menu tonight?
View: BUC_20220912_0103_163-165_SC7 Badger foraging on Round Mound (impression montage).jpg
Description: A badger quietly forages the slope of the mound.
Date: 17 Oct 2022
View: D01_20220909_2114_025+2118_027_2121_033_FB6 Tawny Owl visits to meadow post over 8 minutes 1+2+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl spent several minutes visiting the Meadow Post.
View: D01_20220915_0043_073+0041_071_FB6 Barn Owl short visit to meadow post 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: A Barn Owl makes a short stop visit a little after midnight.
You can't see their face, but even the rear plumage is wonderful.
Date: 16 Oct 2022
View: E63_20220912_1242_046_FB1 Great Tit on stone at hedge bottom with foot on small twig.jpg
Description: A fine Great Tit with left foot on a tiny twig we doubt that the bird
has even noticed is there.
View: E63_20220909_1438_089_FB1 Robin foraging in debris by stone.jpg
Description: This Robin is excavating at the bottom of the stone.
It it more normal to see them, perkily perched hoping for a handout!
View: E63_20220910_1133_128_FB1 Great Spotted Woodpecker male juvenile at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: This Great Spotted Woodpecker appears to be a male just losing his juvenile plumage.
Date: 15 Oct 2022
View: D72_20220909_1248_200 Red Kite in flight.jpg
Description: A somewhat tatty Red Kite glides overhead.
View: DF3_20220911_1213_038-040 Buzzard leaving perch on 11kV crossbar at blocked gate @7fp (montage).jpg
Description: A couple of Buzzards seem to have settled on this area as as much of a 'home'
as they have before the nesting season, moving between the power poles and
sometimes cables to hunt. We don't have any idea whether they are a 'pair'.
View: DF3_20220911_1213_049-052 Buzzard leaving perch on 11kV crossbar at blocked gate @7fp (montage).jpg
Date: 14 Oct 2022
View: E6A_20220907_1829_237+1831_238_FB5 Weasel at Meadow site (accurate montage over 2 mins).jpg
Description: A Weasel visits the meadow site for a couple of minutes.
Here the two views the camera took are accurately montaged (left first).
The 'top' view on the right manages to hide all of the distinguishing details.
View: E6A_20220914_1208_192_FB5 Weasel (crop).jpg
Description: A week later the Weasel pays another visit to the Meadow site.
View: E6A_20220914_1842_249_FB5 Weasel.jpg
Description: 6 hours later what looks like the same Weasel makes another transit.
Date: 13 Oct 2022
View: E6A_20220907_0000_160-20220908_0422_255_FB5 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) and Vole at Meadow site - vole+RH mouse in 1 frame (approx montage).jpg
Description: A selection from 14 pics (over 3 days) of Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at the meadow site turned into a little
celebration. A Vole (much darker fur centre & lowest) muscled into a couple of the
pics, here appearing in the same original frame as the mouse on the right.
View: E63_20220908_0518_257_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) carrying away whole Blackberry fruit.jpg
Description: The hedge bottom shows far less Rodent activity, but we rather liked this one of
a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) carrying off a whole Blackberry
Date: 12 Oct 2022
View: DF3_20220904_1602_016 Green-veined White Butterfly feeding on mint flower (crop 1).jpg
Description: A Green-veined White Butterfly enjoys a mint flower
View: DF3_20220904_1602_016 Green-veined White Butterfly feeding on mint flower (crop 2).jpg
Description: Here is a closer look at just the Green-veined white Butterfly on a mint flower.
View: DF3_20220904_1603_019 Green-veined White Butterfly feeding on thistle flower surrounded by old flowers and seeds.jpg
Description: The same individual Green-veined White Butterfly goes on to visit this thistle flower, surrounded by
withering flowers and a tangle of seeds ready to be blown to pastures new.
Date: 11 Oct 2022
View: BUA_20220904_0558_052+053+0559_055_SC8 Hare stops momentarily as they enter at East hedge (montage).jpg
Description: A Hare bounds into our patch through the east hedge gap, momentarily pauses
for a sharp selfie, before carrying on into the plot.
View: BUA_20220908_0155_026_SC8 Fox entering east hedge gap at 0200.jpg
Description: Two hours after midnight, in walks the Fox intent on several more hours of 'mischief'.
Date: 10 Oct 2022
View: E60_20220901_0851_003_FB3 Sparrowhawk female on Kitchen Window perch.jpg
Description: A female Sparrowhawk lands on the kitchen perch.
Once or twice some days we see her doing the 'bird feeder' circuit.
View: D36_20220907_1333_042_FB4 Chaffinch male landing on Tree-stump showing green back.jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch lands on the tree stump, providing a fine view of the
normally hidden green feathered back.
Date: 09 Oct 2022
View: D01_20220827_0446_108+0451_114+0452_116_FB6 Barn Owl 2 visits to Meadow Post over 7 mins 1+4+5 of 6 (montage from right).jpg
Description: A gorgeous Barn Owl drops in for a few minutes on the Meadow Post.
View: D01_20220827_0452_116_FB6 Barn Owl 2 visits to Meadow Post over 7 minutes 5 of 6 (crop 1).jpg
Description: The image at the left in the montage in more detail.
Date: 08 Oct 2022
View: DF3_20220830_1547_047-051 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly male in flight at 7fps 1-5 of 5 (approx montage).jpg
Description: We have a good number of Migrant Hawker Dragonflies this year.
This montage just over half a second of flight catches the chaotic manoeuvring
of these insects. Top left downward, then vertically upwards.
View: D72_20220901_1251_126 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly male in flight 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: A closer look at a male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly hunting over a concrete
access track that acts as a suntrap.
Date: 07 Oct 2022
View: DF3_20220830_1029_007 Common Darter Dragonfly female perched on seed head of Red Campion (q) (crop 1).jpg
Description: Not many Darter Dragonflies (intermediate in size between Hawker Dragonflies
and Damselflies) so far this year. This one is perched on what looks like a seed head.
Down the stem is a rather nice Spider's web, though a fly caught in it would disagree.
Date: 06 Oct 2022
View: D01_20220829_1055_002-1102_020_FB6 Green Woodpecker juvenile on Meadow Post 1+4-6 of 8 (montage over 7 mins).jpg
Description: We have recently seen 3 juvenile Green Woodpeckers outside our patch.
Here one of them spent several minutes coming and going from the Meadow post.
This one looks like a male.
View: D01_20220829_1102_021_FB6 Green Woodpecker juvenile on Meadow Post 7 of 8 (crop).jpg
Description: Another image from the Green Woodpecker sequence.
Our anthropomorphic eyes can not help but see this creature as 'Mr Grumpy'.
Date: 05 Oct 2022
View: BUA_20220826_1611_028_SC8 Hare near east hedge gap.jpg
Description: We are sure that the Hares in the surrounding field feel rather dispossessed
after harvest and harrowing. Woodland are not quite their 'thing', but their
occasional visits are most welcome.
View: BUA_20220826_2245_034_SC8 Fox carrying Rabbit to east hedge gap 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: We nowadays see very few Rabbits in our patch, but this fox has obviously found
one and appears to be carrying it out of the plot through the east hedge gap.
Another less clear instance occurred on the next night.
View: BU9_20220830_0419_017_SC2 Fox notices camera dull red flash at orchard (2nd pic of 3).jpg
Description: 100 metres away this Fox apparently notices the trail cam's dull red glow, and
takes a look, the night time optimised eyes acting as reflectors.
Date: 04 Oct 2022
View: E63_20220826_1840_204_FB1 Great Tit perched on slope of stone.jpg
Description: An immaculate Great Tit stops for a moment on the edge of the stone.
View: E63_20220828_0850_358_FB1 Great tit about to launch with Corn grain in beak.jpg
Description: This Great Tit has 'won' what to us is a tiny seed - to the bird a decent high protein beakful.
Date: 03 Oct 2022
View: E63_20220823_1834_124_FB1 7 Chaffinches at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: Chaffinches have had a good year - here are 7 (NOT a montage) rootling
about at the hedge bottom.
View: E63_20220822_0928_006_FB1 Robin with almost fully red breast.jpg
Description: A perky young Robin now with breast almost completely 'red'
Date: 02 Oct 2022
View: E63_20220822_1718_029_FB1 Grey Squirrel female nibbling food from paws.jpg
Description: Lots of things to eat for this female Grey Squirrel.
View: D36_20220825_1322_005_FB4 Grey Squirrel eating Banana peel.jpg
Description: A nice fresh piece of Banana Peel gets nibbled like a stick of celery.
Date: 01 Oct 2022
View: DF3_20220821_1744_233-235 Buzzard in flight calling & blinking nictitating membrane @7fps 08-10 of 56 (approx montage).jpg
Description: We were startled by a whoosh of wings followed by a loud avian scream right over our heads.
This Buzzard had just landed on the top of the 11kv power pole right by us,
realised the mistake of landing near humans, and immediately took off.
The Buzzard made several more calls as they flew away, as you see here
View: DF3_20220821_1744_254-256 Buzzard in flight calling & blinking nictitating membrane @7fps 29-31 of 56 (montage).jpg
Description: We generally try to avoid pictures of birds with their nictitating membrane (a
semi transparent second eyelid) over the eye.
But here the bird is using it to 'blink' closed for less than 140mS (seventh of a second)
View: DF3_20220821_1744_261 Buzzard in flight calling & blinking nictitating membrane @7fps 36 of 56 (crop).jpg
Description: Finally a detailed look at the Buzzard in flight.
Image Archive arch 2022 sep.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Sep 2022
View: DF3_20220821_1736_175 2 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly males hanging from hedge branch (crop).jpg
Description: These two male Migrant Hawker Dragon flies are NOT a montage. We watched one of
these land to hang in the hedge, and the camera found two almost perfectly
aligned as you see here. The cameraman really did think he was getting some sort
of double image, but quickly realised not, to get this pic. Trying to get a
better angle induced one to take off. The other either took off unseen or just
used it's camouflage to stay hidden.
Date: 29 Sep 2022
View: D01_20220820_0251_099+0319_105_FB6 Tawny Owl visits to meadow Post 1+4 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: A couple of visits to the Meadow post by this Tawny Owl about 20 minutes apart.
View: E6A_20220820_0318_098-20220822_0153_243_FB5 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at FB5 - 4 pairs (montage).jpg
Description: It is unlikely to be just chance that at almost the same moment we start to see Fieldmice (Wood Mice) (and a few voles)
disporting themselves at the Meadow camera site about 10 metres away?
Here a selection with a pair of Fieldmice (Wood Mice) in each natural frame.
View: E6A_20220820_0421_103-20220821_2158_238_FB5 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) & Voles at FB5 (montage).jpg
Description: Here we just had some fun picking from the remainder of the 23 frames.
Most of the these are Fieldmice (Wood Mice) except for Voles 1st & 3rd from the left.
Date: 28 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220817_1159_041+045+048+050 Reed (q) Warbler picking one drupelet from a Blackberry fruit 1+2+5+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: This 'Little Brown Bird' (we think a Reed Warbler) is outside the conservatory
picking off the spherical 'drupelets' from blackberry fruits. The bird is as well disguised
in these 4 sequential images as it was trying to find it in the camera viewfinder!
Drupelet is what seems to be the official spelling although Druplet is freely used.
Date: 27 Sep 2022
View: E60_20220815_0445_023_FB3 Tawny Owl landing on kitchen perch after visit to Meadow post 15m before (crop).jpg
Description: Near the end of the night this lovely Tawny Owl lands on the perch at the kitchen window.
Whether the natural interference of the Blackberry stem enhances or degrades the pic
of the Owl is open to question, but it made it clear it was time to exercise the secateurs!
View: E60_20220814_0131_011_FB3 Tawny Owl aerobraking to land on kitchen perch.jpg
Description: The day before this Tawny Owl lands at the Kitchen bird table & perch 90 minutes after midnight
Date: 26 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220813_0724_059-071 Buzzard flying from 11kV cable to crossbar 1+3+6+8+13 of 15 (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: There seems to be a single Buzzard hunting the area to our North and West
using the 11kV cables and crossbar system as hunting perches.
Normally when the Buzzard decides to move we get a flight of at least
100 metres (typical spacing of the poles) but this one did a short 'hop' of
a couple of metres from a cable to the top of a cable insulator mount.
It seems that Buzzards CAN perch on the cable, but prefer a larger surface area.
View: D72_20220815_0650_168-170+172+174 Kestrel female landing on 11kV crossbar (accurate montage @8fps)jpg.jpg
Description: This nervous female Kestrel doesn't like us walking down the Farm Road 50m away,
and flies 100m from the nearer pole to the next one along.
Date: 25 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220814_0711_106 Green Woodpecker juvenile on Farm Road grass margin inside bend.jpg
Description: A juvenile Green Woodpecker - one of three foraging on a grass area
bordering the Farm Road.
View: E6A_20220816_1521_106_FB5 Green Woodpecker juvenile at Meadow site.jpg
Description: One of the juvenile Green Woodpeckers.
We think they are magnificent - and you can believe they evolved from dinosaurs.
View: E6A_20220815_0710_200_FB5 Green Woodpecker juvenile.jpg
Description: Typical 'teenager' in a sulk - no I won't look at the camera!
Date: 24 Sep 2022
View: d01_20220809_0132_019_fb6 tawny owl hunts from meadow post over 150m including catching shrew 03 of 16 (crop).jpg
Description: We haven't seen much of anything on the Meadow post in this second batch
of heat-wave days, so particularly pleased to see a Tawny Owl spending
two and a half hours hunting on our site.
Here the Tawny Owl has arrived with a Shrew in the beak.
In the next frame (not shown) the shrew has gone, presumably 'down the hatch'.
View: e60_20220809_0229_006_fb3 tawny owl hunts from meadow post over 150m including catching shrew 09 of 16 (crop).jpg
Description: An hour later presumably the same Tawny Owl landed face to camera on the
Kitchen window perch.
Date: 23 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220808_1224_228 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male in flight (crop).jpg
Description: More usually found here around ponds and low over the meadow,
Southern Hawker Dragonflies mostly hawk at lower heights and slightly
more predicable paths. But usually seen singly
View: D72_20220808_1225_262-267 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male in flight 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
View: D72_20220808_1225_264 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male in flight 3 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: Detail from the 3rd from the right montage above.
Date: 22 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220808_1217_171-174 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly male in flight 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: Continuing the celebration of Migrant Hawker Dragonflies.
View: D72_20220808_1216_158-164 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female in flight 1-7 of 7 (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
View: D72_20220808_1215_148-154 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female in flight 1-7 of 7 (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: Walk the Line!
Date: 21 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220808_1213_034-037 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly in flight @8fps (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Most years we get a good show of Migrant Hawker Dragonflies at the south end of
the access track, and in the evenings over the meadow. Here is a little sample,
starting with Migrant Hawkers near the gate.
View: D72_20220808_1214_084-087 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly male eating and discarding midge 1-4 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Here we caught a male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly finishing sucking a midge dry
and dropping the empty exoskeleton. That dot below the 3rd from the left Dragonfly
is the dropped insect you can see just being released in the second pic.
Immediately the prey has gone the legs move back to their aerodynamic
position.
Frame rate is 8 fps throughout this selection
View: D72_20220808_1215_118-125 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female in flight 3-10 of 10 (accurate montage 2).jpg
Description: The nice sweep of the Migrant Hawker Dragonfly at the bottom is supplemented by
another Dragonfly flying in from the top of the frame.
Date: 20 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220806_1442_065 Holly Blue Butterfly female 2nd brood on blackberry flower.jpg
Description: A female Holly Blue butterfly feeding on late blackberry flowers.
This is a new emergent - they have two broods a year.
View: D72_20220806_1626_089 Holly Blue Butterfly female 2nd brood on blackberry flower with shadow of buds on wing.jpg
Description: This single female 'haunted' the side of the garage for 3 days.
Here she catches the shadow of an adjacent unopened head
of blackberry flowers to make an interesting pattern.
View: D72_20220808_1112_003 Green-veined White butterfly female (1st of 2022).jpg
Description: The first Green-veined White Butterfly this year.
Date: 19 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220806_0818_021 Lords and Ladies fruit spike.jpg
Description: A single spike of Lords and Ladies berries.
We wondered whether anything eats them, and a web search
reveals that the whole plant is poisonous to humans and animals,
the berries especially so. There is no antidote, and people have died.
View: D72_20220806_1102_030 Ragwort in Grass Margin (orig).jpg
Description: Outside our south hedge is this grass margin. The only thing we could find that
doesn't look dead is this seemingly indestructible but stunted Oxford Ragwort
plant. A poppy we had been following just withered and died. Seeing this got us
thinking about Cinnabar Moths and their caterpillars which feed on this plant,
and of which we have seen none at all, and its now the end of their
caterpillar's growth period.
View: D72_20220807_0922_154 Hedge to south of block gate showing individual plants within.jpg
Description: Drought and heat-waves do unusual things to normally passive items.
Here the hedge running south from the blocked gate shows a pattern
of growth variation reflecting the different plants in the hedge, and some
hint of the planting pattern used at least 100 years ago.
Date: 18 Sep 2022
View: E63_20220804_1755_099_FB1 Great tit flying in to hedge bottom stone.jpg
Description: An adult Great tit aerobrakes to land on the stone.
View: E63_20220805_0924_142_FB1 2 Chaffinch males in flight skirmish.jpg
Description: Chaffinches are aggressive birds, the males especially so.
View: E6A_20220809_0919_081_FB5 Blackbird female picking up food on desiccated grass at meadow sie.jpg
Description: A female Blackbird seems to be almost gleeful as she pecks at the ground
at the meadow site. The thin fibrous material you see on the ground is Badger fur.
Date: 17 Sep 2022
View: E6A_20220806_1724_183_FB5 Green Woodpecker juvenile (crop 2).jpg
Description: In the last few days we have heard the Green Woodpecker 'Yaffling' around the plot,
got a few glimpses, always of a juvenile.
This one at the meadow site is casting a beady eye on the offerings.
View: E6A_20220808_1317_021_FB5 Green Woodpecker juvenile at meadow site.jpg
Description: 2 days later possibly the same juvenile Green Woodpecker at the Meadow
site.
a few days later a circular walk outside our patch saw 3 juvenile Green Woodpeckers
simultaneously on the grass margins to the farm road. A good year for
them!
View: D01_20220804_0913_007_FB6 Great Spotted Woodpecker juvenile on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: If you live in a town you are more likely to see Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
A few sightings at the peanut feeder are supplemented by this pic of
a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker stopping off at the Meadow post.
Date: 16 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220803_1629_139-141 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly in flight - right to left @8fps (accurate montage).jpg
Description: In the warm sunshine a few Migrant Hawker Dragonflies were hawking up and down
the concrete track. Roy can't resist photographing them in flight even if it
does mostly produce hundred of blurred or blank frames.
View: D72_20220803_1629_153-155 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female in flight - left to right @8fps (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A female left to right.
View: D72_20220803_1748_304-306 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female in flight - right to left @8fps (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A female again right to left - the first is a bit disguised against foliage.
View: D72_20220803_1749_356-362 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly male in flight turns back in 200mS (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: Out venerable garage provides a clear backdrop for this male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly flying
right to left and in two frame (fifth of a second) has turned completely round to fly the other way.
What manoeuvrability!
Of course the cameraman didn't react quickly enough to the reversal and camera panning left
lost the insect out of frame :-(
Want to try for a still image yourself: Even top-end autofocus is hopeless
unless the background is bland sky, and auto exposure usually goes badly wrong.
So you need a camera with lockable manual focus and ability
to set shutter speed, aperture and ISO rating in manual mode. Even low-end SLRs can do this
although the frame rate will be low..
Typical sunny day settings Shutter 1/1250 Aperture F9 ISO 640 Lens 50 - 100mm focussed about
5 metres away. Shutter button: high-speed continuous.
As you spot a dragonfly flying towards your focus distance, start taking frames until it
has passed your focus distance. If you can't follow the action in the viewfinder just
learn to point the camera 'blind' with lower enough zoom that it keeps the insect 'in-frame'.
Expect a huge failure rate and check that your 'aim' keeps insects mostly in-frame.
If you have any successes please send them along!
Date: 15 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220801_1514_021 2 Migrant Hawkers perched in Hedge tree at blocked gate 5 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: A 'pair' (one female and the other male - but they don't pair up for more than mating) of
Migrant Hawkers were warming themselves in a well chosen sunny spot at the corner
of a hedge. Here the male is in the foreground with the blurred female behind and left.
The insects are only about 10cm apart, but close-up focus is very sensitive to distance.
View: D72_20220801_1514_030+033 2 Migrant Hawkers in Hedge at blocked gate (female over male) 9 of 9 (accurate montage for focus).jpg
Description: Here are the same pair more as human brains re-construct the images it gets
from the eyes flitting between the two and re-focussing without you noticing.
So this is a montage of camera frames focussed on each insect in turn.
Hope that you will enjoy this 'impression'.
Date: 14 Sep 2022
View: BU5_20220731_2349_227+229+231_SC1 Roe Deer male walks along edge of Round pond (montage).jpg
Description: A few minutes before midnight this elegant male Roe Deer visited the
East of our patch. Firstly a drink - now a couple of metres from the edge :-(
View: BUC_20220731_2354_184+186_SC7 Roe Deer male walks past dead Badger 1+2 of 2 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Then a passage over the Mound, completely ignoring the dead Badger (a second road-kill
within a couple of weeks) as you would expect from herbivore.
View: BUA_20220731_2356_211+212_SC8 Roe Deer male walks towards camera (montage).jpg
Description: And finally walking up to the camera near the east hedge gap.
Date: 13 Sep 2022
View: BU5_20220731_1250_158-1256_182_SC1 Muntjac Deer male walks along inside of pond joined by female 1-3+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: Round Pond seem to be the major source of water for the larger mammals. This
pond is in real trouble - it has a slow leak for years but the water table in
now so low that we lose an inch every day. We have decided to stop daily top-ups
of several cubic metres, and in any case topping it up may soon be illegal due
to a hose pipe ban, and have installed a makeshift drinking trough for animals
that expect to find water.
Date: 12 Sep 2022
View: E60_20220729_1001_012_FB3 Sparrowhawk female on kitchen perch.jpg
Description: The local female Sparrowhawk stops off briefly at the kitchen perch in the
bright morning sunshine. The swinging Peanut feeder suggests that she
either attacked a bird in it, or birds successfully fled in terror.
View: E60_20220802_1914_009+1852_008_FB3 Sparrowhawk female on kitchen perch after flying away (accurate montage over 20 mins).jpg
Description: The last few days has seen many passes a day of the female Sparrowhawk past the
conservatory window on her pass of the kitchen and study peanut feeders.
We rarely see her perched on either feeder, but the patient IR bean triggered camera
at the kitchen window does occasionally see her land or fly by.
This montage shows both in perhaps misleading pair of unrelated events - the
bird in flight occurred 22 minutes before the landing bird, but it does make a
striking montage.
Date: 11 Sep 2022
View: BU8_20220728_2058_028-2125_041 Fox hunting near Duck Pond over 27 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: Probably the same fox appears almost every night at this grass patch near the
Duck Pond. This hunting session lasted almost half an hour.
View: BU8_20220730_1946_127-1947_132 Fox hunting near Duck Pond (approx montage clockwise from bottom right).jpg
Description: Probably the same fox appears almost every night at this grass patch near the
Duck Pond. This hunting only lasted a couple of minutes, but here there was
enough light for this selection to be in colour.
Date: 10 Sep 2022
View: E64_20220728_1432_012_FB2 Magpie flying over Woodland site showing iridescent tail.jpg
Description: Whoosh - this Magpie flashes their plumage as they skim over the Woodland site.
View: D01_20220801_0822_060+0823_0620825_066_FB6 2 Magpies spending a few minutes on Meadow Post (montage).jpg
Description: These two Magpies seem to include an adult (left - judging by the long tail)
but we have no idea what was going on. Every Magpie we see this year
has had a moderate to heaving infestation of feather mites over the head.
Date: 09 Sep 2022
View: E63_20220726_1934_211_FB1 Great Spotted Woodpecker juvenile landing at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: We no longer see much of Great Spotted Woodpeckers on feeders near the house -
at this time of year there is masses of 'natural' food available.
But this juvenile sweeps in with aplomb to check out the hedge bottom.
View: E60_20220727_2314_029_FB3 Bat flying over kitchen bird table (crop).jpg
Description: Approaching midnight a bat flies over the kitchen window bird table flying towards
the window and takes a selfie. The bat is closer to the camera than the woodwork
(the Bat casts a shadow from the flash high inside the window) making them look
larger than reality.
Date: 08 Sep 2022
View: PK1_20220725_0633_122+DF3_20220725_0634_005 Hare juvenile eating weeds at front of main pond (montage).jpg
Description: Many metres from the safety of the surrounding crop field, this juvenile Hare is nibbling
on the grass and some weeds at the front (i.e. visible from the house) of the
main pond. Left is a view eating a leaf in 'suck-it-in' style taken through the kitchen window.
On the right through the window of a room above the kitchen with a more capable camera.
View: BUA_20220720_2123_109_SC8 Hare near east hedge gap after sunset.jpg
Description: Hares now find it easy to hide from sight in the ripening (more like already ripe
after the heat-wave) wheat, but after dark seem to like coming into our patch - for a change of diet?
Date: 07 Sep 2022
View: DF3_20220723_1252_191 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male (1st of 2022).jpg
Description: The Southern Hawker Dragonfly appears most years, and here is
the first one we have spotted hanging on a blackberry stem up in a sunny hedge.
View: D72_20220725_1638_002 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female perched in hedge.jpg
Description: A female Migrant Hawker Dragonfly perched in a hedge.
The yellow 'T' shape behind the wings helps in identification when perched, and the
atypically long pair of 'anal appendages' help here and when in flight.
View: D72_20220715_1604_100 Willow ( (q) poss Apple) Ermine Moth perched on timber post (crop).jpg
Description: This Ermine Moth is perched a wooden posts. All of the Ermine Moths are beautiful creatures.
We expected this to be a Spindle Ermine Moth that invaded the Spindle
trees and hedge several weeks ago, but the ID book assures us that it is
most likely a Willow Ermine Moth, or maybe an Apple Ermine moth.
Date: 06 Sep 2022
View: DF3_20220722_1612_016-020 Kestrel female taking off from telephone pole near house 1-5 of 7 (montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Rounding the side of the house on our way out for a walk reveals this female Kestrel
on top of the 'phone pole across the track. She didn't immediately fly off, so we assume
that this is the tolerant 'Grey Feather' who mostly ignores us.
We waited patiently, and after a few minutes she flew off anyway.
Here is the launch.
View: DF3_20220722_1612_018 Kestrel female taking off from telephone pole near house 3 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: Here is the middle image in more detail.
View: DF3_20220722_1620_034+036+1621_050+051 Kestrel female preening on wooden power pole on south boundary 2-5 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: A few minutes later we discovered where she had gone - round our SW corner
and onto the top of the wooden mains power pole in the south hedge.
She was enjoying a major preen of her beautiful feathers.
Date: 05 Sep 2022
View: D01_20220721_0522_254+0523_256_FB6 Kestrel female or juvenile lands on meadow post with rodent in beak to swallow 1+3 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: After the two-day heat-wave the weather quickly cooled overnight. To our
surprise this female Kestrel arrived on the meadow post shortly after sunrise
with some sort of Rodent in her beak - we guess a vole or Shrew. One minute
later the Rodent was almost entirely inside the bird.
View: D01_20220721_0522_255+0523_257_FB6 Kestrel female or juvenile lands on meadow post with rodent in beak to swallow 2+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: At the meadow post each camera trigger generates 2 images - the first with
the flash firing, and the second in natural light. At night the second frame is black,
but here in very poor light it is possible to extract a poorly balanced image
in which the rodent can be seen more clearly than in the high contrast flash images.
Date: 04 Sep 2022
View: E63_20220720_1039_154_FB1 Great Tit juvenile with small seed in beak.jpg
Description: A juvenile Great Tit makes the most of the comparative cool of the morning,
and the shade of the hedge, to root out some small seeds to eat.
Date: 03 Sep 2022
View: D73_20220718_0803_007 Peacock Butterfly feeding from Great Willow Herb flower.jpg
Description: This was at 8 a.m. on the first day of the heat-wave - the morning was already
pleasantly warm - a portent of the events to come. Many of the normally mid-day
visitors were already out making the most of this atypical weather. Here a
Peacock Butterfly has the proboscis in a flower hidden by the one closest to the camera.
View: D73_20220718_0804_017 Peacock Butterfly resting in hedge.jpg
Description: A more 'classical' view of the Peacock Butterfly.
View: D73_20220718_0805_025 Honey Bee collecting pollen from Teasel flowers.jpg
Description: A honey Bee working their way around a Teasel Flower head.
They will often go round several times at different heights.
View: D73_20220718_0807_040 Gatekeeper Butterfly feeding on Blackberry flower.jpg
Description: This pristine Gatekeeper Butterfly is 'tucking into' a Blackberry flower.
The temperature then quickly rose as the hot south wind supplemented the
hot sun. By mid-day the skies and flowers were deserted in favour of finding
a shady spot and staying there!
Date: 02 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220717_1004_305-308 Red Kite in flight 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: Mid-morning the day before the heat-wave this Red Kite gave us a couple
of minutes of delight as they glided and powered their way around us.
View: D72_20220717_1004_328-332 Red Kite in flight 03-07 of 14 (approx montage @8fps).jpg
View: D72_20220717_1005_362-391 Red Kite gliding around thermal 1+3+5+7 of 9 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: The circles birds make are far too big to show in any detail
so we have turned this flight into a design.
View: D72_20220717_1005_430+437+439 Red Kite gliding overhead 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: The Red Kite finished with a flight low overhead - giving us a
prey's eye view.
Date: 01 Sep 2022
View: D72_20220716_1131_119 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female becoming mature (first of 2022).jpg
Description: The first Migrant Hawker Dragonfly we have spotted this year, this one a female
just becoming mature, here 'caught' in flight.
View: D72_20220717_0950_293 Common Blue Damselfly female Drab form (orig).jpg
Description: A female Common Blue Damselfly in the so called 'Drab' or 'Common' form.
View: D72_20220721_1548_011 Common Blue damselfly female (blue form) on dead clover flower.jpg
Description: This female Common Blue damselfly 'Blue' form is the most common here.
She is perched on a Dead Clover flower usefully providing scale.
She has yet to develop the full blue colour.
Image Archive arch 2022 aug.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Aug 2022
View: BU3_20220712_0354_090_SC6 Roe Deer male on access track looking at camera.jpg
Description: 2 days after the amble over the Round Mound probably the same male Roe Deer
stops on the access track and gives the dull red glow from the camera's IR lamps
a suspicious stare.
View: BU3_20220715_1308_037-039_SC6 Muntjac Reeves Deer female walking over access track to west hedge gap (accurate montage).jpg
Description: We now regularly see the disappearing end of creatures at the whole in the hedge, and think
that the camera must have moved a bit. Here a 'smiling' female Reeves' Muntjac Deer
makes her way off the track into the safety of our 2 acre haven.
View: BUC_20220719_0520_010_SC7 Roe Deer male on Round Mound.jpg
Description: A male Roe Deer looking very elegant on the Round mound just after sunrise.
View: BU3_20220719_0524_089+0525_092+093_SC6 Roe Deer male leaving at west hedge gap and wandering on access track (montage).jpg
Description: A few minutes later the same (judging by the antlers) Roe Deer wanders a little
aimlessly on the access track.
Date: 30 Aug 2022
View: BU7_20220715_0304_016+017 Fox exits site through SW corner hedge gap (montage).jpg
Description: Bye Renard - see you again tomorrow!
View: BU7_20220719_0029_004+006+2354_007+008+20220721_0001_035_036 Fox identical exits around midnight on 3 successive days (accurate montage).jpg
Description: 4 days later, and for the 3 days in a row, probably the same Fox making
appearances just a few minutes before midnight and half an hour afterwards. We
can't tell the sex, but maybe a female with cubs to suckle. Its unusual for
predatory animals to be this predictable.
View: BU8_20220721_0521_118-120 Fox hunting over grass near Duck Pond (impression montage).jpg
Description: "If I keep looking I'm bound to find something to eat even in this sun-baked
ground."
View: BU8_20220721_0524_121+123+124 Fox hunting by Duck Pond (montage).jpg
Description: "I'm still looking."
The searches must be successful some of the time or the Fox would
go searching elsewhere!
Date: 29 Aug 2022
View: D72_20220710_0922_061 Badger Road-kill left at FB5 (orig & final).jpg
Description: Having collected a badger road-kill in the early morning, we decided to leave the body at the
meadow site and see what happened, expecting a Fox would be along in a day or two to drag
away the remains.
But we didn't factor in a (for the UK) hot day and sunshine blazing
down.
WARNING: Skip the two
images following this one if you might become upset.
View: D72_20220712_1618_033 Badger Road-kill left at FB5 08 of 27 (crop with maggots detail insert).jpg
Description: We noticed a few flies on the carcass even the same day, but didn't think much of it.
The stink was unpleasant downwind of the site and we limited our visits.
But 2 days later in the afternoon (that's 55 hours later) we were astounded
to find the carcass completely smothered with Maggots - thousands we can see
in this photo, and probably many times more hidden inside.
View: D72_20220713_1559_082 Badger Road-kill left at FB5 21 of 27 (crop).jpg
Description: 24 Hours on we now have a Badger Rug with ribs sticking out of the top
and skull at the right side. The fur looks like it is attached to skin,
but in fact the skin has complete gone and fur is laying loose and will soon
start being spread around by wind and animal visitors.
Date: 28 Aug 2022
View: D72_20220710_0839_056 Badger - underneath rear paw (orig & final).jpg
Description: It is hard to get a good look at badger paws, so we put down this badger Road-kill
on our excuse for a lawn to photograph them.
Here the Badger's rear paw.
View: D72_20220710_0840_059 Badger - underneath front paw (orig & final).jpg
Description: Here the Badger's front paw.
Date: 27 Aug 2022
View: D72_20220713_1048_045 Yellowhammer on 11kV cable.jpg
Description: This has been a great year for Yellowhammers in the hedges at all 4 compass
points outside our site, but not in it. Several are nesting in the stretch of hedge
running south from our SW corner, and they find the overhead 11kV cables
an ideal spot to do lookout duty. The 11KV cable don't look much from
the ground, but they dwarf the Yellowhammer - a bird about the size of a
Sparrow or Chaffinch.
View: D01_20220714_0352_376_FB6 Tawny Owl short visit to Meadow Post.jpg
Description: Barely landed, and already this Tawny Owl is staring at something off to one side.
Date: 26 Aug 2022
View: D72_20220710_1559_083 Gatekeeper Butterflies mating (1st sighting of 2022).jpg
Description: Our first sighting of a Gatekeeper butterfly this year is of this pair mating.
The double white dots in the black oval is a characteristic of the species.
View: E60_20220712_2301_060_FB3 Brimstone Moth flying over kitchen perch an hour before midnight.jpg
Description: A Brimstone Moth (NOT butterfly) flies over the Kitchen
perch an hour before midnight. The Blackberry stem was awaiting cutting back
but here makes an interesting natural juxtaposition.
You can find a few much better pics of Brimstone Moths in flight on the subject
indexed page around
http://www.moorhen.me.uk/iodsubject/moths_02.htm.
Date: 25 Aug 2022
View: D72_20220708_1010_006 Mallow Flower.jpg
Description: A Mallow flower including stem and leaves.
View: D72_20220710_0932_068 Teasel starting to flower (1st of 2022).jpg
Description: Teasels are really interesting and useful plants.
Here is the first one we have seen starting to flower this year, a patch on
the sunny side in the middle. The flower heads first form a ring around the
circumference, and then split into 2 rings - one working up the head and one down.
Insects enjoy the flowers, and the hundreds of resultant seeds last right through
as a food source for finches and similar into next year.
View: D72_20220713_1059_055 Crocosmia first flowers.jpg
Description: A favourite summer flower is the Crocosmia which flowers in sequence
along the horizontally V-shaped head.
View: DF3_20220709_1301_012 Sumac Flower cluster.jpg
Description: We have had a soft spot for Sumac trees ever since we saw one while
we lived in a 'modern' terrace in Welwyn Garden City.
We have planted one or more at every house we have bought since,
and here, with the greater space, several.
But this is the first time we have seen such an exuberance of flowers.
Date: 24 Aug 2022
View: D72_20220706_0940_063 Ants under corrugated Iron sheet in meadow - ants + tiny to large pupae + alates.jpg
Description: Mid-morning sees that the ants under the corrugated iron seem to have brought
the entire nursery of eggs and Pupae to the surface to warm. On really hot days
lifting the sheet shows barely any ants because they have all been transported
back to the cooler underground tunnels.
All the Pupae can be
returned underground in only a few minutes by these industrious colonies as we
once watched in real time.
View: D72_20220712_1620_034 Ant Alates on west side of access track.jpg
Description: Another Ant nest some 100m away we come across these Ant alates -
flying ants leaving to breed.
Date: 23 Aug 2022
View: E63_20220704_2302_057_FB1 Badger inspecting Hedge bottom an hour before midnight (crop 1).jpg
Description: A Badger on the nightly round.
View: E63_20220704_2302_057_FB1 Badger inspecting Hedge bottom an hour before midnight (crop 2).jpg
Description: A much more detailed crop from the above.
Dog lovers may think that the Badger looks affectionate, but if you got this
close they would try to have off your fingers!
View: E63_20220707_0104_171_FB1 Badger at hedge bottom an hour after midnight.jpg
Description: With little rain for a week, Badgers lose their generally muddy
snouts and appear a little more pristine.
Date: 22 Aug 2022
View: D72_20220704_1741_035 Broad Bodied Chaser Dragonfly male perched in tree on Duck Pond island.jpg
Description: A couple of times in the last few weeks we have shown you the orange
female of the Broad Bodied Chaser. Here at last we see the very different male.
The blue colour (called Pruinescence) is a powder that can be rubbed off
and you can see a few patches missing on this individual.
The Pruinescence is very bright in Ultra-violet light - you can see an old
set of images of this at
Broad Bodied Chaser in UV
Date: 21 Aug 2022
View: E63_20220704_1037_025_FB1 Wood Pigeon looking backward spreading the neck feathers.jpg
Description: Wood Pigeon feathers look so smooth and matt you can forget that they
are made up of hundreds of overlapping feathers.
View: D01_20220702_0813_234_FB6 Magpie lands on Meadow post with unripe Cherry in beak.jpg
Description: A Magpie carrying a somewhat unripe cherry.
Most of our cherry trees make yellow cherries which we find
have a slightly unpleasant aftertaste.
Only the sprout of our deep red cherry tree is producing cherries
this year - we must time our cropping carefully to be 'ripe enough'
but before the Squirrels also find them 'ripe enough'.
The main cherry tree was damaged by the Oak tree that broke
off last year in a storm and after cutting back has not got round
to blossoming.
Date: 20 Aug 2022
View: DF3_20220701_1550_053 Common Blue Damselfly male.jpg
Description: A male Common Blue Damselfly delicately perches on a dead grass stem.
In recent years Azure Damselflies dominated the Damselfly population, but this
year it is about 50-50 Common and Azure.
View: DF3_20220702_1121_147 Beautiful Demoiselle female.jpg
Description: An unexpected find of a female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly long after
most of them have 'gone'. The Damselfly's wings are as undamaged as ever.
View: D72_20220707_1814_066 Common Blue Damselfly male immature not yet developed blue colouring.jpg
Description: Damselflies go through several appearances after emergence from 'teneral' (newly
emerged) to 'over-mature', each species following it's pattern and timescale.
This one is a male Common Blue Damselfly but yet to develop the blue colour
along the middle abdominal segments.
Date: 19 Aug 2022
View: E60_20220630_1023_004_FB3 Sparrowhawk female on kitchen perch (crop).jpg
Description: Our 'resident' female Sparrowhawk stops on the Kitchen Perch.
View: D72_20220630_1048_027 Kestrel female in Lodgepole pine tree.jpg
Description: No sightings of the resident female Kestrel at her haunts around the house in
the last few days (that doesn't mean she hasn't been there) but here she is in
another of her hunting haunts near the top of a Lodge Pole Pine tree perhaps 60
metres away.
Date: 18 Aug 2022
View: E63_20220630_0149_164_FB1 Badger at hedge bottom (crop).jpg
Description: A badger picking up a few food scraps at the hedge bottom.
View: E63_20220630_0149_164_FB1 Badger at hedge bottom (detail of rear and front claws).jpg
Description: A contraction of the two visible sets of claws shows the powerful
rear and front claws.
Date: 17 Aug 2022
View: DF3_20220628_0837_003 Ringlet Butterfly (1st of 2022).jpg
Description: The first sighting of a Ringlet Butterfly this year.
View: DF3_20220625_1608_155 Large Skipper Butterfly perched on leaf.jpg
Description: A male Large Skipper Butterfly.
'Large' is a relative term - All skippers are smaller than the normal run of Butterflies.
Date: 16 Aug 2022
View: E63_20220625_1022_167_FB1 Magpie juvenile begging.jpg
Description: Patience is NOT a virtue that young Magpies possess. FOOD!!!
View: D01_20220625_1420_466+1456_484+485_FB6 Magpie collecting caterpillars and using crack in Meadow Post top 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: The left pic is about half-an-hour earlier than the two on the right (just 400mS
apart) as probably the same Magpie takes some sort of caterpillar to the Meadow
Post, undoubtedly on the way to a demanding youngster. On the right the Magpie
seems to be deliberately Jamming the insects into a crack in the top of the
post.
Woodpeckers do this to steady nuts to break open - quite why a Magpie
would do this doesn't seem obvious.
Date: 15 Aug 2022
View: DF3_20220625_0847_084 Hare sitting with ears down at edge of Farm Road (crop 1).jpg
Description: A Hare hunkered down at the edge of the Farm Road.
View: DF3_20220625_0847_084 Hare sitting with ears down at edge of Farm Road (crop 2).jpg
Description: A detail from the same photo to show you how the Whiskers always seem to droop down.
Date: 14 Aug 2022
View: DF3_20220624_1518_063+064 Muntjac Reeves Deer male watching cameraman as he guards female (accurate montage for focus).jpg
Description: Turning a corner finds this male Reeves' Muntjac Deer staring back as he guarded
the female out in the light behind.
View: E6A_20220628_2056_136_FB5 Muntjac Reeves Deer male at meadow site.jpg
Description: One of the male Reeves' Muntjac Deer takes an idiosyncratic self-portrait.
View: BU8_20220629_1823_149+153+1826_172 Muntjac Reeves deer male on meadow beside Duck Pond (montage).jpg
Description: One of the male Reeves' Muntjac Deer spends a few minutes foraging near
the edge of the Duck-shaped pond
Date: 13 Aug 2022
View: E60_20220623_1229_007_FB3 Sparrowhawk landing on kitchen perch probably after failed attack at bird feeder.jpg
Description: The female Sparrowhawk has started making appearances at both the study and
kitchen feeders. Here the wildly swinging peanut feed on the chain suggests and
unsuccessful attack on a bird at the feeder just before landing on the perch.
View: DF3_20220624_1408_044-1411_055 Kestrel female hunting from orchard apple tree 1-4 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: Our other regular Raptor visitor is this female Kestrel 'Grey Feather' who has
returned to some of her old haunts. Here she is hunting from a dead branch on an
old apple tree ignoring the photographer perhaps 10 metres away.
View: DF3_20220625_1616_159+1618_175 Kestrel female hunting from Apple tree (montage).jpg
Description: Our lovely 'Grey Feather' Kestrel hunting from a favourite perch.
You can see here that her tail is not 'quite right', but she nevertheless
obviously a successful individual and we are always pleased to see her.
Date: 12 Aug 2022
View: D01_20220623_0743_024+0744_026+0745_028_FB6 Wood Pigeons mating on Meadow Post 1-3 of 3 (montage@1minute intervals).jpg
Description: These three moments at 1 minute intervals.
We can't tell you whether the bird left on the post is the same one or not,
but we do rather like the idea of him 'flying in for a quickie'!
Date: 11 Aug 2022
View: BU9_20220623_2047_032_SC2 Fox eye reflection showing vertical slot Iris.jpg
Description: Almost all of our detailed pics of Foxes are at night when there Irises
are close to fully open. Here we catch an evening moment where the
partly closed irises clearly show that the closed iris is a vertical slit.
View: BU5_20220616_2059_091-093_SC1 Fox standing still by Round pond only moving ears & tail 1-33 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: These 3 pics taken a few seconds apart show the Fox standing stock-still - the
only movement is a slight lowering of the lovely tail and the Fox's right ear
swivelling about.
View: BUA_20220629_0624_174_SC8 Hare near east hedge gap with ears twisted in different directions.jpg
Description: Humans seem a bit 'ear deprived' compared to many wild species.
Here an early morning Hare shows us his lovely floppy ears.
Date: 10 Aug 2022
View: D72_20220622_1041_103 Banded Demoiselle Damselfly male (1st seen 19jun2022) (crop).jpg
Description: Our first (visual only) sighting of a Banded Demoiselle Damselfly was 3 days
earlier.
The Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies have almost finished - in the past
they have peaked here at about the same time. We MAY be seeing female Banded
Demoiselles, but they don't have the dark band and we find it hard to tell them
from The Beautiful females unless we see them both close together, when their
hues are subtly different.
View: D72_20220622_1059_123 Banded Demoiselle Damselfly male (1st seen 19jun2022).jpg
Date: 09 Aug 2022
View: D72_20220621_1631_041 Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) flower and hairy and spiked fruits (crop).jpg
Description: The startling appearance of the spiked fruits of Herb Robert along with a flower
of the same plant.
View: DF3_20220619_0903_056 Snail crossing Farm Road (& rescued).jpg
Description: Several instances recently of snails out in dangerous places.
This one is in the tyre tracks on the Farm Road. They had a few seconds
'aviation' experience to take him where they were going without the risk of
being flattened by the next vehicle.
Date: 08 Aug 2022
View: DF3_20220620_1227_019 Red Admiral Butterfly feeding on flower in hedge.jpg
Description: A Red Admiral butterfly perched to show both top and bottom of wings.
Because most butterflies and moths build their wing pattern with tiny scales
on each side, the two sides can be entirely different.
It very frustrating that so many ID book show only one side or other!
View: D72_20220621_1626_037 Comma Butterfly on leaf show uper and lower wings.jpg
Description: A similar view of a Comma Butterfly. The 'comma' is the white shape
appearing only on the underneath of the wing.
View: D72_20220621_1737_084 Comma Butterfly showing top of wings.jpg
Description: Not a trace of the 'Comma' on the top of the wing.
View: D72_20220621_1258_014 Meadow Brown Butterflies mating on leaf 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A pair of mating Meadow Brown Butterflies enjoy the highlight of their short lives.
Date: 07 Aug 2022
View: DF3_20220618_0723_013 Hare juvenile on field margin to north (crop 2).jpg
Description: In the field margin the Hare watches events from the conveniently short grass..
View: DF3_20220619_0559_032-036 Hare running along bridleway to north 1-5 of 5 (slightly stretched montage @7fps).jpg
Description: This is a field margin along the edge of the bridleway to our north.
We never manage to take a Hare who rests here by surprise -
they can see us way before we arrive from either direction.
View: DF3_20220619_0600_043 Hare running from Farm Road west towards our patch 1 of 6 (crop 2).jpg
Description: Just 1 minute later, this is a different Hare a bit less terrified of us, here they are sitting on the Farm Road.
View: DF3_20220619_0600_044-048 Hare running from Farm Road west towards our patch 2-6 of 6 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Something spooked the Hare (we were keeping still) and they ran
off towards the interior of our patch.
Date: 06 Aug 2022
View: D01_20220622_1808_221_FB6 Magpie juvenile lands on Meadow Post to beg from adult already there.jpg
Description: A juvenile Magpie arrives already demanding food before they have even landed!
View: D01_20220617_1625_055+056_FB6 Magpie stopped from landing on Meadow Post by threating Magpie already there (montage @400mS).jpg
Description: Looks to us like an adult Magpie trying to land on the Meadow Post top
already occupied by a begging juvenile. The adult decides to pass by -
possibly not the parent of the bird begging, or just nothing to give them.
View: E63_20220621_1820_090_FB1 Magpie juvenile demanding food from another.jpg
Description: Demanding (begging seems to be too weak a description!) juvenile Magpies
are to be seen regularly at the hedge bottom.
View: E63_20220622_0524_120_FB1 Magpie juvenile demanding food from adult.jpg
Description: Here you can see the Red gape that the adults are keyed to
fill with as much food as they can find.
Date: 05 Aug 2022
View: D36_20220616_1824_013_FB4 Wood Pigeon landing magestically on Tree-stump (crop).jpg
Description: This seems to have been a week for Wood Pigeons making symmetrical landings.
First on the tree-stump ....
View: D01_20220620_0743_035_FB6 Wood Pigeon symmetrical landing on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: ... a few days later the Meadow Post in the morning ...
View: D01_20220621_0605_061_FB6 Wood Pigeon landing on Meadow Post backlit.jpg
Description: ... and then at about 6 a.m. against the light.
The winds have been atypical, and every pic is the back view!
Date: 04 Aug 2022
View: D01_20220620_0040_021_FB6 Tawny Owl landing on Meadow post.jpg
Description: This night visiting Tawny Owl appear to have 'eyes of blue'.
What we are actually seeing is the appearance of the nictitating membrane
closed over the eyes to protect them (as many bird momentarily do during
accident prone manoeuvres) but with the eyes aligned with the camera
we see internal reflection from the retina.
Date: 03 Aug 2022
View: DF3_20220615_0742_443-451 Grey Squirrel running over concrete track then grass 01+03+05+07+09 of 25 (approx montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Catching the gait of a Grey Squirrel in a high-speed run is here shown as
alternate frames (at about 7 frames per second), mostly accurately positioned.
At some points the legs are spread legs as you see portrayed in Victorian paintings of
horses before Mybridge discovered the reality.
View: DF3_20220615_0742_446-452 Grey Squirrel running over concrete track then grass 04+06+08+10 of 25 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: The above is the odd numbered frames, so here is the 'same' sequence using even numbered frames.
View: DF3_20220615_0742_452-457 Grey Squirrel running over concrete track then grass 10-15 of 25 (near accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Picking up speed on the grass we can see every frame in this montage (still at 7fps).
In the montage above and this one (twice) we see a landing with head almost banging the ground
so this must be part of the intended behaviour.
Date: 02 Aug 2022
View: DF3_20220614_1803_412+1756_388+1801_401 Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly female - Great Willow Herb + Blackberry (montage).jpg
Description: A moderately regular visitors is the Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly.
This female was fluttering from perch to perch - here is a little celebration.
View: DF3_20220615_1744_544 Broad-bodied Chaser female Dragonfly facing camera backlit on desiccated teasel (q) stem.jpg
Description: A female Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly beautifully back-lit while
perched facing the camera on what looks like one of last years Teasel stems.
View: DF3_20220614_1804_415 Four-spotted chaser Dragonfly male.jpg
Description: A once regular breeder in the Round Pond, but now occasional visitor, is the Four-spotted Chaser Dragonfly.
But there are there 8 black spots you say!
The outer spots (actually rectangles boarded by wing veins) are called
pterostigma which appear in some form on almost all Dragonflies. The 'spots'
count is of the round spots half-way down the leading edge of the wing - and yes
- there are four!
Date: 01 Aug 2022
View: DF3_20220614_1606_368 Buzzard flying overhead with large piece of Rabbit in claws.jpg
Description: This Buzzard wings past with this disgusting looking mess of very-dead Rabbit
messing up the bird's aerodynamics. The voracious chicks will be pleased.
Image Archive arch 2022 jul.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220614_1400_317+318+320 Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly rolling up Proboscis 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly coils up his proboscis until it completely disappears.
View: DF3_20220615_0926_479 Small Heath Butterfly (1st of 2022) perched on windblown rubbish.jpg
Description: The first sighting of a Small Heath Butterfly this year - choosing a piece
of wind-blown rubbish to perch on :-(
Date: 30 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220612_1220_240 3 Thick-legged Flower Beetle on Oxeye Daisy Flower.jpg
Description: On an Oxeye daisy flower are 3 Thick-legged Flower Beetles.
Only the 2 males here have the leg bulges.
View: DF3_20220610_1107_014 2 Dog Rose flowers bleached by sunlight.jpg
Description: A pretty pair of Dog Rose flowers, already bleached white by the sunshine.
Date: 29 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220612_0919_212 Black-tailed Skimmer fame on corrugated Iron sheet.jpg
Description: We seem to have Black-tailed Skimmer Dragonflies this year, here perched on the
warm Corrugated Iron sheet intended to attract snakes underneath.
View: D72_20220613_1223_031 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly male.jpg
Description: A Few Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies are still to be found in the middle of warm days.
Here a male ...
View: DF3_20220615_1102_532 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female with wings slightly offset.jpg
Description: ... and here a female with wings misaligned so you can see 3 of the 4 pseudo-pterostigma.
'Pseudo' because they are white rather than the usual dark - in this species (and the Banded
Demoiselle) only the females have any mark at this position.
Date: 28 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220610_1641_023-20220613_1239_047 Mullein in concrete crack hosts Mullein Moth caterpillar 3+2+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Each year a Mullein plant pops up from a crack in a concrete block blocking
the unused end of our access track.
This year the block-bound plant has been 'invaded' by Mullein Moth Caterpillars
who have stripped the plant of leaves and left it to wither.
Will we see the plant again next year? Most probably!
Date: 27 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220612_0532_060+064+065 Pied Wagtail collecting small insects (accurate montage).jpg
Description: In the early morning (5.30 a.m.) this Wagtail diligently gathers insects to feed the chicks.
View: DF3_20220614_0818_266+267 Pied Wagtail takes off with insects in beak 2+3 of 3 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Out before the world gets too busy, this Pied Wagtail is tearing about
collecting food from the grass margin. Hundreds of frames not shown never got
to see the bird actually picking up some interesting item.
Date: 26 Jul 2022
View: D36_20220603_1611_031_FB4 Grey Squirrel using tail as umbrella.jpg
Description: Lots of rain in the last few days, and we often see Grey Squirrels using
their tails as 'umbrellas' - even though the rain seems to have stopped.
View: D72_20220604_1733_029 Grey Squirrel female grooming in sun warmed cleft of tree.jpg
Description: This female Grey squirrel is enjoying a major grooming session in a sun-warmed cleft.
In other shots nipples are clearly visible - her tummy is swollen enough
that she is probably pregnant. Yet more of the little blighters!
View: E63_20220604_1849_196_FB1 Grey Squirrel eating Banana peel held in paws.jpg
Description: Banana skin is a favourite for some of the squirrels.
View: E63_20220605_1640_019+1726_029_FB1 Grey Squirrels visiting hedge bottom (montage).jpg
Description: 10 minutes apart we assume the same Grey Squirrel practises looking innocent and twee.
Date: 25 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220607_1539_063-068 Magpie launching from concrete electricity pole 1+2+4-6 of 6 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: The human infrastructure in rural areas is full of posts and overhead
power and phone cables. The animals don't care how the perches get there,
they just use them like any tree branch.
Lots of birds stop over on this very old concrete power pole.
View: DF3_20220612_0537_073 Chiffchaff dwarfed by 11kV power cable.jpg
Description: This Chiffchaff is utterly dwarfed by the 11kV power cable high overhead.
Date: 24 Jul 2022
View: PK1_20220612_1350_950-998 Great Spotted Woodpecker female collects broken peanut & flies off with it 1-4+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Mum Great Spotted Woodpecker breaks and collects a peanut fragment and flies off
to cram it into the ever-open beak of her youngster waiting in the trees behind.
View: D5C_20220613_0813_010+003 Great Spotted Woodpecker female feeding juvenile 2+1 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: A day after the mother Great Spotted Woodpecker was photographed collecting bits
of Peanuts at the Kitchen Window feeder, we catch this moment of what we assume is the
same adult taking a just extracted piece of peanut and giving it to the juvenile below.
We never get the extraction phase at the site - Mum is always hidden by the tube of nuts!
Date: 23 Jul 2022
View: E63_20220611_1647_146_FB1 Magpie at hedge bottom with peanuts in beak.jpg
Description: At he hedge bottom site you can cram your beak with peanuts ...
View: D01_20220611_1658_157_FB6 Magpie with beak crammed with peanuts with huge Dog Rose bush in background.jpg
Description: ... and something like a minute later, stops off on the way home before braving
the nest-full of screaming youngsters!
Date: 22 Jul 2022
View: D72_20220609_0656_005-0658_017 Hare on alert crouches down before running off 1+3+4+6+7 of 19 (impression montage).jpg
Description: An earlyish morning (7 a.m.) walk finds this Hare on alert almost 100 metres away..
We started walking towards the Hare who inexplicably moved across a concrete
track towards us, and then gradually folded back the wonderful ears before
crouching down in the short grass probably hoping to be rendered invisible.
This sequence is a construct to show the change in position of the hare, including
major relocations and approximate changes of scale from both the Hare and
the humans moving. But this 3 minutes of change is a genuine reflection of what
happened in a strange sort of slow-motion.
View: D72_20220609_0658_021-031 Hare on alert crouches down before running off 08-18 (alternate) of 19 (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: Eventually the Hare seemed to realise that his hiding posture was doing no good at
all, so ran off into the crop out of frame to the left.
One and a quarter seconds of the run shown here.
View: DF3_20220612_0907_138 Hare crouching by wheat crop with whiskers splayed symmetrically.jpg
Description: Away from the Road, Hares hang around a little longer.
This one is crouched at the edge of the crop watching us.
Date: 21 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220607_0836_007+008+011 Yellowhammer male singing in top of hedge across main road (montage).jpg
Description: From behind a hedge on one side of the main road this Yellowhammer
could only see our heads and didn't take fright as he sang to the world.
Unfortunately traffic noise completely obliterated his song for us. -
a known problem for birds nesting near roads and in towns.
Date: 20 Jul 2022
View: E64_20220602_1435_028+1024_015_FB2 Moorhen stepping over log showing multiple foot positions (montage).jpg
Description: Our industrious moorhen here gives a good view of the multi-purpose legs and feet
in various positions.
Date: 19 Jul 2022
View: E63_20220529_2124_380_FB1 2 Badgers sharing hedge bottom.jpg
Description: Two badgers at the hedge bottom site - we think a youngster and Mum or Dad
off the right side.
View: E63_20220529_2353_381_FB1 Badger at hedge bottom (orig & final).jpg
Description: 2 hours later this Badger has a look at the offerings.
More than likely not either of the 2 we saw together.
View: BU5_20220607_0240_163+165_SC1 Fox sitting under cherry tree gazes upwards 1+3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Sitting by the Round Pond seems to be a favourite bit of behaviour for this fox
who seems to be gazing upwards at an overhanging branch of a large cherry tree.
Perhaps a Pheasant is almost irresistibly perched in the elevated sanctuary.
Date: 18 Jul 2022
View: E60_20220605_1954_008_FB3 Sparrowhawk female landing on Kitchen Window Perch.jpg
Description: After weeks of absence to female Sparrowhawk comes in to land
on the Kitchen Window perch as the evening darkens.
View: E60_20220608_1303_142_FB3 Sparrowhawk female landing on Kitchen window perch.jpg
Description: Three days later in mid-afternoon the female Sparrowhawk makes another visit.
Photographically inferior but lovely to see.
Date: 17 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220603_1019_077 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly male.jpg
Description: The Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies are to be found in well separated
spots of shelter and sun. There are far fewer than last year when at least
50 spent midday on a south facing stretch of hedge.
We notice that these delicate creatures (in fact Damselflies in general) seem
to remain pristine - presumably they do not frequent bramble patch where
the prickles tend to damage wing edges.
Here is a male ...
View: DF3_20220603_1026_090 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female.jpg
Description: and here a female.
View: D72_20220604_1733_017 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female perched on 3 leaves.jpg
Description: A female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly managing to perch on
3 leaves simultaneously - and still look elegant.
Date: 16 Jul 2022
View: BU5_20220603_1755_289_SC1 Moorhen adult runs to find more food for chick on Round Pond bank - first chick of 2022.jpg
Description: So far the ONLY direct evidence we have that there are Moorhen
chicks about - the black blob on the right is definitely a Moorhen chick.
View: E64_20220604_0518_182_FB2 Moorhen with insect in beak (crop).jpg
Description: Another adult Moorhen taking food in the opposite direction - so
there must be another brood hatched even if we don't know where it is.
View: E64_20220606_1132_102+0802_084+20220605_1827_021_FB2 Moorhen carrying food to chicks (montage).jpg
Description: Our busy Moorhen here carrying food across the Woodland site for the chicks
hidden in a nest somewhere. Left to right the bird seems to be carrying
Unknown, a large fly and a small damselfly we can't ID.
Date: 15 Jul 2022
View: E60_20220603_1323_074+1327_075_FB3 Great Spotted Woodpecker female leaves juvenile returning in 4 mins with food (montage).jpg
Description: Mum Great Spotted Woodpecker flies off, 4 minutes later returning with a beakful for her youngster.
View: E60_20220603_1327_075_FB3 Great Spotted Woodpecker female feeds juvenile on perch (close crop).jpg
Description: More detail of Mum about to stuff the food into juniors open gape.
View: E60_20220604_2019_113_FB3 Great Spotted Woodpecker juvenile flies over female on perch.jpg
Description: The Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker flies in to land next to Mum.
Date: 14 Jul 2022
View: D01_20220602_1658_045_FB6 Magpie on Meadow Post manipulating long awkward twig for nest.jpg
Description: These crazy shapes pieces of twig are the result of last years hedge cutting.
Farmers generally use a flail cutter which smashes the wood to small
pieces, but our manually handled electric pole cutters leave the pieces whole.
View: E63_20220607_1705_123_FB1 Magpie feeding juvenile.jpg
Description: FEED ME.
Date: 13 Jul 2022
View: D72_20220602_0650_146-167 Hare ambles towards us along Farm Road but runs back 02+05+08+11+14+16 of 34 (acc montage @8fps).jpg
Description: This pristine Hare is probably a youngster inexperienced in the dangers of being
near Humans. Over a few minutes this one wandered up the Farm Road towards us
until perhaps 10 metres away. The Hare turned sideways and stopped, assessing
the 2 stationary creatures (us) standing on the grass.
View: D72_20220602_0650_168-181 Hare ambles towards us along Farm Road but runs back 17+20+22-30 (alts) of 34 (acc montage @8fps).jpg
Description: Deciding that it was time to depart with a soupcon of haste, the Hare did an
about-turn and accelerated off.
The first image pics are about 375mS apart and still quite close
This image shows gaps of about 250mS apart and more spread out anyway
Date: 12 Jul 2022
View: BUA_20220527_0210_044_SC8-D72_20220529_1735_006 Muntjac Reeves Deer male loses both antlers in 2 days (montage).jpg
Description: We recognise this male Reeves Muntjac Deer from the length and curve
of his Antlers and facial markings, so are confident that each of these pics
is of the same individual losing first one and then the other Antler over 2 days.
Top Left: BUA_20220527_0210_044_SC8 27 May 2022 02:10 Both Antlers present
Top Right: BU9_20220528_1029_047_SC2 28 May 2022 10:29 Left Antler absent
Bottom Left: BU8_20220528_1203_161 28 May 2022 12:03 Right antler rubbed with rear hoof
Bottom Right D72_20220529_1735_006 29 May 2022 17:35 Both Antlers gone
We guess that in the bottom left pic the remaining antler was becoming loose and
was irritating the Deer.
We remember years ago in a wildlife film seeing a large antler falling from a
much larger deer, and the surprise the animal showed at the suddenly unbalanced head.
We doubt that the small Antlers of Muntjac Deer have a serious unbalancing effect.
Date: 11 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220527_0900_031-0902_037 Harlequin Ladybirds 1-4 of 4 (montage from 3 minute selection).jpg
Description: Harlequin Ladybirds are very variable - even the two bottom left obviously
know that the different markings don't matter!
View: DF3_20220529_0931_035 Scorpion Fly female.jpg
Description: A female Scorpion Fly - so no 'scorpion' tail.
Date: 10 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220527_1118_043 Cloudscape - ghost Swallows gathering on cable (cloud & contrail moving as one) (orig & final).jpg
Description: Clouds are interesting at this time of year, and the human pattern-creating brain
can't resist seeing things in the patterns.
Here we imagine a cable (probably a contrail) through the sky with Swallows fluttering around it.
View: D72_20220601_1625_104 Cloud mountain in snow surrounded by ring of cloud (crop).jpg
Description: On a grander scale we imagine a snow-topped mountain surrounded by
a ring of cloud at a lower altitude, like you really see around volcanos.
View: DF3_20220529_0524_175 Sunrise over pineham farm (orig & final).jpg
Description: And then there are the abstract moment in the sky.
Date: 09 Jul 2022
View: D36_20220528_0353_040_FB4 Tawny Owl landing on tree stump (crop).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl stops on the tree stump in the woodland.
Date: 08 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220527_1241_062 Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars clumped at end of vertical silk thread.jpg
Description: Here a dozen Spindle Ermine Caterpillars seem to arrived at
the 'End of their tether' - quite literally.
View: D72_20220531_1015_039 Ermine moth caterpillars clustered under leaf.jpg
Description: The Saga of the Spindle Ermine Moth seems to be nearing it's end.
Under a leaf we find this 100 or so in a clump.
View: D72_20220531_1016_040 Ermine moth caterpillars hanging on vertical silk thread.jpg
Description: A metre away we find dozens more clinging to this vertical thread.
This has been an exceptional year for these moths. The adults are
said to be about from June to September, so we hope they provide
good feeding for the new crop of birds building up their bodies ready for Winter.
And the moths are rather pretty as well!
View: DF3_20220607_0844_020 Spindle Ermine Moth Caterpillars wrapped in Spindle leaves.jpg
Description: The mass showing this year of Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillar has effected every
one of our Spindle Trees - we haven't counted, but we planted 25 about thirty years ago
and most of them 'took'. Damage varies from perhaps 30% loss of foliage
to about 10 of the trees stripped completely bare of leaves.
Date: 07 Jul 2022
View: D01_20220530_1030_008+_0846_003_FB6 2 Magpie landings on Meadow post one with food pellet in beak (montage over 2Hrs).jpg
Description: A couple of Magpie landings.
The bird on the left seems to have some sort of food pellet in the beak.
If one of our neighbours tells us what it is we will insert the info here.
View: D35_20220601_0815_067 Magpie carrying hedge cutting for nest.jpg
Description: Its looks like its nest building time again for this Magpie.
Date: 06 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220527_1253_077 Azure Damselfly male perched on grass blade.jpg
Description: The colour of some mature Damselflies is quite remarkable.
If they were not so small they would be lauded as amazing.
View: DF3_20220527_0903_039 Micro-moth Nemophora degeerella perched on leaf.jpg
Description: This rather pretty Micro-Moth has no common name. The out-of-proportion antennae are
many times the length of the insects body.
View: DF3_20220528_0911_159 Hover-fly (maybe Helophilus pendulus) (crop).jpg
Description: The species of this Hover-fly is uncertain.
References images with similar markings all have much more dominant black.
Pleased to meet you even if we don't know what you are!
Date: 05 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220527_0858_028 Cinnabar moth on short grass.jpg
Description: Cinnabar Moths seem to be unusually plentiful this year.
View: DF3_20220527_1236_051 Cinnabar Moth clinging to underside of grass blade.jpg
Description: How you usually (don't) see Cinnabar moths - hiding behind and under leaves.
View: DF3_20220527_1455_103 Blood-vein Moth (timandra comea) (orig).jpg
Description: A 'Blood-vein Moth hiding in foliage.
The 'Blood vein' is just coloured scales - nothing nasty.
Date: 04 Jul 2022
View: BU7_20220525_0635_037 Muntjac Reeves Deer female barking at end of orchard 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: We didn't hear her ourselves, but here a female Reeves' Muntjac Deer greets the day.
She may be calling a fawn - see next image.
View: BUA_20220601_0558_122+123_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer fawn with mother (montage for clarity).jpg
Description: The morning provides awful lighting for this first Reeves' Muntjac Fawn this year,
quietly following Mum towards the rising sun.
Date: 03 Jul 2022
View: DF3_20220528_0905_131 Spindle Ermine moth caterpillars (Yponomeata cagnagella) cling to metres long 20 silk threads on Spindle Tree 1 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: Continuing the story of the Ermine Moth caterpillars: a walk down a 20 metre
long path found our way blocked by about 20 silk threads hanging from a Spindle
Tree about 4 metres above. Clinging to the thread were hundreds of caterpillars
we have to believe to be Spindle Ermine Moths. Much harder to photograph than
to see, here is an attempt to catch the hanging wall of threads.
View: DF3_20220528_0906_142 Spindle Ermine moth caterpillars (Yponomeata cagnagella) cling to metres long 20 silk threads on Spindle Tree 3 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: Looking up we see the same nets of silk we saw in the hedge, but this time
several metres up in the Spindle tree.
View: D72_20220530_0708_050 Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars on hanging silk threads.jpg
Description: 2 days later only a few of the threads used by the Spindle Ermine Moth Caterpillars remain.
Here a camera flash makes them clearer.
View: D72_20220530_0708_051 Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars on hanging silk threads.jpg
Description: This is the clump of Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars in the middle of the above image,
but photographed with flash from the other side.
Date: 02 Jul 2022
View: D01_20220525_1128_181_FB6 Wood pigeon settling wings after landing with tail fully spread.jpg
Description: Isn't it wonderful how birds can manipulate their feathers?
The tail is spread into almost a complete semi-circle.
View: D01_20220524_1142_078+79_FB6 Wood Pigeon lands on Meadow Post displacing another (mirrored montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: We rarely get pictures of birds leaving the Meadow post (a technical matter) so
were surprised to get these two usable moments 3 hours apart.
View: D01_20220524_1448_092+093_FB6 Wood Pigeon launching from Meadow Post (approx montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: We rarely get pictures of birds leaving the Meadow post (a technical matter) so
were surprised to get these two usable moments 3 hours apart.
Date: 01 Jul 2022
View: D01_20220519_2215_051+2216_053_FB6 Tawny Owl on Meadow Post with Black Bird prey in right talons 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: At 75 minutes after sunset it is almost completely dark. This Tawny Owl arrives
on the meadow post carrying some sort of Black Bird in his right Talons.
It's unlikely to be Rook or Jackdaw, and there is not enough white to be a Magpie,
too small for a Moorhen, so our best guess is a male Blackbird.
The image to the right is 1 minute later.
Another minute later both had departed.
The Owl may have landed on the kitchen perch or Tree stump to eat it, but as
Murphy's law would have it, this was the night that the RCD tripped on the North
side camera cabling in thunderstorm, so we will never know.
Image Archive arch 2022 jun.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220519_1621_080 Brimstone Butterfly male feeding on Red Campion flower.jpg
Description: A male Brimstone butterfly 'tanking up' from a Red Campion flower.
View: D72_20220518_1237_072+073 Peacock Butterfly on Buttercup + 2 Thick-legged Flower Beetle (oedemera nobilis) females on Buttercup (accurate montage for focus).jpg
Description: A Peacock Butterfly feeding on a Buttercup almost entirely hidden by the insect.
On the adjacent Buttercup we see two female Thick-legged Flower Beetles.
The females don't have the characteristic legs bulges that give the species their name.
View: DF3_20220522_1045_101 Tortoiseshell Butterfly (very worn) feeding on Buttercup.jpg
Description: This Tortoiseshell Butterfly must have overwintered, and while faded and
a bit pecked was still flying well, here re-fuelling on a Buttercup.
Date: 29 Jun 2022
View: E64_20220513_0928_134+20220514_0844+245+20220513_0721_126_FB2 Moorhen carrying nest lining materials west over Woodland site 3+5+2 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: We still don't know where the nest is, but this little fellow is still hard
at work finding stuff to build it up.
View: E64_20220515_0647_302_FB2 Moorhen steps over woodland log.jpg
Description: Our diligent Moorhen making his way back 'empty beaked' as usual.
View: E64_20220521_1130_190-20220519_0827_009_FB2 Moorhen crosses Woodland site to west with nesting & food over 3 days (montage).jpg
Description: Presumably the same Moorhen is still relentlessly carrying nesting and (left & latest image) food
across the woodland site towards the main pond. Either the nest is in the pond very well disguised,
or is up a tree hidden by leaves. Either way we hope the Rooks don't find it!
View: E64_20220520_1853_148+1406_095+20220521_0649_168_FB2 Moorhen returning from west never with anything in beak (montage).jpg
Description: Timing of between 4 and 8 minutes between carrying stuff across and coming back unladen suggests
that this is the same bird. Moorhen are hard working little creatures we greatly admire.
This is moorhen.me.uk web site after all!
Date: 28 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220519_1458_068 Four-spotted Chaser female - first of 2022 (crop).jpg
Description: A 'four-spotted chaser' Dragonfly - this is the first we have seen for since
2012 (10 years ago) and are delighted to see one again. We couldn't find any
larval cases around the pond where they used to breed, but we are not good at
spotting these things.
In May 1999 we photographed the emergence sequence of this insect (using a
slightly different common species name) you can see at
http://www.moorhen.me.uk/dflyem.htm
Date: 27 Jun 2022
View: D72_20220518_1240_078 Hairy Dragonfly male - 1st of 2022 (crop).jpg
Description: This Hairy Dragonfly was initially disturbed while cutting overhanging brambles
and he flew away. Returning a couple of hours later with no real
expectation of finding the insect again, he had returned to its
favoured sun-warmed patch for this photo. Hairy Dragonflies are
one of the earliest to appear each year. Dragonflies rest with
their wings outstretched as you see here.
View: DF3_20220519_1236_013 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female perched on leaf with intense shadow.jpg
Description: Damselflies perch with their 4 wings aligned along their backs.
Here a female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly with aligned wings casting a deep shadow.
View: D72_20220518_1245_098 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly fluttering wings.jpg
Description: Here we catch a male Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly momentarily
fluttering his four wings as they sometimes do when perched.
Date: 26 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220517_1538_079+085 Azure Damselfly male sucking fluid from prey item & then dropping it (montage).jpg
Description: We came across this Azure Damselfly perched on a leaf sucking dry a midge
(or something) it had caught. Perhaps half a minute later he dropped the
'empty' husk you can see below him.
Date: 25 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220517_0846_031 Small Yellow Underwing Moth (Panemeria tenebrata) (typically 9mm) feeding on Buttercup (crop).jpg
Description: This one of the thousands of buttercups around is right by the back-door.
This moth is about 9mm across - one of a family of micro lepidoptera
that are fascinating but size makes them hard to study.
View: DF3_20220517_1540_086 Green Carpet Moth.jpg
Description: This Green Carpet moth landed inside a bush.
The green colour of the insect soon becomes bleached - this is the greenest
one we have ever seen, though this might be enhanced by light
being tinged by the surrounding foliage.
View: DF3_20220517_0846_033 Scorpion Fly female - 1st of 2022.jpg
Description: The first appearance this year of a 'Scorpion Fly' - this is a female that doesn't
have the scorpion-like tail tip that gives the species it's name.
Date: 24 Jun 2022
View: E60_20220516_1956_021_FB3 Stock Dove landing on Kitchen perch - 1st of 2022.jpg
Description: We haven't seen a Stock Dove for many months.
This one has made several appearances since this moment of discovery.
View: E60_20220517_1852_055_FB3 Stock Dove landing on Kitchen perch.jpg
Description: Next evening the Stock Dove visits again for this rather Quirky portrait.
View: E60_20220517_1947_056_FB3 Stock Dove about to land next to Wood Pigeon.jpg
Description: Another hour on a third landing for the Stock Dove, this time with a
Wood Pigeon already perched. Similar size but different eye colour,
no white flash and different coloured beak.
Date: 23 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220514_1417_029 Burnet Rose hosting Bumble Bee (1st of 2022 - 2 weeks earlier than 2021).jpg
Description: The first Burnet Rose this year - 2 weeks earlier than last year.
This species has an abundance of perfume you can smell from yards away.
View: D72_20220516_1548_009 Dog Rose after rain.jpg
Description: A Dog Rose delicately spangled with raindrops.
This classic 'first rose of spring' has only a hint of perfume.
Date: 22 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220515_0846_039 Hare on field margin south of hedge near Pineham Farm 01 of 10 (crop).jpg
Description: This hare about 50m away didn't seem bothered by us, and carried on as usual.
View: DF3_20220515_0847_046-054 Hare on field margin south of hedge near Pineham Farm 02-10 of 10 (aligned montage).jpg
Description: The Hare moved onto the mown patch in the field margin and ambled
about before disappearing into the rank grass.
View: DF3_20220515_0848_061 2 Red-legged Partridges on field margin North of hedge.jpg
Description: Wondering whether the Hare might appear on the other side of the hedge
we took a look, but instead found a couple of Red-legged Partridges.
Not pleased to see us they quickly took flight low over the crop.
The horrible yellow is the farmer's weed-killing the edge of the crop.
Date: 21 Jun 2022
View: E6A_20220513_1901_172_FB5 Muntjac Reeves Deer male (full Antlers) head detail.jpg
Description: A 'pin-up' shot of the most mature (well best Antlers anyway) male Reeve's Muntjac Deer.
Note his tiny Tusk (Marie calls them 'Vampire Bambis'!) and torn but healed ears.
View: BU9_20220515_1105_244+246+1106_248_SC2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male browsing across end of orchard (montage).jpg
Description: The long Antlered male Reeves' Muntjac Deer quietly browsing across the end of the orchard.
View: BU9_20220517_0712_067+070_SC2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male browsing at end of orchard (accurate montage).jpg
Description: 2 days later we get a closer view of an approach towards the camera.
View: BU5_20220516_1850_063+066+067_SC1 Muntjac Reeves Deer female browses along edge of Round Pond (montage).jpg
Description: A female Reeves' Muntjac Deer browses quietly along the edge of Round Pond.
Date: 20 Jun 2022
View: D72_20220512_1351_014 Silk meshes in south facing hedge (poss Ermine Moth caterpillars) with 2x insert 1 of 3.jpg
Description: One patch of the south side of the south hedge becomes a 'nursery' for
hundred of what we think are Ermine Moth caterpillars.
The caterpillars 'hide' behind sheet of silk in groups a a few dozen.
View: D72_20220512_1353_029 Silk meshes in south facing hedge (poss Ermine Moth caterpillars) 3 of 3.jpg
Description: The stretch of hedge showing the density of the clusters
View: DF3_20220517_1046_038 Patches of hedge stripped of leaves by Ermine Moth Caterpillars (orig & final).jpg
Description: 5 Days later there is not a caterpillar to be seen.
The previously occupied areas are completely stripped of leaves.
Date: 19 Jun 2022
View: BU8_20220511_2037_196+198+199+2038_202 Fox visits Duck Pond 1+3+4+7 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Not yet quite dark, and Reynard is already on the prowl.
View: BU5_20220513_2016_280_SC1 Fox creeping up on prey - ears pricked.jpg
Description: A Fox most definitely 'on the hunt'.
View: BU9_20220517_0155_053_SC2 Fox hunting in grass at end of Orchard.jpg
Description: This Fox is hunting at the end of the Orchard at 2 a.m.
Is the front leg raised ready to pounce?
Date: 18 Jun 2022
View: E64_20220511_0952_145-20220512_0636_252_FB2 Moorhen carrying nest materials to west over Woodland site 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Surprise!
We have been assuming that if Moorhen are nesting then they are on the more remote
Duck Pond, Round Pond, or a tree in that area.
Here 4 times over 24 hours we see this Moorhen obviously carrying transporting nesting
material towards the main pond near the house.
Date: 17 Jun 2022
View: BU5_20220510_0934_134_SC1 Muntjac Reeves Deer female + Daffodils + Cow Parsley +Dock + Forget-me-not + Garlic Mustard.jpg
Description: No, not a still from Disney's Bambi, but capturing a moment of peace at Round
pond.
Bottom upward we see the now 'finished' Daffodils, one of female Reeves' Muntjac Deer,
Cow Parsley, Dock, Forget-me-not and Garlic Mustard. Oh, and some grass to fill the gaps.
Date: 16 Jun 2022
View: E63_20220508_1758_295_FB1 Grey Squirrel and pheasant male confrontation at hedge bottom (orig & final).jpg
Description: It seems that the male Pheasant (Silverback) will defend his patch from this
otherwise aggressive Grey Squirrel.
View: E6A_20220506_1637_154_FB5 2 Grey Squirrels squabbling watched by distant Wood Pigeon.jpg
Description: A sort of 'Aerial Ballet' but with claws and teeth!
View: E63_20220509_1641_051_FB1 Grey Squirrel reaching sideways.jpg
Description: "What Me - chase off innocent little birds, other squirrels or annoy the Pheasants?"
Date: 15 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220508_0544_299 Heron outside east hedge takes off towards camera (@7fps erratic) 03 of 55 (crop).jpg
Description: Out on a dull morning shortly after an 'invisible' sunrise we unexpectedly find a Heron
on the grass margin outside the South hedge. This patch is an especially good place
to feed on worms, and about 10 Rooks were also spread over the area probing the ground.
View: DF3_20220508_0544_335-337 Heron outside east hedge takes off towards camera (@7fps erratic) 33-35 of 55 (approx montage).jpg
Description: The Heron sees us and decided to leave, but unexpectedly flies towards us before
veering to the right to fly over the south-east corner of the
hedges.
These are close to accurately positioned. The camera was struggling to maintain
focus in the poor light, the gaps between frames was somewhat erratic.
View: DF3_20220508_0544_340+343-345 Heron outside east hedge takes off towards camera (@7fps erratic) 38+41-43 of 55 (impression montage).jpg
Description: As the bird turned the corner against the bland sky, the bird gets caught in the
swirling wind and started to make all sort of interesting twists. We have no way
of building an accurate flight montage, so here an interpretation of about 1 second
of flight. These are in proper left to right order but unknown relative positions.
View: DF3_20220508_0544_349-351 Heron outside east hedge takes off towards camera (@7fps erratic) 47-49 of 55 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Finally the Heron starts flying North down the East hedge and we have some trees
to provide a frame of reference for accurate positioning.
Date: 14 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220507_1628_280 Cardinal Beetle.jpg
Description: A Red Cardinal Beetle - the first seen in 2022.
View: DF3_20220508_1045_422+1046_425 2 Snails on dead Teasel stalks (montage).jpg
Description: Two Snails on old Teasel stems.
You can see the form of the shell patterns are the same, but the
intensity and consistency are very variable.
Date: 13 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220506_1331_200 Orange-tip Butterfly male feeding on Green Alkanet Flower (crop).jpg
Description: An Orange-tip Butterfly feeding of the (blue!) flowers of Green Alkanet.
The insects Proboscis extends right to left from the insects head, down the
edge of the petal and then into the flower.
Enjoy the intricate green on white pattern on the lower surface of the wings.
View: DF3_20220507_1628_281+286 Holly Blue Butterfly female (montage).jpg
Description: Two views of a female Holly Blue Butterfly.
Females have much darker markings on the wings tips than the males.
View: DF3_20220508_1615_440 Speckled Wood Butterfly.jpg
Description: A remarkably pristine Speckled Wood Butterfly, probably fresh out of the Chrysalis.
This species has 3 broods per year and we see them throughout the summer.
Date: 12 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220505_1801_135 Hare in long grass near garage.jpg
Description: At least one Brown Hare is visiting out little patch.
Here 20m away near the garage ...
View: DF3_20220505_1815_143 Hare outside study patio doors.jpg
Description: ... and 15 minutes later right outside the Patio doors of the 'study'.
View: BU9_20220506_1916_043+045_SC2 Hare (juvenile (q)) at end of orchard (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A different individual Hare we think, judging by the different markings on the ears.
This one bounding to the spot before stopping completely still.
Date: 11 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220514_1419_038 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies female (left) + male immatures - first of 2022 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: First Odonata (Dragonflies et al) this year is the now annual uncanny visitation by
Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies started on the especially warm Saturday 14 May 2022.
Only a handful seen - all but one in the 'usual' place near the South East corner in the
parallel south facing hedges. Mixed sexes of obviously immature individuals.
Date: 10 Jun 2022
View: D72_20220505_0706_026 Horse Chestnut tree near Pikes Farm in full bloom (crop).jpg
Description: This Horse Chestnut tree across a field has delighted us for the last 30 years
with this generous show of candles.
View: D72_20220505_0706_027 Horse chestnut candle (ist of 2022).jpg
Description: Our own Horse Chestnut trees from an assortment of sources are only just
starting to flower. This is the first candle we spotted from the outside of
our south hedge some 5 metres up the tree.
Date: 09 Jun 2022
View: BU5_20220503_0018_141_SC1 Roe Deer male with bare antlers at edge of Round Pond.jpg
Description: This Roe Deer makes another short passage through our patch, here
stopping for a drink from the Round Pond.
View: BUA_20220503_0036_087_SC8 Roe Deer male reaching up east inner hedge to eat leaves 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: The final view of the male Roe Deer finds him reaching up for some
fresh foliage near the east hedge gap.
View: BUA_20220504_2007_162_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer male staring upwards in east hedge gap.jpg
Description: This smaller male Reeves' Muntjac Deer at the same camera can't reach as high!
Date: 08 Jun 2022
View: DF3_20220430_1627_056 Orange-tip Butterfly male feeding on Garlic Mustard flower - both sides of wing showing (crop).jpg
Description: This has been a great year for seeing Orange-tip butterflies, possible because
the area is now 'infested' with Garlic Mustard 'weeds'. Garlic Mustard is the
caterpillars food plant (so where the females lay their eggs) but they also
feed on the flowers as well as those of Dandelions and most other
flowers.
This pic catches the insects proboscis curving round into a flower, and also
shows the very different top and bottom of the wing. The green tracery on the
bottom of the wing is absolutely beautiful, and provides good camouflage when
resting in foliage with the wings closed upwards.
View: DF3_20220430_1333_021 Orange-tip Butterfly male courts Small White female (q).jpg
Description: Whoops!
The male Orange-tip Butterfly woos a female Small White butterfly.
They spend about a minute fluttering around each other before they
spot their mistake and part 'amicably'.
Date: 07 Jun 2022
View: D36_20220429_1857_053_FB4 Grey Squirrel with Rodent in mouth (crop 2 with 2x insert).jpg
Description: For years we have been putting dead mice on this tree-stump, only to see
Squirrels completely ignoring them, and Magpies (previously Jackdaws)
taking them away.
Not having recently caught anything other than live mice (released elsewhere)
we suddenly get this single image of a Squirrel apparently swallowing some
sort of rodent we are sure we didn't leave there.
A WWW search indicates that Squirrels prefer nuts and seeds but will eat a
rodent if they can catch one. But our experience suggests that it will not eat
them as carrion.
Date: 06 Jun 2022
View: E60_20220429_1803_030_FB3 Wood Pigeon lands behind another on Kitchen bird table.jpg
Description: Hi There!
View: E60_20220502_1414_009_FB3 Wood Pigeon dislodges perch clamped to bird table.jpg
Description: The perch on the kitchen window feeder is clamped in place.
Obviously the clamp has become a bit loose and the arrival of
this heavy bird is the 'final straw' to dislodge it.
Birds must forever try to land on branches that bend or break,
so the Pigeon probably didn't give it another thought.
View: E60_20220502_1749_015_FB3 Wood Pigeon pair squeezed onto small bird table after perch collapses.jpg
Description: "I'm sure there was more room here before".
Date: 05 Jun 2022
View: E64_20220429_0717_139-20220430_0541_229_FB2 Moorhen at Woodland site over 22Hrs - genuine pair at right (montage).jpg
Description: Couldn't resist this largely accurate montage of this Moorhen crossing over the log
at the woodland site over a day and following night. At the right end is a moment
of a genuine pair feeding together - the other four are solitary visits.
View: E64_20220501_0704_282_FB2 Moorhen crossing woodland site looking back at camera.jpg
Description: A Moorhen again crossing the Log at the Woodland site, this time moving away
from the camera but looking back. The land / weed-clogged water compromise feet
are well displayed.
Date: 04 Jun 2022
View: E63_20220428_1850_116_FB1 Dunnock attacking Chaffinch female (orig).jpg
Description: The female Chaffinch on the ground doesn't look the least 'ready-to-flee'.
View: D36_20220429_1838_052_FB4 Robin with feathers lost in fight.jpg
Description: "You should see the other guy!"
Date: 03 Jun 2022
View: E64_20220428_1838_099+1910_108_FB2 Grey Squirrel attacking Moorhen twice in 30m (montage).jpg
Description: Over 30 minutes the camera catches probably the same Grey Squirrel
chasing away probably the same Moorhen.
View: E63_20220429_1822_202+1826_203+1828_204_FB1 Grey Squirrel and Pheasant male skirmishes over 6 mins 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: At the hedge bottom we have a more even contest - squirrel teeth and claws vs.
Pheasant spurs. Looks like the Pheasant eventually 'won' the skirmish.
View: E63_20220418_1737_057_FB1 Grey Squirrel leaping from top of stone.jpg
Description: Rear feet already off the ground as this Grey Squirrel starts his leap
at some poor unfortunate interloper out of the cameras view.
Date: 02 Jun 2022
View: E63_20220427_0040_144_FB1 Roe Deer male - 3 points in velvet just starting to emerge (crop).jpg
Description: This male Roe Deer spent several hours wandering around the plot,
taking a variety of IR monochrome Selfies as he went.
This is the only one at a hi-resolution site.
We count 3 Antler points (per Antler), one of which has just started to emerge
from the 'velvet'.
Date: 01 Jun 2022
View: E64_20220425_1248_031_FB2-BU9_2136_061_SC2 Fox kills & carries away Mallard Duck female 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Sad event of the week is the death of one of the female Mallard Ducks.
Left to right:-
1 12:48 Our last sighting of what may be her, walking over the Woodland site.
2 20:35 A Fox showing excessive interest in the Duck-shaped pond, appearing several
times at irregular intervals.
3 20:51 Probably the same fox walking over Round Mound.
4 21:36 The Fox walks past the camera at the end of the orchard carrying a dead female Mallard Duck.
Five days later we spotted a female Mallard Duck, dutifully followed by 'her' male, entering the
main pond by the house. We really have no idea what is going on!
View: BU8_20220426_1944_181+183+1945_184 Fox walks to edge of Duck Pond and sits down 1+3+4 of 4 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Next day this very obviously 'Red' Fox walks up to the Duck Pond, and spends at least a
minute sitting, we are sure not really admiring the Daffodils!
Image Archive arch 2022 may.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 May 2022
View: E63_20220426_1010_073_FB1 Yellowhammer male with blue beak coating partly chipped away.jpg
Description: A male Yellowhammer in all his breeding season glory.
Noticing a mark on his beak, we suddenly realised that breeding
male Yellowhammers have a similar blue coating on the beak to that we see on Chaffinches.
Here it is more visible because part of it has been chipped off.
In all that glory of yellow it is easy not to notice a small patch of blue.
View: E64_20220428_0540_179_FB2 2 Moorhen at woodland site.jpg
Description: What is presumably a 'pair' of Moorhen scratch around at the woodland site at first light.
We don't know what these secretive birds are doing here, and we are playing the 'waiting game'.
The wonderful red and yellow bills maintain their colour throughout the year.
Date: 30 May 2022
View: D72_20220424_1222_073 Holly Blue Butterfly male (first seen 18apr2022 - visual ID only) 3 of 3.jpg
Description: We first saw a Holly Blue butterfly 6 days before this pic.
You can see both sides of the wing with similar colour but different markings.
View: D72_20220424_1220_064 Holly Blue Butterfly male sometimes attracted to white feather caught in bush (orig).jpg
Description: We noticed that this male kept fluttering by this white feather
caught in the foliage, but it didn't fool him long enough to land.
Date: 29 May 2022
View: D72_20220424_1211_048+1212_058 Bee-fly feeding on Green Alkanet flower 1+5 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: This Bee-fly was feeding on Green Alkanet flowers along the edge of the concrete
access track. You can see here how useful the long proboscis is on these
flowers. This is two pics of the same individual as they worked along the 10m
strip of flowers.
View: D72_20220424_1347_115 Orange-tip Butterfly male feeding on Garlic Mustard flower.jpg
Description: This male Orange-tip butterfly is feeding on a Garlic Mustard flower. This plant
is where the females lay their eggs so that it acts as the food plant for the
caterpillars, but the Butterflies feed on any flower they can manage.
View: D72_20220424_1223_075 Small White Butterfly male feeding on Dandelion flower.jpg
Description: A male Small White Butterfly with proboscis deep in a Dandelion.
View: D72_20220424_1338_079 Large White Butterfly male perched on Hazel leaf.jpg
Description: A male Large White butterfly perched on a Hazel leaf.
At the front of the head you can just see the coiled up Proboscis.
Date: 28 May 2022
View: D01_20220423_0101_137_FB6 Tawny Owl 2 minute visit to Meadow Post 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl makes a lovely touchdown on the Meadow Post.
View: E60_20220422_0341_044_FB3 Tawny Owl flying in to land on Kitchen perch (crop).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl about to land on the Kitchen Window perch.
The Owl has flown along the sense beam line so the camera has triggered 'early'.
If it landed blocking the beam line then (on this camera setup) it wouldn't be
photographed again, so we don't know how long the owl stayed.
Date: 27 May 2022
View: E60_20220422_1604_062_FB3 Chaffinch male defending position on Kitchen bird table (crop).jpg
Description: NO! - I'm staying here
View: BU8_20220421_1638_079+080 2 Magpies attacking Rook near Duck Pond 1+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Normally corvids (here Rook and Magpie) get along quietly, but here a little
skirmish near the Duck-shaped pond got caught by the trail cam at the pond.
First thought might be that the Rook on his back is losing the contest, but by
turning over the Rook provides the best use of both beak and claws. The fracas
could only have lasted a few seconds.
Date: 26 May 2022
View: D72_20220424_1045_003-007 Hare sprinting across Farm Road 1-5 of 5 (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: Sightings of running Hares are a rarity here.
Walking south up the slope of the Farm Road caught this Hare (and us) unawares somewhere
near the east or north hedge of our patch, and the Hare sprinted across the Road
in front of us and vanished into the crop. Here we capture the moment at about 8 fps
accurately positioned - you see about half a second of the sprint here
View: D72_20220424_1045_004 Hare sprinting across Farm Road 2 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: A repeat of the obvious frame from above at better resolution.
Date: 25 May 2022
View: DF3_20220418_1319_046 Muntjac Reeves Deer female standing in tractor rut in crop (crop).jpg
Description: An unexpected sighting of a female Reeves' Muntjac Deer standing in a tractor
rut in the field to our east.
View: DF3_20220418_1320_053+054+055 Muntjac Reeves Deer female leaping through crop (Hor stretched montage @7fps exposure framed).jpg
Description: She wasn't pleased to see the humans, and made a lively exit.
Trying to catch the sequence was made harder by the discovery that the camera
was still in 'exposure framing' mode - taking 3 pics in quick sequence at
different exposures and then stopping. Hence this montage's variable quality as
the paint package magics away the different exposures but not other
variations.
View: DF3_20220418_1320_056-064 Muntjac Reeves Deer female running and pronking through crop (acc montage alternate frames @7fps).jpg
Description: The camera restored to 'normal' (this camera takes a few seconds to select and
load a new group of settings) she has made it to near the edge of field,
'pronking' her way to prove she is fit and not worth chasing. As if we could!
Date: 24 May 2022
View: DF4_20220416_1203_003 Muntjac Reeves Deer male outside kitchen window (crop 2).jpg
Description: We have at least 3 male Reeves' Muntjac Deer visiting. This one was at the main
pond chomping away at the vegetation.
If only we could get him to thin the overgrowing Iris plants!
View: D36_20220426_0722_021_FB4 Grey Squirrel gathering green and dead grass for bedding.jpg
Description: Don't remember ever seeing a Grey Squirrel collecting green grass, here mixed
with a little of the dry stuff. Off to the Dray we don't doubt.
Date: 23 May 2022
View: PK1_20220416_1011_283 Mallard Duck male standing on edge of main pond with speculum exposed.jpg
Description: Male Mallard ducks really are magnificent before they moult into 'eclipse' for the summer.
You don't usually see the Speculum (the blue Rhombus) in the resting bird.
View: E63_20220424_0946_379_FB1 Pheasant male silverback.jpg
Description: Our new male Pheasant (Silverback) still rules the roost.
Date: 22 May 2022
View: E64_20220415_1608_108_FB2 Grey Squirrel runs off with half Avocado Pear Rind.jpg
Description: The Rind from half of an Avocado pear is worth stealing away to eat in peace.
View: PK1_20220420_1045_332 Grey Squirrel sunbathing on bird table.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel is spread out to catch the warmth of the sun, and probably
the UV rays needed to manufacture vitamin D.
View: D36_20220420_1752_048_FB4 Grey Squirrel first to freshly baited tree stump.jpg
Description: This Grey squirrel is the first to the just placed 'bait' on the tree-stump.
Date: 21 May 2022
View: BU9_20220419_0305_043_SC2-BU8_20220419_0328_107 Roe Deer male 4 points in velvet at 6 cams in 20 mins 1-6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: This male Roe Deer (of 3 individual males seem in the last couple of weeks)
spent 20 minutes wandering around the site. The Deer entered at the south hedge
(but NOT at the camera that monitors the normal hedge gap), walked diagonally to
near the East hedge gap, went back to visit the mound, then the woodland feeding
site (the coloured pic), Round Pond and finally walks past the Duck-shaped pond.
Where he went then we have no idea.
View: E64_20220419_0326_052_FB2 Roe Deer male with 4 points in velvet visits 6 cameras in 20 minutes 4 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: More detail of portrait that the male Roe Deer took of himself in the 3 a.m. darkness.
Date: 20 May 2022
View: DF3_20220418_1111_029+032 Goldfinch singing in top of conifer (montage).jpg
Description: Goldfinches seem to be breeding somewhere on our patch.
Here a male declares his territory from the top of a conifer.
View: DF3_20220420_1524_127+129 Chaffinch male singing in Rowan tree (montage).jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch declares his territory from the side of a hedge.
Date: 19 May 2022
View: DF3_20220418_1110_020 Crab Apple Blossom (crop).jpg
Description: Crab apple blossom is a delicate delight
View: DF3_20220418_1111_035 Crab Apple Blossom (crop).jpg
View: DF3_20220420_1522_120 Red Crab Apple blossom.jpg
Description: We inherited just this one 'Red' apple tree with the house.
The blossom is red. the wood is red, the fruit is red.
After a very poor show and no fruit at all last year, we hope for better this
year.
Red apple crumble looks odd but tastes good!
Date: 18 May 2022
View: DF3_20220415_0907_008+009 Rook flying with nesting material 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: A ball of desiccated leaves to line the new nest.
Date: 17 May 2022
View: D72_20220414_1254_038 Comma Butterfly perched on Orange plastic barrier at blocked gate.jpg
Description: Butterflies tend to look for somewhere already warm to bask.
This means they make for the ugliest human surfaces that they can find!
View: D72_20220414_1300_052 Peacock butterfly perched on Corrugated Iron.jpg
Description: Butterflies tend to look for somewhere already warm to bask.
This means they make for the ugliest human surfaces that they can find!
View: DF3_20220417_1512_065 Speckled Wood Butterfly - first of 2022.jpg
Description: The first Speckled Wood Butterfly we have seen this year.
View: DF3_20220417_1522_067 Comma Butterfly on hedge.jpg
Description: Here a Comma Butterfly (comma marks on the dark bottom of the wings hidden here)
making an attractive contrast with the fresh green leaves.
Date: 16 May 2022
View: DF3_20220410_1009_438 Badger hind paw print in soft mud.jpg
Description: Near the duck-shaped pond masses on Molehills have degenerated into patches
of soft mud. Here is a Badger's rear paw print, complete with deep holes
that the impressive claws have sunk into the mud.
View: E6A_20220413_2208_310_FB5 Badger.jpg
Description: A Badger walks through the Meadow site a couple of hours before midnight.
Several Badgers visit the site so this probably not the
individual that left the paw print
Date: 15 May 2022
View: BU5_20220413_1723_368-371_SC1 Muntjac Reeves Deer female walks edge of Round Pond past Mallard Duck pair on bank (montage).jpg
Description: One of the female Reeves' Muntjac Deer ambles quietly along the edge of
Round Pond. The pair of Mallard Ducks watched unperturbed barely moving
their heads as the Deer turns away.
The Ducks are aware that the worst a small Deer is likely to do is accidentally step
on them. As usual the female duck is well camouflaged - she sits on the left
of the male blending almost perfectly with the muddy bank.
Birds are NOT bird-brained - think of the mental processes necessary to
differentiate this small Deer from a similarly sized Fox.
Date: 14 May 2022
View: BU5_20220411_2147_177-180_SC1 Fox walks by Round Pond and sits down (montage).jpg
Description: One of currently visiting Foxes seems to like sitting down on the grass
at the front of Round Pond
View: BU5_20220421_0246_399_SC1 Fox watching Mallard Duck pair.jpg
Description: Is the Fox salivating at the thought of a nice bite of Duck?
Click Leap and collect?
Date: 13 May 2022
View: PK1_20220410_1142_992 Moorhen foraging in water of main pond.jpg
Description: This Moorhen has moved to traditional habitat - weed clogged water.
Date: 12 May 2022
View: DF3_20220410_1613_450+462 Rook flying to new nest with unwieldy forked twig 03+15 of 27 (montage).jpg
Description: A new nest being started in the Black Poplars needs more twigs to build it.
Here a new twig, complete with tiny fir cone, is transported up to the heights.
View: BU7_20220411_1002_005 Rook picking up Blackthorn twig but too unbalanced to fly yet.jpg
Description: Next day a trail cam catches this Rook picking up a long piece of Blackthorn
twig way out of balance for the bird to fly with.
Elsewhere we watched how a Rook managed unbalanced loads.
About 10 times a Rook picked up a long twig away from the balance point,
drop it, and immediately pick it up again. About the tenth attempt found a reasonably
central point and the Rook flew off with their prize.
It would seem that Rooks can't estimate where the centre of balance is,
and substitute persistence as a means of getting the job done!
Date: 11 May 2022
View: DF5_20220410_0915_024+027 Moorhen walking along hedge top outside livingroom window 1+4 of 4 (spread montage).jpg
Description: The first sighting this year of a Moorhen.
It was quite a shock as this one suddenly landed on the low hedge outside
the Living Room window.
View: DF5_20220410_0915_034 Moorhen on hedge top looking back.jpg
View: DF5_20220410_0915_040-044 Moorhen walking along hedge top outside livingroom window 04-08 of 11 (spread montage @7fps).jpg
Description: The bird walked carefully along the rather sparse hedge.
Here you see one 'cycle' of the bird right leg.
View: BU5_20220413_1324_310_SC1 2 Moorhen at Round Pond (ID only).jpg
Description: Well this (not montaged) pic at the edge of the right frame tells us that after
our initial surprise, 3 days later there are at least two Moorhen on the site.
They may be nesting on the already overgrown pond island, or in trees where
the nest may escape the attention of Corvids or a Fox
Date: 10 May 2022
View: DF3_20220409_0947_222 Muntjac Reeves Deer male looking back down Butterfly Alley.jpg
Description: One of the male Reeves' Muntjac Deer looks back at the photographer
along 'Butterfly Alley' - a sun drenched path between a low hedge (left)
and a wall of conifers on the right.
View: DF3_20220409_0949_239+240+243 Muntjac Reeves Deer male eating hawthorn twigs 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A couple of minutes later the male Reeves' Muntjac Deer is eating twigs
on a hawthorn bush.
Date: 09 May 2022
View: DF3_20220409_0940_211+212+215 Yellowhammer perched on hedge top (montage).jpg
Description: At this time of year Yellowhammers provide some moment of vivid yellow
around the hedges. This is a male spending a few seconds on the hedge top.
View: E63_20220409_1657_279_FB1 Yellowhammer male flying over Chaffinch male.jpg
Description: Yellowhammers in flight seem to create more of a yellow flash than you might expect.
Here we see that the brown patterned wings cover the vivid yellow body when not in flight.
On the ground the normally vivid male Chaffinch (with breeding coloured blue beak)
is largely eclipsed by the bird above him.
Date: 08 May 2022
View: DF3_20220408_1745_153 Little Egret in flight.jpg
Description: Few sightings of Little Egrets recently until this one flew by at high speed in
the North East direction, and disappeared from sight.
View: DF3_20220408_1745_163-165 Little Egret in flight passing white cloud 3--5 of 5 (montage impression @7fps).jpg
Description: These 3 pics are at 7 frames per second - this is a big bird to be flying
with this much separation between frames.
View: DF3_20220408_1745_158+157 Little Egret in flight passing white cloud 2+1 of 5 (montage for detail).jpg
Description: Successive frames, lower then upper.
Natural spacing with no cloud detail would be guesswork, so we had
a little 'artistic' moment.
Date: 07 May 2022
View: DF3_20220408_1502_040-043 Kestrel female hunting from wooden power pole 1-4 of 6 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: This female Kestrel was on the wooden power pole at out south boundary.
She got interested in something in the grass margin outside, and dived
down out of sight.
View: DF3_20220408_1503_051+053+056+063+069 Kestrel female returns pole with worm in claws to eat 01+03+9+13+19 of 21 (montage).jpg
Description: Only slightly expecting the bird to return, the camera stayed on the post, and about
a minute later the bird returned, now with a worm in her right claws.
A moment later the worm went 'down the hatch'
View: DF3_20220412_1132_017 Kestrel male hunting from 11kV crossbar.jpg
Description: We don't often catch sight of a male Kestrel.
This one was 100m north of our patch hunting from one of the 11kV crossbars.
Date: 06 May 2022
View: E6A_20220405_2120_230_FB5 Pheasant male road killed left in meadow for Fox is quickly replaced 12 of 14 (crop).jpg
Description: The crafty Fox remembers the Road-kill Pheasant left at this site, and keeps
coming back to see what else there may be!
View: E63_20220407_1042_032_FB1 Pheasant male - Silver Back.jpg
Description: A 'compact' portrait of the lovely Silverback Pheasant that quickly replaced
the previous dominant male.
Date: 05 May 2022
View: E6A_20220404_1824_113-20220405_1615_124_FB5 Pheasant male road killed left in meadow for Fox is quickly replaced 01-06 of 14 (montage).jpg
Description: The King is Dead. Long Live the King
The sad death of our dominant male Pheasant.
12 pics in 2 blocks of 6 document the event as the various mostly automatic camera caught the events.
Bottom left of the first block was the first we knew of the event as we walked by our
access to the main road.
Each photo is time stamped as xxx_yyyymmdd_hhmm_...
E6A_20220404_1824_113 01 of 14
The new male Pheasant occasionally on the site for some days.
BU3_20220404_1835_138_SC6 02 of 14
The dominant male Pheasant on the access track to main road.
BU8_20220405_1300_220 03 of 14
The last sighting of the dominant male, here full of himself calling at Duck Pond.
DF3_20220405_1612_123 04 of 14
The dominant male road-killed in the previous 3 hours.
BU3_20220405_1613_157_SC6 05 of 14
Yours truly dodged the traffic to collect the body.
DF3_20220405_1615_124 06 of 14
The sad remains left at the meadow site.
View: E6A_20220405_1704_180-2348_169_FB5 Pheasant male road killed left in meadow for Fox is quickly replaced 08-11+13-14 of 14 (montage).jpg
Description:
E6A_20220405_1704_180_FB5 08 of 14
Rooks had a look at the remains.
E6A_20220405_1715_182_FB5 09 of 14
The new male may have no idea that this was once his rival.
E6A_20220405_1816_204_FB5 10 of 14
Several Magpies took away beakfuls.
E6A_20220405_2039_229_FB5 11 of 14
We see a Fox - the remains now gone dragged off somewhere.
BUA_20220405_2330_166_SC8 13 of 14
3 hours later this Fox is carrying part of the remains.
BUA_20220405_2348_169_SC8 14 of 14
18 minutes later the head end of the dead bird is carried away.
View: DF3_20220406_1015_132+1016_136+137 Pheasant male lands on kitchen bird table 2+6+7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: By next day the new 'King' was fully established all over the plot.
Calling every few minutes (we hear over the CCTV). Here he flew up onto
the kitchen bird table - something the previous bird had never done.
Although the automatic camera caught the event (back to camera) we
took a few frames while he was picking up some corn, and then jumping down.
Date: 04 May 2022
View: DF3_20220403_0931_085 Ruddy Shelduck male calling in small field to NW 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A first 'here' is this Ruddy Shellduck - where 'here' is a field to our North West.
The bird stayed for at least 20 minutes just turning the head side to side
and calling.
The RSPB recorder for this area says he hasn't seen one for years.
Seen again at the same place 10 days later (14 April 2022), but as of
04 May 2022 no further sightings.
Date: 03 May 2022
View: DF3_20220403_0921_064 Robin in Hawthorn hedge just starting to leaf.jpg
Description: A Robin perched in a Hawthorn hedge whose leaves are just starting to emerge.
View: E63_20220331_0732_003_FB1 Great Tit.jpg
Description: A Great Tit stops off on the stone.
If the bird wasn't so small the markings would be considered startling.
Date: 02 May 2022
View: BU7_20220401_1129_137 Muntjac Reeves Deer female near south entrance.jpg
Description: This female Reeves' Muntjac Deer takes her portrait.
View: BU8_20220401_1523_239+241+246 Muntjac Deer male browsing near Duck Pond (approx montage).jpg
Description: This male Reeves' Muntjac Deer wanders quietly over the grass at the front
of Duck-shaped Pond.
View: BU7_20220402_1616_214+218 Muntjac Reeves Deer male entering site at south and foraging in ditch (montage).jpg
Description: This male Reeves' Muntjac Deer comes into the site and starts with a forage in the ditch.
Date: 01 May 2022
View: DF3_20220331_1556_017 Kestrel female 3 afternoon visits over 3 hours 3 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: The female Kestrel visited (or stayed in) out patch for at least 3 hours.
View: D01_20220331_1659_051+1700+053_FB6 Kestrel female 3 afternoon visits over 3 hours 4+6 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: The female Kestrel visited (or stayed in) out patch for at least 3 hours.
View: DF3_20220404_1232_062 Kestrel female in budding Cherry tree.jpg
Description: A few days later we find her again, this time perched on a tree
branch at the east boundary.
Image Archive arch 2022 apr.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Apr 2022
View: BUA_20220328_2116_104_SC8 Roe Deer male near east hedge 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: We had already spotted the Hoof prints.
Now we see this magnificent Roe Deer Buck.
View: D71_20220324_0727_016 Muntjac Reeves female and behind her male deer at north end of east outer hedge.jpg
Description: We catch sight of a female (left front) and male Reeve's Muntjac Deer
quietly browsing at the North East corner of our patch.
The cameraman is about 50 metres away, but even at this distance they are
wary of humans at this distance so we moved away to leave them in peace.
View: BU9_20220408_0103_024+0658_035+BUC_0704_376 Roe Deer female then male visiting over over 6 hours (montage).jpg
Description: A week after the male Roe Deer with magnificent antlers, we see
what we guess is a young male, still with single spike Antlers in Velvet,
spending 6 hours after midnight wandering around the site.
Date: 29 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220326_1403_301 Comma Butterfly feeding on Laurel flower.jpg
Description: A Comma Butterfly feeds on a flower of our gigantic Laurel bush
View: DF3_20220326_1403_304 Comma Butterfly feeding on Laurel flower showing underwing mark.jpg
Description: Same actual insect, this time looking quite different with wings closed
and showing the white 'comma' that gives these Butterflies their name.
Date: 28 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220326_0840_159 Red Kite circling overhead.jpg
Description: A Red kite wheeled around above, gradually moving upwards without
more than a twitch of the wings and tail.
Date: 27 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220326_0829_107 Mallard Duck and Drake drowsing on Main pond (crop).jpg
Description: Next morning we find one of the Mallard Ducks pairs quietly drowsing on
the still water of the main pond.
Trying to catch a 'perfect' rippleless reflection was impossible. Both water and
birds were completely still, but the birds were continuously creating a ripple
from their breasts. It seems likely that this is the birds invisibly breathing.
Date: 26 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220325_1159_028-037 Kestrel female moving along 11kV cables & onto new cable 01+02+05+08+10 of 10 (montage @7fps).jpg
Description: The 'nervous' female Kestrel is becoming a little more tolerant of us, and we could watch her
on the 11kV cables to the south.
She decides to move from one cable to a few metres along on another cable.
View: DF3_20220325_1200_058 Kestrel female hunting (unsuccessfully) from 11kV cable.jpg
Description: Once there she started an intense stare at the ground (on the other side of a huge
hedge for us). But whatever she saw must have 'gone away' as she then relaxed.
View: DF3_20220325_1203_072-078 Kestrel female flying from 11kV cable 1-7 of 7 (montage @7fps vertically accurate).jpg
Description: A few minutes later she decides to fly on, soon to go out of sight.
View: DF3_20220325_1203_089 Kestrel female in flight 1 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: She flew off as the camera captured this moment of flight.
Date: 25 Apr 2022
View: BU9_20220325_0725_058-060_SC2 Grey Squirrel pair mating on orchard grass 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Why are we so well endowed with Grey squirrels?
Because they keep doing this!
Date: 24 Apr 2022
View: BU5_20220322_1402_130_SC1 Muntjac Deer male on bank of Round pond as Mallard Ducks swim by.jpg
Description: A pair of Mallard Duck swim quietly by the quietly browsing male Reeve's Muntjac Deer.
View: BU5_20220325_1555_325_SC1 Mallard Duck pair + Rook + Wood Pigeon.jpg
Description: This pair of Mallard Ducks swim to the edge of the Round Pond, feeling
no fear from the Rook or Wood Pigeon.
View: BU5_20220329_2348_309_SC1 Fox (q) + Badger + Mallard Duck pair at Round Pond.jpg
Description: Just before midnight, what we think is a Fox (2 eyes left) watching a Badger
foraging along the edge of Round Pond, with a pair of Mallard ducks safely
out on the water.
Date: 23 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220326_0843_257 Robin on tip of stem not removed by flail cutter.jpg
Description: A weird moment as we spot what initially looks like a bird completely
static in the middle of the sky! It turns out to the Robin perched on
last years hedge growth that the flail managed to mostly strip
of bark but not actually cut.
It must have been like this for months without us noticing.
View: E63_20220326_1244_214_FB1 Yellowhammer male at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: A male Yellowhammer stops by on the hedge bottom stone.
View: E63_20220322_0531_060_FB1 Blackbird female hopping across hedge bottom.jpg
Description: A female Blackbird double-footed hopping over the site.
The number of different 'walking' gaits used by birds is fascinating.
Date: 22 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220322_1306_263 Peacock Butterfly (overwintered) pair courting in may blossom.jpg
Description: Peacock Butterflies have emerged from their winter torpor and need
to get going with mating to get the next generation underway.
View: DF3_20220322_1307_283 Peacock Butterfly (overwintered) pair courting in may blossom.jpg
Description: Peacock Butterflies have almost black underside to their wings.
You can just see the tip of the top of the wing at the left of the lower insect.
They flew into impenetrable brambles before we could see them actually mating.
View: DF3_20220322_1316_308 Brimstone Butterfly male feeding on Primrose flower.jpg
Description: The bright yellow male Brimstone Butterflies have a quieter bottom of wing
colour that blends remarkably well with the yellow of the Primrose petals.
Date: 21 Apr 2022
View: DF4_20220320_0934_007+0935_010+0936_017 Sparrowhawk perched on woodpile behind main pond 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This female Sparrowhawk lands on a small Woodpile on the far side of the
main pond. These morning portraits are from an upstairs window.
View: E60_20220320_1811_097_FB3 Sparrowhawk female (crop).jpg
Description: At around sunset of the same day what looks like the same bird lands on the kitchen
perch for an unknown length of stay.
Date: 20 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220320_1357_179+184 Rook pair mating near partly built nest in Black Poplar north of track 5+8 of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: This branch hear the new Rook nest in the furthest Black Poplar Tree was suddenly the site of
commotion as these two bird mated in the space above us.
He tried once, obviously 'failed', and the female was immediately tail and wing fluttering again to
encourage a second try, for which he immediately obliged and apparently satisfied her.
We have no records or memory of ever previously seeing Rooks mating.
View: DF3_20220323_1229_399+401+404 Rook lands near nest while partner calls (montage).jpg
Description: At the same nest site as the mating one of the Rooks flying in to land a few metres above the nest.
His mate is wing flapping and calling (encouragement?).
The incoming bird has very little of the beak covered in white skin, so the
pair are most likely on their first-ever nest. They have stopped building with
about half the weight of wood of the other nests, and it seems likely that the
next storm will destroy it - with a lot of luck it will be after they finish a brood.
But Rooks form stable pairs - if it goes wrong this year they will know better for next
year!
Date: 19 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220320_0950_135 Blue Tit pecking Lombardy Poplar buds (crop 2).jpg
Description: This Blue Tit wasn't bothered by us watching as they industriously
pecked at numerous Lombardy Poplar catkins.
View: DF3_20220322_0900_208 Dunnock singing from hedge top.jpg
Description: Several pair of Dunnocks along the sunny end of the access track have
suddenly become extremely tolerant of humans - well to us anyway.
This one was singing his little heart out about 3 metres away.
Date: 18 Apr 2022
View: E64_20220319_0903_153_FB2 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: A shaft of orange sun supplements the camera flash to enhance the golden
glow of this male Pheasant.
View: BU2_20220319_1001_208-210_SC7 Pheasant male walking down Round Mound 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: An hour later the same bird struts down the Round Mound.
View: E64_20220320_0913_221+0918_223_FB2 Pheasant pair feeding together at Woodland site for 5 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: We don't often see a female Pheasant with 'her' male at the same time.
Here the two spent several minutes feeding together.
There are at least two female pheasants on the site
Date: 17 Apr 2022
View: E63_20220317_1628_057_FB1 Magpie walking along hedge bottom.jpg
Description: Magpies strut about as if they own the place.
In a way they do.
View: E63_20220318_1753_139_FB1 Magpie walking along hedge bottom.jpg
View: DF3_20220317_1546_029 Rook perched in top of Silver Birch Tree.jpg
Description: King of all they survey - a Rook at the top of one of the Silver Birches.
Date: 16 Apr 2022
View: E6A_20220310_0817_003_FB5 Rook on grass.jpg
Description: A pristine Rook takes a selfie.
View: DF3_20220315_1239_075-077 Rook chasing off Buzzard to north 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage @ about 7fps).jpg
Description: A Rook (left) very indeterminably seeing off a Buzzard (right).
Buzzards are a threat to eggs in the Rookery.
View: D72_20220317_0707_008-012 Rook launching from 11kV cable 2 of 5 (horizontally spread montage @8fps).jpg
Description: A Rook perched on an 11kV cable quietly launches.
We have shifted the bird along the wire so you can see the detail.
Date: 15 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220315_1235_074 Violets growing in cracks in disused concrete track.jpg
Description: A small patch of colour from a 30cm long patch of Violets growing
from a crack in the disused concrete track. Violets always look much paler
in photos than real life, and we have here partially corrected the colour.
View: D12_20220319_1420_011 Dog Violet Flowers in RGB & UV light (montage).jpg
Description: Why do violets display a weak colour - rather like Bluebells displaying the WRONG
colour?
It is usually blamed on the UV light component picked up by camera but not
eye.
A decade ago we did masses of photos of insects and plants in UV light - not
luminescence - actual UV reflectance. We 'dusted' off the kit and rounded up the
scattered boxes of bits, unearthed our instructions, and spent a couple of hours
coaxing it all back to life. Here is a bit of the plant under normal flashgun
light (showing better colour than in daylight!), and showing what it looks like
in UV light. The Petals DO have substantial UV reflectance, explaining the
wash-out effect, but the top of the flower (top in the pictures) is not as
bright as the underneath of the petal. We have seen similar in daisies, where
the effect is quite extreme. We can't see why either plant has evolved a
difference.
It was 'fun' to re-visit our past endeavours where the whole subject
was triggered by a Wendy - a Dragonfly researcher at Swansea University. The
previous work is indexed at
http://www.moorhen.me.uk/uv/uv.htm
(including links to the technicalities) with 'highlights' on a few pages from
http://www.moorhen.me.uk/uv/highlights_01.htm.
Date: 14 Apr 2022
View: D72_20220314_0703_030 Pheasant male (unbroken neck ring) in Wheat crop backlit by morning sun.jpg
Description: As the sun lights the growing crop, this male Pheasant wanders around
keeping a beady eye on the humans.
This is NOT our 'regular' pheasant whose neck ring has a substantial
break at the front.
View: E64_20220314_1353_025_FB2 Pheasant male - dominant bird with broken neck ring at front.jpg
Description: This is our 'regular' male ...
View: E64_20220315_0905_059_FB2 Pheasant male with light coloured crown (ID only).jpg
Description: ... and this a very occasional visitor with complete neck ring and
very noticeably almost white crown.
Date: 13 Apr 2022
View: BU5_20220314_0121_273+274+0122_276_SC1 Fox on bank of Round Pond with 2 Mallard Ducks on the water 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This pair of Mallard Ducks seem to spend the night afloat on Round Pond.
As the Fox stops for a drink the birds paddle to have the maximum amount of
protective water in every direction.
View: DF3_20220314_1025_016 Mallard Duck female in main pond.jpg
Description: In daylight female Mallard Ducks really are well camouflaged ...
View: DF3_20220314_1026_019 Mallard Duck male in main pond.jpg
Description: ... while males are quite the opposite. In this quiet area with just a few ducks that
pair up with a male, the males often quite deliberately distract attention from the female
for perceived threats.
Date: 12 Apr 2022
View: E6A_20220312_1723_156_FB5 Blackbird male with worm in beak (crop).jpg
Description: A male Blackbird has caught a worm!
View: E6A_20220313_1340_196_FB5 Grey Squirrel nibbling inside of banana skin held in paws.jpg
Description: Meanwhile the Grey Squirrel has raided the fruit bowl - for some Banana skin.
Date: 11 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220312_1512_121+122 Kestrel female on IR beam sender post (montage).jpg
Description: The current female Kestrel prefers the more distant post, supporting the IR
sender for the meadow post, to the meadow post itself.
Nothing 'automatic' about these pics.
View: DF3_20220314_1528_041-1529_045 Kestrel female launching from IR sender post 1-5 of 5 (accurate flight montage).jpg
Description: 2 days later we catch her launching from the same post.
Date: 10 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220311_1237_086+1239_096 Chinese Water Deer male resting on field margin 200m to east 2+3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Gazing along the hedge lines to our east, we see a brown shape
that resolves in the long-focus lens as this Chinese Water Deer.
About 200 metres away, she does no more than have a look at the interlopers.
We left her in peace to practice looking like a Teddy Bear!
In retrospect we are not sure of the sex of this deer - neither have Antlers
View: BU3_20220315_1104_123_SC6 Muntjac Reeves Deer female about to re-enter site from track.jpg
Description: Seen on most days, Reeves' Muntjac Deer are regular sightings. This female steps
delicately over the concrete lumps at the edge of the track to enter our patch.
These Deer always look to us like they are smiling!
Date: 09 Apr 2022
View: PK1_20220311_1125_232+1126_233+237 Coal Tit (1st sighting in 30 years) (montage).jpg
Description: A FIRST for us here.
After 30 years of unexpected absence here, we at last see a Coal Tit.
This is 3 pics from the same visit. We hope they become a regular addition to
the guest list.
Date: 08 Apr 2022
View: DF5_20220306_1552_002 Grey Squirrel sunbathing on pollarded Willow stump.jpg
Description: On a windy but sunny afternoon this Grey Squirrel finds a sheltered nook
in the sunshine to sit and meditate. Love the craggy wood.
View: D36_20220312_1353_024_FB4 Grey Squirrel 1st to bait.jpg
Description: Yummy!
Date: 07 Apr 2022
View: E64_20220308_1754_115_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer female at woodland feeding site.jpg
Description: Probably the 'resident' Reeves' Muntjac Deer feeds quietly at the Woodland site.
Her fur is lovely and glossy - we hope a sign of good health.
View: DF3_20220306_1122_106+PK1_20220306_1119_947 Muntjac Reeves Deer female @ main pond (right) then eating day Lilies (montage).jpg
Description: The 'resident' female Reeves' Muntjac Deer foraging IN the main pond
(right) and 3 minutes later chomping her way through a clump of emerging
'day lilies' on the bank.
Date: 06 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220307_1606_008 Cherry Blossom - light pink behind Frog Pond.jpg
Description: Cherry Blossom is starting all over the site.
View: DF3_20220308_1245_028 Cherry Blossom pink in front garden.jpg
View: DF3_20220308_1246_033 Cherry Blossom white in front garden.jpg
View: DF3_20220309_1643_078 Primrose clump at base of tree next to round pond (orig & final).jpg
Description: On a mostly shaded piece of ground at the base of a tree growing near
the edge of Round Pond, we find the first decent primrose clump.
Date: 05 Apr 2022
View: DF3_20220305_1321_018-022 Hare running across growing crop 1-5 of 7 (montage stretched about half).jpg
Description: Seeing Hares has always been a rare event here, so when we catch one on-the-run
we keep a finger on the camera button ...
View: DF3_20220305_1321_020+021 Hare running across growing crop 3+4 of 7 (montage stretched about half).jpg
View: DF3_20220305_1321_034-048 Hare running along field margin to south 02-16 (alt frames @ 7fps) of 16 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: By the time the Hare was 100m away it was more relaxed - here we have taken alternate
frames for the montage so this is about 2 seconds of the run.
Date: 04 Apr 2022
View: E63_20220305_1525_147_FB1 Robin emphasising thin legs.jpg
Description: A perky Robin.
Here you see clearly how thin the legs are compared to their rotund little bodies.
View: D72_20220301_1039_072+070 Dunnock waiting in hedge to be fed (montage).jpg
Description: Dunnocks along the access track are becoming bold as they wait for
a hand out of corn.
Date: 03 Apr 2022
View: E60_20220228_1246_003_FB3 Sparrowhawk female lands on kitchen perch facing camera (crop 2).jpg
Description: The female Sparrowhawk stops on the Kitchen perch right over the
peanut feeder as she does her rounds looking for 'tasty and nutritious' Tits.
Date: 02 Apr 2022
View: D01_20220228_1522_049-1525_056_FB6 Kestrel female 4 minute visit to Meadow Post 1-5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels spends a few minutes on the meadow post.
View: D01_20220228_1522_049_FB6 Kestrel female 4 minute visit to Meadow Post 1 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: A closer look at the landing female Kestrel
View: D01_20220305_1206_207+208_FB6 Kestrel female landing on meadow post (montage over 400ms).jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels lands on the meadow post, but didn't stay.
Date: 01 Apr 2022
View: E63_20220228_0122_239_FB1 Fox (crop 1).jpg
Description: An hour after midnight sees this Fox exploring the hedge bottom site.
View: E63_20220228_0122_239_FB1 Fox (crop 2 head detail).jpg
Description: More detail of the Fox's stare.
View: BU5_20220225_0417_141_SC1 Fox sitting on edge of Round Pond.jpg
Description: "Reynard - SIT!"
Some hopes - a little joke for April Fools day.
Image Archive arch 2022 mar.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Mar 2022
View: DF3_20220226_1240_188 Brimstone Butterfly male in flight - first of 2022.jpg
Description: First of the year - male Brimstone Butterfly whizzing about over the garden bushes,
hedges etc. This time we got lucky with a hand-held camera to get a reasonable
image of this delight-in-flight.
We hope this year to refurbish the kit we use to photograph insects in flight.
You can see our efforts over the last few years as about 400 images starting at page
http://www.moorhen.me.uk/iodsubject/insects_in_flight_in_controlled_setup_01.htm#01
Date: 30 Mar 2022
View: DF3_20220226_0921_168 6 Goldfinches in budding willow tree top (crop).jpg
Description: 6 Goldfinches sparsely spread among the Pussy-willows.
View: DF3_20220227_1222_343 Red Kite rising in thermal looks down at photographer.jpg
Description: Photographer gets the - Oh it only you - brush off from this Kite who
found a thermal above where we are standing.
Date: 29 Mar 2022
View: DF3_20220226_0859_085-087 Kestrel pursued by Rook @7fps 04-06 of 16 (accurate montage @7fp).jpg
Description: Rooks almost always chase away a Kestrel in their territory, and in the breeding
season are especially diligent. Here from one long sequence we build 3 accurate montages:-
View: DF3_20220226_0859_088-092 Kestrel pursued by Rook @7fps 07-11 of 16 (accurate montage).jpg
View: DF3_20220226_0859_093-097 Kestrel pursued by Rook @7fps 12-16 of 16 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Date: 28 Mar 2022
View: DF3_20220225_0958_057 Chaffinch male (hint of blue on beak) on corner of concrete block.jpg
Description: On a concrete block to our south a male Chaffinch has become very 'brave' at
approaching us for food. This bird's beak shows the earliest tinge of the blue
breeding coating ...
View: DF3_20220226_0907_141+146+151 Chaffinch male in breeding colours singing from budding hedge @7fps01+06+11 of 13 (montage).jpg
Description: ... while next day we find this individual singing his heart out in one of our hedges.
This bird has the full blue beak coating - ready to breed!
View: DF3_20220227_1215_292 Dunnock.jpg
Description: This Dunnock, and their mate, who live in a wood pile 'temporarily' dumped
at the blocked end of our access track, is becoming habituated to us.
Somewhere in this pile the pair made a nest last year, so we are now very
reluctant to 'tidy up'.
View: DF5_20220303_1158_004 Wren on edge of Main Pond.jpg
Description: Views of a Wren are usually 'what was that', but this one spent an atypical
several minutes rooting about near the main pond edge - for once time
to grab a camera and focus on the subject.
Date: 27 Mar 2022
View: E63_20220227_1650_231_FB1 Robin in flight diving on Chaffinch male on ground (crop).jpg
Description: The Robin dives down at the threatening male Chaffinch, both atypically in accurate focus.
Date: 26 Mar 2022
View: BU5_20220224_1312_045_SC1 Round Pond with reflections and shadows + Magpie.jpg
Description: A moment of tranquillity at the Round Pond, complete with shadows and reflections.
View: E64_20220224_1500_045_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels squabbling over food.jpg
Description: Not so tranquil - there is more fruit here than both of these Squirrels
could eat in one go, but they will squabble over them anyway.
View: D36_20220226_0919_034_FB4 Grey Squirrel with strawberry top in mouth.jpg
Description: Strawberries for the Squirrels?
It's us that must be nuts!
Date: 25 Mar 2022
View: DF3_20220223_0922_030 Snowdrops along NW bank of main pond.jpg
Description: Except when the sun is high in the sky in summer, the North West corner of the main pond is
mostly in shade. Here a shaft of morning sunlight skims past the east end of the
house for a brief glow on the bank of Snowdrops. This pic taken across the pond.
View: DF3_20220222_1619_025 Snowdrop clump on NW bank of main pond.jpg
Description: The previous evening a single shaft of light found its way through the intervening 'jungle'.
This pic taken from behind the bank of the pond.
Date: 24 Mar 2022
View: E64_20220223_0448_109+0452_110_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer female feeding at woodland site 1+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: With a couple of hours of darkness left in the night, this female Reeves' Muntjac Deer stops
by for a feed for several minutes.
View: E64_20220223_0836_133_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male feeding at woodland site.jpg
Description: 4 hours later, the sun has risen as this male Reeves' Muntjac Deer, with fully emerged antlers,
stops by for a feed. There seems to be a scar at the top of his left front leg.
Date: 23 Mar 2022
View: BUA_20220223_0309_064+066_SC8 Badger pair entering at east hedge gap (accurate montage over a few seconds).jpg
Description: A pair of Badgers amble in side-by-side formation into the patch.
View: BU5_20220223_0327_117+120+0328_121_SC1 Badger visiting Round Pond (montage).jpg
Description: 20 minutes later just one Badger (possibly not even one of the pair) walks up to Round Pond.
Date: 22 Mar 2022
View: D01_20220220_0944_190+1328_202_FB6 Magpie visits with twig and mud for nest building (montage).jpg
Description: Magpies have heard the nest-building starting gun!
View: D01_20220222_0830_088_FB6 Magpie visiting meadow post with heavy twig 2 of 2.jpg
Description: Eyes bigger than the Beak?
There are lots of pieces of Blackthorn twig lying around from hedge cutting,
but they are really at the limit of what a Magpie can handle.
Balancing it better would help - we don't know what the Magpie actually did.
View: D01_20220221_1619_070_FB6 Magpie landing on meadow post.jpg
Description: A Magpie makes the characteristic tail rise to balance after landing.
Date: 21 Mar 2022
View: DF3_20220217_1237_002 Muntjac Reeves Deer female hiding in Blackberries at side of garage (orig & final).jpg
Description: Our little brown Reeves' Muntjac Deer is in this same patch of brambles about every other time we pass.
A quick 'snap' and gone doesn't bother her.
She is well camouflaged - one eye is just below centre.
View: E64_20220218_2135_093+2145_094_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer female feeding at woodland site (montage 10 minutes apart).jpg
Description: Here 10 minutes apart, hours after dark, we see this female Reeves' Muntjac Deer
quietly collecting corn left over by the afternoon visitors.
View: E64_20220219_1130_147+0655_098_FB2 2 Muntjac Reeves Deer males at woodland site (Montage different individuals 4hrs apart).jpg
Description: About 9 hours later, on a truly grey day we first see the male Reeves'
Muntjac Deer (right) with the fully emerged Antlers, and then another 4 hours of
a different male (left) with Antlers still in Velvet.
Date: 20 Mar 2022
View: D01_20220217_1201_023_FB6 Kestrel female brief stop on Meadow Post 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: This years 'nervous' Kestrel has been out and about, almost entirely photographed
by an automated camera on the post in the meadow.
View: D01_20220217_1402_027-1409_047_FB6 Kestrel female 8 minute visit to Meadow Post 1+4+8+9 R2L of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: Two hours after the short visit, the female Kestrel stops by for about 10 minutes.
View: D01_20220221_1408_042_FB6 Kestrel female brief visit to meadow post.jpg
Description: 4 days later we select another visit, the wind now increased and blowing around her feathers.
View: D01_20220221_1436_045+1437_047+1439_049_FB6 Kestrel female lands and departs Meadow Post 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Another half-an-hour later we catch her leaving after a 4 minute stay.
Date: 19 Mar 2022
View: E64_20220213_1418_213_FB2 Pheasant male + Wood Pigeon.jpg
Description: A male Pheasant steps over the log as a Wood Pigeon watches.
View: D01_20220214_1657_023_FB6 Wood Pigeon landing on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: A Wood Pigeon makes a symmetrical touchdown.
View: PK1_20220215_0730_665 Sunrise with Wood Pigeon.jpg
Description: From the living room window, this silhouetted Wood Pigeon decorates a somewhat
threatening Sunrise.
Date: 18 Mar 2022
View: DF3_20220216_0923_019 Muntjac Reeves Deer female.jpg
Description: Seeing the arrival of the photographer along this path along the inner hedge, this female
Reeves' Muntjac Deer takes a careful look before wandering into the thicket on the right.
View: DF3_20220211_1430_049 Muntjac Reeves Deer female hiding in blackberry thicket by garage (crop).jpg
Description: We have just discovered that one of the female Reeves' Muntjac deer regularly
'hides' during the day in a patch of bramble hedge alongside the garage.
It is fairly sheltered and we can't see how anything could get near her
without making warning noise.
Date: 17 Mar 2022
View: D01_20220212_0143_109_FB6 Barn Owl landing on Meadow post.jpg
Description: This immaculate Barn Owl lands on the post but doesn't stay.
View: DF3_20220210_1026_006+008+010 Red Kite flying (visually) above Hanslope Church spire (montage alternate frames @7fps).jpg
Description: This Red Kite glides the skies, visually for us over the distant tower of Hanslope Church.
Date: 16 Mar 2022
View: D01_20220211_1404_085+086_FB6 Kestrel female lands on meadow post (montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: This female Kestrel makes a short stop on the Meadow Post.
View: D01_20220212_1345_137-1350_143_FB6 Kestrel female 6 minute visit to Meadow Post 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This first visit by the female Kestrel to the meadow post lasted 6 minutes ...
View: D01_20220212_1446_159_FB6 Kestrel female 2 minute visit to Meadow Post 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: ... returning almost exactly an hour later for a brief stop.
We always enjoy seeing the bird's Alula - the anti-stall 'flaps' half way along the wing.
Date: 15 Mar 2022
View: BU2_20220214_1114_007_SC7 Fox jumping over falling tree (crop).jpg
Description: The quick brown Fox jumps over the lazy dog fallen log.
View: BU5_20220210_2310_043+045+048_SC1 Fox walks along edge of Round Pond and stops for a drink (montage).jpg
Description: In the hour before midnight, this Fox walks along the edge of Round Pond
before stopping for a drink.
View: BU7_20220215_0545_009+BU8_20220215_0559_047+BU2_20220215_0616_083_SC7 Fox visits at quarter hour intervals (montage).jpg
Description: Left to right what we assume is the same fox enters the site at the South-West,
visits the Duck shaped pond near the South-East corner, finally meets a 'friend'
at the mound to the North-East, each visit almost exactly 15 minutes apart.
Date: 14 Mar 2022
View: E63_20220210_0821_009_FB1 Dunnock launching from stone.jpg
Description: A Dunnock lifts the wings in preparation to launch from the stone.
View: E6A_20220212_1536_228_FB5 Blackbird male.jpg
Description: A pristine male Blackbird - if only he would wipe the mud from his beak!
Date: 13 Mar 2022
View: D01_20220210_0335_217+0339_219_FB6 Barn Owl lands on meadow post & 4 minutes later flies off 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl pays a 4 minute visit to the meadow post.
On the CCTV recording we were able to see the bird actively moving about on the
post top looking for prey, before launching off into the darkness.
Date: 12 Mar 2022
View: BL1_20220209_0951_238-10000_250 Muntjac Reeves Deer male joining path north from FB1 (montage impression).jpg
Description: We found a hole dug in the ground on a little-used path. We couldn't identify the
'owner', so placed the trail-cam to see what used it. The main outcome
was 'no visits to the hole', but we were surprised by the number of times
creatures wandered in and out of the 'tunnel'. Here a male Reeves' Muntjac
Deer wanders into the main path and provides a good view of his antlers.
View: BU2_20220209_1305_219_SC7 2 Muntjac Reeves Deer females feeding together.jpg
Description: On the same day another trail cam sees a quiet afternoon together for these two
female Reeves' Muntjac Deer.
Date: 11 Mar 2022
View: D01_20220208_0826_035-0850_069_FB6 Kestrel female 26 minute visit to meadow post 01+07+08 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: This female Kestrel has an unusually long 26 minute visit to the Meadow post, apparently
enjoying an extensive preen.
Date: 10 Mar 2022
View: E64_20220205_1534_164+1536_165_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer female at woodland site for 10 mins 3+4 of 4 (montage 2 for clarity).jpg
Description: The 10 minute start of what turns out to be a whole series of overnight visits
to this woodland site by what seems to be the same female Reeves' Muntjac Deer.
Here it looks like the Magpie is taking the chance to nip in and grab something to eat.
View: E64_20220205_1920_183-20220206_0628_201_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer female 6 visits at woodland site over 11 hours 1-3+5+4+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: For the rest of the night at typically 2 hourly intervals the Deer returns for short stays.
Always approaching in the same direction, here are one image from all six visits after
the initial long stay.
View: BU5_20220206_1349_243_SC1 Muntjac Reeves Deer female licking foreleg in shaft of sunlight.jpg
Description: A day later this female Reeves' Muntjac Deer stops to groom her front leg
with her incredibly long tongue you can see here under her chin.
Humans are tongue and tail deprived!
Date: 09 Mar 2022
View: DF5_20220204_1159_033 Sparrowhawk female perched on sloping branch (crop 2).jpg
Description: Across the main pond we spot this female Sparrowhawk trying to sun
herself in the pollarded willow tree out of the wind.
View: DF5_20220204_1200_050+059 Sparrowhawk flies to Raptor post and sunbathes 1+2 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: But the Grey Squirrels likes this tree as well, so when one arrives on the bole
of the tree a few metres below the Sparrowhawk decides to move.
She flies about 10 metres to land on top of an old post ...
View: DF5_20220204_1201_071 Sparrowhawk flies to Raptor post and sunbathes 3 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: ... where she spends several minutes sunbathing while keeping her eye on the
humans watching her from the window some 20 metres away.
Date: 08 Mar 2022
View: D01_20220206_1417_129_FB6 Kestrel female visits Meadow Post for 7 minutes 1 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: A female Kestrel lands face to camera on the Meadow Post.
View: D01_20220206_1418_131-1423_141_FB6 Kestrel female visits Meadow Post for 7 minutes 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: The untidy centre of the raised tail (2nd from left) makes us think that this
might be our original human tolerant female Kestrel landing on the meadow post
and staying for several minutes.
View: DF3_20220204_1107_009 Kestrel female hunting from 11kV cable over Bridleway to north.jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels high on an 11kV power cable over the Bridleway
much more interested in something below than the pesky humans.
Date: 07 Mar 2022
View: D01_20220203_0241_145_FB6 Barn Owl landing on Meadow Post (crop).jpg
Description: The small hours sees this Barn Owl landing on the Meadow post.
The bird didn't stay this time - maybe it quickly spotted something
tasty on the ground beneath
Date: 06 Mar 2022
View: E63_20220130_0000_292_FB1 Badger at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: Dead on midnight, this Badger stops off at the hedge bottom.
View: BUA_20220201_0243_013_SC8 Badger pair near east hedge gap.jpg
Description: This pair of badgers wandered the plot together for several hours before indulging
in what looks like a bit of rough-love.
Date: 05 Mar 2022
View: D01_20220131_1220_021-1222_024_FB6 Kestrel female landing and departure on Meadow Post 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: The female Kestrel made a brief visit to the Meadow Post.
The half-bird on the left is NOT a Damian Hurst inspired artistic effect!
View: D01_20220202_1350_123+124_FB6 Kestrel female preening on Meadow Post 1+2 of 2 (montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: 2 days later this female Kestrel makes a very short stop to give her feathers a little reef out.
Date: 04 Mar 2022
View: E6A_20220131_1110_006_FB5 Pheasant male at meadow site.jpg
Description: The male Pheasant out in some sunshine.
View: E63_20220201_1411_157+1418_161_FB1 Pheasant male feeding at hedge bottom with rear and front views (accurate montage).jpg
Description: These two pics of the male Pheasant 7 minutes apart overcame any resistance
to making this surprisingly symmetrical accurate montage.
Date: 03 Mar 2022
View: E63_20220131_0754_013_FB1 Dunnock diving to ground (crop 2).jpg
Description: A Dunnock diving to the ground broke the sense beam just nicely in focus.
Date: 02 Mar 2022
View: E60_20220129_1452_028_FB3 Sparrowhawk female on kitchen perch (crop).jpg
Description: The female Sparrowhawk stops off at the kitchen window perch.
View: E60_20220131_1333_010_FB3 Sparrowhawk flying by kitchen perch.jpg
Description: The female Sparrowhawk this time flies by the kitchen feeder.
We notice such passes once or twice a day, so she must be passing
many times hoping to catch out a Blue Tit or other small bird
visiting the peanut feeder here and on the other side of the house.
Date: 01 Mar 2022
View: BU5_20220128_2033_202+204+205+207_SC1 Fox visit to round pond (montage).jpg
Description: One of the visiting Foxes wanders along the edge of Round Pond and sits for a minute
before wandering off.
View: BU2_20220201_0548_091-093_SC7 Fox on Round Mound glances upwards (montage).jpg
Description: A Fox on the mound suddenly glances upwards.
Sometimes when out before sunrise we disturb both Pigeons and sometimes
Pheasants that are roosting in the treetops in this area.
View: BU7_20220129_0658_048 Fox pauses and looks right while approaching south hedge gap.jpg
Description: A last look around before this Fox wanders home at the end of the night.
Image Archive arch 2022 feb.htm (view it Here)
Date: 28 Feb 2022
View: D01_20220128_0950_051_FB6 Buzzard 14 minute visit to Meadow Post 01 of 13 (crop).jpg
Description: This visit by a Buzzard to the Meadow Post lasted for a quarter of an hour
View: D01_20220128_0951_053-1001_099_FB6 Buzzard 14 minute visit to Meadow Post 02+05+08+11 of 13 (montage).jpg
View: D01_20220128_1003_104+105_FB6 Buzzard 14 minute visit to Meadow Post 12+13 of 13 (montage).jpg
Description: By the middle of the visit we were aware of the bird, and went to enjoy the
sight from different viewpoints. The first was manually triggering the normally automatic
camera at the moment of take-off.
The next pic on this locked position camera is almost entirely out of frame.
View: PK1_20220128_1003_483-485 Buzzard take-off from meadow post 1-3 of 3 (approx montage).jpg
Description: From a downstairs window this hand-held camera could follow the action a bit better.
Date: 27 Feb 2022
View: E64_20220128_0846_047_FB2 Magpie jumping onto fallen branch.jpg
Description: A Magpie hopping onto the fallen branch, the vertical iridescent tail helping to regain balance.
View: D01_20220131_1337_026_FB6 Magpie lands on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: This immaculate Magpie stops off at the meadow post.
Date: 26 Feb 2022
View: E64_20220127_1457_026_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels feeding quietly together.jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels synchronised feeding?
View: D36_20220127_1458_007_FB4 Grey Squirrel first to heap of fruit waste.jpg
Description: All mine!
Date: 25 Feb 2022
View: E60_20220126_0935_007_FB3 Sparrowhawk landing on kitchen perch (crop 2).jpg
Description: The local female Sparrowhawk stops off on the Kitchen Window perch, undoubtedly
after hoping to catch something tasty from the feeder below (out of crop).
View: E63_20220124_1504_076_FB1 Grey Squirrel nibbling banana peel.jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel trying to play the Harmonica?
Date: 24 Feb 2022
View: BU7_20220123_0710_032+033 Muntjac Reeves Deer male rubbing forehead on grass (montage).jpg
Description: Reeves' Muntjac Deer appear most nights around the site. This male is rubbing
his forehead on the ground. We assume that this is to rub-off the dead 'velvet'
from the newly formed antlers.
View: BU9_20220123_0905_086_SC2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male browsing on undergrowth - antlers and Tusk visible.jpg
Description: Possibly the same male Reeves' Muntjac Deer chomping away at the
seemingly never ending supply of Blackberry wood.
Anyone fancy spiked stems for breakfast?
View: DF5_20220203_1333_015 Muntjac Reeves Deer female eating spiked Holly leaf (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A week later we see this female Reeves' Muntjac Deer chomping away happily
on a spiky holly leaf!
What are their mouths made of?
Date: 23 Feb 2022
View: BU5_20220122_1426_363+1427_364-365_SC1 Pheasant male walks towards Rook who flies over Pheasant & lands behind (montage).jpg
Description: One of those 'little moments' - the Pheasant walking along the edge of the pond
spooks the Rook who flies over the Pheasant to land behind.
We are sure the Rook is not frightened, but doesn't want to get 'steamrollered'.
The middle pic shows the Pheasant twisting his head to watch the Rook pass by.
View: BU5_20220121_2330_241-243_SC1 Fox Barking (q) as Muntjac Reeves Deer ignores the Fox (montage).jpg
Description: The Reeves' Muntjac Deer (left edge) ignores the fox that is presumably barking
across the water.
Date: 22 Feb 2022
View: E63_20220120_1959_106_FB1 Badger (orig).jpg
Description: Badgers appear most nights in various Trail cams, but only occasionally at
one of these high resolution sites.
View: E6A_20220124_2010_072_FB5 Polecat (crop).jpg
Description: Sightings of Polecats at the high resolution sites are fairly rare, so this one
is a welcome addition.
Date: 21 Feb 2022
View: BU8_20220121_0038_064+066+068+0039_070 Fox drinks at Duck Pond from atypical place (montage).jpg
Description: A Fox skulks along the edge of the Duck-shaped Pond, stops for a drink
in an atypical place, and then stops for a stare across the water at the island.
View: BU3_20220121_1959_031-033_SC6 Fox carrying large prey item down access track 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A bit of a mystery as this Fox apparently exits our site onto the concrete
access track with something quite large in the mouth. The first image
is overexposed, but the remainder give an idea of the size of the prey item.
We at first thought it might be a Pheasant, but the regular male has since been
seen 'present and correct', and a female has also appeared.
Large Rabbit, Hare, Large Pigeon?
After watching a Fox take a Stoat in a recent 'BBC TV 'Winterwatch' (you can
catch it on YouTube) we could believe that the prey is almost anything!
Date: 20 Feb 2022
View: DF3_20220120_1010_001 Rookery to west starting new nests after storm destroyed all old nests.jpg
Description: A short savage storm late last year that brought down or broke several of our
trees, impacted much of the local area - damaged hedges and trees can be found
within a mile or two. Rooks normally see about half of one years nests survive
for refurbishment come the Spring, but the 50 or so nests in the large Rookery
to our west were completely stripped of nests in the storm. Hence unusually we
see the trees all with freshly constructed nests. This is one of the 3 main
nesting trees.
View: DF3_20220120_1018_005 2 Rooks on 11kV power cables (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A pair of Rooks stop off on the local 11kV cables.
Date: 19 Feb 2022
View: PK1_20220119_0945_298 4 Long-tailed Tits in kitchen peanut feeder.jpg
Description: The Long-tailed Tits have at last started using the Kitchen peanut feeder
where no direct sunlight (as opposed to sun or bright sky flaring the camera)
provides opportunities for some pics. There seem to be 6 birds in this little
group, taking turns in the feeder - here are 4 of them.
View: DF3_20220119_1011_009 Long-tailed Tit perched on vertical blackberry stem.jpg
Description: Several perched nearby waiting their turn ...
View: DF3_20220119_1012_013+014 Long-tailed Tit on cut Blackberry stem takes off (montage).jpg
View: DF3_20220119_1012_019 Long-tailed Tit perched on vertical twig.jpg
Date: 18 Feb 2022
View: E63_20220118_1341_116_FB1 Robin + Great Tit in flight skirmish (crop).jpg
Description: It seems a long time since seeing a sharp photo of an in-flight skirmish.
Here a Robin (left) and Great Tit think it worth a little conflict to take
control of the food on offer.
View: E63_20220117_1121_006_FB1 Chaffinch male feeding at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch looking eagerly through the scraps.
Date: 17 Feb 2022
View: DF5_20220117_1144_015 2 Grey Squirrels sunbathing together in Birch tree.jpg
Description: A few hours of sunshine brought out a pair of Grey Squirrel sociably
sunbathing, grooming and eating a few catkins on the far side of the main pond.
View: DF5_20220118_1205_029 2 Grey Squirrels in sunshine on Willow Tree (crop 2).jpg
Description: About the same time next day some more sun brought out first this couple
of Grey Squirrels ...
View: DF5_20220118_1207_035 4 Grey Squirrels in sunshine on Willow Tree.jpg
Description: ... soon joined by another pair who spent some time playfully chasing
each other up and down the willow tree. All 4 are in this pic if you look hard.
Date: 16 Feb 2022
View: D01_20220116_1411_109-1414_115_FB6 Kestrel female takes rodent to Meadow Post & eats it over 4 mins 2+3+6+8 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels lands on the meadow post.
Hardly visible as she lands, there is some sort of rodent in her right claws.
Over the next 4 minutes she devours part of her catch.
She probably flew off with the remains - what's left is too big to eat, and
kestrels normally have a little rest after a big meal before flying on.
View: D01_20220116_1412_111_FB6 Kestrel female takes rodent to Meadow Post and eats it over 4 minutes 4 of 8 (crop).jpg
Description: A detail between the bottom two images in the montage.
Some of the rodents fur is stuck to her beak.
View: D01_20220119_1307_123+124_FB6 Kestrel female lands with prey but Magpie interferes 1+2 of 2 (impression montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: Three days later we see the right claw of this female Kestrel firmly grasping
some incautious rodent that we are sure the Kestrel was going to devour on the
post top. But as she went to land a Magpie was already making for the post (or
making for the Kestrel's prey - you decide!) so the Kestrel aborted the landing
and flew off out of sight.
Date: 15 Feb 2022
View: E64_20220115_1529_170_FB2 Pheasant male stepping over fallen branch.jpg
Description: Our lovely Pheasant stepping over the branch at the Woodland site.
View: E64_20220113_1611_066_FB2 Pheasant male at Sunset.jpg
Description: The male Pheasant still out after sunset.
Date: 14 Feb 2022
View: E63_20220111_2245_134_FB1 Fox in rain.jpg
Description: This drenched fox hopes for an easy meal.
View: BU2_20220114_0803_204-206_SC7 Fox walking quietly across bottom of Round Mound (montage).jpg
Description: A fox walking quietly across the bottom of the mound on the last trip of the night.
View: BU2_20220115_1701_386+398_SC7 Fox walks up mound to visit Rabbit hole under step now blocked with leaves (montage).jpg
Description: More usually we see a Fox on the mound an hour after dark. This individual seems
to check under the bottom slab every night. It used to be the primary entrance
to the Rabbit warren in the mound, but is now blocked with leaves. The main
entrance is now at one end of the mound, but perhaps the smell of 'Rabbit' still
drifts from the hole.
View: BU2_20220120_0616_415+417_SC7 Fox checks disused Rabbit hole (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A little before dawn this Fox again visits the disused rabbit hole on the Mound.
Lots of pics of this suggest that one or more foxes check this hole every night.
Date: 13 Feb 2022
View: E6A_20220115_1330_473_FB5 Grey Squirrel eating Banana peel.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel seems to have started at one end of a banana peel strip -
will it finish the whole thing?
We have no idea what transpired.
View: D72_20220116_1328_133 Grain bag with Grey Squirrel looking out of bitten open hole.jpg
Description: From Grey Squirrels breaking into peanut feeders we have moved to 'wanton
destruction' of the 'grain bag'. We hung up the bag in its normal place and half
an hour later a return to the bag finds this!
The munching Squirrel waited until the human was about a metre away before making
a hurried departure.
Verdict: VERY Guilty - in flagrante delicto
View: E63_20220110_1343_025_FB1 Grey Squirrel chasing away another.jpg
Description: A claw in the side would probably make our faces screw up in pain as well.
Date: 12 Feb 2022
View: DF3_20220112_1307_084+090 Blue Tit eating Lichen from tree branch 2+3 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: We can find no reference to Blue Tits eating Lichen, so this may be an unusual
moment to catch on camera.
On the left is the bird with a beakful of Lichen from the branch they are
perched upon, and on the right an enlarged and exposure adjusted detail of the
bird actually lifting the lichen from the branch.
View: DF3_20220112_1307_094 Blue Tit eating Lichen from tree branch 5 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: Having eaten several pieces of Lichen, the Blue Tit perches quietly.
Date: 11 Feb 2022
View: DF3_20220110_1241_012+1242_013-017+1243_018 Buzzard flying from 11kV cable 01 of 07 of 11 (acc flight montage@7fps).jpg
Description: This Buzzard seems to have chosen areas north to south of our patch as their
current feeding area. The bird didn't seem bothered by us about 70m away, but
eventually decided to try a different hunting perch and here flew another 50m away
to another set of cables, this time rubber covered 'mains' cables, to carry on the
hunt, moving along that set of cables periodically.
Date: 10 Feb 2022
View: DF3_20220109_1359_042 Rook pair in Black Poplar catkin buds swelling.jpg
Description: A 'loving couple' of Rooks high in a Black Poplar.
The Tree's buds are already starting to swell from which Catkins will emerge.
Black Poplars produce Catkins weeks before first leaf.
Black Poplars seem to be a dead-end species - all of our trees are male,
and we understand that females smell awful when flowing so are not planted.
A quote from https://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk
The number of Black Poplars has been falling steadily for many years and
there are a few thousand of them left in Britain. Less than 10% of the remaining
trees are female and these are increasingly hybridizing with commercially grown
poplar cultivars, creating highly variable offspring. It is its ability to regrow new
trees from broken branches and roots that keeps the species alive in the wild.
Broken branches is exactly how the 6 giant Black Poplars in our patch came about,
cut from the branch of a tree along the access track, cut into 6. All 6 'took'.
Date: 09 Feb 2022
View: E6A_20220108_0817_236_FB5 Pheasant male (crop).jpg
Description: The male Pheasant just fitting the photo frame.
You get a good view here of the 'spurs' on the back of the strong legs.
View: BU2_20220108_1225_193+195_SC7 Pheasant male using wings to jump onto fallen tree-trunk (+ Pigeon) (montage).jpg
Description: Hours later we see the male Pheasant again, using a 'wing assist' to jump up
onto the fallen tree on the Mound.
View: BU5_20220111_1242_121-123_SC1 Pheasant male walking along edge of Round Pond (slightly stretched montage).jpg
Description: The male Pheasant walks quietly along the edge of Round Pond.
Date: 08 Feb 2022
View: BU5_20220108_0137_183+0138_186+188_SC1 Badger walks up to drink at Round Pond 1-3 of 3 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This Badger quietly ruffling through the leaf litter, decides to visit
the pond for a drink.
View: E64_20220113_0340_270_FB2 Badger at woodland site.jpg
Description: This Badger a few days later taking a selfie at the Woodland camera site.
Date: 07 Feb 2022
View: D01_20220107_0924_055+0923_053_FB6 Sparrowhawk short visit to Meadow Post 2+1 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: The local female Sparrowhawk is undoubtedly feeling the cold, so out
early to find something ready-heated to eat :-(
View: D01_20220107_1611_085-1615_091_FB6 Kestrel female brings short-tailed Field Vole to meadow post to eat at dusk 1+3+5+7 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: As the day draws to a close this female Kestrel visits the Meadow Post
with a short-tailed Vole for what is probably her final meal of the day.
View: D01_20220107_1623_093_FB6 Kestrel female lands on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: The female Kestrel returned 8 minutes later for a couple of minutes, this time 'empty clawed'
View: D01_20220108_1947_131+1948_133_FB6 Tawny Owl 5 minute visit to meadow post 1+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A Pleasant surprise to see a Tawny Owl making a 5 minute visit
to the Meadow post a few hours after dark.
Date: 06 Feb 2022
View: E64_20220105_2129_176_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male stepping over fallen branch.jpg
Description: One of the at-least 3 male Reeves' Muntjac Deer takes a selfie
in the dark of the night while stepping over the fallen branch.
View: BU9_20220104_1022_036_SC2 Muntjac Reeves Deer female at end of orchard.jpg
Description: It's quite hard to pick out the outline against the similar colours and randomly
patterned leaf litter, as this solitary female Reeves' Muntjac Deer quietly browses.
She looks like she is smiling, but that's anthropomorphism for you.
View: PK1_20220104_1037_170+178+179+184 Muntjac Reeves Deer female visits Main Pond island (montage).jpg
Description: 15 minutes later, and 70 metres away, probably the same individual spent a few
minutes grooming on the island of the main pond
Date: 05 Feb 2022
View: D01_20220103_2044_021-2051_035_FB6 Tawny Owl 8 minute visit to Meadow Post 1+2+3+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl makes a welcome visit to the meadow post, staying
for about 8 minutes. Past experience suggests that this was just one
of many stops on the numerous other hunting perches around the site.
Date: 04 Feb 2022
View: E6A_20220104_1522_158_FB5 Rook head detail.jpg
Description: Rooks really are interesting creatures.
We know birds don't have 'expressions', but you try to tell this Rook that!
View: D01_20220102_1230_129+130_FB6 Rook landing on meadow post with cloud of Midges ahead (montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: A Rook landing on the Meadow Post. Ahead of this is a cloud of midges
View: BU5_20220105_1312_240_SC1 Rook and their shadow.jpg
Description: A serendipitous moment as the sun makes a shadow of this Rook
so precise that at first viewing looks like two birds.
Date: 03 Feb 2022
View: E64_20220101_1347_185_FB2 Grey Squirrel chasing away male Pheasant.jpg
Description: This male Pheasant doesn't argue with a belligerent Grey Squirrel.
View: E64_20211230_1247_027+1308_033_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels feast at woodland site for 15 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: These 2 Grey Squirrels are often seen sharing a feeding site.
Here they spent 15 minutes sharing the largess.
Individual Grey Squirrels seem to have huge variability in behaviour towards
both members of their own species and other species.
Date: 02 Feb 2022
View: E6A_20220103_0510_263_FB5 Fox at Meadow site (crop 2).jpg
Description: One of our Foxes offering a head and shoulders portrait.
Love the whiskers!
View: BU5_20220104_0705_071_SC1 Fox Drinking from Round Pond near end of night.jpg
Description: An hour before sunrise, this Fox stops off for a drink from the
now easily accessible water, complete with reflection.
View: BUA_20211231_0609_057_SC8 Fox gazing up tree by east hedge gap.jpg
Description: Possibly the same Fox 24 minutes apart - first near the east entrance ...
View: BU5_20211231_0633_081_SC1 Fox at edge of Round Pond gazing upwards.jpg
Description: ... and then at Round Pond with a very similar upward gaze.
Date: 01 Feb 2022
View: PK1_20211228_0826_151 Strange early morning sunlight looking north from kitchen window (orig & final).jpg
Description: Out of the Kitchen windows this extreme orange sunrise lit up the whole
area.
It was quite eerie.
View: D01_20211228_0824_002_FB6 Magpie on Meadow Post as sunrise streaks over meadow (crop).jpg
Description: Unknown to us at the time, the same light was playing on this Magpie who was stopping
off at the Meadow Post.
Image Archive arch 2022 jan.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Jan 2022
View: E60_20211226_0807_020_FB3 Sparrowhawk perched on kitchen perch (crop 2).jpg
Description: At the Kitchen perch at around sunrise this female Sparrowhawk spends a moment.
View: D01_20211228_1504_040+1503_038_FB6 Kestrel female 2 minute visit to meadow post 2+1 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: The new nervous Kestrel makes a short visit to the meadow post.
Here you get to see both sides of the bird at once.
View: D01_20211228_1556_041-1503_038_FB6 Buzzard + Magpie + Wood Pigeon + Kestrel female on meadow post (same scale montage).jpg
Description: All at the same scale: Buzzard, Magpie, Pigeon, and the unexpectedly small Kestrel.
Date: 30 Jan 2022
View: D01_20211228_1556_041_FB6 Buzzard 3 minute visit to meadow post 1 of 3 (crop 1).jpg
Description: This Buzzard makes a spectacular landing on the Meadow post
View: DF3_20211224_1249_019 Buzzard perched on 11kV cable (crop 2).jpg
Description: A Buzzard perched on an 11kV cable.
We assume that this is a young bird - fully mature birds seem to be
too heavy to be comfortable doing this.
View: D01_20211227_1253_139_FB6 Buzzard 3 minute visit to Meadow Post in drizzle 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: Another sighting of a Buzzard on the meadow post. It is about mid-day despite
the dark background. The bird's feathers (particularly over the head) appear drenched.
Date: 29 Jan 2022
View: D36_20211227_1329_037_FB4 Magpie collecting dead Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) (crop).jpg
Description: Our old house leaks in Rodents. Many are caught and released from live traps,
but some just won't or can't use them and have to be caught in snapper traps.
Here a dead mouse placed at the trees-tump camera sees a Magpie grateful for the
gift. It normally takes between about 4 minutes for a Magpie to come and collect.
View: D36_20211228_0708_044_FB4 Release of Vole from live Mousetrap.jpg
Description: Our preference is to release live Rodent well away from the house. This one
looks like a vole - about a third of the Rodents we catch indoors are some sort of vole.
View: D36_20211230_0706_027_FB4 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) just released from trap leaps from top of Tree-stump.jpg
Description: 2 days later a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) sort-of vaults off the edge of the
tree-stump.
FREEDOM!
Date: 28 Jan 2022
View: BU5_20211226_0149_210_SC1 Fox gazing at Round Pond Island now pond partly re-filled.jpg
Description: As the pond level rises the easier access to the island at the rear becomes a swim.
Is it now worth a cold swim to check it out?
View: BU5_20211227_0528_301_SC1 Fox carrying prey (unidentified) along edge of Round Pond.jpg
Description: This blurry mess (supported by even worse pics a second or two on either side)
shows a fox carrying some unfortunate prey in the mouth at the edge of Round Pond.
Most likely a young Rabbit, but only a guess.
Nighttime pictures of fast moving animals from simple battery-powered trail-cams
need 'long' exposure of 1/16 to 1/4 second, so are always rather movement blurred.
View: BU5_20211229_0627_088+089+091_SC1 Fox sits momentarily while walking along edge of Round Pond 1-3 of 3 (spread montage).jpg
Description: This Fox still seems obsessed with the Round Pond island, 'sitting' for a moment
for a gaze over the water.
Date: 27 Jan 2022
View: E64_20211225_1334_085_FB2 Wood Pigeon pair stepping over branch.jpg
Description: Wood Pigeons now often appearing in pairs.
Finish the last nest in November, start again in January?
View: E6A_20211227_1335_263_FB5 Wood Pigeon pair at meadow site.jpg
Description: Wood Pigeons now often appearing in pairs.
View: E64_20211229_1324_103_FB2 Wood Pigeon pair at woodland site as leaf drifts down.jpg
Description: Wood Pigeons now often appearing in pairs.
Date: 26 Jan 2022
View: E64_20211224_1203_023_FB2 Pheasant male stepping over log.jpg
Description: We admire the male pheasant, even if he flees in terror the moment he sees us.
We thought this pic highlighted how strong his legs are - after all, the spurs
behind the feet are his built-in weapon.
View: BU2_20211224_1208_008_SC7 Pheasant male walking up mound.jpg
Description: 5 minutes later the male Pheasant has moved about 40 metres to the 'Round Mound'
to continue the search for food. We scatter corn on this slope every day so
there is bound to be something to find.
View: E6A_20211225_1430_168_FB5 Robin attacking another bird as Muntjac Reeves Deer feeds behind.jpg
Description: As the female Reeves' Muntjac Deer quietly browses, a Robin (just above bottom
centre) mounts a furious attack on some unidentified similar sized bird.
Date: 25 Jan 2022
View: E64_20211221_1527_144_FB2 Grey Squirrel gathering leaves for Drey.jpg
Description: If a Grey Squirrel needs some dead leaves for the Drey then
they now have millions to choose from!
View: BUA_20211221_2220_152+153_SC8 Badger foraging under Leaf litter (impression montage).jpg
Description: Badgers do not hibernate, fattening up in Autumn and then making minimal forages on
warmer nights. This Badger has just entered through the East hedge gap and is
already rummaging through the leaf litter for food. Actually the Badger had not
moved, so this montage is just an 'impression'.
Date: 24 Jan 2022
View: D01_20211221_1031_034_FB6 Green Woodpecker male short visit to Meadow post.jpg
Description: Not even a distant call of the Green Woodpecker recently, so this pic
of a pristine male on the Meadow Post is an unexpected pleasure.
Date: 23 Jan 2022
View: DF3_20211218_1440_004+006+008+010 Rook flying in joined by another to fly off together (acc montage alternate frames @7fps).jpg
Description: A Rook perched on a twig takes off to join another flying by.
View: D01_20211221_1331_058+1335_062_FB6 Rook and Jackdaw (identical scale montage).jpg
Description: A hopefully useful size comparison - Rook (left) and Jackdaw.
Date: 22 Jan 2022
View: BU5_20211218_2347_364_SC1 Fox on edge of Island watches Reeves Muntjac Deer on bank through midnight fog (crop).jpg
Description: Just before midnight, in an overnight fog, glowing eyes reveal a male Reeves'
Muntjac Deer in the foreground watched by a Fox who has made it onto the pond
island and is walking along the edge. The Fox probably paddled through the mud
on the other side of the island - the water level is very low at the moment -
rather than swimming across.
View: E64_20211218_2350_085_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male with chipped Antler + cut Ear + Tusk.jpg
Description: 3 minutes and about 20 metres away we see what must be the same male Deer.
He is beginning to look a bit 'beaten up' with the chipped right Antler and
a somewhat cut and healed left ear. His 'Tusk' seemed to have survived intact.
View: E64_20211221_1256_103_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer female feeding (2 mins after hand-held pic).jpg
Description: A few days later this female Reeve's Muntjac Deer trips the same sense beam
to take her portrait.
Date: 21 Jan 2022
View: D01_20211217_1318_047-1321_072_FB6 Kestrel female 4 minute visit to meadow post 1+2+5+3+8 of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: The 'newer' female Kestrel visits the Meadow Post for a few minutes.
View: D01_20211217_1321_071_FB6 Kestrel female 4 minute visit to meadow post 7 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: One of the pics not included in the Montage.
Date: 20 Jan 2022
View: D71_20211213_0714_009 Muntjac Reeves Deer female walking to us while collecting camera memory cards (crop).jpg
Description: Your's truly out in the pre-dawn gloom with 'headlights' blazing to collect the camera cards,
this little face emerged from the surrounding dark and waited for a hand-out.
She is only about 1.5 metres from the cameraman.
View: E64_20211216_1236_038_FB2+DF3_20211216_1235_016 Muntjac Reeves Deer ignores FB2 flash 1+2(insert) of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: This is the almost 'tame' female Reeves' Muntjac Deer stepping over the fallen branch
to pick up some of the corn sprinkled down for her. As she triggered the camera
and flash for the main image the hand-held camera was recording the same moment
(see insert). She didn't react at all to the flash - she must be completely used to
cameras clunking and flashing as she wanders around the sites.
Date: 19 Jan 2022
View: DF3_20211215_1226_014 Fungi Fruiting on animal escape pole in water butt (crop 2).jpg
Description: All of the water-butts have a stick in them to allow anything that falls
in to crawl out. This perpetually wet stick has grown a nice little
crop of Fungi in a micro-jungle of moss.
View: DF3_20211215_1008_002 Japanese Lantern seed heads (caught up in Monkey Puzzle Tree).jpg
Description: Like little flames in a tracery lantern, this group of 3 'Japanese Lanterns' glow
in the dark foliage of a small Monkey Puzzle tree they have managed to get tangled into.
Date: 18 Jan 2022
View: D01_20211212_0725_219-0730_229_FB6 Sparrowhawk lands & 6 mins later leaves Meadow Post 30m pre-sunrise 1+5+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: At 07:25 a.m. dawn is only just arriving and this Sparrowhawk is already hunting in the near dark.
The bird's Irises are fully open hiding the normal bright yellow eye ring.
She must be really hungry to be out so early - as we type this 3 days later we saw her
flash by the Kitchen bird feeder only 15 minutes later than this, so these early outings
may be a regular event.
Date: 17 Jan 2022
View: E64_20211210_1130_111_FB2 Pheasant running over log as Grey Squirrel watches from foreground.jpg
Description: Whoosh. Visually similar to a 'Roadrunner' animation, we can't be sure that
the Grey Squirrel in the foreground has any connection to the Pheasant's speed
(but see the 3rd image in this sequence).
View: E63_20211210_1313_078_FB1 Pheasant male + Magpie keeping one peck away (orig & final).jpg
Description: Any of the Corvids make better sharers with Pheasants than do Squirrels.
The Magpie isn't really nervous of the Pheasant, but noticeably stayed just over one peck distance away.
View: E64_20211213_1225_037_FB2 Grey Squirrel leaping at fleeing Pheasant male.jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel seeing off the male Pheasant.
View: E6A_20211215_1028_137_FB5 Pheasant male feeding with nictitating membrane half closed (crop + insert).jpg
Description: The Vibrant portrait of the male Pheasant caught a moment where his nictitating
membrane (a sort of translucent eyelid) is half closed. Eye detail is in the insert.
Date: 16 Jan 2022
View: DF3_20211210_1003_010 Magpie on Ash branch at south hedge.jpg
Description: A Magpie watches us watching them from high in this Ash tree
View: D36_20211215_1426_045_FB4 Magpie landing on edge of tree-stump.jpg
Description: This Magpie touches down in a flurry of feathers.
Date: 15 Jan 2022
View: DF3_20211209_1234_037-1253_119 Muntjac Reeves Deer female feeding and accepting corn around garage (montage over 20 mins).jpg
Description: We came across this female Reeves' Muntjac Deer just outside the garage.
She spent 20 minutes feeding on fallen leaves and corn we threw down for her,
until she wandered into the hedge along the access track.
Bottom right you can see the Deer's teeth and tongue.
View: E6A_20211210_1318_101_FB5 Muntjac Reeves Deer female feeding at meadow site - first of 3 visits very similar inside 1 hour.jpg
Description: This Deer wanders over the whole plot. Here she is probably licking up corn in the meadow.
View: BU9_20211211_1126_053_SC2 Muntjac Reeves Deer female foraging in leaf litter.jpg
Description: As the autumn leaf litter darkens, the matching colours of the Reeves' Muntjac Deer
and the ground really show the value of camouflage.
Date: 14 Jan 2022
View: E60_20211206_1458_008_FB3 Wood Pigeon landing on kitchen perch already occupied by another.jpg
Description: Pigeons are brilliant fliers, but can be a bit clumsy when landing
on a perch, here possibly whacking the occupant on the face.
View: E6A_20211208_1422_242_FB5 Wood Pigeon lands over another who ducks to avoid impact.jpg
Description: On the ground, perhaps trying to use the resident as a trampoline.
The shadow indicates that the landing bird has actually contacted the lower bird.
Date: 13 Jan 2022
View: E60_20211208_0830_013_FB3 Kestrel female diving down from Kitchen perch (crop).jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels landed on the Kitchen perch without triggering a photo,
but her dive down the 1.5m to the ground did trigger this photo.
View: DF3_20211209_1244_068 Buzzard perched on tree at Brook.jpg
Description: We haven't seen much of Buzzards or Red Kite this week, but did spot this
Buzzard bending down a twig that can just support the bird's weight.
Date: 12 Jan 2022
View: BU2_20211206_2306_178_SC7 3 Roe Deer at Round Mound.jpg
Description: Roe Deer here are normally fleeting sightings, but for about an hour 3 Roe Deer check
out the area for something to eat. From the middle of their visit we pick a 20 minute
sequence of appearances
View: BU3_20211206_2316_166_SC6 3 Roe Deer on access track.jpg
Description: 10 minutes later and about 70m away they are on the concrete access track.
View: BU3_20211206_2320_170_SC6 3 Roe Deer enter from access track and 6 mins (100m) later at east hedge gap 2 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: 4 minutes later they have walked up in-line along the edge of the concrete
track and are queueing up to come back in.
Past observations indicate that females can get through these hedge openings,
but that the male's Antlers block this route, and they have to walk around to
reach easier routes.
View: BUA_20211206_2326_203_SC8 3 Roe Deer enter from access track and 6 mins (100m) later at east hedge gap 5 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: Another 6 minutes on sees at least 2 of them 100m right back across the site
to the East hedge.
None of these 4 pics are montages.
Date: 11 Jan 2022
View: BUA_20211206_2017_182_SC8 Fox peering round tree on entering site.jpg
Description: You may know of the Janacek Opera 'The Cunning little Vixen'.
We don't know the sex of this visitor, but they are having a cunning peer around
the tree to surprise anything tasty.
View: BU2_20211207_0052_201_SC7+BU5_20211207_0053_232+234_SC1 Fox leaves Round Mound for drink in Round Pond 1+2+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: After midnight on the same night this Fox on the prowl at Round
Mound walks directly to the edge of the Round Pond for a drink.
View: BU5_20211209_0449_497_SC1 Fox walking by edge of Round Pond looking up.jpg
Description: Two days later this Fox gazes upwards into the trees surrounding Round Pond.
Pheasants used to roost in the now broken conifers that fell onto
round Mound in the recent storm, and we suspect that they have found
a new relatively close roosting perch right where the Fox is looking.
Date: 10 Jan 2022
View: D72_20211204_1242_046 Muntjac Reeves Deer female looking up at photographer (crop).jpg
Description: Our 'almost tame' female Reeves Muntjac Deer gazes up at the photographer
a couple of metres away. Coat pockets are always bulging with corn
to spread around, and this little beauty got some.
We had a strange effect while working on this pic while choosing a size to
show it. We auto-generate a local web page with the whole range of sizes
that we prefer so we can pick one without guessing. Every image that scrolled
up or down for a moment visually had no head as the wonderful colour and pattern
match between face and leaf carpet gave a wonderful demonstration of camouflage.
No - we didn't have magic mushrooms for breakfast - the illusion may work for you.
It did again for us on the final read-through.
View: E60_20211205_1146_021_FB3 Squirrel on Kitchen bird table.jpg
Description: An odd moment of this Grey Squirrel caught by the kitchen window camera.
Close one eye to help thread the invisible needle.
Date: 09 Jan 2022
View: DF3_20211202_1322_013 Grey Squirrel sunbathing on branch.jpg
Description: Ah - a lovely warm patch of sun out of the wind ...
View: E6A_20211202_1343_057_FB5 Grey Squirrel looking for food on snowy ground.jpg
Description: ... but 20 minutes later the tummy is rumbling - and all the food is down on the cold ground.
Reminds us of the Macaques in Japan that spend most of the day luxuriating in a hot
spring but in the end have to come out into the snow to feed.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/snow-monkeys-hot-springs-japan/index.html
Date: 08 Jan 2022
View: E63_20211201_0213_092_FB1 Fox walking through Hedge site while licking nose (crop).jpg
Description: Looking suspiciously smug and 'licking his chops', we wonder whether this
fox has just finished eating one of the other inhabitants!
View: D36_20211202_0745_066_FB4 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) leaps from live trap (crop).jpg
Description: Some mice and Voles caught in live traps in the house have to be physically
shaken out of the traps. But the moment the trap was open this one leapt
for freedom right over the tree-stump, leaving only the shadow.
"So long - and thanks for all the peanut butter!"
Date: 07 Jan 2022
View: D01_20211130_0548_001+0550_005+0554_011_FB6 Barn Owl 6 minute visit to Meadow Post 1+3+6 of 6 (mirror montage).jpg
Description: The Barn Owl visited at the end of the night, ...
View: D01_20211201_1847_091+1846_089+_FB6 Barn Owl short visit to Meadow Post with back to camera 2+1 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: ... and then a brief stop a day later after sunset.
Go on - turn round - No? Oh well you are lovely from the back as well!
Date: 06 Jan 2022
View: D72_20211129_0727_007+0729_017 Muntjac Reeves Deer female ignores night humans to feed in snow cover 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: While collecting the camera cards before dawn we find this female Reeve's Muntjac Deer
quietly pushing aside the snow and leaves to find something to eat.
She isn't disturbed by either us nor the camera flash.
We left some more corn to lick up.
View: D72_20211129_1301_049 Muntjac Reeves Deer female feeding around Round Mound (crop).jpg
Description: The leaves on this fallen branch don't look very appetising to us, but
the female Reeve's Muntjac Deer was obviously hungry enough to tackle them.
View: D72_20211129_1306_067 Muntjac Reeves Deer female feeding around Round Mound (crop).jpg
Description: This female Reeve's Muntjac Deer picks up the corn with her tongue.
View: E6A_20211130_1458_104+1455_103_FB5 Muntjac Reeves Deer female feeding at meadow site 2+1 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: A female Reeve's Muntjac Deer feeds at the Meadow site for several minutes.
Date: 05 Jan 2022
View: D72_20211129_0735_040 Sunrise (orig & final).jpg
Description: After a light snow overnight, the day starts with this slightly angry Dawn.
View: D36_20211129_1008_011_FB4 Robin on tree-stump in light snow.jpg
Description: A Robin in the snow - a living Christmas card (only a few days late)
View: D72_20211129_1242_025 40 Molehills with snow not yet melted on NE side.jpg
Description: A few hours later most of the snow has melted in the direct sun, but here the
North East side of all these Molehills has remained in the shade, creating this
unusual effect.
Date: 04 Jan 2022
View: DF3_20211128_1230_094 Kestrel female hunts + kills + eats Rodent 01 of 23 (crop).jpg
Description: After a failed hunting attempt the female Kestrel flies to this branch where she stays
for a couple of minutes intently studying the ground.
View: DF3_20211128_1232_112-128 Kestrel female hunts + kills + eats Rodent 05+08+09+11 of 23 (impression montage).jpg
Description: She suddenly dives down onto the grass path behind the pond.
View: DF3_20211128_1235_137+141+145 Kestrel female hunts + kills + eats Rodent 12-14 of 23 (bottom up montage + rodent insert).jpg
Description: Read this sequence bottom upwards.
We could just see movement as she smothered her prey (only a blurred brown
on camera) before flying upwards and off towards the Black Poplars along
the access track.
If you look carefully at the insert to the top image you can just see her capture
(it looks to us like a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse)) grasped in one foot.
View: DF3_20211128_1236_155-1238_197 Kestrel female hunts + kills + eats Rodent 15+16+20+21 of 23 (montage).jpg
Description: She fortuitously chooses a branch on one of the Black Poplars to consume
her prize. The various angles reflect the photographers efforts to find better
angles to view the activity through the hedge and against the sun.
Date: 03 Jan 2022
View: DF3_20211128_1228_053 Kestrel female in flight.jpg
Description: We believe that the original human-tolerant female Kestrel is back.
Here she flies quite close to us to land in a tree on the island in
the main pond, where she stopped for a hunt. We were both already
quite close when she landed for a hunt.
View: DF3_20211128_1228_073-076 Kestrel female launches for unsuccessful attack 4-7 of 7 (montage impression).jpg
Description: Left to right and then down, she dives on some prey but obviously
misses her prize and flies to the top of another tree.
More Tomorrow
Date: 02 Jan 2022
View: BUA_20211127_2343_160-162_SC8 Fox scent marking 1-3 of 3 (approx montage).jpg
Description: The Fox stops off at the tree to the left for a moment of scent marking.
View: BUA_20211201_0244_156+20211202_0121_207_SC8 Fox scent marking on successive days (montage).jpg
Description: A few days later, then two consecutive days an hour or two after midnight,
it is the tree on the right that gets scent marked with incredibly similar gesture.
View: BUA_20211130_0424_084+0456_091_SC8 2 Fox visits 30 minutes apart (accurate montage IR).jpg
Description: A couple of days later there are 2 Fox visits near the east entrance half an
hour apart. Facial marking suggest that they are different foxes.
Maybe they prefer different trees to scent mark.
Date: 01 Jan 2022
View: D01_20211121_1958_051+1959_053_FB6 Barn Owl short visit to meadow post 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: A Barn Owl makes a brief stop on the Meadow Post.
View: D01_20211126_0129_019_FB6 Barn Owl lands on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: 5 days later, at an hour and a half after midnight, this gorgeous Barn Owl stops
off at the Meadow Post, but this time didn't stay.
Image Archive arch 2021 dec.htm (view it Here)
Date: 31 Dec 2021
View: BUA_20211119_0328_043_SC8 Fox (IR).jpg
Description: A sly looking fox with a couple of hours hunting left in the night.
View: BUB_20211120_0559_105 Fox lying down by Duck Pond (IR).jpg
Description: Next day a different Fox lies down by the Duck-shaped Pond.
Its hard work this night-time hunting.
View: BUA_20211122_1915_016+017_SC8 Fox entering site peers round tree 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: After entering the site at the east hedge the Fox slyly peeks around the
tree, but sees nothing to ambush.
View: BU2_20211123_0202_141_SC7 Muntjac Reeves Deer female watches Fox arriving at top of Mound (orig).jpg
Description: The female Reeve's Muntjac Deer at the bottom of the mound looks up at the
arriving Fox coming over the top. A Fox could not tackle even a relatively small
Muntjac Deer, but could certainly attack a Fawn.
Date: 30 Dec 2021
View: E64_20211124_1315_232_FB2 Red-legged Partridge.jpg
Description: An unexpected visit by this Red-legged Partridge at the Woodland site.
It's just past mid-day, but you wouldn't think it from the background light.
View: E60_20211124_1449_039_FB3 Sparrowhawk launching from Kitchen perch.jpg
Description: The Conservatory is usually too cold to make pleasant sitting 'out' for the
next few months, so we don't see the Sparrowhawk flashing past the Windows
doing her circuits of the peanut feeders around the house.
But this pic assures us that she is still 'doing the rounds'.
View: D72_20211121_1220_048 Grey Squirrel sunbathing on pollarded Willow tree stump.jpg
Description: The sun isn't offering a lot of radiant warmth at this time of year, but what there
is this Squirrel is having some.
Date: 29 Dec 2021
View: D72_20211121_1055_038 2 Rooks courting on 11KB cable (crop).jpg
Description: Two Rooks treating this 11kV cable as an avian 'Love Seat'.
View: DF3_20211122_0955_008 Rook pair in Black Poplar Tree.jpg
Description: Next day these two Rooks are pairing up in the Black Poplar trees.
Date: 28 Dec 2021
View: D72_20211121_1045_009-019 Kestrel female hovering near 11kV cables 01-11 of 11 (montage 1 @8fps).jpg
Description: The new Female Kestrel doesn't provide any opportunities for hand-held portraits,
but she hunts while hovering much more than 'Grey Feather', so here is one
of her near the Bridleway to the north, hovering in front of an 11kV cable.
The hover starts at the top and this sequence, with a cable a useful
vertical reference, and a tower (cropped out) providing horizontal positioning,
shows how well the Kestrel keeps station.
Here is a general view of about 1.3 seconds of action ...
View: D72_20211121_1045_009-019 Kestrel female hovering near 11kV cables 01-11 of 11 (montage 3 @8fps).jpg
Description: ... and here more detail of the bird to see the wings and tail in action.
View: D01_20211121_1516_027-1525_045_FB6 Kestrel female 10+ min visit to Meadow Post 01+02+05+08+10 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: A few hours later the female Kestrel spent at least 10 minutes at the Meadow
Post. The sun came out after a few minutes transforming her colour scheme!
View: D01_20211121_1524_043_FB6 Kestrel female 10+ min visit to Meadow Post 09 of 10 (crop).jpg
Description: A moment not included in the Kestrel montage above.
Date: 27 Dec 2021
View: E64_20211120_0925_118_FB2 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: Our currently resident male Pheasant with a slight quirky look.
Its 9.25 a.m., but it looks like the Sun's alarm didn't go off.
View: D72_20211124_1108_011+014+017+020 Pheasant male running over grass to hedge (accurate montage @8fps every third frame).jpg
Description: The new 'resident' male Pheasant is totally anti-human - the merest sight of the
photographer sends the beautiful creature into a sprint - a behaviour that may
serve him well should he meet a shooter
Date: 26 Dec 2021
View: DF5_20211118_1356_017+027 Muntjac Reeves Deer male browsing in salad bed (montage).jpg
Description: All of the current Reeve's Muntjac Deer visitors are exceptionally skittish
at any sight of a human. This male didn't spot the cameraman on the other
side of a ground-floor window, so here are a couple of moments as this male
helped to clear the salad bed of weeds!
View: BU5_20211112_1850_102_SC1 Muntjac Reeves Deer female inside pond watches male on bank.jpg
Description: "Hiya Babe!"
Date: 25 Dec 2021
View: E63_20211115_1644_040_FB1 Woodcock (crop).jpg
Description: Our first ever sighting of a Woodcock, here at the hedge bottom site.
For several days we have spotted single holes in muddy patches around the site,
but didn't know what has made them.
Date: 24 Dec 2021
View: D01_20211114_1753_047-065_FB6 Tawny Owl 10+ minutes visit to Meadow Post 01+03+05+10 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: A few moments from an extended visit (i.e. over 10 minutes) by this Tawny Owl to the meadow post.
View: D01_20211119_0245_001+246_003_FB6 Barn Owl 4 minute visit to meadow post 1+2 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl visit, after many weeks of absence, was taken at 2.45 a.m.
Date: 23 Dec 2021
View: DF3_20211117_0839_014 Ivy covered tree-trunk at brook.jpg
Description: This feast of browns and green along the edge of the Brook really caught
our eye in the sunshine. The unbroken green of the Ivy covering the tree-trunk
looks almost surreal against the bare bole of the tree.
View: DF3_20211117_0832_001 Sycamore in Autumn colour along south hedge (orig & final).jpg
Description: Our Sycamore trees are outstanding for a canopy of Autumn leaves.
Date: 22 Dec 2021
View: DF3_20211113_1458_012 Grey Squirrel nibbling peanut stolen from bait bag.jpg
Description: Turn your back on the bait-bag for a few minutes and you come back to find
a Squirrel making the most of the largess.
It must have been IN the bag to reach the peanuts in the nearly empty bag.
View: PK1_20211117_1305_912+1306_929+939 Grey Squirrel raids nut feeder after removing top (montage).jpg
Description: We thought the issue of this open-able peanut feeder was solved, but it clearly isn't.
On the right image you see the white cable tie that was holding the lid on.
These clear plastic ties deteriorate in sunlight and become brittle, and it looks
like the Squirrel nibbled an edge and started a crack that broke the strap.
We put the 'other' similar feeder back while we find a foolproof scheme.
Date: 21 Dec 2021
View: D36_20211113_0658_031+0659_032_FB4 Robin visits tree-stump (montage over 1 minute).jpg
Description: A Robin photographs themselves twice in a minute on the tree-stump.
Date: 20 Dec 2021
View: BU9_20211111_0923_016+018_SC2 Pheasant male walking through autumn leaf litter (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Two glorious colours at once - a scatter of Autumn turned Sycamore leaves and stepping
over them a very smart male Pheasant matching some of the colours.
View: D72_20211115_1509_065+068+071 Pineham Field North hedge from Farm entrance (montage for width).jpg
Description: The North hedge of our patch with a mix of yellows, browns and green as
the huge mix of different trees choose to welcome Autumn in their various ways.
View: D72_20211115_1517_092 Sumac in front garden showing Autumn colours (orig & final).jpg
Description: After planting a Sumac at out first house about 1970, moving here 1990 we found
a couple of such trees in the front garden which we have allowed to develop into
several trees. They are so robust they have to be hacked back every other year
or so, but always come back thriving.
Date: 19 Dec 2021
View: DF3_20211111_1112_045-074 Rook with sprouting bean on cable drops shoot & hangs below wire but also drops bean 2+4+8-10+15+17+19-21 of 21 (montage @7fps).jpg
Description: The 11kV cable you see here is near the Farm Road entrance over the hedge.
The Rook was busy pecking at something clamped to the wire by the bird's claws.
The larger part of the item the Rook allowed to drop into the hedge (not caught
on camera). The bird then went chasing after the remains of the item which appears
to be a spouted Bean seed (the last crop was field beans). The bird lowered
the whole body below the wire while hanging on to the cable above with the claws.
But the bird also dropped the bean seed (third to fifth frames) into the hedge.
After a few seconds the bird released one claw, then the other to 'fall' into flight.
We have never seen anything like it before except in joke cartoons.
View: DF3_20211111_1112_062 Rook with sprouting bean on cable drops shoot & hangs below wire but also drops bean 14 of 21 (crop).jpg
Description: More detail of the Rook hanging from the cable above just after dropping the Bean.
Date: 18 Dec 2021
View: DF3_20211109_0839_008 Autumn colours outside east hedge (orig & final).jpg
Description: Some views of Autumn colour - here outside our East hedge.
View: DF3_20211109_0844_019 Autumn colours along brook (orig & final).jpg
Description: Some views of Autumn colour - here along the Brook to the north.
View: DF3_20211112_1343_027 Farm Road Lombardy Poplars in Autumn colour.jpg
Description: The Lombardy Poplars along the Farm Road are all starting 'the Fall' in the same manner.
We understand that Lombardy Poplars are all clones of one another so don't
show much variation in behaviour.
Date: 17 Dec 2021
View: DF5_20211107_1013_018-035 Muntjac Reeves Deer suckles from mother at main pond 2+3 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: A mid-morning delight was watching the suckling Fawn drinking their morning
fill from Mum. She was intermittently grooming the Fawn as the Fawn got really
quite rough 'pumping' the udder up and down to get at the last drop!
The lower pic shows Mum starting to not enjoy the youngster's behaviour.
View: DF5_20211107_1015_051 Muntjac Reeves Deer suckles from mother at main pond 6 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: The next moment is caught as an MP4 video you may be able to view.
You see here the natural speed 'pumping' action - we think that you will agree that
it really is rather OTT. Mum decides she has 'had enough' and walks away over her
disappointed youngster.
The file is about 10MB for 10 seconds of grabbed (silent) HD video and may take
a few seconds to load.
Video of Reeves Muntjac Deer Fawn feeding from_mother
Once the feed had finished Mum affectionately grooms her Baby - all is forgiven.
Date: 16 Dec 2021
View: D01_20211101_1349_019+020_FB6 Kestrel female lending on Meadow Post 1+2 of 2 (montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels lands on the meadow post.
She is in shadow so is a bit colour-cast compared to the sunlit background.
View: D72_20211104_1029_004-005 Kestrel female takes off from post top 1-3 of 3 ((montage).jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels leaves the disused telephone pole near the south hedge.
Date: 15 Dec 2021
View: E63_20211030_2038_197_FB1 Yellow slug on hedge bottom stone with eye stalks visible and casting shadow.jpg
Description: This 'Yellow Slug' seems to have started the climb up the
mini-mountain, didn't see anything interesting from the top
so started back down. The eye stalks show better as shadows.
View: E64_20211107_1405_262_FB2 Grey Squirrel seen with circles effect on tail (crop).jpg
Description: This abstract pattern is the tail tip of a Grey Squirrel.
Date: 14 Dec 2021
View: BUA_20211028_1627_065_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer female looking back at camera in dappled light.jpg
Description: A beam of late afternoon sun penetrates 100 metres of woodland to shine on the
ear of this sweet female Reeve's Muntjac Deer.
View: BU7_20211104_1217_016 Muntjac Reeves Deer male following female towards south entrance.jpg
Description: The male Reeve's Muntjac Deer follows the Deer equivalent of Chanel No 5?
The male Deer must catch the moment that the female is receptive to mating.
Date: 13 Dec 2021
View: D01_20211103_1504_205_FB6 Magpie landing on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: The markings on Magpies are a wonder.
The Black/wide divide on the wings runs diagonally across the feathers,
and the tips of the primaries (the main flight feathers) are tipped with Grey.
And we can't even see the back and tail in this landing.
View: D01_20211103_1527_211+212_FB6 Kestrel female on meadow post with worm in beak 1(mirrored)+2 of 2 (montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: Most Raptors will eat worms when they have not been successful with their preferred
prey, but the worms are usually swallowed 'on the spot', so we don't know why this
female Kestrel brought one to the Meadow Post top to swallow.
Date: 12 Dec 2021
View: E6A_20211102_1245_114_FB5 Stoat 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: Not seen before in this calendar year, a Stoat appears at the meadow site
twice about 30 minutes apart. This first appearance provides this better image.
Date: 11 Dec 2021
View: PK1_20211031_1006_797 Freak short storm damage - before during & after - during storm thu kitchen window 19 of 24 (crop).jpg
Description: On an otherwise moderately windy day, about 10 a.m. saw an intense wind lasted only about
15 minutes but the whole area suffered various levels of damage.
This pic of the storm through the kitchen window shows EVERYTHING bending
right in the Westerly gale. The air was full of twigs and leaves whipping across
horizontally, but the camera misses most of them - blurred out by their
speed.
Note that the timestamps are a mix of BST & GMT as the affair completely messed up our
normally systematic tour of the cameras to do the end of summer-time updates.
View: D71_20211031_1520_003_etc Freak short storm damage - before during & aftermath - our site 07-09+11+12 of 24 (montage).jpg
Description: At least 6 trees have fallen or broken off, and three of our normal access paths are
completely blocked by fallen wood.
Top left is a badly broken conifer that has half smothered Round Mound.
Bottom right is a freshly fallen Squirrel Drey.
Left of the Drey image is an Oak tree near the SE corner, now bereft of it's
crown hanging down blocking the path beside it.
View: D71_20211031_1542_054 Freak short storm damage - before during & aftermath - Oak at SE 10 of 24 (orig & final).jpg
Description: A closer look at the poor Oak tree with all three major branches snapped off.
The wind seems to funnel through various places, and it seems that the Oak
was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'.
Date: 10 Dec 2021
View: DF3_20211030_1821_016 Grey Squirrel eat apple just plucked from further up tree.jpg
Description: Through the conservatory window this Squirrel is seen pulling at apples high in
the tree. Finally one comes away and the Squirrel brings the prize down to this
almost level branch to gorge. The Squirrel eats about half of the apple before
leaving the rest.
View: E63_20211028_1734_042_FB1 Grey Squirrel chases Magpie from hedge bottom.jpg
Description: A not-so-sweet Grey Squirrel chases off a Magpie who dared not to leave
the moment the Squirrel arrived.
View: E6A_20211101_1522_048_FB5 Grey Squirrel and Magpie quietly eating Peanuts together (crop).jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel - Magpie mix usually sees the Mammal chasing away the bird.
But here we see the same pairing quietly eating peanuts together.
So the Squirrel is probably the much more sociable female of the
species!
Date: 09 Dec 2021
View: D01_20211030_1058_001-1105_015_FB6 Sparrowhawk female 9 minute visit to meadow post 1+2+4-6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: A rare occurrence - the Sparrowhawk landing on the meadow post and staying for almost
10 minutes.
View: D01_20211030_1100_005_FB6 Sparrowhawk female 9 minute visit to meadow post 3 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: A closer look at frame 3 omitted from the selection above.
View: DF3_20211022_0853_019 Cloud bank to SW (crop & adjust).jpg
Description: A weather front approaching from the South West displayed really 3-D
'ramparts' of clouds above the grey base an hour or so after sunrise.
Date: 08 Dec 2021
View: BUB_20211028_2030_019 Muntjac Reeves Deer male looks back at female.jpg
Description: As male Deer follow females about in the hope of mating it is easy to think that
the 'girls' just have to 'put up with it'. But as the females reach Oestrus (USA Estrus)
suddenly it becomes apparent that the females welcome the male attention.
View: BU5_20211029_1917_119_SC1+BUA_1857_133_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer Pair - female inviting mating (montage right to left).jpg
Description: Next night we see (right) the female waiting for the male to keep up with her.
30 minutes later we see them near Round Pond with the females vertical
tail inviting a mating attempt.
View: BU8_20211103_1734_151 Muntjac Reeves Deer Mother + Fawn + Father 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: This little 'family group' of Reeve's Muntjac Deer wandered past the Duck-shaped Pond.
Mum on the left probably licking the Fawn's head, as Dad quietly follows.
Date: 07 Dec 2021
View: D01_20211027_0759_053_FB6 Kestrel female landing on meadow post in gloomy morning 1 of 2.jpg
Description: One of the female Kestrels lands on the Meadow post in a seriously gloomy morning.
View: D01_20211029_1441_035+036_FB6 Kestrel female landing on meadow post (montage 400mS apart).jpg
Description: 2 days later this female Kestrel chooses a fine afternoon to land on the same post.
View: DF5_20211029_1340_009+019+020 Kestrel female preening on bird table 1+3+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: A female Kestrel doesn't often visit the bird table / perch outside the kitchen,
but on this occasion stayed long enough for a few portraits as she cleans
herself up, most probably after a kill.
View: DF5_20211029_1647_006-009 Kestrel female flying from concrete power post to wooden power post 1-4 of 6 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Twice we have photographed the same female Kestrel flying in this manner
flying from the top of the concrete mains power pole, each time the next target
being the top of the wooden mains power pole some 30m south.
We have also startled her from this post
top a couple of times as well this week, so have to assume she uses this hunting
perch sequence on a regular basis - far more often than we are aware
of.
Although called the 'Windhover', and 'ours' do hover when the wind is right,
experience suggests that they are more 'Postwatchers' in a human built setting.
Date: 06 Dec 2021
View: E6A_20211024_0122_257_FB5 Muntjac Reeves Deer male head and shoulders (crop with inserts).jpg
Description: This male Reeve's Muntjac Deer triggered this Head-and-Shoulders portrait at the meadow site.
The inserts show his little Tusk casting a shadow in the camera flash, and the tip of his right
Antler which has been broken off we know not how.
View: E64_20211024_1904_225_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer female at woodland site (uncropped).jpg
Description: A female Reeve's Muntjac Deer passed through this camera site twice in a few
days. The other pic had the top of the head missing instead of just the tip of the ear!
View: BU2_20211024_0320_376+377+380_SC7 2 Badgers Rough & Tumble at Round Mound 1+2+5 of 6 (montage impression).jpg
Description: These two Badgers tumble down the Round Mound in a ball of fur, before quietly
wandering off. Despite their toughness, even adult Badgers seem to be really playful.
Date: 05 Dec 2021
View: E63_20211021_1946_116+20211021_2007_119_FB1 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at Hedge bottom (montage 21 minutes apart).jpg
Description: Fieldmice (Wood Mice) now at all of the ground level sites.
This montage is from two images taken 21 minutes apart.
View: D36_20211023_0731_046+0732_047+0744_048_FB4 Magpie carries away 3 dead Fieldmice (Wood Mice) leaving Leopard Slug (montage 1m+12m gaps).jpg
Description: Unfortunately the exterior Mouse glut is mirrored by the invasion of mice inside
our old house. We learnt a few years ago that some mice are too big to get into
the live traps, or are not attracted top them, so Rats and Mouse traps catch the rest.
The sad little corpses are welcomed by Magpie(s) - here carrying off 3 of them
over a few minutes. The middle and right pics also show a juicy Leopard Slug,
but the Magpie doesn't seem to fancy it.
View: D36_20211022_1745_042_FB4 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) released from live trap.jpg
Description: But the Fieldmice (Wood Mice) are not all doom - some 'like' the live traps and end up 'relocated'
well away from the house.
Date: 04 Dec 2021
View: E6A_20211021_1602_040_FB5 Grey Squirrel carrying Rose Hips in mouth.jpg
Description: The Bounty of Autumn comes in many forms.
This Grey squirrel makes off with a couple of Rose Hips.
View: DF3_20211022_1450_024 Grey Squirrel female feeding outside south hedge.jpg
Description: Outside the south hedge this lactating Grey Squirrel watches the humans
appearing, and then quietly walks into the hedge. The moment we are gone she
will be back.
View: E60_20211027_1259_013_FB3 2 Grey Squirrels fighting on bird table.jpg
Description: "Ouch!"
View: DF3_20211026_1544_050 Grey Squirrel inside bait bag watches humans returning.jpg
Description: If you leave a bag of food unattended you should expect to return to find a Grey
Squirrel feasting within!
Date: 03 Dec 2021
View: D72_20211020_0917_009+012+015 Shaggy Ink Cap Fungus opposite blocked gate (montage).jpg
Description: The Annual appearance of Shaggy Ink Cap fungus 'fruiting bodies' took place
overnight. By the time we saw them something had already had a chew on
several. This image shows most of the visible Fungi + details of an unopened
and an opened and partly eaten fruiting bodies.
View: DF3_20211023_1249_045 Shaggy Ink Cap fungus patch almost clear.jpg
Description: Fungi under the ground (the Mycelium) may live for years, but the fruiting bodies
(e.g. mushrooms and toadstools) generally survive for only a few days.
Here is the same patch of grass only 3 days later - just a few fallen stalks.
View: D72_20211020_0920_018+021 Fungus fairy ring around south end Lombardy poplar outside east hedge (montage).jpg
Description: Several 'Fairy Rings' of Fungi appear each year around some of the Farm Road Lombardy Poplars.
The best one we pass by is at the south end outside of our east hedge, and is a more than three-quarters circle.
Date: 02 Dec 2021
View: E63_20211016_1104_349-20211017_1522_474_FB1 Moorhen visiting hedge bottom over 3 days 4+6+8 of 9 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Over 3 days we saw what looks like a single individual Moorhen visit the
hedge-bottom site. Here are 3 of the better pics from the second & third days.
View: E63_20211019_1055_194_FB1 Moorhen at hedge bottom.jpg
Description: This Moorhen spent about 3 Hours coming and going from the Hedge bottom site.
View: E63_20211019_1209_204-1351_221_FB1 Moorhen at Hedge Bottom over 2Hrs (montage).jpg
Description: An assortment of pics of Moorhen visits over 2 Hours
Date: 01 Dec 2021
View: PK1_20211016_1059_770 Spiders hatching at top right of kitchen window (crop).jpg
Description: When the surrounding fields were used for raising 'Dairy replacement' cattle,
flies in the house became something of a problem. One solution was to let spiders breed
in corners of the house, catching many of the flies without us having to regularly use chemicals.
The land is now 'arable' and flies much reduced in numbers, but we still let
the spiders do their thing. Here in the kitchen hundreds emerge from an egg
case.
Photo sizes can be deceptive - the ball is only about 6mm (quarter of an inch)
across.
View: E6A_20211017_1712_274_FB5 Grey Squirrel grooming.jpg
Description: "I'll get that flea if it kills me!"
View: E60_20211016_1736_036+20211017_1026_045_FB3 Grey Squirrel works top off peanut feeder next day eating 2 nuts (montage).jpg
Description: The Saga of the ill-fastened peanut feeder lid continues. We try to jam the top
on - then Squirrels spend ages trying to wheedle their way in. This time one
succeeded - on the right the Squirrel is holding two of the nuts won from
displacing the lid.
Image Archive arch 2021 nov.htm (view it Here)
Date: 30 Nov 2021
View: E63_20211014_2238_140+2240+143+2246+144_FB1 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) + Leopard Slug at hedge bottom 1+4+5 of 9 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This accurately positioned montage is built from just 3 images taken in less than 10 minutes.
The Leopard Slug suspending itself between the stone and a lump of (unidentified)
fruit stayed almost motionless throughout.
View: E64_20211020_2016_249_FB2 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) (one landing head first) + 3 Leopard Slugs.jpg
Description: A chance moment of 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice), one making a very awkward looking landing
from which they undoubtedly 'bounced' unharmed, along with 3 leopard
slugs in the surrounding leaf litter.
Where are the slugs - under the horizontal mouse, another in front of the
horizontal mouse, and another just 'above' that one, half buried in the leaf litter.
Date: 29 Nov 2021
View: D36_20211014_1553_009_FB4 Jay on Tree-stump.jpg
Description: After a disappointing few weeks for sightings of Jays, we finally have some good
views of this elegant bird.
View: D01_20211017_1722_080+081_FB6 Jay lands on meadow post (right) chased away by Magpie 1+2 of 2 (montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: As the day ends this Jay lands on the Meadow Post (right) and within 400mS
is already persuaded to leave by an arriving Magpie.
We have often commented that the various Corvid (Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws
and Magpies) usually tolerate each other well. Jays are also Corvids but
it looks like the others may not consider them 'part of the clan'.
View: E6A_20211019_1512_104_FB5 Jay at Meadow site.jpg
Description: A Jay foraging on the ground takes this selfie.
Date: 28 Nov 2021
View: BUA_20211020_1911_136+137_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer mother and new Fawn (montage).jpg
Description: Ah! We have a new Reeve's Muntjac Fawn to watch!
We have to admit that we hadn't noticed that any of the females were pregnant.
These two moments were caught soon after dark ...
View: BUA_20211021_0419_160_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer new Fawn.jpg
Description: ... and here 9 hours later, an hour or two before first light, we see the fawn
again, on their own this time, at the same site. Mum was undoubtedly nearby.
Date: 27 Nov 2021
View: E6A_20211008_0637_088_FB5 Reeves Muntjac Deer male at meadow camera site showing long Antlers + Tusk.jpg
Description: At the meadow site this male Reeve's Muntjac Deer provides a good view
of one of the Antlers, and at the mouth, one of his little tusks.
View: BU7_20211009_0602_195 Muntjac Reeves Deer male eating leaves from fallen twig.jpg
Description: At around the same time next day this male Reeve's Muntjac Deer has spotted this
litter of leafy twigs and stops off to eat some.
Date: 26 Nov 2021
View: D72_20211014_1544_030-045 Red Kite flies in to land near kill in field to south 02+04+07+10+17 of 19 (montage @8fps).jpg
Description: This Red Kite swings round to fly over and land near this bird kill in an adjoining field.
The landing bird is accurately montaged at 8 fps skipping the frames as indicated.
The right hand landed bird is shifted right for clarity.
A second bird (lower left) basically stands still throughout the 2 seconds.
View: D72_20211014_1545_055-059 Red Kite flies in to land near kill in field to south 02-06 of 32 (accurate montage @8fps).jpg
Description: A vividly coloured Red Kite flies in to the same kill.
At 8 frames per second this just fits using successive frames.
No, its NOT the same bird pic 5 times - look at the subtle changes in tail and wing tips.
View: D72_20211014_1545_073-092 Red Kite flies in to land near kill in field to south 11+14+17+24+30 of 32 (montage @8fps).jpg
Description: When this bird arrives the other had gone.
Again the final pic is shifted right.
View: D72_20211014_1606_144+146-148 Red Kite flies from kill in field to south leaving another 1+3-5 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: 20 minutes later we find 2 Red Kites perched by the kill.
One takes off, here caught departing.
Date: 25 Nov 2021
View: E64_20211013_0831_091_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying sprig of Sloe Berries (Blackthorn fruit) - third similar over a few days.jpg
Description: This is the third time this week that we have this (or maybe several) Grey Squirrel(s) entering
this site in the same direction with a mouthful of foliage with several Sloe Berries (Blackthorn fruit).
View: D72_20211010_1521_109 Grey Squirrel under table eating piece of apple peel raided from compost bin.jpg
Description: This Grey squirrel under an outside table, on top of a damaged
traffic cone (dumped decades ago) is eating a lump of apple peel
grabbed from a knocked over box of items intended for compost.
Taking no notice of the humans 3 metres away, the little creature
quietly eats the whole piece before scampering off.
Date: 24 Nov 2021
View: D01_20211012_0024_013+E60_0054_008+D01_0055_015+0058_021_FB3 Tawny Owl lands on meadow post & kitchen bird table (montage).jpg
Description: Just after midnight this Tawny Owl did a mini-tour of two of 'owl friendly' photo sites.
Left to right: Landing on the meadow post but soon leaving, and then 30 minutes
later arriving at the perch outside of the kitchen window. Just 3 minutes later the
Owl arrives back at the Meadow post for a several minutes stay.
View: D01_20211012_0815_038+0816_040+0822_052_FB6 Kestrel female 8 minute visit to meadow post 3 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: Next morning it is the female Kestrels turn to spend several minutes on the top of the meadow post ...
View: D01_20211012_1213_054+055_FB6 Kestrel female landing on meadow post back to camera 1+2 of 2 (montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: ... and another visit 4 hours later.
Date: 23 Nov 2021
View: E63_20211009_2217_113_FB1 2 Yellow Slugs - 1 mostly hidden lower right.jpg
Description: Hours after dark this Yellow Slug (the common name) slithers over the side of
the stone. We have only seen this species a couple of times before.
Date: 22 Nov 2021
View: BUA_20211010_2035_272+20211011_0156_297_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer males with short and long antlers 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: This montage shows that we have two male Reeve's Muntjac deer around the site
with markedly different antler lengths.
View: BU7_20211011_0518_484 Muntjac Reeves Deer male rubbing forehead on ground.jpg
Description: The shorter antlered male Reeve's Muntjac Deer rubs his forehead
on the side of the ditch.
Date: 21 Nov 2021
View: D72_20211001_0953_001 Kestrel female on conifer at SE corner 1 of 3.jpg
Description: The local female Kestrel watches us briefly as we approach her
perched in the Conifer at the SE corner of out patch, viewed from outside.
View: D72_20211001_0953_003+0954_004 Kestrel female on conifer at SE corner 2+3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: The same bird photographed from a different angle, ignoring the humans as
she has an extensive preen.
View: D01_20211009_1215_114+115_FB6 Kestrel female landing on meadow post 1+2 of 2 (montage over 400mS).jpg
Description: This immaculate female Kestrel make an elegant landing on the Meadow post.
This is NOT our regular moderately human tolerant bird but another female with a 'perfect' tail.
Date: 20 Nov 2021
View: DF3_20211006_1039_102+113+119 Red Kite starting to bank in flight (montage impression @7fps).jpg
Description: This Red Kite flying towards us starts to bank and turn off to the side ...
View: DF3_20211006_1039_121-124 Red Kite gliding behind Lombardy Poplar tree (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: ... before sweeping past over the Farm Road.
These are accurately positioned at 7 fps (about 140mS between frames) ...
View: DF3_20211006_1039_147 Red Kite in flight.jpg
Description: ... before sweeping back overhead for this back-lit view before flying away.
A busy 1 minute of camera action.
Date: 19 Nov 2021
View: D72_20211005_1625_249-254 Kestrel female launches downwards from 11kV cable (impression montage).jpg
Description: A female Kestrel hunting from the 11kV cables spots something interesting and
flies down to the field to our west out of site by the tall hedge.
View: D72_20211005_1625_250 Kestrel female launches downwards from 11kV cable.jpg
Description: A closer view of the second image above.
View: DF3_20211006_0805_008 Kestrel female on disused phone pole footrest lit by morning sunshine.jpg
Description: In the morning sunshine our regular female Kestrel warms in the sunshine
and watches us walk past.
View: D01_20211007_1248_005_FB6 Kestrel female perched on Meadow Post.jpg
Description: This lovely bird was first spotted on another post - a thin one
supporting the IR sense beam transmitter some 25m further away
than the 'meadow post'. She left this post and 'vanished', but
returned to this 'proper' post a few minutes later for this
'formal portrait' from the patient automatic camera.
Date: 18 Nov 2021
View: BU7_20211004_1800_073-076 Grey Squirrels mating on tree bole 1-4 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: We have only seen Grey squirrels mating a couple of times
before:- June 2012 at the Woodland site, and December 2016 on the
Kitchen Bird Table! Here a couple have chosen the bole of the
tree next to the south entrance for their encounter. At the end
it looks like they both fell off and rolled into the ditch!
View: D72_20211005_0925_211 Grey Squirrel resting on tree branch outside east hedge.jpg
Description: In the morning sunshine on the east hedge, this Grey squirrel is stretched
out along a branch on the inner hedge. Just before getting this photo we saw
the Squirrel turn round on the branch, presumably to warm the other side!
That's the life!
Date: 17 Nov 2021
View: D72_20211004_1054_034 Red Admiral Butterfly on Yellow Buddleia flower.jpg
Description: The only regular Butterfly sightings this October are a few pristine Red Admirals,
mostly using our Yellow Buddleia for fuel.
Our venerable (30 years old) Butterfly ID book says that these migrants mostly die
when winter arrives, but a few survive to spring. But it seems that decades on
they do overwinter but don't 'Hibernate'. An article from George Pilkington's
site 'Nurturing Nature' discusses the whole issue at
https://nurturing-nature.co.uk/wildlife-garden-videos/red-admiral-butterflies-do-they-hibernate-in-britain/
.
View: D72_20211003_1327_082+080 Common Darter Dragonfly (montage).jpg
Description: This Common Darter Dragonfly was warming on the ground in the sunshine on
an otherwise cold day, remarkably well camouflaged . Here are two views blended into one picture.
The colouration is typical of this species when well past the prime of life.
Dragonflies and Damselflies die in the Autumn, but their
eggs will have hatched in the depth of ponds to make nymphs that feed and grow
for between 1 and 3 years. They emerge in the Spring or Summer as flying adults.
Date: 16 Nov 2021
View: DF2_20211003_1251_005+012+017 Kestrel female barely managing to balance on wind-blown phone line (montage 1).jpg
Description: Through a house window we see this female Kestrel trying to balance on one of our
3 swaying 'phone' cables (only one of which works) spanning the field to our west.
View: DF2_20211003_1251_005+012+017 Kestrel female barely managing to balance on wind-blown phone line (montage 2).jpg
Description: A different montage of the same 3 frames.
View: D72_20211003_1333_116+122+128 Kestrel female leaves hover (selected montage).jpg
Description: 3 moments from an extended hover by this female Kestrel on the far side of the hedge
across from the front door.
View: D72_20211003_1335_142-145 Kestrel female flying down after hover @8fps (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The Kestrel spotted something from the extended hover and makes a controlled
but speedy descent out of sight on the other side of the hedge as usual :-(
Date: 15 Nov 2021
View: BUA_20211001_1857_151_SC8 Muntjac Reeves Deer male with Antlers now velvet free.jpg
Description: A male Reeve's Muntjac Deer with his little Antlers now on proper display.
View: BU7_20211002_1658_170 Muntjac Reeves Deer female eating fallen hand of leaves.jpg
Description: A female Reeve's Muntjac Deer eats the leaves from a fallen 'hand' of leaves
from the tree whose trunk is at the upper left in this photo.
Date: 14 Nov 2021
View: E6A_20211004_0355_244_FB5 Fox cub (crop).jpg
Description: This Fox Cub makes their first visit to any of the photo sites.
We hope the flash and click wasn't too much of a shock in the quiet of night.
View: BU7_20210930_2333_059+E64_20211001_0106_074_FB2 Fox at south entrance & woodland site 90m apart(montage IR + colour).jpg
Description: These two photos, about half an hour apart, appear to be of the same adult Fox roaming the site.
View: BU7_20211004_2120_108 Fox enters at south entrance and looks about (IR).jpg
Description: One of the Red Foxes that visit takes a look about before setting off
on the nights hunt.
Date: 13 Nov 2021
View: BU5_20210929_2314_690+2232_682+2251_688_SC1 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) frolicking (montage of 3 images).jpg
Description: We now have Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at all three ground level sites, and sadly several a day
in the house as well. Here at the meadow site they seem to be jumping for joy.
A short life but packed with action.
View: E6A_20211001_1714_117_FB5 Rat looking twee.jpg
Description: For most of the year our photo-sites are Rat free. But each year the harvest
disturbs the wildlife and for a couple on months we see Rats at some ground
level photo sites.
Is this Rat a gift of nature clean-up squad (outside),
or horrible vermin (in the house)?
Date: 12 Nov 2021
View: D72_20210929_1218_238 Kestrel female hunting from Apple Tree.jpg
Description: The local female Kestrel in one her favourite Apple trees in our orchard for a little hunting.
View: E60_20210929_1226_034_FB3 Sparrowhawk female on kitchen perch (crop).jpg
Description: While the Kestrel was hunting on the south of the house, this female Sparrowhawk
paused on the bird table on the north side outside the Kitchen.
The hunting pattern of south side flyby then followed by north side flyby has
been the norm for the Sparrowhawk now for a few weeks.
Actually 'flyby' doesn't catch the speed of these passes - several times faster
than any other bird we see.
We estimate at least 25 mph including a wide 180 degree turn.
Date: 11 Nov 2021
View: DF3_20210928_1251_209 Red Kite flying overhead 5 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: Two hours after our last encounter with a Red Kite, the bird returns.
They know we are watching - and couldn't care less!
View: DF3_20210928_1247_052+058+068 Red Kite turning in glide overhead (montage).jpg
Description: Four Red Kites weaving in and out of the area we can see.
View: DF3_20210928_1251_134 Red Kite flying with prey in claws 3 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: This individual, head twisted sideways, has some sort of prey in their claws
from which the bird is biting pieces from.
View: DF3_20210928_1251_203+209+221 Red Kite flying overhead 4+5+7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Date: 10 Nov 2021
View: D72_20210928_1102_002-012 Red Kite circling in updraft 1-6 of 6 (montage alternate frames @10fps).jpg
Description: This Red Kite provided a couple of minutes delight ...
View: D72_20210928_1102_015-017 Red Kite gliding @10fps (montage impression).jpg