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Image of the Day Archive & Upcoming List

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Date: 06 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170816_1638_036 Buzzard in flight towards camera (crop 2).jpg
Description: "I See You"
Apologies to James Cameron's 'Avatar'.

View: DF3_20170816_1638_036 Buzzard in flight towards camera (crop 1).jpg
Description: The buzzard zoomed right overhead.

View: DF3_20170816_1638_024-030 Buzzard in flight 06-12 of 13 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: The Buzzard made this powered flyby as part of exploring the area.

Date: 05 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170815_1032_110 Cormorant in flight 03 of 10 (crop).jpg
Description: Passes by a couple of Cormorants, not as high as usual, gave us a chance for some pics.

View: DF3_20170815_1032_123-126 Cormorant in flight across clouds 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: These 4 images are accurately montaged against the clouds - these are big birds that really pick up some speed.

Date: 04 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170814_1224_008 Hoverfly The Footballer - Helophilus pendulus - on Hop Sedge.jpg
Description: A new Hoverfly (or Hover-fly) on a Hop Sedge leaf at the Duck Shaped pond. A handsome (and harmless) little life.

View: DF3_20170815_1327_266 Moth Pyrausta purpuralis.jpg
Description: This Moth, another first sighting for us, does not have a common name but we think it is rather pretty.

Date: 03 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170813_1435_262-337 Red Kite making complete circle in thermal 01+11+19+32+41+51+58+65 of 76 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: A Red Kite was making the characteristic circles while climbing in a thermal. We got the whole of a circle in 76 frames, so at 7 fps it took about 10 second per 'lap'. Trying to rebuild the real positions for 76 images would not show much detail, so here is a selection arranged in a circle. The sequence starts at 10 o'clock, and ends with the slightly smaller image (because higher and further away) at 8 o'clock.

Date: 02 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170814_1005_140-146 2 Buzzards skirmishing in flight 1-7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: Several Buzzards were climbing in the same thermal, making their usual aggressive interactions whenever they came close enough.

View: DF3_20170814_1006_185-190 2 Buzzards skirmishing in flight 2-7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: Several Buzzards were climbing in the same thermal, making their usual aggressive interactions whenever they came close enough.

Date: 01 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170813_1226_088 Common Blue Butterfly female (damaged right wing) feeding on Knapweed.jpg
Description: This is a Common Blue Butterfly, for all that her wings are brown. You can see a blue haze of hairs over her body.

View: DF3_20170813_1438_342 Peacock Butterfly warming itself on clover.jpg
Description: A Peacock Butterfly sunning itself on the clover.

Date: 30 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170813_0928_074 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male perched on pear tree (segment 7 dual coloured spot) (crop).jpg
Description: Our first confirmed sighting this year of a Southern Hawker Dragonfly was this male flying overhead and landing in this venerable Pear tree a few metres away. Inspecting the image on screen we note that the 7th segment (4th 'blobs' up from the bottom) is bi-coloured sky blue at the bottom and green at the top.

View: DF3_20170813_1231_100+104+108 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male hovering over Duck shaped pond 1+5+9 of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: 3 Hours later over the Duck-shaped pond this male Souther Hawker Dragonfly was hawking and hovering over the water. These 3 images are about 140mS apart

Date: 29 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170813_0923_065+0924_067+070 Ants relocating 200 exposed larvae in less than 2 minutes 1+2+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: At the edge of the path through the meadow as an awful old piece of corrugated iron out in the full sun that we hope might attract reptiles and snakes. So we look under it most days. There are a couple of Ant nests under it, and this one is right at the front edge. When the metal was lowered this time it shifted a bit and exposed about 200 Larvae previously under the metal. In less than 2 minutes hundreds of Ants surged up from below and transported all of them underground to safety in a rescue operation human's would be proud of. The concept of the 'Hive Brain' seems so alien to us.

Date: 28 Sep 2017
View: E63_20170814_1939_029_FB1 Rabbit Eating Damson.jpg
Description: We think of Rabbits as primarily feeding on grass, but this one seems to enjoy a damson fruit, gone by the next frame.

View: D5C_20170813_1728_002-1729_008 Rabbit selecting and eating grass stem and seeds 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: One normally thinks of rabbits nibbling the grass, but here a youngster picks a stem to bite off and then consume lengthways all the way up to and including the seed head.

Date: 27 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170811_1100_030 Crab Apple (fixed scale).jpg
Description: This is apples as they 'used to be' - small and bitter Crab Apples in one of the more overgrown hedges.

View: DF3_20170805_1800_069 Oak English Acorns (approx fixed scale).jpg
Description: With the house we inherited 2 adjacent Oak trees at the edge of the orchard. Whether by accident or design they are the two different common species - this is the 'English Oak' which has it's Acorns on the end of stalks

View: DF3_20170807_1337_073 Oak Sessile Acorns (fixed scale).jpg
Description: With the house we inherited 2 adjacent Oak trees at the edge of the orchard. Whether by accident or design they are the two different common species - this is the Sessile Oak with the Acorns growing directly from the 'old' twigs.

Date: 26 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170811_0807_011 Blackberries (fixed scale).jpg
Description: Late summer starts the fruiting season - Blackberries fruits ripen in relays over the coming weeks.

View: DF3_20170811_1045_007 Blackthorn berries - Sloes (fixed scale).jpg
Description: Late summer starts the fruiting season - Here Blackthorn fruit, called Sloes, are often swallowed whole by Fieldfares and Redwings.

View: DF3_20170811_1048_010 Horse Chestnut Conkers (fixed scale).jpg
Description: Hrose Chestnut trees produce the gorgeous brown Conkers, but here they are still in their spiky green jacket.

View: DF3_20170811_1048_013 Damson fruits (fixed Scale).jpg
Description: Damsons are small and bitter plums that make tasty Jam.

Date: 25 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170805_0804_005 Woody Nightshade flowers and unripe berries (fixed scale).jpg
Description: Late summer starts the fruiting season - here Woody Nightshade flowers and first berries forming.

View: DF3_20170805_0806_010 Hawthorn berries (fixed scale).jpg
Description: Late summer starts the fruiting season - here Hawthorn berries adored by small birds.

View: DF3_20170805_0807_013 Rose Hips (fixed scale).jpg
Description: This is a cultivated 'hedging' rose. Wild Rose Hips are smaller.

View: DF3_20170810_1354_014 Elderberry berries (orig).jpg
Description: Late summer starts the fruiting season - here Elderberry explodes from the hedges

Date: 24 Sep 2017
View: D01_20170810_2247_014-2303_034_FB6 Tawny Owl (pale facial disc) 17 minute visit 01+02+08+10 of 10 (mirrored montage).jpg
Description: Tawny Owls are back, and to us this looks like a bird we have not seen before with light facial disc, and a very light 'fork' at the top of the face. The downy feathers under the wing as it lands suggest that this may be one of this years brood. Whoopee!

Date: 23 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170806_1023_042 Cricket (possibly a Conehead) on other side of grass stem (crop).jpg
Description: We never got a 'proper' image of this Cricket, but this 'I can't see you so you cant see me' type image highlights the enormous length of Crickets Antennae which reach to the top of this image crop's frame.
    Crickets have this type of long Antennae.
    Grasshoppers have quite short Antennae.
An old (1954) SF film called 'Them' about radiation mutated giant ants is rather fun, and takes some efforts to get the science terms right even in the otherwise dubious premise. The experts on ants are properly called Mrymecologists, and during a battle with a gigantic ant one first shouts 'Shoot the Antennae' and when one has been damaged comes out with 'Shoot the other Antenna - he is helpless without them'.
Can you think of any other film taking the trouble to get the Latin plural-singulars correct?
The 'correctness' does not apply to the sexual innuendo on the expert's (also an expert) daughter. The film also has a very early uncredited appearance of the sadly missed Leonard Nimoy working with Telex machines (yes we remember them) in a military information centre.

View: DF3_20170810_1518_026 Green Lacewing (Chrysopa perla) about 15mm long.jpg
Description: This grabbed image of a Green Lacewing on a grass stem seems to be known for it's black markings on the head. Green Lacewing is the generic common name for several related species.

Date: 22 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170806_1012_001+002 Buzzard in flight 1+2 of 3 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: Some loud Buzzard cries over the CCTV system prompted a speedy exit from the back door to catch this wonderful creature quite low right overhead. It was so close that the wing tips on the left image are out of frame.

View: DF3_20170806_1012_028-033 Buzzard flyby calling 1-6 of 6 (closed spaced montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Here is the Buzzard beak open as it cries, not too pleased to be surprised by the sudden appearance of a human.

Date: 21 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170806_0847_012 Blackbird female feeding in loose soil where straw bales removed.jpg
Description: The patch of land that spent a few years under a rotting heap of straw bales is providing a good hunting ground for many species. You can't 'sneak up' on the patch, so only human-tolerant birds get their pics taken there. Here one of the female Blackbirds gave us a suspicious look and then carried on probing the loose soil. We see her many days that we walk by this patch on the track perhaps 20m away.

View: DF3_20170806_0849_050+051 Blackbird female probing soil 1+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Successive frames at 7 fps show the withdrawal of the beak from another probing, bringing up a splash of fragments of soil beneath her beak.

Date: 20 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170804_1743_210 Magpie Moth on Blackberry leaf.jpg
Description: An attractive moth seen both day and night is the Magpie Moth, here stopping in the hazy sunlight

View: DF3_20170810_1521_039 Small China-mark moth.jpg
Description: The Duck-shaped pond hosts numerous small white Moths that flutter about just over the water and then usually perch annoyingly out of view in the marginal vegetation. There are a variety of these China-mark Moths, of which this is the Small China-mark Moth staying for a moment in a less than ideal hiding spot.

Date: 19 Sep 2017
View: D01_20170805_1055_007-1056_035_FB6 Green Woodpecker adolescent 3 minute visit to Meadow Post 2-4+6-8 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: Here one of this years new Green Woodpeckers is 'almost' an adult. We think this is a female because the red stripe under the eye that would indicate a male is missing. The stripe doesn't appear in Juveniles and the guide books don't clarify at what stage it should appear.

Date: 18 Sep 2017
View: E63_20170801_0146_077_FB1 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: Following weeks of only glimpses of badgers on a 'Trail-cam' we catch this single frame of Brock looking over the hedge bottom site in the small hours of the morning.

Date: 17 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170801_1616_004 Peacock Butterfly on Buddleia by side of garage.jpg
Description: A Peacock Butterfly on the Buddleia flowers that grow up through the tangled Blackberries each year.

Date: 16 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170801_1248_144-147 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly in flight 1-4 of 4 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: The only Hawker or Darter Dragonflies we are seeing at the moment are a couple of male Migrant Hawker Dragonflies hawking high over the meadow. To get a decent sized view of the insect this half-a-second montage has closed the gaps between the frames which at 7 fps should be spaced at about 3 body lengths.

View: DF3_20170801_1624_041-046 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly in flight 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage @ 7fps right to left).jpg
Description: A male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly was making circles over the meadow giving a chance to get this sequence (again at 7 fps) on a pre-focussed camera (auto-focus is too slow).
Read this montage strictly right to left ignoring height. No wonder it is so hard to follow them - this montage is less than 1 second of flight.

Date: 15 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170731_1058_009 Common Blue Damselfly male.jpg
Description: On warm parts of days we get to see several Common Blue Damselflies in among the taller plants in the meadow. This is a mature male.

Date: 14 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170731_0916_007 Rook on 11kV cable holding wheat head against wire and pecking out seeds.jpg
Description: High above the 'sea' of wheat this Rook spent a minute or two pecking at something clamped between his claws and the cable. Here we see the bird is extracting seeds from a Wheat head. The stem is still attached.

View: D36_20170731_1810_017_FB4 Rook on tree-stump.jpg
Description: A Rook makes a short visit to the tree-stump, but nothing to eat here so probably back to raiding the almost ripe wheat.

Date: 13 Sep 2017
View: E63_20170801_1814_123_FB1 Robin juvenile threatening Chaffinch.jpg
Description: Adult Robins are very aggressive birds, and here is a juvenile already venting his ire on a poor innocent chaffinch.

View: E63_20170729_1828_283_FB1 Robin adult on ground threatening juvenile overhead with 2 chaffinches.jpg
Description: A Robin on the ground threatens another flying over, while ignoring the female Chaffinches on either side.
Robins look lovely but are aggressive little birds.

Date: 12 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170731_1101_010+011 Red Admiral Butterfly feeding on Teasel (montage as mirrored pair).jpg
Description: This Red Admiral Butterfly was feeding from this leaning Teasel, showing us in successive frames the proboscis deep in a floret and then moving to another.
Working up this little mirror-image montage was accompanied by the track 'The Red Admiral Butterfly' on the CD 'James Galway and the Chieftains' (also available on YouTube)

View: DF3_20170727_1612_001 Meadow Brown Butterfly feeding on Oxeye Daisy.jpg
Description: A meadow Brown Butterfly extracting nectar from one of the many florets on this Oxeye Daisy.

Date: 11 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170727_1308_031-039 Swallow in flight 01-09 of 10 (close spaced montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: A swallow flyby showing how these birds spend a lot of their flight time in 'streamlined' mode. All these positions in just over a second - their world must go at a different speed to ours!

View: DF3_20170727_1308_031-033 Swallow in flight 01-03 of 10 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: The first three (right to left) frames from the above at the accurate spacing for 7 frames per second.

Date: 10 Sep 2017
View: D36_20170726_0841_080_FB4 Blackbird male with worm(s) in beak landing on tree-stump.jpg
Description: Why is this male Blackbird loading his beak with wiggly worms? He must be feeding a second brood somewhere on our patch.

View: E62_20170726_1634_113_FB5 Blackbird female with beak full of dried fruit.jpg
Description: At another site on the same day the female Blackbird has found some dried fruit to gorge.

Date: 09 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170725_1548_053 Robins Pin-cushion on wild rose in meadow (crop).jpg
Description: This plant parasite, apparently specific to Roses bushes, is this Robin's Pin-cushion. It is really rather pretty, though we doubt that an avid rose grower would agree.

View: DF3_20170804_1610_014 Robins Pin-cushion on Rose bush.jpg
Description: The same Robin's Pincushion as it has developed over 10 days.

Date: 08 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170723_1727_128 Willow tree left of Frog Pond with numerous Witches Broom parasite deformities (orig).jpg
Description: We first noticed these deformities in a huge Willow tree that dwarfs the 'back garden' - about 20 variable shaped clumps varying from about 5cm to 20 cm across. This is a group of 3 smaller ones of which we have a clear view.

View: DF3_20170723_1728_130 Willow tree left of Frog Pond with numerous Witches Broom parasite deformities (crop).jpg
Description: A web search for this deformity in the Willow tree comes up with the term 'Witches Broom' which seems to be a parasitic bacterium which causes growths from the twigs and is able to cause growths that appear metres across in a variety of different species of tree. Here is more detail of an unobscured one.

View: D10_xxxxxxxx_xxxx_xxx weekly field eastr 11Sep2016+02Mar2017+24May2017+05Jul2017 Witches Broom stages (montage).jpg
Description: Wondering how Witches Broom developed we searched our archive of fixed perspective landscape images we take which includes this tree. 2016 summer images perhaps show just a trace of this deformity, the following winter image none at all, but by the end of May 2017 there are traces which become much pronounced by early July 2017. Dates are left to right as shown in the file name. The single images were taken 23 July 2017.

Date: 07 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170722_1022_101 Water droplets not wetting Yellow Flag Iris leaves (crop 2).jpg
Description: Iris leaves don't 'wet' - they are 'hydrophobic'. After heavy rain we found this interesting pattern of water drops on one of the many horizontal bent over leaves where you can see the magnifying effect of the water drops on the texture of the leaves.
Early 'microscopes' consisted of squinting through a water drop in a holder, later replaced by glass spheres used the same way, before the development of early forms of ground and polished glass lenses allowing both microscopes and telescopes.

View: DF3_20170723_1229_063 Meadow Brown Butterfly feeding on Water Mint.jpg
Description: By the margin of the Iris dominated main pond quite a lot of Water Mint grows, and this Meadow Brown Butterfly has arrived to feed on the flowers.

Date: 06 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170721_1632_022-038 Buzzard in flight turning toward camera 01-05+07+09+11+13+15+17 of 18 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: The Buzzard then turned towards the camera and from detail in the cloud edge we constructed this accurate montage. The first 5 images (from the left) are at about 7fps, but the remainder are alternate frames to avoid too much overlap.

View: DF3_20170721_1632_050+054_056 Buzzard in flight 1+5+7 of 7 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: The Buzzard reversed direction and flew back past us. This is 3 selected frames closely spaced.

View: DF3_20170721_1632_017 Buzzard calling in flight.jpg
Description: This buzzard is a treat - calling our attention with the characteristic plaintive cries.

Date: 05 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170722_1240_013 Peacock Butterfly feeding from Teasel (crop 2).jpg
Description: A few Peacock butterflies are appearing - most of the butterflies share our proliferation of flowering teasels. The underside of the wings nearest to us is in fact very dark, but the sunlight is showing us the pattern on the top of same wings shining through.

View: DF3_20170727_1257_025 2 Red Admiral Butterflies on either side of Teasel.jpg
Description: We seem to have more than usual Red Admiral Butterflies this year, increasing the chance of 2 on the same teasel at once, even if for only a few seconds. The insect on the right is pristine, but the other seems to have been around for longer and had time to get caught in the beak of a bird, escaping by leaving a bit of it's wing in the beak.

View: DF3_20170721_1620_011 Large White Butterfly feeding on lower ring of Teasel florets (crop).jpg
Description: This large White Butterfly is another of the multitude of visitors to the generous teasel flowers.

Date: 04 Sep 2017
View: E62_20170717_1927_015_FB5 Blackbird female with Plume Moth in beak (orig).jpg
Description: Its is not often that you can ID the species of an insectivorous bird's catch, but there she clearly has a Plume Moth in her beak - what seem to be the 'Large white Plume Moth' judging by colour and size.
Click Here to see this pretty insect in flight.

View: E63_20170719_1554_193_FB1 Blackbird male with strawberry top in beak.jpg
Description: This male Blackbird has selected the top of a Tesco Strawberry. The Grey Squirrels must be too busy 'stealing' wheat from the farmer's crop to have left this long enough for another visitor to get his share.

Date: 03 Sep 2017
View: E65_20170718_0927_008 House Sparrow with 3 youngsters (crop).jpg
Description: One of our neighbours is making a special effort to help House Sparrows breed. Whether this is one or their successes, or one of ours, we have no idea. But the parents seem to like feeding their youngsters here, and they are welcome.

View: DF3_20170718_1206_002 House Sparrow adult and juvenile on wooden gate top.jpg
Description: The House Sparrows often feed their youngsters with peanut fragments, but also feed them with other items we have not managed to spot around the bottom of this gate.

Date: 02 Sep 2017
View: DF3_20170717_1005_030+1004_016 Red Admiral Butterfly feeding on teasel proboscis deep in floret & dislodging one (montage).jpg
Description: A Red Admiral Butterfly feeding on a freshly flowering (un-divided ring of flowers so far) Teasel. In the Left hand image the butterfly has it's proboscis deep inside one of these tall florets. At the right a floret has pulled out of the Teasel head as the Butterfly extracts the feeding tube, something we have seen several times before but never had the camera focussed to catch the moment before the insect flicks it away.

View: DF3_20170717_1545_185 Brimstone Butterfly male feeding on lower ring of Teasel flowers (crop).jpg
Description: A Newly emerged male Brimstone butterfly is feeding on this Teasel in flower for some days - the ring of flowers has split to grow up and down - this is on the lower ring

Date: 01 Sep 2017
View: E62_20170714_0645_036_FB5 Bullfinch male feeding on clover flowers (crop).jpg
Description: A male Bullfinch eating the clover flowers.

View: E62_20170716_0718_137_FB5 Chaffinch male in Clover.jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch looking for seeds down on the ground.

View: E63_20170715_1810_114_FB1 Chaffinch male on ground threatening female flying over.jpg
Description: We always think it shame that some bird pairs get so aggressive towards each other immediately the breeding season ends. The 'worst' offenders are Robins and these Chaffinches - both successful species, so who are we to criticise.

Date: 31 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170716_1000_012 Hornet Hoverfly (volucella zonaria) on Blackberry leaf.jpg
Description: A Hornet Hoverfly - undoubtedly Harmless but impressively large for a Hoverfly at about 20mm (nearly an inch) long.

View: DF3_20170717_0949_004 2 Marmalade Hover-flies on white wild rose flower.jpg
Description: We have 2 types of 'wild rose', a pink variety which flowers first, and then this white petalled type here adorned with a couple of nicely symmetrical Marmalade Hover-flies typically 12mm (under half an inch) in length.

Date: 30 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170714_1101_035-062 Green Woodpecker immature climbs post disturbing perched Great Spotted Woodpecker male 05+07+12+16 of 16 (montage).jpg
Description: While photographing the Great Spotted Woodpecker (right) this juvenile Green Woodpecker arrived at the top of the same post. The GSW hopped down on to the mains feed joiner while the Green Woodpecker spent a few seconds on the post, but returned to the top once the way was clear.
This was our first chance to compare any different Woodpecker species. The Green Woodpecker has a more substantial build than the Great Spotted Woodpecker - hence the 'deference' by the latter?

View: DF3_20170714_1101_035-037+051 Green Woodpecker immature flies from side of post to top 05-07+11 of 16 (Impression montage).jpg
Description: The camera caught the flight of the Green Woodpecker from down the side of the post up to the top, and then a 'shuffle round the edge' as Woodpeckers usually do.

Date: 29 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170710_1001_004 Wheat crop edges grazed by wildlife.jpg
Description: All along the edges of the crop the wildlife is making the most of the temporary bonanza of acres of nearly ripe corn. We mainly see Grey squirrels nibbling at the seed heads, but we expect that Rodents, Deer and Rabbits all have their fill. The Grey Squirrels are not even bothering to chew up the mostly eaten corn-cob centres - why bother with acres of easy stuff about.

View: DF3_20170714_1051_009 Rook in flight carrying wheat seed head in beak.jpg
Description: We have a few times spotted corvids carrying what looked like short sticks, and have finally resolved the puzzle by catching this Rook flying overhead with a Wheat crop seed head, presumably to consume elsewhere.

Date: 28 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170713_1657_012 Greenbottle Fly on Thistle head (crop 1).jpg
Description: A Greenbottle on a thistle head.
Apparently Greenbottles (as opposed to Bluebottles) rarely enter houses.

View: DF3_20170713_1657_012 Greenbottle Fly on Thistle head (crop 2).jpg
Description: Here is a tighter crop of the Greenbottle showing all the tiny hairs and the worn back edge of the wings from brushing them on foliage.

Date: 27 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170712_1622_023 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) on Buddleia flowers (crop).jpg
Description: A Burnished Brass Moth daytime feeding - we have always thought of them as exclusively night fliers. This one was feeding on a Buddleia flower head by the side of the garage, and suddenly took off to fly into the shaded side of the Hawthorn hedge on the other side of the concrete track.

View: DF3_20170712_1623_028 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) in Hawthorn hedge (crop).jpg
Description: Here in the dark of the dark hedge the Burnished Brass Moth was really hard to re-locate. The two 'burnished' areas look more like shiny verdigris than brass, but what you see depends on the angle of light and 'eye'.

View: DF3_20170712_1228_012 Gatekeeper Butterfly by thistle.jpg
Description: A Gatekeeper Butterfly on the dead grass ground cover next to one of the many young thistles that mean that sandals will NOT do if you walk over the rough grass.

Date: 26 Aug 2017
View: D01_20170714_0210_002+003+0212_005_FB6 Tawny Owl 4 minute visit 1-3 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl stayed for a few minutes in the small hours of Friday morning.

View: D01_20170709_2328_006-2331_009_FB6 Tawny Owl 7 minute visit 3-6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: This 7 minute visit by the Tawny Owl was a very active affair as you can see from this selection of positions. But as usual the feet don't move!

Date: 25 Aug 2017
View: E62_20170703_1808_016_FB5 Magpie moulting with tail feather showing in pin (blood feather).jpg
Description: Many birds are moulting now, including those like Duck that lose flight so go somewhere 'safe' on a large body of water, and the many small birds and Corvids (crows) that can not surrender flight and do the job piecemeal. This Magpie (in the Crow family) looks a bit of a mess with some feathers missing, but you can see a tail feather re-growing at the base of the tail, wrapped in its protective and nourishing sheath. In the UK we call this 'In Pin' but elsewhere it is known as 'Blood feather' as the growing feather is still connected to the Blood supply.

Todays image (view it Here)

Date: 24 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170705_1112_165 Convolvulus flower with Hover-fly (crop 2).jpg
Description: Convolvulus flowers brighten up the ground at this time of year.
In about 1992 we had dug out 'Round Pond' but not yet lined or filled it, and it erupted with a carpet of thousands of these flowers right down to the bottom about 2 metres deep. We conclude that the soil must be 'saturated' with long-lived seeds awaiting their chance.

Image Archive arch 2017 aug.htm (view it Here)

Date: 23 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170705_1353_190 Tortoiseshell butterfly and Comma Butterfly sharing Buddleia flowers.jpg
Description: Next to each other on this Buddleia flower head a Small Tortoiseshell and Comma Butterflies quietly share the food for several minutes. Note the white 'comma' on the underside of the Comma Butterfly on the right that gives it it's name.

View: DF3_20170702_1240_025 Large Skipper Butterfly - proboscis as long as body + Ichneumon (poss pimpla hypochondriaca) (crop).jpg
Description: A Large Skipper Butterfly enjoying nectar from a thistle flower. The Proboscis looks to be as long as the insect's body - it rolls it up to stow between feeds - it is NOT like a tongue.

Date: 22 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170701_1426_074 Cinnabar caterpillars on Ragwort Flowers.jpg
Description: Now we have no livestock in the fields around us, we let (the poisonous) Ragwort flowers grow (but still destroy most of the tops before the seeds form). This has hugely benefited the Cinnabar moths of which these are the Caterpillars.

View: DF3_20170702_1027_120 Cinnabar caterpillar on Ragwort Flower.jpg
Description: This Cinnabar moth Caterpillar is feeding on it's favourite food plant the poisonous Ragwort.

Date: 21 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170704_1753_072-083 Buzzard hovering then descending to North East 1-12 of 12 (impression montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: After many weeks of absence buzzards have reappeared to the north. Perhaps 400m away the Buzzard hovered momentarily in the wind before descending out of view. The descent is accurate at 7fps but the first few frames are more spaced out than reality.

Date: 20 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170701_1054_029-1056_055 Green Woodpecker juvenile waiting to be fed on concrete track 1-6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: This juvenile Green Woodpecker spent a few minutes apparently waiting for a food delivery. The bird flew off before Mum or Dad arrived.

View: DF3_20170704_1801_152 Dunnock youngster with cranefly in beak.jpg
Description: This young Dunnock has managed to catch a Cranefly that is about to go 'down the hatch'.

Date: 19 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170630_0858_003 Feather delicately balanced on top of corn crop.jpg
Description: Crossed into this field of wheat this solitary feather immediately caught the eye, suspended as if by magic on the tips of the crop. The asymmetric shape on either side of the shaft tells that this is a flight feather, almost certainly from a moulting Rook. Since seeing this one, we are spotting similar feathers all over the place.

Date: 18 Aug 2017
View: D01_20170628_1206_027-1216_041_FB6 Wood Pigeon preening on Meadow Post 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Really bad daytime light and the need for daytime testing happened to get this sequence of a Wood Pigeon enjoying a 10 minute preen.

View: E62_20170626_1808_012_FB5 2 Carrion Crows aligned.jpg
Description: A couple of Carrion Crows nicely aligned for their portrait.

Date: 17 Aug 2017
View: E64_20170623_0244_027_FB2 Badger running through site.jpg
Description: A Badger making a speeding pass, here with both front right and left rear legs raised. We have never studied what 'gaits' a Badger can do and a preliminary search finds very little beyond that rear paws often land over the imprints from the paws at the front.

View: E63_20170627_0554_038_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) exploring Fir cone.jpg
Description: At the other end of the size and power scale from the badger, this Solitary Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) of the week is a little sweetie exploring a Fir Cone.

Date: 16 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170624_1525_022 Tortoiseshell Butterfly feeding from clump of moist soil.jpg
Description: An unusual good show of Tortoiseshell butterflies over the meadow includes this one with the proboscis down in a lump of moist soil, probably extracting useful minerals that it doesn't get from it's 'fuel' diet of nectar.

View: DF3_20170625_1748_053 Rose of Sharon flower with Bee.jpg
Description: A Rose of Sharon flower with a Bee collecting the pollen.

Date: 15 Aug 2017
View: D36_20170622_1909_023+20170623_0847_034+0555_029_FB4 Chaffinch female landings on tree-stump 1+4+2 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A selection from 5 separate landings by probably the same individual female Chaffinch are here accurately montaged into a representational landing sequence.

Date: 14 Aug 2017
View: D01_20170624_2247_013+E62_20170624_2248_118_FB6+FB5 Tawny Owl on meadow post makes ground attack 06+07 of 12 (montage).jpg
Description: Over the night 24-25 June Tawny Owl(s) made 6 visits to the meadow post for varying periods. One of the middle visits resulted in an attack at the meadow camera site. This first montage represents the hunting from the post and arrival.

View: E62_20170624_2248_118_FB5 Tawny Owl on meadow post makes ground attack 07 of 12 (crop).jpg
Description: This detailed image of the Tawny Owl attack shows the soil splashing up but no sign of prey in the Talons, though some poor mite may be pushed into the lose soil.

Date: 13 Aug 2017
View: E64_20170618_1918_162_FB2 3 Magpie youngsters all begging (crop).jpg
Description: The 3  Tenors Screechers - "FOOD".
Genuine single un-fudged frame

Date: 12 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170617_0833_073 Common Blue Damselfly male mature on thistle leaf.jpg
Description: The Common Blue Damselflies have arrived. This is a male.

View: D72_20170615_1012_004 Common Blue Damselfly female blue form.jpg
Description: The female Common Blue Damselfly comes in both 'Blue' and two 'Drab' forms. This is the female 'Blue' form.

View: DF3_20170617_0835_078 Common Blue Damselfly female mature drab form on Hop Sedge leaf.jpg
Description: The female Common Blue damselfly comes in both a single 'Blue' form and in two 'Drab' forms that gradually change with maturity. This is the drab form of the mature female Common Blue damselfly.

View: DF3_20170623_0850_004 Common Blue damselfly female drab form overnighted on leaf above hedge.jpg
Description: The female Common Blue damselfly comes in both a single 'Blue' form and in two 'Drab' forms that gradually change with maturity. This is the drab form of the immature female Common Blue damselfly.
It's unusual to spot damselflies unless they move, but this one was on a sprout from a bit low boundary hedge but the light was too poor for a decent photo. It was quite cold and the insect looked somnolent. On a whim next morning a check showed that she was still there, and here she is decently lit.

Date: 11 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170617_0818_048 Tortoiseshell Butterfly on Privet flowers at north of farm entrance.jpg
Description: Here is one of about 20 pristine Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies feeding on a Privet flower at the Road entrance to the local farm. Being surrounded by many fluttering butterflies was something not experienced since the 1990s at freshly growing Blackberry hedges.
Seeing Privet as a good nectar source when permitted to flower will change the way we manage the 10m or so along our concrete track.

View: DF3_20170617_0821_065 Painted Lady Butterfly on Privet Flowers (at Farm Entrance).jpg
Description: On the same Privet hedge we spotted this single Painted Lady Butterfly.

Date: 10 Aug 2017
View: DA1_20170618_1135_233+237+1149_279+1309_318_FT1 Drinker moth male in 3 flight + Fox & Cubs flowers (montage).jpg
Description: The Drinker Moth is a moderately large moth that flew rather nicely for us. Here are 3 flights.

View: DA1_20170618_1331_369+1328_354+1314_337_FT1 Ringlet Butterfly in 2 flights + Blackberry flowers (montage)jpg.jpg
Description: Out in the sunshine our meadow has an atypically large number of this attractive Ringlet butterfly. In flight the wing blur gives the impression is of a dark purple, and every year takes us by surprise when we see it perched or caught 'motionless' as here.

View: DA1_20170618_1540_489+1543_507_FT1 Speckled Wood Butterfly in 2 flights + Blackberry flowers (montage).jpg
Description: Speckled Wood butterflies like the edges of our woodland rather than the areas of full sun or shade.

Date: 09 Aug 2017
View: DA1_20170618_1047_108+1301_309_FT1 Mottled Beauty moth (Alcis repandata repandata) in flight + Privit flowers (montage).jpg
Description: A Mottled Beauty Moth in flight.

View: DA1_20170618_1105_155+1106_159+1309_320_FT1 Light Emerald moth in 2 flights + Hawthorn twig (montage)jpg.jpg
Description: Two flights of a Light Emerald moth.

View: DA1_20170618_1153_295+1311_324_FT1 Common Emerald Moth in flight + Grass seed head (montage).jpg
Description: A Common Emerald Moth in flight.

Date: 08 Aug 2017
View: D72_20170618_1741_007+008 Wood Pigeon panting several times per second on top of concrete power pole 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: At the top of our remaining concrete power pole on a really hot day, this Wood Pigeon in the full sun is panting at perhaps 4 times a second, throat fluttering to move air over the moist tongue. Birds don't have 'sweat glands' so cooling options are limited.

Date: 07 Aug 2017
View: D5C_20170613_1732_020+1735_040+057+060 Grey squirrel removing peanut feeder top to gorge on contents 1+2+4+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: The top of this feeder (we have 2 in this style that we alternate) is made of quite heavy coated steel. The squirrels have perfected the art of dislodging the top (which eventually falls into the nettles at the post bottom) and then dives head-first into the unfettered peanut stock. They stuff themselves at the feeder before carrying some in paws and cheeks to eat elsewhere.

View: D5C_20170608_1414_012-034+1415_037 Grey Squirrel Grooming 1-6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: The Grey squirrel preening ritual has become a daily occurrence.
The behaviour we don't manage to capture on camera is the Squirrel eating some of the things it finds in it's fur.
Flea Pie anybody?

Date: 06 Aug 2017
View: D01_20170612_2210_002+2359_005+20170614_0042_017_FB6 Tawny Owl landings on meadow post (montage).jpg
Description: In 2016 the summer months passed without sightings of any Owls at all. But this year several visits a week are normal - in this week there were 5 visits by Tawny Owls just to this post - the bird could spend hours here at night perched in the trees and we would never know. Here a set of 3 consecutive landings

Date: 05 Aug 2017
View: E62_20170613_0115_055_FB5 Badger.jpg
Description: One of the local Badgers provided this 'Head and Shoulders' portrait.

View: E62_20170612_0119_276_FB5 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: Almost to the minute the same time previous night probably the same Badger gives us a good look at the front paw.

Date: 04 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170611_0728_043 Poppy Flower + Marmalade Hover-fly by fence at farm entrance (crop).jpg
Description: An early flowering Poppy we found in a sheltered patch near the Farm road entrance. The Insect is a Marmalade Hover-fly.

View: DF3_20170611_0935_066 Blackberry flowers.jpg
Description: A group of Blackberry flowers. As the flowers age the tips of the anthers turn brown.

View: DF3_20170613_1230_051 Black Medick (Medicago lupulina) (crop).jpg
Description: In a series of cracks in the track sprout these tiny yellow flowers with the unlikely sounding name Black Medick.
The Black refers to the seed pods that form later.
Medick is obvious and can use various spellings.
The plant has a long list of alternate names (courtesy of Wikipedia):-
    nonesuch, black nonesuch, black medic clover, hop clover, hop medic,
    black clover, black hay, blackweed, English trefoil, hop trefoil, and yellow trefoil.
The Latin species name Medicago lupulina refers to wolves (Lupines) and we find it odd that wolf doesn't appear in any of the long list of common names.

Date: 03 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170610_1251_026 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly male.jpg
Description: Both sexes of the Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies are about. This is the male.

View: DF3_20170610_1252_030 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female.jpg
Description: This is the female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly. Note the golden iridescence and complex egg laying machinery at the tail end.

Date: 02 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170610_1231_006+009 Brimstone Butterfly male feeding on Blackberry flower 1+2 of 2 (montage 2).jpg
Description: A Male Brimstone Butterfly feeding on a Blackberry flower. The lower image shows that the proboscis can be raised very high (just above the antennae) to manoeuvre it into the flower.

View: DF3_20170612_1802_008 Clouded Border moth on Blackberry stem.jpg
Description: A Clouded Border Moth, long before dark, choosing this vicious looking Blackberry stem as a convenient perch.
We photographed a Clouded Border moth in flight in 2014 as a moth-trap catch - see http://www.moorhen.me.uk/imgofday/arch 2014 aug.htm scrolling down to 28th August 2014.
The Clouded Border moth has quite high reflective patches in Ultra-violet light - see http://www.moorhen.me.uk/uv/moths_03.htm

Date: 01 Aug 2017
View: DF3_20170608_1607_001 Mullein Moth Caterpillar about 4cm long on Great Mullein plant (crop).jpg
Description: In a Pot by the back door a self set Great Mullein plant has attracted the attention of at least 5 of these Mullein Moth caterpillars (seems appropriate). The Adult moth looks like a 'piece of twig' we have probably seen but have never photographed. The Caterpillar has this warning colouration - 'Eat me at your Peril'
The caterpillar is facing right - the 3 legs each side at the right are the 3 standard 3 legs per side of insects - the rest are called 'Prolegs'.

View: DF3_20170608_1609_016 Mullein Moth Caterpillar about 4cm long on Great Mullein plant.jpg
Description: A view of a Mullein Moth caterpillar showing less detail of the legs but highlighting the damage to the Great Mullein plant leaves.

Image Archive arch 2017 jul.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Jul 2017
View: E62_20170601_1942_046_FB5 Rabbit juvenile grooming.jpg
Description: A pristine young Rabbit.
How twee can you get?

View: E62_20170604_1442_142_FB5 Blackbird female in buttercups and clover.jpg
Description: A female Blackbird decorating, or being decorated by, Buttercups and Clover.

Date: 30 Jul 2017
View: D5C_20170606_1235_021+012 Great Tit parent feeding peanuts fragments to 2 chicks (montage for clarify).jpg
Description: Young birds are being fed by their parents all over the site, mostly hidden from us inside bushes and tree. But here a couple of juvenile Great Tits are being introduced to the delights of the peanut feeder by an attentive parent of the right. This idyll was interrupted by the arrival of a Grey Squirrel.

Date: 29 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170604_0844_051 Hare running over short grass 09 of 37 (crop).jpg
Description: Hares assume incredible positions when running, rear legs often well in front of the forelegs.

View: DF3_20170604_0845_102-122 Hare running over short grass alternate frames 23-43 of 50 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This Hare has reached full speed so even alternate frames are well separated at 7fps, but not quite well enough separated to include every frame

View: DF3_20170605_0650_157+160+164+165 Hare running at crop margin + Rabbit leaving crop 01+04+08+09 of 11 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This corner of the crop viewed over the farm road from over own east hedge saw this Hare ambling over the weed-killed margin. At the time neither of us noticed the Rabbit leaping away in the background.

Date: 28 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170604_0844_044-060 Hare running over short grass 02+03+06+09+12+15+18 of 37 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Not 'improved' by the ugly back of the curbing, this hare ran across the grass. After the start this is every third frame at about 7fps.

View: DF3_20170607_0851_025-035 Hare startled into run up to and along Farm Road 02-12 of 12 (mostly accurate montage @7fp).jpg
Description: As we come through the blocked gate we have several times disturbed a Hare in the middle of the open grass area. Forewarned on this occasion the camera was ready to catch this 'escape' run and the leap up onto the concrete road and away.

View: DF3_20170605_1206_001+1207_006+007 Hare resting at crop edge 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This Hare didn't seem bothered by our presence even at Noon. It quietly turned round and seemed to 'Nod off'. We left it in peace.

Date: 27 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170601_1352_026 White Flag Iris Flower.jpg
Description: A White Flag Iris in soft lighting that lets you see the structure. We see the white variety only along a hedge at a west side - never at the edge of the main pond where the Yellow form is rampant.

View: DF3_20170603_1218_070 2 White Flag Iris flowers entwined and a few (not Lily) beetles.jpg
Description: In a bright sunshine this double White Iris flower looks wonderful but is quite hard to see the structure in the harsh lighting.

View: DF3_20170604_0839_037 Cluster of wild rose flowers.jpg
Description: A little clump of beautiful wild rose flowers. The perfume greets you from yards away.

Date: 26 Jul 2017
View: E64_20170527_2141_100_FB2 Muntjac Deer juvenile (crop).jpg
Description: 'Our' Muntjac Deer is not really a 'Fawn' any longer - the spotted body has become the lovely brown and is often spotted feeding on its own.

Date: 25 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170601_0540_029+030+032+041 Muntjac Deer male (antler stubs) at north hedge @ sunrise 01+02+04+10 of 10 (acc montage).jpg
Description: Walking down our concrete access track we spotted, but were apparently not spotted by, this male Muntjac Deer, with just stubs of the antlers, wandering quietly down the dew soaked margin between crop and the outside of our northern hedge, before quietly entering our patch though an access way we cut though the pig net years ago. This was at 05:40 a.m. (about 45 minutes after sunrise)

View: DF3_20170601_0546_047+050+053 Pheasant female stepping through opening cut in pig net fence 1+3+4 of 5 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Almost an hour after sunrise we watched the unhurried progress of this female Pheasant making her way into our patch via an access way cut through the pig net.

Date: 24 Jul 2017
View: D5C_20170530_0739_007-0740_034 Grey Squirrel 2 minutes of frantic grooming 03+06-10+14+16 of 17 (montage).jpg
Description: On the Kitchen window bird table it was hard not to laugh at the antics of this Grey Squirrel appearing to be 'chasing a flea' - actually probably just 2 minutes of exuberant grooming we have since seen on other bird tables.

View: E62_20170531_1950_147_FB5 Rabbit juvenile licking front paw.jpg
Description: This young Rabbits position seems unexpectedly familiar.
A Movie publicity still? Images from a Peter Rabbit book?

Date: 23 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170528_1530_135 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly immature male.jpg
Description: An immature male Beautiful Demoiselle (common name of the species) Damselfly. One of a few moving around the site to find the warmest patch.

View: DF3_20170601_1602_044 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female (crop).jpg
Description: Next day a female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly arrived. Compared to the male note the lighter coloured wings, a more golden tail end (not very obvious through the golden wing here) and the different sexual organs at the tail tip

Date: 22 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170527_0947_019 Harlequin Ladybird.jpg
Description: Harlequin Ladybirds are here to stay - we might as well start enjoying them!

View: DF3_20170603_1220_078 Harlequin Ladybirds mating - one spotless the other many spots.jpg
Description: Harlequin Ladybirds are extremely variable - here the female is covered in large dark spots and the male with no spots at all! But THEY obviously know that they are the same species!

Date: 21 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170526_0601_019-021 Hare running along edge of crop 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: In last weeks 'Springwatch' we were amazed to see the film-makers reduced to using an infra-red camera drone to even find a Hare. We had no idea we were so lucky to see them even intermittently while out walking near the start of the day.

View: DF3_20170526_0608_054 Hare leaving crop 4 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: This Hare was quietly leaving the corn crop, the rear legs well forward of the front legs and not even put on the ground yet.

View: DF3_20170526_0608_063-067 Hare running along edge of crop 1-5 of 5 (Horizontally stretched montage).jpg
Description: This montage is very stretched along the line of the walk. Hares look so awkward when ambling about, but the gait clearly works for them.

Date: 20 Jul 2017
View: DA1_20170527_1130_136+1131_145+1145_185+1326_200_FT1 White Ermine Moth flights + Oxeye Daisy flower (montage 2).jpg
Description: A 'frequent flier' is the White Ermine Moth, here echoing the colours of an Oxeye Daisy flower. This is a concoction of 3 separate flights

View: DA1_20170527_1147_191+1323_194_FT1 Cinnabar Moth + Hawthorn Twig (montage).jpg
Description: The striking Cinnabar Moth makes a great splash of colour.
The only other UK insect we know of with these colours (but different pattern) are the Burnet Moth family.

Date: 19 Jul 2017
View: DA1_20170527_1124_096+1323_195_FT1 Poplar Hawk Moth in flight + Hawthorn twig (montage).jpg
Description: This is a Poplar Hawk Moth - a really impressive size insect.
The oranges patches don't appear in ID books - you only see them in flight.

View: P10_20170527_1135_027 Poplar Hawk Moth in Maries hand.jpg
Description: After photographing this moth in flight he seemed a bit reluctant to go. Here on a hand you get a sense of scale.

Date: 18 Jul 2017
View: DA1_20170527_1108_047+1108+047+1324_198_FT1 Angle Shades Moth in flight (2 events) + Red Campion (montage).jpg
Description: An Angle Shades moth making 2 flights.

View: DA1_20170527_1112_063+1327_204_FT1 Small Waved Umber (Horisme vitalbata) in flight + curled Dock Leaf tip (montage).jpg
Description: Our first record this moth - a Small Waved Umber with a really 'burnt line' appearance along the wings.

View: DA1_20170527_1122_080_FT1 Scorched Wing Moth (Plagodis dolabraria) (crop on box).jpg
Description: Another first for us, this time the Scorched Wing Moth.
We couldn't get it to fly for the camera, so here is our initial 'ID' pic.

Date: 17 Jul 2017
View: D01_20170527_2002_004+2006_033+037_FB6 Green Woodpecker adult male on meadow post (montage).jpg
Description: 3 views (from dozens) of a male Green Woodpecker clambering up the side of the meadow post and then moving around on the top.

Date: 16 Jul 2017
View: E62_20170520_0407_134_FB5 Fox in rain.jpg
Description: A really uncomfortable looking Fox with fur drenched by either rain or wet foliage.

View: E63_20170520_0724_078_FB1 Muntjac Deer female.jpg
Description: Mother Muntjac Deer searches for some tasty morsel to supplement the endless grass. There is a good view of the left front hoof whose imprints get made in soft earth all over the site

Date: 15 Jul 2017
View: DF4_20170521_2025_001+005_008 Muntjac Deer Fawn 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Well after Sunset we were lucky to spot the Muntjac Deer Fawn and his mum foraging about at the edge of the main pond. The Fawn now appears to be fully weaned. Here is a montage of the Fawn quietly stepping through the long grass.

View: DF4_20170521_2030_085 Muntjac Deer mother and fawn.jpg
Description: And here the endearing mother and Fawn together image. The Fawn happily pushed through the stinging nettles and mother actually appeared to eat some.

Date: 14 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170523_0705_072-100 Hare Lolloping along Farm Road 01+05+11+17+21+24+27+29 of 31 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Hare's quiet lollop down the concrete road is watched by the female Pheasant as well as us. There are typically 3 or 4 images between each we show here. The whole sequence available on request

View: DF3_20170523_0706_076+082+088 Hare Lolloping along Farm Road 05+11+17 of 31 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A closer view of a section of 3 images of the Hare from the longer montage.

View: DF3_20170523_0706_079 Hare Lolloping along Farm Road 08 of 31 (crop).jpg
Description: The Hare stopped for a moment - watching us watching him.

Date: 13 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170521_1310_079 Brimstone Butterfly male showing spiralled proboscis on Forget-me-not flower (crop 2).jpg
Description: A male Brimstone Butterfly stops on a Forget-me-not flower for a feed. The Proboscis is beginning to unwind and looks very like the 'hair spring' in a 'clockwork' watch - the only sort of watch there was for the first 30 years of our existence.

View: DF3_20170521_1315_089 Honey Bee feeding on Purple Allium.jpg
Description: We have a particular liking for Allium flowers - globes of tiny flowers with a pleasing symmetry. The Honey-Bees like them as well.

Date: 12 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170523_1759_026 Wild Rose opening Flower bud (crop).jpg
Description: The wild Roses are starting to appear - you smell them before you see them. This flower bud is opening

View: DF3_20170523_1758_020 Wild Rose Flower (crop 2).jpg
Description: The wild Roses are starting to appear - you smell them before you see them.

Date: 11 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170521_1751_011-013 Hobby flying overhead 1-3 of 3 (approx montage).jpg
Description: Our first definite sighting this year of a Hobby on 21 May 2017
This dragonfly predator only appears just before we can hope to see our first Odonata (Dragonfly family).

View: DF3_20170526_1440_113 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly immature male (crop).jpg
Description: 5 days after our first sighting of a Hobby the first Damselfly makes it's entrance - at least 4 of them fluttering delightfully in some sunshine at various places over our patch. They can not be breeding here because they require running water, but they must be breeding fairly close by to see immatures.

View: DF3_20170526_1440_109 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly immature male viewed from the rear (crop).jpg
Description: This Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly viewed from the rear looks worthy of the presence on 'Pandora' (the world of James Cameron's movie 'Avatar' if you didn't see it).

Date: 10 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170520_0934_021 Blue Tit with large caterpillar about to enter nest hole.jpg
Description: A second brood of Blue Tits is underway in the hole in the wall over the boiler (USA furnace) room. On one morning (20 May) a seemingly never ending stream of caterpillars were being delivered to the just audible screeching youngsters inside the wall.

View: DF3_20170520_0938_063+067+070 Blue Tit flying to nest hole pausing on corner of wall 1+5+8 of 8 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Here this Blue Tit stopped off for few second on the outside corner of the wall, gave us a suspicious look, and then carried on into the hidden nest hole with a caterpillar for one of the youngsters.

View: DF3_20170520_0938_078 Blue Tit with grub in beak perched on TV aerial 3m above nest hole.jpg
Description: The Blue Tit parents frequently stopped for a moment on the TV Aerial before flying straight into the nest hole.

View: DF3_20170520_0950_197-199 Blue Tit flying with grub to nest hole 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This Blue Tit made it straight into the (hidden) nest hole in the wall without a pause.

Date: 09 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170518_1154_034 Blackbird female bathing in pot-plant saucer (crop).jpg
Description: The female Blackbird was really enjoying a bath in the fresh rainwater collected in this huge pot-plant saucer. Her head is twisted to her right so the beak points upwards to the left.

Date: 08 Jul 2017
View: D36_20170517_2041_093_FB4 Sparrowhawk juvenile in rain (crop).jpg
Description: In the drizzling rain mostly now stopped by the leaf canopy this Sparrowhawk is not looking his best, but we can see the bedraggled bird really well.

View: D36_20170516_1618_068+20170517_2041_093_FB4 Magpie and Sparrowhawk juvenile in rain size comparison (montage).jpg
Description: One tends to think of Hawks & Owls as 'big' birds (an illusion generated by TV and film-makers always showing the most impressively large varieties), but here, compared to a Magpie at the same scale, you get a true size comparison.

View: D5C_20170517_1732_012+005 Pheasant pair after 10 hours of rain (montage).jpg
Description: A normally elegant & magnificent pair of pheasants reduced to 2 bedraggled bundles of feathers. Poor things. Life outdoors has some major disadvantages!

Date: 07 Jul 2017
View: E62_20170513_1855_095_FB5 Rook and juvenile.jpg
Description: Juvenile Rook (right) undoubtedly waiting for the adult to present it with some food.

View: E62_20170513_1901_096_FB5 Rook juvenile calling.jpg
Description: MORE!!!!!!
The juvenile Rook showing us his ever-empty gape.

View: D72_20170518_0710_026 Rook stealing twig from empty nest.jpg
Description: Meanwhile at what is likely to be a now empty nest, this Rook repeatedly visited to tug furiously at twigs within it, working some free and then flying off with the booty to add to 'his' own.

Date: 06 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170514_1105_055-060 Buzzard diving past clouds @ 7 fps 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage - about 34mph).jpg
Description: Here a Buzzard had reached a good height and spent the potential energy thus gained on a high speed dive. At about 7fps (0.142sec gaps) against wispy cloud we could accurately montage part of the flight, and knowing the birds typical length could work out it's speed at about 34 Miles per Hour (mph).
    Buzzard length = 20 inches = 97 pixels
    Gap between birds = 424 pixels = 87 inches
    87 inches / 0.142 sec = 609 inches/sec = 51 ft/sec = 34 mph

Date: 05 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170511_1522_005 Brimstone Butterfly male on Green Alkanet flower.jpg
Description: Brimstone Butterflies seem to have been on-the-wing for weeks. Here one is enjoying a Green Alkanet Flower.

View: DF3_20170516_1452_028 Clouded Silver moth on cherry leaves.jpg
Description: This pretty Clouded Silver Moth was flying along a path in the middle of the afternoon, landing in a patch of Cherry hedge where it stayed long enough to photograph it.

View: DA1_20100521_1027_077_FT1 Clouded silver Moth (Lomographa temerata) in flight (crop).jpg
Description: We last saw a Clouded Silver moth in May 2010 in a Moth-trap catch, so it must be on the wing both day and night (ID books don't state either way). The one in-flight image from 2010 was only moderately good and we didn't 'publish' it at the time, but now with a good reference image it is worth including because it shows how the antennae are tucked underneath the body in the moths resting position (as widely shown in ID book & WWW images) but are forward in flight.

Date: 04 Jul 2017
View: DF1_20170512_0937_021 Wren collecting desiccated leaves from hedge by living room for nest by kitchen 2 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: Outside the living room window we repeated saw Wren(s) collecting desiccated leaves from within the hedge and flying off left with them.

View: DF1_20170512_0937_023-025 Wren collects desiccated leaves from hedge by living room for nest by kitchen 4-6 of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: Outside the living room window we repeated saw Wren(s) collecting desiccated leaves from within the hedge and flying off left with them. A little investigation led to the nest right outside the kitchen window about 10 metres to the left of this image, only a few centimetres from the top of the hedge but completely invisible from the top.

View: DF1_20170512_0939_032 Wren collecting desiccated leaves from hedge by living room for nest by kitchen 7 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: A short pause in it's nest-building efforts allowed this little portrait of a Wren that on our PC screen is nearly twice life size.

Date: 03 Jul 2017
View: E64_20170506_1730_096_FB2 Mallard Duck male.jpg
Description: A Wet and beautiful male Mallard Duck (properly known as a Drake).
We always think it is a shame that by the Human summer holiday season the males have moulted into eclipse, and visitors to a 'local pond' don't get to see this glorious show.

View: E62_20170516_1736_102_FB5 Mallard Duck pair (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A female Mallard Duck leads the way - the male dutifully follows.

Date: 02 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170510_1632_287 Brimstone Butterfly male feeding on White Dead-nettle (Lamium album) flower (crop).jpg
Description: This male Brimstone butterfly was finding nectar at various flower, here at a White Dead-nettle - a naturally sting free variety. At this scale it not obvious, but the camouflage is remarkably good - the 'veins' on the insect blend wonderfully with those on the leaf. The butterfly's proboscis is gently bent through over a right angle to disappear into the flower.

View: DF3_20170510_1258_195 Crane-fly (unident) with bright blue eyes on Lodgepole pine (crop with enlarged eyes insert).jpg
Description: This Cranefly would have been very difficult to spot if we had not seen it land. The real surprise came later at the PC when we saw the bright blue eyes which we show in a 3 times scale insert. You might think it would be easy to ID but we have failed, all our books only showing the most common species and the WWW not actually naming the species.

Date: 01 Jul 2017
View: DF3_20170510_1032_121+124+127 Pollen Cloud from Lodgepole Pine Cone 1+4+7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: We are rather fond of our Lodgepole Pine trees, but you really have to be careful at this time of year not to brush past the developing cones and getting a huge lungful of their pollen. Here a slight tap produces a huge cloud.

Image Archive arch 2017 jun.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170508_1742_005 Muntjac Deer male looking back at camera (crop 2).jpg
Description: The classic 'looking back over your shoulder pin-up shot of this male Muntjac Deer.

Date: 29 Jun 2017
View: E64_20170509_1729_057_FB2 Duck weed all over breast of Mallard Duck male.jpg
Description: This male Mallard Duck look like it has tried to bring half the pond's duckweed along with it. The Duckweed is not complaining - any pond without the weed will soon gets it first delivery along with assorted tiny creatures and eggs caught up in it.

View: E62_20170507_1924_233_FB5 Mallard duck pair.jpg
Description: Here male and female Mallard ducks have probably just come from a pond, both bringing some of the duckweed with them.

View: E62_20170506_1639_164_FB5 Mallard Duck male (adjusted crop 2).jpg
Description: A male Mallard duck - what a gorgeous bird!

Date: 28 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170507_1305_099 Rook fledgling on House roof ridge with Downy feathers lifted by wind from rear (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: This juvenile Rook for some reason decided that our roof ridges were a good place to wait to be fed. Unfortunately the parents wont approach with humans about and we never even saw a feed. Here the north wind (from behind the bird) is disarranging the birds downy feathers as he calls the Rook equivalent of 'FOOD!'.

View: DF3_20170507_1306_106+109+110 Rook fledgling on House roof ridges and takeoff 4-6 of 6 (impression montage).jpg
Description: The parents arriving in the nesting tree screamed 'danger' warnings at the youngster, who finally worked out that it wasn't safe with us about, and it made a clumsy flight into the Black Poplar you see in the background - and out of our sight unfortunately.

Date: 27 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170505_1752_159-164 Swift in flight catching insect 2-7 of 7 (impression montage).jpg
Description: A Swift catching an insect - beak open next to last image from the left and the tiny speck of life it consumed is just in front of the open beak. These at about 7fps so slightly less than 1 second of action here.

Date: 26 Jun 2017
View: D5C_20170505_1244_095 Muntjac Deer female suckling Fawn by kitchen window - suckling with 2 teats visible 35 of 44 (crop 1).jpg
Description: After a few minutes the Muntjac Deer Fawn decided it wanted to suckle. The mother is licking the Fawns bottom - presumably to encourage it to defecate, though we didn't see it do so or find any signs afterwards.

View: D5C_20170505_1244_095 Muntjac Deer female suckling Fawn by kitchen window - suckling with 2 teats visible 35 of 44 (crop 2).jpg
Description: Enlarged from the above, the Muntjac Deer Fawn has it's mouth on one teat and we can see 2 of the others. We don't know how many Teats there are.

View: D5C_20170505_1244_103 Muntjac Deer female suckling Fawn by kitchen window but deflects Fawn now out of milk 38 of 44 (crop).jpg
Description: The Muntjac Deer Fawn then started to get rather rough, ramming the mother's teats presumably to get out the last drop of milk. Mum didn't enjoy this, moved aside to disengage the Fawn, and then effectively blocked the Fawn from access to the now dry milk bar.

View: DF3_20170505_1244_149 Muntjac Deer female suckling Fawn by kitchen window 41 of 44 (crop).jpg
Description: From an upstairs room the departing Muntjac Deer mother and fawn pair were still visible over the hedge.

Date: 25 Jun 2017
View: D5C_20170505_1241_037+1242_038-039 Muntjac Deer female suckling Fawn by kitchen window - Fawn crosses under mother 10-12 of 44 (montage).jpg
Description: Mother Muntjac Deer and her Fawn stopped for several minutes right outside the kitchen window. Here was the fawn ducking down to walk forward under Mum - for no reason we can imagine.

View: D5C_20170505_1242_053 Muntjac Deer female suckling Fawn by kitchen window 19 of 44 (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Mother Muntjac Deer and her Fawn stopped for several minutes right outside the kitchen window.

View: D5C_20170505_1242_060 Muntjac Deer female suckling Fawn by kitchen window - face to face 21 of 44 (crop).jpg
Description: Mother Muntjac Deer and her Fawn stopped for several minutes right outside the kitchen window.

Date: 24 Jun 2017
View: D01_20170509_0055_006+20170508_2228_001_FB6 Tawny Owl & Little Owl for size comparison (identical scale montage).jpg
Description: A Little Owl is also making occasional visits providing an opportunity to show you the relative sizes of Tawny and Little Owls.

Date: 23 Jun 2017
View: D01_20170504_2347_004+2348_005+2349_006_FB6 Tawny Owl 4 minute visit 3-5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: One of our Tawny Owls stopped by for a few minutes on the top of the meadow post, quietly examining the surrounding rough grass for something to catch.

Date: 22 Jun 2017
View: E62_20170502_1707_084_FB5 Rabbit youngster nibbling carrot.jpg
Description: A Young rabbit trying out this rather stale carrot. Wonder what 'he' thought of it?

View: E64_20170428_1723_069_FB2 Grey Squirrel holding carrot in paws while nibbling it.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel holds a stale carrot in it's paws to devour it like a stick of rock.

Date: 21 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170428_1232_037 Orange-tip Butterfly viewed head-on on dandelion clock (crop).jpg
Description: The Orange-tip butterfly season seems have lasted unusually well this year. This is the head-on view of a male perched on a fallen Dandelion 'clock'. You can see the orange glow between the wing tips.

View: DF3_20170428_1234_049 Orange-tip Butterfly with wings spread.jpg
Description: Here a male orange-tip with wings spread in the sunshine. You can just see the wonderful green tracery showing through from the other side of his rear wings.

View: DF3_20170502_1228_060 Orange tip female perched on leaf.jpg
Description: This is a female Orange-tip Butterfly, showing the same green tracery on the underside of the rear wings, but never a trace of the orange.
Just what the 'Boys' are looking for!

Date: 20 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170421_1547_034 Muntjac Deer pair watching us down East inside path (crop).jpg
Description: We surprised this pair of Muntjac Deer (male nearest to us) along our east inside boundary path. We stared at each other a for a minute or two before they decided to depart.

View: DF3_20170421_1547_029 Muntjac Deer pair watching us down East inside path with females tongue licking muzzle (crop).jpg
Description: The female behind the (out of focus) male us showing her long and manoeuvrable tongue.

View: D01_20170501_1911_007-1914_040_FB6 Muntjac Deer male grazing at edges of path to Duck Pond 2+3+5+10 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: The male Muntjac Deer spent several minutes wandering up and down the main path across the meadow. Bottom right is the same individual but lit by a final shaft of sunlight.

Date: 19 Jun 2017
View: D36_20170421_0704_044_FB4 Magpie with long twig in beak.jpg
Description: This looks to us like a fallen Blackthorn twig.
Try to image carrying a 3 metre pole holding it about 1 metre from one end to get an idea of how awkward this must be to fly with!

View: E64_20170420_1602_015_FB2 Magpie landing with wing feathers spread.jpg
Description: Isn't Magpie plumage just wonderful? Primary (flight) feathers outlined in black and sharp white-black transition lined up diagonally across sequences of feathers

View: E62_20170428_1655_082_FB5 Magpie with wings spread attacking mostly hidden Pigeon.jpg
Description: This Magpie (with the glorious iridescent tail (green) and wings (blue) apparently attacking a poor innocent pigeon (grey banded tail sticking out left)

Date: 18 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170426_1049_111+113+115 Kestrel male hovering 1+3+5 of 5 (vertical spread montage).jpg
Description: The male Kestrel's hunt, hovering into the wind, was swiftly ended by the arrival of 2 Rooks

View: DF3_20170426_1050_137-142 Kestrel male mobbed by 2 Rooks 1-5 of 6 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Kestrels hovering hunt was quickly ended by the arrival of a couple of Rooks (black birds left and right) making the male Kestrel feel particularly unwelcome.

Date: 17 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170425_1735_075+082+085 Heron flying up path towards Duck Pond (discontinuous) 05+13+16 of 17 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: We caught several Heron flights - mostly when the bird saw us when we went out for a look about.

View: DF3_20170425_1736_096+100+102+104 Heron taking off from back of Duck Pond (discontinuous) 02+06+08+10 of 26 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: We caught several Heron flights - mostly when the bird saw us when we went out for a look about.

Date: 16 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170426_0854_032+033 Heron walking in front of main pond 1+2 of 3 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Outside the kitchen window the Heron stomped imperiously along the edge of the main pond.

View: DF3_20170422_1633_047-050 Heron flying overhead 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Flying into the wind the Heron makes a flight against a partly blue heavens, allowing the creation of an accurately positioned montage at about 7fps.

Date: 15 Jun 2017
View: E65_20170424_0933_001+003+006 Heron visiting main pond then chased away by Rook 1+2+4 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: For just a few days a Heron spent most of the day hunting on our patch.
We presume that the bird can find things in the water that we fail to see. This is a montage, photographed through the kitchen window, of the Heron leaving the pond to walk along the bank.

View: DF2_20170425_1854_056-084 Heron catching and swallowing Vole 04+09+13+16+18 of 23 (montage).jpg
Description: The Heron was exploring the rough grass, occasionally picking some small morsels we just couldn't see. But here we could definitely see what the bird caught - a Vole (probably a Bank Vole judging by it's tail length) which it tossed about a bit and then swallowed whole.

Date: 14 Jun 2017
View: E65_20170420_0926_007 Blackbird female collecting dried grass nesting (crop).jpg
Description: This female Blackbird regularly feeds on an overgrown gravel path outside the study patio doors. But here she is clearing some of last years dead grass, undoubtedly to make the nest a bit more comfortable.

View: DF3_20170425_0854_032 Rook with live (leafed Silver Birch) twig in beak.jpg
Description: Another twig for the nest.
You can see that the twig has been broken off, rather than simply fallen off, by the fresh leaves on it. Rooks mostly seem to prefer such fresh wood, whilst Jackdaws mostly pick up fallen wood.

Date: 13 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170423_1332_009 Orange-tip Butterfly male feeding on Green Alkanet Flower (crop).jpg
Description: An orange-tip butterfly with its uncurled figure-of-eight proboscis down in the nectar of the Green Alkanet flower.

Date: 12 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170422_0921_075 Wheatear.jpg
Description: This an adult Wheatear perched on a not very attractive 11kV power cable. This is our first sighting of an adult Wheatear here, and our only other previous sighting was of a juvenile in September 2015.

View: DF3_20170426_0750_014 2 Grey Partridges at edge of Wheat crop.jpg
Description: A couple of Grey Partridges at the edge of the Wheat crop.
The yellow edge is the result of sprayed weed killer used to create a 1 or 2 metre wide fallow strip along the edge of the crop, and it has spilled along the edge of the growing crop creating this vivid yellow strip.

Date: 11 Jun 2017
View: D36_20170421_0657_043_FB4 Wood Pigeon with dribbled Pigeon milk on breast.jpg
Description: Straight off Google: "Crop milk is a secretion from the lining of the crop of parent birds that is regurgitated to young birds. It is found among all pigeons and doves where it is referred to as pigeon milk. An analog to crop milk is also secreted from the esophagus of flamingos and some penguins."
The texture is much thicker than human or cattle milk, and we are sure that this pigeons breast feathers and beak are thoroughly gunged with it.

Date: 10 Jun 2017
View: DF4_20170420_0615_001 Muntjac Deer male on grass between house and main pond barking (crop).jpg
Description: The Muntjac Deer have suddenly started calling at night and visiting places we can get to see them. This is the male (with antlers) mouth open making his barking call just after dawn on a grey morning.

View: SW1_20170420_0541_109-111_SC1 Muntjac Deer mother and Fawn 1-3 of 3 (IR montage over a few seconds).jpg
Description: Half an hour before seeing the male Muntjac deer near the house, the trail cam at Round Pond used it's IR lamp to catch this gorgeous little triplet of Mother Muntjac Deer followed by a really tiny new Fawn. Mum is barely the height of the daffodils, so this youngster is really tiny - certainly the smallest fawn we have ever 'seen' here.

Date: 09 Jun 2017
View: E64_20170418_0647_034+0648_035+D36_20170419_0637_022+07818_059+E64_0718_059_FB2+FB4 Jackdaw collecting twigs 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: A pair of Jackdaws seem to have decided that it is time to get their nest underway. Over 2 days we caught several images of twigs being collected at the woodland site and the tree stump (about 10m apart) of which this is a sample in the order Top left > Right > Bottom Left > Right.
Unlike Rooks, which seem to prefer living twigs they break off, Jackdaws seem to pick up quite large pieces of already fallen wood.

Date: 08 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170419_0936_191 Dunnock juvenile on steel tube gate rail.jpg
Description: The merry seasons of 'what's that juvenile bird' has arrived. This is a juvenile Dunnock yet to grow its adult tail. There were at least two of them around this steel gate, and none could fly with much control yet. Our bird books says that juvenile Dunnocks are nervous and skulk about in the undergrowth. Ours hang about waiting for some corn!

Date: 07 Jun 2017
View: D36_20170418_1840_016+20170419_1851_051_FB4 Chaffinch female landing on Tree-stump (impression montage).jpg
Description: A female Chaffinch landing on the tree stump, photographed a day apart but at close to the same time of day.

View: D36_20170418_1912_021_FB4 Chaffinch male in breeding colour.jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch in his full breeding colours.

Date: 06 Jun 2017
View: E62_20170417_1820_043_FB5 Pheasant male guarding feeding female.jpg
Description: When we see female Pheasants at the moment they are often accompanied by the 'Harem boss', who we like to think of as 'Squiring' the ladies as they hurriedly feed before returning to their nests to incubate 'his' eggs.

View: E64_20170417_0641_147_FB2 Pheasant male rear view showing multiple tail feathers.jpg
Description: The male Pheasant is often seen accompanying females as they feed. Here with his back to camera we see the magnificent tail spread out to show the multi-feather and tapered structure.

Date: 05 Jun 2017
View: E62_20170414_2239_118_FB5 Rat and Rabbit youngster.jpg
Description: Oh dear - a Rat makes the first of its now annual Spring appearances. Would a Rat attack a young Rabbit - a Google search suggests that the answer is 'Yes', but we saw this rabbit again later in the night.

Date: 04 Jun 2017
View: E60_20170417_0001_043_FB3 Tawny Owl landing on perch (crop).jpg
Description: The Tawny Owl with blue-Grey facial feathers makes a landing on the perch outside the kitchen window at 1 minute past Midnight.

View: D01_20170417_2043_011-2045_014_FB6 Little Owl 3 minute visit 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: A Little Owl visit to the meadow post - this one of just 3 minutes.

Date: 03 Jun 2017
View: DF3_20170416_0804_215-0805_227 Skylark exploring track edge and grass margin 1-5+7+6 of 9 (montage impression).jpg
Description: The Skylarks have put on a show this year far exceeding any other year, with aerial 'dog-fights' (all over so fast you never catch them on 'film') and birds on the ground, as here, as well as in flight.

View: DF3_20170416_0810_325-327 Skylark in flight 09-11 of 12 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: Here are 3 sequential images at about 7 fps of a skylark rising into the sky. We have shrunk the gaps between the bird images so that you can see some detail.

View: DF3_20170416_0814_336 Skylark in flight 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: Birds don't make facial expressions, but we can only see 'Joy' in this Skylark.

Date: 02 Jun 2017
View: P34_20170416_0749_491 Sundogs visible on both sides of sun (crop at original exposure).jpg
Description: A pair of Sundogs on either side of the (intentionally obscured) sun. Both had white streaks pointing away from the sun that stretched away from the sun nearly as far as they are from it (this was the camera widest zoom).

View: DF3_20170416_0752_089 Sundog (right of sun) over Buzzard or Rook nest (orig).jpg
Description: Here some details of the right-hand Sundog over the top of a lonely nest.

View: DF3_20170416_0740_066 Cloud in wave-like pattern (crop).jpg
Description: An unusual 'wave' pattern sky looking east in the morning.

Date: 01 Jun 2017
View: D01_20170416_2031_021+2046_023-2050_029_FB6 Little Owl short visit with prey + 5 minute visit 1-7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: About a year after our last sighting the Little Owl (actual common species name - not just a 'small' owl, though it is) paid 2 visits, the first very short and the second for 5 minutes of restless activity surveying the area.

View: D01_20170416_2031_021_FB6 Little Owl single frame visit with Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) prey in claws (crop).jpg
Description: While building the montage it became apparent that the first very short visit includes a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) in the Little Owls Talons.

Image Archive arch 2017 may.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 May 2017
View: DF3_20170413_0713_128-132 Skylark in flight 1-5 of 5 (close spaceed montage).jpg
Description: The sweet sound of Skylarks help you find them in the sky as they rise up to defend their territory with music.

View: DF3_20170409_1022_061-063 Skylark landing in Corn crop 1-3 of 4 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Skylarks ascending are reasonably predictable, but descents are erratic, very hard to follow, and the focus changes very fast. So here we were lucky (= lots of tries) to get this bird aerobraking to land in the corn crop.

Date: 30 May 2017
View: DF3_20170411_1549_027+1550_031+033+040 Pied Wagtail feeding at edge of concrete track 1-4 of 4 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Here one of two Pied Wagtails hunting on the disused concrete track seemed to be finding plenty to eat along the edge of the grass.

View: DF3_20170411_1602_066+071 Blackbird male eating large earthworm 1+2 of 2 (mirrored montage).jpg
Description: Rooting about on a leaf strewn woodland path, this male Blackbird found a good sized worm. It took less than a minute to swallow it whole.

Date: 29 May 2017
View: DF3_20170406_1534_122+124+125 Sparrowhawk in flight 1+3+4 of 5 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: We haven't seen a Sparrowhawk well for months, but here it made a two-way flyby. Sparrowhawks fly very fast, and having no reference to space the image accurately, we have just tried for an interesting arrangements.

View: DF3_20170406_1535_162+164-166 Sparrowhawk in flight 1+3-5 of 6 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: We haven't seen a Sparrowhawk well for months, but here it made a two-way flyby. Sparrowhawks fly very fast, and having no reference to space the image accurately, we have just tried for an interesting arrangements.

Date: 28 May 2017
View: DF3_20170406_1034_027+1036_039+1039_048 Little Egret by trees at brook (montage).jpg
Description: We haven't seen much of Little Egrets this year, though they are frequently seen a mile or two to the south. Anyway, this one was very relaxed, standing on one leg, reacted as we appeared but relaxed again when we kept our distance.

View: DF3_20170406_1041_065-069 Little Egret in flight near Brook 1-5 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The Little Egret finally departed and was lost from view.

Date: 27 May 2017
View: DA1_20170409_1342_053+1426_116_FT1 Orange-tip Butterfly male in flight with Primrose flower (montage).jpg
Description: On an unusually warm Spring day we only managed to catch 3 male orange-tip Butterflies, just one of which was obliging enough to fly through our IR trigger beam while still in the photo-frame.

View: DA1_20170409_1347_077+1427_130_FT1 Orange-tip Butterfly male in flight underside green tracery with Cuckoo Flower (montage).jpg
Description: On an unusually warm Spring day we only managed to catch 3 male orange-tip Butterflies, just one of which was obliging enough to fly through our IR trigger beam while still in the photo-frame.
In this image the Orange-tip Butterfly is nearly upside down showing us the marvellous green tracery that appears on only the underside of the rear wings.

View: DA1_20170409_1414_100+1426_120_FT1 Orange-tip Butterfly male on bristles with coiled proboscis + Primrose leaf (montage).jpg
Description: This individual Orange-tip Butterfly just wouldn't fly in our kit, but while perched on a soft artists paint brush he gave us a good view of his proboscis curled up in the manner that it is stored between feeds. We have inserted a primrose leaf to mostly hide the bristles of the brush - the double edge effect on the leaf is real - not some 'photoshopping' artefact.

Date: 26 May 2017
View: DA1_20170409_1433_140-1442_168_FT1 Purple Thorn Moth (Selenia tetralunaria) male in flight + Cuckoo Flower (montage).jpg
Description: On the OUTSIDE of the Moth trap was alighted a Purple Thorn Moth, a new visitor here. This little montage shows this attractive creature in three separate flights.

View: E60_20170410_2239_012_FB3 Tawny owl (crop).jpg
Description: Shortly before midnight, a Tawny owl made a stopover at the perch outside the kitchen window.

Date: 25 May 2017
View: D72_20170408_1551_005 Celandine flowers with shadows on leaves.jpg
Description: A Patch of Celandine flowers in the dappled sunlight casting their shadows on their own leaves.

View: DF3_20170409_1036_080 Cowslips and Dandelions on East facing slope of ditch by Bridleway to East (crop).jpg
Description: Along the Bridleway 200m to our East runs a deep (maybe 2m) drainage ditch. We caught this drift of yellow as we walked by, and a scramble half-way down the slope bagged this lovely splash of yellow Cowslips and Dandelions.

Date: 24 May 2017
View: D36_20170408_0953_045_FB4 Magpie landing on tree stump showing black outlined primary feathers (crop).jpg
Description: A Magpie landing on the tree-stump provides a detailed view of the black/grey edges to the flight feathers.

View: D36_20170410_1831_023_FB4 Magpie leaning forward on edge of Tree-stump showing iridescent wings and tail.jpg
Description: Iridescent Magpie feathers - blue on the wings and green on the tail as usual.

View: D36_20170411_1820_045_FB4 Magpie on edge of Tree-stump showing iridescent wings and tail.jpg
Description: Iridescent Magpie feathers - blue on the wings and green on the tail as usual.

Date: 23 May 2017
View: E63_20170402_0636_080_FB1 Blackbird female collecting dry grass for nesting (crop).jpg
Description: A female Blackbird collecting material for her nest.

View: E65_20170406_0732_010+005 Robin collecting desiccated leaves to take to nest in miniature conifer (montage).jpg
Description: A pair of Robins seem to have decided to make a nest in one of the miniature conifers near the South of the house. Here is one of them collecting one of last years leaves.

Date: 22 May 2017
View: DF3_20170403_1020_131-136 Skylark ascending 1-6 of 6 (Close spaced montage).jpg
Description: A Skylark apparently effortlessly soars in the sky.

View: DF3_20170405_1043_185-191 Skylark ascending 1-7 of 7 (approx montage).jpg
Description: As it ascends, this skylark rode the wind across our patch.
It was tricky to align against the soft cloud edges, but we think this is an accurate representation of about 1 second of flight.

Date: 21 May 2017
View: P10_20170327_1624_988 Snakes-head fritillary with double white flowers (crop).jpg
Description: The White form of Snakes-head Fritillary seems to have become the dominant form here. Here is a double flower on one stem.

View: DF3_20170408_0925_238 Snakes-head Fritillary clump of white flowers.jpg
Description: A fortnight later we have not found ANY of the normal coloured Snakes-head Fritillary flowers this year, though this doesn't mean they are not hiding somewhere else. This is our biggest clump hiding under a shrub.

Date: 20 May 2017
View: DF3_20170402_0720_088-090 3 Canada Geese in flight 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: 3 Canada Geese circled past before turning into the wind to land in or by a lake by the brook.

View: DF3_20170402_0727_129-132 2 Canada Geese in flight 10-13 of 22 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Pair of Canada Geese make a Flyby before disappearing into the distance. Accurately spaced at about 7 fps

View: DF3_20170402_0727_159+161-164 2 Canada Geese in flight 1+3-6 of 7 (impression montage).jpg
Description: As the pair of Canada Geese flew away their overlapping wings made some interesting patterns that we have tried to turn into an interesting 'design'.

Date: 19 May 2017
View: DF3_20170331_1351_193 2 Rooks guarding nest in Black Poplar Tree from branch above.jpg
Description: A Pair of Rooks contentedly guarding their nest a couple of metres below. They are facing into a strong easterly wind (left to right in this image), and the attractive red catkins that male Black Poplar trees make long before the leaves emerge, are being blown almost horizontal.

Date: 18 May 2017
View: DF3_20170331_1332_123-125 Skylark in flight 1-3 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: The male Skylarks have been putting on an enjoyable show.

View: DF3_20170331_1333_130-135 Skylark in flight approaching clouds 1-6 of 6 (montage slightly stretched).jpg
Description: The male Skylarks have been putting on an enjoyable show.

View: DF3_20170331_1333_136-145 Skylark in flight against clouds 01-10 of 10 (aprox montage).jpg
Description: This is a fairly accurate montage of this Skylark initially dropping down and then using the speed gained to climb up again.

Date: 17 May 2017
View: DF3_20170330_1523_110 Blue Tit in Blackthorn blossom (crop).jpg
Description: Blue Tit in Blackthorn Blossom.
Which is the more beautiful?

View: DF3_20170405_1518_298 Blue Tit on blossoming Blackthorn twig.jpg
Description: A Blue Tit, crest raised, decorating the Blackthorn twig, or is it the other way around?

Date: 16 May 2017
View: DF3_20170330_1258_087 Long -tailed Tit preening and flying away 1 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: A long-tail Tit posing nicely in the dappled sunlight.

View: DF3_20170330_1259_092 Long -tailed Tit preening and flying away 5 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: Here the Long-tail Tit is running the beak along a tail feather to 'zip' it back up. Wonderful things are feathers!

View: DF3_20170330_1259_095-097 Long -tailed Tit preening and flying away 7-9 of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: Finally the Long-tailed Tit departs. It was all too quick for the cameraman to pan down to follow the flight.

Date: 15 May 2017
View: DF2_20170406_0618_018 Sun Pillar at sunrise 06April2017 4 of 5 (orig & final).jpg
Description: The idea of Sun Pillars' is new to us. So when we saw one around Dawn on 6 April 2017 we gave a camera some early morning exercise. Next morning we were surprised to find this unusual effect widely reported. You can read about them and see more pics at this non-paywalled section of the Telegraph Newspaper.

Date: 14 May 2017
View: E64_20170331_0757_029+20170330_1800_016_FB2 Grey squirrel eating morning pear and evening Walnut (montage).jpg
Description: Morning Pear and Evening Walnut.
Our Grey squirrels only want (and get) the best :-(

View: E64_20170322_1312_004_FB2 Grey squirrel trying to carry off two joined slices of overripe Cox apple.jpg
Description: This Grey squirrel seems to have hit the Jackpot with 'two apples'.
It is actually a pair of overripe sections that have not been completely cut through.

View: E64_20170327_1913_046_FB2 Grey squirrel eating Blueberry held in paws.jpg
Description: And to finish off how about a Blueberry.

Date: 13 May 2017
View: DF3_20170328_1351_158+162+165 Great Spotted Woodpecker female exploring pollarded Willow 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Three moments from a female Great Spotted Woodpecker exploring the already dead bifurcate of our recently pollarded Willow. Our favourite is just right of centre sticking out horizontally.

Date: 12 May 2017
View: P10_20170325_0842_929 Cherry Blossomed twig.jpg
Description: Cherry Blossom is now out in all it's glory.

View: P10_20170325_0905_959 Cherry Blossom at all stages.jpg
Description: On this twig you can see the whole sequence from red buds through to the fully open flowers.

Date: 11 May 2017
View: E62_20170324_1419_127_FB5 Pheasant male feeding.jpg
Description: 'Our' magnificent male Pheasant - err - grubbing in the mud for food. The 'ear' tufts appear to share the same iridescent green as the edges of the white collar.

View: E64_20170324_1408_090_FB2 Pheasant female unusually lit.jpg
Description: Morning sun is catching this female Pheasants tail and rear feathers.

Date: 10 May 2017
View: DF4_20170323_0919_035+038 3 Rooks squabbling at part-built nest 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: An interloper arrives at the Rook nest, and a shriek from the resident bird brings along the furious partner to see off the interloper, landing on a branch once honour was satisfied. The claws on the upper right bird in the right image have not yet closed around the wood.

View: DF4_20170323_0920_049 Rook pair celebrating defence of part-built nest (crop).jpg
Description: Crisis over, the two Rooks have a little (noisy) celebration. The bird on the right is leaning over the leaning branch with beak pointing downwards.

Date: 09 May 2017
View: DF3_20170326_1251_027+028 Skylark in flight 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: The arrival of Arable farming brings it's own set of disappointments, but for us a great plus in an explosion of the number of Skylarks.

View: DF3_20170326_1251_089-092 Skylark in flight 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: The arrival of Arable farming brings it's own set of disappointments, but for us a great plus in an explosion of the number of Skylarks.

View: DF3_20170326_1301_123-126 Skylark in flight 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: This Skylark started a traverse before gaining much height, singing all the way.

View: DF3_20170326_1304_143-150 Skylark in flight 1-8 of 8 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: This is an accurate montage of a Skylark flight over a bit over 1 second. The turning of head, slowing down and dropping at the end seems to be genuine.

Date: 08 May 2017
View: DF3_20170325_0803_141+145 Rook carrying twig to nest turning into wind to land 1+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Another quite complicated twig on the way to the Rook nest. Birds carrying twigs are weight and aerodynamically compromised and really HAVE to land into the wind (right to left here) and will fly past the nest and come back, as here.

View: DF3_20170325_0803_169 Rook carrying twig landing on nest 2 of 3 (crop 2).jpg
Description: Delivery of the same twig to enlarge the growing Rook nest.

View: DF3_20170325_1439_335 Rook at nest carrying twig in beak 1 of 5 (crop 1).jpg
Description: We have observed that Rooks normally break living wood off trees to build their nests, but here this short stubby piece of branch is fairly typical of the cuttings from our hedge cutters.

Date: 07 May 2017
View: DF3_20170325_0746_086 Rook carrying twig to nest (crop).jpg
Description: A second flurry of Rook nest building in better weather has provided the opportunity for some photos of the building process.
Here is the twig on the way to the nesting tree ...

View: DF3_20170325_0746_097+099+101 Rook carrying twig to nest 2+4+6 of 6 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Here the 'delivery' of the same twig to the nest.
Once they arrive the birds spend some time working the new wood into the nest, but they build the nest from 'inside' so we can't see what they do.

Date: 06 May 2017
View: DF3_20170326_1435_174 Long-tailed Tit (crop).jpg
Description: Long-tail Tits seem to be favourites. Here is one perched on the tip of a hedge branch.

Date: 05 May 2017
View: DF3_20170326_1420_162 Blue Tits displaying on adjacent branches (crop).jpg
Description: This year 2 Blue Tits are often spotted 'playing' together on these two 'twigs'. The twisted twig is from a Corkscrew Hazel tree, while the spiky branch is one of last years Blackberry stems.

View: DF3_20170326_1420_164 Blue Tits displaying on Blackberry twig (crop).jpg
Description: This year 2 Blue Tits are often spotted 'playing' together on two 'twigs' or here together on the spiky branch of one of last years Blackberry stems.
Each year a pair of Blue Tits nest in a wall cavity over the oil boiler, and it is likely that this is the same pair.

Date: 04 May 2017
View: DF3_20170325_0919_246 Dunnock collecting nest lining in cut-back undergrowth (crop).jpg
Description: Here a Dunnock was collecting nesting material in some ground at the front of the house. It looks like a bit of polyester fibre matting used to protect the Butyl pond liners from damage.

View: DF3_20170326_1238_009 Dunnock perched on cut twig.jpg
Description: Here is a Dunnock on a twig at the top of a hedge.

Date: 03 May 2017
View: DF3_20170324_1648_045-047 Mallard Duck pair in flight 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A slightly delayed feeding time - a pair of Mallard ducks fly by (at 7 fps so they fly at s-p-e-e-d) but decide against landing until the humans have gone.

View: D5C_20170324_0934_010 Mallard Duck pair up-ending in main pond.jpg
Description: A pair of Mallard Duck visit the main pond perhaps a couple of times a day. Feeding is the main item on the agenda - as here.

View: E64_20170326_1807_020_FB2 Mallard Duck female.jpg
Description: We mostly see Mallard Ducks feeding in the main pond, but here a female (the edge of the male a metre left is cropped out) exploring one of the feeding sites at the end of the daylight.

Date: 02 May 2017
View: E60_20170321_2218_016_FB3 Tawny Owl landing (crop).jpg
Description: One of two Tawny Owl visits to the kitchen window perch 13 minutes apart.

View: E60_20170321_2231_017_FB3 Tawny Owl landing (crop).jpg
Description: One of two Tawny Owl visits to the kitchen window perch 13 minutes apart.

Date: 01 May 2017
View: D36_20170322_1159_052_FB4 Magpie on Tree-stump with iridescent wings and tail.jpg
Description: A Magpie inspecting the bare tree-stump. The iridescent blue wing feather and green tail turning multi-coloured near the tip seems to be characteristic of all Magpies here.

Image Archive arch 2017 apr.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170320_1458_250-254 Buzzard in flight harassed by Rook 1-5 of 5 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Buzzard near our patch get routinely harassed by Rooks from the local Rookeries. This Buzzard (the lower bird) has unusually light plumage.

View: DF3_20170320_1032_166-176 Buzzard in flight 02-12 of 12 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Buzzard flies by behind one of the Poplars lining the Farm Road

View: DF3_20170320_1032_169-171 Buzzard in flight 05-07 of 12 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Buzzard in flight (part of a larger montage).

Date: 29 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170320_1029_019-024 Hare running over wheat crop 07-12 of 42 (montage stretched about 25 percent @ 7fps).jpg
Description: We are not seeing many Hares so this one lolloping past us was an unexpected pleasure to share with you. The montages are 'slightly stretched' to avoid overlaps.

View: DF3_20170320_1029_041-043+048-050 Hare running over wheat crop (discontinuous) 25-30 of 42 (impression montage).jpg
Description: We are not seeing many Hares so this one lolloping past us was an unexpected pleasure to share with you. The montages are 'slightly stretched' to avoid overlaps.

View: DF3_20170320_1029_051 Hare running over wheat crop (discontinuous) 31 of 42 (crop).jpg
Description: We are not seeing many Hares so this one lolloping past us was an unexpected pleasure to share with you.

Date: 28 Apr 2017
View: E64_20170316_1723_033_FB2 Pheasant male & Magpie.jpg
Description: Penny plain, tuppence coloured.
This quote refers to the difference between the two plumages ...
"In the 19th Century, a fave kids' toy was a model theatre. The characters, props and scenery were sold as separately as printed sheets which you cut out and mounted on bits of wood. The sheets cost a penny if they were just printed in black outline, so that the user had to colour them in, or tuppence (two pence) if ready coloured for posh kids".

Date: 27 Apr 2017
View: DF4_20170316_1209_139 Rook arriving with twig at nest with partner in cup (crop).jpg
Description: A Rook arrives with a substantial twig to add to the pairs creation. We had always assumed that Rooks would collect already fallen wood (of which there seems to be thousands of pieces over the site) but observation reveals that they much prefer live wood broken off other trees, or in one case spotted, the same tree as the nest - demolish 'Home Tree'. Presumably the live wood is easier to weave in while already dead wood is brittle.

View: DF4_20170317_1249_273 Rook pair arriving simultaneously with moss at nest (crop).jpg
Description: The nest infrastructure complete, its time to line the nest. They are pulling up clumps of moss (of which there must be 'tons' on our site) to take to the nest. Here the pair of birds arrived simultaneously with beakful's of moss, and took it in turns to pack it into the nest cup.

Date: 26 Apr 2017
View: E63_20170321_0213_062_FB1 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: One of our regular night-time prowlers - a Badger checks out the site, giving us a good look at his/her powerful left paw

View: E63_20170314_2214_085_FB1 Fox.jpg
Description: One of our regular night-time prowlers - a Fox out for a prowl in the hours before midnight.

Date: 25 Apr 2017
View: E64_20170317_1702_076_FB2 Pheasant male approaching crouching female.jpg
Description: A female Pheasant crouches next to the proud male. Unfortunately we didn't get a photo of the next stage :-(

View: E64_20170319_0811_116_FB2 Pheasant male with view of wattles and feather tufts (crop).jpg
Description: Wattles extending above and below the head, and 'ear' tufts extended.
It must be good to be a male pheasant in the Spring once you have fought to collect a 'few wives'.

Date: 24 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170315_1224_209 Chaffinch male in full colour.jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch in remarkably dark and intense plumage to show off to the 'girls'. Note that the beak is now completely covered and shiny with the blue coating.

Date: 23 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170313_1107_054-065 Buzzard landing on wooden railings at Farm 01-)3+-6+08+12 of 13 (approx montage).jpg
Description: The local buzzard on our south side makes a landing on the wooden railings some 300m from us that surround the underground waste tanks at the farm.

View: DF3_20170313_1110_073-083 Buzzard in flight 01+06+09+11 of 11 (montage).jpg
Description: A few minutes later the Buzzard flew right by us ...

View: DF3_20170313_1111_110-143 Buzzard flying to nest in Oak tree S of farm 12+18+35+38+41+45 of 49 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: ... and then, against the strong wind (right to left in this image) looped round to make a slow and intricate landing in a distant oak tree at a nest we have noticed but thought was disused. We will be watching this nest keenly.

Date: 22 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170313_1107_032-036 Blackbird female bounding over grass 03-07 of 20 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: On the grass border outside our patch this blackbird was hunting in the soft mud under the grass, moving about in the characteristic 'kangaroo like' bounding motion they use. This was photographed at about 7 fps.

View: DF3_20170313_1107_042 Blackbird female bounding over grass 13 of 20 (crop).jpg
Description: A few frames on, the bird is in mid-leap with an unusually good view of the claws

View: DF3_20170313_1107_045+046+048 Blackbird female bounding over grass 16+17+19 of 20 (slightly stretched montage).jpg
Description: Finally she made for a hole in the hedge back through into our patch, and 'vanished'.

Date: 21 Apr 2017
View: D5C_20170314_1359_041 Pheasant male (dark plumage) on main pond island.jpg
Description: A different and much darker plumaged male Pheasant has suddenly arrived. Here he is on the island in the main pond.
It could have flown there, but probably just walked over the Iris roots covering the surface to the rear of the island.

View: E62_20170315_1649_095_FB5 Pheasant male twisting left.jpg
Description: Our regular male Pheasant, feathers plumped out possibly from, or about to make, the characteristic leap and call that we see and hear over the site in the Spring

Date: 20 Apr 2017
View: DF4_20170311_1355_007+002+008 Wren preening in hedge top (spread montage).jpg
Description: Sightings of Wren here are normally - woosh - that was the Wren. But this one sat preening on a twig long enough to grab a camera and fire off a few frames.

View: E64_20170311_1739_120_FB2 Collared Dove.jpg
Description: The Collared Doves are undoubtedly breeding somewhere, but we have not found the nest(s) yet this year.

Date: 19 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170314_1051_181 Cherry Blossom twig (crop).jpg
Description: Cherry blossom everywhere. Spring has definitely arrived!

View: DF3_20170315_1617_039 Willow catkins (crop).jpg
Description: Willow Catkins everywhere. Spring has definitely arrived!

Date: 18 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170307_1541_045 Rook calling near nest in Silver Birch tree.jpg
Description: This large Rook Nest is in one of our Silver Birch Trees (along with another in another tree more obscured) and the Rook is making a lot of noise as part of his defence strategy.

View: E64_20170306_1551_014_FB2 Rook picking up strip of bark in beak.jpg
Description: "Would this lump of bark improve the decor of the nest?"

Date: 17 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170307_1554_067 200 Gulls and some corvids following plough (crop).jpg
Description: The pastures around us for the last 25 years (and probably much longer) are being ploughed up for use as arable farmland. Here is the classic 'Gulls following the plough'. We count about 200 gulls in this mob, counted in another photo where they have taken off and are more separated.

View: DF3_20170307_0848_239 Buzzard in small tree at edge of freshly ploughed field (crop).jpg
Description: The mass ploughing of the previous pastures inevitably changes the habits of the creatures that occupy the land. Buzzards and other large birds make the most of the freshly disturbed soil. Here the Buzzard is perched in a young hedge-line tree we have never seen him in before.

Date: 16 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170305_1534_059 Fungus (poss Melanoleuca strictipes) at edge of Woodland with single bite from cap.jpg
Description: A fungus in the semi-shade of the woodland edge about 13cm in diameter. 'Somebody' seems to have had a bite - and decided one bite was enough!

View: DF3_20170305_1536_070 Fungus (poss Melanoleuca strictipes) with mycelium showing under raised slab (orig).jpg
Description: The Fungus is near this slab sometimes used by Song Thrushes as an anvil - the area is scattered with smashed snail shells. When we lifted the slab this white Mycelium (that's the underground bit of a fungus - usually much bigger than the bit you get to see) was revealed and it probably belongs to the 'fruiting body' on the right.

View: DF3_20170310_1543_104 Fungus at edge of Woodland with single bite from cap upended by unknown creature.jpg
Description: 5 days later walking past we noticed that the fungus had broken off and was upside down, though apparently not then consumed.

Date: 15 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170305_1227_006+007+009+010 Buzzard lands on hedge top with prey eats some and flies on 01-04 of 10 (spread montage with variable scale).jpg
Description: The Buzzard cares little about our presence when at this hedge line. The bird arrived with some prey in it's left claw, tore off some of the meat and swallowed it.

View: DF3_20170305_1227_010+012+014+017 Buzzard lands on hedge top with prey eats some and flies on 04+05+07+10 of 10 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Possibly spotting something else tasty on the ground the bird made a near vertical lift off before dropping to the ground at a gap in the hedge just to the right. The remains of the bird's previous meal are still in the left claws.

Date: 14 Apr 2017
View: E64_20170302_1559_044_FB2 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: A Proud and stately male Pheasant.

View: E62_20170306_1725_029_FB5 Pheasant female standing in mud with muddy beak.jpg
Description: This female pheasant is in the mud and sticking her beak into it? Making eggs must make you peckish.

Date: 13 Apr 2017
View: E62_20170301_1622_022+1630_023_FB5 Pheasant female & male (montage).jpg
Description: Mrs (one of three) and Mr Pheasant enjoying tea together.

View: E62_20170301_1350_008_FB5 3 Rooks at feeding site.jpg
Description: A 'Discussion Group' of Rooks. One of the traditional terms 'Parliament' - also used for other birds, just doesn't work for just 3 birds!

Date: 12 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170303_1513_028 Cherry Blossom - first flower found in hedge at NE (crop).jpg
Description: A solitary Cherry blossom flower in the hedge at our NE corner. This Cherry hedge is entirely self propagated from a Cherry tree about 5 metres away. The other 200m of the outer hedge is similarly self propagated, but of Blackthorn.

View: DF3_20170307_1551_060+063 Cherry Blossom at NE corner hedge (differential focus) 1+2 of 2 (accurate montage for focus).jpg
Description: 4 days after the first individual flower the Cherry blossom has got going properly.

Date: 11 Apr 2017
View: D5C_20170304_1656_010 Rainbow through silver birch branches.jpg
Description: The end of a rainbow nicely aligning with a branch of Silver Birch.

View: D5C_20170305_1308_011 Silver Birch tree sunlit against storm clouds.jpg
Description: In the sunshine against gathering storm clouds with white bark of this silver birch shines. The bark of all Silver Birches start off brown, and turn silver a few years on. So 'new' silver birches do not have silver trunks!

Date: 10 Apr 2017
View: E60_20170306_1956_107_FB3 Tawny Owl landing (crop).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl makes a 'flying visit' to the kitchen window perch.

Date: 09 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170301_1120_062-066 Buzzard harassed by Rook attacks the Rook 1-5 of 6 (impression montage).jpg
Description: In the distance we watched this Rook harassing the Buzzard well beyond what seems to us to be it's territorial needs. Here the Buzzard suddenly 'turns the tables' and pursues the rook down to quite near the ground out of sight for us.

Date: 08 Apr 2017
View: E60_20170227_1924_018_FB3 Tawny Owl landing (crop).jpg
Description: 'Our' less regular Tawny owl with Blue-grey patches on the facial disc first visited the perch outside the Kitchen Window a couple of hours after sunset.

View: D01_20170227_1952_006_FB6 Tawny Owl single frame visit (crop).jpg
Description: 30 minutes after landing at the kitchen window perch, the same Owl made an eyes shut landing on the more distant meadow post. Both were very short visits.

Date: 07 Apr 2017
View: E64_20170223_1534_023_FB2 Pheasant male facing camera with feathers symmetrically ruffled (crop).jpg
Description: The male Pheasant, with back to the strong wind, has his feathers ruffled.

View: E64_20170227_1706_070_FB2 Pheasant male at sunset.jpg
Description: In the gathering gloom the male Pheasant sees what there might be to eat before finding a night Roost.
We didn't used to realise that our pheasants mostly spend the night several metres up in trees in our patch out of reach of the foxes, badgers, cats, stray dogs, all of whom would enjoy a mouthful :-(

Date: 06 Apr 2017
View: D36_20170225_1315_051_FB4 Chaffinch male developing blue coating on beak.jpg
Description: We detect a trace of blue on the beak of this male Chaffinch as he starts to come into breeding condition.

View: DF3_20170226_0719_099 Rook taking twig to nest in Black Poplar hesitating while partner leaves nest 1 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: A storm bringing down 2 of the Rook nests has led to a flurry of re-building. Photographing Rooks carrying twigs has turned out to be quite tricky - by the time they are close enough they are muddled into the trees branches. This arriving bird with quite fine twigs hovered for a moment as the bird already on the nest moved out of the way.

Date: 05 Apr 2017
View: D01_20170225_0259_016_FB6 Barn Owl (white front no ring) 2 minute visit 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: A spread of white announced the arrival of this barn owl for a short visit.

View: D01_20170223_2001_013_FB6 Tawny Owl 3 minute visit 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: One of a pair of short visits by a Tawny Owl ended with this crouched stare into the distance.

Date: 04 Apr 2017
View: D01_20170221_2011_002-2013_005_FB6 Barn Owl (white front no ring) 3 minute visit 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Another short stay by this Barn Owl.
We once heard a Barn Owls head plumage described as the 'Spangled Assassin's hood' - you can see the effect particularly well at the lower right.

Date: 03 Apr 2017
View: E62_20170222_1319_079_FB5 Magpie with iridescent tail landing in front of Rook.jpg
Description: Most of the really vivid colours in nature derive from the effects of iridescence an interaction between fine structure and the wavelength of light and vary widely according to the lighting, subject and viewer angles.
This chaotic image shows an incredibly bright iridescent Magpie tail.
We haven't altered the brightness or colour at all.

View: E62_20170220_1214_008_FB5 Grey Squirrel chasing away Magpie.jpg
Description: Another chaotic magpie image showing incredibly bright blue iridescent feather tips on this Magpie.
We haven't altered the brightness or colour at all.

Date: 02 Apr 2017
View: DF3_20170220_0923_007 Rook carrying twig back to nest under construction in Silver Birch tree.jpg
Description: Rook nest building is underway, and it seems that for the first time the trees around us are to be part of an 'extension Rookery'. At time of writing there seem to be 3 Rook nests in the Black Poplar trees (about 90 years old) nearest the house along the track, and 2 in adjacent Silver Birch trees (about 25 years old) in our patch. Carrion Crows have for several years used the top of a Leylandii for nesting (but impossible to photograph nowadays) but this is the first time we have seen Rooks nesting here.

View: DF3_20170220_0925_018 Rook pair building new nest in Silver Birch tree.jpg
Description: Here is a new nest being built in a 25 year old Silver Birch tree.
Of the 5 nests started storm Doris destroyed 3 of the less complete ones a few days later. Reconstruction started once the wind has abated.

Date: 01 Apr 2017
View: E62_20150722_1751_123_FB5 Rabbit youngster running by end of log.jpg
Description: This Rabbit running through the site is the first time we have recorded the front paws behind the back that can be seen quite regularly in Hares.
But The real puzzle for this 1st April is - does this rabbit have 3 ears?
The right 'ear' is a fold on the skin and fur at the back of the neck, but every time we see this image we can't help but see a 'third ear'

View: DF3_20170220_0956_031 Coloured clouds with sun hidden by roof ridge (orig).jpg
Description: A strange 'rainbow' like effect close to the sun just hidden by the roof ridge of the house. Not a camera effect - we could both see these colours at this strength with the naked eye

Image Archive arch 2017 mar.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Mar 2017
View: D01_20170219_0309_021_FB6 Barn owl (white front no ring) 3 minute visit arriving with Rodent in beak 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A couple of minutes after a short visit, the Barn Owl arrives back with what looks like a vole for his 3 a.m. meal. The next frame 45 seconds later shows no sign of the vole - presumably now warming the inside of the Owl.

View: D01_20170219_0316_025-0355_076_FB6 Barn owl (white front no ring) 41 minute visit 01-03+05+17+20 of 21 (montage 2).jpg
Description: After swallowing the Rodent, the Barn owl departed but made a swift return followed by a 41 minute stay.

Date: 30 Mar 2017
View: D01_20170219_0244_015_FB6 Barn owl (white front no ring) using wings to balance on edge of post (crop).jpg
Description: We at first assumed that this was a overshot landing, but CCTV tells us the bird managed to land on one edge without triggering a picture (so a little IR beam realignment required), and this was the bird on the hunt.

View: D01_20170220_1804_002_FB6 Barn Owl (white front no ring) 3 minute visit 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: Just after dark the next day (with the IR beam now accurately over the top of the post) the Barn Owl made another exuberant landing.

Date: 29 Mar 2017
View: DF3_20170213_1340_003-008 Pheasant female running erratically over grass and stopping 1-6 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This female pheasant doesn't know what to do about the sudden appearance of 2 humans on the disused farm track. She ran erratically a few paces as you see here, and stopped at the right hand side, before setting off left at speed and looped back the way she came to disappear behind the collapsing straw stack.

Date: 28 Mar 2017
View: E63_20170209_1619_064_FB1 Pheasant male chasing away Grey Squirrel (crop).jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels are wary of Pheasants despite the later not being obviously equipped with weapons. We suspect that one spiking with the pheasant's rear leg spur (where the squirrel may not be quite sure what hurt it) makes the Squirrel wary of further encounters.

Date: 27 Mar 2017
View: E62_20170209_1557_054_FB5 Blackbird male and female squabbling (crop).jpg
Description: The male Blackbird (above) seems to be attacking the female reacting on the ground. But we may be mistaking this for some sort of 'look how well I'll defend you' from the male.

Date: 26 Mar 2017
View: E60_20170210_1257_025_FB3 2 Robins skirmishing in flight in snow over perch.jpg
Description: Snow does nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of Robins for a little territorial squabble.

View: E62_20170209_0720_002_FB5 Robin taking off from mud.jpg
Description: Elegance on mud!

Date: 25 Mar 2017
View: DF3_20170211_1231_023 Dunnock perched on Blackberry stem.jpg
Description: This year the Dunnocks are almost as tolerant/demanding of humans as the Robins.

View: DF3_20170211_1231_024 Dunnock perched on Blackberry stem.jpg
Description: This year the Dunnocks are almost as tolerant/demanding of humans as the Robins.

Date: 24 Mar 2017
View: D36_20170209_0726_003_FB4 Magpie collecting dead mouse.jpg
Description: Houses in the countryside have to 'control' invading mice. We make live traps the primary means, but a few Fieldmice (Wood Mice) are either too big for them or have had a close escape. So a few snapper traps are needed. We put out the sad remains for the local foxes and corvids. So here we have
Another mouse that sadly avoided the live traps.
And another magpie not the least bit sorry.

Date: 23 Mar 2017
View: D01_20170213_2018_078+2023_084+2027_090_FB6 Barn Owl 10 minute visit - first since 25may2016 (selected) 1+3+6 of 6 (mirrored montage).jpg
Description: A Barn Owl is back after nearly a years absence. The landing into the East wind (towards camera) so we can neither see whether it is the ringed individual, nor even if it has a white breast. But a very welcome return nevertheless.

View: D01_20170216_0458_027_FB6 Barn Owl (white breast + no ring) aborting landing and flying on (crop).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl came in to land on the post along the sense beam line, so triggered before it reached the area of sharp focus. This is a white breasted bird with no leg ring - quite likely one we have seen in previous years.

Date: 22 Mar 2017
View: D01_20170210_1337_013-1522_016_FB6 Carrion Crow + Rook + Jackdaw + Blackbird male on meadow post in snow (identical scale montage).jpg
Description: An opportunity to show you the sizes of Corvids we normally see, plus a male Blackbird for scale.

Date: 21 Mar 2017
View: D01_20170213_1620_005+1621_019+1623_026_FB6 Buzzard quarter hour visit to meadow post at sunset (selected) 1-3 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: This Buzzard spent at least 15 minutes on the post. The strong Easterly wind (towards camera) means most birds are landing with back to camera at the moment, as here.

Date: 20 Mar 2017
View: E64_20170206_1548_047_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying away one eighth of an apple.jpg
Description: "Eat it or bury it?"
This Grey squirrel is laying in provisions ...

View: E64_20170207_1629_089_FB2 Grey Squirrel collecting dry leaves for Drey.jpg
Description: ... before sorting out the bedding for the Drey and the weather gets colder and wetter.
Contrary to popular belief Grey Squirrels do not 'Hibernate' - coming out to forage or eat cached food in any reasonably warm weather or when an good opportunity arises (like your's truly laying out food for the wildlife).

Date: 19 Mar 2017
View: DF3_20170206_1218_036+043+1219_069 Buzzard landing on power pole with Rodent prey then harassed by Rook (selected) 1+3+5 of 6 (mirrored montage).jpg
Description: When we arrived here the bird was already on the ground near the 'favourite' pole, and then flew 100m or so to a similar pole carrying some sort of rodent. A Rook took exception and made a couple of passes as the Buzzard shrieked at it (right image as the Rook had passed), but soon the buzzard was left in peace to eat his lunch. All this action is about 200m away where the bird completely ignores us.

Date: 18 Mar 2017
View: E63_20170203_1405_108_FB1 Magpie picking up food item in beak with huge stride length.jpg
Description: A Magpie reaching for a piece of food.
Magpies stomp over the ground really well, but even so we were surprised at the length of his stride - the right leg is almost at the right edge of the frame while the claws of the left leg reach right under the head.

Date: 17 Mar 2017
View: E60_20170203_2154_042+040_FB3 Tawny owl at kitchen window for several minutes (manual trigger without sight) 2+3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny owl visit did not trigger the camera automatically but was spotted on the CCTV and triggered manually in (from a human's point of view) total darkness.

Date: 16 Mar 2017
View: E60_20170206_2203_011+2211_012_FB3 Tawny Owl 9 minute visit (landing and takeoff) 1+2 of 2 (adjusted montage).jpg
Description: The less regular Tawny Owl (the individual with the blue-grey eyelids and moustache) at his preferred choice of perch at the kitchen window.
The Owl broke the trigger beam on landing, folded the wings that allowed the camera to reset, and then triggered the camera again when opening wings to drop down. Rodents occupy the 'ground floor' between this perch and the house and expect that one of them became the bird's next meal. The bottom of the leaving bird was out of frame at the bottom of the original image, so this construct is the best we can do.

Date: 15 Mar 2017
View: DF3_20170204_1549_031-035 Buzzard defecating before flying from 11kV crossbar 02-06 of 12 (impression montage).jpg
Description: The early winter single 'local' Buzzard has been joined by another and they seem to have neatly divided the territory around us. This is the more recently arrived Buzzard on a northern 11KV crossbar. The bird took off into the wind before twisting round and flying off north.

Date: 14 Mar 2017
View: DF3_20170203_1303_015 Snowdrops 2017 Seq (crop).jpg
Description: We now have several patches of Snowdrops - this one under trees at the shaded west end of the main pond, is self spreading round the corner to the north and other patches have appeared without help in unexpected corners.

View: DF3_20170204_1102_051 Viburnum burkwoodii on north bank of main pond (crop).jpg
Description: We have a few bushes of Viburnum around the site, which provide our first relief from unmitigated brown as well as wonderful perfume.

Date: 13 Mar 2017
View: D01_20170205_2236_005-2244_015_FB6 Tawny Owl landing on Tree stump with Fieldfare in Talons and dismembering it 01+05+08+09+11 of 13 (montage).jpg
Description: 20 minutes after a very short touchdown the same Tawny Owl, arrives back at high speed (seen on CCTV recording and reflecting the increased stall speed) from the left for a 10 minute stay, unexpectedly carrying a Fieldfare in the Talons.
The Owl stood still for a few minutes, presumably waiting for the poor bird to expire while squeezed in the talons, before ripping it to pieces to eat it. At 10:35 p.m. it is far too dark for Fieldfares to be out feeding, so we are advised that this one probably chose a not very safe place to roost. To choose our post as it's butcher's table suggests that the Fieldfare was snatched from one of our trees in the main woodland area.

View: D01_20170206_0656_017_FB6+DF3_20170206_0934_015 Tawny Owl landing on Tree stump with Fieldfare in Talons and dismembering it- aftermath (montage).jpg
Description: Early next morning we found the aftermath ...
Testing the IR beam trigger shows us the remains on the top of the post. These had gone by the time we had seen the pics and went out to look for signs. We found feathers scattered around the post and a few heaped at the bottom of the post on the South side shown here.

Date: 12 Mar 2017
View: E64_20170130_0800_006+0803_007_FB2 2 Pheasant females 3 minutes apart (montage).jpg
Description: These two consecutive images just 3 minutes apart took us by surprise when we realised that they are different individuals - the red around the eye is only present in the 'top' bird and the marking within the body feathers are subtly different.

View: E64_20170201_1543_084_FB2 Pheasant male showing tufted white feathers along edge of crown (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Our now 'resident' male Pheasant here shows us that the white edges to his crown are actually a row of tufted feathers.

Date: 11 Mar 2017
View: E62_20170131_2101_095_FB5 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) mingling Whiskers on sodden mud.jpg
Description: A couple of excited Fieldmice (Wood Mice) mingling whiskers.
The mouse on the right has a truncated and healed tail - quite a common injury

Date: 10 Mar 2017
View: DF3_20170201_1301_001 Robin on lichen covered Hawthorn twig with berry over concrete track (adjusted crop 2).jpg
Description: Is it the Robin unusually 'lighting up' the hedges this year, or is it our perception of them? This little guy was over our access concrete track, obviously excited by the prospect of a hand-out from 'bottomless' corn pocket.

Date: 09 Mar 2017
View: E64_20170127_0703_156_FB2 Muntjac Deer male (crop).jpg
Description: A Male Muntjac Deer around dawn re-arranging the leaf litter in the hope of finding some food underneath.

View: E64_20170127_0300_155+0703_156_FB2 Muntjac Deer male + Rabbit for size comparison (montage).jpg
Description: Muntjac Deer are small - about the same size as a medium domestic dog. These images at the same scale give you an idea of the size.

Date: 08 Mar 2017
View: E64_20170126_1512_112_FB2 Pheasant male emphasising length of tail.jpg
Description: Pheasant tails really are very impressive. We are sure the 'girls' like them even if they don't know it is a sign of the male birds health and vigour

View: E64_20170129_0819_287_FB2 Pheasant female leaping upwards (q) making flurry of leaves (uncropped).jpg
Description: We ASSUME this female pheasant has been startled and is making a vertical take-off with such force that all the dry leaves around are lifted by the draught from the wings.

Date: 07 Mar 2017
View: E63_20170127_1404_217_FB1 Blackbird female tossing food down her beak.jpg
Description: Bird tongues are said to be rather immobile compared to humans, and the easiest way to get this food item from tip to gullet is to toss it down! We see this behaviour in many species of birds.

Date: 06 Mar 2017
View: E60_20170127_2304_032_FB3 Tawny Owl landing for 10 minute stay (seen on CCTV) (crop).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl visited that bird table outside the kitchen window an hour before midnight. The bird tripped the IR sense beam with it's right wing (our left). On the CCTV recording we see that the bird stayed for about 10 minutes before flying off to our right unfortunately without breaking the beam for a take-off pic.

Date: 05 Mar 2017
View: D5C_20170126_1234_003+008+011 Grey Squirrel collecting corn from table and burying it in grass 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Everybody knows that Grey squirrels cache large items of food (mainly nuts) to eat another day. But this Squirrel was making repeated visits to the corn scattered bird table to collect some grain in his mouth and then leap down to bury it in the grass a few metres away. Here is one of the sequences all photographed in the same minute.
Can we expect a fine crop of corn here next year?

View: DF3_20170126_1220_005+007+008 Blackbird female picking corn out of Mole hill 2-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Molehills are well used by the local bird populations as loose soil to explore for food. Here is a female Blackbird picking out corn grain scattered a few minutes before.

Date: 04 Mar 2017
View: E64_20170124_0312_077_FB2 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: A few sightings of individual badgers in Infra-Red light at the mound in the last few weeks, here becomes a proper portrait as a badger breaks the sense beam at the woodland site in the early hour of the morning.

View: E64_20170124_0257_076_FB2 2 Badgers (crop).jpg
Description: 15 minutes earlier the camera caught a badger head-on to camera and the rump of another at the frames edge.

Date: 03 Mar 2017
View: E64_20170120_0805_043_FB2 Redwing in woodland leaf litter with frost on tail.jpg
Description: This Redwing has found a sheltered patch in the woodland, but is nevertheless obviously plumped up against the cold, and has frost on it's tail. Brrr. We normally see Redwings as a small fraction of birds among Fieldfare flocks, similar in size and habits.

View: DF3_20170122_1241_005 Fieldfare on Grass verge.jpg
Description: We used to wonder why Fieldfares had their name, as we only ever saw them eating berries in trees or pecking at windfall apples. But more recently we only see them on the fields of over-wintering wheat crop.

Date: 02 Mar 2017
View: E63_20170121_1606_226+E64_20170120_0747_037_FB1+FB2 Robins suddenly starting to pair (montage).jpg
Description: Two-thirds through January & quite suddenly the Robins, normally solitary during the early part of winter, have dropped some of their aggression towards the opposite sex enough to see pairs quite often. We never see Robins 'canoodling' - mating and nesting seems to be a brief period of an armed truce!

View: E64_20170121_1211_111_FB2 Robin on bark strip amongst leaf litter.jpg
Description: A Robin perched on the nearly disintegrated strip of bark.

Date: 01 Mar 2017
View: DF3_20170121_1026_077 7 Greylag Geese flying overhead 2 of 4 (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: It is easy to miss Greylag Geese flying overhead because they are almost silent. Canada Geese calls can be heard before they come into sight, and swans powerful wings whistle if they get close. So spotting these before they got to us from behind allowed this nearly vertical above image. We particularly like the 4 birds at the bottom of the image managing to overlap but not hide any heads.

Image Archive arch 2017 feb.htm (view it Here)

Date: 28 Feb 2017
View: DF1_20170121_1240_034+038+042 Muntjac Deer male grazing in rough grass chews green leaf 3+5+8 of 9 (montage right to left).jpg
Description: The male Muntjac Deer wandered over the rought grass meadow and found green stuff growing in the shelter. He quietly ate in a chomping motion with the green gradually disappearing into the mouth that is larger than it looks. Read these images right to left and notice the open gape in the middle.

Date: 27 Feb 2017
View: D01_20170121_1959_029_FB6 Tawny Owl 3m stay (selected) 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: Here is a Tawny Owl landing on the post - love those claws!

Date: 26 Feb 2017
View: E64_20170123_0806_042_FB2 Robins skirmishing (crop).jpg
Description: Two Robin having a scrap. Could be fighting or checking out each other's defensive capabilities while pairing.

View: E63_20170123_1644_089_FB1 Robin flying vertically to attack bird (mostly out of frame) above.jpg
Description: A Robin chasing away some other bird we can see, but not identify, as a pair of legs at the top of the frame.

Date: 25 Feb 2017
View: E63_20170117_1558_120_FB1 Muntjac Deer male (crop).jpg
Description: A lovely portrait of the male Muntjac Deer coming in through the 'back' of the hedge. He had passed through the orchard about 90 minutes earlier probably looking for as yet unconsumed windfall apples.

Date: 24 Feb 2017
View: DF3_20170117_0822_004 Sunrise through clouds (orig).jpg
Description: A threatening sunrise heralded the indicated 'bad day'

Date: 23 Feb 2017
View: D36_20170117_1521_094_FB4 Rook landing on tree stump.jpg
Description: A speck in the sky becomes this magnificent creation.

View: D36_20170118_1027_115_FB4 Grey Squirrel grooming tail.jpg
Description: Grey squirrels get a lots of bad press as 'flea ridden tree rats', but we see ours spending many hours grooming.

Date: 22 Feb 2017
View: E64_20170114_1548_259_FB2 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: This years male Pheasant is this one with the white 'cap', as well as this seemingly oversized tail.

View: E64_20170117_1550_159+1553_160_FB2 Pheasant male facing and back to camera (montage).jpg
Description: Taken 3 minutes apart, front and rear views of the same male Pheasant

Date: 21 Feb 2017
View: D01_20170114_1949_007+1956_017+1950_009_FB6 Tawny Owl 8 minute visit (selected) 1+6+3 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Several more Tawny Owl visits reveals 2 different individuals with distinctly different feather colour and patterning.

View: D01_20170115_0141_018+0149_028_0150_029_FB6 Tawny Owl 12 minute visit (selected) 01+07+08 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: Several more Tawny Owl visits reveals 2 different individuals with distinctly different feather colour and patterning. This one made a very active 12 minute visit. How about the landing while looking the other way?

Date: 20 Feb 2017
View: D01_20170113_1805_046-1808_050_FB6 Tawny Owl 4 minute visit to meadow post 1+2+3+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl made a short visit - the first Owl sighting for 4 weeks.

View: E62_20170113_1805_178+1810_179_FB5 Tawny owl hunting Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) 1+2 of 2 (adjusted montage).jpg
Description: That lean forward on the far right before Tawny Owl flew was aimed at photo site FB5, and by good fortune we got a photo (in one corner of the camera frame) of the bird attacking. At this position it could not have triggered the camera, so we have to assume that the camera was triggered by a fleeing Rodent. Here we have montaged in the Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) from the previous frame 5 minutes earlier to represent what most likely took place.

Date: 19 Feb 2017
View: D01_20170113_1602_017_FB6 Buzzard 20 minute visit to meadow post before flying off left 01 of 12 (crop).jpg
Description: Near the end of the day, the camera intended primarily for photographing Owl overnight caught the local Buzzard making one of his occasional visits to the centre of our patch.

View: D01_20170113_1607_024-1618_039_FB6 Buzzard 20 minute visit to meadow post before flying left 05+10+06+04 of 12 (montage).jpg
Description: Near the end of the day, the camera intended primarily for photographing Owl overnight caught the local Buzzard making one of his occasional visits to the centre of our patch.

Date: 18 Feb 2017
View: DF3_20170113_1112_026-031+033 Buzzard in flight twisting in air towards camera 05-10+12 of 12 (impression montage).jpg
Description: The local Buzzard took off from a nearby Ash tree but turned back on itself in flight and then made this abrupt change in direction in only about a third of a second. Bird positions are arbitrary here, but the first 6 frames (moving downwards) are contiguous over about 1 second.

Date: 17 Feb 2017
View: DF3_20170111_1257_056 Green Woodpecker female feeding over grass near main pond (crop).jpg
Description: This female Green Woodpecker spent several minutes hunting over the rough grass between the main pond and the kitchen window. Although they mostly probe ant hills, they are not averse to anything they can find in suitably soft soil.

View: DF3_20170111_1258_076 Green Woodpecker female feeding over grass near main pond (crop).jpg
Description: This female Green Woodpecker spent several minutes hunting over the rough grass between the main pond and the kitchen window. Although they mostly probe ant hills, they are not averse to anything they can find in suitably soft soil.

View: DF3_20170111_1258_101 Green Woodpecker female feeding over grass near main pond (crop).jpg
Description: This female Green Woodpecker is here just about to take another 'lucky tip' into the soft mud.

View: D5C_20170111_1300_036 Green Woodpecker female feeding over grass near main pond showing raised crest (crop).jpg
Description: Here is a lovely view of the red 'crest' neither of us had noticed can be 'raised' to make a prominent ridge.

Date: 16 Feb 2017
View: DF3_20170108_1230_014 Robin on hedge twig.jpg
Description: Robin decorating the hedge in some fitful sunshine.

View: E62_20170105_0724_002_FB5 Robin standing on frosty log.jpg
Description: A Robin out before sunrise in a hard frost, looking for something for breakfast.

Date: 15 Feb 2017
View: E63_20170110_1525_069_FB1 Grey Squirrel attacking leap at another.jpg
Description: A high speed attack ... Ouch.

View: E62_20170110_1531_076_FB5 Grey Squirrel snarling towards camera as Corvid passes behind.jpg
Description: What looks like a thoroughly irritable Grey Squirrel - there may be one of their aggressive hissing calls to go with this. A corvid (some sort of crow) is passing behind.

Date: 14 Feb 2017
View: E63_20170106_0607_063_FB1 Fox hunting.jpg
Description: A Fox looking for breakfast or supper a couple of hours before sunrise.

Date: 13 Feb 2017
View: DF3_20170105_1003_007 Blue Tit inspecting Willow Buds.jpg
Description: The various Tits are still doing their best to strip the Willow trees of buds. Here the buds are not yet ready for destruction by this Blue Tit!

View: DF3_20170105_1005_023+024 Goldfinch on Silver Birch tree taking off 4+5 of 5 (approx montage).jpg
Description: A few small groups of Goldfinches preference is Birch seeds.

Date: 12 Feb 2017
View: D01_20170106_0829_055+058+0830_064_FB6 Buzzard hunting from Meadow Post (selected) 21+22+26 of 63 (montage).jpg
Description: The local 'Buzzard' spent about 15 minutes hunting from the post in the meadow.
As the bird lands notice here the movement blurred tail of the middle image - each time the bird landed it swung the tail left and right at high speed presumably to settle the feathers into place.

View: D01_20170106_0835_080+0836_081--082_FB6 Buzzard hunting from Meadow Post (selected) 36-38 of 63 (montage).jpg
Description: Here the Buzzard launches, presumably towards some potential prey.

View: D01_20170106_0832_069_FB6 Buzzard hunting from Meadow Post (selected) 30 of 63 (crop).jpg
Description: The 'local' Buzzard perched quietly on the post

Date: 11 Feb 2017
View: E63_20170104_1537_175_FB1 Grey Squirrel eating rotten apple from paws.jpg
Description: A piece of this rotten apple seems to be relished by this Grey squirrel.

View: E63_20170104_1841_198_FB1 Fox youngster picking up rotten apple.jpg
Description: A few hours later this young fox has found the now much depleted apple and has decided to eat it now or carry it away. Anyway - both had gone the next frame!

Date: 10 Feb 2017
View: E63_20170102_0857_020_FB1 Pheasant male at sunrise.jpg
Description: A male Pheasant glowing almost as much as the sunrise behind him.

View: E63_20170103_1428_120_FB1 2 Pheasant females.jpg
Description: The second female Pheasant seems to have become a regular in the last few days. Here in a genuine single frame the 'old' and 'new' seem to get on fine together as you would expect.

Date: 09 Feb 2017
View: DF3_20170104_1511_043 Blue Tit feeding on opening Willow buds (pussy willow).jpg
Description: A Blue Tit pausing in it's 'attack' on the just opening Pussy Willow buds. The desiccated leaves make some interesting shapes.

Date: 08 Feb 2017
View: DF1_20161230_0943_088+084 Redpoll feeding on Frosted seeds of Great Willowherb (montage).jpg
Description: A small group of Redpolls were feeding on the frosty Great Willowherb seed heads outside the living room window. Our record show our only previous sighting was in April 2013. This first bird shows the characteristic pink breast.

View: DF1_20161230_0942_026+028 Redpoll feeding on Frosted seeds of Great Willowherb (montage).jpg
Description: This Redpoll has no obvious Red Breast. Redpolls come in several varieties: Common, Greater, Lesser, Arctic and Mealy (some of which may be different names for the same variant) and not usefully differentiated in our ID books, so just 'Redpoll' will have to do.

Date: 07 Feb 2017
View: E62_20161231_1733_488+1734_489+1743_491_FB5 Fox catching Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) 1-3 of 3 (montage with gaps 1 & 9 minutes).jpg
Description: A Fox catches a Rodent just 1 minute after the Fieldmice (Wood Mice) were chasing about at the log. It is probably a Mouse but maybe a Vole. Only 9 minutes later a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) braved the outside again in search of food.

Date: 06 Feb 2017
View: E62_20161228_1623_016_FB5 Bank Vole in heavy frost.jpg
Description: Brrr - a Bank Vole out in a hard frost.
We can barely imagine how a creature this small, even with wonderful fur, can keep warm at sub-zero temperatures.

Date: 05 Feb 2017
View: DF3_20161229_0950_046 White Wagtail striding across concrete track.jpg
Description: A pair of Wagtails frequent the concrete roads around our patch - what seems to be one Pied and one White Wagtail. They are said to interbreed. Wagtails make speedy progress walking over roads, paths, grass, and our sloping slate roof, in search of something to eat.

View: DF3_20161229_0950_052+067 Wagtail picking up squashed insect (earwig (q)) from concrete road 1+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Here a wagtail has found a squashed insect on the farm road. It looks to us that it is an earwig or similar. But they also search concrete roads where no vehicles go for weeks on end.

Date: 04 Feb 2017
View: DF3_20161227_1242_293-1243_326 Buzzard flying up to 11kV cable-joiner & struggling to balance on wire 01+03+05+08+24+29+34 of 34 (montage accurate then impression).jpg
Description: The 'local' Buzzard decided on a new perch on the (cringe) 11kv cables - not as usual on a crossbar but on one of the links where the cables change direction. The first few are accurately montaged alternate frames, but then the bird had difficulty balancing on the 'thin' cable at the joiner, and spent about 4 seconds gaining its composure, illustrated here by generating a most unlikely sequence of wire joiners off to the right.

View: DF3_20161227_1320_444-466 Buzzard flying up to perch in Ash Tree 01-09+11+13+23 of 23 (selected accurate montage).jpg
Description: The 'local' Buzzard making a high-speed arrival at the broken Ash tree.
All of the frames are accurately montaged, but after the first 9 there are gaps in the sequence so that the result is better than a brown confusion.

Date: 03 Feb 2017
View: DF3_20161226_1017_012 50 Lapwing flock extract (adjusted crop of 6).jpg
Description: A few birds in a flock of about 50 lapwing.

View: DF3_20161227_1243_328 Lapwing on field east of Pineham Farm (crop 2).jpg
Description: The flock of 50 lapwing seems to be a 'loose' affair with groups breaking off to feed. Here about 20 Lapwing landed on the far side of the farm in an unexpectedly straight line. You can just make out the beautiful crests these birds often raise when perched.

View: DF3_20161227_1249_338 20 Lapwing flock passing tree (crop 2).jpg
Description: We slogged though the mud around the farm perimeter for a better view, but before they came into view they flew back past us.

Date: 02 Feb 2017
View: E64_20161223_0805_044+0808_045+0810_046_FB2 Grey Squirrel + Pheasant female at feeding site 1-3 of 3 (mirrored montage).jpg
Description: Over 5 minutes 'our' female pheasant arrives at the feeding site and is allowed a few minutes before the Squirrel decides it wants the place to itself.

View: E64_20161223_0810_046_FB2 Grey Squirrel + Pheasant female at feeding site 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A better view of the female Pheasant taking off.
This the natural orientation - we mirrored the montage of the events to help it make more sense to us Left-to-Right westerners.

Date: 01 Feb 2017
View: E64_20161222_1550_025_FB2 Grey Squirrel leaping from top of camera box at another.jpg
Description: "These camera boxes are a great place to leap onto your opposition"

View: E62_20161224_0751_177_FB5 Blackbird female with worm wrapped about beak photobombing Dunnock on log (crop).jpg
Description: A nice portrait of a Dunnock photobombed by this female Blackbird much closer to the camera and out of focus, obviously having a bit of a battle with the worm trying to wrap itself around her beak.

Image Archive arch 2017 jan.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Jan 2017
View: E62_20161224_0753_179_FB5 Blackbird on ground warns away incoming Dunnock.jpg
Description: What Poise.
We don't often catch Blackbird being so aggressive to other species.

Date: 30 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161222_1252_015 Bracket Fungus Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) on dead Willow branch - natural view (crop).jpg
Description: On a dead branch of a pollarded Willow tree with rather attractive fungus caught our eyes. It seems to be a called Turkeytail. This common fungus is atypically thin and quite small - 3 to 4cm across.

View: DF3_20161222_1253_027+1255_047 Bracket Fungus Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor) on dead Willow branch - top view + insert of bottom view (montage).jpg
Description: Bending the branch to improve the light and angle demonstrated that it was truly dead by snapping off. The main image is the top view of 3 'brackets', and the insert at top right shows the unexpectedly featureless white underside.

Date: 29 Jan 2017
View: D36_20161219_1449_017_FB4 Chaffinch female aerobraking to land on tree-stump.jpg
Description: A female Chaffinch adjusting her speed prior to touchdown.

Date: 28 Jan 2017
View: D36_20161219_1349_014_FB4 Rook selecting corn grain at tip of beak.jpg
Description: We always enjoy these large birds delicately using the tip of their huge beaks to pick up a tiny morsel.

View: D36_20161220_1510_041_FB4 Rook selecting trimmed pear top.jpg
Description: This piece of pear top seems to fill the beak rather better than a corn grain.

Date: 27 Jan 2017
View: E62_20161217_1437_211_FB5 Collared Dove pair.jpg
Description: We are very fond of Collared Doves, here billing and cooing at the meadow site. Sometimes perching over the microphone we use to hear activity outside over the CCTV, the sound is loud but rather pleasing.

Date: 26 Jan 2017
View: E62_20161217_0738_171_FB5 Dunnock and Blackbird male threatening each other.jpg
Description: David and Goliath?
A brave Dunnock (left) brave enough to defend his patch against the much bigger male Blackbird

View: E62_20161221_1536_292_FB5 4 Rooks and 2 Jackdaws sharing feeding site.jpg
Description: 4 Rooks and 2 Jackdaws feeding together without apparent angst.
Jackdaws are the smaller birds centre and under the large beak of the Rook. The other rooks are mostly hidden by the rooks at the log.

Date: 25 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161216_1325_051 Buzzard perched in Ash tree.jpg
Description: Our current 'local Buzzard' perched in the broken Ash tree to our south. The bird doesn't seem to have a favourite branch to perch on, choosing any of about 10 horizontal and stout branches.

View: DF3_20161218_1233_065 Buzzard and Rook at 11KV crossbar far to north.jpg
Description: On this day we couldn't find 'our' Buzzard anywhere, but eventually found him several hundred metres away across the brook to the north. The Rook (black bird) was the only reason we noticed any birds at all of this distant crossbar.

Date: 24 Jan 2017
View: E62_20161214_1435_156_FB5 Stoat (through wet camera window) (crop).jpg
Description: This is a Stoat, but unfortunately spoiled by rain splashed onto the window of the camera box at this exposed site. We have 'improved' the blurred bits but with only limited success. We last saw a stoat in 2014, then 2007 and 2000.

View: MVC1811X Stoat Killing Rabbit (19 Nov 2000).JPG
Description: Here is our pic from November 2000 of a Stoat killing and dragging away a decent sized Rabbit.
This was taken on an early Sony Digital camera with resolution of 0.75M Pixels (1024 x 768) that wrote the images to a 1.4MB floppy disk - about 6 images per disk at about 6 seconds a go. This predates USB or photo memory cards as more than prestige items. We are frequently staggered by how quickly digital imaging has advanced - 16 years from floppy disks to 128GB memory cards with about 10,000 times the capacity and about 100 times faster. Not to mention the cameras typically 30 times more pixels - though at the expense of quality in poor light. This old camera can still focus in light much dimmer than modern cameras can manage.

Date: 23 Jan 2017
View: d36_20161208_0838_008_FB4 Chaffinch male landing on tree-stump.jpg
Description: Barely touched down, we see this winter colours male Chaffinch with his claw tips barely on the wood.

View: D36_20161213_1533_049_FB4 Rook landing on Tree-stump.jpg
Description: THUMP.
"Now what's there to eat?"

Date: 22 Jan 2017
View: D5C_20161214_0842_006+025+037+0844_071 2 Grey Squirrels fondling & mating (q) on bird table 01+07+12+32 of 33 (montage).jpg
Description: Outside the kitchen window these two Grey Squirrels spent several minutes fondling each other part way up the post, and then climbed to the top on each side of the post to continue to fondle and then mate.

View: D5C_20161214_0843_042 Pair of Grey Squirrels fondling and mating (q) on bird table 17 of 33 (crop).jpg
Description: A most definitely consensual act of love - Grey Squirrel style.

Date: 21 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161214_1423_233 Rook at top of Ash tree.jpg
Description: A Rook high in an Ash tree, master of all he surveys.

Date: 20 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161214_1401_202-216 Black-headed Gull touching down to pick food & immediate takeoff 01-15 of 15 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Best effort so far at catching a Black-headed gull landing and taking off.
This is a single sequence at about 7 fps (so here about 2 seconds of action) as this gull touches down, presumably to pick up an invertebrate, and take off again with the wings never coming close to the ground. This is probably a necessary technique when picking up items from water.
The first 3 frames (left) are accurately positioned, but we have then had to spread the images thereafter to make any sense. The bird was in contact with the ground for about half a second.

Date: 19 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161214_0928_079+086 Little Egret landing on branch 1+8 of 8 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Our first good sighting of a Little Egret for months was in and around trees at the brook to the north.
Here is an elegant landing.

View: DF3_20161214_0932_109 Little Egret perched in tree with beak open (crop).jpg
Description: We didn't hear any call so possible disposing of a Little Egret pellet, similar to Owl Pellets but with different content. Or maybe just a morning yawn!

View: DF3_20161214_0936_114-120 Little Egret launching into flight from tree branch 01-07 of 12 (approx montage).jpg
Description: Long legs used to provide 'spring' for the Little Egret lift-off.
Very close to accurately montaged.

Date: 18 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161214_1304_184 Grey Squirrel sunbathing on branch.jpg
Description: A sunny hour or two provides warm sheltered spots for the Squirrels to sunbathe in.

View: D36_20161213_1423_045_FB4 Grey Squirrel with mouth full of leaves and fibre.jpg
Description: The Grey squirrels have to keep their Drays in good order to survive the coming cold. This one has collected a bundle of leaves and a wad of polyester fibre shredded from bits of exposed pond liner matting to take up the nearby tree.

View: E63_20161214_1433_130_FB1 Grey Squirrel standing vertical on top of stone.jpg
Description: We have no idea what caused this alert position on top of the stone shortly after we have been along with the 'bait'.

Date: 17 Jan 2017
View: df3_20161211_0914_071 Robin in sunlit bare hedge.jpg
Description: Now that the hedges are bare tangles of branches, the birds in them glow in the sunshine. The Robins follow us as we pass by their territories.

View: df3_20161211_0923_077 Great Tit probing Straw bales (crop).jpg
Description: The Straw bales abandoned a few years ago outside our border have started to collapse, but this doesn't bother the birds that probe it for food. It must be crawling with insects!

Date: 16 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161207_1410_091-113 Buzzard flying up to land on 11kV crossbar 03+06+08+15+21+25 of 25 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This Buzzard is currently frequenting this area, and seems to particularly likes hazarding the 11kV electricity crossbars.
The left three images are accurately spaced selected frames. The three over and on the rather 'extended' bar have been spaced out.
The crossbar at this post is in fact 2 bars, one on either side of the post - look at the doubled lower right inverted 'V' shape. When we first saw this we couldn't understand how the bird could fly between the bars before we realised that the tail in the 4th image is partly obscured by one of the cables coincidentally aligned with the top of the nearer bar.

Date: 15 Jan 2017
View: D36_20161207_1518_100_FB4 Grey squirrel eating strawberry top.jpg
Description: We sometimes buy a pack of out-of-season strawberries, so the wildlife gets the cut off tops!

View: D36_20161203_1503_063_FB4 Grey Squirrel with good front paw detail (paw detail crop).jpg
Description: In this detail of a Grey Squirrels claw you can see a concave cup with series of pads around the edge (just right for gripping), the rudimentary 'thumb' they use to hold food while nibbling it, and a good set of sharp claws for digging into bark, and anyone they don't like.

Date: 14 Jan 2017
View: E63_20161201_1417_014_FB1 Blue Tit reaching down vertically from top of stone for food at bottom.jpg
Description: You would think it would be easier to jump down rather than reach down, but then we are not Blue Tits, so how would we know.

Date: 13 Jan 2017
View: E62_20161205_0720_051_FB5 Robin in heavy frost.jpg
Description: Robin. Frost. Brrr

View: E62_20161201_1544_053_FB5 Pheasant female in frost.jpg
Description: Days of frost at this site not melting even when the sun briefly appears. We seem to have returned to seeing just this one female Pheasant.

Date: 12 Jan 2017
View: E60_20161203_1416_013_FB3 Wood Pigeon with fluffed up feathers.jpg
Description: We particularly like this portrait of a wood pigeon, feathers fluffed out for some interesting detail.

Date: 11 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161203_1457_032-036 Black-headed Gull (eclipse) taking off from Wheat crop 1-5 of 9 (horizontally stretched montage).jpg
Description: A Black-headed Gull (in eclipse so we see only a black spot behind the eye) take-off, spread horizontally.

View: DF3_20161203_1457_037-040 Black-headed Gull (eclipse) taking off from Wheat crop 6-9 of 9 (slight horiz stretch montage).jpg
Description: The Black-headed Gull now picks up speed, and only a slight spread is required. The accurate shadows each belong to the bird 'behind'.

Date: 10 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161201_1109_005+008 Chaffinch male on conifer (montage).jpg
Description: Two views of the same male chaffinch exploring this conifer for food.

Date: 09 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161129_1306_112-118 Black-headed Gull (eclipse) take-off 01-07 of 24 (horizontally spread montage).jpg
Description: This Black-headed Gull is taking off into a strong wind (from the right here). These first 7 images were mostly a vertical climb we have spread out horizontally. The background relates to one of the earlier of the frames.

View: DF3_20161129_1306_119-127 Black-headed Gull (eclipse) in flight 08+10+12+14+16 of 24 (accurate montage alternate frames).jpg
Description: The unusually slow progress of the Black-headed Gull against the wind means that this has to be alternate frames which still didn't avoid some overlap. The background here is accurate.

Date: 08 Jan 2017
View: E64_20161128_0846_022_FB2 Rook in Leaf Litter (crop).jpg
Description: As the early morning sun strikes the trees and streaks the leaf litter, a Rook arrives to check out the site for missed morsels under the leaves.

Date: 07 Jan 2017
View: E62_20161129_1814_089_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) eating peel with tail wrapped over back.jpg
Description: The switch from November to December brought 3 days of almost continuous freezing weather.
Does this Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) wish his tail was more like a big fluffy Squirrel's, or is he keeping his tail warm against his body?

View: E62_20161130_1536_159_FB5 Chaffinch male in afternoon frost threatening target out of frame.jpg
Description: The weather is never too bad for a male Chaffinch to get tetchy.

View: E62_20161201_0712_212_FB5 Robin Singing in pre-dawn frost.jpg
Description: A Robin apparently calling before sunrise in this meadow site which, without any tree cover always gets hit by the more extreme of whatever the weather is doing.

Date: 06 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161129_1317_145 Robin perched on tip of dead branch (crop).jpg
Description: A Robin perched on the tip of this dead branch is glowing like a little beacon.

View: DF3_20161130_1046_004-009 Blue Tit preening in bare hazel bush 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: Blue Tits and Great Tits are systematically stripping all the buds they can manage. Here a Blue Tit stops his feeding frenzy for a quick preen.

Date: 05 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161129_1304_093+098-102 Wagtail take-off from concrete road 1-6 of 6 (montage impression + last 3 accurate).jpg
Description: Wagtails often hunt over the concrete farm road finding food items we can't even see. We caught this one taking off - the left 3 images are horizontally spread but the right three are accurately positioned at about 7fps.

Date: 04 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161129_1256_024 Buzzard standing on Wheat crop.jpg
Description: The 'local' Buzzard is sometimes standing somewhere in the crop when we first spot the bird.

View: DF3_20161129_1256_027-038 Buzzard flying over crop rising over hedge accelerating 01-12 of 12 (accurate montage about 7fps).jpg
Description: The Buzzard was not pleased to see us and promptly launched low over the Wheat crop, rising just enough to get over the hedge before disappearing behind it.

Date: 03 Jan 2017
View: D01_20161129_1959_024-2003_030_FB6 Tawny Owl 9 minute visit (selected) 1+2+4+6 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: A several minute visit by a Tawny Owl in the first hours of darkness.

Date: 02 Jan 2017
View: DF1_20161127_1420_014+009+005 Goldfinch feeding on Great Willow Herb seeds (selected) 4+2+1 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: Goldfinches are spending quite a lot of time feeding on Great Willow Herb seeds, but mostly where they see us coming and flee. Here is a little sequence through the living room window unintentionally in right to left order

Date: 01 Jan 2017
View: DF3_20161128_1025_046-0487 Mute Swan in flight 08-10 of 44 (impression montage).jpg
Description: We never expect to see Swans of any sort on our patch because of the lack of a long enough take-off strip to get airborne again. But this single Mute Swan made a lovely Flyby near the North East corner. It was hard to decide what to do with the 44 images - a 44 images sequence would reduce the bird to little more than a 'dot', and the bland blue sky provides no hint on how to align the images anyway. So here are our impressions.
We have the whole 44 frames 'on file' should anybody want to see them.

View: DF3_20161128_1025_055 Mute Swan in flight 17 of 44 (crop).jpg

View: DF3_20161128_1025_069 Mute Swan in flight 31 of 44 (crop).jpg
Description: This Mute Swan's huge feet and powerful legs can't retract into the feathers like the claws of smaller birds, but are nicely aligned with the air flow for minimum drag.

Image Archive arch 2016 dec.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Dec 2016
View: D36_20161125_0826_024_FB4 Chaffinch female aerobraking to land on tree-stump (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A female Chaffinch making a nice aerobraking manoeuvre as she approaches the tree stump.

View: D36_20161124_1458_004_FB4 Chaffinch female with crest slightly raised.jpg
Description: A female Chaffinch gives the camera a slightly quizzical look?

Date: 30 Dec 2016
View: E64_20161119_0759_091_FB2 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: The local male pheasant produces a good portrait at his first visit this year to a high-resolution camera site.

Date: 29 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161119_0851_211 Starling perched in Black Poplar tree.jpg
Description: Starlings are undoubtedly wonderful sights in huge wheeling flocks, but the individual bird is a startling sight on its own.

Date: 28 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161118_0906_025-030 Buzzard flying low over crop 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The 'local' Buzzard made a low-level flight over the crops complete with fresh tractor ruts from the most recent of the endless sprayings. Along the bottom edge the strings of molehills are most likely from a female. We understand that female moles burrow in straight lines while the males zig-zag in the hope of intercepting a female's burrow!

View: DF3_20161118_0906_045 Buzzard landing on 11kV crossbar.jpg
Description: Another 'dice with death as the buzzard lands on the 11kV crossbar. Our neighbouring farmer told us many years ago that he saw a bird 'flash into nothing' between an earlier incarnation of these high voltage wires. Many years ago we found an immaculate drake mallard lying dead below the 240V power pole on our patch, and can only think it was electrocuted at the much lower voltage, not leaving any visible burns - this perfect bird dead in our hands has made an indelible impression on us.

Date: 27 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161117_1505_009+011 Goldfinch eating tree buds 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: A Goldfinch tucking into next year buds.

View: E64_20161122_0804_049_FB2 Wood Pigeon on wet leaf litter.jpg
Description: Notice the wet speckles on this Wood Pigeon's back as it's immaculate plumage shrugs off the wet.

Date: 26 Dec 2016
View: D36_20161118_1615_046_FB4 Rook with autumn leaves in beak.jpg
Description: We know that Rooks start nest building early in the new year, but surely 18 November is a bit too early?

View: E64_20161118_1521_054_FB2 Jackdaw with strip of bark and leaf in beak.jpg
Description: What a mouthful beakful. We leave strips of bark along the IR beam to help get images in focus, and they are gradually disappearing. It looks like Magpies are the 'guilty' party.

View: E64_20161120_1226_171_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying away dry bedding over wet leaf litter.jpg
Description: We don't know where this Squirrel found such dry bedding in the acres of drenched ground, but here it goes up to the dray for a little extra comfort, or perhaps life saving warmth.

Date: 25 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161113_0923_074+078 Bullfinch female and male feeding on Ash seeds (montage).jpg
Description: This is the female (left) and male Bullfinch sharing an Ash tree near the house to eat the seeds. They were never quite close enough together in the tree for a single frame containing both, but this montage should give you the idea.

Date: 24 Dec 2016
View: E64_20161115_1454_046_FB2 Magpie with iridescent tail erect.jpg
Description: A Magpie in as compact a pose as can be managed, with a lovely shimmer of iridescent colours down the tail and on the wing tips.

Date: 23 Dec 2016
View: D01_20161026_2057_016+20161115_0320_002_FB6 Tawny Owl + Little Owl juvenile (identical scales) (montage).jpg
Description: On the RIGHT of this pair of owl images (the Tawny at the left from 3 weeks before as a size comparison) is a juvenile Little Owl. We last saw a Little Owl in Jan 2013 and have no record of ever having seen a juvenile before.

Date: 22 Dec 2016
View: E63_20161111_1517_090+1519_091_FB1 Grey Squirrel preferring carrot top stem to root 1+2 of 2 (montage 2 minutes apart).jpg
Description: The green Carrot top being consumed by the Grey Squirrel in preference to what is left of the root part. The brown 'sludge' is the ever popular saltless peanut butter.

Date: 21 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161110_1434_257-262 Buzzard flying from perch in Ash tree to ground possibly catching prey (2 sections) 01-06 of 24 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This buzzard spent a few minutes on this perch in the Ash tree, and then suddenly launched downwards ...

View: DF3_20161110_1434_282-290 Buzzard flying from perch in Ash tree to ground possibly catching prey (2 sections) 14+16+18+20+22 of 24 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: ... to land on the ground at the edge of the Wheat crop. The end of the flight suggests that it was pouncing on an unfortunate rodent. Raptors with prey in the Talons usually just stand like this, squeezing the life out of their catch with no need to look down at it.

Date: 20 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161110_1217_092+095+098 Buzzard landing in Ash tree 06+09+12 of 13 (montage).jpg
Description: Birds landing on perches are difficult to represent because the landing speed is so controlled that everything overlaps. This is one way of representing this Buzzard landing.

View: DF3_20161110_1425_156-170 Buzzard flying to and landing in Ash tree 01+02+04+06+08+10+12+15 of 20 (montage).jpg
Description: Here the Buzzard lands in a different part of the Ash tree, here just duplicating the landing perch to maintain a feel of flow.

Date: 19 Dec 2016
View: D01_20161111_0212_050_FB6 Tawny Owl landing for 2 minute visit (crop).jpg
Description: Still folding wings as the Tawny Owl looks back at the nearby ground level photo-sight where possibly the Fieldmice (Wood Mice) are scampering for safety.

View: D01_20161111_1852_002+2137_005_FB6 Tawny Owl landing for 2 off 2 minute visits (montage).jpg
Description: Tawny owl landings about 3 hours apart showing us the top and bottoms of what we think is the same Tawny owl - the less regular bird with wider streak between the eyes.

Date: 18 Dec 2016
View: E64_20161109_1554_121_FB2 2 Rooks touching (q) beaks in leaf litter against sunset (crop 2).jpg
Description: Ah - in the twilight a couple of Rooks confirm their mutual attraction, said to last a lifetime.

Date: 17 Dec 2016
View: D5C_20161107_1003_013 Bullfinch male eating stinging nettle seeds (crop 2).jpg
Description: Each year we delight in the return of the Bullfinches. This year the patch of ground weeds (near an unused gate) where we usually see them feeding just didn't produce anything but a bit of grass, but we spotted this male on a bush by the main pond, feasting himself on the desiccated seeds of stinging nettles. That's the first time we have noticed Nettle seeds being eaten, and had not thought of them as a 'resource'.

View: DF1_20161108_1148_001+1207_015+1208_025 Bullfinch female eating desiccated Blackberry fruits (selected) 1+4+5 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Next day we spotted a female Bullfinch in a similar place, but her chosen comestible was desiccated blackberry fruits of which there is no shortage. Dried fruit mixed with seeds - yummy!

Date: 16 Dec 2016
View: E62_20161106_1348_380_FB5 Magpie moving sideways (q).jpg
Description: A slightly Kooky Magpie.

View: E64_20161103_1629_031_FB2 Magpie turning over strip of Bark.jpg
Description: And we have been 'blaming' the squirrels for scattering the bark strips around the site. Caught a week or two ago hiding itself behind the strip, the culprit is here brazenly no longer in hiding.
"And what can you do to stop me?"
. The damaged look of the right eye is just the nictitating membrane (sort of extra eyelid) protecting the eye while it does something that might injure it.

Date: 15 Dec 2016
View: E62_20161106_0221_299_FB5 Fox hunting in frost.jpg
Description: "Where's my 2 a.m. Mouse?"

Date: 14 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161106_1249_039+041 Wren at Duck Pond 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: The Wren is said to be the UK's most common bird, but they move about so fast it is not easy to get a good view. In the marginal plants at the Duck-shaped pond this Wren made a VERY short stopover on this desiccated weed stem before 'vanishing'.

Date: 13 Dec 2016
View: D36_20161105_1529_044_FB4 Robin grabbing peanut-butter while landing on tree stump.jpg
Description: The second of two similar events a couple of weeks apart - a Robin grabbing some peanut butter as first priority before it has even landed. Nine minutes later a Squirrel had 'taken over' the site - perhaps the Robin's tactics make a lot of sense!

View: D36_20161105_1538_045_FB4 Grey squirrel monopolises food while it chooses what to eat.jpg
Description: Nine minutes after the Robin grabbed his share 'on the wing' a Grey squirrel has taken over the site. Perhaps the Robin's tactics make a lot of sense!

Date: 12 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161031_1334_027-031 Buzzard flying over autumn colour hedge to South 1-5 of 8 (accurate montage @ about 5 fps).jpg
Description: Our appearance caused this buzzard perched on a distant hedge (that we had not spotted until it took off) to fly across the field, here against a partly 'turned' autumn hedge.

View: DF3_20161031_1339_050 Buzzard perched in broken Ash tree to South 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: The Buzzard landed in the broken limbed Ash tree to our South, and spent several minutes eyeing over the territory (mostly sprouting wheat crop).

View: DF3_20161031_1342_122 Buzzard in flight 3 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: A few minutes later (without any prompting from us) it took off and started flying over the fields, coming quite close to us for this unusually nicely lit portrait.

Date: 11 Dec 2016
View: E62_20161101_1554_257_FB5 Great Tit + Chaffinch male + Robin.jpg
Description: An unusual single frame with all the 3 different bird species all alertly looking to the right for reasons we can only imagine.

Date: 10 Dec 2016
View: P10_20161029_1340_907 Shaggy Ink Cap Fungus in farmland grass margin (crop).jpg
Description: On the grass margin to the farm land, we spotted this single Shaggy Ink Cap fungus not previously seen since October 2005. Returning to the site the moment we ID'd this a few days on, and wanting to photo the 'black cap' stage, we found it had shrivelled to nothing.

View: P34_20080918_1807_795 Fungus in trackside ditch Shaggy Mushroom (crop).jpg
Description: Looking through our archive for 'Shaggy' we found this previously unpublished image of a Shaggy Mushroom squatting in the leaf litter in September 2008.

Date: 09 Dec 2016
View: E62_20161101_1920_288+1912_287_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) (2 visits accurate montage).jpg
Description: After sunset these little sweeties explore the site for things to eat. On the right a corn grain must be a major snack for this tiny creature.

View: E62_20161030_0558_326_FB5 Worm Cast in front of Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse).jpg
Description: "What's this?"
We rarely see Worm casts in these photos, and it is likely that this is the first time that this Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) has seen one.

Date: 08 Dec 2016
View: D01_20161028_2025_004+2028_008_FB6+E62_20161028_2033_175_FB5 Tawny Owl 5 minute visit 1+2 of 3 + Pounce on ground (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl has started making regular visits - several a week and one 3 times in a single night. Here we also caught the bird pouncing on some rodent by the log innocently cleaning up the food only to become food for the Owl.

View: D01_20161031_0056_032+20161030_2329_017_FB6 Tawny Owl landings for 13 & 12 minute visits (montage).jpg
Description: 'How do I look when landing?'
A Tawny Owl landing on the post an hour either side of midnight gives us flattering views of the tops and bottoms of the wings.

Date: 07 Dec 2016
View: E63_20161025_1612_178+1554_168+1555_169_FB1 Great Tit + Blue Tit + Blue Tit on stone (montage).jpg
Description: A little montage over 20 minutes of our two main Tit species on the stone.

Date: 06 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161023_1254_078-080 Red Kite harassed by Rook (discontinuous) 05-07 of 17 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: A Red Kite spent about a minute passing over the area, continuously harassed by this rook.

View: DF3_20161023_1254_082 Red Kite 09 of 17 (crop).jpg
Description: A Red kite flyby - the attendant rook is out of frame.

View: DF3_20161023_1254_102 Red Kite harassed by Rook (discontinuous) 17 of 17 (crop).jpg
Description: Here the Red Kite turns it's head to keep an eye on the Rook!

Date: 05 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161023_1244_020 12 Grey partridges at edge of wheat crop (crop).jpg
Description: On the surrounding farm's land we spotted these 12 Grey Partridges wandering down the gap between crop and Hedge. They were not pleased to see us and wandered away over the green grass before ambling through the hedge.

View: DF3_20161023_1245_022 2 Grey Partridges (of 12) on Wheat Crop (adjusted crop.jpg
Description: 2 of the Grey Partridges out on the wheat crop.

Date: 04 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161021_1052_011-015 Hare running across sprouting wheat crop 01-05 of 20 (accurate montage @ about 5 fps).jpg
Description: The sprouting wheat crop has brought back the Hares. Here there are 2 - one quietly nibbling the delicious fresh wheat sprouts (lower left) while the other, for reasons we didn't spot, was accelerating it's way over the crop. The gull was an unexpected incidental.

View: DF3_20161021_1053_018-020 Hare running across sprouting wheat crop 08-10 of 20 (accurate montage at about 5fps).jpg
Description: A second or two later the Hare seems to have reached full speed. The frame rate is a bit irregular due to continuous auto-focussing.

Date: 03 Dec 2016
View: D01_20161026_2057_016_FB6 Tawny Owl 4 minute visit landing with eyes closed (selected) 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl has restarted regular visits, sometimes a few days between visits and sometimes 3 a night! Unpredictability is the watchword of opportunistic hunters. Here the Tawny Owl gives us a spectacular landing with eyes firmly shut.

View: D01_20161021_2259_002-2304_008_FB6 Tawny Owl 6 minute visit (selected) 1+3+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: The first Tawny Owl visit this week spent a few minutes on the post, had a little preen of his right foot, and next image was gone.

Date: 02 Dec 2016
View: E62_20161020_2052_040_FB5 Cat domestic black.jpg
Description: We see this Cat passing the front door (on CCTV) several times a week, but it doesn't often visit our high resolution camera sites. Pet owners may never see their moggies irises open like this in the dark.

View: E62_20161021_1923_116_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) visits over 2 nights (montage).jpg
Description: A few days later over 2 nights these Fieldmice (Wood Mice) are accurately montaged. Undoubtedly what the domestic cats make night-time visits here trying to catch!

Date: 01 Dec 2016
View: DF3_20161019_1635_014 Midge cloud under Ash tree (crop 1).jpg
Description: This cloud of midges caught our eyes backlit by the sunshine blocked out by the Ash tree. Not being desirous of swallowing some, we walked round!

View: DF3_20161019_1635_014 Midge cloud under Ash tree (crop 2).jpg
Description: A detail from the above from of the larger insects just above the hedge height to the right of the post.

Image Archive arch 2016 nov.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Nov 2016
View: E62_20161017_1953_065_FB5 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) squabbling.jpg
Description: 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) looking to have a little squabble?

View: E62_20161019_1955_275_FB5 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) canoodling (q).jpg
Description: 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) with exactly the opposite of a squabble in mind?

Date: 29 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20161018_1052_045-047 Buzzard in flight over sprouting wheat crop 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage at about 5fps).jpg
Description: The Buzzard is flying over the sprouting Wheat crop (also visible in the background). Perhaps 100 black-headed Gulls can be seen over the fields at many times of day eating either the un-germinated seed or the young plants.

Date: 28 Nov 2016
View: E62_20161017_1627_017_FB5 Grey squirrel taking away sweet Chestnut.jpg
Description: This looks like a whole sweet Chestnut complete with 'wrapper'. We expect this went into the Squirrels cache as it will keep well for eating in the winter. Squirrels don't hibernate - venturing forth on the warmer winter days and in need of their cache of food.

View: E63_20161014_1641_113_FB1 Grey Squirrel female nibbling sweet chestnut husk as Robin waits behind.jpg
Description: A Grey squirrel nibbles the remains from a half-chestnut husk while a Robin keeps a safe distance from the potential swiping claws, awaiting his turn.

Date: 27 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20161015_1428_025 Buzzard on 11kV crossbar.jpg
Description: A rather scruffy Buzzard (probably mid-moult) at a typical hunting perch on the 11kV crossbar in some bright afternoon sunshine. Following a few unexpected sightings weeks ago on the actual wires, we have seen no repeats. The buzzards claws and weight suit the wide crossbar better than the wires.

View: DF3_20161019_0908_006 Collared Dove on 11kv cable (1st of season).jpg
Description: Lighter birds than Buzzards and with smaller claws prefer to perch on the wires rather than the crossbar. Here one of two Collared Doves is perched on an 11kv cable

Date: 26 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20161011_1051_010 Comma Butterfly on sweet Chestnut leaf.jpg
Description: A good year for Comma Butterflies this year at this site if not more generally.

Date: 25 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20161010_1111_454-454 Pied Wagtail on roof ridge hunting fly in flight 1-3 of 3 (left to right montage).jpg
Description: The Pied Wagtails are back on our roof, hunting the insects warmed under the slates and emerging for the waiting Wagtails to try to catch. This fly looks like 'the one that got away'. Each bird and fly are accurately positioned relative to the roof and each other, but spread out along the right.
The left hand fly was over the edge of the first frame so we have 'photoshopped' in a whole fly at the correct place, along with the sky above.

View: DF3_20161010_1111_461 Pied Wagtail hunting on slate roof.jpg
Description: A Pied Wagtail hurtling down the slates, presumably after an insect we never spotted.

Date: 24 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20161010_1023_012-016 Magpie in Flight 1-5 of 7 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: Magpies in the countryside are really wary of humans - with good reason. So an opportunity for a fly-by montage rarely occurs and this is the first we have included on the web site. Bland sky prevents accurate spacing.

View: DF3_20161013_1201_001-010 Kestrel in flight (selected) 1-6 of 6 (close spaced impression montage).jpg
Description: A short fly-by by a Kestrel. This bland sky is this time featureless cloud preventing accurate spacing

View: DF3_20161010_1043_250 Kestrel pursued by threatening Jackdaw.jpg
Description: No, the jackdaw will not try to bite the Kestrel's tail - all their aerial aggression makes use of claws.

Date: 23 Nov 2016
View: E62_20161009_1705_272_FB5 Wood Pigeon with neck feathers lost fighting + Pheasant female (crop).jpg
Description: This simple photo of a Wood Pigeon and female Pheasant quite took us by surprise. Surely even female Pheasants are bigger than Wood Pigeons? But a trawl through our ID book suggests that if you ignore the tails the birds size ranges are very similar.

View: E64_20161012_0213_088+0243_089_FB2 Cat domestic and then Fox hunting 30 minutes apart (montage).jpg
Description: Just half an hour apart a Tabby Cat and a Fox visited this site in the positions shown. We have always thought of cats as much smaller than a fox, but in this case they are quite similar.

Date: 22 Nov 2016
View: E62_20161006_1556_008_FB5 Dunnock with Cranefly in beak (orig).jpg
Description: A Dunnock catches a Cranefly for an afternoon meal.

View: E62_20161010_1714_037_FB5 Dunnock feeding in heavy rain shaking off raindrops (adjusted crop 2).jpg
Description: As the tea-time rain descended, this little Dunnock just gets on with finding the food distributed an hour or so earlier.

Date: 21 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20161006_1030_449+452+455 Buzzard in flight (selected) 1-3 of 3 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: An adult Buzzard turning away from us on the 'sunny side' with feathers nicely underlit.

View: DF3_20161006_1039_465+467+470 Buzzard juvenile flying against strong East wind 1+3+6 of 6 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This juvenile Buzzard was flapping as hard as buzzards ever do, and was making very little headway into the steady but strong easterly wind, and losing height at the same time. Birds often drop to near the ground to make progress against strong winds.

View: DF3_20161006_1039_485-488 Buzzard juvenile in flight about 5fps 1-4 of 4 (approximate montage).jpg
Description: This 'approximate' montage is very close to reality - the wind was blowing all the birds sideways when they tried to fly across it!

Date: 20 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20161006_1023_132 Buzzard juvenile in flight 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A juvenile Buzzard passing over.
This is a particularly light individual, apparently not particularly unusual.

View: DF3_20161006_1022_037+043+047 Buzzard in flight looks down (discontinuous) 1-3 of 3 (close spaced montage bottom to top).jpg
Description: For about 20 minutes the local 'Buzzard family' of 2 adults and 2 juveniles circled in the air over the adjoining farmland and our patch.

View: DF3_20161006_1023_089-092 Buzzard in flight 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage @5fps).jpg
Description: This is an accurate montage of flight at about 5 frames per second.
The blurry angled bar top right is an 11kV power cable that both provided the reference to make an accurate montage :-) and kicked the camera off-focus as it passed through the centre of the viewfinder :-(

Date: 19 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20161004_1508_062-065 Southern Hawker Dragonfly hovering 1-4 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: A hovering Southern Hawker Dragonfly showing us the crazy wing positions it uses to resist the effects of the wind and control it's position.

View: DF3_20161004_1509_070 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly male.jpg
Description: After a week or two of absence this Ruddy Darter Dragonfly was out warming itself in the sunshine despite a cold wind. As the summer fades dragonflies make use of any sunshine in their search for a final mating.

View: DF3_20161005_1606_085 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male partly hidden perched on twig.jpg
Description: A southern Hawker Dragonfly landed in a woodpile and was quite hard to locate. Here he is mostly hidden and given us an unusual view of the underbody.
If you have an interest in the underneath of Dragonflies you will find some moderate quality normal light views as part of our Ultraviolet survey (over 50 insects over 10 pages).
The insects are not dead - just chilled to calm them, and flew off once warmed up.
In the Section Index you will also find plants and moths, butterflies, other insects and (surprise!) moorhen, plus links to technical details of the work and the paper produced by Wendy Harris on the results of the Dragonfly work of which we are secondary authors.

Date: 18 Nov 2016
View: E63_20160930_1809_147_FB1 Grey Squirrel chewing remains of fir cone.jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel finishing off a fallen Cone, most likely from the overhanging Lodgepole Pine tree. Nice to see some natural food being chosen.
The awkward crop reflects the bottom right corner of the original frame.

View: E63_20161002_1804_298_FB1 Grey Squirrel holding peas in pod in paws and nibbling it.jpg
Description: This Grey squirrel has learned to open Pea pods (which are quite similar, if larger than, many natural wild plants) but apparently has not noticed that one of the delicious seeds (a pea) has already landed on the ground.

Date: 17 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20161001_0838_139 Sundog with striations left of sun (crop).jpg
Description: A very intense Sundog (to the left of the sun) broken up into 3 striations by the moving clouds.

Date: 16 Nov 2016
View: D01_20161001_2002_014+20161002_2143_025_FB6 Tawny Owl 4 minute visit & second Tawny owl next night for 2 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: Tawny Owl visits on successive evenings turned out to be different individuals. Here are similar facial views (even if one bird's body is facing us and the other looking sideways) and you can see the very different 'parting' and patterns of grey and brown over the facial disc.

Date: 15 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20160928_1405_059-062 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male hovering over grass 1-4 of 4 (montage at 7fps).jpg
Description: A Southern Hawker Dragonfly still patrols the main pond at the least show of sunshine. Here he is hovering almost motionless (except for the wings of course) so we have spread the images and not tried to hide the background repeats.

View: DF3_20160928_1405_073 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male hovering over grass (detail crop).jpg
Description: This image from a flyby shows the wonderfully complex head and thorax.

Date: 14 Nov 2016
View: E63_20160924_1727_242_FB1 Grey Squirrel female eating corn-on-the-cob held horizontal in both paws.jpg
Description: A half Corn-on-the-Cob being chewed over by this Squirrel in a very human manner.

View: E63_20160924_1649_233_FB1 Pheasant female confronting slice of cucumber.jpg
Description: "What's this thing then?"
Our single visiting pheasant gives this piece of cucumber a suspicious look.

Date: 13 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20160925_1614_032-039 Buzzard on disused telephone pole flying away 01+03-06 of 16 (horizontally spread montage).jpg
Description: As we came out of the house and moved out of the cover of trees this Buzzard was perched on the newer of two discarded telephone poles. After a few seconds the bird spotted the 'dangerous' humans and decided to depart
This montage of the is spread horizontally to includes all of the first 4 frames of flight at about 7fps but about 50% expanded spacings over natural.

View: DF3_20160925_1614_046-049 Buzzard on disused telephone pole flying away 13-16 of 16 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A couple of seconds into the flight the obscuring trees allowed a decent view of the Buzzard picking up speed. This is accurately montaged at about 7fps.

View: DF3_20160925_1614_046 Buzzard on disused telephone pole flying away 13 of 16 (crop).jpg
Description: A larger view of the first image of the Buzzard in the montage, eye on us and powerful claws on their way to being streamlined behind the bird.

Date: 12 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20160924_1236_048-1237_067 Red Kite turning in flight (discontinuous) 01+03+05-07+10 of 10 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This Red Kite made a graceful turn in front of us over perhaps 4 seconds. Bird spacings are just for appearance.

View: DF3_20160924_1237_089-098 Red Kite making sharp turn in flight 02+06+-08+11 of 11 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: The same bird continued circling, but then made this abrupt aerobraking manoeuvrer to turn in just over 1 second. We never worked out what the 'hurry' was.

Date: 11 Nov 2016
View: df3_20160923_1017_207 peregrine falcon (nearer bird) on 11kv crossbar (id crop).jpg
Description: Two Wild Peregrine Falcons perched on adjacent 11kV crossbars about 100m apart. We have seen a Peregrine here once before in 2014, but it was a captive bird (or escapee) still wearing jesses on it's legs. So this is a new wild sighting here for this species.

View: df3_20160923_1020_210 peregrine falcon (further bird) on 11kv crossbar (id crop).jpg
Description: This is the more distant of the 2 first sightings of wild Peregrine Falcons. Judging from the relationship with the wires Peregrines are about three-quarters of the height of a Buzzard.

View: df3_20160923_1021_211-215 peregrine falcon (further bird) taking off from 11kv crossbar 1-5 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: We just missed the unpredictable launch of the Peregrine Falcon, but caught the downward dive that disappeared behind the hedge and did not re- appear.
Our report to the Bucks RSPB recorder suggests that there are breeding colonies around Milton Keynes, and this may be a couple of youngsters spreading out to find their own territories. Not seen again in the week following this encounter.

Date: 10 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20160922_1326_109-112 Buzzard calling in flight @ 7fps 1-4 of 9 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The 'noisy' (forever calling) Buzzard being - err - noisy.

View: DF3_20160922_1326_151-153 Buzzard gliding overhead 1-3 of 3 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: This bird flew right overhead looking right and left as it went.

Date: 09 Nov 2016
View: D72_20160925_1635_016 Rainbow double arc with extra colours inside inner bow (crop).jpg
Description: The inner bow of this rainbow showed some extra colours we only rarely see. Starting outside the sequence seems to be the normal Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet and then the extras Yellow, Green & Violet. We have not found an explanation.
Its not a camera effect - we could both SEE some extra colours and took this short segment in the hope of recording it. We have not 'wound up' or otherwise changed the colours.

View: D72_20160925_1633_004 Rainbow double arc with extra colours inside inner bow (crop).jpg
Description: An unusually bright rainbow on one of those days when the rain is falling in the sunshine! Note how the sky inside the inner bow is always brighter. This was taken a couple of minutes before the detail showing extra colours.

Date: 08 Nov 2016
View: D01_20160923_0240_002+242_004+241_003_FB6 Tawny Owl 3 minute visit 1+3+2 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: In the hours after midnight this Tawny Owl touched down for a short visit to the Meadow Post.

Date: 07 Nov 2016
View: E62_20160918_1924_270_FB5 Rabbit with Myxomatosis being taken by Fox 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: We don't normally show you Rabbits with Myxomatosis even though we see lots of images on our cameras at this time of year. Many recover from less severe attacks, but this one is as bad as it gets. The rabbit is (at least temporarily) blinded by the swellings but alive. It has found this piece of pear to eat at the left end of the log ...

View: E62_20160918_1929_271_FB5 Rabbit with Myxomatosis being taken by Fox 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: ... but 5 minutes later the Rabbit meets it's end in the jaws of a Fox. We see no signs of it even struggling, and this may be a merciful release for the suffering Rabbit.

Date: 06 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20160918_1426_096 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male.jpg
Description: In a patch of sunshine on a cool day this lovely Dragonfly was on the wing for long enough for us to see him land. He is in remarkably good condition for this late in the summer - normally the wing edges will have been torn on a few thorns by now.

View: DF3_20160915_1336_055 Red Admiral Butterfly feeding on Water Mint flowers.jpg
Description: In the autumn sunshine, a Red Admiral Butterfly feasts from the water mint still flowering at the main pond.

Date: 05 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20160918_0842_076-080 Little Egret flying along line of brook 1-5 of 7 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: This lovely Little Egret (species common name) flew along the brook, and then unexpectedly turned round and came back a bit closer giving time to get the camera better adjusted. The very out of focus tree top in the middle is a young Lombardy Poplar along the track while lower left and right are huge trees at the brook edge. The spacing are accurate at about 7fps.

View: DF3_20160921_1631_029 7 Starling juveniles moulting into adult + 1 Magpie on 11kV cables.jpg
Description: We have not noticed any Starlings around the house in the last few weeks, but 70m away on the 11kV power cables to our north we see a row of juveniles moulting from matt brown to glistening metallic tints, starting on their breasts.

Date: 04 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20160915_1238_011+015+018 Harlequin Ladybird on Teasel head opening wings 1-3 of 3 (adjusted montage 2).jpg
Description: 3 frames of a Harlequin Ladybird crawling over a teasel, open its wing cases for an unusually long time before lift-off. In the bottom right image you can see that the wing case is well lit inside and must be translucent with the spots also clearly visible.

Date: 03 Nov 2016
View: SW1_20160912_2338_031-033_SC1 Muntjac Deer male mating with female 1-3 of 3 (montage over 5 seconds).jpg
Description: An unexpectedly tender moment as the male Muntjac Deer (on the left) is quietly accepted by the female who stands still and looks quietly back at him as he mounts her just before midnight. These 3 frames over about 5 seconds.
Since we obtained these IR images, BBC Autumnwatch broadcast thermal imagery of the also small Sika Deer males having to obtain cooperation and permission from the females before mating. The Muntjac behaviour here may be similar.

Date: 02 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20160913_1446_306+309+313 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male hovering by main pond 1+3+4 of 4 (montage bottom to top).jpg
Description: This male Southern Hawker Dragonfly started hovering long enough to get the camera on him and focus. Here are 3 frames from about 1 second of the hover.

Date: 01 Nov 2016
View: DF3_20160913_1118_149 Grass Snake juvenile about 30cm long on surface of main pond (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: After 2 years without a sighting, movement in the water turned out to be this immaculate juvenile Grass Snake (about 30cm = 1ft long) swimming over the surface.

View: DF3_20160913_1118_145 Grass Snake juvenile about 30cm long on surface of main pond (crop for head and tongue detail).jpg
Description: From another frame we caught this moment with tongue out collecting tastes from the air (actually detected when they pull the tongue in - hence the characteristic flicking tongue).

Image Archive arch 2016 oct.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160913_1102_073-075 Black-headed Gull in eclipse swallowing insect caught in flight 1-3 of 3 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: Black-headed Gulls (in eclipse so no black head) were swooping about and jinking in mid-air, obviously catching insects 'on the wing'. This bird has just caught something which went down the throat in about 300mS.
Read this bottom right moving upwards

View: DF3_20160913_1126_202-204 Black-headed Gull in eclipse with insect caught in beak & swallowing it 1-3 of 4 (close montage).jpg
Description: Black-headed Gulls (in eclipse so no black head) were swooping about and jinking in mid-air, obviously catching insects 'on the wing'. This bird has just caught something which went down the throat in a fraction of a second.
Read this bottom left moving upwards

Date: 30 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160911_0858_201 Spider Web on dead Thistle plant heavy with dew (crop 2).jpg
Description: The high humidity overnight turned the local spider webs into jewellery better than that used to adorn a starlets neck.
Natural appearance without use of a water sprayer.

View: DF3_20160911_0906_207 Asparagus fern with Spider webs all soaked in dew (crop).jpg
Description: The high humidity overnight turned many plants into shimmering lace.
Natural appearance without use of a water sprayer.

View: DF3_20160911_0851_189 Mist over fresh ploughed land in sunshine and in lee of hedge (crop).jpg
Description: As the sun warmed the freshly harrowed soil following the harvest, we saw this strange effect of mist rising from the soil but instead of being blown away by the very light breeze (from right to left here) was in the lee of the hedge and hardly moved until 10 or 20 metres from the hedge.

Date: 29 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160909_1116_074 Harvesting crop in field to South West (orig).jpg
Description: The Tale of the Fox starts unexpectedly with this huge harvester making a sweep down the slope of this field.

View: DF3_20160909_1117_075-079 Fox startled by harvester running along hedge line 01-05 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Suddenly this Fox streaked in apparent panic out the field being harvested and ran at what looked like full speed along the line of the boundary hedge for perhaps 200m. This is an accurate montage at about 7 fps.

View: DF3_20160909_1117_101+113 Startled fox running up field edge straight towards camera (montage).jpg
Description: To our surprise the Fox did not carry on through the hedge and out of sight, but turned 90 degrees toward us and carried his high-speed run along the hedge we were standing next to. It was impossible to keep the Fox in focus as it hurtled towards us, so here are a couple of frames that give you the idea.

View: DF3_20160909_1117_137-137 Startled fox running right past camera 3-5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: Perhaps 10m from us the Fox veered off to the left and the photographer was trying so hard to keep the fox 'in frame' that he didn't realise it was now over-filling the frame. The gorgeous creature disappeared through the hedge into our orchard and vanished.

Date: 28 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160909_0841_025 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female perched in hedge.jpg
Description: Before 9 a.m. on a mid-September morning some warm early sunshine brought out variety of insects into a east facing hedge.
This female Migrant Hawker Dragonfly has been flying about and obligingly landed where we could photograph her.

View: DF3_20160909_0857_047 Comma Butterfly sipping juice from ripe blackberry fruit (crop 1).jpg
Description: Before 9 a.m. on a mid-September morning some warm early sunshine brought out variety of insects into a east facing hedge.
A Comma Butterfly with it's proboscis is wheedling out juice from the ripe blackberry it is perched upon. You can just make out the white 'comma' as a semicircle on the lower (dark) side of the wing nearest to us.

View: DF3_20160909_0858_059 Small White Butterfly feeding on Blackberry flower.jpg
Description: Before 9 a.m. on a mid-September morning some warm early sunshine brought out variety of insects into a east facing hedge.
A Small White Butterfly (that is the common species name) is tackling a Blackberry flower.

View: DF3_20160909_0900_068 Red Admiral Butterfly sipping juice from ripe blackberry fruit.jpg
Description: At 9 a.m. on a mid-September morning some warm early sunshine brought out variety of insects into a east facing hedge.
A Red Admiral Butterfly with it's proboscis (just left of the more obvious leg resting on the fruit) deep down in the not-quite ripe Blackberry berry.

Date: 27 Oct 2016
View: E63_20160829_1932_047_FB1 Fox hunting.jpg
Description: This Fox visiting the feeding site has it's attention split between the food fragments in front of it, and the possibly much more rewarding movement out of image to the left.

Date: 26 Oct 2016
View: SW1_20160907_2237_106-108_SC1 2 Muntjac Deer males fighting face to face at edge of Round Pond 1-3 of 3 (left to right montage).jpg
Description: Our occasional sighting of Muntjac Deer are usually of solitary animals. So this image of 2 males apparently having a trial of strength on the bank of Round pond is a first for us. The water is behind the animal at the top and it likely that it was pushed down the bank and into the water. 3 images left to right a few seconds apart.

Date: 25 Oct 2016
View: E60_20160906_0836_013_FB3 Dunnock twisting in flight (crop 1).jpg
Description: A Dunnock twisting in the air as it approaches the bird table perch below.

View: E63_20160904_0633_298_FB1 Chaffinch male fluttering over stone.jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch, this one with still a trace of blue coating on his beak remaining, flutters over the stone.

Date: 24 Oct 2016
View: D72_20160908_1545_020-027 Red Kite in flight against clouds @ 10fps 1-8 of 8 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Red Kite appeared out of nowhere and glided majestically past but we soon 'lost' it behind a hedge. This is at about 10 frames/sec accurately positioned

View: D72_20160908_1550_051-055 Corvid harassing Red Kite in flight @ 10fps 1-5 of 6 (horizontally stretched montage).jpg
Description: The Red Kite appeared with a Corvid 'snapping at its heels' as it chased away the Kite

Date: 23 Oct 2016
View: E63_20160906_1812_118_FB1 Grey squirrel using slice of fruit as a feeding plate.jpg
Description: Fruit 'plate' - Squirrel style

View: D01_20160907_1904_009_FB6 Grey Squirrel with left paws both grooming.jpg
Description: "Look Mum, No hands!"
Well, no paws on one side anyway

View: D36_20160906_1848_035_FB4 Magpie holding pepper top in beak.jpg
Description: Does this Magpie want the pepper top to eat, or has it selected it as something 'bright' in the way magpies are known to collect shiny objects?

Date: 22 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160901_1810_022 Red Admiral Butterfly on leaf.jpg
Description: An almost pristine Red Admiral Butterfly warming itself nicely centred on a leaf in the sunshine. Ahh!

View: E64_20160902_1615_047_FB2 Chaffinch male on log among Blackberry debris.jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch at the woodland site, this one without any trace of blue left on the beak, clambers over a fallen Blackberry twig. You can see the Blackberry juice leaking from the base of his beak.

Date: 21 Oct 2016
View: D01_20160904_0259_010+0409_018+2235_030_FB6 Tawny Owl selection from 4 visits over 2 nights (montage).jpg
Description: 4 visits by at least two Tawny Owl individuals in a single night offered this set of images for this montage.

Date: 20 Oct 2016
View: D01_20160902_0323_011-0341_035_FB6 Tawny Owl 19 minute visit (selected) 1+5-7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: After weeks of absence a Tawny Owl individual made a 19 minute visit. Here is the flamboyant landing and the last two minutes of the suddenly agitated bird moving around on the top after 15 minutes of almost totally static images.

View: D01_20160901_2044_006-2046_008_FB6 Tawny Owl landing on IR sender pole then flying to meadow post 1-3 of 4 (exposure adjusted accurate montage).jpg
Description: In the evening before the 19 minute stay a different Tawny Owl made a short visit. First the bird flew to the thin post (top left) that holds the IR sense beam sender (pale square with dark middle). We don't know whether the bird perched on the sender or the top of the post (out of frame at the top left). The bird then swooped down through the beam (lower left) flying to the photographic target post (the landing missed while the camera flash was re-charging) where it stayed for a couple of minutes.
Everything on the left is wildly out of focus because it is metres behind the target perch, but we think interesting enough to show you anyway.

Date: 19 Oct 2016
View: E63_20160828_1653_302_FB1 Pheasant female.jpg
Description: An attractive portrait of what seems to be the one female Pheasant visiting at the moment.

View: E63_20160830_1828_106_FB1 Pheasant female and Grey Squirrel.jpg
Description: One version of female Pheasant and Grey Squirrel 'sharing' the photo site.

View: E63_20160831_1823_184_FB1 Grey Squirrel leaping onto back of pheasant female (crop).jpg
Description: Same time next day, not such a amicable interaction.
Here the female Pheasant is facing us with her head out of frame to the right as the Grey Squirrel is jumping onto her back at the root of her tail.
OUCH!

View: E63_20160831_1816_180_FB1 Grey Squirrel eating Strawberry top.jpg
Description: "What Me - attack an innocent girl pheasant?"

Date: 18 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160829_1230_037 Common Darter Dragonfly female on Iris frond.jpg
Description: A female Common darter sunning herself on an Iris frond.

View: DF3_20160829_1233_042 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly male on Blackberry stem.jpg
Description: A male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly perched on a desiccated blackberry stem. We seem to have an unusually high number of this species this year.

Date: 17 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160827_1112_272-275 Swallow parent feeding juvenile perched on electricity cables 2-5 of 6 (left to right montage).jpg
Description: Our only opportunity to photograph Swallows feeding their youngsters so far this year. Read this sequence as pairs of birds left to right with the adult (always to the right) flying in and then dropping away.

Date: 16 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160826_1341_031 Red Admiral Butterfly feeding on Water Mint flowers.jpg
Description: A pristine Red Admiral Butterfly sipping Water Mint nectar through it's built-in straw.

Date: 15 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160830_1058_146-157 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male hovering 01+06+10+12 of 14 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A male Southern Hawker Dragonfly hovering in front of the cameraman for a couple of seconds, drifting slowly to the left. We have picked 4 frames from the sequence that allow accurate positioning without overlaps.

View: DF3_20160830_1058_163 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male hovering 4 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: Another hover by the same insect.
Note how the legs are completely folded up - something you DON'T see when we photograph Dragonflies in our flight tunnel where they are in free flight but too soon after launch for the 'undercarriage' to have been raised.

Date: 14 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160826_1051_017 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male in flight (crop 2).jpg
Description: A mid-morning flight for this male Southern Hawker Dragonfly moving through the position of sharp focus for just this one frame as he spends the whole day patrolling his patch around the main pond.

View: DF3_20160829_1216_004 Southern Hawker Dragonfly female ovipositing (egg laying) on Iris fronds 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A female Southern Hawker Dragonfly on the Iris fronds on the main pond. Our second sighting this year of this activity but we never seem to get a good view!

Date: 13 Oct 2016
View: D36_20160831_1902_066_FB4 Grey Squirrel arriving at freshly baited tree-stump top.jpg
Description: "Lovely Jubbly!"
This Grey Squirrel has probably started eating while still clinging to the side!
In memory of our friend Ivan for whom this was one of his favourite sayings.

Date: 12 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160824_1748_006 Southern Hawker Dragonfly female laying eggs on Iris fronds in main pond 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A Southern Hawker Dragonfly ovipositing (laying eggs) on Iris fronds in the main pond. She spent about 10 minutes laying all around the pond, but almost every stop was out of view or so shaded that neither we nor the camera could see a thing. Finally she reached the front of the pond pausing for a few seconds that you see here. She first had her ovipositor (tail end) out of sight on the left of the frond, and then on the right as you see here, before flying off into the distance after about 10 seconds and we didn't see her again.

View: DF3_20160821_1327_028 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly male.jpg
Description: If you have a pond and push an angled stick onto the top that overhangs the water, Darter Dragonflies will often choose it for a look-out post. We used this Willow stick and despite already spouting (as willows do) this male Ruddy Darter likes the perch.

Date: 11 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160823_1022_066 Speckled Wood Butterfly.jpg
Description: A Speckled Wood Butterfly on a blackberry leaf in a tiny shaft of sunlight

View: E65_20160823_1342_024 Red Admiral Butterfly on Yellow Buddleia.jpg
Description: Atypically choosing this long flowering yellow Buddleia while the white variety is still in flower, a Red Admiral Butterfly feeds and shows the underside of the wings.

View: E65_20160823_1342_031 Tortoiseshell Butterfly on Yellow Buddleia.jpg
Description: Atypically choosing this long flowering yellow Buddleia while the white variety is still in flower, a Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly glows even against the orangey flowers.

Date: 10 Oct 2016
View: E64_20160821_1750_156_FB2 Grey Squirrel chasing away another.jpg
Description: A not-so-friendly encounter between two Grey Squirrels.

View: E64_20160823_1907_045_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying slice of Windfall apple.jpg
Description: These windfall apples are really bitter, but the Squirrels seems to like them enough to carry them away.

Date: 09 Oct 2016
View: E63_20160820_1938_235_FB1 Robin in flight banking around stone (crop).jpg
Description: Robins have been flying low over the ground level sites providing some clear images in flight, this one with the bird's shadow on the stone.

View: E64_20160819_0659_051_FB2 Robin juvenile flying over Chaffinch female (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Robins have been flying low over the ground level sites providing some clear images in flight - this time a juvenile flying over an apparently unconcerned female Chaffinch.

Date: 08 Oct 2016
View: E63_20160822_1909_039_FB1 Chaffinch male in flight (crop 2).jpg
Description: A glorious splash of colour as this male Chaffinch launches from the ground. The normally hidden green rump (not as prominent here as we sometimes see) always seems to us to be unexpected.

View: E64_20160821_0705_144_FB2 Dunnock in flight close to ground (crop).jpg
Description: Here a Dunnock flies lower over the ground with head level with ground but whole underbody facing the camera.

Date: 07 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160815_1022_001+002 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly male taking off from hanging grass seed head 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: This Migrant Hawker Dragonfly was hanging from a broken grass seed head, and unexpectedly took off as the camera took the first frame. Dragonflies have no known sense of hearing - their world is almost entirely visual. Anyway, one thinks of dragonflies as very light - even the biggest in the UK only just makes it over 1 gram (see Weights of Insects) But even so this grass head swung back to vertical as the Dragonfly let go of it.

Date: 06 Oct 2016
View: E64_20160814_1751_141_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels squabbling.jpg
Description: What a bundle of unleashed fury.

View: E64_20160814_2052_183_FB2 Rabbit leaping at least 30cm over log (crop).jpg
Description: This rabbit is probably only about a 30cm (a foot) in the air but we have no idea why, nor remember, such airborne antics from a Rabbit before.

Date: 05 Oct 2016
View: E62_20160814_1932_298_FB5 Robin on log with tail feathers spread.jpg
Description: Seeing this image made us realise that you rarely see a Robin's tail nicely spread like this.

Date: 04 Oct 2016
View: E63_20160813_1901_198_FB1+E64_20160813_0013_102_FB2+20160814_0630_231_FB1 Fox hunting before sunset + midnight + after next sunrise 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: These three images are of the same fox out hunting before sunset at the hedge bottom, just after midnight in the meadow, and after Sunrise back at the hedge bottom. We have scaled the images on the different camera kits to be the same size. Look at the animals Irises in the 3 lighting conditions (the flash is too fast for the eye to respond until after the photo). We don't know what the animal caught, but you can't criticise the persistence!

Date: 03 Oct 2016
View: E60_20160811_1630_008_FB3 Great Tit juvenile in flight trying to catch (q) tiny insect (crop 2).jpg
Description: We are always trying to catch Swifts, Swallows and Martins in the act of catching an insect, but this year there has been a worrying lack of opportunities. But here the kitchen window camera catches a Robin making such an attempt. We often see birds make sudden diversions that we assume are to catch some food item, but have never actually seen the target before.

Date: 02 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160812_1244_025 Brimstone butterfly male feeding on lower ring of teasel head.jpg
Description: We seem to have a lot of Brimstone Butterflies this year. This one is feeding on the flowers of a Teasel. Teasel heads start with a ring of flowers somewhere about half way up the head, which splits into 2 rings, each moving away from the other until it runs out of head at the top or bottom after a week or so. Here the insect is on the lower ring.

View: DF3_20160813_1255_006 Holly Blue Butterfly female showing top of wings (crop).jpg
Description: Only the female Holly Blue Butterfly has this dark edge on the top of the wings - the male has barely a trace.

Date: 01 Oct 2016
View: DF3_20160812_1354_056-058 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male flying past Common Darter Dragonfly male on perch 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Lower left is a male Common Darter Dragonfly watching over 'his' pond from a convenient perch. Top right a male Southern Hawker Dragonfly patrolling his patch in his own manner - endless flight over and around the pond. He kept flying close to the Darter, who occasionally reacted but returned each time to his perch.
You don't often see Darters and Hawkers in the same image - these are the same distance from the camera so you can compare sizes.

View: DF3_20160816_1412_123 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly male on desiccated stem.jpg
Description: A Ruddy Darter Dragonfly glowing gorgeously in the sunshine as he guards his territory

Image Archive arch 2016 sep.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Sep 2016
View: E63_20160806_0119_171-20160806_0320_179_FB1 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) on stone in various postures 2+3+1+4 of 4 (montage tight).jpg
Description: "The Ascent of Man Mouse"

View: E63_20160817_0215_175_FB1 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) facing camera on stone.jpg
Description: In the 'Still of the Night' at 2.15a.m. two (not a montage) little sweeties on the stone.

Date: 29 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160810_1212_061 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female perched in hedge.jpg
Description: This female Migrant Hawker Dragonfly was whizzing about near a blocked gate and finally perched long enough to get this respectable image.

View: DF3_20160806_1435_181+182 Common Darter Dragonfly landing on desiccated Hop Sedge 1+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A Common Darter Dragonfly was repeatedly returning to this bent over Hop Sedge providing the opportunity for an image of the landing.

View: DF3_20160806_1436_187 Common Darter Dragonfly perched on seed head.jpg
Description: The Common Darter Dragonfly finally decided to sun itself on this seed head.

Date: 28 Sep 2016
View: E62_20160810_2023_262_FB5 Fox hunting in twilight (crop 2).jpg
Description: Out in twilight (see the half-open irises) this Fox can undoubtedly smell the alluring odour of Fieldmice (Wood Mice) - and wants one!

View: SW6_20160808_0452_215 Fox detecting click from camera (changing from IR to daylight) 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: This 4.52 a.m. image was the second of a set of three taken by this camera after using IR in the dark. The switch over moves a tiny filter at the lens inside the camera which make a tiny tap you can just about hear in the quiet of the indoors. But this Fox heard it after the first image, looked up to see what it was, and then continued on it's way concluding it was 'mostly harmless'.

Date: 27 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160805_1806_149 Buzzard perched on 11KV cable (crop).jpg
Description: Over the years we have mentioned that Buzzards don't perch on wires, assuming that their weight and foot design make this uncomfortable. Well this buzzard, some 200m away from us, spent a few minutes perched on the wire before flying back to the brook.
So maybe ... Buzzards don't often perch on wires ...

Date: 26 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160805_1538_094 Butterflies courting in varying sized groups (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: We seem to have a larger variety and number of 'white' butterflies this year than normal. Watching little groups spiralling around looking for a mate has been a delight this year. The biggest insect at the lower left is a female Brimstone Butterfly.

View: DF3_20160810_1506_084-087 Brimstone Butterfly male flying between flowers of Purple Loosestrife (lower left clockwise) 1-4 of 4 (approx montage).jpg
Description: This male Brimstone Butterfly was feeding on the Purple Loosestrife flowers and fluttering between the stems. Start bottom left and follow clockwise.

Date: 25 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160805_1317_056 Holly Blue Butterfly feeding on Blackberry flower.jpg
Description: A Holly Blue Butterfly feasting on a Blackberry flower

View: DF3_20160805_1527_067 Cinnabar Caterpillar feeding on Oxford Ragwort.jpg
Description: A Cinnabar Caterpillar building it's body ready to make a lovely big Pupa and emerging as a startling black and red adult Moth.

Date: 24 Sep 2016
View: DF1_20160808_0642_001+003+006 Wren Juvenile being fed in top of hedge 1+3+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: A young Wren was chasing about the top of the hedge outside the living room window, when Mum or Dad arrived to give it a feed (right).

View: DF3_20160805_1013_029-031 Goldfinch feeding youngster in conifer tree 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: An adult Goldfinch was feeding its youngster high in a distant conifer. These frames over about a third of a second.

Date: 23 Sep 2016
View: E60_20160807_2242_066_FB3 Tawny Owl (crop).jpg
Description: The 4 day plethora of Tawny Owl pics included just this one image of a Tawny Owl landing outside the kitchen window about an hour before midnight.
The camera trigger here just takes the one frame at each beam break - the bird may have stayed for some time.

Date: 22 Sep 2016
View: D01_20160807_0153_087+0154_088_FB6+E62_20160807_0156_195_FB5 Tawny Owl 1m visit and then pounce attack on ground 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: The 4 day plethora of Tawny Owl pics included one spending a couple of minutes on the post and then diving down onto site 5 (perhaps 10m away) and photographing itself as it landed.

View: E62_20160807_0156_195_FB5 Tawny Owl 1m visit and then pounce attack on ground 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: Here is the Tawny Owl pounce in more detail. The bird's right Talon seems to have grabbed just a tuft of grass but the hidden left talon could have 'anything' in it, most likely one of the many Fieldmice (Wood Mice) that visit this site.

View: E62_20160806_0502_140_FB5 Fox hunting from behind log 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: "Where are those fieldmice (wood mice) then?"

Date: 21 Sep 2016
View: D01_20160804_2337_026+20160805_2258_056+20160808_0036_023+20160807_0257_108_FB6 Tawny Owl visits (montage).jpg
Description: Over the 4 nights our 'Meadow Post' camera photographed Tawny Owls 133 times (that's about 100 minutes elapsed) including 12 landings on the post, as well as one image at the kitchen bird table and another pouncing on the ground at the meadow camera! We think the bird(s) must have been having a wonderful time considering that they have plenty of other hunting perches (other posts, power and telephone poles, and of course tree branches). We think there are two similar Owls visiting in these sequences, but the facial details are often difficult to see and we have not tried to differentiate them. As is typical of wildlife appearances, no more sightings for the next 6 days at least!
First we have chosen 4 of the mid-stay images with some character. All of these images are at the same scale. The 3rd and 4th (from the right) are probably the same bird, but at least are similar sized birds. The 3rd image it seems to have settled itself down in the hole in the middle of the post, giving the squat appearance. The 4th is standing upright on the high edge of the post with feathers raised and looks, but isn't, twice the size!

View: D01_20160805_2257_054+20160807_0254_105+2016_0805_2241_049_FB6 Tawny Owl landing on meadow post (montage).jpg
Description: Here is a montage of 3 of the 12 Tawny Owl landings on the post in just 4 days
Reminds us of a set of Totem Poles!

Date: 20 Sep 2016
View: E64_20160801_1629_058_FB2 2 Robin juveniles fight in flight with claws interlocked (crop 1).jpg
Description: A couple of juvenile Robins tumble in mid-air with claws interlocked.
Never too soon to learn how to fight :-(

Date: 19 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160803_1609_014 Kestrel female in flight 7 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: A female Kestrel went hunting over the adjacent field.

View: DF3_20160803_1609_040-048 Kestrel female hovering then dropping down to move away 1+3+5+7+9 of 9 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: From a hover (always awkward to represent in a montage) at the top right the female Kestrel suddenly dropped down to gain speed to fly to a new hunting spot.

View: DF3_20160803_1617_098-103 Kestrel female turning in flight 1-6 of 6 (slightly spread montage @ 6fps).jpg
Description: Taking off after an unsuccessful dive to the fallow field, back in the air our female Kestrel twists in the air to change direction - well she might not have liked the look of the photographer. This is about 1 second of flight only slightly spread horizontally on the right to avoid overlaps.

Date: 18 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160801_0736_322-323 Buzzard in flight over trees @ 6fps 03-06 of 11 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Buzzards have returned to the trees at the Brook, and are hunting from them and the 11KV power line crossbars. We have seen 3 Buzzards at once in the area.

View: DF3_20160801_0738_352+355+360 Buzzard landing in Willow tree @ 6fps 1+4+9 of 9 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This bird landed in a willow tree at the brook.
Image 1 (left): The Talon are extended to grip the branch a few centimetres away.
Image 2 (middle): The landing was accompanied by a call - this is the 'noisy Buzzard'.
Image 3 (right): Is from a changed camera position were we could see the Buzzards eye peering between the leaves.

View: DF3_20160801_0740_406+407+409 Buzzard in flight aborting landing on Crossbar @ 6fps 1+2+4 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: This buzzard appeared from our left and started to turn into the wind (blowing towards the post from our position), saw us and basically Panicked - claws down, twisting in flight and calling before accelerating into the distance. It is a shame that humans are so feared, but it is a good survival tactic.

Date: 17 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160731_1751_222-224 Hares gambolling over bare soil @ 6fps 1-3 of 9 (impression montage).jpg
Description: It has never occurred to us that Hares are actually rather well camouflaged if they keep still on a fallow field. This pair were ambling over the recently harvested field and even presented like this get lost against the background.

Date: 16 Sep 2016
View: DF2_20160729_0746_019-026 Green Woodpecker female hopping along concrete track @ 6fps 01-08 of 11 (stretched montage).jpg
Description: This female Green Woodpecker was spotted through an upstairs window and as she hopped along the concrete we got some frames that allow us to show the bounding appearance. This montage shows the movement a bit 'stretched'.
One of our guide book describes the motion as 'clumsy' but it works fine and that is all that matters to the bird. It not dissimilar to the motion of Magpies on a flat surface, but the Green Woodpecker uses a two legged hop rather than the Magpies one leg, other leg and then a period in the air.

View: DF2_20160729_0746_020 Green Woodpecker female hopping along concrete track @ 6fps 02 of 11 (crop).jpg
Description: This is the second frame from the right of the montage, showing the feet operating in synchrony.

Date: 15 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160731_0850_202-206 Green Woodpecker juvenile short flight over track @6fps 3-7 of 7 (horizontally stretched montage).jpg
Description: This is a juvenile Green Woodpecker keeping a wary distance from us as we walked down the concrete track. This form of locomotion is more like a 'jump and glide'. The landing was hidden from us by the hedge appearing at the right.

View: DF3_20160731_0850_211 Green Woodpecker juvenile.jpg
Description: A few steps forwarding revealed the juvenile Green Woodpecker's landing point.

Date: 14 Sep 2016
View: D01_20160801_0040_026+20160731_2350_020+20160730_0122_003_FB6 Tawny Owl landings (montage).jpg
Description: Multiple visit nights by the this Tawny Owl give us the chance to present this little montage of the most interesting 'landings' on the meadow post.

View: E60_20160730_0130_021_FB3 Tawny Owl landing (crop).jpg
Description: The Tawny Owl made this visit to the bird table and perch outside the kitchen window - much closer than the Owl post so offering a more detailed image.

Date: 13 Sep 2016
View: D01_20160728_0101_008+0358_024+0411_030_FB6 Tawny Owl landings on meadow post (montage).jpg
Description: The early hours of one night brought 4 separate visits by Tawny owl(s) over a period of a bit over 3 hours, lasting 4 to 8 minutes each visit. Here are 3 of the four landings arranged in what we think is an attractive layout.
Don't read a single 'landing sequence' into them.

View: D01_20160728_0107_016_FB6 Tawny Owl visit 1 of 4 lasting 8 minutes 4 of 4 with prey in Talons (crop).jpg
Description: On this visit to the post the Tawny owl has already caught some partially eviscerated rodent it is holding in it's left claw. The prey is partly hidden down the hole in the centre of the log (mainly dug out by Woodpeckers).

View: SW2_20160728_0623_107_SC2 Tawny Owl on ground at end of orchard in daylight (time triggered not movement) 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: Two and a half hours after the last sighting at the pole one of our 'trail cams' caught this unexpected view of a Tawny Owl at the end of the 'Orchard'. The camera in this instance was triggered by a 2 hourly timer to take three images a few seconds apart. This is the second such image - in the third the bird had gone - we were very lucky to see the bird at all. It was probably on the ground after seeing a Rodent and diving on it, or maybe looking for worms and beetles.

Date: 12 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160724_1240_034 Red Kite in flight 5 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: A Red Kite made quite a low pass over, and we caught this detailed moment.

Date: 11 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160724_0814_138-140 Buzzard calling from 11kV crossbar 1-3 of 3 (Spread montage).jpg
Description: A morning walk down the Bridleway to our North was rewarded by a couple of Buzzards moving around the area. This one was standing still on a power line crossbar, calling for all he was worth. The positions of the bird and infrastructure are all 'for effect'

View: DF3_20160724_0815_180 Buzzard calling in flight 2 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: The bird decided to join his family in the air and we caught this moment in flight still calling in flight.

View: DF3_20160724_0817_233-239 Buzzard flying to perch in tree 1-7 of 8 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The other of the two buzzards flying (silently) up to perch in the Willow tree to the left. As luck would have it, the bird picked the far side of the tree and effectively disappeared for us before landing.

Date: 10 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160722_1455_042 Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly on thistles.jpg
Description: Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were at one time in our hedges in hundreds, but we now see them mainly in the 'meadow' and its surrounds in ones and twos. But a lovely splash of colour!

View: DF3_20160722_1804_060 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female (crop).jpg
Description: This is the female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly, with iridescent brown-green body.

Date: 09 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160721_1625_032 Aeroplane KCOA WW2 Lancaster 4 engined Bomber here with Thumper emblem (crop with insert).jpg
Description: We sometimes see a lot of 'small' Aircraft flying over (especially at weekends) and usually try to get a photo with the registration number. This low WW2 Lancaster Bomber was an impressive sight. A search of the WWW suggests that this one is the best preserved there is, and is repainted in various liveries to celebrate famous but no-longer airworthy craft. This one has a legend of 'Thumper' - a Rabbit from the Walt Disney film 'Bambi' as we show you in the insert from another frame. In yet another image (not shown) the pilot has spotted us through his open cockpit window.
If you have an interest in aircraft or think you might have been photographed by us have a look at our experimental site at http://moorhen.ddns.net which has over 1000 images on file..

Date: 08 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160721_1359_015 Cinnabar caterpillars feeding on Oxford Ragwort (crop 2).jpg
Description: Instead of the normal one or two clumps this year we have a at least 30 single Oxford Ragwort plants spread through the rank grass. This poisonous plant is the food plant of Cinnabar caterpillars which retain the poison to become poisonous themselves. As usual we will attempt to stop these plants making too much seed - Ragwort is very poisonous to cattle who graze near a boarder.

View: DF3_20160724_1253_169 Cinnabar caterpillar eating Oxford Ragwort flower.jpg
Description: Paraphrasing the guide book .. 'eats Ragwort leaves and flowers' is illustrated by this caterpillar inside the decimated flower head

Date: 07 Sep 2016
View: D36_20160724_0239_096_FB4 Brown Long-eared Bat in flight (crop).jpg
Description: A Brown Long-eared Bat photographs itself over the tree-stump at about 2.30a.m.
We don't actively take bat photos any more after threats of prosecution over the use of flash (many times weaker than the bat got unintentionally 'wacked' with here) but there is no point in throwing away accidental photo unrelated to any roost.

Date: 06 Sep 2016
View: D01_20160725_0404_018-0417_035_FB6 Tawny Owl 14 minute visit (selected) 1+2+6+7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: Tawny Owls move around on the post top quite a lot if they stay for more than a minute or two - this one spent 14 minutes staring intently down in various directions. This was the second and longer of 2 visits on the same night.

Date: 05 Sep 2016
View: E65_20160717_1130_070 House Sparrow female feeding youngsters corn and peanut fragments 10 of 13 (crop).jpg
Description: We didn't know we had House Sparrows on the site this year (whether breeding here we just don't know) but saw a couple of youngsters being fed on the 'table' outside the study. Here the adult (right) was picking up corn and feeding it apparently 'unprocessed' direct to the youngster. The other youngster (mostly hidden by the adult) was quite happy to pick it up and eat it without any help!

View: E65_20160718_0927_005+0928_035 House Sparrow female feeding youngsters corn and peanut fragments 11+12 of 13 (montage).jpg
Description: Next day no corn was left & the adult was collecting peanut pieces from the feeder hanging from the table, and then flying up to deliver it to the youngster. The youngster almost 'mugs' the parent for its share and the adult (left) has trouble staying on the edge of the table.

Date: 04 Sep 2016
View: E63_20160716_1903_129_FB1 Grey Squirrel eating apple peel held in paws.jpg
Description: Twee Grey Squirrel of the week.
Actually since the farmer has just harvested his oil-seed rape crop from the adjacent fields the Squirrels have mostly deserted our site in favour of the easy pickings from the spilled pods. A temporary respite until the easy feeding is used up!

Date: 03 Sep 2016
View: E63_20160716_0210_109_FB1 Badger.jpg
Description: A Badger stops by for a 2 a.m. lick of the peanut butter impregnated stone.

View: E63_20160716_0624_113_FB1 Roe Deer.jpg
Description: This camera site isn't really set up for creatures the height of this Roe Deer, but is welcome anyway.

Date: 02 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160718_1618_015 Banded Demoiselle Damselfly male (crop).jpg
Description: This male Banded Demoiselle Damselfly shows its body detail well, but the dark background tends to hide the band on the wings that give it its name.

View: DF3_20160718_1809_003 Banded Demoiselle Damselfly male (1st sighting was 16July2016) (crop).jpg
Description: This Banded Demoiselle posed long enough for this portrait that show the band on the wings very clearly.
We first spotted a male Banded Demoiselle on 16th July 2016 we but couldn't get a photo at the time.

Date: 01 Sep 2016
View: DF3_20160717_1746_077-083+093-099 Heron circling east of plot 01-14 of 14 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This Heron circled a couple of times just to our south-east.

Image Archive arch 2016 aug.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Aug 2016
View: E65_20160718_0713_075-077 Cloud specks with streamers (poss Cirrus castellanus) 1-3 of 3 (acc montage).jpg
Description: A montage of 3 frames to catch an unusual pattern of clouds without a proper wide angle lens. We may have identified the spots and streaks as Cirrus castellanus, but whatever it was a really arresting sight.

View: DF3_20160716_1801_035 Chaotic clouds.jpg
Description: A wonderfully chaotic sky.

Date: 30 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160713_0931_094 Meadow Brown Butterfly feeding on thistle flower.jpg
Description: A Meadow Brown butterfly enjoying the nectar from a thistle.

View: DF3_20160708_1513_003 Common Blue Damselfly female (drab form).jpg
Description: A female Common Blue damselfly aligned along a grass blade. Female common Blue Damselflies come in several forms, this one nearest approximates what is called the 'Drab' form. This hunting insect has no interest in Flowers as a food source.

Date: 29 Aug 2016
View: E63_20160710_1835_195+20160709_1735_142_FB1 Grey squirrel nibbling Carrot and Apple Peel on successive days (montage).jpg
Description: Why do we (sort of) love these little Vermin
A montage of them on their best behaviour

View: E64_20160708_1802_091+20160710_1706_175_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying away Carrot nibbling apple (montage).jpg
Description: Why do we (sort of) love these little Vermin
A montage of them on their best behaviour

View: E64_20160710_1846_193_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels rolling on ground.jpg
Description: But here definitely NOT on good behaviour.
The left squirrel is on it's back turned toward us at the front. while the other seem to be biting the top of the other's front leg while lying on it's side.

Date: 28 Aug 2016
View: E63_20160708_2021_109_FB1 Fox feeding with muzzle flat along stone (crop).jpg
Description: Lots of birds lay their beak flat to 'hoover up' lose scraps on hard surfaces, but this is the first time we remember seeing a fox using the same trick.

Date: 27 Aug 2016
View: E62_20160709_1923_126_FB5 Chaffinch male with head tilted (crop 1).jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch, still in full breeding colours, with an atypical quizzical look.

View: D5C_20160713_1245_009 Great Tit dismembering a moth to eat it 2 of 3 (crop 1).jpg
Description: Deep in a pond-side tree a Great tit has captured this moth we can't ID. It is too big to swallow whole, so here it is dismembering it to swallow the bits.

Date: 26 Aug 2016
View: E63_20160711_0727_003_FB1 2 Magpie Juveniles begging from (presumably) adult between them (crop).jpg
Description: Stereophonic Screeching?
We assume that the two begging Magpies are making their 'Feed Me' demand to the poor overworked parent in the middle.

View: E60_20160707_1142_004_FB3 Magpie landing on perch rear view (crop).jpg
Description: A magpie providing a good show of feathers as it lands on the kitchen window perch.

Date: 25 Aug 2016
View: SW1_20160702_0514_070_SC1 Sunrise streaking across Round Pond (crop).jpg
Description: Sunrise over the round pond deep in the woodland sees just a few streaks of light finding their way though chance alignments of gaps in tree-trunks and foliage.

Date: 24 Aug 2016
View: E62_20160705_0526_059_FB5 Magpie juvenile with short tail feathers spread.jpg
Description: A young Magpie in the clover with the partially developed tail feathers spread out at the rear.

View: E62_20160704_1635_016_FB5 Rook juvenile calling.jpg
Description: Probably the young Rook equivalent of the Teenager shouting "Food".

Date: 23 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160705_1739_044-047 Pair of Carrion Crows on 11kV wire with one flying off 1-4 of 4 (spread montage bland sky).jpg
Description: A pair of Carrion Crows sitting quietly together on the 11KV wires didn't like our arrival, and we expected them to fly off together. But only one of them decided to fly off. Read this as pairs of bird from the bottom upwards.

View: DF3_20160705_1740_076 Carrion Crow on 11kV cable.jpg
Description: The remaining Carrion Crow turned round on the wire and gave us a look as we walked beneath.

Date: 22 Aug 2016
View: E64_20160702_1628_127_FB2 Grey Squirrels fighting.jpg
Description: Ouch!
Fighting male Grey squirrels apparently try to bite each other's genitals :-(

Date: 21 Aug 2016
View: E62_20160707_0411_141_FB5 Fox Cub staring at camera (crop 2).jpg
Description: Fox cub perhaps seeing a glow from the indicator lamps inside the camera box at the meadow site.

View: E64_20160703_0059_159_FB2 Fox Cub.jpg
Description: Our (probably just the one regular visitor) Fox cub slinking through just after midnight at the Woodland site.

View: E63_20160703_2004_168+2115_174_FB1 Fox Cub visiting several times in an hour 2+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: The Fox cub is growing fast. Here it makes two visits about an hour apart to the hedge-bottom site

Date: 20 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160706_1557_127 Comma Butterfly (first new adult of 2016) on Hop sedge at Duck Pond.jpg
Description: The Comma Butterfly overwinters as an adult and emerges to mate in the Spring. After a period with no sightings, this is the first of the newly emerged batch glowing in the afternoon sun.

View: DF3_20160703_1544_149 Red Admiral Butterfly on garage wall (1st of 2016) (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Our first Red Admiral Butterfly this year, warming itself on the afternoon sun-warmed wall of our garage.

Date: 19 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160703_1537_132-140 Motor Glider G-BCTI climbing in thermal selected 04-12 of 13 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Modern Motor Gliders mostly seem to sport pop-up motors behind the pilot, but this one flew silently overhead with the front propeller idling in the wind and found the same up-draft that the male Kestrel was using 10 minutes earlier.
A web search finds it was built in 1974 (that's 42 years ago!) of a German manufactured type ASK16. We find mention of it in UK yearbooks back to 1986. 'Google' the string G-BCTI for images of the wildly out of date instrument panel and controls burnished by years of use, plus a (has to be modern-ish) GPS box.
This sequence starts bottom middle and goes clockwise.

Date: 18 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160703_1529_078-087 Kestrel male in flight over power cable 01-10 of 10 (accurate montage @ 6fps).jpg
Description: The Kestrel made a sweep over the 11kV power lines in a strong wind. This is an accurate montage over just under 2 seconds.
Read this action from bottom to top.

View: DF3_20160703_1529_105-117 Kestrel male turning in flight against clouds 01-13 of 14 (accurate montage alt frames @ 6fps).jpg
Description: This is another accurate montage of the male Kestrel's flight, but this time leaving out the even numbered frames to avoid the image getting too crowded. So just over 2 seconds of flight here.

Date: 17 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160702_1750_054-065 Swift in flight (selected) 1-5 of 5 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: Alarmingly few Swifts, Swallows and Martin so far this year.
Here is a passing Swift.

Date: 16 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160702_1332_034 Thick-Legged Flower Beetle male + Red Soldier Beetle + ants (crop).jpg
Description: A collection of insect life on a Cow Parsley flower head.
The bulbous green legs of the Thick-Legged Flower Beetle only appear on the male.
It is almost unusual to see a single Red Soldier Beetle - they are usually seen as a riot of mating pairs!

View: DF3_20160703_1241_030 Oxeye Daisy with Flea Beetles (crop).jpg
Description: The Oxeye daisies are doing well this year, and are suddenly scattered with Flea Beetles. Last year we assumed that this sudden influx was of Corn Flea Beetles (with a (q) after the Corn to indicate a query - you can't put '?' symbols in filenames) because the surrounding crop was wheat, but these look the same and we are surrounded by Oil-seed rape. So from now on - just Flea Beetle will have to do!

Date: 15 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160701_1446_022 Small Skipper Butterfly on Clover leaf.jpg
Description: Lots of Small Skipper Butterflies about at the moment.

View: DF3_20160701_1753_030 Small Skipper Butterfly on Blackberry flower.jpg
Description: Lots of Small Skipper Butterflies about at the moment.

Date: 14 Aug 2016
View: E64_20160630_0555_165_FB2 Song Thrush juvenile flying low over log (crop).jpg
Description: A juvenile Song Thrush (note the yellow beak edge) flies low over the site probably incidentally scaring away a smaller bird.

Date: 13 Aug 2016
View: E63_20160630_0434_169_FB1 Robin juvenile with first red breast feather.jpg
Description: A Robin shows off its first Red breast feather.
Well - just!

Date: 12 Aug 2016
View: E62_20160628_0529_034_FB5 Magpie landing in Clover and Buttercup meadow (crop).jpg
Description: Half an hour after sunrise this Magpie is already out and about with wings and tail looking like a geometric puzzle.

View: E62_20160630_0502_115_FB5 Magpie youngster landing in Clover & Buttercups.jpg
Description: At sunrise a juvenile Magpie arrives for his pick of the invertebrates hidden under the clover.

Date: 11 Aug 2016
View: DF1_20160627_1005_002+003+005 Dunnock singing in top of hedge (montage).jpg
Description: A Dunnock outside the living room window - we assume it was singing it's little heart out, but silent for us indoors.

View: DF1_20160627_1005_003 Dunnock singing in top of hedge (detail crop).jpg
Description: A detail from the middle image above to show the intricate detail of the eye and plumage.

Date: 10 Aug 2016
View: P10_20160627_1506_884 Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) only plant very few leaf spots near weather pole (crop1).jpg
Description: Our one and only (and first that we know of) Common Spotted Orchid.
The spots appear on the leaves but we could not find even one. A web search suggests that the spots are very variable - from none to smothered even within a group of plants.
Maybe the spots are like Blackspot on Sycamore leaves - a infection that we don't have enough plants to have attracted yet. We will let this flower seed, transfer some of it (Orchid seed is apparently as fine as dust) & see what happens next year.

View: P10_20160627_1506_884 Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) only plant very few leaf spots near weather pole (crop2).jpg
Description: The detail on the petals is very intricate and quite variable.
The grainy image reflects the use of a Panasonic FZ100 as we didn't want to flatten the surroundings to get access by a 'better' camera.

View: DF3_20160716_1808_042 Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) making seed.jpg
Description: 3 weeks from the orchid in full flower we now have just a last handful of petals at the top, here it is making seed.

Date: 09 Aug 2016
View: E64_20160626_1655_185_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels feeding behind log (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Tea time contentment for 2 Grey squirrels.
Makes a change from endless fights!

Date: 08 Aug 2016
View: E64_20160626_0127_177_FB2 Fox with eyes just visible above log (crop 1).jpg
Description: An unusual 'peer over the log' moment, except that we are quite sure the Fox's eyes are focussed on something we can't see behind the log.

View: E64_20160626_0127_177_FB2 Fox with eyes just visible above log (crop 2).jpg
Description: An unusual 'peer over the log' moment, except that we are quite sure the Fox's eyes are focussed on something we can't see behind the log.

Date: 07 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160624_1049_030 Oxeye Daisy with ring of opening flowers with feeding unidentified fly (q) (crop 1).jpg
Description: How can we have been enjoying Oxeye daisies for 30 years and never realised that the centre flowers in rings that insects can feed on as they provide pollination.

View: DF3_20160624_1049_030 Oxeye Daisy with ring of opening flowers with feeding unidentified fly (q) (crop 2).jpg
Description: Here you can see the outer pollinated flowers, a ring of more intense yellow 'open' flowers, and the centre 'flowers to come'.

View: DF3_20160628_0929_027 Small Heath Butterfly (1st of 2016) feeding on Oxeye Daisy (crop).jpg
Description: Here a Small Heath Butterfly sips his fill.

Date: 06 Aug 2016
View: E64_20160619_1650_011_FB2 Rook showing signs of age (detail crop).jpg
Description: Rooks are long-lived birds - some references cite 6 years average, while others 15 to 20 years in the wild, and in one case over 60 years in captivity. This bird looks like it has seen many years, and with luck will see some more.

Date: 05 Aug 2016
View: DF1_20160621_1425_006+001+013 Wren in hedge outside living room (montage).jpg
Description: For a couple of days Wrens have been providing a delightful show at the living room window.

View: DF1_20160621_1426_022-024 Wren fluttering between twigs in hedge outside living room 1-3 of 3 (impression montage).jpg
Description: For a couple of days Wrens have been providing a delightful show at the living room window.

View: DF1_20160622_1157_039+047+061 Wren singing from top of stick 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: For a couple of days Wrens have been providing a delightful show at the living room window.
A combination of double glazing, and loss of the high range in our hearing means that we couldn't hear a thing of this beautiful performance :-(

Date: 04 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160620_1809_232-235 Heron flying over 11kV cables 2-5 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This Heron made this elegant flyby, slightly spoiled by the high voltage cable which nevertheless allowed us to make an accurate montage.

View: DF3_20160620_1809_233 Heron flying over 11kV cables 3 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: The second from the left of the montage of the overflying Heron.

Date: 03 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160620_1801_189-191+193 Hare becoming uneasy at sight of human and deciding to run off 01-03+05 of 11 (montage).jpg
Description: This Hare gradually become more uneasy at the arrival of the photographer and finally lolloped off and hid in the crop.

Date: 02 Aug 2016
View: DF3_20160620_1635_016+018+020 Red Kite gliding 1+3+5 of 5 (accurate montage alternate frames).jpg
Description: A Red Kite spent just a minute or two circling quite close to us while hitching a ride on a nearby thermal. Red Kites fly rather slowly - this accurate montage is of alternate frames to avoid overlap.

View: DF3_20160620_1635_027 Red Kite gliding 6 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: A Red Kite spent just a minute or two circling quite close to us while hitching a ride on a nearby thermal.

View: DF3_20160620_1635_079+080 Red Kite gliding by 5+6 of 6 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: A Red Kite spent just a minute or two circling quite close to us while hitching a ride on a nearby thermal.

View: DF3_20160620_1635_089-132 Red Kite in flight making three-quarter turn 01+05(in 4s)-44 of 44 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Our description of a three-quarter turn here is almost accurate but we had not realised the Red Kite changed direction and flew off. This is about 1 frame in 4 (a bit less than a second per image) compacted to keep the whole design at a reasonable size.

Date: 01 Aug 2016
View: E64_20160615_1908_169_FB2 Hare at Woodland site.jpg
Description: A Hare inside the Woodland is very unusual - away from the long grass and cover. This is the only image we got.

View: E63_20160614_1625_078_FB1 Grey Squirrel shaking off raindrops from fur.jpg
Description: "Raindrops keep falling on my head ..."

Image Archive arch 2016 jul.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160615_1114_024 Bee on Orange Hawkweed (aka Fox-and-Cubs) flower.jpg
Description: A sudden eruption of self-set Orange Hawkweed (commonly called Fox-and-Cubs) has lit up a strip near the front of the house. Here the gradually increasing number of Bees is visiting one.

Date: 30 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160615_1108_018 Holly Blue butterfly female feeding of oxeye daisy (crop).jpg
Description: We have come to think of our Oxeye Daisies as having limited value as a food source, so were pleasantly surprised to see that Holly Blue Butterfly actively feeding on a flower head.

View: DF3_20160615_1109_022 Holly Blue Butterfly female in Oak leaves.jpg
Description: The Holly Blue Butterfly flew up into the adjacent Oak tree to sun itself, surprisingly well camouflaged - we saw it land and still had trouble finding it.

Date: 29 Jul 2016
View: DF2_20160613_1758_009 Green Woodpecker juvenile on side of meadow post.jpg
Description: A Green Woodpecker youngster chose the side of the meadow post to await Mum and Dad's deliveries of food.

View: DF2_20160613_1802_043-048 Green Woodpecker juvenile flying from side of meadow post 1-6 of 6 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Finally the Green Woodpecker got tired of waiting (or maybe was called by a parent we couldn't hear though double glazing) and flew off. To enjoy a better view of the bird we have contracted the montage - we have an accurate timed and spaced montage if you ask for it.

Date: 28 Jul 2016
View: DF1_20160615_0612_010 Bullfinch male on hedge top (crop).jpg
Description: We usually see a 'few' Bullfinches a year. Here this male chooses the hedge outside the Living room window for a brief perch.

View: D36_20160613_0748_001_FB4 Robin landing by sprinkling of corn.jpg
Description: "An interesting mix for breakfast".
A scattering of 'Bird seed mix' provides this Robin with an unusually exciting selection for breakfast.

Date: 27 Jul 2016
View: D5C_20160615_0704_022 Great Spotted Woodpecker male in Ash tree.jpg
Description: Father Great Spotted Woodpecker searching an Ash tree for food for his every-hungry youngster(s).

View: DF1_20160615_0707_040 Great Spotted Woodpecker juvenile on Bird feeder post scratching chin with claw.jpg
Description: We are sure that birds have to be careful using those sharp claws to preen the bits the beak can't reach. As this juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker is waiting for Dad to bring in some food you can see fragments of dislodged down drifting away to the right.

Date: 26 Jul 2016
View: D01_20160614_0031_002-0035_007_FB6 Tawny Owl 5 minute visit (selected) 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: An impression of a 5 minute Tawny owl visit to the meadow post.

Date: 25 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160611_1253_258 Red-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa Serraticornis).jpg
Description: The Red-headed Cardinal Beetle is a quite startling insect even though only about 1.5cm long. It wasn't keen on the photographer's approach and was opening the wing cases to release the wings even as this frame was taken. The never-to-be-answered question is 'where did it go?'.

Date: 24 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160604_1633_050 Wild Rose in East hedge (1st flower of the year).jpg
Description: Our first flush of Wild Roses are always white petalled. The scent is incredibly strong even metres away from a few flowers.

View: DF3_20160610_1622_203 Wild Rose (pink petals) with Bee collecting pollen.jpg
Description: A week after the initial flourish of white wild rose, we get the more conventional pink flowers with much less perfume - even a whole bush with 100 flowers produces less perfume than a handful of white flowers in the hedge. The Honey Bee is making the most of the pollen.

Date: 23 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160610_1447_183 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly immature male with clearly white pseudo-pterostigma (crop).jpg
Description: Our early Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly is apparently the first report this year in Buckinghamshire. An unusual feature of this species in the white speck near the top tip of all 4 wings. Here they are nicely lined up to make a bright patch as the sun catches them.

View: DF3_20160614_1543_007 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly immature male on nettle leaf.jpg
Description: A Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly sunning himself on a nettle leaf.
No chance of getting stung when you have an exo-skeleton!

Date: 22 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160609_1801_051+052+054 Bluetit landing on meadow post 1+2+4 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Bluetits from the nearest nest box make a visit every minute or two until the peanut butter (saltless variety) has gone.

View: DF3_20160609_1801_080-082 Bluetit flying from meadow post 1+2+3 of 3 (approx montage).jpg
Description: Bluetits from the nearest nest box make a visit every minute or two until the peanut butter (saltless variety) has gone.

Date: 21 Jul 2016
View: E63_20160603_2228_115_FB1 Fox with deep brown fur.jpg
Description: A full grown fox with a just wonderfully dark brown coat.

View: E63_20160607_0048_071+20160609_0213_181+20160607_0204_087+0123_079_FB1 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) (montage).jpg
Description: We have started seeing Fieldmice (Wood Mice) more regularly again at this site, and couldn't resist this little montage over 2 days, all photographed after midnight.

Date: 20 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160607_1432_069 Brimstone Butterfly male feeding on Red Campion flower (crop 2).jpg
Description: A male Brimstone Butterfly sips a late lunch from a Red Campion flower.

View: DF3_20160605_1552_086 Peacock Butterfly with worn wings on Green Alkanet.jpg
Description: A rather faded Peacock Butterfly (that will have overwintered) nevertheless makes a beautiful splash of colour with the delicate blue of Green Alkanet flowers.

Date: 19 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160607_1206_057+1206_062+063 Bee caught in spiders web attacked by spider who loses leg 1+3+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: In the conservatory we saw this bee (upper left) get caught in one spiders web, escape, but a minute later falling into a similar trap where the spider rushes out to secure the catch. In the process the Bee manages to remove a leg of the spider. Apparently the legs will re-grow at the next spider moult - spiders sometimes self-amputate legs to escape and this may well be what happened here, although in the end the spider 'won'.

Date: 18 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160605_1639_199-202 Red Kite carrying twig harassed by 2 Carrion Crows 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage 2).jpg
Description: Red Kites here don't seem to be any more welcomed by Corvids than the Buzzards. We saw this one flying in from the distance and vanished into some trees near the horizon. A minute or two later it emerged from the trees carrying what looks like twig and being hotly pursued by a pair of Carrion Crows for several hundred metres in our general direction. Here is about half a second of action.

Date: 17 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160607_1438_079 Azure Damselfly pair mating in wheel position on Hop Sedge leaf (crop).jpg
Description: A pair of Azure damselflies mating on a Hop Sedge leaf at the duck shaped pond. The male is blue. Odonata mating is interesting and worth looking up on the WWW.

View: DF3_20160605_1633_165 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly immature male (crop).jpg
Description: Our first sighting of a Demoiselle Damselfly this year was this immature male 'Beautiful'. Seen a few days later at the more usual north boundary hedge.

View: DF3_20160605_1635_177 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly immature male with shadow through leaf (crop).jpg
Description: Guarding his shadow seen through the leaf, this pristine Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly looks down at us from a high leaf.

Date: 16 Jul 2016
View: DF1_20160603_1253_013-015 Wren flying from vertical branch 1-2 of 3 (approx montage).jpg
Description: For a day we were privileged to watch a pair of Wrens hunting in the hedge outside the living room window and taking the food to a couple of fledglings we could see and probably others out of view.

View: DF1_20160603_1330_053 Wren youngster waiting for feed near bottom of hedge.jpg
Description: A youngster waiting impatiently for his turn.

View: DF1_20160603_1333_096-098 Wren flying between branches within hedge 1-3 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: A parent Wren flying between branches inside the hedge in their hurry to find food for the youngsters.

View: DF1_20160603_1335_122+123+126 Wren youngster in top of hedge being fed green grub by parent 05+06+09 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: Most of the feeds took place in positions impossible to photograph or so deep in the hedge there was 'no' light. But this chick obligingly begged in the top of then hedge and Mum or Dad came along with a little green 'bug' to cram into the ever-open maw.

Date: 15 Jul 2016
View: D36_20160607_1752_053_FB4 Chaffinch female about to land on tree-stump.jpg
Description: An elegant landing by an unexpectedly pristine female Chaffinch

View: DF1_20160603_1255_018 Blackcap male.jpg
Description: We normally see a Blackcap only a handful of times a year. This is the male in a bush by the main pond.

Date: 14 Jul 2016
View: D01_20160603_2305_003_FB6 Tawny owl landing (crop).jpg
Description: One visit from the Tawny owl this week and that a single frame of a landing, not that the image isn't rather fun.

View: D01_20160608_0428_018_FB6 2 Blackbird males squabbling over meadow post top (crop).jpg
Description: Two male Blackbird having a 'Ding-dong' at - wait for it - 04:30 a.m. Never too early for a good squabble with the neighbours!

Date: 13 Jul 2016
View: E62_20160530_0401_178_FB5 Fox cub (crop).jpg
Description: A Fox cub is hunting out in the meadow grass.

View: E62_20160530_2230_033_FB5 Fox Cub (crop).jpg
Description: Fox cub on the hunt well into the night as you can see from the fully opened Irises.

View: E62_20160530_2233_034_FB5 Fox Cub (crop).jpg
Description: This fox cub appears 'immune' to camera noise and flash - this is the same individual just 3 minutes later, more interested in the food than disturbed by the camera.

View: E63_20160531_0046_046_FB1 Fox Cub with May blossom stuck to bottom of left front paw (crop).jpg
Description: We don't know how many Fox cubs pad through our plot, but several appearances indicate that this one is tolerant of the camera clicks and flash. The endless rain has washed a lot of the May blossom from the Hawthorn hedges and trees to carpet some areas with the white petals. This little cuddly bundle (NOT) has picked up a few on the paw it is raising over the stone shows us.

Date: 12 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160528_0805_428-434 Lark ascending a few metres before returning to hedge 1-7 of 7 (impression montage).jpg
Description: A Skylark doing a sort of 'mini-Lark Ascending' reaches a few metres above the hedge he launched from before diving back. The misty weather might have led him to conclude he should stay in the hedge. He didn't sing through this minor excursion.
The image spacing greatly reduced so you can see the bird properly!

Date: 11 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160527_1810_305 Chaffinch female + Robin + 2 Bluetits around top of meadow post.jpg
Description: A scrum of small birds were rolling up to feed at the just re-stocked post top.
Genuine single frame.

View: DF3_20160527_1810_339-342 Robin (with 2 Bluetits) picking up Peanut butter and flying off with it 2-5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: The two Robin images on then right side are accurately positioned about150mS apart.

Date: 10 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160527_1809_264-266 Bluetit flying from Meadow post with beakful of peanut butter 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage @ 6fps).jpg
Description: In the evening sunshine we sat on a bench facing the meadow pole top and watched/photographed the comings and going as the small birds beat the more nervous Corvids to a stream of peanut butter smeared goodies. This Bluetit managed to kick off more than he took away. The uneven spacing is real - the acceleration must be huge!

View: DF3_20160527_1809_271+272 Chaffinch male making near vertical takeoff from meadow post 1+2 of 2 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch making a near vertical lift-off.

Date: 09 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160526_1555_091+093+095+096 Bluetit breaking off piece of food held by claw 2+3+5+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: The Oak tree has been full of Bluetits and Great Tits clambering all over the canopy looking for food. Here this Bluetit has found something somewhat too large so grips it with left claws (our right) to bite off a piece. The final frame (bottom right) the remains have been picked up from the claw and the bird flew off almost immediately.

View: E62_20160601_1501_097_FB5 Bluetit flying over grass and Buttercups (crop).jpg
Description: A Bluetit skimming over the sodden grass and buttercups. The bright colours suggest that this is a male.

Date: 08 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160526_1821_131 Brimstone Butterfly male feeding on Ground Ivy flower (crop 1).jpg
Description: In a sunlit evening patch along our access track, this male Brimstone Butterfly collects nectar from one of many Ground Ivy Flowers ...

View: DF3_20160526_1822_145 Orange-tip Butterfly male on Blackberry leaves.jpg
Description: A male Orange-tip butterfly just suns himself on some sunshine catching fresh Blackberry leaves.

View: DF3_20160527_1236_162 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) feeding on Green Alkanet flower.jpg
Description: A 10 metres stretch of 'Green Alkanet' (which has Blue flowers!) attracts more bees than any other single feature. But bee numbers so far have been terrible - this one of about 10 Bumble Bees feeding - we couldn't see a single Honey Bee on the blooms. The same goes for the Oil-seed rape crop (now at last starting to relent it's endless yellow domination) where all we see is a handful of white butterflies.

Date: 07 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160526_1805_121 Blackbird male singing from electricity cable.jpg
Description: On our 240V electrical feed this male Blackbird is filling the air with his song as the afternoon rain finally cleared.

View: D36_20160531_1312_027_FB4 Blackbird male bedraggled in rain.jpg
Description: Several days with no sign of the sun and endless rain and drizzle doesn't seem to have been enjoyed any more by the wildlife than by us. This drenched Blackbird had arrived too early for the hoped for offering.

View: E64_20160601_1749_184_FB2 Robin with drenched plumage.jpg
Description: "No, I haven't just had a bath - it's raining and the 'children' are still demanding food!"

Date: 06 Jul 2016
View: D01_20160530_0001_019_FB6 Tawny Owl 4min visit to meadow post 1 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: This Tawny owl visit shows the remarkable blue tinge on the eyelids as the bird lands. We have examined the colour carefully in the camera original and it is quite definitely blue - not an illusion created by grey surrounded by brown!

Date: 05 Jul 2016
View: df3_20160524_1230_070-079 swift preening in flight 01+02+04+07+10 of 10 (selected montage over about 2 seconds).jpg
Description: We often hear that Swifts spend their entire lives in flight expect when breeding, and even then have to choose high places where they can 'drop down' from to gain flight speed.
We understand that a Swift on the ground can not take off without help.
We had never really thought about what constant flight means, but it must include still having to maintain your feathers. Here over about 2 seconds the bird twists to access one of it's flight feathers, and drops a good distance in the process.

Date: 04 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160524_1516_199 Magnolia tree in bloom 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: Magnolia bushes planted some 25 year now make an untidy but exuberant show of flowers.

Date: 03 Jul 2016
View: BU1_20160526_0446_228+0459_229+0623_305 Fox at Rabbit hole then Fox Cub then young Rabbit 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: There is a rabbit burrow entered from under the lower slab, and the Fox at the top seems to be waiting hopefully for a incautious Rabbit to appear.
15 minutes later we are surprised to see a Fox 'Cub' in a similar position.
90 minutes later, as the day gets lighter, a baby Rabbit ventures out - now in comparative safety.

Date: 02 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160523_0718_128 Hawthorn Blossom (detail crop).jpg
Description: The hedges seem to be having wonderful Hawthorn blossom this year.

View: DF3_20160523_0718_128 Hawthorn Blossom (orig).jpg
Description: The hedges seem to be having wonderful Hawthorn blossom this year.

View: DF3_20160524_0842_043 Our east boundary from track - hawthorn blossom detail (orig).jpg
Description: Hawthorn Trees are also smothered with snowy blossom, but we really only see our own Hawthorn tree blossom from outside our patch as shown here. We walk UNDER these trees within our own patch and really can't appreciate the effect.

Date: 01 Jul 2016
View: DF3_20160520_1444_020+022+023+027 Kestrel male in slow flight 2-5 of 8 (montage impression).jpg
Description: A Kestrel male in a partial hover against the wind.

Image Archive arch 2016 jun.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Jun 2016
View: D5C_20160520_1243_016+1244_038+037 Long-tailed Tit preening on stick 1+3+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Long-tailed Tits are one of our favourite birds. Here a little 'wash and brush up' outside the living room window.

View: DF3_20160519_1615_004 Long-tailed Tit nest outside living room window (orig).jpg
Description: From the outside of the house we can just see the Long-tailed Tit's nest snuggled in the freshly growing Ivy. It is made of an amazingly light but strong combination of moss and spider web

Date: 29 Jun 2016
View: E62_20160517_2240_068_FB5 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: A wonderfully pristine badger attracted by the remains of the last 'baiting' pass.

Date: 28 Jun 2016
View: DF1_20160518_1301_027 Long-tailed tit outside living room window.jpg
Description: This long-tailed Tit has a contented 'wash and brush up'

View: DF1_20160518_1302_035 Long-tailed tit outside living room window.jpg
Description: 'Wash and brush up' complete, the pristine bird sits quietly on the perch

View: DF3_20160514_1210_068 Long-tailed Tit exploring top left corner of living room window (crop 2).jpg
Description: Here we see that there is a sort of 'hood' arrangement over the eye.

Date: 27 Jun 2016
View: DF1_20160518_1010_003 Long-tailed tit outside living room window flinching when hit by raindrops (crop).jpg
Description: We noticed that this Long-tailed Tit kept flinching and we finally realised that it flinched each time it was struck by a raindrop in the what seemed to us no more than drizzle.

View: E65_20160518_1203_032 Long-tailed Tit at living room window hanging by 1 leg (crop).jpg
Description: Look at me!
The bird spent several seconds hanging by one claw for reasons we can only imagine. The smearing on the glass is where the ivy rubs on the glass only cleaned the day before. We didn't want to cut away such a good photo opportunity!
When included as part of our 'Weekly Assortment' a correspondent suggested that the bird is collecting spider web it uses to build the nest.

View: DF1_20160518_1218_013 Long-tailed tit outside living room window (crop).jpg
Description: This Long-tailed Tit looking at the hazy creatures on the other side of the window. It is perched on some dead Ivy that had started to invade the gutters and other items in a mini-extension that used to be a garage.

Date: 26 Jun 2016
View: E64_20160516_0312_216_FB2 Polecat (crop).jpg
Description: We seem to see Polecat once or twice a year.
The edge of frame crop in the camera makes us pleased we got the face at all!

Date: 25 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160516_1036_016 Orange Tip Butterfly male perched on blackberry leaf (crop).jpg
Description: A male Orange Tip butterfly perched on some fresh Blackberry leaves.

Date: 24 Jun 2016
View: E64_20160513_1606_065_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels leaping (crop).jpg
Description: The Fieldmice (Wood Mice) are not doing much leaping about at the moment, but the Grey Squirrels seem to be filling in for the moment. This pair (genuine single frame) looks more like an aerial ballet!

View: E63_20160518_1622_106_FB1 2 Grey Squirrels leaping.jpg
Description: The Grey squirrels continue to show us their 'aerial ballets'

View: E64_20160514_1854_134_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels like bookends.jpg
Description: Anybody fancy a pair of Grey Squirrel Bookends?

Date: 23 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160516_0705_109 Song Thrush singing from top of evergreen by garage 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: This Song Thrush seems to have usurped the normal singing post of the male Blackbird. The Blackbird simply uses another tree / post / aerial - anything to get him high!

Date: 22 Jun 2016
View: E63_20160514_0627_116_FB1 Roe Deer sniffing stone (head and neck only) (crop).jpg
Description: Coming through the hedge from the back the Roe Deer took this lovely portrait. The leg at the left is the Deer's right front, the bent leg is the left front, and the out-of-focus leg near the head is the rear left.

View: BU1_20160515_0545_136+_0547_142+141 Roe Deer at Round Mound just after sunrise (montage over 3 minutes).jpg
Description: Next morning the Roe Deer wandered over the mound ( pond spoil heap) for a few minutes.

Date: 21 Jun 2016
View: BU1_20160515_0534_132 Fox crouched staring at Rabbit hole (under bottom slab) near sunrise.jpg
Description: A hungry fox slightly crouched a few metres from the active Rabbit hole in this mound under the bottom (remaining) step. This is around sunrise - the fox undoubtedly hoping an incautious young Rabbit will appear to provide his 'supper'.

View: SW2_20151211_1832_079-081_SC2 Fox momentarily disturbed by camera filter change or dim red light (montage at 3s intervals).jpg
Description: 'Stealth' cameras are usually totally ignored by the wildlife, but foxes do seem to notice them sometimes. Most of the cameras make a tiny click with they take a picture changing between daylight to IR light (adding or removing a filter) and we think that the foxes fabulous hearing detects this. These 3 consecutive images about 3 seconds apart show the fox noticing something, but deciding it was 'harmless' and going back to feeding.

Date: 20 Jun 2016
View: D01_20160514_2144_020_FB6 Barn owl landing on post and short stay 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: A Barn owl landing with a lovely view of the top of the open wings as well as enough of the face to be satisfying. The Owl stayed for less than 90 seconds

Date: 19 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160512_1803_054-068 Hare running from rank grass up edge of crop 1+5-7+9 (impression montage).jpg
Description: After most of the stream of workers have gone home from the 'Farm' some Hares may dare to come out. This one spent a minute or two on the grass until late leaver (coming along the road to the right) disturbed this browsing Hare back into the safety of the crop on the left.

View: DF3_20160512_1805_085 Grey Partridge on grass inside Farm Road bend.jpg
Description: Just after the Hare was 'flushed' a call from some open grass on the other wide of the hedge announced the presence of this single Grey Partridge. It is probably a male but are not sure.

Date: 18 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160512_1241_020-023 Shrew exposed under corrugated iron sheet 1-4 of 4 (horizontally stretched montage).jpg
Description: When we lifted a sheet of corrugated iron this Shrew dashed across the front and then moved to the back and buried itself under the leaves. At about 4 fps this montage is a little 'adjusted' to stretch it horizontally, but you should get the idea.
Aren't Shrew eyes tiny even for the size of the animal - a life lived mostly by touch and smells.

Date: 17 Jun 2016
View: E62_20160507_0726_093_FB5 Green Woodpecker (rear view).jpg
Description: Another Green Woodpecker 'fail' - unless you want a clear view from the back!
Crickey - what vivid colours - we have NOT 'wound them up'.

Date: 16 Jun 2016
View: E63_20160508_0515_094_FB1 Blackbird female collecting dried vegetation almost exactly 24hrs apart 1 of 2.jpg
Description: A female Blackbird with what looks like dried grass stems she needs to make that nest a bit softer and warmer. We saw near identical behaviour 24 hours later at the same place.

View: E62_20160508_2347_156_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) carrying large end of carrot.jpg
Description: Wow - that is a big piece of carrot for a tiny mouse, and we suspect that it may be being more dragged than carried.

Date: 15 Jun 2016
View: E62_20160506_1901_062_FB5 Mallard duck female feeding as male guards.jpg
Description: The female Mallard ducks seem to be either feeding or bathing whenever we see them. At the feeding sites she is usually squired by an attentive male doing guard duty. Both of these are fresh out of a pond full of Duckweed.

View: E62_20160508_1854_148_FB5 Mallard duck female feeding as male guards.jpg
Description: The female Mallard ducks seem to be either feeding or bathing whenever we see them. At the feeding sites she is usually squired by an attentive male doing guard duty. What a strange juxtaposition.

View: E64_20160506_1815_058_FB2 Mallard duck female feeding as male guards.jpg
Description: The female Mallard ducks seem to be either feeding or bathing whenever we see them. At the feeding sites she is usually squired by an attentive male doing guard duty.

Date: 14 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160508_0832_142 Starling male carrying long twig by one end.jpg
Description: Starling are now well underway nesting in the loft space. While it is funny to watching birds trying to maneuver a long stick in the 'broadside' position, this bird repeatedly carries sticks at one end so they will swing back to go through the hole.

View: DF3_20160509_0711_049 Starling with Black Poplar catkins in beak.jpg
Description: This Starling has collected a couple of Catkins from male Black Poplars to add to the nest. Female black poplars may be extinct in the UK as they apparently produce a disagreeable odour, and only males were planted in the trees heyday.

Date: 13 Jun 2016
View: E62_20160503_1841_099_FB5 Grey squirrel scraping fruit off inside of apple peel then discarded.jpg
Description: This Grey squirrel was nibbling fruit from the inside of this piece of apple peel, which it then discarded.

View: E64_20160507_1957_101_FB2 Grey Squirrel crawling along the side of the log.jpg
Description: This Grey squirrel is crawling along the edge of the log that either it or something else has rolled over exposing some food stuck under it. Not something we remember seeing before.

Date: 12 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160504_1802_213-218 Rook Harassing Sparrowhawk in flight 1-6 of 6 (montage impression).jpg
Description: The Sparrowhawk (bottom) looks up at the squawking Rook above and decides to make a trajectory change - away from the threat!

View: DF3_20160505_0748_356-360 Cormorant in flight 1-5 of 5 (accurate montage by contrail).jpg
Description: This cormorant in flight happened to be near a well defined airliner contrail which provides a 'static' reference that allows re-construction of accurate spacing. We are not fond of Airliner contrails (which sometimes veil the whole otherwise clear sky) but this one (bottom right) was at least 'useful'.

Date: 11 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160503_0926_062+063 Hares Frolicking in Sprayer ruts of Oil-seed rape crop 1+2 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: This year the ruts made by the farmer's sprayer are almost devoid of crops or weeds and make a fine 'playground' for the Hares. We spotted these two Hares 'messing about along the ruts. We assume that we are seeing a male chasing a female and attempting to 'hop on-board'.

View: DF3_20160503_0927_069+070+071+075 Hares Frolicking in Sprayer ruts of Oil-seed rape 3-6 of 6 (vertically spread montage).jpg
Description: The pair of Hares continued chasing about, sometimes disappearing up ruts running at right-angles to these. Finally the chased Hare turned left up a rut and the chaser just stopped and sunned itself

Date: 10 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160501_1616_074 Forget-me-not flowers with blue and (more recently opened) pink petals.jpg
Description: Along our paths we see lots of Forget-me-not flowers emerging. We sometimes see this mix of blue and pink flowers on the same head. A little web search discovers that most of this species produce Pink flowers that quickly fade to blue. Indeed the bottom flower still has a tinge of pink.

Date: 09 Jun 2016
View: D01_20160505_0256_009+0257_010_FB6 Tawny owl land and departure 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: Of Two short Tawny owl visits this week this visit unusually catches the departure very nicely.
It was not startled into flight by the flash which occurred once it is already in flight.

Date: 08 Jun 2016
View: E64_20160428_1604_018_FB2 Grey squirrel with mouth full of leaf litter.jpg
Description: After yesterdays aggressive Grey squirrels, here we see their more appealing side.

View: E64_20160501_1709_314_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying apple in mouth.jpg
Description: After yesterdays aggressive Grey squirrels, here we see their more appealing side.

Date: 07 Jun 2016
View: E62_20160501_1657_249_FB5 Grey Squirrels squabbling.jpg
Description: Grey squirrels really can be a bad-tempered lot.

View: E64_20160430_1542_195_FB2 Grey Squirrels squabbling.jpg
Description: Grey squirrels really can be a bad-tempered lot.

View: E64_20160504_1823_132_FB2 Grey Squirrel leaping towards Jackdaw.jpg
Description: Grey squirrels really can be a bad-tempered lot.

Date: 06 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160501_0857_047 Robin with clear brood patch in leafing beech tree.jpg
Description: One gorgeous Robin with broad Brood patch looks at us hopefully from a leafing beech branch. On the sunlit eye you can see the brown iris.

Date: 05 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160430_1001_006 Mallard male in flight 1 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: A Male Mallard duck flies by making his soft quack as he goes. Those lovely colours will soon be moulted away into the summer 'eclipse'.

View: DF3_20160430_1001_006-009 Mallard male in flight 1-4 of 7 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: A Male Mallard duck flies by making his soft quack as he goes. Those lovely colours will soon be moulted away into the summer 'eclipse'.

View: DF3_20160430_1633_034-039 3 Mallard Ducks in flight 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage @ 6fps).jpg
Description: The two Mallard Drakes chasing one (female) Duck is a fairly common sight. This skyful of ducks is an accurate montage of 6 sequential frames of the action. The female ends at the lower left and is the lowest bird for the previous 5 images.

Date: 04 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160430_0726_067+069+072+073 Jackdaw flying with nest material landing on power cable 1+3-5 of 7 (impression montage).jpg
Description: A Jackdaw flew across our path carrying a wad of soft brown material in the beak.

View: DF3_20160430_0726_074+075 Jackdaw in flight with nesting material landing on power cable 6+7 of 7 (bird shifted montage).jpg
Description: The Jackdaw unexpectedly landed on an 11kV power line right in front of us and we could see that the load was probably animal hair to provide comforts to the nest, wherever it might be.

Date: 03 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160424_0816_201 Mallard Duck female on main pond.jpg
Description: A pair of Mallard ducks saw us approaching 'their' pond. He wandered into the Iris fronds to the left, while she stood for a moment watching us watching her before she too waddled into hiding. Enjoy the lovely Turquoise speculum.

Date: 02 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160428_1126_004-009 Rook pair flying past Black Poplar tree 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage @6fps).jpg
Description: A Pair of rooks flying together - from and to we know not where.

Date: 01 Jun 2016
View: DF3_20160425_1527_022 Goldfinch on blossoming twig (crop 1).jpg
Description: The Goldfinches never really went away this winter, but we are noticing small groups of them regularly now, twittering away in a relaxing re-assuring chorus. This one perched near the tip of a blossoming twig.

Image Archive arch 2016 may.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 May 2016
View: E63_20160423_1811_160_FB1 Corn-on-the-cob intact core with Jackdaw.jpg
Description: A Jackdaw eyeing over a corn-on-the-cob before probably pecking some bit the human's teeth missed.

View: DF3_20160424_1610_003 Corn-on-the-cob shredded remains (crop).jpg
Description: This is probably the same half corn-cob on a stick a day later after a Grey Squirrel took it away for 'dismantling'. Note the bitten through stick - the corns we buy have 1 stick right through so some really strong little jaws have been at work!

Date: 30 May 2016
View: DF3_20160423_1738_125 Dunnock pair with female (right) inviting male to mate (crop).jpg
Description: We have been watching Dunnocks for years, but this is the first year we have observed the female Cloaca being offered to the male along with the females excited wings trembling.

View: E63_20160422_1355_069_FB1 Dunnock pair with female inviting mating.jpg
Description: We have been watching Dunnocks for years, but this is the first year we have observed the female Cloaca being offered to the male along with the females excited wings trembling. In this case a different pair over 50 metres away from the first pair, this time caught by a camera trap.

Date: 29 May 2016
View: DF3_20160423_1302_112 Blackbird male singing from tree branch.jpg
Description: One of the resident male Blackbirds singing his little heart out.

View: D36_20160427_0511_054_FB4 Blackbird male with beak wide open & preening throat with left claw (crop).jpg
Description: A male Blackbird scratching his throat with his left foot. The wide-open beak may be just one of those things animals (Humans included) do when performing awkward manoeuvrers. The dull looking eye is the Nictitating membrane protecting the eye from accidents.

Date: 28 May 2016
View: E64_20160420_1958_085_FB2 Pheasant pair at sunset (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: The setting sun gives the male Pheasant a wonderful glowing crown.

Date: 27 May 2016
View: E63_20160418_1930_039_FB1 Chaffinch male in breeding colour with crest raised.jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch in glorious breeding colour, crest (such as it is) raised.

Date: 26 May 2016
View: E60_20160420_0719_025_FB3 Grey Squirrel grooming tail.jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels may be flea infested 'Tree Rats', but it is not for the lack of trying to keep well groomed. Here it is licking along it's tail.

View: E64_20160420_1802_077_FB2 Grey squirrel reacting to something off-frame to left.jpg
Description: This grey Squirrel seems to be concerned about something off to our left. We will undoubtedly forever be in ignorance of what!

Date: 25 May 2016
View: DF3_20160420_1439_015 Green-veined White Butterfly.jpg
Description: This Green-veined White Butterfly is an occasional visitor here, and is very early considering the land elevation.

View: DF3_20160420_1621_043 Large White Butterfly.jpg
Description: The Large White Butterfly - Scourge of cabbage growers - also likes Oilseed Rape with which we are 75% surrounded.
It is the stuff that colours fields bright yellow - pretty from a distance, not so good to be surrounded by for weeks of rather acrid stink.

Date: 24 May 2016
View: D5C_20160419_1613_029+035+041 Robin eating large worm in bitten off sections 02+05+08 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: This Robin (unfortunately in the shadow of the house) spent a couple of minutes biting lumps off this (still wiggling) worm and swallowing the pieces

Date: 23 May 2016
View: DF3_20160418_0700_097-100 Northern sharp edged cloud band starting 0700 18Apr2016 1-4 of 8 (accurate montage about 150 deg).jpg
Description: As we stepped out of the front door (facing west) we were immediately struck by this huge precision edged cloud along the horizon. On arriving at the North boundary we found this vast long band stretching in the north almost from west to east. Not wanting to risk missing the effect by walking back to get a more wide-angle lens, this is a montage of 4 adjacent frames taken at a 50mm lens setting and joined up later. We estimate it is only 30 degrees short of 180 degrees.

View: DF3_20160418_0701_101 Northern sharp edged cloud band starting 0700 18Apr2016 5 of 8 - edge detail (crop).jpg
Description: A little section in more details - the white cloud at this stage seemed to exactly align with the dark. As the cloud moved overhead the straight line illusion was lost.

View: Northern sharp edged cloud band starting 0700 18Apr2016 7 of 8 (crop).gif
Description: So what was it?
As the weather forecast suggested it gradually moved over the sky to give us an endless grey day. A screen dump of a weather map show a cold front on the way, but rarely so graphically represented by a hard line in the real world.

Date: 22 May 2016
View: DF3_20160414_1319_033 Peacock Butterfly perched on outside of Daffodil.jpg
Description: A peacock Butterfly contrasting itself with the brilliant yellow of a cultivated Daffodil. The butterfly is in good condition considering that it will have spent the winter somewhere safe while waiting for the Spring!

View: DF3_20160417_0916_083 Bluebells in ditch to west of access track (crop with colour correction).jpg
Description: A lovely patch of (we hope) genuine English Bluebells pop up each year in an ancient ditch.
Bluebells are notoriously bright in Ultra-Violet (UV) light and always look too pink in photographs. We have done our best here to correct the colours.
For a view in the UV spectrum start at http://www.moorhen.me.uk/uv/highlights_01.htm for the highlights which include plants and insects. None of the insects are harmed - see the technical notes attached to the section.

Date: 21 May 2016
View: DF3_20160414_1311_030 Bluetit with soft nesting material in beak 3 of 3 (crop 2).jpg
Description: Bluetit taking some soft lining back to the nest.

Date: 20 May 2016
View: D5C_20160420_0720_010 Grey Squirrel grooming (back right paw on cheek and front right paw in air) (crop).jpg
Description: "Time for my morning Yoga"
This Grey squirrel cracks us up each time we see it. He is grooming himself where the large peanut feeder spends some of the day, so he is presumably planning to get 'first dibs' when it arrives.
The various limbs are identified in the images title.

View: E60_20160410_1028_164_FB3 Grey Squirrel dazzled by leaving shadow of peanut feeder (crop).jpg
Description: This Grey squirrel looks really smug at finding the peanut feeder full. We think he has just moved the eye into the full sunlight and screwed it up in defence just like a human does.

Date: 19 May 2016
View: E64_20160411_1550_018_FB2 Pheasant male (Blonde) attacked by Grey Squirrel.jpg
Description: The Grey Squirrel looks keen on attacking the male Pheasant, but the bird looks more than ready to deliver some beak, claws and spurs in return!

Date: 18 May 2016
View: DF3_20160413_1042_036+1044_037 Peacock Butterfly on Blackthorn flower + matching Red leaf on Blackberry stem (montage).jpg
Description: We found this Peacock butterfly (left) feeding on some Blackthorn flowers. This is the only frame we got because movement for a 'better angle' scared it away. Turning round the mind said 'oh there it is' before realising that the newly found item was a leaf we think is remarkably like the butterfly. Although this butterfly's marking are primarily intended to startle predators, it is worth remembering that what humans may think of as poor camouflage may actually be quite effective.

Date: 17 May 2016
View: P10_20160410_1214_854 Complete coloured ring around sun (crop).jpg
Description: Not the most spectacular images of a ring around the sun, but we don't very often see this. Not a 'lens effect' except the white dot lower left of the sun, and some of the darker splodges probably dirt of the sensor - a problem you get at very small apertures like photographing the sun and in the kit used to photograph insects in flight.

View: DF3_20160407_1504_012 Halo effect above cumulous cloud (orig).jpg
Description: A strange cloud looms over some normal cumulus, possibly a lenticular ice cloud partly hidden by the lower formation giving this 'halo' effect.

Date: 16 May 2016
View: DF3_20160410_0926_015+018-020 Wren in Willow tree west of main pond 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: This Wren appeared on the branch for an unusually long time before moving on - perhaps a whole 5 seconds. The bird's feet staying still until take-off so we have 'elongated' the twig to provide this little montage.

Date: 15 May 2016
View: D36_20160413_0751_062_FB4 Blackbird female with mass of nesting material in beak (crop).jpg
Description: Now that's what we call collecting nesting material! The Blackbird's aerodynamics must be terrible when flying with that lot at the front!

Date: 14 May 2016
View: DF3_20160408_1432_212+215 Robin carrying dry leaf to nest 1+2 of 2 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Montage of the launch phase to the nest perhaps another 1 metre further up on the right.

View: DF3_20160408_1430_136 Robin with twig in beak.jpg
Description: The Robin taking in a bit of structural reinforcement.

View: DF3_20160408_1431_200 Robin with long twig in beak.jpg
Description: This Robin has a slightly distorted sense of scale with this length of twig we think!

View: DF3_20160408_1435_248 Robin with assorted leaves in beak (crop).jpg
Description: The Robin makes a little coquettish goodbye!

Date: 13 May 2016
View: DF3_20160407_1502_002+006 Snakes-head Fritillary (normal colour + white montage).jpg
Description: We have a 'traditional' site where Snakes-head Fritillaries have survived (if not thrived) for the last 25 years. Each year we have to wait and see whether we get the conventional mottled purple (left) or the more subtle mottled cream and white varieties. This year we got both. Look carefully at the white flower to see the mottling. The single or double flower seems to be a random variation.

View: DF3_20160411_1534_015 Primrose clump in orchard.jpg
Description: One of this years better developed clumps of Primroses at the base of a tree in the Orchard.

Date: 12 May 2016
View: E60_20160406_2221_139_FB3-D01_20160406_2226_014_FB6 Tawny Owl lands on perch then moving to meadow post 1-5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: A single 2 in 1 Tawny Owl event this week. Starting with the camera at the kitchen Window first as the bird landed, stayed a minute or two (unexpectedly triggering this single-shot camera electronics again for the 'poised' image). The Owl then flew directly to the Owl post in the meadow where it stayed for another couple of minutes. This whole sequence lasts about 5 minutes.
The different Owl sizes reflect the pixel size on the two cameras - the first with the bird only a few metres away through moderate telephoto lens, the second from 30m away through a gigantic 500mm lens and long distance flash.

Date: 11 May 2016
View: DF3_20160405_1541_049+051-054 Mallard Duck male takeoff from bank of Duck pond 1+3-6 of 6 (horizontally spread montage).jpg
Description: This male Mallard Duck made a tidy takeoff as Marie walked up the path to the Duck-shaped pond. All 5 frames are spread horizontally at about 7fps. In the first 3 you can see how he dips down to give himself a launching spring. This is less than 1 second of action.

View: DF3_20160405_1542_053 Mallard Duck male takeoff from bank of Duck pond 5 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: A closer view of the next to last frame of the montage.

View: DF3_20160405_1542_064 Mallard Duck male ascending past trees 2-7 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Your cameraman let the bird get our of frame but picked him up again about 1.5 seconds later and caught this rising sequence accurately portrayed at the same 7 fps. His beak just overlaps most of the next images rump with surprising consistency.

Date: 10 May 2016
View: E64_20160401_1746_072_FB2 Robin and Great Tit aligned.jpg
Description: The 'Robtit' - a chance juxtaposition of Robin and Great Tit perhaps singing an Abba song together? Note how even the legs alternate in the lineup.

Date: 09 May 2016
View: E62_20160401_1638_075_FB5 Grey squirrel attacking Rook (crop).jpg
Description: Grey Squirrel showing his not so sweet nature to a Rook that may just have been trying to land.

View: E62_20160403_1606_166_FB5 Grey Squirrel leaping towards camera.jpg
Description: A moment of dynamic paw and tail flailing from this Grey Squirrel.

Date: 08 May 2016
View: DF3_20160403_1531_007-012 Kestrel male taking off from disused telephone pole 1-6 of 8 (approximate montage).jpg
Description: As we emerged into view of this male Kestrel it spent a few seconds sizing us up before deciding it was time to depart. Note that in the next to last image the bird is looking back to see what we are up to!

Date: 07 May 2016
View: DF3_20160402_1228_057 Comma Butterfly on May blossom.jpg
Description: First seen a few days ago, on this warmish day there we a few over-wintered Comma Butterflies re-fuelling from the May blossom. They will be keen to find a mate to lays the eggs for this Autumns generation

View: DF3_20160405_1547_067 Swallow in flight (first sighting in 2016) (crop 2).jpg
Description: The first Swallow of the year for us, 10 days earlier than last year.

Date: 06 May 2016
View: DF3_20160401_1016_014-020 Little Egret in flight over Rookery 1-7 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Very few views of the Little Egret this year. We enjoyed this one flying over the Rookery. Note that the Rooks do not consider the Egret a threat - if this was a Buzzard they would rise en-masse to mob it!

Date: 05 May 2016
View: SW2_20160329_0940_076+0941_077_SC2 Fox visiting end of orchard 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: Consecutive images at the end of the garden from a covert (trail-cam) camera show a fox obviously suspicious of something happening behind, and deciding to 'canter' off. We suspect the disturbance was one of us at the house 50m away

View: E64_20160329_1615_173_FB2 Grey squirrel leaping away with cherry in mouth.jpg
Description: We put out frozen cherries from our stock for both human and animal consumption. This one seems to have pleased this Grey Squirrel.

Date: 04 May 2016
View: DF1_20160328_1152_012+005+010 Great Spotted Woodpecker pecking trunk of Ash tree on main pond island 4+1+3 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: This male Great Spotted Woodpecker spent a minute or so pecking at the bark of the Ash tree on the main pond island. The movement is a bit too quick to catch in sequential frames, so this montage is only an accurate illustration taken from 3 pecks. In the right hand frame note how the impact has disturbed the previously sleek feathers on the back of the head.

View: DF1_20160328_1158_029 Great Spotted Woodpecker male leaving Ash tree on main pond island (crop).jpg
Description: A few minutes later the Great Spotted Woodpecker departed. Judging from the direction of exit he may have been heading for the peanut feeder about 20 metres to the left where we often see him.

Date: 03 May 2016
View: D5C_20160327_1637_006-1638_030 Mallard Duck female preening at edge of pond 2+4+6+7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: Several female Mallard Ducks visit the main pond at this time of year for a high-speed feed and preen before returning to their nests. The bird will be moving oil from her 'Preen Gland' near the base of the tail and spreading it as waterproofing over all of her feathers. Just look at the neck flexibility you have to have if you don't have hands.

Date: 02 May 2016
View: E64_20160325_1701_133_FB2 Pheasant male (normal dark back) near sunset (crop).jpg
Description: The newly arrived conventionally coloured male pheasant against the setting sun.

Date: 01 May 2016
View: E63_20160325_1537_172_FB1 Bluetit with iridescent blue head + wing edge + tail (crop).jpg
Description: A Bluetit glowing blue on every available patch!
No colour faking - honest!

View: E62_20160330_0602_192_FB5 Robin pair at log (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: In the morning dew, a pair of Robin's check out the site around dawn.

Image Archive arch 2016 apr.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Apr 2016
View: E62_20160325_0657_099_FB5 House Sparrow pair at log (crop selectively sharpened).jpg
Description: This looks like a pair of HOUSE Sparrows - a rare sighting here. We so hope that this pair can create a new local population.

View: E63_20160324_0745_011_FB1 House Sparrow male.jpg
Description: A better view of the male House Sparrow

Date: 29 Apr 2016
View: DF3_20160325_1529_383-386 Heron in flight 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: This Heron was flying low over the arable farm land so we could build these accurate montages. Bird spacings vary according to the wind direction.

View: DF3_20160325_1529_399-411 Heron in flight appearing low over hedge 05-17 of 21 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This Heron was flying low over the arable farm land so we could build these accurate montages. Bird spacings vary according to the wind direction.

View: DF3_20160325_1529_403-407 Heron in flight appearing low over hedge 09-13 of 21 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This Heron was flying low over the arable farm land so we could build these accurate montages. Bird spacings vary according to the wind direction.

Date: 28 Apr 2016
View: DF3_20160325_1218_185 Comma Butterfly perched on broken teasel stem.jpg
Description: What we think is the first Comma butterfly we have seen this year. It is perched on a broken stem of a teasel and you can see the characteristic white mark on the bottom of the wing that gives the species it's name.

View: DF3_20160325_1220_192 Comma Butterfly on outside of Daffodil flower.jpg
Description: Here the same Comma Butterfly has moved on to a daffodil flower for a sunbathe. At low air temperatures the sun is needed to bring them up to 'operating temperature'. Unfortunately they can't feed on Daffodils, but there are plenty of Primroses, Snowdrops and May flowers for them to feed on.

Date: 27 Apr 2016
View: DF3_20160325_0844_052-086 Buzzard in flight 01+08+15+22+29+35 of 35 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: Buzzards appear on some sunny days with 'puffy' clouds - one of the conditions that creates Thermals. This is an impression of a Buzzard turning in a thermal nearly above us.

View: DF3_20160325_1231_340-354 Glider G-CHPX 693 circling through clouds 07-19+21 of 23 (impression montage at about 1 fps).jpg
Description: A few hours after the Buzzards found a nearby thermal, this glider spirals up in a thermal on the sun-facing slope to our south.

Date: 26 Apr 2016
View: DF3_20160321_1057_006 Purple Dead-nettle flower in crack of concrete track (crop).jpg
Description: This intricate looking flower is actually just a Dead Nettle growing up through a crack in a concrete track. The flowers are about 1cm wide.

Date: 25 Apr 2016
View: E63_20160323_1218_118+1243_119_FB1 Redwing + Blackbird female (montage at identical scale).jpg
Description: An opportunity to show you 2 different members of the Thrush family at identical scales. Thrushes include Redwing and Blackbird shown here, as well as Fieldfare, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush - all of this sort of size.

Date: 24 Apr 2016
View: E62_20160321_1523_021_FB5 2 Rooks looking ready for fencing contest (referee Jackdaw hiding behind right hand Rook).jpg
Description: En-Guard!
Rooks come with built in 'Sabres!

View: E64_20160318_1558_068_FB2 2 Rooks squabbling above log (crop).jpg
Description: This doesn't look like a very friendly encounter between these two Rooks.

Date: 23 Apr 2016
View: E62_20160317_1634_011_FB5 Mallard duck pair feeding at meadow site.jpg
Description: The female Mallard duck (right) still with 'duckweed' on her back looks for food at the log, guarded by 'her' male. It looks like they were too early for the 'teatime' delivery of food.

View: E62_20160317_1747_025_FB5 Mallard female feeding at meadow site (crop).jpg
Description: An hour after her previous visit, this female Mallard duck gets first choice from the just replenished buffet.

Date: 22 Apr 2016
View: E60_20160318_2225_113_FB3 Tawny Owl landing on Kitchen feeder perch (crop).jpg
Description: The 'Night' Shift - a Tawny Owl makes an elegant arrival.

View: E60_20160318_0656_050_FB3 Grey Squirrel scrambling along Kitchen feeder perch (crop).jpg
Description: The 'Day' shift - on a really gloomy morning a Grey squirrel arrives to wait for the peanut feeder to appear.

Date: 21 Apr 2016
View: DF3_20160320_1115_053-058 Buzzard turning in flight 02-07 of 12 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: As the sun gains some warmth we have started seeing Buzzards using the local thermals to gain height. Usually single birds as here, but so far up to 3 in a single shaft of rising air.

View: DF3_20160320_1124_108-110 2 Buzzards circling in thermal 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: As the sun gains some warmth we have started seeing Buzzards using the local thermals to gain height. Here Buzzards circling 'lazily' to gain height before setting off on a hunt.

Date: 20 Apr 2016
View: D01_20160318_2221_042_FB6 Tawny Owl 13 minute visit 5 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: A 13 minute visit by a Tawny Owl mostly showed us the birds back, but the camera did catch this moment of the bird gazing up at we know-not-what.

View: D01_20160321_0508_044_FB6 Barn Owl landing (crop).jpg
Description: Just this one image of a Barn Owl making an attractive landing.
Notice the clear Alula feathers raised half way along the top of each wing that provide the same effect as 'flaps' on aeroplanes.

Date: 19 Apr 2016
View: E63_20160314_1557_032_FB1 Grey Squirrel attacks Rook (crop).jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel shows his bad temper against this rook which must be at least half a metre from him.

View: E63_20160314_1603_033_FB1 Pheasant male startled by Rook wing-flapping.jpg
Description: We think this Rook adjusting position with it's wings has startled the male Pheasant into 'levitating' ...

View: E63_20160314_1603_034_FB1 Pheasant male feeding with Rook after being startled.jpg
Description: ... but within the same minute all is calm again. Corvids and Pheasants usually coexist in peace!

Date: 18 Apr 2016
View: E62_20160316_0800_088_FB5 Green Woodpecker.jpg
Description: This is an adult Green Woodpecker (we can't tell which sex) in all it's colourful glory.
We have not 'wound up' the colours.

View: E63_20160316_1647_115_FB1 Robin + white downy feather + Dunnock + Chaffinch male + Bluetit around stone.jpg
Description: 4 different small bird species (and a white feather) make a pleasing composition without any changes from the original frame.
This sort of layout is usually the result of photoshopping in bird seed adverts!

Date: 17 Apr 2016
View: E64_20160317_0204_091_FB2 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: What we think is the same Badger makes several visits a week, mostly at the Infra-Red Trail cams, but sometimes at the high-resolution photo sites.

Date: 16 Apr 2016
View: D5C_20160316_1038_005 Moorhen turning over Pond Weed to find food.jpg
Description: We are now seeing a Moorhen on the main pond for brief periods on many days. It doesn't seem particularly bothered by our moving by the windows but we never get to see it when we visit the pond. When feeding the basic techniques is to lift lumps of pond weed and turn them over to expose edible morsels hiding beneath.

Date: 15 Apr 2016
View: E63_20160310_1521_050_FB1 Redwing.jpg
Description: Here are some unexpectedly regular visitors for us in mid March - Redwings spread through the week. In previous years a single sighting in all of March is the norm.

View: E63_20160317_0619_138_FB1 Redwing.jpg
Description: Here are some unexpectedly regular visitors for us in mid March - Redwings spread through the week. In previous years a single sighting in all of March is the norm.

View: E64_20160315_0717_054_FB2 Redwing.jpg
Description: Here are some unexpectedly regular visitors for us in mid March - Redwings spread through the week. In previous years a single sighting in all of March is the norm.
This seems to be a different individual to other sighting in the week.

Date: 14 Apr 2016
View: E62_20160311_1548_065_FB5 Rook eating corn grains while showing iridescent feathers.jpg
Description: A Rook picking up recently scattered corn. Just look at the colours in the feathers - we find it almost miraculous!
We have not artificially intensified them.

View: E62_20160314_1600_016_FB5 2 Rooks with Jackdaw behind.jpg
Description: A pair of Rooks looking at we know-not-what to the left. Does the Jackdaw (rightmost bird) wonder if it can nip in for a feed?

Date: 13 Apr 2016
View: E60_20160312_1119_037_FB3 Jackdaw aerobraking to land on perch (crop).jpg
Description: A Jackdaw making final approach adjustments to land on the perch.

Date: 12 Apr 2016
View: DF3_20160311_1310_018 Shrew under corrugated Iron sheet (crop).jpg
Description: Under a sun warmed corrugated Iron sheet at the edge of the meadow we used to surprise Grass Snakes, but more recently we are lucky to even spot a Rodent. Here a probably terrified Shrew (probably the Common) ran in a circle before disappearing beneath the leaf litter. Notice the small Snail shell next to the Shrew.

Date: 11 Apr 2016
View: E60_20160309_0932_156_FB3 Great Spotted Woodpecker male + Tree Sparrow at peanut feeder in heavy rain.jpg
Description: Very heavy rain (38mm in 12 hours) doesn't stop the male Great Spotted Woodpecker (right) visiting the peanut feeder. The Woodpecker looks quite pristine, but the Tree Sparrow on the left looks really bedraggled.

View: E60_20160302_1122_289_FB3 Grey Squirrel and Great Tit at peanut feeder in heavy rain (crop 2).jpg
Description: A 'soggy' squirrel out in the rain to make the most of access to the easy to access peanut feeder.

Date: 10 Apr 2016
View: D01_20160307_2217_002-2226_014_FB6 Tawny Owl 10 minute visit to meadow post 1-3+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: Its been a few weeks since we last saw any Tawny Owl - this visit lasted 10 minutes.

View: D01_20160309_0109_001+0111_004+0113_006_FB6 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 5 minute visit as rain starts 1+4+2 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Barn owl without leg ring graces us with a few minutes visit

View: D01_20160309_0535_074_FB6 Barn Owl arriving for over 60 minute stay in heavy rain 2 of 2 (orig).jpg
Description: In the pouring rain this Barn Owl visit that stayed for over an hour, the rain soaking the bird and the East facing window through which this camera takes it's pictures.
This is as good as the images got - a whole unprocessed frame - we can't even guess which of our regular Barn Owls it is.
Which 'authority' says Owls seek shelter in the rain?

Date: 09 Apr 2016
View: D01_20160309_1747_002_FB6 Barn Owl (natural light).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl arrives before the camera has 'turned itself on' for the night. We saw it on the CCTV and stampeded to the camera to grab just this one useable image before the Rooks took exception and chased it away. Rooks mobbing Owls in the twilight is standard behaviour we have seen many times in the past elsewhere around the farmland.

Date: 08 Apr 2016
View: E60_20160306_1221_199_FB3 Great Spotted Woodpecker male hanging from peanut feeder table with tail as prop.jpg
Description: A very neat male Great Spotted Woodpecker propping himself at 45 degrees with his tail.

View: E63_20160305_1527_126_FB1 Chaffinch male with blue beak coating.jpg
Description: This male Chaffinch now has his full blue beak coating, and wonderful crisp feather pattern at his throat.

Date: 07 Apr 2016
View: E60_20160305_0740_105_FB3 2 Great Tits + Bluetit + Tree Sparrow (q) at peanut feeder in snow shower.jpg
Description: The weather forecast for heavy snow fortunately skimmed north of us leaving a light overnight snow shower that melted before sundown.
These small birds don't have the reserves to stop for a bit of snow.

View: E62_20160305_0659_074_FB5 Blackbird in snow shower.jpg
Description: We can't help feeling that this Blackbird is surveying the change of scenery that any snow temporarily produces.

Date: 06 Apr 2016
View: DF3_20160307_0659_117-120 Kestrel female in flight soon after sunrise 1-4 of 4 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: The female Kestrel was out early hunting, gradually moving east away from us in her usual hunting pattern whether she can see us or not.
The gold colour is from early morning sunshine.

Date: 05 Apr 2016
View: D5C_20160304_1333_005+1334_007+009+010 Moorhen stepping down to feed on water weed 1+3+5+6 of 8 (horizontal spread montage).jpg
Description: Our returned Moorhen appeared for part of another day. Here he/she is stepping down the Iris fronds to pick up some water weed to eat.

Date: 04 Apr 2016
View: E63_20160308_2114_081_FB1 Badger in heavy rain (full frame).jpg
Description: This is the whole camera frame that happens to just neatly frame the whole badger.
It really is 'pot-luck' how to adjust the camera in these fixed automatic setups to get detailed images without missing too much out of frame

View: E63_20160310_0130_140_FB1 Badger approaching stone (crop).jpg
Description: The next night (the later side of midnight) a less-well framed image but a lovely view of the face of this badger.
We know Badgers are reputed to be 'grumpy' but maybe only when being messed about.

Date: 03 Apr 2016
View: E63_20160302_1431_068_FB1 Great Tit about to make wing assisted hop down from log.jpg
Description: This Great Tit has probably just finished the last of the corn grains on the top of the stone, and is about to make a little 'wing assisted' jump down to start on the offerings at ground level.

Date: 02 Apr 2016
View: E64_20160301_1759_072_FB2 Robin pair feeding together.jpg
Description: Robins are paired up all over the site.

View: E63_20160229_1545_019_FB1 Robin pair feeding together.jpg
Description: Robins are paired up all over the site.

View: DF3_20160303_0715_032 Robin pair on south side of blocked gate in early morning sunshine.jpg
Description: Robins are paired up all over the site.

Date: 01 Apr 2016
View: E60_20160222_0859_008_FB3 Ghost bird effect (overlit by flashgun) against assorted birds around peanut feeder (crop).jpg
Description: Ghost Bird!
Some unidentified small bird so close to the camera and flash that we get this hopelessly overexposed image with this strange photo-bomb.
Genuine un-fudged single frame - not an 'April Fool' joke!

View: E60_20160301_1040_228_FB3 Great Spotted Woodpecker male on peanut feeder.jpg
Description: Out in the rain, this male Great Spotted Woodpecker poses at the feeder. The tips of the tail feathers get quite a beating being used as a prop on vertical surfaces. We don't know where this one got the brown tip on one tail feather.

Image Archive arch 2016 mar.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Mar 2016
View: E64_20160229_0106_153_FB2 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: An hour after midnight a badger manages to trigger the camera for a lovely full length shot with beautifully dry and nicely groomed fur.

View: E64_20160302_0230_075_FB2 Badger.jpg
Description: What looks like the same badger 2 days later, but this time with wet fur, takes his portrait at the woodland site.

Date: 30 Mar 2016
View: E60_20160228_1348_279_FB3 Jackdaw attacking (q) unsuspecting Grey squirrel.jpg
Description: Is this Jackdaw taking advantage of the pre-occupied Grey Squirrel for a little revenge for how often bird can't get near the nuts?
A few minutes later it looked like the Squirrel was still 'in possession'.

View: E64_20160228_1547_129_FB2 Rooks Squabbling.jpg
Description: A Rook looking not at all pleased with the corvid mostly out of frame to the right.

Date: 29 Mar 2016
View: DF3_20160225_1243_034+051+064 Kestrel female hovering in strong wind (selected) (montage impression).jpg
Description: After spending a few minutes hunting from a Black Poplar by the roadside this female Kestrel was hovering to our east facing into biting north wind.

View: DF3_20160225_1243_078-087 Kestrel female diving on prey past tree into base of hedge 07-16 of 16 (accurate montage @ 6fps).jpg
Description: Suddenly the female Kestrel made a controlled dive straight to the ground at the base of this hedge. This is at about 6 fps, so this is just under 2 seconds of motion.

View: DF3_20160225_1243_082-084 Kestrel female diving on prey past tree into base of hedge 11-13 of 16 (accurate montage @ 6fps).jpg
Description: Some more detail from the middle of the female Kestrel's dive.
What a fabulous bird!

Date: 28 Mar 2016
View: DF3_20160228_1053_068-070+096 Moorhen bathing in main pond 1-3+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Our first sighting of a Moorhen on the main pond for months was a relaxed bath and then preen on the bank 23 metres from the house.

View: DF3_20160228_1214_119+126 Moorhen preening on dead Iris fronds at edge of main pond 1+3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Our first sighting of a Moorhen on the main pond for months was a relaxed bath and then preen on the bank 23 metres from the house.

Date: 27 Mar 2016
View: D01_20160227_2339_011-2348_023_FB6 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 11 minute visit (selected) 2+4+7+9 of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: Two visits from the pristine barn owl without leg ring on successive nights. The first visit was an active hunt for 11 minutes

View: D01_20160228_0256_024-0356_103_FB6 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 162 min (CCTV check) visit (selected) 01+08+09+15 of 16 (montage).jpg
Description: This visit was a most unusual stay for over two and half hours. The still camera controller stopped photographing after the first hour (assuming a fault) but a look at the CCTV showed that it stayed for 160 minutes of apparently staggering inactivity!
These 4 images are the arrival (right) and then typical images from the first hour. We are fairly sure that the bird arrived fully 'tanked up' with voles and/or mice and just quietly dozed on our post digesting his fill. No sign of any owl cast next day :-(

Date: 26 Mar 2016
View: E63_20160222_1825_096+20160224_2055_169_FB1 2 different Fieldmice (Wood Mice) 2 days apart (montage).jpg
Description: 2 different Fieldmice (Wood Mice) 2 days apart on a (slightly stretched) stone.
Sorry - couldn't resist this twee montage.

Date: 25 Mar 2016
View: DF3_20160224_1547_001 Dunnock on hedge top (orig).jpg
Description: A Dunnock watches us expectantly hoping for corn to magically land on the ground!

Date: 24 Mar 2016
View: DF3_20160224_1118_166+173+180 Buzzard in flight (selected) 1+2+5 of 5 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: What we assume is a family of 4 Buzzards in a thermal moved near to our patch (but mostly rather high). One of them was much lower than the others but still circling. Just an impression here.

Date: 23 Mar 2016
View: DF3_20160223_0719_037+040 Hare on bend of concrete Farm road 1+2 of 2 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: After a prolonged absence we were delighted by this early morning Hare running towards us as we paused on a disused farm track. After a few seconds the animal stopped to give us a look over.

View: DF3_20160223_0719_050-055 Hare running through Oil Seed Rape crop 1-6 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The Hare finally decided to lollop down the slope of the oil-seed rape crop.

Date: 22 Mar 2016
View: DF3_20160222_1542_018 Snowdrops on West bank of main pond (crop).jpg
Description: Quite a lot of snowdrops are on the Pond bank now that everything that might eat them thinks they taste awful or give you a tummy ache.

Date: 21 Mar 2016
View: D5C_20160223_0755_023 Green Squirrel climbing thin vertical twig after eating catkins 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels move about in trees with so little apparent difficulty that it is unusual to catch one having to put some effort into climbing back up this thin branch after eating the buds and catkins further down.

Date: 20 Mar 2016
View: E63_20160218_1638_086_FB1 Tree Sparrow and Bluetit feeding on corn grains.jpg
Description: Some of the smaller daytime visitors making the most of the corn and other seeds.

View: E63_20160220_1124_199_FB1 Great Tit with seed in beak + Chaffinch male with blueing beak (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Some of the smaller daytime visitors making the most of the corn and other seeds.

Date: 19 Mar 2016
View: E63_20160215_1811_032+1807_031_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) on stone + Rabbit with pear stalk in mouth (montage).jpg
Description: These two creatures were photographed just 4 minutes apart, and we often see Rabbits and Fieldmice (Wood Mice) coexisting in peace. So here is a fun but accurate montage that also contrasts the difference in size.

View: E63_20160212_1816_058_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) on stone with shadow of tail on body.jpg
Description: A little Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) soon after Sunset.
The camera flash (mounted separately and off to one side and higher than the camera) is casting a shadow of the Mouse's tail, which is sticking out towards the camera, on the mouse's body.

Date: 18 Mar 2016
View: D01_20160216_2302_047+2303_048+049_FB6 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 90 second visit 1-3 of 3 (montage @ 45 second intervals).jpg
Description: These next 3 images of the Barn Owl was for a visit of exactly 90 seconds - the camera cycles at 45 seconds and caught the landing and (by luck) the departure.

View: D01_20160218_0015_007+0014_006+0012_003_FB6 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 5 minute visit 3+2+1 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: A 5 minute stay by the Barn Owl.

View: D01_20160218_0023_010_FB6 Barn Owl (no leg ring) less than 1 minute visit (only frame) (crop).jpg
Description: A very short stay by the Barn Owl, or maybe just a flyby.
The red colour at the base of the beak is clearly fresh blood when viewed at camera resolution. Owls are elegant and beautiful creatures, but they live by killing.

Date: 17 Mar 2016
View: D01_20160215_2231_002+2233_005+2236_009_FB6 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 6 minute visit 1+2+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: After weeks without a sighting of Barn Owl, one of the locals made regularly nightly visits for 4 days, always the 'pristine' Barn Owl without a leg ring. We have built each visit into it's own montage annotated with the length of the visit.

View: D01_20160216_0215_010-0235_036_FB6 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 26 minute visit 1+7+5+3+4 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: After weeks without a sighting of Barn Owl, one of the locals made regularly nightly visits for 4 days, always the 'pristine' Barn Owl without a leg ring. We have built each visit into it's own montage annotated with the length of the visit.

Date: 16 Mar 2016
View: DF3_20160212_1240_021 Cirrus clouds with horizontally layered rainbow colours 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: In a few minutes in the middle of the day the fast moving clouds, weather front and other events gave us some unusual cloud events. First some Cirrus cloud with an unexpected band of colours in horizontal stripes like a section snipped from a Rainbow, but entirely wrongly positioned for a rainbow.

View: DF3_20160212_1245_032 Shadow of Aeroplane Contrail on Cirrus Cloud (q) (orig).jpg
Description: Here we have the shadow of a Airliner Contrail falling on the cirrus clouds. We had always assumed that Cirrus was so high this couldn't happen, but a little research (c/o Google/Wikipedia) finds that:-

View: DF3_20160212_1247_040 Sundog left of sun hidden in cloud 1 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: The detail of a Sundog to the left of the sun which was hidden behind cloud. Unusually, we can just see the Green and Blue tinged to the left.

View: DF3_20160212_1250_059 Sundog left of sun hidden in cloud 4 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: This Sundog was changing quickly - here is a view including the position of the sun at a similar mirror position to the Sundog but hidden by the cloud on the RIGHT side of the frame.
Marie sees this as a cloud with it's light Sabre out attacking the Sundog!

Date: 15 Mar 2016
View: D01_20160214_2321_065_FB6 Tawny Owl visit to meadow post for 32 minutes (landing with eyes closed) 1 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: The mostly closed eyes in this landing Tawny owl (a larger crop of the top left of the following montage) really looks like 'she' has been playing with 'Mummy's' slate grey Eye shadow!

View: D01_20160214_2321_065+2341_091+2344_095+2350_103_FB6 Tawny Owl visit to meadow post for 32 minutes 1+3+4+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: 4 moments from this 32 minute stay by a Tawny Owl.

View: D01_20160214_2252_038+2254_041+2308_059+2309_061_FB6 Tawny Owl visit to meadow post for 23 minutes 2+3+6+7 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: Half an our earlier the Tawny Owl stayed for 23 minutes. Here are 4 moments from this first visit.

Date: 14 Mar 2016
View: E62_20160205_1447_111_FB5 7 Tree Sparrows feeding at log.jpg
Description: We are pleased to see so many Tree Sparrows about. They breed here using Great Tit boxes. Here are 7 (of at least 9 in this group) scattered around the log.

Date: 13 Mar 2016
View: DF3_20160210_1246_071 Robin singing with beak facing camera (crop 1).jpg
Description: A Robin defending his patch just after midday.

View: E63_20160209_1341_318_FB1 Robin pair with Bluetit between them.jpg
Description: 2 loving Robins (the only way you would see them not fighting at this time of year) with a Bluetit acting as Duenna - NOT.

Date: 12 Mar 2016
View: E63_20160206_0800_158_FB1 Pheasant male with white head and grey back.jpg
Description: A strange grey back for our strange Blond plumaged male Pheasant!

View: E64_20160206_1611_218_FB2 Pheasant male with white head stepping over log.jpg
Description: Our blonde plumages male pheasant stepping elegantly over the log.

View: E63_20160209_1436_341_FB1 Pheasant male with grey head showing back and tail.jpg
Description: Many male birds (and other species) grow ridiculous items in the breeding season to attract the 'girls' who see how fit the male must be to cope with it. Surely this tail will impress his ladies?
Whether the unusually light feathers are an attraction or not we don't know.

View: E63_20160210_1642_417_FB1 Pheasant male with grey head with iridescent edges (crop 2).jpg
Description: Who's been pecking through the mud then? A detail of our light coloured male Pheasant's head and back

Date: 11 Mar 2016
View: E63_20160203_1546_005_FB1 Bluetit with iridescent blue head and tail.jpg
Description: Here is a Bluetit about as iridescent as they ever get.
This bird also has an extensive brood patch and it is only just February.

View: E63_20160209_1432_338_FB1 Bluetit with Brood patch.jpg
Description: We notice that many of the Bluetits have well developed brood patches already.
Brood patch? A strip of thinly insulated skin on the breast which is pressed against eggs, and later chicks, to keep them warm.

Date: 10 Mar 2016
View: DF1_20160207_1202_142 Green Woodpecker on grass with food item in tip of beak (crop).jpg
Description: Of about 600 camera images we caught only this single instance of food visible in her beak - in this case right at the tip. We have no idea what the muddy prey might have been, but it had vanished inside the beak only a fifth of a second later!

View: DF1_20160207_1202_176+177+183 Green Woodpecker on grass pushing beak into soft mud 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Green Woodpeckers often push their whole beaks deep into the soft soil/mud to find their prey. From what we can see they manoeuvre about to find items with their beak & tongue, and pull them into the beak while still underground.

View: DF3_20160207_1205_062+066+067 Green Woodpecker on grass pushing beak into soft mud 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Green Woodpeckers often push their whole beaks deep into the soft soil/mud to find their prey. From what we can see they manoeuvre about to find items with their beak & tongue, and pull them into the beak while still underground.

View: DF3_20160207_1229_427 Green Woodpecker on grass with beak open and tongue showing (crop).jpg
Description: Near the end of her feed we get a glimpse of the female Green Woodpecker's tongue, probably cleaning out the sticky muddy mess inside her beak!

Date: 09 Mar 2016
View: DF1_20160207_1153_012+023+024+1156_039 Green Woodpecker female preening in Willow Tree 1+3+4+5 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: A female Green Woodpecker was preening on the side of this tree sheltered from the wind.

View: DF1_20160207_1159_072-074+1200_075 Green Woodpecker female flying from Willow tree bole 1-4 of 6 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The female Green Woodpecker had moved down to the bole of this (years ago) pollarded Willow tree, and then took off. There is too much wood around the bole to open the wings fully so the bird sort of 'glided down' before picking up flight.

View: DF1_20160207_1201_080 Green Woodpecker on side of dead-wood post (crop).jpg
Description: The female Green Woodpecker flew straight to an old post but only stayed for a minute or two. This might be how you expect to see a woodpecker, and for most types in the UK this is true. But the Green Woodpecker spends most of it's time feeding on ants and similar on the ground, which is where she went next, quite near the bottom of this pole.

Date: 08 Mar 2016
View: D01_20160205_1151_014_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow IR sender post and flying off 02 of 11 (crop).jpg
Description: The Buzzard paid a visit to the flimsy pole which supports the IR sender box used for the meadow post, but some 20m further away from the camera. Happening to see the bird we realigned the camera and grabbed a few photos of the bird awkwardly perched on the top of the pole.

View: D01_20160205_1153_026+029+031+032_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow IR sender post and flying off 06+08-011 of 11 (approx montage).jpg
Description: The Buzzard launched itself to something on the ground some 20m to the right complete obscured by trees. The camera caught the departure but making a montage from the varying quality of the images was tricky. This is the first impression. You can just see the pole bending as the bird pushed off.

View: D01_20160205_1153_028-030_FB6 Buzzard on Meadow IR sender post and flying off 07-09 of 11 (montage).jpg
Description: Here is the second montage from the first 3 successive frames that fails to show the lowering of the Talons, but has more consistent quality. Take your pick!

Date: 07 Mar 2016
View: E64_20160202_0238_078+0023_076_FB2 Badger and Fox at same scale (montage).jpg
Description: NO - this didn't happen!
A couple of hours apart during the night these 2 visitors photographed themselves at either end of the camera frame. So we have brought them together to show you the entirely different body builds of these two night scavenger/hunters. Both Badger (left) and this Fox seem to be in good health.

View: E63_20160203_0001_107_FB1 Rabbit twisting legs to change direction.jpg
Description: Handbrake Turn?
We really can't work out how the rabbit managed to get it's legs into this tangle. Oh to be that flexible. Was it making an escape from the fox at one minute past midnight?

Date: 06 Mar 2016
View: E62_20160202_1508_060+1510_061+1514_062_FB5 Tree Sparrow + Great Tit + Goldfinch 1-3 of 3 (identical scale montage).jpg
Description: Over 6 minutes these 3 different birds 'posed' in different position along the log and we couldn't resist showing you them all at the same scale.

View: E63_20160201_0844_019_FB1 Robin on stone preparing to take-off.jpg
Description: Everywhere we go there is a Robin waiting expectantly for some corn. This bird, with no human present, is bending his ankles ready for launch.
If you don't believe that's the 'ankle' at the left bend of the leg, the 'knee' is hidden under the feathers. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_anatomy

Date: 05 Mar 2016
View: DF3_20160202_1520_012 Tree Sparrow.jpg
Description: One of our Tree Sparrows - one of probably about a dozen around the site at the moment.

View: DF3_20160202_1520_015 Bluetit.jpg
Description: A Bluetit - one of dozens all over the site.

Date: 04 Mar 2016
View: D36_20160202_0930_017_FB4 Blackbird female showing 1 white feather.jpg
Description: This migrant female Blackbird (with 'black' beak) lands on the tree-stump. We have seen this individual with a white feather tip in her wing several times. This moment looks like she is still regaining balance giving her an atypical position.

Date: 03 Mar 2016
View: E63_20160131_0821_251_FB1 Pheasant male with light feathers & white top to head 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: We have not seen our normal male pheasant for a few days, and suddenly this snazzily marked individual has appeared at all three ground level sites. The head is grey with white edges - is this avian Haute Couture?

Date: 02 Mar 2016
View: E62_20160129_1803_074+1849_075_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) collecting corn grains to cache 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: The Fieldmice (Wood Mice) continue their food collection and caching. This is two images 45 minutes apart of we think the same mouse with corn gripped in the lips. The tiny mouth is probably full of 1 or 2 more of them.

View: E63_20160201_2055_067+2107_068+20160202_2158_103+2236_104_FB1 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Some Fieldmice (Wood Mice) visiting over a couple of days, we couldn't decide which ones to show you, so we montaged 4 that didn't overlap!

Date: 01 Mar 2016
View: E62_20160126_0757_032_FB5 Dunnock in flight attacking Chaffinch female on ground (crop 2).jpg
Description: A Dunnock and a female Chaffinch having a little set-to.

View: E62_20160127_1752_125+1814_126+1907_127_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) repeatedly jumping over log 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: At about 1 hour intervals what looks like the same Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) took these 3 consecutive (left to right) images of himself passing over the log, each time with food in the mouth presumably being taken away to cache.

Image Archive arch 2016 feb.htm (view it Here)

Date: 29 Feb 2016
View: E63_20160127_2252_222_FB1 Fox (crop).jpg
Description: We unfortunately see quite a few foxes with bad Mange, so it is a pleasure to see this healthy beast visiting the hedge site. The mixture of peanut butter and mouse perfume on the stone must be irresistible!

Date: 28 Feb 2016
View: D5C_20160125_1138_004 Buzzard 4 minute visit to meadow post 14 of 14 (crop).jpg
Description: The unexpected Buzzard on the post was also tackled from a downstairs window catching this unusual posture shooting through some intervening foliage.

View: E64_20160127_1318_131_FB2 Buzzard landing on ground (crop).jpg
Description: A couple of days later we disturbed the Buzzard while hunting in our woodland section, and thought we wouldn't see it again for days. But only 2 hours later, with no disturbing humans about, the Buzzard makes an unexpected visit to the Woodland camera site, unusually left active all that day in the dreary weather. It looks like the bird wing probably broke the IR beam over the log to take his portrait - the first time a buzzard has been photographed at any of the ground level cameras or the tree stump, though it was seen on one occasion in Feb 2015 at the kitchen window perch (see 2/3 down page http://www.moorhen.me.uk/imgofday/arch 2015 mar.htm)
Jan 2016 and Feb 2015 have been our only Buzzards seen inside our patch - maybe the Parents are kicking out the youngsters ready for a new batch.

Date: 27 Feb 2016
View: D01_20160125_1135_008_FB6 Buzzard 4 minute visit to meadow post 05 of 14 (crop).jpg
Description: We unexpectedly spotted this Buzzard perched on the meadow post, and dashed upstairs to the pre-focussed camera covering the post top.

View: D01_20160125_1137_019+1135_001+006_FB6 Buzzard 4 minute visit to meadow post 12+01+03 of 14 (montage).jpg
Description: A re-ordered sequence of the turning head - actually almost as impressive as an owl but the more slender neck makes it look less extreme!

Date: 26 Feb 2016
View: E63_20160127_1600_195_FB1 2 Grey Squirrels squabbling over piece of carrot top (crop).jpg
Description: Oh Wow - all this fuss over the top of a carrot!
The Grey squirrel on the right on hind legs facing left and with carrot in mouth is being leapt at by one of its peers - judging by the movement blur there is no way there wasn't a big impact a fraction of a second later.

View: E64_20160121_0853_024_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels fighting 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: This looks like another serious encounter with the Squirrels face to face and claws flying as they roll over the log.

Date: 25 Feb 2016
View: E63_20160116_1259_214_FB1 Pheasant male with adult male spurs.jpg
Description: Our dominant male pheasant giving a good view of his 'spurs' a third of the way up his legs.

View: E63_20160115_1549_163_FB1 Pheasant female with foot details and vestigial spurs.jpg
Description: On this female Pheasant you can just see a vestigial spur a third of the way up her left leg

Date: 24 Feb 2016
View: DF3_20160120_1239_062 Bluetit searching for food in Black Poplar bark 1 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: This Bluetit spent several minutes searching the lichen crusted bark of this old Black Poplar. This first image is exactly what we saw - who cares about gravity!

View: DF3_20160120_1240_065+067 Bluetit searching for food in Black Poplar bark 2+4 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: A montage of a single Bluetit searching the lichen crusted bark of this old Black Poplar, working its way along a branch.

View: E63_20160116_1243_210_FB1 Bluetit aerobraking to land.jpg
Description: A Bluetit flying in for lunch at this ground level feeding site

Date: 23 Feb 2016
View: E64_20160120_0755_137_FB2 Muntjac Deer male with his right front leg raised showing hoof (crop).jpg
Description: A male Muntjac Deer at the Woodland camera site hoping to find a little food.

View: E64_20160121_0349_200_FB2 Muntjac Deer male (crop).jpg
Description: A close view of the interesting markings on the face of a male Muntjac Deer.

Date: 22 Feb 2016
View: D01_20160118_2051_029-2055_034 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 6 minute visit to meadow post (reordered) 2-6 of 7 (animated montage).gif
Description: We have chosen 6 images of a 6 minute barn owl visit to make animated GIF of the bird searching surrounding from the post top without moving the feet.
Don't imagine that the Owl spends 6 minutes turning his head once - we catch various positions in each frame 45 seconds apart and select the order.

View: D01_20160118_2050_027 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 6 minute visit to meadow post 1 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl (with no leg ring) making a 6 minute visit a few hours after sunset. This is the landing.

View: D01_20160118_2051_029+2052_030+2054_033 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 6 minute visit to meadow post 2+3+6 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: The Barn Owl (with no leg ring) made a 6 minute visit a few hours after sunset. Here are three images showing a nearly 360 degree rotation of the head.

Date: 21 Feb 2016
View: E62_20160114_1318_007_FB5 2 Rooks feeding close together with Rook and Jackdaw in background.jpg
Description: A pair of Rooks obviously a 'loving couple' trusting each other with those powerful beaks so close to each other.

View: D01_20160118_1527_014 2 Jackdaws sharing meadow post food.jpg
Description: The Jackdaws are paired up ready to start the seasons activities.

Date: 20 Feb 2016
View: DF3_20160116_1526_098 Sundog (left of sun) in feathery Cirrus clouds 1 of 4 (crop 1).jpg
Description: Our love of Sundogs continues. This 3 layers of cloud makes for an interesting effect. The top cloud looks remarkably like a birds longer body feather with down on the side against the body. Feathers are amazing constructions each made to fit it's niche.

View: DF3_20160119_1226_032 Small feather (Sparrowhawk (q)) caught in hedge near locked gate (crop).jpg
Description: Along our access track this feather was caught on a thorn on the outside of a hedge. It is about 4cm (1.5 inches) long. We guess it is from a Sparrowhawk who will attack birds perched in hedges.

Date: 19 Feb 2016
View: DF3_20160116_1231_051 Robin on edge of incinerator ring (crop).jpg
Description: As we walk about the Robins in each territory make their approach in the hope of some food from the bottom of Marie's bottomless corn pocket. This one is perched on a 'weldmesh' ring which does service as an incinerator.

View: DF3_20160116_1231_054 Robin on edge of incinerator ring (crop 1).jpg
Description: An image of the robin shows a reflection in his eye of the world behind the camera.

Date: 18 Feb 2016
View: D01_20160117_2149_029+2152_032-033_FB6 Tawny owl 4 minute visit 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl making a 4 minute visit.

Date: 17 Feb 2016
View: D10_20160115_1220_004 weekly field left 15jan16 (processed whole frame).jpg
Description: Before the Snow (midday 15 Jan2016 ) ...

View: D10_20160117_0911_006 weekly field left 17jan16 (processed whole frame).jpg
Description: ... and the fresh snow (only about 4cm) changing the world (morning 17 Jan 2016).

Date: 16 Feb 2016
View: D01_20160115_2127_004_FB6 Tawny Owl short visit 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl stayed for only a minute or so in the early evening. This is the landing with spread wings edge-on to camera, but with a view of the facial disc and the tail.

Date: 15 Feb 2016
View: E62_20160114_0829_375_FB5 Bluetit in frozen apple after light snow.jpg
Description: A Bluetit standing inside a frozen apple is probably managing to peck some bits from it.

Date: 14 Feb 2016
View: E63_20160111_1923_105_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) on stone showing vestigial nictitating membrane on eye.jpg
Description: A Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) at the hedge bottom suddenly raised our interest because it shows a nictitating membrane over the corner of the lit eye. We often see these on birds where they are fully active transparent eye protection but we didn't know anything but birds had them.
A little web-search discovered that they are more widespread, but that in Mice they are vestigial - they have them but no longer have the muscles needed to actually use them.
More info at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nictitating_membrane
We love the instructions on looking at the membrane on a sleeping dog - it does not mention losing fingers as a potential hazard!

Date: 13 Feb 2016
View: E62_20160107_1727_139_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) diving to ground by another.jpg
Description: A fieldmouse (wood mouse) showing off to its potential mate?
The blurring on the front of the leaping mouse is most likely the effect of a water drop or mark on the glass window of the camera box.

Date: 12 Feb 2016
View: E62_20160107_0752_071_FB5 Blackbird female with muddy beak on drenched site.jpg
Description: OK - we put down the chopped bark (and it helps a lot).
Then the birds toss it aside to feed in the mud, and every boot footstep squelches up mud all around it!

View: E62_20160107_1640_133_FB5 Robin on drenched site.jpg
Description: Robin. Mud. What more to say!

View: DF3_20160113_1215_007 Robin on twig (crop).jpg
Description: Robin on twig in a bit of hazy sunshine, waiting for the reward of some corn from the photographer

Date: 11 Feb 2016
View: E62_20160105_1653_183+1656+184_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) leaping with others on ground (montage).jpg
Description: Whee!
The firmer surface of the chopped bark we have had to lay over the sticky mud has encouraged back the leaping Fieldmice (Wood Mice).

Date: 10 Feb 2016
View: D01_20160107_1700_039+1701_040_FB6 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 1 minute stay early evening 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: This barn owl made a short stay less than an hour after sunset.
Late last year we saw this bird with just the missing wing feathers. The black marks on the other wing have appeared since last years visits and we have no idea what made them .

View: D01_20160108_0702_045+0703_047+0704_048_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) 3 mins stay frosty early morning 1+3+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: The following morning this OTHER Barn Owl (with ring on its right leg and pristine feathers) made a 3 minute visit.
This bird normally stands on just its left (unringed) leg and we have wondered whether the ring bothers the bird. But here it is standing on just it's ringed leg without obvious problems.

Date: 09 Feb 2016
View: D01_20160106_0312_052+0315_056_FB6 Short-eared Owl on meadow post for 4 minutes (selected) 1+3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This is our first sighting of a Short-eared Owl inside our plot, and only our second record in the 25 years we have been here, so don't hold your breath for the next!
The previous sighting was over what was then over pasture on 9 Nov 2008 which you can see for 24 Nov 2008 at http://www.moorhen.me.uk/imgofday/arch 2008 nov.htm

View: D01_20160106_0315_056_FB6 Short-eared Owl on meadow post for 4 minutes (selected) 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: The face of the Short-eared Owl is very striking, so here is a larger version of the bird on the right.
From a page as http://www.owl-help.org.uk:-
The very small & often unseen ear tufts from which the Short-Eared Owl gets its name have nothing to do with hearing but are used to communicate mood to would-be aggressors.
This bird is on the Amber list of species.

Date: 08 Feb 2016
View: E64_20160101_1614_113_FB2 Robin jumping down from log.jpg
Description: There is none of the wing activity we associate with a take-off, we assume that this Robin is jumping off a log in search of more things to eat.
The claws are already off the wood, leaving their shadows behind.

Date: 07 Feb 2016
View: E62_20160103_0733_243_FB5 Song Thrush with Blackbird female in background.jpg
Description: This Song thrush is giving us a good look at the speckled breast.
Meanwhile a female Blackbird lurks in the background.

View: E62_20160103_1546_272_FB5 Chaffinch male and Goldfinch (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: These two birds from a single frame give an idea of the difference in size between Chaffinch (left) and Goldfinch.

Date: 06 Feb 2016
View: E62_20160101_1321_107_FB5 Wood Pigeon neck iridescent feather detail.jpg
Description: This Wood Pigeon caught our eye for the range of colours on the neck plumage. We have NOT 'wound up' the colours.

View: E62_20160102_1252_190_FB5 Rook with iridescent plumage.jpg
Description: We have not tampered with the colour of the sheens on this magnificent healthy Rook

Date: 05 Feb 2016
View: DF3_20151231_1056_001 Grey Squirrel sunbathing on wind sheltered branch.jpg
Description: The warm days see several Grey squirrels out feeding, and on the odd occasions that the sun comes out they find a sheltered branch out of the wind to have a sunbathe.
According to a BBC documentary broadcast a few days ago:-
     A Hazel nut is between 5 to 10 Calories.
     A Grey Squirrel needs 20 Hazel nuts or equivalent per day & will cache 3,000 nuts

Date: 04 Feb 2016
View: D01_20160102_0548_034+0547_033_FB6 Barn owl (no leg ring) short visit 2+1 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: Our first Barn Owl sighting since the end of October last year.
A brief visit of just these two frames 45 seconds apart.

Date: 03 Feb 2016
View: E62_20151229_1657_089_FB5 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) squabbling.jpg
Description: This open-air site had become so muddy we had to place about 100 litres of chopped bark over it. The mice made an instant (next night) reappearance now they didn't have to paddle in sticky mud.
This moment catches a moment an hour after sunset of two Fieldmice (Wood Mice):-

View: E62_20151230_1036_127+1107_131_FB5 3 Tree Sparrows + Bluetit + Robin (adjusted montage).jpg
Description: Next morning the birds take over from the mice. On the left are 3 of several Tree Sparrows recently returned to our patch, along with a Bluetit and a Robin that looks rather like an 'overseer'.

Date: 02 Feb 2016
View: E60_20151230_1441_214_FB3 2 Tree Sparrows + 5 Bluetits + 3 Great Tits around large peanut feeder (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A little assortment of small birds at the large kitchen window peanut feeder while the Squirrels couldn't cram any more in and allowed them to feed in peace.

Date: 01 Feb 2016
View: DF3_20151229_1218_054 Robin portraits on top of meadow post (crop).jpg
Description: Along the path across the meadow this Robin came expectantly to the top of the meadow post (where you see Owls from a different angle at night) and we took a few portraits before delivering his reward from the pocket full of corn we take with us.

View: DF3_20151229_1218_060 Robin portraits on top of meadow post (crop).jpg
Description: Along the path across the meadow this Robin came expectantly to the top of the meadow post (where you see Owls from a different angle at night) and we took a few portraits before delivering his reward from the pocket full of corn we take with us.

Image Archive arch 2016 jan.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Jan 2016
View: DF3_20151228_1250_016 Grey squirrel in wind sheltered sunny spot.jpg
Description: The sun came out for an hour or two, and a few squirrels could be seen finding wind sheltered but sunny corners for a sunbathe.
At the top right corner is the now totally destroyed 'Barn owl Box' we expect to fall without our help any time soon.

Date: 30 Jan 2016
View: DF3_20151226_1525_005 Muntjac Deer hoof print in soft mud (crop).jpg
Description: In the wet weather we see lots of Muntjac Deer Slots (Hoof prints), but this one in a soggy mole hill is particularly deep and well defined. At the bottom you can clearly see the split in the double hoof and the detail of the outline.

Date: 29 Jan 2016
View: E64_20151224_0456_157_FB2 Cat Tabby Domestic (crop 2).jpg
Description: In the early hours the Tabby cat takes a prowl through the plot. If it is keeping the Rats away it is a little less unwelcome than it might otherwise be.

Date: 28 Jan 2016
View: D36_20151222_1332_024_FB4 Pheasant male visiting Tree stump top at about 2 pm on 2 days 1 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: Pheasants spend most of their life on terra-firma, but can occasionally be seen on post, bird tables, backs of garden benches etc. Here as he lands on the tree stump the beakful of food seems to be higher priority than getting stable.

View: D36_20151226_1402_052+1502_055_FB4 Pheasant landing on tree-stump an hour apart (montage).jpg
Description: About a week later 2 visits by the male Pheasant an hour apart, both made too early to catch the daily delivery of food.

Date: 27 Jan 2016
View: DF3_20151224_1253_007+002 Squirrel drey in Black Poplar swaying in wind 2+1 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: One of the Grey squirrels has built this Drey really high up in a perhaps 90 year old Black Poplar. It is about two-thirds along a fairly thin branch (shown edge on here) and flails around quite wildly in the high winds. We have been expecting it to be brought down by the storms but it seems very well constructed, and we think must be being maintained by an occupant. Here you see two frames taken from the same position a few seconds apart in a strong but not gale force wind.
We do hope the squirrel inside doesn't suffer from motion sickness! Perhaps a few seasick pills in with the peanuts ;-)

View: P10_20151230_1012_789 Squirrel Drey still attached to broken Black Poplar branch fallen across track (crop).jpg
Description: 6 days later the CCTV announced a movement detection on the track, and lo there was the whole branch and drey lying right across the track. The Drey was definitely no longer intact but fortunately 'squirrel free'.
In action movies you see the hero picking up a whole mature tree-trunks - even this single dehydrated branch required two of us to drag it off the concrete. Even more silly is metre wide polystyrene boulders being thrown at the 'baddies' when the average human can barely even lift a large paving slab!

Date: 26 Jan 2016
View: E63_20151217_1605_042+041_FB1 Song Thrush (montage).jpg
Description: Two consecutive images of this Song Thrush prompted us to offer this montage. Fans of the ABBA pop-group will recognise the style!

Date: 25 Jan 2016
View: D01_20151221_2129_039-2141_054_FB6 Tawny Owl visit to meadow post for 48 mins (selected) 13+16+14+22+21+15 of 27 (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl made a very atypically long visit of nearly an hour. The bird only took up 2 foot position - facing the camera and then side-on view. For a long time the bird didn't seem to be hunting - maybe digesting a catch made before visiting the post.
Here are six views ordered to give you an idea of his nearly 180 degree head turn in just one direction. The bird looked away as well, but back of heads lack the eyes humans need to catch the interest.

View: D01_20151221_2135_047_FB6 Tawny Owl visit to meadow post for 48 minutes (selected) 19 of 27 (crop).jpg
Description: Half way through the stay the bird started paying more attention to the ground, as in this unusual moment showing us the top of the head as well as the facial disc.

Date: 24 Jan 2016
View: D01_20151221_2106_008_FB6 Tawny Owl anim 1.gif
Description: Tawny Owl on Meadow Post
Animated GIF of 5 frames at 1.5 second intervals - you need to use a browser that will 'animate' such files.

View: D01_20151221_2029_039_FB6 Tawny Owl anim 2.gif
Description: Tawny Owl on Meadow post
Animated GIF of 6 frames at 1.5 second intervals.

Date: 23 Jan 2016
View: E63_20151214_1402_132_FB1 Pheasant male with mud encrusted beak (crop 2).jpg
Description: This patch under the hedge doesn't get as waterlogged as the more open areas, so the mud on the male Pheasant's beak is rather more clumped than the liquid mess that some of the grass paths have become.

View: E63_20151216_1452_241_FB1 Pheasant male head portrait showing pale green feathers over top of head.jpg
Description: Enjoy the subtle green of the feathers over the head of this male Pheasant as he pokes through the mud looking for something more to eat.

Date: 22 Jan 2016
View: D01_20151216_1412_139_FB6 Jackdaw landing symmetrically with face to camera.jpg
Description: This Jackdaw look particularly villainous as it lands head-on to camera with almost perfect symmetry.

View: D01_20151216_1110_128_FB6 Jackdaw landing with asymmetric wing positions.jpg
Description: Is this Jackdaw directing the traffic?

Date: 21 Jan 2016
View: E63_20151212_1302_202_FB1 Grey Squirrel holding slice of tomato in paws + Magpie (crop).jpg
Description: "This tomato slice is MINE!"
The tiny opposing 'thumbs' of this Grey Squirrel make this look altogether 'too human'.

Date: 20 Jan 2016
View: E60_20151214_0310_022_FB3 Tawny Owl landing (crop 2).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl visited this perch for a couple of minutes at about 3 a.m.
A little judicious cropping of a peanut feeder obscuring the bird's left wing makes a pleasing memento of the visit that is also almost as ferociously sharp as those claws.

Date: 19 Jan 2016
View: E60_20151209_1420_117_FB3 Bluetit diving from perch as Great Tit arrives.jpg
Description: Going Down!
An arriving Great Tit persuades the Bluetit to depart using a gravity assist!

View: E62_20151207_0815_013_FB5 Dunnock preparing to launch from log.jpg
Description: A Dunnock caught at the moment of launch.
        Legs bent into a crouch ready to spring upwards.
        Wings fully up ready to power downwards.

Date: 18 Jan 2016
View: DF3_20151207_1451_070 Ploughing in field to North with Gulls following the freshly turned soil.jpg
Description: This is the appearance of classic English ploughing - a tractor slogging through the heavy soil with a line of gulls picking off the hapless insects and worms rudely brought to the surface.

View: DF3_20151208_1221_192 Ploughing close to Leamington Farm with gulls overhead (crop).jpg
Description: Here the farmer is going round the outside edges of his work where the plough is too long to work the soil close to the hedges.

View: DF3_20151208_1226_255 Ploughing in field to north with gulls.jpg
Description: The plough is actually very long. The blades at the back are lifted here to leave the required uncultivated strip to the hedge (required not to damage the roots of the hedge).
Notice that there are two sets of blades above and below the red 'spine' of the plough. The blades on each side are 'mirror images' each other so that as the plough wends it's way back and forth the whole set of blades are turned over at each end so that the soil is turned the same way regardless of which direction the plough is moving.

Date: 17 Jan 2016
View: DF3_20151207_1258_009-1259_013 Black Headed Gull moulting into eclipse in flight 1-5 of 5 (approx montage).jpg
Description: Fields to our North are being ploughed this year, and flocks of gulls arrive for the bounty uncovered by the blades. This Black Headed Gull is moulting his black head back to what will become the single dots behind the eyes for the Eclipse (winter) plumage

View: DF3_20151207_1259_025-034 2 Black-headed Gulls moulting to eclipse flying together 01-10 of 10 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: This pair of Black Headed Gulls (the upper in partial eclipse and the lower in full eclipse) made this graceful sweep past. The spacing between each pair of images has been contracted, but the positions represent reality.

View: DF3_20151207_1500_105-107 Black Headed Gull in Eclipse in flight 1-3 of 3 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: A Black-Headed Gull in Eclipse flying by (close spaced for detail).

Date: 16 Jan 2016
View: E63_20151206_1454_148_FB1 Pheasant pair (processed full frame).jpg
Description: These two pheasants have appeared together quite often at this site in the last few days. The male on the right has an unusual posture that suggests he is displaying to her.

View: E63_20151209_0749_137+0756_138_FB1 Pheasant male displaying to female (montage for positions).jpg
Description: 3 days later here are the same 2 pheasant still enjoying each others company.
The smear in the background over the females head is caused by the window on the camera box being licked by an amorous or aggressive male blackbird or chaffinch. These birds see a 'mate' or 'rival' reflected in the glass, leaving the glass smudged with mud and saliva to mess up the images until our next visit and a cleaning!

Date: 15 Jan 2016
View: E62_20151206_0707_104_FB5 3 Rabbit in distant arc around Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) (crop).jpg
Description: Around dawn this Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) seems to be surrounded by rabbits in an arc gazing at the mouse as if in judgement. It looks quite creepy to us even though the rabbits pose no threat to the mouse.

Date: 14 Jan 2016
View: E64_20151130_2324_125_FB2 Polecat with fleeing rabbit in background (crop).jpg
Description: We slightly suspected seeing this animal in a trail cam test 2 weeks previously. Now at the ground level sight nearest the test site this one passage through the site of what appears to be a Polecat. In the background on either side of the tree you can just see a Rabbit making a speedy exit!

Date: 13 Jan 2016
View: E63_20151130_1243_147_FB1 Pheasant male looking back at female.jpg
Description: A portrait of the first pair of Pheasants seen this season. The male (on the left in all his glory) seems to be gazing enraptured at the subtle toned female.

View: E63_20151130_1253_151_FB1 Pheasant female speckled with rain.jpg
Description: The female Pheasant on her own 10 minutes later with her back and rail sparkling from being out in the rain.

Date: 12 Jan 2016
View: DF3_20151201_1242_037 Starlings in overgrown Hawthorn hedge with 2 eating berries.jpg
Description: Flocks of Starling and Fieldfares plunder the hedges for Hawthorn and Blackthorn berries. Here a couple of starlings are plucking off all but the last two berries visible in this image.

View: DF3_20151201_1242_042 50 Fieldfares in flight 3 with berries in beak (crop).jpg
Description: Fieldfares are nervous birds and tend to depart when we appear, but often inexplicably flying over us as they go. In this photo we count 3 Fieldfares with a berry in the beak, but there may be more.

Date: 11 Jan 2016
View: DF3_20151201_1246_073-079 Fieldfare in flight with 2 others 1-7 of 7 (close spaced montage 1).jpg
Description: A small group of Fieldfares flew by and while concentrating on keeping the bird starting at middle left in focus and in frame 2 other birds crossed it's path. Spacing is possibly half the true spacings but there is nothing to align for accuracy.

View: DF3_20151201_1252_118 Fieldfare high in Black Poplar tree.jpg
Description: A portrait of a pristine Fieldfare perhaps 10 metres above us in a Black Poplar tree, the only one of a small group that stayed on it's own for several minutes.

Date: 10 Jan 2016
View: E64_20151125_1413_005_FB2 Pheasant male leaping upwards (crop 2).jpg
Description: A Levitating male Pheasant lifts several leaves with the turbulence.

View: E64_20151125_1413_005_FB2 Pheasant male leaping upwards when startled by Grey Squirrel (crop 1).jpg
Description: More of the original image suggests that the pheasant was making a response to the threat of an arriving Grey Squirrel.

Date: 09 Jan 2016
View: E63_20151128_1240_184-1352_216_FB1 Grey Squirrel eating part of apple segment 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Over about an hour we see this Grey squirrel picking up a piece of apple, nibbling lumps from it and finally leaving it freshly nibbled on the ground. Meanwhile the Squirrel has cleaned up the recently left corn on the top of the stone.

View: E63_20151129_1302_005_FB1 Grey Squirrel nibbling apple.jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel wrestling with a windfall apple, probably trying to find a soft patch to nibble.

Date: 08 Jan 2016
View: E64_20151128_1417_188_FB2 2 Grey Squirrels possibly attempting mating (crop).jpg
Description: To us this really looks like some sort of mating attempt as the Grey Squirrel on the right doesn't seem to be trying to defend herself or flee.

View: E63_20151202_1428_274_FB1 Grey Squirrel with lump of mud + banana + corn in paws.jpg
Description: "Anyone fancy a mud and Banana Sandwich?

View: E64_20151128_0841_167_FB2 Grey Squirrel collecting dry leaves for drey.jpg
Description: All these dry leaves in the rain sheltered patch under the conifer must make wonderful warm and dry bedding for the Drey.

Date: 07 Jan 2016
View: DF3_20151127_1409_002 Hanslope Church spire lit by distant shaft of sunlight (crop 1).jpg
Description: On a gloomy November afternoon a chance shaft of sunlight struck the church and some adjacent trees with brief but glorious show.

View: DF3_20151128_0750_018 Moon near moonset shortly after sunrise.jpg
Description: An unusually 'crisp' image of the moon soon to set in the west after the sunrise. The 'terminator (where the light edge changes to shadow) provides the most detail as astronomers have long known.

Date: 06 Jan 2016
View: E63_20151122_1450_238_FB1 Pheasant male with broad neck ring.jpg
Description: The Broad neck ringed pheasant at the hedge bottom site ...

View: E63_20151122_1458_241_FB1 2 Pheasant males squabbling (crop).jpg
Description: ... is interrupted a few minutes later by another male pheasant. We expect some sort of fight ensued - notice that the side-on pheasant is in the air jumping forwards. We have only seen the pheasant with the broad neck ring since this event.

Date: 05 Jan 2016
View: E63_20151122_1435_231_FB1 Grey Squirrel reaching for food under edge of stone.jpg
Description: "I don't want the boring old seed on the top - I want this tasty thing just under the edge of this stone."

View: E63_20151119_1558_059_FB1 Grey Squirrel eating half of cooked chestnut husk.jpg
Description: At this time of year we enjoy eating sweet chestnuts. We have the trees, and some produce the nuts, but the Squirrels take them away before they are ready for us to harvest. So ours come from Tesco or Ocado! The crumbs we leave in the husks make a meal for small creatures.

Date: 04 Jan 2016
View: E63_20151119_1548_054_FB1 Dunnock + Chaffinch female + Bluetit in flight + Chaffinch male (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A Bluetit in flight and a male Chaffinch in a single shot.

Date: 03 Jan 2016
View: E62_20151122_1418_196_FB5 2 Rooks displaying on ground.jpg
Description: These birds could easily injure one another, so this has to be a lover's display between these two Rooks. Pairs are already 'jousting' for nest spaces in the rookery to our North West.

View: E63_20151122_1501_243_FB1 Rook sampling rotten apple.jpg
Description: A lovely soft (rotten!) apple is just the job for this Rook.

Date: 02 Jan 2016
View: DF3_20151120_1406_031 Grey Squirrel sunbathing in Oak tree by meadow.jpg
Description: On a cold day this Grey squirrel has found a warm sunny spot to enjoy some sunshine. They probably need sunlight to make vitamin D just like us humans. And anyway - its nice to be warm!

View: DF3_20151123_1327_013 Dunnock on derelict duck nesting box.jpg
Description: This Dunnock finds a sheltered and reasonably safe place to enjoy a short spell of warm sunshine. It is on the remains of a Mallard duck nest box never used as intended by any bird that we know of. It is now on 'Duck' pond island where we moved it after the lack of success at the main pond. By chance you can see it in just the first two images at http://www.moorhen.me.uk/2006_left/2006_left.htm

Date: 01 Jan 2016
View: E62_20151117_0720_052_FB5 Magpie in rain (crop 2).jpg
Description: This Magpie is out in the rain in the days early light, tastefully spangled with water drops.

Image Archive arch 2015 dec.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Dec 2015
View: DF3_20151116_1254_192 Corvid mobbing Buzzard (crop).jpg
Description: There are not many Buzzard about at the moment, and the Corvids anyway reliably pester them until they go away! In the breeding season they predate the Rook eggs, and the Rookery is only a few hundred metres away.

Date: 30 Dec 2015
View: E64_20151114_1004_102_FB2 Grey Squirrel with Hazel nut in shell in mouth.jpg
Description: The muddy object in this Grey squirrels mouth is a Hazel Nut still in its shell. We have several Hazel (Cob) Nut trees, but the Squirrels leave us absolutely no crop for us to harvest! This nut looks like it has just been previously buried and now dug up for a snack.

View: E63_20151118_1040_078_FB1 Great Tit with unidentified large seed in beak.jpg
Description: The problem with purchasing seed mixes is that we really have little idea what is in the sack beyond corn, Sunflower and Niger seeds. This Great Tit looks really pleased with this find!

Date: 29 Dec 2015
View: E63_20151115_1350_274_FB1 Pheasant male with details of claws (crop 1).jpg
Description: A 'new' male Pheasant stepping into the frame - the wide neck ring means this is not the bird we have been seeing during the previous few weeks.

View: E63_20151115_1350_274_FB1 Pheasant male with details of claws (crop 2 claw detail).jpg
Description: A detail from the above of the legs and claws of the male Pheasant
The spike just below the feathers is used for fighting other males when they meet during the breeding season.

Date: 28 Dec 2015
View: E62_20151113_0313_081+0323_083_FB5 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) leaping and squabbling (q) 10 minutes apart1+2 of 2 (adjusted montage).jpg
Description: Two frames taken 10 minutes apart left to right.
The squabble on the right may be just that, or a couple testing each other - even in humans loving can come confusingly near to fighting.

View: E64_20151112_1840_047_FB2 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) leaping with falling leaf.jpg
Description: A capricious moment of a leaping fieldmouse (wood mouse) and a falling leaf. Our guess is that the falling leaf startled the mouse, rather than the mouse flipping up the leaf. The leaf is in beautiful condition for a 'discard'.

Date: 27 Dec 2015
View: E60_20151114_0854_086+0730_084+0713_083_FB3 Robin in flight over perch 3+2+1 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: 3 images of a (possibly just one individual) Robin maneuvering in the air over the perch. 3 moments over 100 minutes arranged for artistic effect.
Don't interpret this as a 'bird in flight accurate montage'!

View: E60_20151117_0732_044_FB3 Robin aerobraking over perch (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A Robin preparing to land. We like the shadow of the legs on the underside of the wing.

Date: 26 Dec 2015
View: E63_20151109_1319_035_FB1 Bluetit with slightly iridescent blue feathers.jpg
Description: The intense blue at the tail and head indicate that the normal blue colour is enhanced in some lighting and angles by an iridescent effect.

View: E64_20151111_0847_167_FB2 Great Tit among autumn leaf litter.jpg
Description: We try to avoid 'tidying' up the autumn leaves and just sweep them away from the camera and sense beams. We rather like the colour contrast between bird and leaves.

Date: 25 Dec 2015
View: D01_20151113_0658_020_FB6 Sparrowhawk female 5 minute visit to meadow post 1 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: After 5 years with no images of a Sparrowhawk on this post, we get 3 visits over 2 days. Here is one of the landing, for a 5 minute visit shortly before sunrise. How delicate the legs appear for such a powerful bird.

View: D01_20151108_1601_008+1602_010_FB6 Sparrowhawk female on Meadow post 1+3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: The first visit by the female Sparrowhawk missed the landing - it was already on the post when the camera turned on for the night's vigil at 4 p.m. during November.
BBC 'Autumnwatch' on 6th November 2015 features Chris Packham's 'best bird' is the male Sparrowhawk. This female is not as beautifully coloured as the male but still has power and elegance ... unless you are a 'Sparrow'.

View: D01_20151113_1611_033_FB6 Sparrowhawk female 1 minute visit to meadow post 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: At Sunset another short visit (just 2 frames) caught this female Sparrowhawk landing against the darkening background.

Date: 24 Dec 2015
View: DF3_20151111_1059_014+017-022 Carrion crows on Conifer flying off 01+03-08 of 11 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A pair of Carrion Crows often share the top of this conifer, though they vary their perches. Here the Right-hand bird opening it's wings and the strong southerly wind (from the right here) did the rest!

View: DF3_20151111_1101_044-048 Fieldfare gliding then flapping flight overhead in strong wind 1-5 of 5 (approx accurate montage).jpg
Description: Several small (10 or 20) bird well spaced flocks of Fieldfares are flying around the area. Here is a single bird in a strong wind from the right initially gliding with wings partly folded, and then spreading the wings for a few power strokes.
The Fieldfare version of 'Bounding flight' without losing much height with wings closed - you don't notice their height changing as they fly like you do with Woodpeckers who completely fold their wings.

Date: 23 Dec 2015
View: E60_20151102_1302_025_FB3 Great Spotted Woodpecker female in flight (crop).jpg
Description: This female Great Spotted Woodpecker looks lovely and clean after her moult as she flies past the kitchen window.

View: E63_20151031_1519_109_FB1 Blackbird male with black beak.jpg
Description: A portrait of one of the migrant black-billed Blackbirds that spend the winter here.

Date: 22 Dec 2015
View: E63_20151029_0836_017_FB1 Pheasant male ruffling feathers (crop).jpg
Description: This Pheasant is obviously shaking out his feathers. We haven't heard any of the male's characteristic calls yet, but a couple of females also appear every day or so.

Date: 21 Dec 2015
View: E60_20151031_1313_065_FB3 Robin in flight + Greenfinch on perch challenging each other (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: An inter-species encounter at the kitchen window perch.

View: E60_20151101_1235_086_FB3 Greenfinch in flight just spotted challenger below.jpg
Description: A Greenfinch flying in to the peanut feeder has just spotted a rival already in 'possession'.

Date: 20 Dec 2015
View: E60_20151102_0814_003_FB3 Grey Squirrel visiting peanut feeder in mist.jpg
Description: A regular morning sight - a Grey Squirrel commandeering the just peanut feeder just replaced in the morning.
If left out regularly at night Rats use it overnight.

View: DF3_20151101_1434_062 Grey Squirrel carrying large pebbles from patio & burying them in roughly cut grass.jpg
Description: It's a Spud!     (Potato for you non-UK readers)
It's a Bulb!
No, it's a stone.
We saw this squirrel take about 6 moderate sized pebbles out of one of the few really tidy flowerbeds, and took them off in it's mouth in various directions to bury in the 'lawn' and other roughly cut grass. It must think it is a tuber that will soften in storage
Some unexpected hazards for the mower next year

Date: 19 Dec 2015
View: E63_20151026_2241_094_FB1 Rat and Slugs.jpg
Description: A Brown rat is making occasional visits to the hedge and meadow sites. Here we see it possibly inspecting a leopard slug (with another small slug to the right) and suspect that one or both slugs ended up on the menu. Rat's tail amaze us - real and powerful 5th limbs.

Date: 18 Dec 2015
View: DF3_20151028_1542_003 Cloud suggesting begging Poodle facing left.jpg
Description: We enjoy looking at cloud shapes, and can't resist likening this one to a poodle on hind legs facing left begging for a treat.

View: DF3_20151029_0653_004 Moon at full just after sunrise (crop).jpg
Description: The full moon (when occasionally visible though the mainly overcast clouds) has seemed uncommonly bright. Here just after sunrise (behind the camera of course) making a subtle image with streaks of colour in the veil of clouds.

Date: 17 Dec 2015
View: DF3_20151026_1229_010-013 Kestrel hunting in southerly wind 2-5 of 5 (hovering impression montage).jpg
Description: A Kestrel hovering above a hedge but not catching anything before wandering off to the east. The bird was stationary in the air and the images are spread out downwards

Date: 16 Dec 2015
View: D01_20151026_2209_021_FB6 Barn Owl (no leg ring) 1 minute visit 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: A dramatic arrival for this Barn owl
We decided not to remove the 'Red-eye' effect - it adds to the drama.

View: D01_20151026_0358_002_FB6 Barn Owl short visit 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: A very short stop by a barn Owl was introduced by this almost perfectly symmetrical landing. Not a bad 'living' contender for a Totem Pole.

Date: 15 Dec 2015
View: E63_20151024_2335_184_FB1 Fox hunting (crop).jpg
Description: Oooh - Mice, Voles, Rabbits, Peanut?
An apparently healthy fox comes through from the path behind this site sniffing the stone to help build it's picture of the site.

View: E63_20151024_2337_185_FB1 Fox hunting (crop).jpg
Description: 2 minutes later the fox appears to have moved to the rear and then turned anti-clockwise to continue the hunt leaving it's tail pushing against the stems.

Date: 14 Dec 2015
View: DF3_20151024_1844_005 Sunset through clouds (crop).jpg
Description: Autumn is good for spectacular sunsets.
We have not enhanced the colours.

View: DF3_20151024_1844_003 Sunset through clouds (crop).jpg
Description: Note the bright spot above and left of the sun producing its own wide cone of up-light.
We have not enhanced the colours.

Date: 13 Dec 2015
View: P34_20150928_1746_199 Sundog to right of sun.jpg
Description: This sundog was unusually intense to the right of the sun, but barely perceptible to the left. Here shown with the sun ...

View: P34_20150928_1747_205 Sundog to right of sun (crop).jpg
Description: ... and a close-up of the sundog along with the wispy clouds looking like a celestial wave breaking in the sky.

View: DF3_20151025_1503_024 Sundog to right of sun with blue spectrum visible (orig).jpg
Description: Here for once you can actually see the haze of the green and blue in the spectrum that we can often 'see' but gets lost in the camera. This is the original camera frame reduced in size. If we try to show it at larger scale the colours are lost again.

Date: 12 Dec 2015
View: E62_20151021_0800_077_FB5 Magpie in rain viewed from rear.jpg
Description: Early morning rain has not discouraged this Magpie from looking over the site for last night's 'left overs', apparently equipped with an adequate 'raincoat' of feathers

Date: 11 Dec 2015
View: DF3_20151020_1107_020 Kestrel female on 11kv crossbar.jpg
Description: This female Kestrel spent over 2 hours hunting from the 11KV power crossbars and the wires. We were delighted that we were considered 'mostly harmless' through the 2 visits we made to our boundary to watch her. Here she is as we first saw her.

View: DF3_20151020_1322_038-043 Kestrel female flying between perching along 11KV wires 01-06 of 58 (slightly stretched montage).jpg
Description: We caught this long (maybe 150m) female Kestrel's flight over 58 frames at about 7 fps (slower near the end as the camera's buffering ran out) as she took off from one stretch of wire to land on a different wire to the west.

View: DF3_20151020_1322_045-050 Kestrel female flying between perching along 11KV wires 08-013 of 58 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The female Kestrel dropped below the height of the wires as she flew along

View: DF3_20151020_1322_089-091+094 Kestrel female flying between perching along 11KV wires 52-54+57 of 58 (impression montage).jpg
Description: The Female Kestrel used her speed to glide upwards onto her chosen cable to continue her hunt.

Date: 10 Dec 2015
View: E63_20151015_1859_081_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) looking past edge of stone.jpg
Description: "Peek-a-Boo"
A fieldmouse (wood mouse) peeps around the edge of the stone in the twilight, well lit momentarily by the camera flash.

Date: 09 Dec 2015
View: E60_20151015_1555_023_FB3 Robin flying in to peanut feeder with Great Tit ready to defend.jpg
Description: The great Tit on the perch looks like he is fed-up with the robin taking over the peanuts, and is ready (or at least pretending to be ready) to defend it's position.

View: E60_20151020_1240_033_FB3 Great Tit and Chaffinch male disputing ownership of perch (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A little lunchtime confrontation about who gets access to the huge peanut feeder to the right.

Date: 08 Dec 2015
View: DF3_20151016_1220_018+019+032 Kestrel male landed in Oak tree 1+2+6 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: A less mature male Kestrel to the one hunting on the power lines is here regaining balance on the flimsy Oak twig he landed on at the edge of our meadow, and then starting to have a look around.
Read this montage right to left.

Date: 07 Dec 2015
View: DF3_20151010_1607_074+1608_075-082 Kestrel male in flight from 11KV cable 1-9 of 9 (accurate montage of birds in flight).jpg
Description: A fully mature male Kestrel spent several minutes hunting from the 11KV power lines along the bridleway to the north. Here the bird stooped onto some unfortunate creature we couldn't see by the edge of the farm road.

View: DF3_20151010_1608_077-080 Kestrel male in flight from 11KV cable 4-7 of 9 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A detail from the above showing the 'classic' plumage of the male Kestrel just like it looks in the ID books!

View: DF3_20151010_1608_150+151+153-156 Kestrel male landing on wires 1+2+4-7 of 7 (accurate montage last 3 shifted).jpg
Description: The Kestrel returned to the high voltage cables for another hunt.

Date: 06 Dec 2015
View: E63_20151012_1747_049_FB1 Chaffinch male on ground attacked by Dunnock in flight (crop).jpg
Description: A Dunnock with claws ready for action attacks an equally belligerent but positionally disadvantaged male Chaffinch on the ground.

Date: 05 Dec 2015
View: E62_20151010_1639_155_FB5 Magpie with iridescent plumage (crop).jpg
Description: Blue, Purple, Yellow, Green down the tail, Bright Blue on the wings. Magpie do well for 'Black and White' birds.
No - we haven't 'wound up' the colours - a little gamma to lighten the birds dark head was the only change.

Date: 04 Dec 2015
View: DF3_20151010_1143_017 Weasel (crop).jpg
Description: The decades old prostrate juniper under which the Weasel(s) lived has suddenly died (probably after invading the drain and getting it's roots damaged during unblocking).
Here a Weasel seems to have adopted the gap under a large plant half-barrel supported on a couple of long breeze blocks.

Date: 03 Dec 2015
View: E63_20151004_1804_350_FB1 2 Grey squirrels feeding on either side of stone (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Squirrels are now in too much of a hurry to feed to bother much with squabbling.

View: E64_20151006_1753_071_FB2 2 Grey squirrels feeding at log.jpg
Description: Squirrels are now in too much of a hurry to feed to bother much with squabbling.

Date: 02 Dec 2015
View: D01_20151005_0124_084+0125_085+0142_107_FB6 Barn Owl (no ring) visit 2 - rodent in beak & eating it 1+2+14 of 18 (montage).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl (without any leg ring) occupied the post from just after midnight for about 4 and a half hours, counting 5 'landings' at the post. Landing 2 arrived with a rodent in the beak. Unfortunately the Owl consumed the rodent with back to camera (middle image) but then turned round and showed us what a satisfied smug and sleepy Owl looks like for about 15 minutes.

View: D01_20151005_0039_027+0152_120+0357_142_FB6 Barn Owl (no ring) visit arrivals1+3+4 (montage).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl (without any leg ring) occupied the post from just after midnight for about 4 and a half hours, counting 5 'landings' at the post. Landings show a lot of variety, so here are landings 1, 3 and 4.

Date: 01 Dec 2015
View: df3_20150923_0808_190+193 wheatear juvenile (montage).jpg
Description: According to numerous distribution maps this Wheatear has no business appearing in the UK midlands, and this is our first sighting. Thanks to email group members for identifying this bird for us.

Image Archive arch 2015 nov.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Nov 2015
View: E63_20150928_0719_001_FB1 Blackbird male with black beak (first sighting this season).jpg
Description: Each year since 2012 this black-billed variant of the resident yellow-billed male Blackbird arrives to swell our population. This is the first we have noticed this year.

Date: 29 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150929_1230_045 Lily seed head (crop).jpg
Description: Lily seed heads make a fascinating pattern full of small 'pills' of the seeds in little stacks amid the tangled dehydrated pods

Date: 28 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150928_1748_030 Sundog with vivid colours to right of sun (crop).jpg
Description: The height of the sun and the ice clouds made a lovely bright and colourful Sundog to the right of the evening sun

View: DF3_20150928_1754_040 Sundog with vivid colours to right of sun (crop).jpg
Description: The height of the sun and the ice clouds made a lovely bright and colourful Sundog to the right of the evening sun As the ice clouds slowly move through the sky position required for sundog, the pattern changes. Only a very faint Sundog appeared symmetrically to the left of the sun.

Date: 27 Nov 2015
View: D36_20150929_1347_061+20150928_1347_009_FB4 Chaffinch female and male (mirror image) (montage).jpg
Description: 24 hours apart to the minute, a male (right) and then female (left) Chaffinch landed at almost identical places on the left of the tree-stump. The male 'volunteered' to be mirror imaged for artistic effect and he appears on the right.

Date: 26 Nov 2015
View: DF4_20150927_1912_008-20150928_0318_110 Moon total eclipse at perigee 28Sep2015 02+05+08+12+14+17 of 18 (montage).jpg
Description: We struggled out of bed in the early hours for these images of the total eclipse of the moon at perigee (called the 'Blood Moon' in the press). By 6 a.m. fog had descended.
Top left to right, Bottom left to right:-
  1. DF4_20150927_1912_008 Sunday 19:12 Shortly after Moonrise
  2. DF4_20150927_2013_016 Sunday 20:13 Higher in sky at normal colour
  3. DF4_20150928_0215_031 Monday 02:15 Start of Eclipse Shadow
  4. DF4_20150928_0250_057 Monday 02:50 Moon mostly in shadow
  5. DF4_20150928_0302_089 Monday 03:02 Moon mostly in shadow (higher sensitivity)
  6. DF4_20150928_0318_110 Monday 03:18 Totality (at much higher sensitivity)


Date: 25 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150926_1352_205 2 Comma Butterflies largely torpid on Blackberry cluster (crop).jpg
Description: On a cold mid-day these two Comma butterflies were almost torpid on this blackberry clump. The insect on the left is facing us, and the one on the right is showing the wings lit from the underside.

View: DF3_20150926_1353_214 2 Comma Butterflies largely torpid on Blackberry cluster (crop 1).jpg
Description: On a cold mid-day these two Comma butterflies were almost torpid on this blackberry clump. This is the insect with it's wings closed, and even though apparently torpid, the proboscis was in the fruit looking for juice.

Date: 24 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150924_1201_042 Bluetit bathing in Plant Saucer (crop 1).jpg
Description: Just a large plant pot saucer and a few stones has made this 'bird bath' a great hit with the smaller birds and the Squirrels. With so many ponds with graded edges there are plenty of places for birds of all sizes to bathe when not frozen. This trough just brings them close to camera. In the winter we put out an electrically heated tray but it is not very photogenic - just important for birds feather care on frozen days.

Date: 23 Nov 2015
View: E62_20150922_1929_100_FB5 2 Rabbit juveniles nose to nose.jpg
Description: "Be my Love?"

View: E62_20150923_1935_199_FB5 Rabbit youngster with some broken whiskers.jpg
Description: "This is MY carrot".
Note the broken whiskers on the left side (as we view it)

View: E62_20150918_2018_098_FB5 Rabbit youngster eating windfall apple.jpg
Description: A young rabbit nibbling at a piece of windfall Apple - leaving it white where the rest is still brown.

Date: 22 Nov 2015
View: SW5_20150919_1725_104_SC2 Muntjac Deer male eating leaves.jpg
Description: A male Muntjac Deer chomping away at an early fallen Maple leaf. This image was taken using Infra-Red light by a 'Trail Cam'.

View: E62_20150924_0330_217_FB5 Muntjac Deer male with antler in velvet.jpg
Description: A few days later a better look at the male Muntjac Deer. You can see the left antler 'in velvet' partly hidden by the left ear, and the white speck along his mouth line is his tiny tusk which only the male of the species sports on each side.

Date: 21 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150920_1249_195-202 Kestrel and Jackdaw in flight 1-8 of 8 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: After several attempt this Jackdaw finally sees off the Kestrel. We notice the Kestrel's claw lowering in the last 2 frames, but have no idea why.

View: DF3_20150923_1101_026+032+040+043+049 Kestrel hovering and dropping down in stages against trees 01+02+04+07+12 of 12 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: About 400m from us this Kestrel made a characteristic hunting hover, dropping down in stages on some hapless prey. We never saw what happened once below the hedge.

Date: 20 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150922_1742_090-095 Swallow in flight 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The Swallows are now mostly simply passing over, rather than stopping for a feed, as they make their way back to Africa.

View: DF3_20150922_1556_070 Green Woodpecker on vertical Willow stem (crop).jpg
Description: After hearing and glimpsing the departure of the Green Woodpecker for months we have finally caught an image of a juvenile lurking in a Lichen encrusted stem of a Willow tree.

Date: 19 Nov 2015
View: E64_20150917_2148_027_FB2 Badger (crop 1).jpg
Description: As the summer draws to a close, a dearth of Badgers is replaced by regular visits to 'fatten up' for the Winter's 'Sleep'. First on this comfortable dry night.

View: E63_20150923_0356_190_FB1 Badger.jpg
Description: As the summer draws to a close, a dearth of Badgers is replaced by regular visits to 'fatten up' for the Winter's 'Sleep'. This visit was on a wet night - we hope the fur isn't as uncomfortable as it looks.

Date: 18 Nov 2015
View: E63_20150919_1659_228_FB1 Chaffinch male on ground harassed by another diving by it (crop).jpg
Description: Not quite as dangerous as it looks, but similar focus for both Chaffinches suggests that they are only centimetres apart.

Date: 17 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150917_0945_011 Small White Butterfly feeding from Water Mint flower (crop).jpg
Description: A few late Butterflies are gracing the plot - this one was by the side of the main pond enjoying the nectar from a Water Mint flower.

Date: 16 Nov 2015
View: D01_20150922_0445_015_FB6 Barn Owl (right ring) 8m visit +10m absence + 2m visit (selected) 5 of 7 (crop landing face on).jpg
Description: 2 visits by the leg-ringed Barn owl 10 minutes apart.
Birds normally land into the wind, so the night must have been particularly still to get 2 close spaced landing in opposite directions.

View: D01_20150922_0428_004_FB6 Barn Owl (right ring) 8m visit+10m absence+2m visit (selected) 1 of 7 (crop of rear view landing).jpg
Description: 2 visits by the leg-ringed Barn owl 10 minutes apart.
Birds normally land into the wind, so the night must have been particularly still to get 2 close spaced landing in opposite directions.

Date: 15 Nov 2015
View: D01_20150919_0444_014_FB6 Barn owl (right ring) visits 6m then 16m with twig caught in feathers (selected) 01 of 12 (crop).jpg
Description: Friday Saturday night saw 2 visits from the ringed Barn Owl - a few minutes, a quarter of an hour gap and then a quarter of an hour stay. This was the first arrival.

View: D01_20150919_0450_021+0506_023+0521_043_FB6 Barn owl (right ring) visits 6m then 16m with twig caught in feathers 05+04+12 of 12 (montage).jpg
Description: This montage shows the second arrival at the top, with some sort of twig caught up in the feathers which it must have picked up between the visits. Bottom left is the last frame from the first visit, and bottom right is the last frame from the second visit, still caught up with the twig. We don't see any images of the bird struggling to get rid of the debris. We have just cut back the developing scrub and it seems likely that the Owl pursued some prey into the heaped debris a few metres from this post.

Date: 14 Nov 2015
View: E64_20150915_0140_018_FB2 Cat domestic catching Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) (crop).jpg
Description: This cat making more unwelcome visits taking at least 2 prey items in one night. First it caught this fieldmouse (wood mouse) in one claw at the woodland site.

View: E63_20150915_0158_057_FB1 Cat domestic with prey (Wren (q) at 0200 (q)) in mouth (crop).jpg
Description: 20 minutes later cat was carrying away more prey at the hedge site. We have trouble identifying the prey. Although it is 2 a.m. it looks like a bird, and size and shape suggest a Wren. But it is 2 a.m.when the Wren should be safely tucked asleep.

Date: 13 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150913_1233_007 Airliner with unusual wing wide contrail & no stream from engines (crop).jpg
Description: An unusually broad contrail almost the width of the aircraft wings but with no emissions appearing from the engines. Pressure changes over and under the aerofoil and vortices behind it, mean the wings and tail (which produces a re-enforcing band in the centre) are undoubtedly responsible for the delayed effects half a plane length behind the wings, but life is too short for a thorough investigation.

Date: 12 Nov 2015
View: E62_20150910_2333_028_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) leaping with tail vertically down to ground.jpg
Description: The Indian Rope Tail Trick?
The tail does genuinely seem to be touching the clover leaf!

Date: 11 Nov 2015
View: E60_20150910_1312_022_FB3 Greenfinch landing on perch.jpg
Description: The Greenfinches have suddenly returned after the summer, this one making a not very accurate landing on the perch (dropping a bit short)

Date: 10 Nov 2015
View: E60_20150907_0941_001_FB3 Robin flying in to peanut feeder (crop).jpg
Description: An unusually clear image of a Robin flying to the peanut feeder. Robins are not very good at hanging feeders, but manage just fine at the big one sitting on the flat table just to the right of the frame.

View: E63_20150907_1834_022_FB1 Greenfinch.jpg
Description: Our first sighting for months of a Greenfinch. We love the little 'trousers'.

View: E63_20150907_1835_023_FB1 Greenfinch.jpg
Description: The same bird about minute later, the beakful now consumed but the feet not moved at all.

Date: 09 Nov 2015
View: E64_20150907_0133_126_FB2 Cat domestic.jpg
Description: A few days after our first recent sighting of the cat under the hedge on the South boundary, here is hunting at 1:30 a.m. at the woodland site.
When we first saw this in thumbnail form we thought the potato and leaf stalk near bottom right was a mouse the cat was hunting!

View: E64_20150907_0411_130_FB2 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) on hind legs looking over site.jpg
Description: The mouse that got away (from the cat 2.5 hours earlier) nervously scanning the surroundings on hind legs.

View: E64_20150908_0419_030_FB2 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) upright to see over rotting wood (crop).jpg
Description: A Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) on the lookout for the Owl / Cat / Fox?
The single light source flash makes an interesting shadow there for only a fleeting thousandth of a second or so.

Date: 08 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150906_1515_364-369 Swallow adult feeding youngster on roof ridge 1-6 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: This year the Swallows chose our roof ridge as the preferred Swallow youngster feeding perch. This first montage (read this one Left to Right) shows an awkward delivery where the adult flew round and fed the youngster from over it's back.

View: DF3_20150906_1517_399 Swallow adult feeding youngster on TV aerial 4 of 8 (crop).jpg
Description: As well as the roof ridge, the TV aerial got used once or twice as a Swallow feeding perch.

Date: 07 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150906_1535_890-892 Swallow adult feeding youngster on roof ridge @7fps2-4 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: Read this montage Right to Left.
The Swallow at the left edge is the disappointed sibling of the one that is fed.

View: DF3_20150906_1537_956 Swallow adult feeding youngster on roof ridge 4 of 8 (crop).jpg
Description: A hungry Swallow youngster on the roof ridge about to get a very direct meal from Mum or Dad.

Date: 06 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150906_1545_086 Swallow adult feeding youngster on roof ridge 3 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: "Open Wide"
Don't both parent and chick have to trust one-another during feeding.

View: DF3_20150906_1549_188+189+194 Swallow adult feeding youngster on roof ridge 3+4+9 of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: It looks like a Cranefly makes a meal in it's own right.
Read this montage Right to Left. The juvenile on the left is about 1 second after the feed and has closed its beak over the cranefly with the insects wings sticking out of either side of the beak.

Date: 05 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150911_1456_504-406 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly veering upwards to catch insect 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage at 7fps).jpg
Description: A Migrant Hawker Dragonfly insect catch in a last moment sweep upwards with legs formed into the 'net' they employ.
We started out assuming that the prey was fairly stationary in the air, and intending to montage as 3 images with separating bars, but it turned out that the wind was blowing them both along, so this is an accurate montage.

View: DF3_20150910_1027_013 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly male.jpg
Description: A Migrant Hawker Dragonfly warming himself in the weak sunshine. We love the light blue colour (Turquoise or Cyan according to taste).

View: DF3_20150911_1457_554-558 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly female turning in flight 1-5 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A female Migrant Hawker Dragonfly turning in the air at just the distance that the camera was pre-set to.

Date: 04 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150906_1236_005 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male on Hedge.jpg
Description: A bit of sunshine and air temperature of about 19C or more bring out the Dragonflies. This male Southern Hawker was warming itself on a hedge.

View: DF3_20150906_1528_644 Mint Leaf Beetle (Chrysolina herbacea) on Mint leaf.jpg
Description: What seems to be a mint Leaf Beetle on a, err, Mint leaf.
It is about the size of a typical Ladybird.

Date: 03 Nov 2015
View: D01_20150906_0431_011+0437+018_FB6 Tawny Owl on Meadow post for 9 mins before catching Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) at FB5 1+4 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl visited again, and this time the prize was a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse). The Owl spent about 9 minutes on the post, mostly looking at the FB5 photo site as we see here on the right.

View: E62_20150906_0439_165_FB5 Tawny Owl catching fieldmouse (wood mouse) (crop).jpg
Description: The Tawny Owl grabbing the Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) in a single foot.
He didn't return to the post this time to eat it. He may have eaten it right there (this camera doesn't repeat while the beam is blocked) or flown off with it.

Date: 02 Nov 2015
View: DF3_20150829_1047_144-146 Canada Goose pair flying low to NE 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Pair of Canada geese made a lovely pass to our North flying East, and then turned south to fly down our East boundary.

View: DF3_20150829_1047_166-171 Canada Goose pair flying low to east 1-6 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Left to right each two birds are from a single frame, all accurately montaged. The birds mostly flew with their wings in synchrony.

View: DF3_20150829_1047_169+170 Canada Goose pair flying low to east 4+5 of 7 (accurate montage to show both wing positions).jpg
Description: This is an accurate montage of adjoining frames keeping just the birds right and left of the successive images so that one bird is shown wings up, and the other wings down to provide some detail

Date: 01 Nov 2015
View: D01_20150903_0154_018+0155_019_FB6 Tawny Owl catches & eats Vole (see catch at E62_20150903_0158_300) 1+2 of 11 (montage).jpg
Description: One of 'our' Tawny owls appeared first for just these 2 frames at the meadow post. The heap of food was unusually left unfinished by the evening diners. In the second frame the bird is staring intensely at the log of ground level site 5 (FB5) ...

View: E62_20150903_0158_300_FB5 Tawny Owl catching Vole (see also D01_20150903_0154_018-028_FB6) (crop).jpg
Description: The Tawny Owl swooped down from the post top onto this hapless Vole which has here just been caught in the Owl's talons.
The Owl's eyes look strange because many hunting birds cover their eyes with their Nictitating Membranes at moments when things 'might go wrong' in the same way that humans screw up their eyes when something nasty could happen. ...

View: D01_20150903_0155_020-0201_028_FB6 Tawny Owl catches & eats Vole (see E62_20150903_0158_300) 3-5+8+10+11 of 11 (montage).jpg
Description: The Tawny Owl immediately flew back to the post and arrived back in the same minute with the prize. The post top is probably a more solid dining table than the rain soaked earth by the log. The bird spent the next 5 minutes or so ripping the Vole to pieces and swallowing the parts, leaving nothing of the vole to find next day.

Image Archive arch 2015 oct.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Oct 2015
View: D01_20150829_2315_018+2319_023+2317_021+2316_019_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) visit for 6 mins (montage).jpg
Description: The Ringed barn Owl has returned after months of absence, making a few minutes visit and moving around on the post top more than we are used to seeing.

Date: 30 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150822_1407_375_FT1 Woody Nightshade with buds and open flowers (crop 1).jpg
Description: A Woody Nightshade with blossoms suggesting to us Japanese lanterns.
Looks delightful, but all parts of this plant are poisonous.

View: DF3_20150828_1103_106 Moth Pyrausta aurata (typically 8mm long) on leaf of Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus).jpg
Description: This tiny moth only about a quarter of an inch long is on a Verbascum stem. This is a 'Micro-moth' of which there are over 1000 species in the UK along with almost that many normal (macro) sized moths.

Date: 29 Oct 2015
View: E62_20150823_2327_323_FB5 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) face to face in clover.jpg
Description: A little friendly moment here we think between two fieldmice (wood mice) at around midnight.

View: E62_20150827_0108_250+0436_298+0142_262_FB5 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) courting (montage).jpg
Description: Just after midnight 3 days later a rather sweet series of Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) assignations over the log.

Date: 28 Oct 2015
View: DF4_20150826_1517_170-173 Hobby in flight 02-05 of 18 (approx accurate montage).jpg
Description: The Hobby appeared again and gave us the chance of some more portraits. This is close to an accurate montage at 6 fps based on hazy clouds that don't show in this crop.

View: DF4_20150826_1517_207+210+212 Hobby in flight (selected) 9+12+14 of 18 (montage).jpg
Description: 3 images of the Hobby in flight picked from a sequence.

View: DF4_20150826_1517_225+229+233+237 Hobby in flight 04+08+12+16 of 16 (montage).jpg
Description: Images about 2/3 seconds apart closely spaced. The blurred small birds were the House Martins that happened to be hunting higher in the sky.

Date: 27 Oct 2015
View: DF4_20150826_1515_049+051+053+054 House Martin in flight 1+3+5+6 of 7 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: Our first House Martin sighting this year. The spacing is a third of the true flight speed at about 5fps.

View: DF4_20150826_1515_039+040 Swallow in flight showing top of wing 1-2 of 2 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: An unusual view (for us) of a Swallow showing the beautiful shimmer from the top of the wings.

View: DF4_20150826_1516_092-097 Swift in flight 1-6 of 6 (close montage).jpg
Description: A Swift in flight climbing gracefully.

Date: 26 Oct 2015
View: DF3_20150827_1614_240+243+249+250 Sparrowhawk in flight turning head left and right 02+05+11+12 of 30 (compact montage).jpg
Description: Sparrowhawk visits are normally ' whoosh by and gone'. But out on the disused farm track this one circled quite slowly a couple of times and gave us a chance for some photos.

View: DF3_20150827_1614_274 Sparrowhawk in flight (crop).jpg
Description: A single frame of the Sparrowhawk as it winged overhead

View: DF3_20150827_1614_338-344 Sparrowhawk in flight 1-7 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The Sparrowhawk flying into the a diagonal wind from the bird's front right. Based on the clouds this is an accurate montage.

Date: 25 Oct 2015
View: E62_20150823_0026_226_FB5 Young Rabbit with Buttercup.jpg
Description: The summer invasion of young rabbits is upon us, all looking so innocent. This one has to be named 'Buttercup'.

View: E63_20150821_0619_065_FB1 Rabbit youngster nibbling apple with robin visible between ears.jpg
Description: Silly one to show you, but the chance symmetry of the Robin between the ears of the Rabbit tickled our fancy.

Date: 24 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150822_1306_332+1307_335+1331_356_FT1 Small Tortoiseshell butterfly in 2 flights + Water Mint (montage).jpg
Description: We have not seen many Tortoiseshell butterflies this year, but it was all we COULD find in the middle of this day. Here is a montage of two flights arranged to show both sides of the wings.

Date: 23 Oct 2015
View: DF4_20150822_1811_407-410 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly circles to catch but drop insect 4-7 of 8 (accurate montage mirrored).jpg
Description: Perseverance sometimes brings its own 'luck' - here we caught this moment of a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly just failing to catch an insect. Read the montage left to right, all of this taking about half a second:-
  1. Dragonfly starts the swerve toward the insect.
  2. Dragonfly starts to lower it's legs to make a catch net.
  3. Insect almost caught in net.
  4. Missed it. Oh well, there are thousands more to try for!


View: DF3_20150821_1537_028-030 Hobby in flight 1-3 of 5 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: The Dragonflies have arrived, and so predictably does the Hobby - a dragonfly catching specialist.

Date: 22 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150822_1233_252_FT1 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly male in flight (crop).jpg
Description: This male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly is one of the smaller Hawker Dragonflies (though still impressive perching on your hand) and is a delight to watch hunting.

View: DA1_20150822_1237_272+1331_357_FT1 Migrant Hawker Dragonfly male in flight + Water Mint (montage).jpg
Description: The Migrant Hawker Dragonfly is only interested in the flower as somewhere to perch while hunting over the pond!

Date: 21 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150822_1212_201+1326_345_FT1 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male in flight from below + blackberry leaves (montage).jpg
Description: This is a male Southern Hawker viewed from below (i.e. flying vertically upwards). They often perch in a sun-warmed Blackberry hedge to warm up before starting their patrols over the ponds.

View: DA1_20150822_1216_227_FT1 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male in flight (crop).jpg
Description: The Southern Hawker Dragonfly nearly head on to camera. The maneuverability of these insects is amazing.

Date: 20 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150822_1046_116_FT1 Green Carpet Moth (13mm) moth in box (crop).jpg
Description: This tiny (1.3cm long) very attractive Green Carpet Moth on our screen appears 3 or 4 times life size!

View: DA1_20150822_1053_128+1054_132_FT1 Pebble Prominent Moth in Box resting and with wings spread (montage).jpg
Description: A new sighting for us is this Pebble Prominent moth. This is two views of the same moth in different collecting boxes. In the second it was fluttering wings to warm up the flight muscles and we hoped for a launch, but it was content to out-stare us. Upon release it flew fine into a bush to wait in safety for the next night.

Date: 19 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150822_1019_046+1023_053-054_FT1 Blood-vein Moth in flight single+1-2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: The Blood-vein Moth doesn't really have a vein in the wing which is 'dead' tissue pumped up and then de-hydrated during the final emergence as a moth. But it is none the less striking for that. Read this sequence right to left.
The 2nd and 3rd images where taken about 150mS apart and accurately placed. The first image was another flight positioned for effect.

View: DA1_20150822_1035_079_FT1 Blood-vein Moth on Hawthorn twig (crop).jpg
Description: Here is the another Blood-vein individual. This one wouldn't fly until we released it, when it flew away just fine!

Date: 18 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150822_1001_022+1038_089_FT1 Magpie Moth in flight + Thistle flower (montage).jpg
Description: One of the more distinctive moths is this Magpie moth, also to be found hiding in hedges in the day. This is the view of the moth from the underside.

View: DA1_20150822_1009_037+1039_098_FT1 Magpie Moth in flight + Great Willow Herb (montage).jpg
Description: Here you see the top of the Magpie moth - the markings are similar to those on the bottom of the wings, but the yellow streak only appears on the top.

Date: 17 Oct 2015
View: E63_20150815_1815_307_FB1 Song Thrush with whole windfall cherry in beak (crop).jpg
Description: Our first image of a Song Thrush for some time is this unusual moment of one of this year wild cherries looking like it will choke the bird, but is obviously completely normal fare.

View: E63_20150815_1951_331_FB1 Song Thrush with snail in beak (crop).jpg
Description: 90 minutes later at the same site what looks like the same Song Thrush with more traditional fare - a snail to smash open on the stone.

View: DF3_20150817_1748_021 Snail Shell broken by Song Thrush at FB1.jpg
Description: We found this smashed snail shell on the ground by the stone. Evidence found at the scene of the Song Thrush's 'crime'.

Date: 16 Oct 2015
View: DF3_20150816_1536_191 Brimstone Butterfly male feeding from teasel (crop).jpg
Description: The male Brimstone butterfly feeding on a Teasel flower head.

View: DF3_20150816_1600_227 Common Blue Butterfly male on Teasel (crop).jpg
Description: A Common Blue butterfly giving us a look at the top and bottom surfaces of all 4 wings.

View: DF3_20150816_1601_234 Common Blue Butterfly male on Teasel (crop).jpg
Description: The markings on the bottom of the wings of the Common Blue butterfly are very intricate, and vary somewhat between the sexes.

View: DF3_20150819_1108_066 Holly Blue Butterfly female.jpg
Description: A Holly Blue butterfly resting on a leaf.

Date: 15 Oct 2015
View: DF3_20150816_1210_123 Bluetit bathing in Plant Saucer (selected) 04 of 13 (crop).jpg
Description: This Bluetit had what looked like a wonderful time for a few minutes bathing in a Plant pot saucer kept fresh and including a variety of stones at one end that small birds can adjust their depth. Here the bird is flapping like mad producing a spray reaching several inches around.
In case you are 'lost' the birds beak is at the left just above the water.

View: DF3_20150816_1210_143 Bluetit bathing in Plant Saucer (selected) 08 of 13 (crop).jpg
Description: A better view of the Bluetit shaking itself dry.

Date: 14 Oct 2015
View: DF3_20150811_1628_092-101 Heron flying and aerobraking towards pond north of brook 01-10 of 10 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: A long flight well above the horizon and gradually losing height brought this Heron down to the pond across the brook. You can see the legs moving relative to the tail as landing becomes more imminent.

Date: 13 Oct 2015
View: E63_20150810_1923_086_FB1 Blackbird female threatening landing Dunnock.jpg
Description: A female Blackbird not appreciating the arrival of a Dunnock.

View: E63_20150808_0340_156_FB1 Rabbit on alert on hind legs.jpg
Description: A slightly startled looking Rabbit on his hind legs

Date: 12 Oct 2015
View: DF3_20150809_1753_025+028+1754_120+138 Wren bathing in water bowl & immediately dust bathing 2+3+7+9 of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: We are seeing vastly more than usual numbers of Wrens this year all over the site. This one photographed through the conservatory windows had a good bath in a large plant saucer arranged with stones to provide a good footing for little birds, and one minute later moved to the edge of slabs under another window (the windows reach the ground) and proceeded to enjoy a dust bath.
If we tried this we would end up in a sticky muddy mess!

Date: 11 Oct 2015
View: DF3_20150808_1058_360-362 Southern Hawker Dragonfly male rising in flight @ 7fps 1-3 of 3 (adjusted montage).jpg
Description: A Southern Hawker Dragonfly has at last made an appearance - as usual over the main pond. At 7 fps we caught this moment as this male was rising almost vertically.

Date: 10 Oct 2015
View: DF3_20150807_0953_026 Painted Lady Butterfly moving proboscis between Teasel flowers.jpg
Description: Proboscis maneuvering to a new flower on this nearly spent Teasel, a painted Lady Butterfly replenishes the overnight fast.

View: DF3_20150808_1053_326 Large White Butterfly feeding on Thistle flower.jpg
Description: Not that common here (no rows of Brassicas for the 'girls' to lay on), is this Large White butterfly on one of the remaining thistle flowers.

View: DF3_20150809_1252_021+1251_012 Holly Blue Butterfly on Hawthorn leaf + insert in flight showing top of wing (montage).jpg
Description: A Holly Blue butterfly in a ramshackle bit of hedge. The inset shows the insect fluttering - the only time we could see the top of the wing beyond the edges. Only an occasional visitor here - once or twice some years, not at all others

Date: 09 Oct 2015
View: E63_20150731_0134_068_FB1 Fox (crop 1).jpg
Description: A Fox looking for Supper ...
The preferred entrance is from the path on the other side of this hedge, and the way though has been trodden flat.

Date: 08 Oct 2015
View: DF3_20150803_1608_016-019 Buzzard Flyby (selected groups) 08-11 of 23 (contracted montage).jpg
Description: A wonderful bit of luck with the flyover of this Buzzard. Here are two close spaced celebration of the single flight.

View: DF3_20150803_1608_030-033 Buzzard Flyby 14-17 of 23 (contracted montage).jpg
Description: We had hoped to use the vague cloud edges to make this an accurate montage, but just couldn't work out which edges were which, so made another 'impression' of the Buzzard flyover

Date: 07 Oct 2015
View: D01_20150806_0319_060_FB6 Tawny Owl visit of 30m and this return after 20m for 3m (crop).jpg
Description: After a few weeks absence the Tawny Owl landed back to camera and stayed that way for 30 minutes, went away for 20 minutes, then returned for just 3 minutes for which this was the moment of re-arrival. The vegetation to the right is green teasel heads with their characteristic rings of florets.

View: E63_20150802_1801_299_FB1 Great Spotted Woodpecker juvenile.jpg
Description: We don't often see a Great Spotted Woodpecker at the ground level sites. This is a juvenile learning where to find food it likes, and where not. Judging by the red stain under the beak the bird may have been sampling fruits or berries from the site

Date: 06 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150802_1413_512+1241_289_FT1 Red Admiral Butterfly in flight + Teasel head (montage).jpg
Description: A rather 'worn' Red admiral Butterfly could nevertheless fly well.

View: DA1_20150802_1517_554+557_FT1 Comma Butterfly in 2 flights (montage).jpg
Description: Here are images from 2 flights of a Comma Butterfly merged into an almost believable pair.
We take 3 frames in quick succession in this setup in the hope of at least one having something in it. Sometimes we get 2 successive frames we know are only about 200mS part and even we find it hard to believe the maneuverability.

Date: 05 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150802_1337_421+1241_284_FT1 Ringlet Butterfly in flight (wing damage patched) bottom view + Teasel head (montage).jpg
Description: A Ringlet Butterfly is a subtly beautiful creature we see a few of in most years.
tiny slit of wing was missing & it really spoilt the effect, so 'photoshopped' a small 'repair'.

View: DA1_20150802_1352_467+1240+273_FT1 Painted Lady Butterfly in flight + Thistle flower (montage).jpg
Description: Our first sighting of a Painted Lady Butterfly this year, and in fact our first record at all since a large influx in 2009.

Date: 04 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150802_1254_321+1255_324+1240_282_FT1 Brimstone butterfly male in 2 flights + Thistle flower (montage).jpg
Description: This male Brimstone Butterfly made several flights for us, but his tendency to fly very fast upwards made portraits difficult. Here we montage 2 flights to make an impression. The cut at the top was not an artistic choice!

View: DA1_20150802_1314_390+1317_399_FT1 Peacock Butterfly in 2 flights (montage).jpg
Description: We have always found Peacock butterflies really hard to photograph well - they always look brighter in real life than in a photo (film or digital). Certainly the bottom of the wing is very dark. Here is an in-flight impression, both images showing the colourful top side of the wings, and the almost black bottom

Date: 03 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150802_1108_148+1236_262_FT1 Plain Wave (q) Moth in flight + Teasel head (montage).jpg
Description: A plain Wave moth, we think, dwarfed by even this quite small teasel flower head.

View: DA1_20150802_1124_218+1235_246_FT1 Peppered Moth in flight + Great Willow Herb flowers (montage).jpg
Description: Another regular visitor is the Peppered moth - a study in the beauty of Black and White. An average sized moth, but stands out as we empty the moth trap.

View: DA1_20150802_1124_221_FT1 Peppered Moth in Box with clear view of male antennae (ID crop).jpg
Description: While he rests between flights in a collecting box, we enjoyed this unusually good view of the male Peppered Moth's antennae he uses to 'sniff out' the girls.

Date: 02 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150802_1058_105+1235_256_FT1 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Moth in flight + Hawthorn twig (montage).jpg
Description: An 'underwing' moth - a type of moth with bright colours on the rear wing which are hidden when at rest by the forewing. The scheme is assumed to startle any attacker by the sudden flash of colour. We don't remember seeing this species before

View: DA1_20150802_1050_079+1051_085_FT1 Large Yellow Underwing Moth in flight (montage of 2 flights).jpg
Description: The Large Yellow Underwing Moth is a regular visitor but usually a reluctant flyer. But this one made a few flights for us & here we montage moments from 2 flights.

View: DA1_20150802_1116_172+1235_251_FT1 Lesser Yellow Underwing Moth in flight + Great Willow Herb flowers (montage).jpg
Description: A Lesser Yellow Underwing moth in flight

Date: 01 Oct 2015
View: DA1_20150802_1055_096+1235_255_FT1 Poplar Hawk Moth in flight showing bottom of wing + Hawthorn twig (montage).jpg
Description: The Poplar Hawk Moth is a BIG moth (wingspan about 70mm) that we see most years. Normally reluctant flyers, this one made a few decent flights of which this is the 'best' (from a photos point of view anyway).

View: DA1_20150802_1039_028+1237_266_FT1 Snout Moth (prob Hypena proboscidalis) in flight + Thistle Flower (montage).jpg
Description: This is a Snout Moth (exact species not certain) with subtle but interesting wing pattern and scalloped edges.

Image Archive arch 2015 sep.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150730_1546_059-069 Hare running along edge of wheat crop 01+03+05+07+09_+11 of 12 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A mid-afternoon visit caught out this Hare hiding in the crop edge. He/she streaked along the edge of the crop, turned first left onto the farm road, and ran down the road to disappear behind the weeds. This is alternate frames (the odd numbers) at about 6 fps

View: DF3_20150730_1546_060-070 Hare running along edge of wheat crop 02+04+06+08+10+12 of 12 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A different montage, just as accurate, from the even numbered frames, happening to catch more of the Hare in mid-leap.

View: DF3_20150730_1546_085-089 Hare running along farm road beside kerb (irregular frame rate) 01-05 of 20 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Here is the Hare after turning left onto the concrete road bounding along. The camera is now running much more slowly and irregularly as it has to save the photos already taken.
The obvious colour discontinuity between the two on the right is NOT the join but a genuine discontinuity of real life junction of new and 15 year old concrete!

View: DF3_20150730_1546_095-104 Hare running along farm road beside kerb (irregular frame rate) 11-20 of 20 (approx montage).jpg
Description: After the last frame above frames 6 to 10 were excessively random, but the frame rate then became more regular and allowed this approximately accurate montage of the hare disappearing from view.

Date: 29 Sep 2015
View: E64_20150728_0414_048_FB2 Fox hunting visits 6 hours apart 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: This hungry Fox just after 4 a.m. after a very similar visit 6 hour earlier.

Date: 28 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150729_0821_033 Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) with 22mm body length on Teasel flowers (crop 2).jpg
Description: We first thought this huge insect (22mm body - almost an inch long) must be some sort of Hornet. Finding no matches in our Dog-eared ID books an expert came good with the ID of a 'Hornet Hoverfly', not a Hornet but the largest member of those little creatures that hover in front of you in the sunshine. It was obviously feeding on the Teasel flowers, but was a little torpid in the early morning chill.

View: DF3_20150729_0821_027+030 Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) (22mm body) taking off from Teasel flowers (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The Hornet Hoverfly made short little flights around the teasel head to find fresh florets to feed from.

Date: 27 Sep 2015
View: D36_20150729_1622_059_FB4 Grey Squirrel stripping wheat head on tree-stump 20m from nearest crop (crop).jpg
Description: The tree stump is about 20m from the nearest of the corn crop which has suffered from lack of rain and has already turned gold. Either the Grey Squirrel brought this corn head here to eat it, or it found one that something else has dropped. Our whole perimeter is littered with part eaten corn heads and piles of chaff left by squirrels, Rabbits, small birds & no doubt many other creatures.

Date: 26 Sep 2015
View: E64_20150724_0058_053_FB2 Rabbit juvenile with white mark on forehead reaching over log.jpg
Description: A young Rabbit stepping over the log.
We shall be looking out for the Silver Blaise white spot on the forehead.

Date: 25 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150725_1227_019 Small Heath Butterflies mating.jpg
Description: A pair of Small heath butterflies mating on a grass stem. They often fly about in this configuration - we had to wait for them to land to get this image.

View: DF3_20150730_1753_120 Peacock butterfly with Proboscis in solitary Teasel Flower (crop).jpg
Description: This Peacock Butterfly has it's proboscis clearly inside the solitary remaining flower at the top of this teasel head.

Date: 24 Sep 2015
View: E63_20150721_2235_147_FB1 Fox (crop).jpg
Description: A fox on the hunt at the bottom of hedge site. We have views of a similar (possibly the same) Fox at both of the other ground level sites on the same night.

View: SW5_20150720_2217_027_SC2 Fox crouched in hunt 2 of 2 (IR).jpg
Description: We got 3 Sequential images in silent Infra-Red (separated by a few seconds) of this fox crouched nearly motionless - waiting for his supper to walk by :-(

Date: 23 Sep 2015
View: D36_20150722_2023_089_FB4 Magpie with iridescent feathers making awkward landing (crop 2).jpg
Description: A glorious show of feather colour as the young Magpie misjudges his landing spot and probably fell off the front and went round to try again or go somewhere else.

Date: 22 Sep 2015
View: P10_20150719_1227_599-20150721_1107_666 Harlequin Ladybirds in north hedge assortment (montage not to scale).jpg
Description: We have seen a few Harlequin Ladybirds in the last few years, but this year there are hundreds. They come in a bewildering range of appearances - here are 25 of our own pics showing only some of the variety including some still shedding their larval skins. Note: Not to scale.
The best identification page we know of is at
http://www.harlequin-survey.org/recognition_and_distinction.htm
Click on the pictorial table of insects to see them in larger size. They are an invasive species, and some people think it is right to kill them on sight - we don't. If you take this approach though, be very careful that they ARE harlequins and not some unusual UK species as others have unfortunately managed.

Date: 21 Sep 2015
View: E63_20150717_1746_106_FB1 Blackbird male and female at the site simultaneously (crop).jpg
Description: This image of Mr and Mrs Blackbird is a genuine unadjusted frame. Parental duties finished for the year, they spend some time feeding together.

View: DF3_20150722_1638_018 Blackbird male basking in vegetable garden.jpg
Description: This sunbathing male Blackbird wasn't pleased to see us, and soon disappeared into the hedge behind.

View: DF3_20150717_1253_010 Blackbird male with Blackthorn fruit (Sloe) in beak (crop).jpg
Description: Standing on the edge of a flat roof over this male Blackbird has found a probably slightly under-ripe Sloe (the Blackthorn berry) in the adjacent hedge.

Date: 20 Sep 2015
View: E60_20150719_1823_087_FB3 Chaffinch female landing next to another + cloud of Midges (crop 1).jpg
Description: A capricious cloud of midges caught by this female Chaffinch triggering the camera as she aerobraked to land

View: E60_20150719_1823_087_FB3 Chaffinch female landing next to another + cloud of Midges (crop 3 - midge detail).jpg
Description: Here is the cloud of midges in more detail.
When you are trying to stop them getting into your mouth or biting, you think of them as formless nuisances, but you can just see here that they are properly formed little insects.

Date: 19 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150719_1538_210-212 Brown Hawker Dragonfly maneuvering in flight 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage @ 7fps left to right).jpg
Description: We think this Brown Hawker must have been hunting something we can't see - they use their legs as a sort of 'net' to snare insects in flight. Read the sequence from left to right - this stuff is all too quick for our eyes to catch the detail.

View: DF3_20150719_1543_393-399 Brown Hawker Dragonfly in flight into headwind 1-7 of 7 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: This Brown Hawker Dragonfly was flying into the strong wind giving us a much closer spacing in this accurate montage. The flight appeared level to the eye, but you can see it wasn't!

View: DF3_20150719_1534_137-142 Brown Hawker Dragonfly in flight 01-06 of 11 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Flying across the wind keeping approximately the same distance from us before turning towards us. Here is part 1 of the sequence.

View: DF3_20150719_1534_143-147 Brown Hawker Dragonfly in flight 07-11 of 11 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Flying across the wind keeping approximately the same distance from us before turning towards us. Here is part 2 of the sequence.

Date: 18 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150718_0724_048 Dunnock in crop side of hedge along road north of bridleway (crop).jpg
Description: A walk down the edge of the crop to our north where humans rarely go (expect disguised in tractors), this Dunnock may never have seen a close-up human on foot before, and didn't know that it was supposed to be frightened of us. We stood still while it sang only a couple of metres away at a high pitch right at the top edge of our aging hearing range.

Date: 17 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150717_1255_019 Comma Butterfly feeding on Purple Buddleia.jpg
Description: Here is a Comma Butterfly enjoying a feed on the a Buddleia flower spike. You can see both sides of the wing - on the left the underside with the white 'comma', and on the right the brighter top side.
If you want to buy a Buddleia our experience is that then paler the colour the more attractive to the insects when they have a choice - white being our best, but latest to flower.

View: DF3_20150718_1033_098 Green-veined White butterflies mating (crop).jpg
Description: Green-veined white Butterflies are fairly uncommon here, so we were pleased to see this pair mating. More next year maybe!

Date: 16 Sep 2015
View: E63_20150716_0322_401_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) on hind legs holding corn grain (crop).jpg
Description: A pristine Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) nibbling a corn grain in the small hours of the morning. Just how twee can you get?

Date: 15 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150716_1333_006 Harlequin Ladybird finishing moult (crop).jpg
Description: We identify this as a Harlequin ladybird still shedding it's larval skin. There were several such insects grouped in a couple of metres of hedge which next day was alive with yellow and black adult Harlequins.

View: P10_20150718_1023_575 Harlequin Ladybird in hedge where ladybirds finishing moult seen (mirrored crop).jpg
Description: Here is one of the 'finished' Harlequins in all her smooth and glossy glory. The spot pattern is undoubtedly different - Harlequin Ladybird are unbelievably varied for a single species.

Date: 14 Sep 2015
View: E63_20150709_0749_008_FB1 Magpie juvenile begging from parent.jpg
Description: Who would be a Corvid parent?
Your offspring is bigger than you are and are still demanding food.
Sounds like human teenagers?

View: E64_20150709_1848_033_FB2 Jackdaw juvenile begging from parent.jpg
Description: Who would be a Corvid parent?
Your offspring is bigger than you are and are still demanding food.
Sounds like human teenagers?

Date: 13 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150711_0927_132-192 Kestrel female circling (selected) 01+03+06+08+11+17+20 of 20 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This female Kestrel made a nice circle of the house probably using the heat from the dark slates as a mini-thermal.

Date: 12 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150711_0922_105+0924_115+0931_224 black-tailed skimmer male immature dragonfly who caught and ate moth at main pond 01+03+10 of 10 (montage with detail).jpg
Description: This Black-tailed skimmer Dragonfly (an immature male judging by details visible in the original images, and our first sighting of this species on our patch) appeared before us, flew around the pond edge and reappeared on this Iris leaf with mandibles full of an unfortunate moth. A few minutes later we spotted the Dragonfly on a spent Buddleia flower head across the pond, and we moved round to the other side for the final image (hence different lighting). Blended into the right of the bottom image is an approximately camera resolution detail from the top right image.
Times are Top left 09:22, Right 09:24, Bottom 09:31

Date: 11 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150710_1549_068 Marbled White Butterfly feeding on Thistle flower (crop).jpg
Description: A Marbled White Butterfly feeding on a thistle flower.

View: DF3_20150712_1307_001 Small Skipper Butterfly + Hoverfly (Syrphus Ribesii) + Marmalade Hoverfly on Thistle flower (crop).jpg
Description: Here this Skipper, a type of small butterfly, and two different hoverflies gorge on the nectar of a Thistle flower.

View: DF3_20150712_1308_004 5 assorted Hoverflies around thistle flower.jpg
Description: 5 Hoverflies make a Halo around this Thistle flower.

Date: 10 Sep 2015
View: E63_20150707_1857_109+1858_110_1900_111_FB1 Wood Pigeon raising wings against Jackdaw over 3 minutes 3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: An unusual sequence over 3 minutes with the Wood Pigeon showing the threat posture to a distinctly unimpressed Jackdaw.

Date: 09 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150709_0708_031-041 Hare running over grass area between farm road bend and crop 01-11 of 11 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: An early morning walk sometimes catches some Hares before they get scared off by the first vehicle of the day. This sequence at a slightly variable 5 fps is an accurate montage as this one lolloped diagonally away upon the rumble of the first lorry.

Date: 08 Sep 2015
View: E63_20150704_1814_155_FB1 Grey Squirrel nibbling slice of apple.jpg
Description: The Grey Squirrels seated position and those front paws make this uncomfortably like a human would eat something of the same relative scale.

View: E60_20150705_1448_052_FB3 Grey Squirrel shaking off raindrops during heavy shower (crop).jpg
Description: Very heavy downpours usually send creatures scuttling for cover. This Grey Squirrel looks like it was getting soaked, and used its flexible body to shake the fur dry (well a bit less wet anyway). All those peanuts without having to fight off other squirrels for them must be worth the soaking.

Date: 07 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150705_1610_073 Blackbird male collecting Yellow Underwing Moth & then another insect to take to nest 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: This Blackbird wasn't too happy to have his hunting expedition interrupted by us pesky humans, but we kept still so he carried on his hunt. When first spotted he had in his beak this Yellow Underwing Moth.

View: DF3_20150705_1611_084 Blackbird male collecting Yellow Underwing Moth & then another insect to take to nest 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: It seems the Yellow Underwing Moth wasn't enough, and male Blackbird carried on searching the grass and suddenly an extra insect appeared in his beak - it might be a Cranefly. A good meal for hungry youngsters no doubt.

Date: 06 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150703_1252_212 Spotted Cranefly on Iris leaf.jpg
Description: On the stem of an Iris at the main pond was perched this attractive Spotted Cranefly.

View: DA1_20150706_1017_006+1233_285_FT1 Poplar Hawk Moth + Hawthorn Twig (montage).jpg
Description: A Poplar Hawk Moth flying upwards.
The crop of the wing at the bottom is the bottom of the original frame.

Date: 05 Sep 2015
View: DA1_20150706_1315_351+1328_393_FT1 Ringlet Butterfly in flight + Clover flowers (montage).jpg
Description: A Ringlet Butterfly, a delicate butterfly even by butterfly standards, is easily recognised by the distinctive rings pattern.

View: DF3_20150702_1419_091 5 Spot Burnet Moth feeding on Thistle flower (crop).jpg
Description: There are two types of Burnet Moth in the UK (5 and 6 spot) where you count the spots on one side only. This is a 5 spot.
Should you find a similar coloured moth without all the spots check out the Cinnabar Moth instead.

Date: 04 Sep 2015
View: p10_20150603_1454_533 drinker moth caterpillar about 4cm long + 2 greenfly (crop).jpg
Description: At the beginning of June we photographed this large Drinker Moth caterpillar on a not very attractive garden pot - the first we have spotted one for 9 years.

View: DA1_20150706_1031_062_FT1 Drinker Moth female on Hawthorn twig (crop).jpg
Description: A month later in the moth trap we were delighted to find our first ever adult Drinker Moths, a mix of 3 males and 2 females (moth traps normally catch mainly the exploratory males of moth species). Neither female would fly in the 'tunnel', so here is one hanging from a hawthorn twig. Note the absence of frilled antennae that is the male equipment for finding a female.

View: DA1_20150706_1106_151+1243_291_FT1 Drinker Moth male in flight (bottom view) + Musk Mallow flowers (montage).jpg
Description: A male Drinker Moth in flight. He has his underside and legs turned towards the camera - moths can do amazing aerial acrobatics!

View: DA1_20150706_1034_069+1243_295_FT1 Drinker Moth male in flight + Blackberry flowers (montage).jpg
Description: Another male (note the Antennae) Drinker Moth in the more conventional flight orientation.

Date: 03 Sep 2015
View: DA1_20150706_1040_088+1116_183_FT1 Small Elephant Hawk Moth + Elephant Hawk Moth (identical scale montage).jpg
Description: Our first ever sighting of a Small Elephant Hawk Moth, along with a (non-small) Elephant Hawk Moth, gave us a chance to compare them.
The Small Elephant Hawk Moth is on the left, and the Elephant Hawk Moth is on the right.
This is a photo-montage but at exactly the same scale. They are not just different sizes of the same insect, but distinct species with similar colour palette but different colour patterns. Both are quite small 'for hawk moths' - you might imagine that anything called 'Elephant' was at the large end, but it is the appearance of the caterpillar as a brown 'trunk' that gives them their name.

View: DA1_20150706_1041_093+094_FT1 Small Elephant Hawk Moth flying from Hawthorn twig @7fps 1+2 of 2 (vertically spread montage).jpg
Description: This Small Elephant Hawk Moth was unusually caught twice in a single photo sequence. The camera fires 3 times at about 7fps to try to catch the insect somewhere in the frame. We have moved the top insect and duplicated the leaf by moving it upwards to avoid overlap.

View: DA1_20150706_1123_209+1246_304_FT1 Elephant Hawk Moth in flight + Clover Flowers (montage).jpg
Description: The is the Elephant Hawk Moth flying downwards from it's perch.

Date: 02 Sep 2015
View: DF3_20150702_1629_146 Silver-ground Carpet Moth hiding in hedge.jpg
Description: For some reason - nature, farming practice or our observance - we are noticing more moths startled from the hedges in daylight and hiding as we walk along. This is a Silver-ground Carpet Moth hiding on a leaf.

View: DA1_20090624_1558_212+1516_187 FT1 Silver-ground Carpet Moth in flight with Red Campion flower (montage).jpg
Description: From our archive of 6 years ago, here is an image of a Silver-ground Carpet Moth in flight with a Red Campion flower.

Date: 01 Sep 2015
View: E64_20150630_1803_052_FB2 Grey Squirrel attacking Mallard Duck Female (crop).jpg
Description: The Grey squirrel seems to have gone into an attacking frenzy against this poor innocent female Mallard duck just looking for a 'bite' to eat.

View: E62_20150630_1752_082_FB5 Magpie juvenile demanding food from parent (crop).jpg
Description: "I said F O O D"
Are 'teenagers' the same regardless of species?

Image Archive arch 2015 aug.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150630_1234_272-275 Black-headed Gull in flight 1-4 of 4 (impression montage).jpg
Description: In the hot midday sun a couple of Black-headed gulls went wheeling overhead with the high sun shining through their feathers. Here is an impressions arbitrarily placed against the bland sky.

View: DF3_20150630_1234_279-282 Black-headed Gull in flight 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The air was full of tiny fragments of fluff that allowed us to accurately position these 4 images - a sort of 'join up the dots' exercise! We have left in the white specks.

Date: 30 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150627_0706_057 Song Thrush singing from branch of Willow Tree.jpg
Description: The song thrush had taken up station to sing deep in a willow tree behind a small holding-pond.

View: DF3_20150629_0646_029+031+038-040 Song Thrush singing from top of Lodgepole Pine 1+3-6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: The Song Thrush in his accustomed place on the tip of the highest tree in the garden, singing for all he was worth. While finalising this text 5 July he was high in this favourite conifer caroling away.

Date: 29 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150625_1730_021-030 Great Spotted woodpecker in bounding flight 01-10 of 10 (closed spaced montage @ 5fps).jpg
Description: A Great Spotted Woodpecker flyby from the brook to the North back over our patch. These birds use 'bounding flight' to save energy - a flap or two and then bullet through the air until it is time for another flap. In the real world you can see them rising and falling slightly in height, but without any cloud or other references we can't even get the spacing right, so here are 10 consecutive images strung together to show the idea over about 2 seconds.

View: D01_20150701_1959_030 Green Woodpecker male on meadow post (crop).jpg
Description: Glowing in the early evening light, this male Green Woodpecker hiked himself onto the top giving us a good view

Date: 28 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150626_1617_053 Herb Robert flower with leaves fading to red (crop).jpg
Description: We adore this lovely little flower, here accompanied by it's already dieing leaves in 'autumn colours'.
We tried to find a proper verb to mean 'leaves going orange/red when finished with', but with an unexpected lack of success. Any suggestions?

Date: 27 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150624_1239_264-277 Glider G-CKDO circling in thermal about 2 second intervals 01-13 of 14 (tight impression montage).jpg
Description: This glider appeared in a Thermal. Taking a frame about every 2 seconds we hoped to produce an accurate montage. But it would have been as wide as a desk so we have contracted the gaps and simply softened the cloud discontinuities. The Green arrow is the first exposure, moving counter clockwise.

View: DF3_20150624_1240_281-293 Glider G-CKDO and Airliner visually crossing 1+2+6+10+13 of 13 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Having a go at a second sequence of the glider climbing a thermal, the airliner suddenly entered the frame and the camera was run at full speed. This is an accurate montage of the relative positions of the 2 aircraft probably at about 2/3 second intervals.

View: DF3_20150621_1753_407 Biplane G-AMHF very low over pasture (crop).jpg
Description: This Biplane made a very low pass over the fields to our West against the sun. We rather like the antique photo effect!

Date: 26 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150624_1231_251-259 Red Kite flying against textured cloud 1-9 of 9 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A Red Kite made a nice flyby against some attractive clouds that also allowed us to make this accurate montage. About 1.5 seconds of flight here.

Date: 25 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150618_1242_020 Banded Demoiselle damselfly male on Buttercup.jpg
Description: The Banded Demoiselles have arrived. This male makes an attractive colour contrast with the yellow buttercup. The Buttercup is just a perch - the insect is a hunter not interested in pollen or nectar.

View: DF3_20150623_1450_174 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly male on Hazel leaf.jpg
Description: A male Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly basking in the sun from a Hazel leaf.

View: DF3_20150624_1216_229 Magpie Moth hiding under hedge leaf.jpg
Description: We have often caught this moth in the moth trap, but startled this one in a hedge and saw it re-land underneath this leaf. A foreshortened view.

Date: 24 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150623_1449_153-159 Kestrel female landing on 11kv Crossbar 1-3+5+7 of 8 (accurate montage with landed bird shifted).jpg
Description: This female Kestrel has returned after a few weeks absence - we do hope she is hunting for what should be half-grown youngster(s) in the nest. We often see her on these power system crossbars, and here she is flying up from the rear. The sequence is accurate except for moving the landed bird left by about 1 bird width.

Date: 23 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150621_1738_276 Hare at edge of corn crop (crop 1).jpg
Description: We find hares magical. They seem to like the edge of the corn crop, but disappear into the crop if disturbed.

View: DF3_20150621_1738_289-293 Hare running along edge of crop 01-05 of 12 (accurate montage @5fps with minor adjustment).jpg
Description: From the other side of a hedge (just our heads showing) we didn't seem to be considered an immediate threat, and this Hare ran down the grass/bare soil by the crop at just the right speed to get a close to accurate montage. We have slightly stretched the gap between 2nd and 3rd from the right to avoid overlap - all the rest are accurate. The white foreground is the concrete farm road.

Date: 22 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150620_1636_109-112 Swift hunting in heavy rain 1-4 of 4 (impression montage 4).jpg
Description: Rain suddenly started pouring down from innocent looking clouds. We started a stampede indoor but were stopped by the sudden appearance of a few swifts hunting through the heavy rain. The camera & lens are classed as shower resistant so we spent a minute or two getting some images. The elongated light streaks are the rain streaking by the bird.

View: DF3_20150621_1737_248-253 Swift hunting 2-7 of 7 (accurate montage @variable 5fps).jpg
Description: This Swift obviously caught an insect in flight (3rd image from the left) but an exhaustive search of the original files didn't find it - probably just too small. The set of images was at about 5 frames/second but rather irregular due to repeated re-focussing by the camera.

Date: 21 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150618_1226_001 Bee feeding in White Iris Flower.jpg
Description: Lilies are structured (or designed themselves, or whatever you want to believe) so that only the right size of bee can get in (strong enough to push up the upper petal, but small enough to fit) to pollinate the plants. Yellow Flag Iris behaves very similarly to this (probable) cultivar.

View: DF3_20150618_1238_012 Orange Hawkweed (aka Fox-and-Cubs) flower heads on 20cm stalk in shingle path (crop).jpg
Description: This small (typically 2cm across flowers) add sparks of fire to the shingle area outside the front door and around the side gate

Date: 20 Aug 2015
View: D5C_20150618_1617_012+16+17+19 Grey Squirrels squabbling over access to peanut feeder 1-4 of 4 (montage Top left-TR-BL-BR).jpg
Description: It my turn now!
A complete chase-off sequence captured through the kitchen window.
Top Left > Top Right > Bottom Left > Bottom Right.

Date: 19 Aug 2015
View: D36_20150619_0602_047_FB4 Adult Magpie feeding juvenile with early fall Cherry and stalk (crop).jpg
Description: What looks to us like an adult Magpie (left) has passed an unripe cherry complete with stalk to it's juvenile.
In case you can't make it out (we struggled) the orange cherry is in the beak of the youngster facing towards the camera with the top beak tip making a 'V' black cutout in the round cherry. Once you have seen it you will wonder why we bother to mention it :-(

View: DF3_20150621_1745_363+366 Carrion Crow feeding begging youngster on grass verge 1+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Look over a hedge we saw this little domestic scene of a young Carrion Crow begging for supper, and getting a delivery of what looks like something we had just left for the wildlife at one of the camera sites.

Date: 18 Aug 2015
View: E63_20150617_1919_126_FB1 Robin attacking Bluetit youngster in flight (crop).jpg
Description: Ouch!
Robin are very territorial, and this one is having a go at the poor innocent juvenile Bluetit who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time! The original full frame needed selective sharpening to make the action clear, but it is a single moment as seen here.

View: E60_20150611_0707_100_FB3 Robin adjusting flight to land at peanut feeder (crop 2).jpg
Description: Whiffling down though the air to the peanut feeder a little to the right, this Robin is maneuvering itself and starting to lower the landing gear.

View: E63_20150618_0700_158_FB1 Robin Juvenile with first red breast feather.jpg
Description: Hey - look at me - I've got my first Red Breast feather!

Date: 17 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150615_1523_028 Tree Bumblebee on White Clover flower.jpg
Description: As the Green Alkanet along the track side finished flowering the Tree Bumblebees have moved into the centre of our site and this one is enjoying one of thousands of white Clover flowers.

View: DF3_20150616_1023_063 Speckled Wood butterfly.jpg
Description: We have had a few sightings of Speckled Wood butterflies at the woodland edge, but this is the first time we had an opportunity for a decent photo.

View: DF3_20150617_1209_102 Banded Demoiselle damselfly male (1st of 2015).jpg
Description: The first Banded Demoiselle Damselfly this year, this one a male, has appeared at the duck shaped pond on the Hop Sedge. You can just see the complicated little clasper at the tail tip that must match the females thorax for them to mate.

Date: 16 Aug 2015
View: D36_20150616_0919_049+20150618_0626_109+20150616_0921_050_FB4 Collared Dove landing on Tree-stump (impression montage).jpg
Description: This year this Collared Dove is making regular visits to the tree stump. These images were all taken well before midday and montaged for the pleasure of seeing the bird.

Date: 15 Aug 2015
View: E62_20150612_2045_127_FB5 Rabbit baby feeding on wet grass & clover with closed buttercups.jpg
Description: A baby rabbit feasting in the buttercups and clover as darkness falls.

View: E62_20150617_2041_132_FB5 Rabbit eating empty Pea pod.jpg
Description: The human un-shelled pea season is upon us. We put out the empty pods which rapidly vanish - this one into a baby rabbit.

Date: 14 Aug 2015
View: DF2_20150612_0803_016 Great spotted Woodpecker juvenile being fed by mother on pampas Grass head (crop).jpg
Description: This Great Spotted Woodpecker juvenile (left) had us 'in stitches' as it decided that the head of a Pampas grass was a good place to wait to be fed. It could barely keep it's balance on the swaying and bouncing weak material, and the arrival of it's mother doubled the problem and arranged a sort of bobbing ballet of birds. Its a wonder we got any photos at all!

View: DF2_20150612_0803_022 Great spotted Woodpecker juvenile being fed by mother on pampas Grass head (crop 2).jpg
Description: Finally aligning beaks, the mother (right) puts her own beak right inside that of the hungry youngster

View: DF2_20150612_0812_109+110+142 Great spotted Woodpecker juvenile on pampas Grass head pulling off fibres (montage).jpg
Description: Once mother had gone the juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker decided to try it's hand at eating a frond from the Pampas grass. Once it had managed to pull off a lump it didn't know what to do next, and eventually dropped the fragment. The specks above the bird are midges flittering around above the bird.

Date: 13 Aug 2015
View: E62_20150609_1922_082_FB5 2 Magpie juveniles and adult (crop).jpg
Description: A couple of Magpie youngsters making it very clear to the adult on the right that they want - F O O D - N O W
Our first sighting of Magpie youngsters this year is in a frame a few minutes previous

View: E62_20150618_0528_142_FB5 Magpie juvenile begging even while landing (crop 2).jpg
Description: The juvenile Magpie has not even finished landing and he is demanding food from a parent out of crop to the right.

Date: 12 Aug 2015
View: D36_20150610_0926_052_FB4 Dunnock with Cranefly (q) in beak.jpg
Description: So its nice to get this confirmation of Brood feeding as this Dunnock stops off at the tree-stump with a loaded beak.

View: DF3_20150618_0723_130 Starling taking insect to hole in eaves.jpg
Description: We thought that the Starlings in the loft had finished, but a few sightings from an upstairs window, plus the screeching of young birds just audible through the ceiling confirm that this bird nervously waiting on the roof ridge has a later nest with chicks to feed.

Date: 11 Aug 2015
View: E64_20150604_1918_038_FB2 Mallard Duck male with female just visible behind neck.jpg
Description: Before he starts his moult and loses the glorious green head, a portrait of this male Mallard Duck in his glory.
He is accompanying a female whose dark brown head and eye we can just see above and right of his white neck ring.
If this bird was rare people would travel miles to see one!

Date: 10 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150604_1341_163+164+1345_229 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly male teneral on Hazel leaf and in flight 1+2+8 of 8 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This immature (teneral) male Beautiful Demoiselle was flitting about in the hedges. The left and centre images were two perching places on the edge of the same Hazel leaf. The right was a flyby just over the same leaf (note that the legs are folded which takes a few wing-beats to accomplish).

View: DF3_20150605_1516_385 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly male teneral.jpg
Description: Much more detailed views of the teneral male Beautiful Demoiselle perched in a hedge

View: DF3_20150605_1228_375 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly male teneral.jpg
Description: You see the beautiful blue sheen of the body of this male Beautiful Demoiselle.

Date: 09 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150604_1358_318 Broad-bodied chaser dragonfly male on Yellow Flag Iris flower (crop).jpg
Description: A first for us here is seeing both male and female Broad Bodies Chaser Dragonflies at the same time on one pond. This is the male which you can see he has already damaged a wing. Our experience is that this sort of damage is most usually from being caught by brambles or wild rose thorns. Dragonflies seem to be able to fly fine with half their wing surface missing from encounters with thorns and bird beaks.
He is perched on a Yellow Flag Iris flower but he is not interested in nectar - he is a hunter using the flower only as the highest nearby perch.
The blue back is a powder that gradually gets rubbed off. It is very bright in UV light - see our UV section on the web site if interested.

View: DF3_20150604_1254_004 Broad-bodied chaser dragonfly female.jpg
Description: A first for us here is seeing both male and female Broad Bodies Chaser Dragonflies at the same time on one pond. This is the female some 5 metres from the male.

Date: 08 Aug 2015
View: DF2_20150606_0656_195+0701_220 Wren with insects & spider (q) + numerous insects & grub in beak (montage).jpg
Description: The continuing feeding of the Wren chicks seems to have been going on 'forever'. There don't take the food into the nest now - just stand outside the entrance and it gets taken. We just can't see what is going on in the very dark corner. Here we have 2 visits 5 minutes apart in the sunshine with different mixes of food.

Date: 07 Aug 2015
View: DA1_20150607_1620_427+1621_430+1620_426_FT1 Tree Bumble Bee (q) in flight backwards away from launch (montage).jpg
Description: Tree Bumble Bees are gradually introducing themselves to the UK. We are finding dozens on a stretch of Green Alkanet along our farm track. This individual would fly for us but she always took off flying backwards. The left and right images are about 150mS apart from the same flight, and we have slipped in another flight between them to make a satisfactory montage. We would have 'photoshopped' the insects box on the right for something more natural if we could have done it convincingly, but in the end 'truth' won out. Nobody got stung - we handle our guests with kindness.

Date: 06 Aug 2015
View: DA1_20150607_1340_162+153+1315_077_FT1 White Ermine Moth in flight (2 flights) + grass seed head (montage).jpg
Description: This White Ermine moth is one of the species is one of the species responsible for leaving 'silk' all over hedges. These two images were separate flights montaged for effect.

View: DA1_20150607_1347_190+1348_193+1349+199_FT1 Burnished Brass Moth in flight (3 separate flights) (montage).jpg
Description: A very common moth here is the 'Burnished Brass'.
Of the several caught in the moth trap this one would fly for us, but the shiny brass effect doesn't show well in flight. Here are 3 images from 3 flights montaged for effect. The top left image was at the top of the camera frame.

Date: 05 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150603_1815_180 Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) (1 of about 50 - 1st ID) feeding on Green Alkanet Flowers (crop).jpg
Description: We believe this 'Tree Bumblebee' to be new species here for us, and is a 'self introduction to the UK over the past 10 years. No bee like this appears in any of our now venerable insect ID books. Along the track edge in sunshine is a strip of 'Green Alkanet' with pretty blue flowers that was hosting about 50 similar bees - the most bees we have seen on this patch for years. Hurrah!
We didn't recognise them at the time but took some photos as they fed on the tiny flowers, just measured as 1cm across, and showing a bit lighter here than as viewed by the eye because the exposure is adjusted for the dark Bee body.

View: DF3_20150603_1816_190 Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) (1 of about 50 - 1st ID) feeding on Green Alkanet Flowers (crop).jpg
Description: A Tree Bumblebee flying to a Green Alkanet flower. The partly shaded flower at top left more represents the flower's colour than those in full sunlight overexposed to properly image the bee.

Date: 04 Aug 2015
View: E62_20150530_1826_130_FB5 Mallard Duck male guarding feeding female.jpg
Description: 'Our' Mallard pair, fresh from a pond judging by the Duckweed stuck to both of them, with him 'guarding' her as she feeds.
A June 2015 BBC 'Springwatch' program expressed surprise that Shoveller ducks (a bit like these but with much wider bills) leave the female alone while she sits on the eggs so his vivid colour doesn't draw attention to her, but she joins him during her hour or so a day feeding and preening. We have been seeing this for years with our Mallard Ducks.

View: E64_20150530_1815_124_FB2 Grey Squirrel attacking Mallard Duck male (crop).jpg
Description: Genuine single frame of this nonchalant Male Mallard duck as a Grey Squirrel leaps at it with his claws exposed. We have NO IDEA what happened next!

View: E64_20150530_1827_128_FB2 Grey Squirrel in twisted position.jpg
Description: Grey squirrel Yoga?
Modern Dance?
Awkward landing?

Date: 03 Aug 2015
View: E63_20150529_0000_049_FB1 Badger visiting and moving stone 2 of 3 (crop 1).jpg
Description: Brock (a traditional name for a badger) appears at the hedge site bang on midnight.

View: E64_20150530_0226_102_FB2 Badger (crop 1).jpg
Description: Two and a half hours later on the next night this Badger (we think the same one) appeared at the woodland site with wet fur. Maybe a hunt in a pond, but the lack of Duckweed suggests just pushing through a lot of long wet grass.

Date: 02 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150601_0709_025-0711_061 Fox by crop turning & walking towards camera before going through hedge 01+02+04+06+08+09+11-13 of 15 (mostly acc montage).jpg
Description: Looking over our boundary hedge showed us a Fox ambling away from us along the crop margin. Instead of spotting us and galloping away the animal turned and walked towards the hedge (top left and right) and then started ambling back towards us, wandering left and right along the weed-killed margin. We think It suddenly spotted the humans next to bottom on the left, but continued it's amble, finally turning towards the hedge and walking through it.

View: DF3_20150601_0710_051 Fox by crop turning & walking towards camera before going through hedge 09 of 15 (crop).jpg
Description: Surely a moment of recognition of the camera or humans, but we kept still and the fox continued its amble towards us.

View: DF3_20150601_0711_073 Fox by crop turning & walking towards camera before going through hedge 15 of 15 (crop).jpg
Description: The Fox appeared on the other side of the hedge, from where it crossed over the farm road (top of image) and disappeared into the crop.

Date: 01 Aug 2015
View: DF3_20150529_1506_053 Red-legged partridge flying over grass and landing on farm road 01 of 11 (crop 2).jpg
Description: Looking over the farm hedge this Red-Legged partridge was startled into flight. This first image caught the bird flying over the untidy 'turning' area of the farm road which is loose tarmac lumps.

View: DF3_20150529_1506_066-073 Red-legged partridge flying over grass and landing on farm road 03-10 of 11 (accurate montage variable rate about 5 fps).jpg
Description: The short flight and rather clumsy landing as one sequence. The hazy green sections are overgrowth from the hedge that the low angle and being only part way up the mound resulted in. This also confused the camera's continuous auto-focus into making the images rather irregular as it tried to make sense of the focus point information. The stuttering final stop is genuine.

View: DF3_20150529_1506_070-073 Red-legged partridge flying over grass and landing on farm road 07-10 of 11 (accurate montage variable rate about 5 fps).jpg
Description: 'Plucked' (sorry) from the montage is a better view of the landing, a sort of bounce along affair that is shown accurately here. Landing on the hard concrete is not the Red-Legged partridge best landing surface.

Image Archive arch 2015 jul.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150529_1502_005+007+009 Mallard Duck pair taking off from bank of Duck pond 03+05+07 of 24 (accurate montage alternate frames).jpg
Description: A Pair of Mallard Ducks sitting at the duck-shaped pond decided to leave as we approached. The female launched first, but the camera was aimed at the male who waited a second or so before following.

View: DF3_20150529_1502_010+12+14+16+18 Mallard Duck pair taking off from bank of Duck pond 08+10+12+14+16 of 24 (accurate montage alternate frames).jpg
Description: The camera followed the male Mallard duck giving this opportunity for a longer montage. The frame rate was about 7 fps but this is alternate frames and it is just chance and the flap rate that means the bird has his wings down in each frame, showing us his luscious speculum.

Date: 30 Jul 2015
View: DF2_20150530_0639_090 Wren taking insects to nest 7 of 8 (crop 1).jpg
Description: The Wren nest by the living room window getting a visit every couple of minutes or so in the early morning. Here a parent is taking in what looks like 2 Craneflies crammed into that tiny beak.

View: DF3_20150603_1745_150 Wren in hedge top with assorted food items in break (crop).jpg
Description: A Wren stopping off in the hedge top for a moment, with another mix of food types for the youngsters.

View: DF2_20150603_0615_498 Wren parent(s) taking food to nest above living room window (selected) (crop).jpg
Description: Smorgasbord, Wren style.
The Wren's tiny beak seems to have managed to catch a small moth, two small grubs and something with long legs to take to the nest.

Date: 29 Jul 2015
View: D01_20150531_1306_013+16+17_FB6 Heron spending a few minutes on bank of Duck pond and takeoff 2-4 of 5 (impression montage).jpg
Description: A Heron is occasionally visiting the Duck-shaped pond. Here the bird is on the bank and taking off. The bird upper right should be roughly where the head of the middle image is, so we have moved it to make an 'impression'.

Date: 28 Jul 2015
View: E63_20150526_0707_066_FB1 Robin Juvenile (2 days after 1st sighting) (crop).jpg
Description: A juvenile Robin appeared at this site 2 days before this (i.e. 24 May 2015) but this is the first good image. The bird has shed its baby down, and has assumed the quiet 'do not attack me' colours of the juvenile.

View: DF3_20150526_0853_030 White and pink Hawthorn Flowers (May) on different plants (crop).jpg
Description: In the hedges near this photo site the Hawthorn is flowering like mad this year. We seem to have varieties that flower in White and another less common in Pink. If you trace them back to their roots they are always on separate plants even though the plants are tangled in the hedge.

Date: 27 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150524_1316_475-477 Little Egret in flight against trees 2-4 of 7 (horizontally contracted montage).jpg
Description: A Little Egret flying along the line of the 11kV power lines gave us this opportunity for a flight study. These 3 consecutive frames at 7fps are at about half the true spacing in order to enjoy some detail on the bird. The original montage is adjacent.

View: DF3_20150524_1316_474-479 Little Egret in flight against trees 1-6 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: While walking down the road verge this Little Egret made a delightful flight along the 11kV power line. This is an accurate montage at 7fps from which we extracted 3 images for the closer look adjacent.

Date: 26 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150524_1308_441-447 Kestrel in flight against trees 01-07 of 11 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: After a brief hover this Kestrel flew off to the left just under the height of the wires (accurate montage at7 fps).

View: DF3_20150524_1311_453 Kestrel hunting from branch of Black Poplar tree at track entrance 1 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: The Kestrel landed on a branch of the Black Poplar tree at the end of our track to the main road. We walked quietly down the track and 3 minutes later caught this moment before she decided to move on.

View: DF3_20150524_1320_539 Kestrel on 11kV crossbar by Farm entrance photographed from verge across road (crop 1).jpg
Description: She landed on the crossbar of the nearest 11kV post and ignored cars and lorries streaming past during the lunch-time peak, so perhaps she just didn't notice us on the other side of the road. We got this pic from perhaps 15m away before she decided to fly off at speed to the South East and vanish.

Date: 25 Jul 2015
View: D5C_20150525_1623_002 Hare juvenile outside kitchen window.jpg
Description: What looks like a young Hare outside the Kitchen window. This year Hares have appeared in our patch rather than on the farm's land. What did we do that was right?

Date: 24 Jul 2015
View: D36_20150527_0605_074_FB4 Grey Squirrel leaping onto tree-stump top (crop).jpg
Description: Scale it up, and this Grey squirrel looks like something out of a horror movie.

View: E64_20150527_1755_115_FB2 Grey Squirrels aggressively chasing away another.jpg
Description: Some real Grey squirrel aggression here - we wouldn't want that aggressive creature right behind us!

View: E64_20150526_1805_060_FB2 Grey Squirrel juvenile.jpg
Description: What do you mean - how could I be an aggressive pest?

Date: 23 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150523_1402_016 Wren perched in hedge (crop).jpg
Description: We have been trying to catch Wrens taking food to the youngsters in the nest outside the living room window, but they no longer stop off on the hedge, and are hardly visible as they fly in. We did catch this one stretching upwards and moving about excitedly, but never worked out what was going on.
It is possibly only the female is now feeding the youngsters. Male wrens go off and try their 'luck' with other females once they have a nest going.

View: D5C_20150523_1837_079 Rabbit youngster in long grass outside window.jpg
Description: By our heating Oil tank (We are about a mile from the nearest gas main) this young rabbit looked so appealing we just had to take its photo nearly hidden in the long grass.

Date: 22 Jul 2015
View: E64_20150519_1842_132_FB2 2 Stock Doves at log in rain (crop).jpg
Description: This is two Stock Doves apparently messing about in the early evening. It was raining - you can see the water drops flying about.

View: E64_20150519_1842_132_FB2 2 Stock Doves at log in rain - crop and enhancement to show dark brown Iris.jpg
Description: Stock doves in daylight seem to have all-black eyes, but in fact the Iris is very dark brown you can only see in the right lighting, or with a little help post-processing a photo. This is a camera resolution crop of the head in the adjacent image lightened enough to see the brown ring of the iris.

Date: 21 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150522_1103_493 Bluetit on wires with adult insect in beak.jpg
Description: The Bluetits feeding the youngsters in the nest over the utility room are getting ever more frantic delivering food. Here you can unusually make out the whole of the next meal still distressingly thrashing about.

View: E60_20150520_1513_057_FB3 Great Spotted Woodpecker male in incredibly bedraggled state.jpg
Description: This Great Spotted Woodpecker isn't exactly looking his best!

Date: 20 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150521_1805_060+069 Sundog cloud moving through colours 1+2 of 2 (montage with cloud aligned).jpg
Description: A Strong Sundog to the right of the sun showing in just this small fast moving patch of cloud. Ignoring the slow movement of the sun in the sky we have aligned the two images of the cloud so you can see how the sundog colours are fixed in the heavens (relative to the sun) and the cloud sort of moves through the position where the sundog will show. The brightness of the parts of the cloud change substantially as it moves through the critical area.

Date: 19 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150518_1741_065-070 Common Gull flying into headwind 1-6 of 8 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This is an accurately spaced montage of a Common Gull gliding by into a headwind taken at 7 fps.

View: DF3_20150518_1747_083+086+090+092 Collared Dove in Flight (selected) 1-4 of 4 (impression montage).jpg
Description: A selection of 4 images (in the proper order but not consecutive) of a Collared Dove flying by, arranged for effect.

Date: 18 Jul 2015
View: E63_20150515_1947_055_FB1 Robin in flight attacking Chaffinch female on ground (crop).jpg
Description: This year's 'truce' seems to be at an end now that parents are frantically feeding their every-demanding chicks.

View: E63_20150519_2017_178_FB1 Robin in flight attacking Chaffinch female on ground (crop).jpg
Description: 4 days and a few minutes later we were surprised to find this almost identical event again at the right edge of the frame.

Date: 17 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150517_0708_234 Red Campion on set-aside near brook.jpg
Description: Red Campion is everywhere at the moment. A walk down the side of the crop to the brook has us discover a 10 metre or so wide strip of wild flowers along the edge of the crop to the brook. We understand farmers get paid for 'set aside' land and this would be a good place to pick commercially and for the wildlife.

View: DF3_20150517_1124_100 Forget-me-not clump (crop).jpg
Description: Clumps of Forget-Me-Nots are all over the place - little drifts of a positive but soft blue.

Date: 16 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150516_1735_153 Grey Squirrel in Yew tree.jpg
Description: Back in the Yew tree this Grey Squirrel was looking so twee as it was probably destroying this years catkins :-(

View: D36_20150507_1808_039_FB4 Grey Squirrel Grooming.jpg
Description: Animal grooming stills mostly look rather awkward, but this Grey Squirrel was performing a little Flea removal with a degree of elegance.

Date: 15 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150517_0718_244-254 Hare running over short grass by crop 01-11 of 23 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Our appearance displeased this Hare who made a speedy exit along the edge of the crop. We took 23 consecutive images at about 5fps. Join the two images together to see the action

View: DF3_20150517_0718_255-0719_265 Hare running over short grass by crop 12-22 of 23 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A continuation of the montage of our Hare running along the crop edge

View: DF3_20150517_0718_248-250 Hare running over short grass by crop 05-07 of 23 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A closer look at a section from the first 11 images. All the individual images are available in this quality on request, but at 24MB the pair you will have to download them from a URL we can send you.

Date: 14 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150516_1456_109 Hare outside study window & near house (crop).jpg
Description: Delight of the week was a couple of Hares wandering just outside the house. Despite one cut already, the grass is very shaggy at the moment while it is too wet to cut without a struggle. Perhaps long grass feels like 'home'.

View: DF3_20150516_1513_124 Hare outside study window & near house (crop).jpg
Description: Here a Hare was right outside the study full height doors

View: DF3_20150516_1513_137 Hare outside study window & near house (crop).jpg
Description: A better view of the Hare's large feet and heavily built rear legs.

Date: 13 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150517_0658_189+193 Bluetit carrying insect into nest hole & then exiting 01+05 of 17 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A montage of a Bluetit perching on the vertical edge of the wall before squeezing the way into the nest.

View: DF3_20150517_0658_205+209 Bluetit carrying insect into nest hole & then exiting 12+16 of 17 (tweaked montaged).jpg
Description: Here you see the exit - a sort of leap towards the open and spread your wings when you have the room - they never perch anywhere on the exit.

View: DF3_20150517_0730_366 Bluetit removing fecal sac from nest hole over utility room.jpg
Description: Part of the household duties of Bluetit nests is being lavatory attendant to their heap of steaming chicks. Actually the 'Fecal Sacs' are fairly clean until they drop them and they burst!

Date: 12 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150516_0900_254 Hairy Dragonfly female showing underside & hair detail - 1st Odonata of 2015 (crop 2).jpg
Description: Our first Odanata of the season was this Hairy Dragonfly (the proper common name) distinguishable by the 'fur' on the body clearly visible on this detail crop.

View: DF3_20150516_0901_260 Hairy Dragonfly female - 1st Odonata of 2015 (crop).jpg
Description: The Hairy Dragonfly moved around in the hedge, and provide this more conventional view of the top of the insect. The body length is about 7cm. Dragonflies are big impressive insects but completely harmless to humans.

View: DF3_20150517_0952_007 Ichneumon (Rhyssa persuasoria).jpg
Description: This an about 5 cm long insect is an Ichneumon.
We have always called them 'Ichneumon Flies' but recent usage seems to favour 'Ichneumon Wasp'. We found this description on a web site that described them nicely and highlights the Fly / Wasp dilemma all in the first line from http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/woodland_manage/ichneum.htm:-
The Sabre Wasp is a type of insect called an Ichneumon Fly. Ichneumons have a wasp waist, and often, long, flexible antennae. The apparently fearsome-looking sting at the end of the female wasp's abdomen in the picture above, is actually an ovipositor, rather than a sting. These insects are harmless to humans. The adults feed on nectar from flowers and aphid honeydew.
The description fails to mention that the eggs are laid inside other creatures that the young parasitises and eat alive from inside.

Date: 11 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150515_1757_171+174+177 Mallard duck female & 2 males in competitive flight 1+4+7 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A female Mallard Duck and two males appeared near the 11kV power lines with much flurry and quacking. They disappeared behind the hedges, and a few minutes later 1 pair landed next to the crop without angst.

Date: 10 Jul 2015
View: E63_20150511_1823_023_FB1 Blackbird female just landed on stone.jpg
Description: A female blackbird makes an elegant landing, raising the tail a second or so after touchdown.

Date: 09 Jul 2015
View: D5C_20150510_1344_071 Mallard Duck male preening (crop).jpg
Description: This male Mallard duck was managing a thorough preen in an atypically elegant way.

View: D5C_20150510_1324_035 Mallard duck female up-ending.jpg
Description: Behind the preening male Mallard duck on the bank of the pond was 'his' female' duck busy up-ending in the water about as inelegantly as you can get!

Date: 08 Jul 2015
View: P10_20150515_1248_498 Orange-tip Butterfly male perched with wings closed showing underwing pattern (crop).jpg
Description: A favourite butterfly is the Orange-Tip, and here is one using its underwing camouflage to great effect. We had trouble find it even though we saw it land only a few metres away. This is the male with the upper wing tip bright orange, but folded out of sight. You can just make out an orange tinge near the back top of the upper wing, but the disguise is near complete.

View: DF3_20150509_1553_052 Bugle on Round pond spoil heap.jpg
Description: This attractive flower Bugle has found it own way to the slope of the predominantly clay mound that is the spoil heap from digging the Round Pond.

Date: 07 Jul 2015
View: E62_20150513_1935_137_FB5 Blackcap male (crop).jpg
Description: We have seen one or two Blackcaps fleetingly feeding around the pond, but this the first decent photo of one, a male, this year.

Date: 06 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150513_1735_050 Song Thrush singing from top of concrete post (crop).jpg
Description: 'The Voice' (a UK TV singing 'talent' show we DON'T watch) wildlife style.
Taken in the same minute these two Song Thrushes, perhaps 30m apart, seemed to be competing for the most impressive song - for us in stereo!

View: DF3_20150513_1736_070 Song Thrush singing from ash tree branch (crop).jpg
Description: The competing Song Thrush prefers this branch of an Ash tree.

Date: 05 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150512_0933_073 Starling with worm and winged insect in beak.jpg
Description: Food for the Starling chicks - in this case it looks like a worm plus a fly.

View: DF3_20150512_0934_083-086+088 Starling flying to hole under roof with food in beak 1-4+6 of 6 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: The Starling flew to the top of a nearby drain vent, and then glided and aerobraked to the hole into the loft a minute or so later. At least two families are nesting in the loft

Date: 04 Jul 2015
View: D01_20150512_0553_006_FB6 2 Blackbird males fighting on top of meadow post (crop).jpg
Description: Never too early for a fight with the neighbours?
This photo of 2 male Blackbirds squabbling over territory was taken by the automatic Owl camera just before it's 'switch off' at 6 a.m. (BST) during May (the software adjusts itself each month).

Date: 03 Jul 2015
View: DF3_20150512_1210_156 Bluetit with small green grub in beak on aerial rod about to fly to nest over utility room (crop).jpg
Description: Each year a hole above the roof of the utility/boiler ('furnace' in USA) room gets used by nesting bluetits. They are obviously now feeding the youngsters as evidenced by the small grub in the birds beak. This bird routinely uses this TV aerial about 3 metres above the nest hole as a stopping off point.

View: DF3_20150513_0724_132+133 Bluetit flying from nest hole in wall over utility room 3+4 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: For perhaps 40 minutes in the morning the sun shines into the gap between wall and gutter pipe to see the Bluetit nest hole. Here the bird was caught exiting.
The bird in flight shadow shows her head & beak shadowed on the wall by her, but her body and legs have their shadow on the wall behind the pipe.

Date: 02 Jul 2015
View: D36_20150510_0708_113_FB4 Jackdaw with beak full of nesting material (crop 2).jpg
Description: A Jackdaw stops off on the tree stump with about as much nest lining material as can be crammed in the beak.

Date: 01 Jul 2015
View: D01_20150510_0016_002_FB6 Tawny Owl short visit 1 of 2.jpg
Description: What seems to be the same Tawny Owl as last week made a single minute or two visit to the post in the meadow.

View: E60_20150510_2219_087_FB3 Tawny Owl about to land on perch (crop).jpg
Description: 22 hours after a Tawny Owl visited the post in the meadow, this Tawny Owl visited the perch outside the kitchen Window. Markings indicate that this is a different Tawny Owl to the one on the post. We don't know whether they are a pair, or even which sex each might be.

Image Archive arch 2015 jun.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Jun 2015
View: P10_20150501_0940_451 Apple Blossoms opening.jpg
Description: Mass Blossom never seems to impress in stills photos, so we have concentrated on a variety of blossoms on the same fruit tree after a rain shower.

View: P10_20150501_0940_462 Apple Blossoms (tight crop).jpg
Description: Mass Blossom never seems to impress in stills photos, so we have concentrated on a variety of blossoms on the same fruit tree after a rain shower.

View: P10_20150506_1212_472 Apple Blossoms after short rain shower.jpg
Description: Mass Blossom never seems to impress in stills photos, so we have concentrated on a variety of blossoms on the same fruit tree after a rain shower.

View: P10_20150506_1213_482 Apple Blossoms after short rain shower.jpg
Description: Mass Blossom never seems to impress in stills photos, so we have concentrated on a variety of blossoms on the same fruit tree after a rain shower.

Date: 29 Jun 2015
View: E63_20150504_1842_025_FB1 Robin attacking Dunnock on ground with wing in beak and claw over back (crop).jpg
Description: "Ouch!"`
The Dunnock (near the camera) is the object of an attack by the Robin who has the Dunnocks left (near camera) wing in its beak and a claw across it's back, so the Dunnock is being pulled over towards the Robin. No sign of the struggle next day (no feathers scattered about) so we guess the Dunnock made a safe getaway and won't get so close to the robin next time.

View: E60_20150502_0939_072_FB3 Robin and Chaffinch male in-flight confrontation (crop).jpg
Description: Intercept Course?
We think this Robin was giving the male Chaffinch a very definite 'go away' signal. We don't know what happened next.

Date: 28 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150505_1213_080 Orange-tip Butterfly male on Nettle leaf.jpg
Description: We see Orange-tip butterflies on most outings at the moment when the sun is out. It is usually the males we see because they are out 'hunting' for females and only they have the bright orange tips. But we see the odd female so the males are presumably not left disappointed.

View: DF3_20150501_1240_165 Orange-tip Butterfly male on Ladys Smock (Cuckoo Flower) flower.jpg
Description: Orange-tip butterflies are restless little souls who hardly ever stop their erratic flight. But they do need to refuel sometimes - this one on the Lady's Smock (Cuckoo Flower) (aka Cuckoo Flower). The red wing tip appear only on the males, but the intricate green tracery (you can't see here) on the other side of the wing decorates both sexes.

Date: 27 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150504_0944_009 Robin on tree stake with 3 different caterpillars held by beak (crop 2).jpg
Description: The posts supporting about 100 Lombardy Poplars along the farm road are starting to get used by the wildlife. We caught this robin stopping off for a moment presumably on his way back to the nest. Talk about 'overloaded'.

View: E62_20150504_1741_017_FB5 Robin with caterpillar in beak.jpg
Description: A Robin with a caterpillar in the beak. We are seeing Robins all round the site collecting insects & grubs.
Youngsters to feed already we think.

Date: 26 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150501_1803_245 Bluetit on side of vertical hedge stem (crop).jpg
Description: This Bluetit landed in a pool of sunlight that the cameraman couldn't resist!

Date: 25 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150501_1754_198-205 Sparrowhawk being attacked by 2 Jackdaws 1-8 of 8 (Top left to right + bottom left to right vertically accurate mirrored montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A Sparrowhawk appearing quickly drew the attention of 2 Jackdaws who made the bird feel really unwelcome. Read this as sets of 3 birds, top left across to the right, and then bottom left across to the right. By the end of the sequence the Sparrowhawk is flying straight up. Each row is constant elevation but spread out to the right.

Date: 24 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150501_1218_069+072+075+076 Red Kite circling quite low (discontinuous) 01-04 of 18 (montage).jpg
Description: This Red Kite flew by quite close to us and we captured these 4 images about a half second apart. The bland sky gives us no way to recreate the positions accurately so they are much too close.

View: DF3_20150501_1218_117-119 Red Kite circling quite low (discontinuous) 15-17 of 18 (accurate montage @5fps).jpg
Description: As the Red Kite circled it moved against some cloud edges, allowing us an accurate montage at 5 fps giving a better idea of flight speed.

Date: 23 Jun 2015
View: D01_20150502_0105_008+0031_007+0106_010_FB6 Tawny Owl visiting 3 times in an hour 4+3+6 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: After several weeks absence of any owls, this Tawny owl made at least 3 visits over about 30 minutes. We were lucky enough to get an image of the bird departing.
And it is only luck - the IR sensors don't react fast enough on re-acquisition of signal to use as a trigger. We take a photo every 45 seconds while the beam stays broken, and we just got lucky.

Date: 22 Jun 2015
View: E63_20150429_1735_086_FB1 Moorhen.jpg
Description: Stomp - stomp - stomp.
A Moorhen's big feet don't make for elegance on land! The sound of the stomp is all in our imagination.

Date: 21 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150428_1216_311 2 Kestrels in flight skirmishing for prey one has in claws 14 of 47 (crop).jpg
Description: "I want your catch!"
Arriving at our South boundary we immediately spotted 2 distant Kestrels swooping around each other at high speed. The bird behind was shrieking at the bird in front, who we only later discovered was carrying a rodent clutched in it's claws pulled tightly to the bird's body.

View: DF3_20150428_1218_371 2 Kestrels in flight skirmishing for prey one has in claws 19 of 47 (crop).jpg
Description: The chasing bird eventually gave up the chase, and the other flew our way which gave us the chance of a image showing the bird and prey more clearly, even if against the bright sky towards the sun.

Date: 20 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150428_1212_141+148-154 Kestrel on hedge top after attack is mobbed by several Jackdaws and flies away 08+13-19 of 47 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: About a minute later the bird appeared from nowhere (i.e. we were not watching the right place!) and crashed down onto the top of the hedge along the bridleway. Several Jackdaws promptly surrounded the Kestrel and the whole scene went static for a minute or two before one of the Jackdaws flew at the Kestrel which made a vertical Ascent. The bottom of this montage is of the static scene with 4 of the Jackdaws on the hedge, and then the kestrel rising and twisting to face the camera. We have not managed to include all of the Jackdaws in flight which overlapped each other and the Kestrel.

View: DF3_20150428_1212_167-175 Kestrel on hedge top after attack is mobbed by several Jackdaws and flies away 32-40 of 47 alternate frames (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The kestrel then gained speed by diving down to skim along the bridleway path, persued by a hoard of Jackdaws who soon gave up the unequal chase.

Date: 19 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150428_1210_099-118 Kestrel launching from 11kV crossbar and dropping down into hover 02-20 of 20 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: After a week of two with hardly a sighting of a Kestrel, we had one 8 minute frenzy with at least 2 Kestrels to North and South.
We first spotted this kestrel on the crossbar of the power poles leaning forward in expectation. It suddenly launched downwards and left to start hovering much near the ground. Here is a distant view of the whole swoop down and slowing to hover before the bird vanished behind trees.

View: DF3_20150428_1210_099-106 Kestrel launching from 11kV crossbar and dropping down into hover 02-09 of 20 (accurate montage crop 1).jpg
Description: A closer look at the start of the montage.

View: DF3_20150428_1210_099-118 Kestrel launching from 11kV crossbar and dropping down into hover 02-20 of 20 (accurate montage crop 2).jpg
Description: A closer look at the end of the montage.

Date: 18 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150428_0940_043-045 Starling flying to hole into loft 1-3 of 4 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The hole into the loft space used each year by Starlings is again in use. We have not worked out whether one or two families have taken the Penthouse apartment this year, and the birds seem atypically intolerant of our presence even 30 metres away. This bird did not seem to be carrying any load this time, spotted us and left without going through the hole. So we are mostly leaving them to 'do their thing' un-disturbed this year.

Date: 17 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150427_1037_009 Green-veined White Butterfly on Nettle Leaf.jpg
Description: We don't see many Green-veined White Butterflies. This one was by the edge of our concrete access track on the inevitable nettles.

Date: 16 Jun 2015
View: E64_20150423_2256_024_FB2 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) about to land from leap (crop).jpg
Description: If this leap was from the tree branch about 3 metres above the image would be movement blurred even in the 1/1000 sec flash. So this must be the end of a more moderate leap from the ground.

Date: 15 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150425_1235_517 Bluetit fluttering wings in hedge outside living room window for several minutes 1 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: We can only guess why this Blue tit spent several minutes fluttering it's wings in the hedge outside the living room window. We couldn't hear any calling (although through double glazing) or see any other bird. At one point the bird landed on the Windowsill and pecked the glass, so perhaps it was displaying to it's reflection.

View: DF3_20150425_1235_520-1238_581 Bluetit fluttering wings in hedge outside living room window for several minutes 2-5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: 4 more images from the Bluetit's excited behaviour outside our living room window.

Date: 14 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150423_1813_157 Blackthorn Blossom (crop 2).jpg
Description: The Blackthorn blossom has been exceptionally gorgeous this year. This is the overgrowth of the boundary hedge to our west.

Date: 13 Jun 2015
View: D36_20150424_1122_058_FB4 Robin on top of tree-stump with Bluetit hanging on side (crop).jpg
Description: An unusual juxtaposition of Robin and Bluetit.
The legs of the Bluetit are well spread as if it was climbing up the side of the trunk.
We have no idea what happened next!

Date: 12 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150422_0853_349 Wren carrying moss to nest by living-room window (crop).jpg
Description: The first nest in the ivy by a pair of wrens was completely smothered by a pair of Blackbirds building their own nest on top of it.
Now a pair of Wrens (maybe the same pair) have built a nest just visible from inside the house at the top corner of the living room window in the same overhanging ivy. During the build the birds sometimes paused in the hedge outside long enough for us to grab an image in the early morning sunshine. Here a wad of moss from the edge of the pond is joining many other beakfuls already delivered.

Date: 11 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150421_1518_301-305 Buzzard circling overhead 1-5 of 5 (close spaced impression montage).jpg
Description: Our old friend the gap-winged Buzzard had a brief fly-by, of which this is an impression

View: DF3_20150422_1742_442-459 Buzzard flying nearly complete circle & flying away @5fps 31-48 of 67 (first 10 accurate montage).jpg
Description: We were thrilled to get a continuous unbroken sequence of 67 images of buzzard circling in front of us & then flying away. But trying to turn this into an accurate representation turned out to be a frustrating and argumentative session when image overlaps and alignments just didn't work against areas of bland sky. So here are 2 segments of the action - the fist 10 of these are accurately montaged at 5 fps, but the remainder are mostly guesswork and memory.

View: DF3_20150422_1742_465-472 Buzzard flying nearly complete circle & flying away @5fps 54-61 of 67 (compact montage).jpg
Description: The featureless background of this twisting and turning Buzzard means we just show you the twists and turns as it turned to depart. The gaps between the images of the bird is about half what it probably was.

Date: 10 Jun 2015
View: E62_20150416_2332_040_FB5 Badger.jpg
Description: Several badger appearances this week, along with a series of badger latrines along our East inner boundary path we have to step round as we walk along. This Badger was at the open site.

View: E64_20150420_0037_112_FB2 Badger.jpg
Description: Several badger appearances this week, along with a series of badger latrines along our East inner boundary path we have to step round as we walk along. This Badger was at the woodland site, and markings suggest that it is a different individual.

Date: 09 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150418_1454_295 Speckled Wood Butterfly recently emerged from Chrysalis.jpg
Description: Our first Speckled Wood Butterfly of the year. They overwinter in Chrysalis form to emerge in Spring, unlike Peacock, Tortoiseshell & Brimstone butterflies that overwinter as adults, and can wake up very tatty and bleached.

View: DF3_20150421_1213_232 Tortoiseshell Butterfly perched on dead wood with wings at about 45 degrees.jpg
Description: An unusually tidy Tortoiseshell butterfly, for an over-wintered individual, on a piece of rotting wood. The wings are at about a right angle to one another so look foreshortened in this top view. We have been surprised by how much dead wood we get from such a young wood - several trees have died for no easily determined reason (and others from known 'plagues') though most are fine. Unless there is risk to creatures, fences, ponds or adjacent plants we tend to leave them as they become 'insect cafes' for many species. If we have to cut them we add them to wood-piles all over the site for the same purpose.

Date: 08 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150417_0717_169+170 Song Thrush singing in Conifer 4+5 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: We think we have 2 or 3 Song thrush territories, one around the house, another around our South boundary, and a third at the south edge of the woodland. This one is singing in a conifer by the garage both 'inherited' with the house.

View: DF3_20150417_0717_177 Song Thrush singing in Conifer 7 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: The same Song Thrush showing us the inside of his open beak as he sings his little heart out.

Date: 07 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150420_1347_020+026-031 Kestrel female diving behind hedge @7fps 1-7 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A female Kestrel was hunting by hovering in a moderate wind. Here we caught her diving on some prey on the other side of the hedge. We waited a few minutes but did not see her again, so don't know whether the stoop was successful. The speed up indicated by the widening gaps is accurate, but the proper gap between the top bird and the stoop is unknown.

View: DF3_20150416_1543_114 Kestrel male on top of concrete electricity pole (crop).jpg
Description: This male Kestrel has taken to sometimes hunting in a circuit with our patch in it. As usual such birds like posts as convenient hunting perches. Here on the remaining concrete electricity pole quite close to the house while we were only 15 metres away or so.

Date: 06 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150416_1054_041-043 Skylark climbing in flight 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Skylark rising - 3 frames at 7 fps shows the little guy climbing into the blue. There seem to be several pairs in the crop to our east.

View: DF3_20150421_0857_145 Skylark pair flying low over crop (single frame adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Skylarks were chasing around in pairs over the crop. This is a single frame, the only sharp one of this activity. The bird behind has his beak open so may be calling, but we didn't hear anything.

View: DF3_20150421_0902_189-194 Skylark flying against distant treetops 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage 2).jpg
Description: For once an ACCURATE montage of a Skylark where we have the distant trees to use for alignment. Here he is taken at about 7 fps and drifting in the wind.

Date: 05 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150415_1505_350-354 Heron in flight over crop 03-07 of 16 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Heron made a 300 metre flight over the farmers crop at low level - perhaps 1 to 2 metres above the crop. The majesty of the birds progress particularly impressed us. This is an accurate montage at 7fps

View: DF3_20150415_1505_367-373 Heron in flight over crop 1-7 of 7 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: With the focus locked at the first exposure it is necessary to pause and re-focus regularly when the birds distance changes. This picks up the flight as the Heron moves past.

View: DF3_20150415_1505_369 Heron in flight over crop 3 of 7 (crop 1).jpg
Description: This is a closer view of the 3rd image from the right in the previous montage. All of the originals are of similar quality. Individual frames or the montage at camera resolution are available for the asking.

Date: 04 Jun 2015
View: E62_20150413_1805_016_FB5 Courting Robins photo-bombed by Wood Pigeon (crop).jpg
Description: The pair of Robins at this site billing and cooing (or whatever Robins do) photo-bombed by the much closer Wood Pigeon. Genuine unaltered frame.

View: DF3_20150416_0727_485 Robin with Cherry Blossom.jpg
Description: A pleasing juxtaposition of Robin and Cherry Blossom.
We are sure the Robin is indifferent to the beauty, but we are not.

Date: 03 Jun 2015
View: P10_20150415_1534_400 Snakes-head fritillary on bank of Duck shaped pond (crop).jpg
Description: The rabbits have missed this Snake-head Fritillary! The camera is near the ground looking up into the flower on the bank of a pond.

View: P10_20150406_1557_366 Cherry Blossom NE of Duck shaped pond (crop 1).jpg
Description: Cherry Blossom is beautiful en-masse on the trees, and a closer look at the individual flowers does not disappoint.

Date: 02 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150415_1501_331 Bee-fly hovering 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A Bee-fly with characteristic long straight Proboscis hovering perhaps 2.5 metres up over the rough meadow grass. The brown pattern on the wings almost looks 'painted' on with brush streaks, but has not been 'fiddled' with.
Manual exposure 1/4000Sec F7 170mm (not allowing for 1.4x teleconverter) 2500 ISO

Date: 01 Jun 2015
View: DF3_20150413_1741_057-062 Little Egret flying over field of Sheep & Lambs 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage adjusted).jpg
Description: A Little Egret flew around the brook and eventually came to land in a field occupied by Ewes and their lambs. Unfortunately the bird landed a bit to the left at a place hidden by trees.
The bird is accurately montaged at about 7 fps but the 3 sheep bottom right have been moved left a little for a better effect.

Image Archive arch 2015 may.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 May 2015
View: DF3_20150411_1748_382 3 Tree Sparrows in young fruit tree.jpg
Description: This year the Tree Sparrows have spread from the Kitchen window feeder to the open areas of the site as well. Here are three of them in a young apple tree.

Date: 30 May 2015
View: DF3_20150410_1237_309 Brimstone Butterfly male feeding on Primrose flower (crop).jpg
Description: This male Brimstone Butterfly has his proboscis deep in the Primrose flower.

View: DF3_20150414_1220_175 Tortoiseshell Butterfly on overgrown shingle.jpg
Description: Butterflies seem to be doing very well here this Spring. Many are in much better condition than normal after their winter vigil - the winter was unusually benign. A few years after we planted our hedges we saw hundreds of Tortoiseshell Butterflies on the various hedge blossoms. Last year we hardly saw any, but already we have seen a decent number. This Tortoiseshell butterfly was sunning itself on a piece of weed infested shingle that has probably got nice and warm.

View: DF3_20150414_1500_185 Comma Butterfly perched on nettle leaf (crop).jpg
Description: An almost perfect Comma butterfly that has also over-wintered and is in lovely condition. We normally don't notice them until they arrive to feast on the rotting windfall apples in Autumn. This one is perched on a stinging nettle leaf, with a blackberry stem running over the leaf.

Date: 29 May 2015
View: DF3_20150409_1536_266 Tortoiseshell Butterfly (right) courting Peacock Butterfly in Cherry blossom (crop).jpg
Description: We had noticed a Tortoiseshell butterfly chasing a peacock butterfly with amorous intent. Here on a Cherry tree the Tortoiseshell continued to make amorous advances on this totally unsuitable object of affection.

Date: 28 May 2015
View: DF3_20150407_0949_281-294 2 Rooks fighting as they drop to treetop level 01 of 16 (montage left to right top to bottom).jpg
Description: We don't often see more than mild skirmishes between Corvids, but these 2 rooks had several second mid-air fight where they dropped perhaps 100 metres with claws locked together before breaking off at about tree-top height. Here are the first 16 images against a bland sky that prevents us giving accurate position frame by frame. But we remember them as being in a strong Westerly wind (camera is facing north) sweeping sideways as they fell. The frame rate is about 5 fps.

View: DF3_20150407_0949_285+289+290+293 2 Rooks fighting as they drop to treetop level 05+09+10+13 of 16 (montage).jpg
Description: 4 images of the Rooks fighting in more detail.

View: DF3_20150407_0949_296-306 2 Rooks fighting as they drop to treetop level 16-26 of 26 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: As they neared the ground the images started including background we could use to produce accurate alignment. Starting at the last image from the first 16 here are the final moments and breaking contact.

Date: 27 May 2015
View: DF3_20150319_1602_007 Owl Pellet at bottom of meadow post (crop).jpg
Description: We found this Owl Pellet at the bottom of the meadow post. You can see it speckled with the tiny claws and other fragments of the Rodents the Owl as eaten. We didn't know whether this is Barn owl or Tawny owl Pellet - it is too big for a Little Owl and was most likely one of the owls we 'see' on the post.
Owl Pellets are ejected from the mouth & are really quite clean. We stored the pellet while we found out how to identify, dissect it, and then put together some suitable kit to photograph the result.

View: DB1_20150405_0747_007 Tawny Owl Pellet containing skull + jaws of Bank Vole (crop).jpg
Description: Here is the most interesting view of the intact pellet under a moderate macro lens. The small ruler divisions are 1mm in the real world - on our PC monitor we see the image as 5 times life size. You can clearly see what turned out to be the skull and top front teeth near the top. The images of a range of Owl pellets convinced us that this came from a Tawny owl - Barn owl pellets are much smoother.
Link to: Barn owl Survey Pellet Identification
28-105mm macro lens set to 70mm, 20mm Extension tube. 1/250 Sec F 25 100 ISO, Flash ETTL Auto-exposure.

View: DB1_20150405_0927_015 Tawny Owl Pellet containing skull + jaws of Bank Vole (crop).jpg
Description: No animals were harmed by this dissection - only by the Owl weeks ago!
As recommended in the linked RSPB document we soaked the pellet in water. It took about 15 minutes to soak through. We then picked it apart and separated all the non-fur bits (fur at least 90% of the volume) to produce these pieces. The job is fiddly, difficult to remove all the fur as you can see, but is perfectly pleasant - there is no noticeable odour or nasty surprises! We at first thought the flat disc near the upper right quadrant might be a beetle wing case, but the ID diagram (see link) suggests it is an Rodent 'Ear Capsule'.
Link to: RSPB Owl Pellet guide


View: DB1_20150405_1008_003 Tawny Owl Pellet containing skull + jaws of Bank Vole (crop).jpg
Description: Identifying the mammal the bones belong to requires careful examination of the teeth. We have stood up the skull and jaw here in Blue-tack (the light blue stuff under the bones) so the teeth are visible.
According to the key in the RSPB document it is a Bank Vole identified by their interesting curved forms most clearly visible on the top right of the skull (on the right). The left and right lower jaws are to the left. We don't know which way round the jaws are here - we had no idea that rodent lower jaws came in two separate halves - it is not broken. The skull is about 8mm long.
Taken with Canon MP-E 65mm lens sets at about 3x life size. That's the size on the camera sensor, much enlarged here. This close to the subject the flash auto-exposure was rubbish, and we have here a full flash image still underexposed and lightened during processing.

Date: 26 May 2015
View: E64_20150409_0450_116_FB2 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: We get partial sightings of badgers at various sites, but here this one managed the whole animal in one frame. The Badger will be investigating the wonderful smells undoubtedly emanating from the feeding site.

Date: 25 May 2015
View: E64_20150401_1628_005_FB2 Mallard Duck pair feeding at log.jpg
Description: We are becoming very fond of this pair of Mallard ducks, even if they do fly away in terror if we get within 15 metres or so. He actively protects her and fights off other males that try to mate with her, and they immediately swim together when the crisis is over. We are sure animal behaviourists would tell us that he is only guarding his mating 'rights', and he is, but they stick together more than most pairs of ducks.

Date: 24 May 2015
View: DF3_20150408_1459_498+503+506 Drone-fly (Eristalis tenax) hovering 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This Drone-fly was hovering over one of our meadow paths. We photographed one at a fast enough shutter speed (1/8000 sec) to almost freeze the wing motion . These are NOT consecutive frames - just 3 reasonable efforts arranged for effect.
Drone flies are Honey Bee mimics (making predators wary of being stung) but Swallows can somehow tell the difference, and gobble them up!

Date: 23 May 2015
View: DF3_20150407_1232_336 Brimstone Butterfly male on Primrose flower (crop).jpg
Description: A few warm days has woken the over-wintering butterflies. This male Brimstone Butterfly (on the left) stops off for a snack on some Primrose flowers. This insect is really hard to spot on these flowers if you don't see it land.

View: DF3_20150407_1236_350 Peacock Butterfly in good condition after overwintering warming itself on the ground.jpg
Description: A few warm days has woken the over-wintering butterflies. An almost perfect over-wintered peacock Butterfly is sunning itself on last autumns fallen leaves. This insect is about 6 months old so it must have 'hibernated' very soon after emergence, and found a really protected spot.

Date: 22 May 2015
View: DF3_20150407_0940_240-246 Skylark descending 1-7 of 7 (montage for effect).jpg
Description: A Skylark on the way down intermittently singing. This wings spread and feet hanging down seems typical of the species and seems remarkably controlled and stable. This montage over a little more than one second is vertically compressed - we don't have any background reference in the bland sky to space them accurately.

Date: 21 May 2015
View: DF3_20150404_1222_076 Blackbird female collecting wet and dry nesting material (crop).jpg
Description: Wattle and Daub, Blackbird style.
This female Blackbird & her mate are making a nest in Ivy just outside the living room window. Most of the material is collect from the edge of the pond 10 metres or so away - a mix of dry vegetation and mud to cement the nest together.
This first load seems to be pure mud from the pond margin.

View: DF3_20150404_1407_105 Blackbird female collecting wet and dry nesting material (crop).jpg
Description: The female Blackbird's next load is about as much dry grass as she can cram into her beak.

View: DF3_20150404_1516_115 Blackbird female collecting wet and dry nesting material.jpg
Description: The female Blackbird seems to have collected a mix of dry grass & sodden weeds from the edge of the pond.

Date: 20 May 2015
View: DF3_20150402_1512_012 Song Thrush singing from tree branch 3 of 3 (crop 2).jpg
Description: We don't remember a year for Song Thrushes singing like this one has been. We have at least two pairs nesting somewhere and they encourage each other to sing to defend their territories.

Date: 19 May 2015
View: D36_20150405_1003_155_FB4 Robin pair courtship feeding (crop).jpg
Description: The Robins continue their Love-in.
We think this must be the male (left) courtship feeding the female.

Date: 18 May 2015
View: DF3_20150330_0818_007 2 Mallard duck males trying to mate with female already paired with another male (crop).jpg
Description: 2 opportunistic Male Mallard ducks attempted to mate with the female (near front) of our resident pair. She got submerged by the 3 males trying to 'have' or defend her. Here she has just surfaced after one round of the attacks. On large lakes half a dozen or more males may all try to pile on top of the female, and they have been known to drown. But here she can cope with a couple of interloping males by just diving deeper to disengage.

View: DF3_20150330_0819_031 Mallard Duck female rejoins mate immediately after 2 other males attempted to mate (crop).jpg
Description: After a minute or two the two males gave up (or 'satisfied themselves') and we were pleased to see the female immediately swim straight to her mate and they greeted each other with a few bobs and calls. Not all males 'tarred by the same brush' then.

View: E64_20150330_1655_073_FB2 Mallard Duck pair feeding at log.jpg
Description: At the end of the day the 'pair' of Mallard ducks doing a little togetherness feeding. Once she is on eggs he will leave her with her camouflage feathers so his bright colours don't highlight the nest. Sometimes they meet up and he guards her as she feeds and preens frantically to get back on the eggs.

Date: 17 May 2015
View: DF3_20150331_0812_012 Hare feeding and running in crop 1 of 7 (crop 1).jpg
Description: Not many Hare sightings at the moment, and not obviously linked to the adjoining farm road being busy or not - this was a normal busy Tuesday morning.
We have often thought the colour of our Hares appears strange, but a recent BBC one-off documentary 'Springwatch' (actually in the Spring for once!) showed exactly the same glowing golden brown in an extract by Simon King.

View: DF3_20150331_0812_024 Hare feeding and running in crop 2 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: A few second after the one above, this hare was running towards us. It is not as sharp as we would like, but we adore the great long rear legs stretching out in front of the forelegs as it powers towards us mostly hidden by out boundary hedge.

Date: 16 May 2015
View: D36_20150331_0659_055_FB4 Collared Dove flying in to tree-stump (crop).jpg
Description: The Silver Ghost touches down.
This Collared Dove gently floats through the morning air on her quest for breakfast.
The crop at the left is the frame edge - not an artistic choice.

Date: 15 May 2015
View: E64_20150331_0647_082_FB2 2 Robins Courting.jpg
Description: Love overtures between this pair of Robins. We see similar behaviour (between different pairs of Robins) at all of the ground level photo sites. But at this site the always seem to be so close we wonder how loud the receiving bird must perceive the song.

Date: 14 May 2015
View: E63_20150327_2128_072_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) nibbling grain.jpg
Description: A single Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) nibbling some sort of seed from the pointed end. Presumably this is the easiest end to start before crunching your way along.

View: E62_20150328_0253_072_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) carrying large slice of apple core (crop).jpg
Description: Much less elegantly, this Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) is carrying off this whopping piece of fruit which it has lifted up from the ground behind the log.

Date: 13 May 2015
View: E64_20150329_1904_036_FB2 Pheasant male with light plumage.jpg
Description: The male Pheasant with unusually light body feathers visits all of the ground levels photo traps. Here he is at the 'Woodland' site.

View: E62_20150329_1835_019_FB5 Pheasant male head detail including wattles (crop 2).jpg
Description: At the open meadow site we can clearly see the wattles of the male Pheasant - the red flaps hanging down. Although the back is unusually light coloured the head is typical

Date: 12 May 2015
View: DF3_20150330_1239_068 Buzzard Gliding by 3 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: A Buzzard flying by - a picture of serene gliding.

View: DF3_20150330_1302_239-247 Rook chasing Buzzard 1-9 of 9 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: 20 minutes later one of the Buzzards moved in the direction of the Rookery, and this Rook was making life uncomfortable for the Buzzard - a standard technique when such birds are anywhere near the nest site.

Date: 11 May 2015
View: E63_20150323_2252_076_FB1 Fox (crop).jpg
Description: A fox most definitely on the hunt for elevenses, pre-midnight that is.

Date: 10 May 2015
View: DF3_20150325_1105_084 Song Thrush on disturbed soil.jpg
Description: The Song Thrush enjoys our currently unkempt salad bed where badgers, squirrels, moles and the birds turn over the soil for invertebrates.

View: DF3_20150325_1105_086 Song Thrush hunting in rough grass.jpg
Description: The Song Thrush enjoys our currently unkempt salad bed, here exploring a grass tussock

Date: 09 May 2015
View: D01_20150323_1838_005+1839_006 Barn owl (no leg ring) 4 minute visit 1+2 of 5 (mirrored montage).jpg
Description: The only owl visit of the week - a 4 minute stop over by the Barn Owl with no leg ring. Once a week is about normal for this individual.
We suspect that this un-ringed bird is the male, with the ringed bird the female, together starting their breeding cycle where the female starts letting the male hunt for her.

Date: 08 May 2015
View: E64_20150323_0010_126_FB2 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: At the woodland site this unusually smart badger trundles about his business.

View: E64_20150325_2148_116_FB2 Badger.jpg
Description: An unusually well groomed Badger visiting the woodland site.

View: E63_20150323_0000_159_FB1 Badger including bottom of front foot (crop 2 - foot detail).jpg
Description: A detail of the bottom of the Badger front left foot - our site is covered in sharp sided pits about 10cm deep, and least one latrine. This foot is perfectly adapted to the badger's specialisation - digging.

Date: 07 May 2015
View: E60_20150321_1055_120_FB3 Jackdaw about to land on perch (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A rook making a sort of parachute landing on the perch ...

View: E60_20150319_0914_009_FB3 Jackdaw leaning forwards on peanut feeder post (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: ... and leaving with a very intense stare.

Date: 06 May 2015
View: DF3_20150322_1226_244 Dunnock on Elderberry branch (crop).jpg
Description: A Dunnock on an Elderberry branch. This plant get into hedges but grows so much faster than most other hedging plants that it springs up above the hedge line.

Date: 05 May 2015
View: DF3_20150321_1300_143 Swirling pattern of duckweed in Round pond (crop).jpg
Description: A strong wind from the North (left in this image) was apparently all that was required to create this swirling pattern in the Duckweed. The pattern is incredibly intricate considering what makes it.

Date: 04 May 2015
View: D36_20150321_0548_072_FB4 Robin pair courting (crop).jpg
Description: "I LOVE YOU!"
Having your partner shouting their message of love at you from 5cm away is better than not hearing it.

Date: 03 May 2015
View: E64_20150318_1719_085_FB2 Muntjac Deer.jpg
Description: This woodland site is set up to allow the photographing of whole large animals. Here the female Muntjac Deer has positioned herself perfectly. Not that a Muntjac Deer is even the size of a big dog!

View: E64_20150317_1703_048_FB2 Muntjac Deer.jpg
Description: A Muntjac Deer with really good face detail and view of the scent gland by the eye.
We think this may be a male with growing antlers still 'in velvet', but the characteristic tiny tusk is not showing and we are really not sure.

Date: 02 May 2015
View: E64_20150318_0706_074_FB2 Moorhen (2 seen 20Mar2015 at Duck pond).jpg
Description: One of our at least 2 moorhens making a nice portrait while picking over the ground at the log.

Date: 01 May 2015
View: DF3_20150318_1252_110-116 Buzzards in mild skirmish or display @7 fps 1-7 of 8 (montage with unknown separations).jpg
Description: What was originally 4 Buzzards high in the sky broke into 2 individual birds plus this pair which dived down and passed a few hundred metres away in a set of mild skirmishes, but then flew off together. We rather suspect a pair showing off to each other, rather than any intent to injure.

View: DF3_20150318_1253_130 Cloud bank with sun streamers & dwarfed soaring buzzard (crop 1).jpg
Description: A minute after the buzzard skirmish we noticed this dramatic cloud edge with streamers and 'boiling' edges. When we came to work up the image we found with black speck - one of the 2 buzzards who went their own way.

Image Archive arch 2015 apr.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Apr 2015
View: DF3_20150317_1737_020 Sun through clouds showing full disc with sunspots at poles (crop).jpg
Description: Through the branches of a Black Poplar the sun was dimmed by the layer of clouds so you could easily see the sunspot at '6 o'clock' with the naked eye.

View: P34_20150320_0840_895+0921+0931+0942+1020_944 Eclipse of Sun 20 Mar 2015 & cloud 1+3+6+8+10 of 10 (montage monochrome).jpg
Description: This is the progress of the eclipse over 50 minutes. The times are the 4 digit number in the label. This image is rendered in Monochrome for clarity.

View: P34_20150320_0937_916 Eclipse of Sun 20 Mar 2015 through thin cloud - unusually sharp edged shadows 07 of 10 (crop).jpg
Description: In previous Eclipses of the sun we have enjoyed the dappled light through trees making hundreds of mini-crescents on the ground. But that was in summertime and the bare trees of Winter do not oblige. But we did notice that the weak shadows of the bare branches looked unusually crisply edged on smooth surfaces such as the concrete track near our garage. You would expect this from the smaller size light source the eclipse provides.

View: P34_20150322_1005_946 Similar image of tree shadows 2 days after Eclipse of Sun 20 Mar 2015 but full sun (crop).jpg
Description: 2 days and half an hour later the morning sun obliged to allow this comparison of full sun (between the clouds). Although the shadows are darker at the centres the edges are distinctly more fuzzy.
Neither of these images has received any sharpening during image processing. The viewpoints are unintentionally not quite the same but we think this serves to illustrate the point. If you make a pinhole camera or lens-less camera obscura you get the same effect - the larger the hole (light source ) the brighter the image but the more fuzzy it will be. Very small holes produce other deleterious effects (by diffraction) but we are far from these effects here.

Date: 29 Apr 2015
View: D36_20150316_1637_025+20150317_0729_037_FB4 Robin pair courting evening and next morning (montage).jpg
Description: The Robins have to smother their normal territorial aggression if they are going to 'get together' to make a new generation. Here is an evening assignation and a morning song!

Date: 28 Apr 2015
View: D01_20150318_2310_012+2311_013+2313+016_FB6 Tawny Owl 4 minute visit to meadow post 1+2+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: As the nights shorten the number of Owl visits declines
This was a short visit by a Tawny owl to the meadow post. That last gaze downwards looks very purposeful to us!

View: D01_20150319_1838_002_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) 1 minute visit 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: The last Barn owl visit recently - this Owl is starting to visit less as the nights shorten.

Date: 27 Apr 2015
View: E64_20150313_1759_056_FB2 Muntjac Deer female.jpg
Description: The Muntjac deer must know by now that visits to this site will be accompanied by clicking noises and a flash, but she comes anyway. A click and flash 2m away is much less frightening than a human 30m away!

Date: 26 Apr 2015
View: DF2_20150313_1559_101+106-108 Dunnock taking off from trimmed hazel branch 1-4 of 4 (montage 2).jpg
Description: We rarely manage to catch Dunnocks taking off or in flight. So catching this one even deep shade was worth making a montage of taking off from a Hazel tree already with a few catkins. The leaves behind the bird belong to the ever rampant Blackberry brambles.

Date: 25 Apr 2015
View: E64_20150310_1705_073+1706_074+1710_075_FB2 Rook rolling over log for food underneath 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: We often find items at the photo sites moved about, but don't know who did it. Here over 5 minutes we see that this Rook rolled over the log to get at the food fallen underneath.
Every few weeks or months we repair these sites from a bucket of liquid mud to fill the creature excavated cavities and glue the log or stone back into place for a while. But you can only do this on warm dry days when the mud will quickly set. We are still waiting for the weather!

Date: 24 Apr 2015
View: DF2_20150310_1608_269 7-spot Ladybird in Blackthorn hedge on piece of Yellow Lichen (crop).jpg
Description: The first Ladybird out and about this year, rather than comatose in some protected cranny. This is our most common - the 7-spot ladybird - sunning itself on a piece of Lichen.

View: DF2_20150311_1334_441 Lichens with yellow and grey colours on Blackthorn in hedge (crop about 8cm wide).jpg
Description: Our Blackthorn hedges seem to have 2 types of lichen on them - a yellow variety and a light grey. Normally one or other dominates on a particular twig, but here they are 'fighting it out'. Lichen looks as if it should be soft, but is quite hard to the touch.

Date: 23 Apr 2015
View: DF2_20150310_1107_063 Yew tree catkins shedding pollen (crop).jpg
Description: We noticed that the Yew Tree was shedding pollen when bumped, and tried to capture the moment. The Pollen is white and only shows against dark, here the tree's own leaves.
Two facts seem to emerge:-
1: 'The Book' says that Yew trees are either male or female - in that case ours is male.
2: By evergreen standard they are pretty measly with their pollen - we had a lot of trouble getting even this poor effort.

Date: 22 Apr 2015
View: E63_20150308_1701_156_FB1 Moorhen at stone with shadow.jpg
Description: This moorhen visits all of the ground leve camera sites, and all of the 3 large ponds. At one time it was sometimes accompanied by another, but we haven't seen 2 together for weeks.

View: E64_20150309_1718_029_FB2 Moorhen.jpg
Description: An evening moorhen looking particularly well preened. We have not seen 2 moorhen at once for weeks, but go on hoping.

Date: 21 Apr 2015
View: E64_20150308_0155_089_FB2 Fox pulling away freshly dead Rabbit moved from Inner East path to FB2 4 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: The Sad tale the Rabbit and Fox ...
Mid-morning we found this Rabbit lying dead on the inside path of our East boundary. It was still limp and an examination showed no signs of injury or distress. It has just died within the last hour or so. We moved it to a photo site to see what would happen to it.
At about 2 a.m. this young fox arrived, probably couldn't believe it's luck, and dragged the prize away. We could find no trace of where the rabbit was dragged to. Better this outcome we think, than left rotting in a hedge somewhere.

Date: 20 Apr 2015
View: E60_20150309_1335_024_FB3 9 Tree Sparrows around peanut feeder.jpg
Description: 9 Tree sparrows here. If you count them as 8 note that there are 2 birds almost aligned where the left edge of the feeder is hidden by their heads. There may be more on the hanging feeder out of frame below.

View: D5C_20150308_1604_012 9 Tree Sparrows feeding on Grass at edge of Main pond.jpg
Description: Here is the same group feeding the grass at the edge of the main pond is 9 of them, and we think there were a few more not visible in the tufty grass.

Date: 19 Apr 2015
View: D36_20150306_1338_042_FB4 Grey Squirrel with fur and whiskers highlighted by sunbeam.jpg
Description: A shaft of afternoon sun catches the whiskers and straggly fur of this Grey Squirrel.

View: D36_20150306_1510_046_FB4 Robin with wind ruffled feathers in shaft of sunlight (crop 2).jpg
Description: An hour or so later the wind was lifting the feathers of this robin, and a beam of sunlight highlighted the straggly bits for us.

Date: 18 Apr 2015
View: D01_20150305_1833_011+1834_012+1835_013_FB6 Barn owl (leg ring) arriving with Rodent & swallowing it 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: First meal of the night just after dark brought to the convenient dining table from somewhere around the post. We remember watching this in CCTV and the meal was caught on the left several metres towards the camera in rank grass tussocks.

View: D01_20150305_2020_073_FB6 Barn Owl on post top showing both halves of beak.jpg
Description: Owl beaks normally hardly show among the feathers of the face. But in just this one frame we see the beak from top to bottom and is quite similar to most other hunting birds. Like other hunting birds, the capture of prey is done by the impressive claws.

Date: 17 Apr 2015
View: E64_20150302_0431_165_FB2 Badger front view at edge of frame.jpg
Description: The only decent photo of a Badger at high quality photo site this week, and even this was at the edge of the frame.

View: SW1_20150302_2212_025_SC1 2 Badgers (crop).jpg
Description: Two nights earlier (allowing for this before midnight and the previous image just before dawn) the delight of 2 badgers fossicking around by the edge of the Round Pond. We don't know of any familial relationship

Date: 16 Apr 2015
View: E62_20150303_1612_097_FB5 2 Rooks one with beak wide open but not a threat.jpg
Description: Wide open beak pointing at an unconcerned partner.
Courtship and bonding can be uncomfortably close to aggression in many species including our own.

View: E64_20150303_1618_086_FB2 2 Rooks displaying to one another (q) (crop).jpg
Description: Lots of activity but no threat - this must be another couple of Rooks cementing their Pair-bond across the plot a few minutes from the other pair.

Date: 15 Apr 2015
View: E64_20150303_0458_061_FB2 Fox (crop).jpg
Description: "Where's the Mouse Snack bar then?"

Date: 14 Apr 2015
View: D36_20150302_1626_020_FB4 Rook on tree stump focusing upwards (crop).jpg
Description: For over half an hour this Rook kept looking upwards from it's perch on the tree-stump. We suspect there was a Grey squirrel in the trees above who wanted to explore the stump for food, and the bird was concerned that it might get 'mugged' from above.

Date: 13 Apr 2015
View: E64_20150302_0657_172_FB2 Pheasant male with pale plumage.jpg
Description: Our pale plumage male Pheasant doing his Sunrise rounds.

Date: 12 Apr 2015
View: DF2_20150301_1405_184 Fir cone debris after Grey squirrel dismantled cone (orig).jpg
Description: We sometimes comment of the debris left by Grey Squirrels feeding, but here is an unusually complete illustration - the chewed centre of the fir cone, and a lot of the debris from the stripped segments. This is how we found (and left) it - 'untouched by human hand'.

Date: 11 Apr 2015
View: D5C_20150301_0832_174 Moorhen on main pond with reflection (crop).jpg
Description: This Moorhen (may be a male or female) was 'chugging' about on the main pond in bright morning sunshine, complete with reflected light streaking her body, and a not too bad reflection.
It's no good - we have enjoyed Moorhen on our ponds now for over 2 decades, and they still remind us of a windup clockwork toy with their heads moving backwards and forwards in time with their leg movements.

Date: 10 Apr 2015
View: D5C_20150223_1334_013 Great Spotted Woodpecker on Ash tree.jpg
Description: The Great Spotted Woodpeckers use the Ash tree on the main pond island as a staging post to and from the peanut feeder. We adore the yellow Lichen on many of our trees. Although it looks likely to be soft even when about to touch it, these Lichen are hard & almost sharp.
Lichens are interesting symbiotic organisms of algae and fungus and grow best in clean air. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen

Date: 09 Apr 2015
View: E62_20150222_0711_176_FB5 Collared Dove in frost.jpg
Description: One of our lovely Collared doves illustrating how cold some nights are at this open-air site

View: D36_20150220_1350_032_FB4 Collared Dove.jpg
Description: One of our Collared Doves looking particularly perky.

Date: 08 Apr 2015
View: E60_20150220_1510_145_FB3 5 Bluetits + Chaffinch female + Tree Sparrow + 3 Great Tits around peanut feeder.jpg
Description: We recently installed a replacement perch at the kitchen window peanut feeder and realigned the camera. We now see more small birds at once feeding together. Here a Great Tit plays King of the Castle on the hanger ring at the top.

Date: 07 Apr 2015
View: D36_20150223_0945_005_FB4 Robin angular posture while pecking over stump top.jpg
Description: A Robin in an almost 'Wren like' posture may still find some tiny piece of food caught up in the wood grain.

View: E63_20150222_0711_143_FB1 Robin about to land by or on tree sparrow standing on stone (crop).jpg
Description: The Tree sparrow doesn't seem pleased to see the Robin arriving in this pre-dawn encounter.

Date: 06 Apr 2015
View: D01_20150225_2110_064 Barn Owl with Rodent in beak & swallowing it 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl sometimes brings along it's supper (or is it Breakfast?) in the form of some unidentified rodent. In the next frame 45 seconds later (not shown) the rodent was gone and the owl seemed to us to have a smug satisfied look!

View: D01_20150225_2117_072+2208_116+2231_146 Barn owl arriving for 77 minute stay 1-3 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: The longest single stay we have yet recorded for any owl is the 77 minutes for this Barn Owl. The automatic camera took over 100 exposures in succession. It looks like it started raining while it was there.

Date: 05 Apr 2015
View: DF2_20150221_1512_148-150 Kestrel in flight 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: This female Kestrel took off from an 11KV power pole crossbar and flew a series of curves that took her close to us. We captured this sequence over about one third of a second here accurately montaged against clouds (which are out of this montage crop).

View: DF2_20150221_1514_214-222 Kestrel female plunging to ground 01-11 of 11 (accurate montage of bird @7fps).jpg
Description: 2 minutes later she suddenly stopped a static hover and plunged down onto prey hidden from us by the hedge. This is just under 2 seconds of real time controlled descent and final dive.

Date: 04 Apr 2015
View: E64_20150217_0251_025_FB2 Badger stayed 15 minutes (crop).jpg
Description: A badger is back at last!
Our last sighting was in June 2014 of an injured Badger taking refuge under a tarpaulin covered straw bale near our garage.

View: E62_20150217_0312_063_FB5 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: Fur detail indicates that it is the same individual at different sites 20 minutes apart. Note how this open site is frosted while the site above under a conifer is sheltered from the cold sky.

Date: 03 Apr 2015
View: DF2_20150219_0721_033-039 Hare running in field to South flared by rising sun 7fps 01-07 of 13 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Not yet 'March' but the Hares are already beginning their frolics. This Hare launched into a run with the rising sun flaring the image in a way that rather reflects our memory of the moment with the dazzling sun sitting on the horizon. This montage is accurately positioned over about 1 second of run.

View: DF2_20150219_0721_023-027 Hare Lolloping in field to South 1-5 of 5 (horizontally spread montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Before the run above this Hare was ambling partly towards the camera. These images are shifted successively leftwards so that the montage doesn't overlap.
We have 'tidied' the grass to hide the repeating pattern.

Date: 02 Apr 2015
View: DF2_20150218_1043_003+027+028 Kestrel female hovering 1-3 of 3 (vertically spread montage).jpg
Description: The local female Kestrel spent a couple of days intensively hunting around our patch.
Here are 3 images vertically spread of her hovering. She spent about 5 minutes in a hover near the farm entrance oblivious to the traffic, dropping down in steps over what was obviously a 'beak-watering' prey.

View: DF2_20150218_1047_097+109+111 Kestrel female hovering over road eye motionless for 2 seconds @7fps 01+13+15 of 15 (montage).jpg
Description: Here we caught her hovering for 2 seconds against a distant hedge, and we hope you can see just how still the eye is as the wings, body and tail maneuver around to keep her eyes focussed on the ground.

View: DF2_20150218_1048_121-126 Kestrel female flying from failed stoop to land in Black Poplar 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage @5fps).jpg
Description: Finally attacking her target, the female Kestrel never actually touched down. Here is her upward flight from near the ground into the nearby Black Poplar tree where she rested for a minute or two before flying off.

Date: 01 Apr 2015
View: DF2_20150217_1550_240+242+244 Bluetit feeding on Pussy Willows 1+3+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: The Willow trees provide a feast of protein in the form of pussy willow that the Bluetits really know how to 'harvest'. The birds pluck out a piece of the down, bite off the nutritious end to eat, and discard the 'fluff' as you see just to the left of the head in the rightmost image. Below the bird are the wrecked sites of earlier feedings.

Image Archive arch 2015 mar.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Mar 2015
View: DF2_20150217_1255_385-1256_432 Buzzard circling in weak thermal 3-7 of 7 (impression montage).jpg
Description: The weak sun touches the tail feathers of this Buzzard trying to make the most of a rather weak Thermal. This is an impression only - the bird travelled probably 50m between first and last images.

Date: 29 Mar 2015
View: DF2_20150217_1232_051-055 Kestrel female pursued by Jackdaw 07-011 of 11 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This visit by the female Kestrel (top) was spoiled for the Kestrel by a single Jackdaw making it's displeasure felt as much as it dared.

Date: 28 Mar 2015
View: E64_20150215_1727_190_FB2 Muntjac Deer female.jpg
Description: The female Muntjac Deer explores the site again. We love the shiny wet nose - something you dog lovers will be very familiar with.

Date: 27 Mar 2015
View: E64_20150213_1645_091_FB2 2 Jackdaws side by side at log.jpg
Description: Jackdaws mate for life - and we suspect this pair are just such practicing togetherness ready for the Spring parenting

View: E62_20150216_0851_020_FB5 Collared Dove Pair.jpg
Description: The Collared doves being their usual loving selves - their loving coos regularly arrive over the CCTV monitors, as we hear as we prepared this text.

Date: 26 Mar 2015
View: E63_20150214_1657_236_FB1 Tree Sparrow showing yellow base to beak.jpg
Description: One of our Tree Sparrows - we have at least 4 - at the hedge bottom site. We also see them at the meadow site, and at the kitchen feeder, but never in the trees at the Woodland site, and only once (6 years ago) on the tree stump.
'Tree' Sparrow indeed!

Date: 25 Mar 2015
View: D01_20150214_0540_004_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) landing & showing clear cornea (crop).jpg
Description: Our currently regular Barn Owl visitor (with ring on right leg) makes a landing side-on to camera. We love the view of the bird's clear cornea on the eye we see side-on.

View: D01_20150215_1759_003 Barn Owl (no leg ring) landing (crop).jpg
Description: 36 Hours later, a visit from a different Barn Owl with no leg ring. We fancy that the underside of the wings is less patterned than our 'regular' Barn Owl. We do hope they are a 'pair' but have no real idea where they 'live'.

Date: 24 Mar 2015
View: D01_20150208_0656_032 Barn Owl landing on post top with back to camera.jpg
Description: A landing of the Barn Owl from the rear gives us a good view of the beautiful wing feathers.

View: D01_20150209_0535_038 Barn Owl starting to fold wings after landing (crop).jpg
Description: This image of the Barn Owl looks like the bird had just landed and triggered the camera as it folded the wings over the centre of the pole where the sense beam passes.

Date: 23 Mar 2015
View: DF2_20150211_1112_143-1115_178 Grey Squirrel scraping over vegetable bed for onion stem and potato 3+1+5+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Our vegetable garden is this year fallow for the winter awaiting warmer and dryer days. To this Grey Squirrel the loose soil is a wonderland to dig over for hidden treasures.
Top left the Squirrel found a stem of onion it gleefully devoured.
Bit too hot - lets have a drink.
Another dig found this small potato - much too good to risk eating where others could try to steal it, so off to some secluded spot to eat it.

Date: 22 Mar 2015
View: E64_20150205_1722_046_FB2 Muntjac Deer female 10 minute visit 2 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: The female Muntjac Deer seems mostly to visit this Woodland site.

View: E64_20150207_1830_168_FB2 Muntjac Deer female (crop).jpg
Description: The slit by the Muntjac Deer's eye is her scent marking gland.

View: E64_20150209_1736_045_FB2 Muntjac Deer female with view of bottom of hoof (front hoof crop).jpg
Description: From a less attractive frame, this is the Muntjac Deer facing left showing us the underside of her front left hoof with her Right front hoof firmly in the ground tip down making a characteristic 'slot' we find marking her progress in soft paths all around the plot.

Date: 21 Mar 2015
View: E64_20150207_2334_169_FB2 Fox 15 minute visit across midnight 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: This Fox visited all 3 ground level photo sites in about half an hour across midnight. In this frame there is a hint of an injury on the forehead.

View: E64_20150208_0009_170_FB2 Fox 15 minute visit across midnight 2 of 2 (detail of head injury).jpg
Description: This Fox visited all 3 ground level photo sites in about half an hour across midnight. In this frame there is a clear view of a puncture wound on the top of the head. Another frame (not included) shows a slightly torn base to the ear to our left which suggests to us that the Fox ran into a strand of barbed wire that tore out some fur. Ouch!

Date: 20 Mar 2015
View: E60_20150206_2052_141_FB3 Tawny owl on Kitchen feeder perch (crop).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl sometimes visits the perch for the peanut feeder outside the kitchen window. This one missed the sense beam by landing on the other side, but we spotted it on CCTV and crawled through the black kitchen to aim and fire off a couple of frames by accurate enough 'estimation'.

View: E60_20150208_2201_233_FB3 Tawny owl landing on Kitchen feeder perch (crop).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl landed on the Kitchen window perch on the 'proper side' to fire the camera. We think the left wing (near the feeder) has been partially folded to avoid impact with the feeder.

Date: 19 Mar 2015
View: DF2_20150208_1525_284 Robin in Yew tree.jpg
Description: The moment there is any sound at the conservatory door a Robin appears nearby hoping for an easy meal. It often perches in this 20 year old Yew tree waiting for his gift.

Date: 18 Mar 2015
View: D01_20150205_2326_009-20150206_0028_013 Tawny Owl 2 short visits to post across midnight 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl visited the Meadow post twice just on either side of midnight. It looks like a bit of a mist was descending.

Date: 17 Mar 2015
View: D36_20150202_1257_027_FB4 Great Tit landing with wings folded but rear claws still raised.jpg
Description: This Great Tit is just landing. The front claws have just touched the surface, but the back claws have not. The wings are already folded.

View: D36_20150211_1459_092_FB4 Blackbird female about to land with wings already folded.jpg
Description: A female Blackbird with wings already folded before completing touchdown. This bird has the 'yellowish' beak we associate with the UK residents rather than winter migrants.

View: D36_20150208_1451_140_FB4 Blackbird female on Tree-stump top.jpg
Description: This female Blackbird posing nicely. We think she is the female of the Winter Migrants, where the males have Black beaks.

Date: 16 Mar 2015
View: DF2_20150204_1043_080 Mallard duck female walking on iced Round Pond.jpg
Description: 2 pairs of mallard ducks are also frequenting the site. Here is a female stepping carefully across the ice of the Round Pond. 'Her' male was just setting off as well, out of frame to the right.
So far no bird has ever become stuck in or on our ice, but it is something we have seen several times at public parks, probably because they have no safe place to roost off of the water.

Date: 15 Mar 2015
View: D01_20150202_1732_008+1733_009+010 Barn Owl leaves post and returns with Rodent hanging from beak 1-3 of 4 (montage 2).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl occasionally brings catches to the top of the meadow post to eat. These 3 images are about 45 seconds apart left to right. We can't help think the bird on the right has a satisfied expression, and a bulge below the facial disk where the unfortunate rodent is awaiting digestion.

Date: 14 Mar 2015
View: P34_20150202_0834_758 Bright Sundog East of sun in shape of flying pigeon (orig).jpg
Description: The coloured patch at the left is a sundog - an optical effect caused by high ice clouds. If the clouds are the same both side you get them equally spaced on either side of the sun (at the right edge here) but there was only clear sky to the right.

View: P34_20150202_0834_760 Bright Sundog East of sun in shape of flying pigeon (crop).jpg
Description: This is a closer view of the sundog.
We think it is rather like a pigeon in flight (beak pointing left) with a feather scattered above.

Date: 13 Mar 2015
View: E62_20150201_1626_301_FB5 Wood Pigeon bearing down on Tree Sparrow standing on log.jpg
Description: We have no idea 'What Happened next' as this Wood Pigeon approaches the Tree Sparrow, but we can all have some fun inventing some captions.

View: E63_20150203_1640_209_FB1 Robin & Tree Sparrow close together (crop).jpg
Description: Goodness me, a tree sparrow and Robin so close they could easily touch. Are they discussing who dropped the feather in front of them?

Date: 12 Mar 2015
View: E60_20150201_1035_134_FB3 Buzzard landing on peanut feeder perch (crop 1).jpg
Description: We spotted this Buzzard standing upright on the perch on CCTV, but we couldn't get near the camera without frightening away the bird. We also saw it on the meadow post but failed to get an image. We finally saw the bird leaving our patch pursued by a couple of Corvids as is traditional around here.

Date: 11 Mar 2015
View: D5C_20150130_1121_048 Great Spotted Woodpecker male on Ash tree of main pond island.jpg
Description: A mostly pristine male Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Ash tree on the main pond island. The Yellow-Brown growths are harmless Lichens. The brown marks on the bark are damage we didn't previously know about - probably either the Woodpeckers or Grey Squirrels

Date: 10 Mar 2015
View: D01_20150131_1309_016-020_FB6 Kestrel taking off from Oak tree branch 1-5 of 5 (spread montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: This Kestrel was a restless soul, and with no disturbance we could detect moved from tree to tree every minute of two on its hunt. Its favourite branches were 2 oak trees about 30m apart - here it is leaving the more distant branch. The foreshortened viewpoint of a path vaguely towards the camera has forced us to take a lot of artistic license to spread them out.

View: DF2_20150131_1241_187-191 Little Egret flying against Hanslope Church spire 1-5 of 5 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: After the initial excitement of a small flock of Little Egrets a few weeks ago, sighting are rare. This one was flying fast 'with the wind' here photographed at 7 frames per second - so a bit over half a second of flight here.
The church spire is that of Hanslope Church.
The wires are courtesy of the National Grid, put up about a decade ago and have spoiled the Northern view ever since.

Date: 09 Mar 2015
View: D01_20150126_1713_006_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) visiting meadow post 26-30 Jan 2015 01 of 11 (crop).jpg
Description: Our beautiful silver ghost Barn Owl arrives only just after dark, as it did for several days running.

View: D01_20150126_2324_023_FB6 Tawny Owl 4 minute visit to meadow post 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl made it's only visit of the week in a very similar manner to the Barn Owl a few hours earlier, with the landing directions both governed by a strong Northerly wind they must land towards. The bird eyes are partly closed possibly to keep out the wind.

Date: 08 Mar 2015
View: E63_20150124_1824_134-2150_139_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) & Fox sequential visits over 3 hours 1-6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: 6 successive frames suggested this montage top left to right, bottom left to right as both creatures returned repeatedly. Could the fox smell the alluring mouse from an hour or two earlier?

View: E63_20150124_1824_137_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) & Fox sequential visits over 3 hours 4 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: Details from the bottom left image of this very healthy looking Fox.

Date: 07 Mar 2015
View: D01_20150124_1811_048+1738_009+1805_045_FB6 Barn Owl on meadow post (montage).jpg
Description: The Barn Owl visited every evening for a whole week, rather than once or twice. Here are three of the more attractive moments for you to enjoy.

View: D01_20150127_1801_109_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) visiting meadow post 26-30 Jan 2015 05 of 11 (crop).jpg
Description: S T R E T C H . . .

View: D01_20150129_2050_026+2055_032_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) raising different legs while standing (1+2 of 2) (montage).jpg
Description: Many birds stand on one leg when resting. Our Barn owl with right leg ring seems to use each leg about equally.

Date: 06 Mar 2015
View: A77_20150124_1337_052 Kestrel female on Black Poplar branch over meadow 5 of 7 (crop).jpg
Description: The female Kestrel has been spending a lot of time hunting from a Black Poplar tree overhanging the meadow.

View: A77_20150124_1432_173 Kestrel female taking off from Black Poplar over meadow 3 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: Sort of stepping in thin air!

View: A77_20150125_1512_003+006+007 Kestrel female taking off from Black Poplar over meadow 1+3+4 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Every few minutes the female Kestrel moved to a new hunting site. Here we caught her dropping down to pick up speed. The flight montage is at about 4 fps.

Date: 05 Mar 2015
View: DF2_20150118_1019_009 Brown horned sheep & white sheep with black chest through hedge in field west of track (crop).jpg
Description: The field to our west is pasture used for grazing Bullocks and sheep. This year the sheep are much more interesting than the usual all-white variety we see. Photographed through a crack in the recently thinned hedge we got this view of a white sheep with black breast, and a horned 'brown' sheep..

Date: 04 Mar 2015
View: E64_20150119_0855_015_FB2 Robin shortly after sunrise.jpg
Description: In the winter the sun streaks through the depleted leaf canopy to illuminate things that are dark all summer!

Date: 03 Mar 2015
View: E60_20150119_1914_035_FB3 Tawny Owl landing (crop 1).jpg
Description: Our only Owl sighting of any sort for a week was this Tawny Owl landing outside the kitchen window on the peanut feeder perch.

View: E60_20150119_1914_035_FB3 Tawny Owl landing (crop 3 claw detail).jpg
Description: A detail of the feet starting to wrap the talons around the perch.

Date: 02 Mar 2015
View: D36_20150119_1611_027_FB4 Grey Squirrel eating Biscuit with blackcurrant jam.jpg
Description: As the sun sets behind, this Grey Squirrel was busy sampling the daily offerings.
Stale biscuit with jam on indeed - we spoil them rotten!

Date: 01 Mar 2015
View: D36_20150121_0727_081_FB4 Blackbird male Aerobraking to land on tree-stump.jpg
Description: No - we haven't picked up the male Blackbird and tilted it's image a bit! This really was the landing - or an attempted landing.

Image Archive arch 2015 feb.htm (view it Here)

Date: 28 Feb 2015
View: E63_20150117_1531_110_FB1 Wood Pigeon reacting to rook mostly out of frame at left.jpg
Description: A rook is just sticking it's beak into the left edge of the frame. Pigeons mostly defend themselves by hitting the opposition with their powerful wings. Here we think the Pigeon is just preparing 'in-case'.

View: E63_20150119_1529_037_FB1 Woodpigeon and Jackdaw feeding on corn on stone with beaks about 6cm apart.jpg
Description: Actually Pigeon and Corvids (like the Rook above and jackdaw here) usually get along fine. Here they are quietly feeding together easily in range of attack by the other, but preferring an Avian Gossip?

Date: 27 Feb 2015
View: DF2_20150119_1118_164 Starling male stretching upwards in Black Poplar.jpg
Description: A Starling high in a Black Poplar tree already in it glorious breeding colours. The base of the beak turning blue indicates a male. The feathers around the neck are sticking out as spikes and catching a glint of a welcome bit of sunshine.

View: DF2_20150118_1013_003 Redwing with open beak in Black Poplar (crop).jpg
Description: A Redwing awkward to see high up in a Black Poplar. Not many sightings this year, and not obviously part of a flock of Fieldfares as we have normally seen them in the past.

Date: 26 Feb 2015
View: DF2_20150119_1102_076+078+082+090 Buzzard flying between branches near brook 01+02+06+11 of 11 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Buzzard was using the trees at the brook as hunting perches. Here we caught the bird moving to a new perch on the left

Date: 25 Feb 2015
View: D5C_20150117_1127_003 Moorhen exploring dead vegetation at back of main pond.jpg
Description: The pair of Moorhens mostly frequenting the distant 'Round' pond are prospecting nest sites. This bird spent quite a while climbing about in the fallen Iris leaves.

Date: 24 Feb 2015
View: E64_20150112_1831_034_FB2 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) mid leap with body twisted above another on ground (crop).jpg
Description: "Double back somersault with half twist and single tail rotation?"
This has to be the top of a leap from the ground - there is no vertical movement blur even at cameras full resolution.

Date: 23 Feb 2015
View: E63_20150114_1522_152_FB1 Bluetit and Robin landing at either end of stone simultaneously.jpg
Description: We think this Bluetit and Robin are both landing from different directions. (There is usually very little wind in this sheltered hedge bottom so the routine 'landing into the wind' rule doesn't apply).

View: E63_20150114_1548_168_FB1 Jackdaw picking corn grain out of fruit pulp.jpg
Description: A single Corn grain is preferred to a mouthful of perfectly good fruit pulp. No wonder humans put so much effort into corn production!

Date: 22 Feb 2015
View: D01_20150116_0049_024-0101_040_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) 19 minute visit 1+4+6+8 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl made this majestic arrival and spent about 20 minutes exploring the land around the post with eyes and hearing. The wind was near gale force (it brought down several branches) and was making a mess of the elegant Owl as you see lower right.

View: D01_20150116_0116_044_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) 4 minute visit 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: The Barn owl left for a few minutes and then returned to provide this unusual view. Every time we see the how flat the facial disc is we are 'surprised'.

Date: 21 Feb 2015
View: E63_20150109_1429_093_FB1 Pheasant male with atypically light plumage.jpg
Description: All but the tail tip of our very light coloured pheasant, one of 5 males we know of having various hues.

Date: 20 Feb 2015
View: E60_20150111_0939_076_FB3 Tree Sparrow and Bluetit.jpg
Description: The Tree Sparrows are appearing intermittently, here flying in to the peanut feeder next to a Bluetit that probably took off in fright.

Date: 19 Feb 2015
View: DF2_20150113_1013_041 Snowdrops 2015 Seq (crop).jpg
Description: This is our most advanced clump of Snowdrops situated on the bank on the east end of the main pond, almost never in sunshine.

Date: 18 Feb 2015
View: DF2_20150108_1531_100 Cloud hiding sun showing bright edges & upward fan of rays.jpg
Description: Every cloud does NOT have a silver lining metaphorically or otherwise, but some do. A gloomy sunset was unexpectedly lightened by the bright cloud edge and delightful ray effect above the cloud

Date: 17 Feb 2015
View: E63_20150104_1601_258_FB1 Muntjac Deer female head on (crop 1).jpg
Description: The Muntjac Deer female looks like she is targeting the remains of the apple on the grass, tongue out in anticipation of a bit of juicy chomp.

Date: 16 Feb 2015
View: E62_20150103_1408_114_FB5 Rook.jpg
Description: "Rook are black except for their beaks"
In that case black can come in a lovely variety of blacks!

View: E64_20150103_1415_180_FB2 Rook scattering water droplets on landing.jpg
Description: Oh dear - we think Rooks look delightful.
That's what living with them for 25 years does to the brain!

Date: 15 Feb 2015
View: D01_20150103_0730_065_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) landing in rain staying for less than 1 minute visit (crop).jpg
Description: In the morning twilight this Barn Owl landed on the post top but left in less than 45 seconds (the repeat rate of the automatic camera).

View: D01_20150105_0334_008_FB6 Tawny Owl visit for 7 minutes 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl stayed for 7 minutes, almost entirely with back to camera, so we present just the landing, a bit hazy through the steamed up window. We have not worked out what the thin line crossing the primary feathers on the right might be.

Date: 14 Feb 2015
View: D01_20150101_1657_002-1721_033_FB6 Barn owl (right leg ring) 24 minute visit early evening 01-07_10 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: We watched this 24 minute stay by a Barn Owl shortly after dark as a misty image on the CCTV repeater. The bird was very active, atypically moving around a lot on the top of the post. Normally they stay where they land and use that wonderful neck to look in any direction they want.

View: D01_20150102_0317_035+0320_039+0323_043_FB6 Barn owl (right leg ring) 10 minute visit early hours 1+2+4 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: In the early hours of the following morning the same Barn Owl returned for 10 minutes in a strong wind. In the rightmost image you can see how the soft feathers (that allow near silent flight) have been spread and flattened into a disc of grey on the head.

Date: 13 Feb 2015
View: E64_20141229_0859_035_FB2 2 Collared Doves one with deformed beak & the other with noticeable brown sheen.jpg
Description: Two Collared Doves - probably a pair.
The bird on the left has an abnormal down-curving upper beak - we think the bottom beak tip was broken off and this is how the beak reacts.
The bird on the right is a colour we have never noticed before - a beautiful soft brown described as Grey-buff in some books. Genuine colour seen less well in some other frames.
To us Collared Doves have been about ever since we started identifying birds seriously in the 1970s, but apparently these delicate birds were first observed in the UK in 1955, having 'originated' from India.
Like another 'import' - Little Owls - we think they are lovely!

Date: 12 Feb 2015
View: E63_20141230_1658_106_FB1 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) one holding corn grain in paws (adjusted crop 2).jpg
Description: Two Fieldmice (Wood Mice) shortly after dark - what a pair of Sweeties!

Date: 11 Feb 2015
View: E62_20141229_1734_026_FB5 Rabbit youngster in heavy frost.jpg
Description: A Chilly young bunny - we hope it found enough food to make the trip worthwhile.

Date: 10 Feb 2015
View: E60_20141230_1012_038_FB3 Chaffinch male and Great Tit mid-air squabble (crop).jpg
Description: Male Chaffinch attacking a Great Tit that looks all too ready to defend it's right to be by the huge peanut feeder just off the right frame edge.
Who 'blinked' first?

Date: 09 Feb 2015
View: DF2_20141227_0943_018 Robin watching us from hedge top.jpg
Description: A Robin watching us watching him from the top of an old hedge.

View: DF2_20141229_1503_047 Robin standing on Frost crusted reeds.jpg
Description: No that's not snow below the Robin - just the accumulation of several days of frost. The 'Reeds' are actually mostly old Yellow Flag Iris fronds.

Date: 08 Feb 2015
View: D01_20141229_1644_003+1648_006+007_FB6 Barn Owl 2 off 2 min visits 4 mins apart second landing with Shrew (q) in beak 1+3+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: This barn Owl made 2 short visits 4 minutes apart, the second visit bringing along what we think is a Shrew. In order here the first landing, 4 minutes later the second landing with prey in beak, and 45 seconds later the prey has apparently been swallowed in one beakful followed by this moment or two's smug contemplation!

View: D01_20141229_1648_006_FB6 Barn Owl 2 off 2 min visits 4 mins apart second landing with Shrew (q) in beak 3 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: A closer look at the landing with the prey. We think we can see the pointed snout, and it is a bit small for a mouse or Vole.

Date: 07 Feb 2015
View: D01_20141228_1646_015 Barn Owl visit for 2 mins 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: Arriving along the sense beam, this barn Owl triggered the photo in advance of arriving at the post.

Date: 06 Feb 2015
View: D01_20141227_0217_009+0220_012+0222_015_FB6 Tawny Owl 5 minute visit in rain (10mm overnight) 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl paid a 5 minute visit around 2:20 a.m. We know from waking from the noise of rain on the roof that it rained heavily in the early hours (10mm - about half inch - in the gauge overnight) and the owl at the right is clearly covered in water drops. The landing at the left shows the owl with the nictitating membranes partly closed over the eyes - quite common for landing birds. We have heard it said that Owls can not hunt in the rain - perhaps this limitation is species specific.

Date: 05 Feb 2015
View: E63_20141224_0850_151_FB1 Pheasant male with atypically light plumage.jpg
Description: Our first sighting of a pheasant for months is this partial image of an atypically light coloured male. The 2 Brown tones normally providing a background seem to be white on this bird, but other colours are normal, so its not an Albino. Rather too lightly coloured for the fox not to notice him we fear.

Date: 04 Feb 2015
View: E60_20141222_0952_005+1337_035_FB3 Bluetit(s) in flight (montage of separate flights).jpg
Description: Morning and afternoon moments of a Bluetit in flight, montaged to make a little composition of unusually sharp images in flight.

View: E60_20141218_1138_021_FB3 Great Tit in flight showing claws & shadow of claws on wing.jpg
Description: Enjoy the claws and their shadow on the wings of this Great Tit in flight.

Date: 03 Feb 2015
View: DC1_20141225_1207_022 Great Spotted Woodpecker leaning back on Ash Tree on main pond island (crop).jpg
Description: An interesting position for this male Great Spotted Woodpecker on the vertical trunk of the Ash tree on the main pond island. The bird wasn't pleased to spot the photographer (who was perishing cold at an open upstairs window) and he soon flew away.

View: DC1_20141225_1219_089 Bluetit in Viburnum bush (crop).jpg
Description: Looking through a 'V' in the same intervening Ash tree we see a Bluetit picking over the buds of this winter flowering Viburnum'Burkwoodii'.

Date: 02 Feb 2015
View: E64_20141222_0029_219_FB2 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) one in mid-leap.jpg
Description: Where do they get the energy. Are yes - an endless supply of corn converted into testosterone!

View: E63_20141222_1723_074_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) at top of leap (crop 1).jpg
Description: At another site this Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) caught in mid-leap - this is a wide view including the shadow of the mouse on the ground at the right.

View: E63_20141222_1723_074_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) at top of leap (crop 2).jpg
Description: A close view of the little fellow. Isn't he/she lovely?

Date: 01 Feb 2015
View: D01_20141220_0011_011+0013_014_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) 2 visits over 20mins 4+6 of 6 (montage 2nd visit).jpg
Description: Over one night we had 3 visits by the same Barn Owl. This pairing is from the second visit.
The third visit in indexed separately after a Tawny owl on the same night.

Image Archive arch 2015 jan.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Jan 2015
View: D01_20141219_0646_001_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) single landing + 5 minutes later landing & 20 mins stay 01 of 21 (crop).jpg
Description: This lovely Barn Owl made this landing but stayed for only a few seconds. The bird returned 5 minutes later, and stayed on the post top for about 20 minutes, un-bothered by the camera flash.

Date: 30 Jan 2015
View: E60_20141215_0901_001_FB3 Jackdaw about to land on perch.jpg
Description: A Jackdaw about to land on the peanut feeder perch.

Date: 29 Jan 2015
View: E63_20141214_2258_249_FB1 Rabbit youngster on hind legs.jpg
Description: A young Rabbit in the hours before midnight.

Date: 28 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141213_1508_091-095 Kestrel flying by @ 5fps 10-14 of 14 (contracted montage).jpg
Description: This Kestrel came flying towards us from the East making not very attractive images, but turned South to be bathed in light from the lowering sun for this little unbroken sequence presented much closer together than reality.

Date: 27 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141213_1057_085 Buzzard arriving on perch scaring away a Pigeon.jpg
Description: A Buzzard landed on a branch adjacent to a pigeon which took fright as well it might from a much bigger bird with all those 'sharp bits'.

View: DF2_20141213_1058_093-097 Buzzard in flight against trees pursued by Jackdaw (frames 1+4+5) 1-5 of 8 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The Buzzard then got disturbed from it's rest by a territorial Jackdaw. The jackdaw started about 2 buzzard lengths behind the buzzard in this accurate montage. We left the Jackdaw out for the next 2 frames as they overlaid the image of the buzzard in the preceding frames, but the Jackdaw was climbing fast and re-appears above the Buzzard for the last 2 frames.

Date: 26 Jan 2015
View: E63_20141208_2156_061_FB1 Fox picking up piece of apple (crop).jpg
Description: This Fox is in such pristine condition that it is most likely to be his or her first year. Now the Fieldfares, Squirrels, Foxes and Muntjac deer have stripped the orchard of windfall apples, those we leave at the camera sites are suddenly worth putting up with the funny noise and flash from the camera for the meal.

Date: 25 Jan 2015
View: E63_20141207_1536_235_FB1 Muntjac Deer female with rotten apple in mouth (crop).jpg
Description: A female Muntjac Deer picking up a lump of rotten apple. This female is much thinner than the last one we saw, so is either a different non-pregnant animal or she has left her fawn somewhere.

Date: 24 Jan 2015
View: E63_20141206_2012_200_FB1 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) canoodling (crop).jpg
Description: The Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) on the stone is obviously cooperating with the claws of the mouse standing on the ground, so we read this as a little affectionate Canoodling.

Date: 23 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141207_1059_352 Red Kite flying nearly overhead 2 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: The Red Kite's languid flight eventually took it almost overhead of us. There is no doubt the bird was keeping it's eyes on the strange creatures (us) below.

View: DF2_20141207_1059_396+399+401+403 Red Kite flying nearly overhead 04+07+09+11 of 12 (montage).jpg
Description: Did the Red Kite want another look at us before it departed? We doubt it, but it gave us a final look at this glorious bird (arranged for effect rather than accuracy) before it drifted South towards Milton Keynes.

Date: 22 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141207_1058_135-143 Red Kite in flight along 11kv power lines 01+03+05+07+09 of 12 (acc montage alt frames @ 7fps).jpg
Description: This Red Kite made a languid passage over the surrounding fields. There is about 1.5 seconds of flight here.

View: DF2_20141207_1058_253-261 Red Kite flying showing back and turning towards camera 01+03+05+07+09 of 12 (acc montage).jpg
Description: The Red Kite makes a slightly awkward rise and twist in flight as it avoids the 11kV power lines. This accurately positioned sequence is over about 1.5 seconds

Date: 21 Jan 2015
View: D01_20141205_0623_004_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) landing and 2 minute visit 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl was photographed by an automated camera just as it was about to land on the post top an hour before dawn. The bird stayed for a couple of minutes (2 more images) before gliding away.
The missing wings tips are not 'artistic' cropping - this is the top of the camera frame.

Date: 20 Jan 2015
View: D01_20141203_1918_029-20141204_0153_054_FB6 Barn Owl (Right leg ring) 3 short visits + (No ring) 10min visit (montage).jpg
Description: Two barn owls made 4 visits in a single night - more than our WEEKLY average. The first 3 visits span midnight, all made by the Owl with a right leg ring. In the early hours another barn Owl with no rings makes a 10 minute stay.

Date: 19 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141203_1106_150 Kestrel juvenile male (q) in flight over meadow 1 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: We first saw this Kestrel high over one of our Black Poplar trees as we walked up the path over the meadow. Judging by the disapproving stare, we had just disturbed his hunt.

View: DF2_20141202_1038_012-016 Kestrel taking off from Black Poplar branch 01-05 of 10 (horizontally spread montage).jpg
Description: This Kestrel likes to hunt from the long and thin branch that bends down substantially under the bird's weight. The branch the bird is standing on is the same one as the one springing back up. As he took off he flew away, so we have spread the images to the right. Enjoy the leg positions as he folds them away.

Date: 18 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141130_1224_031+037+064 Kestrel juvenile male (q) hovering (selected) 1+4+7 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: A look at the tail suggests that this is a Juvenile male Kestrel starting to moult into adult colours. He was hovering (into the wind as always - hence the bird's name 'Windhover') to our North West with the sun to the South (it was about mid-day). From about 100 frames we selected the best few and from them constructed this little impression.

View: DF2_20141130_1226_169-175 Jackdaw chasing away Kestrel @7fps 1-7 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A solitary Jackdaw arrived and started bothering the kestrel who started to fly off to the South. The Jackdaw followed, making Lunges at the Kestrel. About a third of a mile away they were still at it when we caught this sequence of them both diving to ground but levelling out before a collision with the trees.

Date: 17 Jan 2015
View: D01_20141125_2239_001+2240_003+2242_006_FB6 Barn Owl few minutes visit (montage).jpg
Description: We were lucky to get these images of a Barn Owl through the descending mist that we have mostly 'Photoshopped' out.

Date: 16 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141125_1133_049+1133_009 Green Woodpecker on grass in front of main pond (montage).jpg
Description: This is the first good sighting of an adult Green Woodpecker this year. This is a male probing the soft ground at the edge of the main pond, not that all the grassy paths aren't soft after all the rain.

Date: 15 Jan 2015
View: E64_20141122_0045_073_FB2 Cat Domestic Tabby.jpg
Description: Ah - not our favourite visitor & a about a year since we have seen a Tabby Cat. Look at the completely open Irises it uses in the dark. This was taken shortly after midnight.

View: E63_20141122_1646_195_FB1 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) nibbling food together.jpg
Description: Two little sweetie fieldmice (wood mice) enjoying tea together in the twilight. We have no evidence that they encountered the Tabby cat seen at another site 6 hours later

Date: 14 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141124_1411_020+026-028 Kestrel flying with rodent in talons glancing at camera @ 5fps 3+5-7 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: While standing on a mound giving a view to the South and East this Kestrel appeared from 'nowhere' and flew past, giving the cameraman a bit of a 'glare'. The right hand three images are correctly positioned at 5fps.

View: DF2_20141124_1411_020 Kestrel flying by with rodent in talons glancing at camera (selected) 3 of 8 (crop).jpg
Description: A much closer look at the first image shows us what we didn't realise until we started making the montage - the kestrel is carrying it's lunch! In the talons is what we think is a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse), head hanging down beneath the bird and rear legs and mouse tail under the bird tail. We are unsure about the sex of this bird, and think it might be a juvenile. Except in the breeding season Prey is normally eaten 'on-the-spot' so our appearance probably persuaded the bird to move on with prey in talons.

Date: 13 Jan 2015
View: D36_20141121_1514_049+1519_050+1539_054_FB4 Grey Squirrel consuming food over 25 minutes 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A typical Grey Squirrel feeding session - 25 minutes stuffing itself and then a take-away from the fruit bowl.

Date: 12 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141118_1031_043 Fieldfare in Black Poplar tree.jpg
Description: We moved here in November 1990, and our first 'new' bird we saw was a Fieldfare, attracted to the existing apple and plum trees. They have been reliable visitors every year, sometimes easier to photograph than others. This one was high in a Black Poplar tree in an atypical hour or 2 of sunshine. The size of the flocks has sadly diminished along with many other birds.

Date: 11 Jan 2015
View: E64_20141116_1900_049_FB2 Muntjac Deer female (crop).jpg
Description: A Muntjac Deer visit, this time a female (no mini-tusk or mini-antlers) at the woodland site. A partial image at another camera suggests that she may be in the late stages of pregnancy.

Date: 10 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141119_0743_068 Sunrise with hazy clouds (crop).jpg
Description: The saying goes 'Red sky in Morning, Shepherd's warning'
And lo - it rained later!

View: DF2_20141119_0744_077 Major Sunspots on Dawn sun (crop).jpg
Description: A zoom on the sun showed the large pair of sunspots near the centre of the disc currently circulating. The sun turns in about 24 days relative to earth & this is the second appearance.
Do not use binoculars, telescopes or similar to look at the sun, or stare at it, or it might be the last thing you see :-(

Date: 09 Jan 2015
View: D01_20141122_1829_003+1831_005_FB6 Barn Owl (right leg ring) landing & 6 minute visit (mirrored montage).jpg
Description: Following some changes that allow the kit to photograph the birds as they land, the Barn owl graced us with a landing on the post, and stayed for 6 minutes before exiting at speed to the left out of site of other cameras.
We have mirrored the montage - it felt more natural to us Western Left-to-right scribblers

View: D01_20141119_2017_003+2018_004+2019_006 Barn Owl (right leg ring) visits twice over 9 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: The Barn owl with the right leg ring made 2 visits just a few minutes apart.

Date: 08 Jan 2015
View: E63_20141113_1232_010_FB1 Grey Squirrel holding slice of apple to lick off peanut butter.jpg
Description: How like a child licking a sticky Lollypop (if the dietary pediatricians permit such treats nowadays). Although the rudimentary thumb is not sufficient to grasp a large item in one paw, it is clearly being used to maneuver the apple slice for maximum 'lickability'.

View: E64_20141113_1231_013_FB2 Grey Squirrel holding piece of nut in paws.jpg
Description: Although the rudimentary thumb is not sufficient to grasp such a large item in one paw, it is clearly being used to help hold the piece of nut.

Date: 07 Jan 2015
View: P34_20141111_0711_625 Sunrise (orig).jpg
Description: A lurid Sunrise heralds yet another dreary November day.
Back in 1844 Poet Thomas Hood summed up November in London, with smog instead of fog, but painfully on target:-
      No sun - no moon!
      No morn - no noon -
      No dawn - no dusk - no proper time of day.
      No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
      No comfortable feel in any member -
      No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
      No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds -
      November!

View: D01_20141115_1851_012+1958_017_FB6 Tawny Owl visits for 2 mins an hour apart as fog thickens (selected) 2+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Saturday-Sunday night saw the dark-faced Tawny Owl visit twice an hour apart in the early evening. It stayed for a couple of minutes each time. A light fog arrived with the dusk, and got steadily thicker. The two images had the same processing so you can get an idea of how the Owl 'faded away'.

Date: 06 Jan 2015
View: E64_20141109_0053_193+20141108_1816_185_FB2 2 Fox visits midnight & previous evening (acc montage).jpg
Description: 2 visits by what we think are different foxes in the same night 6 hours apart. Welcome back after months of absence from the high quality photo sites.

Date: 05 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141109_1207_263-267 White Wagtail making running takeoff from roof ridge 1-5 of 5 (slightly stretched montage).jpg
Description: The patter of little claws announced the arrival of the Wagtails - a pair of White Wagtails (with grey rather than black backs). This one was flying between the roof ridges with a running takeoff. There were several flies around the bird but there was no obvious attempt to catch one.

View: DF2_20141109_1225_317-320 White Wagtail flying between roof ridges 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Another ridge to ridge flight.

Date: 04 Jan 2015
View: D01_20141109_1720_026-1727_040_FB6 Barn Owl visits just after Sunset & just before Dawn 07+17+18&11+14+21 of 25 (montage 1).jpg
Description: The Barn owl with right leg ring made an extended (at least 10 minute) visit in the early evening. The bird was unusually active with lots of moving about on the top and bending down.

Date: 03 Jan 2015
View: E63_20141106_0514_173_FB1 Rabbit looking disagreeable.jpg
Description: Grumpy Bunny!
This is undoubtedly an anthropomorphic interpretation, but can you see it any other way?

Date: 02 Jan 2015
View: E62_20141102_0528_130_FB5 Brown Rat pulling worm out of ground (crop).jpg
Description: The Brown Rat wants to be a film star, here showing off it's prowess at pulling worms out of the ground.

Date: 01 Jan 2015
View: DF2_20141102_1352_163 Hare hunkered down in scrape in crop (crop).jpg
Description: A new discovery in the now a few inches high crop - a hare can be spotted most mornings crouched in a scrape perhaps 30 metres from the farm road and ourselves.

View: DF2_20141102_1403_173 Hare hunkered down in scrape in crop (crop 2).jpg
Description: We can't work out the orientation of the Hare here even in the originals, but we thought it would be interesting to show the rows of the crop. Once the crop has grown a bit more this magical creature will be hidden from our eyes.

View: DF2_20141106_0732_015 Hare hunkered down in scrape in frost covered crop (crop).jpg
Description: 4 days later saw the first heavy frost of the season. To our surprise the Hare was still at it's scape just after dawn, in among the heavily frosted crop. Brrrr.
The hare was present almost every day until our last sighting on 11 December 2014 - about 5 weeks. The clay soil became waterlogged and we suspect his comfortable scrape became a mud-bath and he went somewhere more comfortable (Updated 1 Jan 2015).

Image Archive arch 2014 dec.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Dec 2014
View: E63_20141030_1628_046_FB1 Chaffinch pair feeding on ground.jpg
Description: A peaceful moment as a pair of chaffinches feed on the freshly sprinkled corn.

View: E63_20141031_1614_094_FB1 Chaffinch male in proud posture.jpg
Description: This male chaffinch just looks so pristine and full of himself that we couldn't resist including him.

Date: 30 Dec 2014
View: DF2_20141031_1222_036-038 White Wagtail picking fly out of crevice in conservatory roof 1-3 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: In the conservatory we hear the scrabbling feet of Wagtails exploring the roof. By leaving through the front door and walking round the house we can sometimes get to see & photograph them from the outside. This White Wagtail has shortened the usual 'wait for a fly to emerge and dive on it' strategy - it just picked this torpid fly out of the crevice!

Date: 29 Dec 2014
View: E63_20141027_0819_011_FB1 Song Thrush.jpg
Description: Breakfast time for this Song Thrush.
All of the known 'Anvil' sites are currently disused - we hope to discover where snails are now being smashed.

Date: 28 Dec 2014
View: E64_20141027_1529_010_FB2 Magpie.jpg
Description: In the Autumn debris, an immaculate Magpie took this photo.

View: E64_20141028_1629_059_FB2 Grey Squirrel with mouthful of food as Magpie takes off behind.jpg
Description: A chance moment of a Grey Squirrel hogging down a corn and peanut butter mix, as a magpie takes off behind.

Date: 27 Dec 2014
View: DF2_20141028_1241_044-045 White Wagtail catching fly from roof ridge 1+2 of 3 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: One of a pair of White Wagtails caught an insect taking off from the roof ridge. The top image shows the White Wagtail launching towards the fly just above the surface of the ridge cap. The second image (about 140mS later) the insect was fleeing but the bird has caught it anyway already within the open beak. It is clearer in the shadow than in the direct image!

View: DF2_20141028_1241_044-046 White Wagtail catching fly from roof ridge 1-3 of 3 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This was our first attempt at the above montage. The initial position of the insect was muddled in with the shadow of the foot of the flying bird, so we didn't include it. The third image was obviously delayed but it sort of finishes the sequence.

Date: 26 Dec 2014
View: E64_20141025_1756_148_FB2 Grey Squirrel looking upwards.jpg
Description: "Whats up there then?"

Date: 25 Dec 2014
View: DF2_20141027_1225_100 Buzzard in flapping flight (selected) 05 of 15 (crop).jpg
Description: Not long enough sunshine for a decent thermal so this Buzzard flew round the plot on flapping wing power, and thus rather lower than usual

Date: 24 Dec 2014
View: DF2_20141023_1219_105 Goldfinches feeding on Teasel heads (crop).jpg
Description: A family group of Goldfinches was feeding around the back of the house. The adults were feeding on Teasel heads we poke into the hedge top for them. Although in shade we can actually get within a few metres looking through the living-room window and get some detail. Here is a seed about to go down the hatch.

View: DF2_20141023_1220_134 Goldfinch juvenile feeding in Willow tree (crop).jpg
Description: On a clump of Willow trees at the edge of the pond a couple of juvenile Goldfinches (with gold flash but no red on the head yet) were picking over the willow tree for insects.

View: DF2_20141023_1221_178 Goldfinches feeding on Teasel heads - breaking & bending long spikes (crop).jpg
Description: We have not noticed before that the adults 'garden' the teasel heads when the long spikes prevent them from reaching the seeds. They bite as far down the spike as they can reach, then grip the top to bend it out of the way, and then push it down. Not so 'bird brained' then!

Date: 23 Dec 2014
View: DF2_20141022_0936_072-074 White Wagtail flying past another on roof ridge 1-3 of 3 (right to left montage).jpg
Description: We have reached the time of year when sun-warmed roof slates bring along the Wagtails - in this case a pair of White Wagtails. All the Wagtail varieties hunt by waiting on the ridge and flying down to grab whatever appears. Here one flew past the other who was calling, and then launched itself after the passing bird. No fight ensued - they just landed separately on the roof ridge out of frame to left.
We had some trouble representing this as a montage. This first try is most attractive.