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Image of the Day Archive & Upcoming List

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Date: 01 Oct 2018
View: DF3_20180807_1230_044+1231_046+050 Brimstone moth in hedge fluttering onto camouflaging yellowed leaf 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This brimstone moth (not to be confused with the brimstone butterfly) was quite visible against the dark green of the hedge. It fluttered about in the hedge and then seemed to disappear. We just could not see it against this Yellowed leaf in the dark of the hedge, but the camera following the action shows a brilliant piece of camouflage we only discovered on-screen later.

Date: 30 Sep 2018
View: D71_20180807_0806_007 Sundogs in early morning (crop and pincushion correction).jpg
Description: An unusually visible pair of Sundogs joining the morning sun.

View: E65_20180807_0807_001 Sundog (left side detail) with gull.jpg
Description: Here is a detail of the left sundog complete with an incidental gull.

Date: 29 Sep 2018
View: E64_20180804_1820_168_FB2 Robin flying by feet to camera and feathers spread (crop).jpg
Description: An adult Robin banks across the photo site with some tiny morsel in the tip of the beak. What a mess a season of breeding makes of the once pristine feathers.

Date: 28 Sep 2018
View: E64_20180803_0227_061_FB2 Badger striding through site.jpg
Description: One of two pristine Badger individuals trundling across the Woodland camera site 3 days apart.

View: E64_20180806_0403_219_FB2 Badger.jpg
Description: One of two pristine Badger individuals trundling across the Woodland camera site 3 days apart.

View: BU6_20180809_0110_574-576_SC2 2 Badgers together in Orchard (IR montage).jpg
Description: We are now sure that we have at least 2 similarly pristine Badgers, the one to the left/behind with slightly duller white fur areas.

Date: 27 Sep 2018
View: E63_20180804_1918_237_FB1 Blackbird juvenile begging from mother (crop).jpg
Description: In successive frames we catch a juvenile Blackbird demanding food from it's Mum.

View: E63_20180804_1919_238_FB1 Blackbird juvenile begging from mother (crop).jpg
Description: In successive frames we catch a juvenile Blackbird demanding food from it's Mum. Here the juvenile Blackbird has it's back to camera and the tip of the upper mandible hides the yellow tip of the adults beak.

View: E62_20180808_2000_217_FB5 Blackbird female with insect in beak.jpg
Description: 4 days later this female Blackbird has some sort of caterpillar in her beak. Parents are still actively feeding youngsters then, as shown earlier.

View: E63_20180807_1853_148_FB1 Blackbird juvenile.jpg
Description: A Gorgeously coloured juvenile Blackbird, presumably from an earlier brood.

Date: 26 Sep 2018
View: E63_20180804_0535_188_FB1 Fox eating piece of apple.jpg
Description: If you can't catch a succulent Rodent, eat the apple instead.

View: E63_20180805_1837_284_FB1 Grey Squirrel eating Apple core held in paws.jpg
Description: Its apple-fall time - so the Squirrels eat apple - here actually the core of a Pink Lady Apple from Tesco!

View: E64_20180803_0711_067_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying away a half Avocado rind.jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel carries off half of an Avocado rind.
We never find the scraped out remains of the rinds, so suspect that the Squirrels eat the whole thing.

Date: 25 Sep 2018
View: E62_20180805_2019_353_FB5 Wood Pigeon looking down crack in parched ground.jpg
Description: The drought has created wide and deep cracks in exposed soil. Here a Wood Pigeon looks down the Crack hoping for some food dropped in.

View: E62_20180806_0239_370_FB5 Badger sniffing down crack in parched ground.jpg
Description: The drought has created wide and deep cracks in exposed soil. Here a Badger sticks his snout into the crack to check out interesting smells from within. Badgers have very poor eyesight and use a sense of smell to compensate.

Date: 24 Sep 2018
View: E62_20180804_1820_256_FB5 Weasel with arched body (tip of snout off edge of frame) (crop).jpg
Description: This Weasel shows us the wonderful flexible back that we think puts even a Cheetah to shame!
See a Cheetah in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icFMTB0Pi0g
Interesting pics always seem to be at least partly out of frame :-(

View: E62_20180804_1835_258_FB5 Weasel possibly attacking Magpie (crop).jpg
Description: Is the Weasel about to attack the Magpie?
Oh for another frame perhaps 2 seconds later!

View: E60_20180803_0435_043_FB3 Bat and Plume Moth in flight.jpg
Description: Near the end of the night a Bat breaks the sense beam just as a Plume Moth (species unknown) flies away. Did the Bat miss his prey?

Date: 23 Sep 2018
View: DF3_20180804_1548_216-1549_256 Red Kite circling in Thermal 1-8 of 8 (compact montage @7fps about every 5th).jpg
Description: In the hot afternoon sun in a cloudless sky, this Red Kite started drawing circles in the sky as it gained height. The bird made a lovely swoop coming quite close to us. From the 42 pics we took (at 7fps) we selected these 8 to make a close spaced impression. Pics about 2/3 second apart.

Date: 22 Sep 2018
View: DF3_20180801_1609_044 Para-glider.jpg
Description: Out for an afternoon stroll we realised that the air was 'full' of Para-gliders, mostly circling high in thermals to gain height but generally moving in the direction WSW to ENE. There must have been at least 20 different craft over the 25 minutes we watched them until they seemed to have finished their passage.
This Para-glider got the closest to us, arriving quite low, circling many times to gain height, but failing to rise. A few minutes later he gave up the unequal struggle with gravity, and landed out of sight over the horizon to our south.

View: DF3_20180801_1606_025-1631_219 Para-gliders over 25 minutes (montage).jpg
Description: A fun montage of some of the 200 images we got. Para-gliders go in for some interesting colours and designs. The 'wing' is actually two sheets of material with openings along the front edge to inflate the wing into an aerodynamic shape. If the top and bottom are different patterns or colours, light through the fabrics can change the appearance as they change direction.
We were expecting to find aircraft G-xxxx numbers on the canopies as seen on hang-gliders, but there are none. The explanation is that ...
"A self-administering organisation is responsible for administering operational and airworthiness standards and for issuing pilot certificates."
Parachutes (as emergency equipment) don't require registration, and Para-gliders are sort of similar. We notice that Para-glider pilots sport an emergency parachute on their backs! Very sensible.

Date: 21 Sep 2018
View: E64_20180731_1458_126_FB2 Stock Dove.jpg
Description: Late summer sees the arrival of what has in recent years become the annual appearance of a few Stock Doves.

View: E60_20180805_2049_146_FB3 Stock Dove juvenile balanced awkwardly on edge of bird table.jpg
Description: The feather down and 'naked' beak tell us that this is a juvenile stock Dove teetering inexpertly on the edge of the bird table. We know of several Pigeon nests around our site and now assume one of them raised this youngster.

View: E64_20180801_0926_236_FB2 Red-legged Partridge.jpg
Description: We keep scaring away Partridges as we walk about outside our patch. Here inside our patch one of the Red-legged variety steps through the photo sense beam right at the right edge of the photographic frame.

Date: 20 Sep 2018
View: E64_20180801_2129_275_FB2 Fox hunting.jpg
Description: We wouldn't want to be in the focus of those eyes!

View: E63_20180802_0546_309_FB1 Fox at Stone.jpg
Description: Wouldn't it be interesting to experience the smell of this stone the way a fox does?

Date: 19 Sep 2018
View: E62_20180731_0658_083_FB5 Robin about to land by Tree Sparrow.jpg
Description: An early morning Robin 'drops in' next to a juvenile Tree Sparrow that doesn't seem particularly concerned - it may not know that some Robin are 'bully boys'.

View: E64_20180801_1401_249_FB2 Chaffinches squabbling (crop).jpg
Description: Chaffinches have bred well this year, so there are lots of opportunities for 'pecking order' disputes.

Date: 18 Sep 2018
View: SW1_20180731_0714_038_SC1 Roe Deer male (crop).jpg
Description: A lovely male Roe Deer displaying his characteristic antlers - strangely 'crusty' at the base and with only 2 (as here) or 3 points.

View: BU6_20180804_0729_557_SC2 Roe Deer female (crop).jpg
Description: 4 days later, and 100 metres away, we see this female Roe Deer delicately stepping through the windfall apples.

View: DF3_20180727_0753_008-013 Muntjac Reeves Deer female walking over grass 1-6 of 9 (montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: This female Reeve's Muntjac Deer (a much smaller deer than the Roe) patters over the grass verge of the Farm Road, unusually unbothered by our presence.

Date: 17 Sep 2018
View: D72_20180728_1107_016 Cats-ear (Hypochaeris radicata or Hypocho) flowers + 7-spot ladybird in crop margin track end (crop).jpg
Description: This plant is 'Cat's-ear' flowering in the crop margin. Only when we looked at the pic on the screen did we spot the 7-spot Ladybird left and down from the centre. The bright yellow splashes of colour against the dark is how it really looks.

Date: 16 Sep 2018
View: E62_20180727_2302_133_FB5 Badger.jpg
Description: This pristine Badger is becoming a real regular at the feeding sites and in the trail cams. Will be watching for him digging out a bolt-hole or home.

View: BU6_20180801_2224_733-20180802_0128_766_SC2 Badger visits over 1 night (montage).jpg
Description: Over one night this pristine badger trundles around head down. The main attraction is the fall of apples from dehydration and a recent high winds.

Date: 15 Sep 2018
View: E63_20180719_1924_029_FB1 Fox hunting.jpg
Description: One of the local foxes searches the still parched ground for some unfortunate food item. They are omnivores so will most likely enjoy the strawberry as well.

View: BU6_20180726_2121_058-063_SC2 2 Foxes at end of orchard 1-6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Two Foxes spent a minute or two companionably together at the end of the orchard.

View: BU6_20180801_2121_735_SC2 2 Foxes.jpg
Description: Exactly 6 days later (to the minute!) this is possibly the same fox 'couple' we showed you as a montage above.

Date: 14 Sep 2018
View: DF3_20180725_1012_025 Common Blue Butterfly feeding on Blackberry flower.jpg
Description: This year has seen the numbers of this pretty little Common Blue Butterfly rise from an occasional one at a time to several in the hedge at once.

View: D72_20180725_1317_031 Brimstone Butterfly male feeding on purple Loosestrife.jpg
Description: Wild flowers have been flowering well and supporting large numbers and variety of Butterflies.

View: DF3_20180725_1003_014 Gatekeeper Butterfly on wilting leaf.jpg
Description: Wild flowers have been flowering well and supporting large numbers and variety of Butterflies.

Date: 13 Sep 2018
View: D72_20180724_1532_013 22 Spot Ladybird on Thistle leaf.jpg
Description: An unusual sighting for us is this 22 spot Ladybird walking over the sharp spines of the thistle leaf with zero concern. Despite its outlandish appearance this is a wholly British species rather than a Harlequin variant.

View: D72_20180721_1318_005 Sloe Bug (Dolycoris baccarum) early instar larva body length 8mm on gate cable lock.jpg
Description: On a cable lock was this less than 1 cm long Shieldbug identified with the image. It will grow by shedding its carapace to become a handsome, if small, creature.

Date: 12 Sep 2018
View: E64_20180722_0035_163+20180719_2210_050+20180720_0446_059_FB2 Fox visits over 3 night (montage).jpg
Description: At the woodland site foxes appearing over 3 nights.
On the left is after rain and looks to be a different individual.

View: E63_20180725_0356_128+0355_127+20180726_0038_217_FB1 Badger (montage).jpg
Description: Visits by what looks like the same pristine Badger on two successive nights. The last visit has the top of the muzzle stained red. We suspect beetroot juice!

Date: 11 Sep 2018
View: E60_20180721_1944_066_FB3 2 Collared Doves sharing corn.jpg
Description: A pair of Collared Doves literally 'billing and Cooing' in a sweet moment.

View: E62_20180717_1801_093_FB5 2 Grey squirrels feeding.jpg
Description: Double Trouble
Two Grey squirrels feeding quietly together can make more trouble than one.

Date: 10 Sep 2018
View: D01_20180721_2300_033+2-0180722_0127_058_FB6 8 Tawny Owl visits to meadow and departure 03+16 of 16 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Two different visits, one where by luck we caught a take-off, so couldn't resist this accurate montage of events 2.5 hours apart.

View: D01_20180724_2255_008_FB6-E62_20180724_2259_107_FB5 Tawny Owl 3 minute to meadow post followed by visit to ground 1+3+4 of 4 (rescaled montage).jpg
Description: Among several visits to this Post in the same night, all landing with amazingly similar positions, on this occasion the Tawny Owl stayed for a few minutes before flying down to take a photo at the right edge of the 'meadow' site.

View: E62_20180724_2259_107_FB5 Tawny Owl 3 minute to meadow post followed by visit to ground 4 of 4 (crop 2).jpg
Description: We got no right side of the bird making a full scale portrait a bit awkward, but this 'head and shoulders' works nicely. You can clearly see the flesh-ripping beak.
Whole left side of bird is available if wanted

Date: 09 Sep 2018
View: D5C_20180716_1143_003 Blackbird female sunbathing and panting to cool.jpg
Description: By the edge of the main pond a female Blackbird basks in the sun, presumably to top up her vitamin D, though she wouldn't know it, with beak open panting to keep cool!

View: E62_20180717_1829_100_FB5 Blackbird male with yellow beak.jpg
Description: A male Blackbird with the classic yellow beak

View: E62_20180717_1856_106_FB5 Blackbird female with yellow beak.jpg
Description: At exactly the same scale we find this female Blackbird obviously collecting food for what we assume is a second brood.

Date: 08 Sep 2018
View: E63_20180717_1854_069_FB1 Fox.jpg
Description: As the day draws to an end the Fox's day-time pin-prick pupils begin to expand. At this intermediate the shape is a slightly disconcerting vertical oval.

View: E62_20180719_0249_211_FB5 Fox.jpg
Description: This Fox's irises not quite fully open even at 3 a.m. Possibly there is a bright moon lighting this open site.

View: E62_20180717_2256_125_FB5 Fox head-on walk to camera.jpg
Description: An hour before midnight it is here truly dark and the iris has just about disappeared to let in as much light as possible to the Fox's eyes.

Date: 07 Sep 2018
View: E63_20180712_2333_033+20180714_0217_090_FB1 2 Badger visits (accurate montage).jpg
Description: GUILTY - a mug shot montage of the chief knocker-over of things!
(Actually taken 2 days apart, they may not even be the same individual)

View: E63_20180717_0016_039_FB1 Badger sniffing stone.jpg
Description: A Badger following his nose around the plot!

Date: 06 Sep 2018
View: DF3_20180714_1116_048-054 Red Kite flying by 1-7 of 7 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: Here a Red Kite seems oblivious to us, staring at the ground and then making a quiet turn to continue the hunt. 1 second of flight here.

View: DF3_20180717_1110_031-034 Red Kite flying by 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A Red Kite glides quietly by.
In this and the following montages we are particular lucky that the speed of flight and camera frame rate produces close spaced images.

View: DF3_20180717_1110_069-079 Red Kite banking in flight showing top of wing 01-11 of 11 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A second and a half of action as this Red Kite flies by and then banks towards us.

View: DF3_20180717_1112_133-138 Red Kite flying against grey clouds @ 7fps 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Red kit spreading the primary feathers for lift without the effort of flapping the wings.

Date: 05 Sep 2018
View: DF3_20180714_0834_041 Grass snake (smaller of 2) warming under corrugated iron (crop).jpg
Description: Lifting the Corrugated iron sheet exposed the Grass Snake near the centre, and another at one end (no photo). Note how the tail loops around and then follows the body backwards.

Date: 04 Sep 2018
View: D72_20180713_1358_007 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly male on turned over Iris leaf.jpg
Description: Darter Dragonflies do like to perch on items low over the water. Here a Ruddy Darter Dragonfly hunts and patrols from a turned-over Iris leaf.

View: DF3_20180714_1120_067 Peacock butterfly feeding on Thistle flower as Hover-fly is about to land and Solder beetle to right.jpg
Description: Hover-fly, Peacock Butterfly, and a Soldier Beetle all caught by chance in the same frame.

Date: 03 Sep 2018
View: E63_20180716_0113_212_FB1 2 Foxes one standing and one crouched (crop).jpg
Description: At the hedge site we catch this relaxed interaction between two Foxes.
(Not a montage)

View: BU2_20180716_0117_448-0118_457_SC7 2 Foxes on Round Mound for several minutes including scent marking 3-6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: A few minutes later presumably the same pair appeared about 80m away wandering over the mound.

View: E64_20180714_2200_094_FB2 Fox following scent trail (q).jpg
Description: This Fox seems to be following a scent trail - although the nose is close to the ground the movement blur on the legs indicate that it is moving swiftly to the left.

Date: 02 Sep 2018
View: D72_20180707_1044_003 Groundsel flower and seed heads in sparse areas of Oil-seed Rape crop.jpg
Description: The margins of the Oil-seed Rape crop have an unusually varied selection of weeds this year. Here is some Groundsel showing heads from flowers to seeds.

View: DF3_20180708_0913_036 Ragwort plant flowering at edge of Oil-seed rape crop (with incidental dock heads).jpg
Description: Each year our meadow area has a few clumps of the poisonous (to some livestock) Ragwort. This year we have yet to see any on our patch, but found this solitary clump flowering in the edge of the Oil-seed Rape crop 100m from where we ever see ours. It disappeared into the harvester.

Date: 01 Sep 2018
View: E64_20180710_2232_093-20180711_0539_099_FB2 Polecat visits including carrying youngster (q) and rabbit(s) prey (montage 2).jpg
Description: Following months of occasional sightings on trail cams, here over one night at the Woodland site we have a Polecat on the hunt, we think moving a kit in her mouth, and then carrying 2 dead rabbits back into her burrow. Here are the event and time stamps:-
TL10 July 22:32First sighting
TR10 July 22:34Probably carrying a kit to a new burrow (see separate detail image).
ML11 July 03:58Different camera with 2 young rabbits 20m away - possibly the prey.
MR11 July 05:20First Rabbit being dragged.
BL11 July 05:27Second Rabbit 7 minutes later.
BR11 July 05:39Final clear sighting (last actual image 2 minutes later)
We have all the original images available on request.

View: E64_20180710_2234_094_FB2 Polecat visits including carrying youngster (q) and rabbit(s) prey 2 of 7 (detail crop).jpg
Description: Detail from the top right image of what we think is a Polecat Kit in the mouth.

Date: 31 Aug 2018
View: E63_20180710_0011_038+0046_039+0049_041_FB1 Fox + 2 different Badgers visiting in half hour 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: In just half an hour this site saw visits by a Fox and two very obviously different Badgers.

View: E63_20180710_2310_114_FB1 Badger.jpg
Description: A pristine badger looks for a morsel others have missed.

View: E64_20180710_2143_092_FB2 Fox.jpg
Description: Earlier the same night, possibly the same Fox now at the Woodland site, still on the prowl.

View: E63_20180711_0432_115_FB1 Fox (crop 1).jpg
Description: This fox look intently for some unfortunate on the ground.

Date: 30 Aug 2018
View: E64_20180706_2325_039_FB2 Badger trotting through feeding site.jpg
Description: We haven't studied Badger gaits, but alternate corner paws off the ground suggests some sort of 'Trot'. Movement blur suggests that our friend was moving at a decent speed through the site.

View: E64_20180630_0248_042_FB2 Badger nuzzling ground.jpg
Description: Trundling through the night this badger is pushing it's muzzle down onto the now rock-hard soil.
We have has less than 3mm (1/8 inch) of rain in 6 weeks. A formal drought has been declared in various parts of the UK.

Date: 29 Aug 2018
View: D72_20180707_1736_021 Comma Butterfly on Blackberry leaf.jpg
Description: A Handsome Comma Butterfly perched on a Blackberry leaf on which it is throwing a lovely shadow.

View: D72_20180708_1413_023 Comma Butterfly perched on leaf.jpg
Description: Also a Comma Butterfly, here with the orange wing surface hidden, but showing the white mark that gives the Comma Butterfly it's name.

View: D72_20180709_1554_040 Small White Butterflies mating (crop).jpg
Description: A pair of Small White Butterflies flew by us 'in tandem' and landed on this leaf to continue their assignation.

Date: 28 Aug 2018
View: D72_20180707_1229_007 Pale Willowherb (Epilobium roseum) growing on field margin to our north (crop).jpg
Description: We believe this to be Pale Willowherb in the field margin.
This is the first time we have documented it here.

View: D72_20180708_1220_015 Brimstone Butterfly male feeding on Purple Loosestrife flower.jpg
Description: A male Brimstone Butterfly feeding on the plentiful Purple Loosestrife flowers growing in soggy soil at the main pond margins.

View: D72_20180712_1303_016 Reedmace flower head (crop).jpg
Description: A Reedmace flower - male catkins on the top and female at the bottom to catch wind blown pollen from, hopefully, other flowers.

Date: 27 Aug 2018
View: D72_20180705_1518_088 Banded Demoiselle Damselfly male perched on Blackberry leaf.jpg
Description: A male Banded Demoiselle Damselfly perched delicately on a blackberry leaf.

View: D72_20180710_1233_010 Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly female perched on leaf.jpg
Description: Here we have a female Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly. The male of the same species has the back of the body covered in a powdery blue pruinescence.

Date: 26 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180629_1019_024 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly male.jpg
Description: A male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly perches on the ragged end of a hedge twig. This one gradually changing colour to the mature form.

View: D72_20180703_1444_065 Ruddy Darter Dragonfly male.jpg
Description: A brightly coloured mature male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly on the desiccated leaves of a bramble stem cut because it was growing over a path.
Keeping the paths navigable is an endless task at this time of year.

Date: 25 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180629_1755_519 Song Thrush half of hatched egg 25mm long.jpg
Description: A clearly hatched Song Thrush Egg dumped away from the nest by one of the parents so as not to show predators where the nest is.

View: E64_20180630_2025_054_FB2 Song Thrush.jpg
Description: Next day 50m, away from the hatched egg, what may be Mum or Dad to the hatchling.

Date: 24 Aug 2018
View: E63_20180628_1943_041_FB1 Grey Squirrel leaping to attack head of another already vertical (crop).jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels can be really NASTY to other Squirrels.

View: E63_20180630_1854_210_FB1 Magpie fleeing from Grey Squirrel attack.jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels can be really NASTY to other species who really don't compete with them.

Date: 23 Aug 2018
View: E62_20180629_0252_051_FB5 Tawny Owl pouncing on prey (crop).jpg
Description: A Tawny Owl makes a pounce on some unfortunate prey.

View: E62_20180702_0326_157_FB5+D01_0326_022+0327_023 Tawny Owl landing on meadow post + examining dead Rook juvenile + return to post 4 of 8 (montage over 2 minutes).jpg
Description: We found a rook lying dead outside the kitchen window. We have to assume a bird strike on the window, although we couldn't find any mark on the glass We moved the sad little corpse to the meadow site to see what was interested. To our surprise at about 3.30 a.m. the Tawny Owl landed on the meadow post, immediately flew down for a look and a peck at the dead bird, and almost immediately flew back to the post.

View: E62_20180702_0510_160_FB5 Fox about to carry away dead Rook juvenile (crop).jpg
Description: 90 minutes after the Tawny owl came down for a brief look, this pristine fox came and collected his prize to consume somewhere less exposed to daytime 'robbers' - judging from the eyes not quite fully dilated, the daylight was already starting.

Date: 22 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180630_1352_522 Brown Hawker Dragonfly female in flight (1st of 2018).jpg
Description: A female Brown Hawker Dragonfly flying above.

View: D72_20180703_1435_020-026 Brown Hawker Dragonfly male in flight @10fps 1-7 of 7 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A few days later this male Brown Hawker Dragonfly is patrolling the concrete access track. It is a really good heat trap.

View: D72_20180703_1624_083 Brown Hawker Dragonfly male perched on tree bark.jpg
Description: A male Brown Hawker Dragonfly, stopped for once. We have male and female of this species occupying different areas that overlap near the house - get it together folks!

Date: 21 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180704_1451_131 Small Tortoiseshell butterfly on thistle flowers at edge of crop.jpg
Description: A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly decorating one of hundreds of thistles in a 20m stretch along the side of the oil seed rape crop. We saw about 50 of mostly Small Tortoiseshell butterflies on this stretch - more than we have seen at once for many years.

View: D72_20180703_1731_090 Ringlet Butterfly feeding of Blackberry flower.jpg
Description: A Ringlet Butterfly feeding on a Blackberry flower.

Date: 20 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180630_1316_465 Green-veined White Butterfly feeding on Blackberry flower.jpg
Description: A Green-veined White Butterfly looking for nectar on a mostly 'spent' Blackberry flower.

View: DF3_20180704_1454_135 Large White Butterfly feeding on thistle flower.jpg
Description: A Large White Butterfly feeding on a thistle flower.

View: D72_20180703_1732_094 Small White Butterfly feeding on Blackberry flower.jpg
Description: Here is a Small white Butterfly enjoying a Blackberry flower. Without the cue of scale, you can most easily tell Large and Small white butterflies apart by the area of black at the wing tip.

View: DF3_20180629_1738_510-512 Large White Butterfly pair spiralling together about 10m high 1-3 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: A pair of Large White Butterflies spiralling into the sky in a mating ritual.

Date: 19 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180630_1006_112+114+119 Swallow in flight feeding 1 of 2 juveniles perched on 11kV cable 04+06+11 of 14 (montage over 1 second).jpg
Description: Our family of swallows has mostly settled on feeding the youngsters on the 11kV cables just to our west. Two juvenile Swallows are on the cables, both hopeful of a feed, but only the right hand side bird got fed this time

View: DF3_20180630_1258_360-362 Swallow twisting in flight 1-3 of 3 (impression montage @ 7 fps).jpg
Description: The evidence is there from the camera timestamps, and it is amazing that the Swallow can twist this much in the 140mS between each frame. No wonder it is so hard to follow them with a camera.

Date: 18 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180629_1016_018 Banded Demoiselle Damselfly male.jpg
Description: A male banded Demoiselle Damselfly perched elegantly on a leaf tip.

View: DF3_20180629_1640_474 Banded Demoiselle Damselfly female (crop).jpg
Description: A female banded Demoiselle Damselfly perched elegantly on a leaf tip. The female has no 'bands' on the wings, and almost clear wings - here you are looking through 4 wings and it is still only a light brown.

Date: 17 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180624_1753_046 Rook juvenile (left) and adult perched on 11kV cables.jpg
Description: Juvenile Rooks (left) don't have the white beaks of the adult . At a glance you can mistake them for a Carrion Crow except that they are slightly smaller and very sociable.

Date: 16 Aug 2018
View: E63_20180623_0139_095_FB1 Badger juvenile.jpg
Description: An undersized and Grey Badger has to be a growing youngster out learning about where to find stuff to eat. The land is so dry at the moment that these animals may have to put a lot of effort into digging down deep enough to find their staple diet of worms. So they will welcome one of our 'free meals'

View: E63_20180627_0225_216_FB1 2 Badgers with left a juvenile leaving site (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: 4 days later, this adult Badger arrives as the young badger seems to be leaving, having not previously triggered the camera.

View: E64_20180627_0237_054_FB2 Badger.jpg
Description: 12 minutes after visiting the hedge-bottom site what looks like the same adult Badger examines the woodland site some 50m away.

Todays image (view it Here)

Date: 15 Aug 2018
View: E62_20180625_1934_028_FB5 Blackbird male with Caterpillar in beak.jpg
Description: Some sort of caterpillar on its way to an ever open beak of a Blackbird youngster.

Image Archive arch 2018 aug.htm (view it Here)

Date: 14 Aug 2018
View: E62_20180627_1859_093_FB5 Grey Squirrel holding tiny windfall apple in paws.jpg
Description: Apple tree tend to drop a few developing apples when they 'know' that they can't bring them all to fruit. This behaviour is known as the June Drop. We collect the dropped fruit and bring them to the photo sites so we get to see them being enjoyed by all and sundry.

Date: 13 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180627_1356_012 Gatekeeper Butterfly feeding on Blackberry flower.jpg
Description: The Gatekeeper Butterfly (also known as the Hedge Brown, and older names Hedge Eye, Small Meadow Brown, and Large Heath) has two white dots in its black spot (unlike the single dot in a Meadow Brown).
In the 1970s we got really confused by these Browns, named differently in different books, and are pleased we have just discovered why.

Date: 12 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180625_1433_003 Small China-mark Moth at water surface.jpg
Description: These moths that spend their lives precariously over water are generically called 'China Mark' moths, but comes in 4 varieties (at the moment - who knows what climate warming will bring) of which this is the Small China-mark Moth. You can just see the gorgeous patterning that adorns the lower wings.

View: DF3_20180626_1513_022 Cinnabar Moth.jpg
Description: A Cinnabar Moth showing us the gloriously coloured top of the rear wings that make the insect so striking when it is in flight.

Date: 11 Aug 2018
View: D72_20180615_1624_004 Sun Halo (22 degrees) (crop slightly colour enhanced).jpg
Description: We haven't seen an unbroken '22 degree' halo around the sun before this hazy day. The image just fits the frame of one of our 'grab' cameras (APS-C sensor with 18mm on a Zoom lens) so this is the whole frame with slight contrast and colour enhancement to overcome the flare that pointing a camera at the sun produces.

View: D71_20180623_1223_006 Sun Halo 22 degree (orig).jpg
Description: Another instance of a 22 degree sun halo, this time in a rather less bland sky. This is the unprocessed camera frame.

Date: 10 Aug 2018
View: D36_20180625_1838_018_FB4 Jackdaw arriving on tree-stump with just 1 red currant remaining.jpg
Description: For once we managed to keep the birds off most of the Redcurrant bushes this year. So the waste pulp and few spoiled berries went out for the animals. This single berry got left by several visitors.

Date: 09 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180624_1605_025 Comma Butterfly on Hop Sedge at Duck-shaped pond.jpg
Description: This is a Comma Butterfly (the white 'comma' giving it is name just visible on the lower surface of the right wing). This was on Hop Sedge where we now see them most years in the spring/summer. We used to only see them on windfall apples in the orchard in the Autumn.

View: DF3_20180622_1520_009 Ringlet Butterfly on Hop Sedge (1st of 2018).jpg
Description: A Ringlet butterfly poised delicately on a Hop Sedge frond.

Date: 08 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180621_1554_004 Grass Snake uncoils to escape down mouse hole only to reappear at hole half metre away (off frame).jpg
Description: Continuing the saga of the Grass snake under the Corrugated Iron sheet, here it is uncurling to escape our disturbance by going down a nearby Mousehole. But the surprise was that is promptly re-appeared half a metre away at another mousehole while the tail end was still entering this hole.
But unfortunately total failure at getting the 'hole' event on camera :-(

View: DF3_20180623_1528_033 Grass Snake coiled under Corrugated Iron.jpg
Description: At last - a pic of the whole Grass Snake coiled up to warm itself under the corrugated iron sheet.

Date: 07 Aug 2018
View: D72_20180622_1010_168 Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly feeding on Privet flower.jpg
Description: The flowers on the Privet hedges barely last a couple of weeks. The Butterflies make the most of it. This is a Small Tortoiseshell probing a floret.

View: D72_20180622_1010_170 Drone-fly on Privet Flower.jpg
Description: A drone Fly also feeds from the short lived white privet blossom. Some of the florets here have already 'turned'.

Date: 06 Aug 2018
View: D72_20180622_1007_064 Red Kite in flight.jpg
Description: A Red Kite flies quite low overhead.

View: D72_20180622_1007_066-068 Red Kite hunting over ground beneath 1-3 of 3 (montage @ 10fps).jpg
Description: This montage of the kite flying overhead is at 10fps (tenth of a second between images) but even so we have closed the gaps.

View: D72_20180622_1008_140-144 Red Kite in flight against scattered clouds @ 10fps 5-9 of 9 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: This montage of the kite flying overhead is at 10fps (tenth of a second between images) and the clouds allow an accurately spaced montage.

Date: 05 Aug 2018
View: D72_20180622_0958_020 Oxeye Daisy flower.jpg
Description: In the warm morning sunshine little beetles wander round an Oxeye daisy flower.

View: D72_20180622_0958_023 Marmalade Hover-fly on Oxeye Daisy.jpg
Description: A Marmalade Hover-fly stops off for a feed at this Oxeye Daisy flower.

Date: 04 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180615_0951_094 Clump of Fox and Cubs flowers by gate.jpg
Description: The little clump of fiery 'Fox and Cubs' in our front 'garden' coming to the end of their flowering ...

View: DF3_20180622_0653_056 Mallow flower.jpg
Description: ... as the blowsy Mallow Flowers take over the same patch.
Both self-set, and both welcome to our chaotic garden.

Date: 03 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180620_1758_094 Scorpion fly male.jpg
Description: This is called Scorpion Fly - only the male has the curled tail that gives the species it's common name. And no, it isn't a stinger!

Date: 02 Aug 2018
View: DF3_20180621_1556_013 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female momentarily fluttering wings (crop).jpg
Description: A female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly (judging from the brown wings not the very similar female Banded) flicking her wings momentarily so you can see them spread out.

View: DF3_20180620_1757_090 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female (crop).jpg
Description: A detail from another female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly highlighting the wonderful intricacy of the veins in the wings.

View: DF3_20180620_1756_080 Banded Demoiselle male.jpg
Description: A male Banded Demoiselle Damselfly beautifully poised on a leaf.

Date: 01 Aug 2018
View: D71_20180620_1304_055 Muntjac female feeding and grooming new Fawn then joined by male 16 of 46 (crop).jpg
Description: 30 hours after the sighting of a pregnant Reeve's Muntjac Deer we were delighted to spot this mother Muntjac feeding what looks to us like a very new Fawn. Mother was spending a lot of time licking the damp and tousled fur and assiduously cleaning it. Here the Fawn is suckling from the milk-bar.

View: D71_20180620_1306_086 Muntjac female feeding and grooming new Fawn then joined by male 32 of 46 (crop).jpg
Description: A clear portrait of the little 'Bambi', tip of the pink tongue protruding.

View: D71_20180620_1311_164 Muntjac female feeding and grooming new Fawn then joined by male 45 of 46 (crop).jpg
Description: Mother licking the youngster assiduously, spending time to lick the Anus to encourage it to defecate.

View: DF2_20180620_2113_040 Muntjac female feeding and grooming new Fawn then joined by male 46 of 46 (no milk under Dad!) (crop).jpg
Description: 9 hours later the CCTV shows us the return of the little Reeve's Muntjac Deer family. As the day faded we saw this funny moment when the Fawn disappointedly checked out Dad for the presence of a milk-bar!

Image Archive arch 2018 jul.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Jul 2018
View: D01_20180618_2101_003+2104_006+2106_008_FB6 Little Owl 6 minute visit to meadow post 1+4+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Little Owls (actual species name) are well known to be seen around in the daytime, but here as the day finishes this Little Owl arrived to stay for a few minutes. Even over 5 minutes you can see the background darkening a little left to right.

View: D01_20180620_0021_020_FB6+E60_20180620_0023_039_FB3+D01_20180620_0025_021_FB6 Tawny Owl leaves meadow post + visits Kitchen window + flies by flashgun over 5 mins (montage).jpg
Description: It is pure luck for our automatic cameras to catch a takeoff (top) but 2 minutes after this Tawny Owl launched from the meadow post what we assume is the same bird landed outside the kitchen window (bottom left). Another 2 minutes on something triggered the camera back at the meadow post, and this must have been the Owl breaking the sense beam quite close to the house because the flash-light has produced a giant shadow of the Owl on the ground (bottom right).

Date: 30 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180615_0943_090 Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly feeding on Privet Flower.jpg
Description: The Privet Flowers are out, and this Small Tortoiseshell butterfly is making the most of the nectar.

View: DF3_20180615_0938_080 Speckled Wood Butterfly resting on Blackberry stem.jpg
Description: A Speckled Wood Butterfly as we normally see them, wings at least partially open.

Date: 29 Jul 2018
View: D72_20180616_1623_005-017 Hare running over grass 01-13 of 13 (accurate montage @ 10 fps).jpg
Description: A Hare sprints across the cut grass inside the bend on the Farm Road. This represent one and a half second of action - boy can they run fast!

Date: 28 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180615_0713_046 2 Goats (q) black long tailed wandering over Pineham Farm before returning to brook 3 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: In the early morning 2 escaped black goats were wandering around the surrounding farm and our patch. Here a Goat and a local Carrion crow checking each other out.

View: DF3_20180615_0717_066 2 Goats (q) black long tailed wandering over Pineham Farm before returning to brook 8 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: Here the escapee goats are checking US out!

View: DF3_20180615_0717_065 2 Goats (q) black long tailed wandering over Pineham Farm before returning to brook 7 of 9 (crop head and eye detail).jpg
Description: Looking at Goats you notice the strange horizontal slit eyes. Here is a detail.
Don't the ear tags look horrible :-(

Date: 27 Jul 2018
View: E63_20180612_1744_057_FB1 Robin fledgling (1st of 2018).jpg
Description: A lovely grumpy looking Robin youngster - the first of 2018.

View: E63_20180613_1746_120_FB1 Pheasant female about to land with tail feathers spread.jpg
Description: An elegant female Pheasant just a few centimetres from touchdown.

Date: 26 Jul 2018
View: E63_20180611_1802_013_FB1 Magpie flying off with beakful of food with Grey squirrel and Pheasant male behind (crop).jpg
Description: The Magpie (foreground) photo-bombs what may be a Grey Squirrel vs. male Pheasant moment in the background.

Date: 25 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180611_1043_022 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female.jpg
Description: A female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly keeping still long enough for a photo. These creatures (male, female and both Beautiful and Banded variants) have a characteristic & we think delightful fluttering flight.

View: DF3_20180613_1549_021 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly male (1st of 2018) (crop).jpg
Description: What we believe to be a MALE Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly. The problem with the ID is that while the band is too wide and diffuse at the edges to be a Banded Demoiselle and the clear section more tinted than expected, the dark diffusion is just not as extensive as a normal 'Beautiful'. The iridescent blue wing veins do seem to be conclusive though. Maybe an immature male, said to have lighter colouring than the mature.

View: DF3_20180613_1549_026 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly male (1st of 2018) (anal appendage detail).jpg
Description: From another image of the same individual here is the detail of the 'Anal Appendage' used to grip the female (and different for each species) that looks more like that of the 'Beautiful' than the 'Banded'.

Date: 24 Jul 2018
View: E63_20180607_2231_043_FB1 Tawny Owl pouncing on prey with Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) escaping (crop).jpg
Description: Only our second Tawny Owl sighting at the hedge-bottom site (the first earlier this year) again catches the Owl swooping in on Prey. We don't know if it caught anything, but a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) is making a speedy exit on the other side of the stone.

View: E60_20180614_0403_035_FB3 Tawny Owl landing on perch.jpg
Description: A week later and 15 minutes after a not very interesting 3 minute visit to the Meadow post (not shown) we get this Tawny Owl landing outside the kitchen window at 4 a.m.

Date: 23 Jul 2018
View: E63_20180607_0816_011_FB1 Grey Squirrel (mostly in silhouette) attacking Pheasant female showing brood patch.jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel (in shadow facing left in the middle of the picture) chases off a female Pheasant. The Surprise for us was the feather-less underbelly of the Pheasant. A little research indicates this is a brood patch (bare skin to be put in contact with eggs to warn them) that we see so often on the brooding partner of small birds.

Date: 22 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180610_1504_170 Meadow Brown Butterfly feeding on Buttercup.jpg
Description: The first Meadow Brown this year, enjoying a Buttercup.
Love the contrast of Orange, dark (shaded) and sunlit yellow.

Date: 21 Jul 2018
View: D01_20180609_1654_011+1655_017-018_FB6 Green Woodpecker male preening on Meadow post 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This adult male Green Woodpecker stopped off at the meadow post for a late afternoon preen followed by a shake-out of his feathers.

View: DF3_20180609_1046_004 Grey Partridge flying over Oil-seed Rape crop.jpg
Description: A Grey Partridge skimming over the Oil-seed Rape crop.

Date: 20 Jul 2018
View: E63_20180606_1843_179_FB1 Peahen (right) and Pheasant female head detail (crop 2).jpg
Description: Our first sighting of this Peahen (female of Peacock) was a 'what's that' glimpse in the dark of the woodland. But she visited some of our automatic cameras over the next couple of days. Here we get a view of her lovely head and plumes.
Comment for overseas readers - Peacocks are not UK resident species - they need supplementary feeding in the winter at the very least. They are kept as prestige adornments in stately homes and the like, but need feather trimming to stop them flying off!

View: E63_20180606_1859_185_FB1 Peahen and pheasant female.jpg
Description: So Pheasant females (left) and the Peahen quietly coexist despite the substantial difference in size.

View: E62_20180607_1828_028_FB5 Peahen.jpg
Description: Next day the Peahen took this portrait at the 'meadow' camera site.
Our camera kits just aren't set to include the whole of birds of this size!

View: DF3_20180608_1113_008 Peahen following Pheasant male over Farm Road and into crop 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: Next day we spotted the male Pheasant crossing the Farm Road, followed purposefully by the Peahen. Shortly afterwards we heard the Pheasant make his characteristic call. 6 Hours later a trail cam caught him hovering by her as she fed on a mound inside our patch. Surely he doesn't think she is just a jumbo sized female Pheasant?
She has probably then returned to her likely owners a couple of miles away.

Date: 19 Jul 2018
View: E65_20180605_0912_011-013 Blue Tit adult feeding youngster with peanut fragments 2-4 of 4 (montage over about 1 second).jpg
Description: Outside the Study Window at least 7 Blue Tit youngsters were being fed peanut fragments from the feeders hanging below. They soon vanished into the orchard to find more natural food.

View: E65_20180607_0833_003 3 Great Tit fledglings on bird table.jpg
Description: "Put food in here"
This is a Great Tit, one of 3 facing us on the bird table.

View: E65_20180607_0834_012 Great Tit fledgeling perched on bars of peanut feeder begging from parent.jpg
Description: This enterprising Great Tit decides to wait where it can get first opportunity for the food.

Date: 18 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180606_1458_066-070 Hare running down bare patch in crop 1-5 of 5 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Its so easy for Hares to hide in the now metre or more high Oil-seed Rape crop that we rarely get a glimpse. So this one unhurriedly lolloping away from us across one of the outright dead patches in the crop took our fancy. The legs look such a mess that it's seems a wonder they don't get tangled. This montage shifts the Hare to the left each 140mS step. In the 2nd and 3rd images from the right you can see that the Hare has a torn ear.

Date: 17 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180606_1503_093 Common Blue Damselfly female drab form perched on stinging nettle.jpg
Description: The Common Blue Damselflies continue to decorate the weeds. This is one of the 3 forms that the female can take - called either 'Typical' or 'Drab' according to which reference book.

View: DF3_20180603_1252_003 Common Blue Damselfly male mature.jpg
Description: A male Common Blue Damselfly warming in the sun will soon be off looking for a girl! Unlike the females, the males have just this one form.

Date: 16 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180602_1429_042 Fox and Cubs flower cluster.jpg
Description: Every year the front of the house erupts in these self-sown vivid orange flowers called 'Fox and Cubs'. The flower clumps are only about 4cm across, but make up for it as little 'flames' burning in the sunshine.

View: DF3_20180606_1505_100 Iris flower white near garage (orig & final).jpg
Description: The white Iris is a cultivar, but no less attractive than the yellow original. Three pairs of opposed flower petals at 120 degrees are interspersed with single petals to make a striking appearance.

View: DF3_20180601_1230_012 Foxglove in shaded corner by machine shed.jpg
Description: Every year we enjoy this little clump of white Foxgloves in a sunless corner growing through a crack in the concrete. Life is determined!

Date: 15 Jul 2018
View: D72_20180603_1616_055 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female (1st of 2018) (crop).jpg
Description: A female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly (one of 3 individuals spread over our patch) on the first day of the year warm enough to draw them out.

View: D72_20180603_1617_062 Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly female (1st of 2018).jpg
Description: A female Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly (one of 3 individuals spread over our patch) on the first day of the year warm enough to draw them out.

Date: 14 Jul 2018
View: D72_20180603_1552_033 Speckled Wood Butterfly female 1st brood (crop).jpg
Description: We know the Speckled Wood butterfly so well, but only when perched with it's wings open. So this one actually puzzled us for a while in a patch of dappled sunlight.

View: DF3_20180608_1441_021 Harlequin Ladybird with red body almost spot free.jpg
Description: This less welcome visitor is one of the huge number of Harlequin Ladybird forms, this one with hardly any visible spots. These foreign invaders (since 2004) are here to stay and we will have to get used to them. Down the edge of the stinging nettle leaf you can see the poison loaded needles ready to punish any inadvertant contact.

Date: 13 Jul 2018
View: D36_20180604_0944_006+20180605_0912_021_FB4 Chaffinch female + male (mirrored) (montage).jpg
Description: Mrs. and Mr. Chaffinch one day apart made this mirrored montage irresistible. They are at the same scale - he is just slightly bigger than the female.

Date: 12 Jul 2018
View: D01_20180605_0350_005-0357_014_FB6 Tawny Owl 11 minute visit to meadow post 01+02+04+06 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: One of the longer visits by the Tawny owl, starting with quite an active bird but spending the last 4 minutes standing so still that flicking through images on the camera suggested that something might have gone wrong (not shown).

View: D01_20180605_2240_001-20180606_0258_014_FB6 Tawny Owl(s) making 6 visits to meadow post in 4 Hrs 1-3_5-7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: Another night we have 6 short visits. This sequence skips one poorly imaged landing, but includes the final crouched stance. The IR floodlight that lets us see this post on CCTV has failed so we can't have a look to see what the last image was all about.

Date: 11 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180527_0709_066 Muntjac Reeves Deer male with velvet antler stubs (crop 1).jpg
Description: An early morning walk found this male Reeves Muntjac Deer quietly grazing his way along the bottom of the farm hedge.

View: DF3_20180527_0709_066 Muntjac Reeves Deer male with velvet antler stubs (crop 2).jpg
Description: This zoom on the Deer show his horns as just velvet knobs. We have not seen the Male Reeve's Muntjac Deer with bone antlers now for a couple of weeks, and assume that this is the same individual having shed his antlers and starting to re-grow them.

Date: 10 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180526_1734_029 Wild rose clump outside our north hedge including spent + flowers + buds (orig & final).jpg
Description: These wonderful wild roses drench several metres around them with their perfume.
Dog Rose is pleasant but nowhere close in strength.
We recently read that Rose experts say that half of modern roses have no discernable scent at all - breeders concentrating only on appearance.

View: DF3_20180526_1743_046 Hawthorn fallen flower petals carpeting the ground (crop).jpg
Description: Wind and rain has put paid to the wonderful display of Hawthorn Blossom, but left a carpet of fallen petals beneath each bush/tree.

View: DF3_20180526_1744_055 Hawthorn fallen flower petals carpeting the ground (crop).jpg
Description: Fallen Hawthorn petals showing the individual fallen petals.

Date: 09 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180526_1740_038 Grey Squirrel female raiding bag and dish of bait.jpg
Description: We often leave the 'bait bowl' covered by the corn bag if we go for a walk before scattering the bait. On return we often disturb a squirrel helping itself, but this one is standing on the bag and has lifted several items from the bowl beneath, probably tried a bit, and then dropped them down on the top of the bag to look for more. She continued feeding until we were only a couple of metres away.
Yes - this is our front garden - dead nettles, thistles and rank grass :-(
But yes, the wildlife love it :-)

View: E62_20180530_1731_170_FB5 2 Grey Squirrels fighting.jpg
Description: Ouch!
Grey Squirrels are sometime vicious little creatures - we wouldn't want those claws on our face.

View: E63_20180528_1823_053_FB1 Grey Squirrel puts Pheasant male to flight.jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel 'Ups' the male Pheasant.
But at the top edge of the frame just left of centre is the tip of that curved beak. Maybe the Squirrel will be getting an unwelcome riposte.

Date: 08 Jul 2018
View: D01_20180529_2146_026-2149_030_FB6 Barn Owl 6 minute visit to meadow post 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: The Barn owl made a couple of visits on the same evening. The landing (left image) looks a bit awkward and we think the bird may have been landing with a slight tailwind and overshot a bit - birds usually aim for the 'leading edge' rather than slither over the top.

View: D01_20180529_2233_034+2234_035_FB6 Barn Owl 2 minute visit to meadow post 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: 45 minutes after the awkward landing, what looks like the same Barn Owl landing much more solidly in the opposite direction, but only staying for one more photo (right then left).

Date: 07 Jul 2018
View: E64_20180524_0024_120_FB2 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: A pristine Badger takes his photo just after midnight.

Date: 06 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180519_1406_113 Pheasant male creeping through undergrowth.jpg
Description: The dominant male Pheasant quietly stalks through the dappled light.

View: DF3_20180521_1115_005 Pheasant male in buttercups.jpg
Description: The male Pheasant in the Buttercups.

View: E62_20180521_1733_008_FB5 Pheasant pair.jpg
Description: The male Pheasant here follows around one of the females. His feathers here are puffed up with excitement - he may be about to make his characteristic leap and call.

Date: 05 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180519_1415_128-130 Rook flying across daytime crescent moon 1-3 of 4 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: A genuine montage at 7fps of a Rook gliding across the crescent moon.

View: DF3_20180519_0934_085 Rook youngster in top of young Black Poplar tree.jpg
Description: A young Rook regards his world complete with those 2 suspicious two- legs.
The insect to the left of his beak is typical of daytime photos at the moment - midges are everywhere!

View: DF3_20180520_1737_063+068 Rook at on grass along side of crop (montage).jpg
Description: As the Oil-seed Rape crop blossom fades, a Rook on the grass border rasps his call.

Date: 04 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180519_0704_069+071+072 Blackbird male singing in conifer 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A male Blackbird defends his patch. We know roughly where the pair's nest is, but would have to cut back their defensive brambles for a look, so they stay in peace.

View: E63_20180522_0615_040_FB1 Blackbird juvenile calling from top of stone.jpg
Description: A juvenile Blackbird shouting for more food!
Don't worry about the milky eye -it's just the nictitating membrane.

Date: 03 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180519_0706_073 Hawthorn Blossom in our East boundary (orig & final).jpg
Description: The Hawthorn Blossom all over our patch has been outstanding this year - exceeding the density of the earlier cherry blossom.

View: DF3_20180520_1313_005 Hawthorn flower clump with mixed white and pink blossom.jpg
Description: Hawthorn seems mostly to create white flowers, but a few of our plants generate some or mostly pink petals in the same flower clusters.

Date: 02 Jul 2018
View: DF3_20180517_1738_010 Honey Bee on Green Alkanet flower.jpg
Description: At last a dozen or so Honey Bees can be found on the Green Alkanet flowers that reliably grow along a section of the access track each year.

Date: 01 Jul 2018
View: E64_20180513_0331_133_FB2 Muntjac Deer male with antlers in velvet and nasty cut above left leg.jpg
Description: This male Reeves Muntjac Deer (with velvet antlers) seems to have had a serious argument with something sharp. Our guess is barbed wire or some other man-made hazard. Unless we find him lying sick there is nothing we can do.

View: E64_20180529_2139_109_FB2 Muntjac Reeves Deer with antler in velvet and healed flank tear.jpg
Description: 2 weeks later we caught this moment of the same male Reeve's Muntjac Deer. Although the body is half out-of-frame we can see just a line in the fur where the serious cut has healed without any apparent problems. Phew!

Image Archive arch 2018 jun.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Jun 2018
View: E64_20180513_1410_157_FB2 Robin flying by with long worm in beak (crop).jpg
Description: A Robin in a hurry with youngsters to feed a worm that looks rather large for a comparatively small bird. No doubt to be reduced to 'swallow' sized pieces.

View: D36_20180515_0539_028+0952_032_FB4 Robin(s) with grub in beak 4 Hrs apart (montage).jpg
Description: 2 visits by possibly the same Robin about 4 Hours apart. Whatever the green grub is, it looks like it's the favourite.

Date: 29 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180514_1502_235 Great White (q) Egret in flight (1st sighting) 2 of 3 (crop for ID).jpg
Description: We think that this is our first sighting of a Great White Egret, but our two experts are not sure based only on the photo without any notion of size. The bird had none of the grace of the Little Egret and was flying much faster and more powerfully than we would expect to see in a Little Egret. The feet appear dark - Little Egrets have yellow feet, but they can become smothered in mud.

View: DF3_20180514_1502_235+236 Great White (q) Egret in flight (1st sighting) 2+3 of 3 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: 2 frames about 140mS apart show that what we think is a Great White Egret was flying fast, even though it did have a tailwind.

Date: 28 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180514_1453_229 Goldfinch landing on Conifer with beakful of plant down put down before flying off 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: Goldfinches have done well this year, through we haven't spotted any of the nests. The fluffy down in the beak was put down on the branch and left there as the bird flew off.

View: DF3_20180514_1612_003 Goldfinch on conifer branch.jpg
Description: The white fluff at the birds feet looks like the same type of material as put down after the previous image, but is in a different place.

View: DF3_20180513_0858_106 Chaffinch male eating Sunflower kernels from concrete track.jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch busily picking the Sunflower kernels from the selection of 'bird seed mix' we chucked onto the concrete track.

Date: 27 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180514_0638_169 Hawthorn tree blossoming at our east boundary.jpg
Description: Hawthorn is now producing blossom all over the area.

View: DF3_20180514_0641_177 Hawthorn Blossom detail.jpg
Description: Hawthorn is now producing blossom all over the area.

View: DF3_20180514_1441_221 Hawthorn Blossom on bush in Meadow.jpg
Description: Hawthorn is now producing blossom all over the area.

Date: 26 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180426_1345_016+20180513_1739_146+20180517_1108_002+20180523_1734_071 Dandelion flowers - clocks - stalks - mown in a month (montage).jpg
Description: Down the field margin to our north we enjoyed watching this carpet of Dandelions turn first into the classic 'clock' seed heads (just over 2 weeks), most of the seeds carried away in the wind for next years crop, and finally mown by the farmer clearing the crop margins and bridleways.

Date: 25 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180513_1703_141 Grey Squirrel on alert at top of Raptor post.jpg
Description: This Grey squirrel was sunbathing on top of disused post disturbed by someone at the door.

View: D5C_20180513_1705_062 Grey Squirrel hanging from post for several minutes.jpg
Description: Instead of fleeing from the disturbance the Grey Squirrel moved to this hanging position where it simply stayed stationary for several minutes.
Note the rear claws turned around to grip the top securely.

View: DF3_20180515_0952_016 Grey squirrel sunbathing on top bar of gate.jpg
Description: "Ahh - this is the life. Where's the waitress"

Date: 24 Jun 2018
View: D01_20180515_2358_026-20180518_0211_094_FB6 Tawny Owl visits 3 days apart to meadow post very similar positions (montage).jpg
Description: This really is 2 separate visits by the Tawny Owl 3 days apart - uncannily similar.

View: D01_20180516_0513_028+0538_016+0549_076+0556_085_FB6 Wood Pigeon 43 minute visit to meadow post 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: This Wood Pigeon stayed for almost three-quarters of an hour.
You can see the background lightening as the day dawns

Date: 23 Jun 2018
View: E64_20180505_1916_143_FB2 Pheasant male (brunet) head portrait.jpg
Description: A 'head and shoulders' of the now dominant male Pheasant at the woodland site.
Love the 'ear' tufts - very 'punk'.

View: E64_20180515_1815_058+20180515_1930_098_FB2 Pheasant pair feeding together twice in 25 hours (montage).jpg
Description: A day and an hour apart, this pair of pheasants create a slightly surreal pairing as they pick over the remaining corn.

Date: 22 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180507_1747_009 Orange-tip Butterfly male on Bluebell flower.jpg
Description: Male Orange-tip Butterflies appear about a week before the females.
Here is a male tanking-up on a Bluebell flower.

View: DF3_20180508_1252_131 Orange-tip Butterfly female feeding on Garlic Mustard flower.jpg
Description: Here is a female Orange-tip Butterfly (without the orange tips) sipping delicately from a Garlic Mustard flower.
This plant is the food plant of the Orange-tip caterpillar, so she is probably attracted to the smell of them, although she can feed on other flowers.

View: DF3_20180506_0928_054 Brimstone Butterfly male on ground ivy with nettle behind.jpg
Description: The vivid yellow of the male Brimstone Butterfly is on the 'top' of the wing. The underside of the wing has this greenish colour. The top of the female's wing is white, and the bottom paler than this males, but with the same spots and contour.

Date: 21 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180506_0947_159 Kestrel male on edge of slate roof 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: Leaving the house we sometimes startle away a Kestrel, but have not previously spotted one on the house as we return. This bird then flew down from the top of the chimney to a roof edge just above the gutters where it was out of our sight. So moving to a new closer vantage point we managed a couple of portraits before he spotted us and decided to move on.

Date: 20 Jun 2018
View: BU1_20180507_0853_006_SC3 Magpie in flight over hedge (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A chance moment catches a Magpie flying up and over the boundary hedge.

View: DF4_20180504_1838_014-025 Magpie pulling Blackthorn twig from woodpile 02+03+05+08+12+13 of 14 (montage).jpg
Description: This Magpie was struggling to extract twigs from the edge of our main woodpile, but here finally succeeded

View: DF3_20180506_0904_002+004-006 Magpie with twig in beak flying from 11kV cable 1-4 of 4 (montage @7fps).jpg
Description: 2 days later this magpie is landing with a twig on an 11kV cable before flying on out of sight.
We don't have a good view of any Magpie nest this year.

Date: 19 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180508_0953_058+062+065 Rook nest started 25apr2018 - adult draws nestling up branch to feed 03+07+10 of 14 (montage).jpg
Description: Mum or Dad (on the right) is tempting the nestling up the branch to get it's next feed. The other nestling (left in the middle & right image) suddenly realises it wants a piece of the action. A noisy business this is!

View: DF3_20180506_0713_320 Rook nest and Rook pair in Black Poplar tree nearest house - nestlings beg at resting parents (crop).jpg
Description: The 2 Rook youngsters in the nest can shout at the parents all they like - Mum and Dad are trying to take a rest!

View: DF3_20180508_0646_014 Rook youngster demanding food from adjacent parent on 11kV cable.jpg
Description: Other Rook nests seem to be more advanced than any we have a view of. Here a youngster sits on a 11kV cable demanding food.

Date: 18 Jun 2018
View: D01_20180507_0039_001+0042_004+0247_009_FB6 Tawny Owl 4+3+2 minute visits top meadow post 1+3+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: 3 visits in one night from this Tawny Owl.
We are 'seeing' the bird several nights a week at the moment.

View: D01_20180508_0020_012+20180507_2220_003_FB6 Tawny Owl landing on meadow post rear and front views (montage).jpg
Description: These 2 Tawny Owl visits over the same night make a nice comparison of the very different colouration above and below the wings.

Date: 17 Jun 2018
View: D01_20180501_2320_009+2322_011_FB6 Barn Owl 7 minute visit to meadow post 1+2 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: The Barn Owl visited, a drop-dead gorgeous bird we feel privileged to see.

View: D01_20180505_0218_001+0219_002_FB6 Barn Owl 2 minute visit 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: 4 days later a Barn Owl stops over for just a couple of minutes.

Date: 16 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180426_1540_023 Rook on broken trunk of Ash Tree by Oil-seed Rape crop (crop 1).jpg
Description: A Rook standing on the remains of the broken trunk of the Ash tree in a the hedge to our south, with the vivid yellow of the crop behind. This almost looks like an aerial shot, but the tree is in a little valley photographed from the highest point on one side

View: DF3_20180503_1051_006 Rook on broken trunk of Ash Tree by Oil-seed Rape crop (crop).jpg
Description: Think Japanese print with gold leaf for the background.

Date: 15 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180501_1003_068 Rook nest and Rook pair in Black Poplar tree nearest house - chicks in nest (crop).jpg
Description: May-day 2018 also brought our first sighting of Rook nestlings. They have obviously been around for several days but as long as they stay below the edge of the nest we can't see them from the ground.

View: DF3_20180502_1335_103+113+118 Rook nest and Rook pair in Black Poplar nearest house - 2 nestlings feed 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Mum or Dad Rook stuffing food into whichever gaping beak looks most - err - appealing?

View: DF3_20180504_0847_066 Rook flying away over 2 begging nestlings (crop 2).jpg
Description: Rook nestling feed done for a bit, Mum or Dad exits - pursued by cries for more food.

Date: 14 Jun 2018
View: DF4_20180429_1819_007-1820_031 2 Muntjac Reeves Deer males interacting and feeding on island 02-05+08+10 of 21 (montage).jpg
Description: As the daylight fades, the two male Reeve's Muntjac Deer appear together on the island of the main pond, but we didn't get the aggressive behaviour we expected. The Deer in velvet (left throughout) and the one with bone antlers proceeded to have a rather gentle joust (top three images). Just after top right image the Deer in Velvet jumped away - we suspect that his delicate velvet got spiked by the bone antler and it hurt! The 'velvet' deer then approached the other more circumspectly, burying velvet antler harmlessly in the side of the neck of it's 'opponent' for a harmless trial of strength.
Our explanation? Dad on the right is letting his youngster practice doing 'battle'! It was a lovely few minutes to watch.

View: DF4_20180429_1820_026 2 Muntjac Reeves Deer males interacting and feeding on main pond island 09 of 21 (crop).jpg
Description: This larger image (fits in between the bottom middle and right in the montage) shows the left Deer in velvet pushing quite hard against the unconcerned 'opponent'.

View: DF4_20180429_1822_072 2 Muntjac Reeves Deer males interacting and feeding on main pond island 19 of 21 (crop).jpg
Description: As they quietly leave both male Reeves Muntjac Deer reached up for some overhanging leaves . This is how the 'browse line' is created - for us quite a low one for small deer!

Date: 13 Jun 2018
View: DF1_20180429_1210_005+1214_035+1215_046 Muntjac Reeves Deer male in velvet grooming on island 01+07+10 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: This male Reeve's Muntjac Deer has his antlers still in Velvet, wandering over the island of the main pond, nibbling vegetation and grooming as it went. An unexpected amount of attention was given to the tiny hooves.

View: DF3_20180429_1613_005 Muntjac Reeves Deer male in velvet browsing on grass by main pond.jpg
Description: This male Reeve's Muntjac Deer has his antlers still in Velvet visits the 'front' edge of the main pond to feed on the longish succulent grass.

Date: 12 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180425_0903_023 Buzzard in gliding flight 3 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: A Buzzard made a few lowish passes as a couple of Rooks made it very clear it was not welcome near 'our' Rookery

View: DF3_20180425_0904_075 Buzzard being harassed by 2 Rooks 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: "Get Out"

View: DF3_20180425_0904_104-108 Buzzard being harassed by 2 Rooks 2-6 of 6 (montage @7fps).jpg
Description: The chase continues overhead and into the distance.

Date: 11 Jun 2018
View: D01_20180427_0117_005-0328_30_FB6 Tawny Owl 7 visits to Meadow Post in 130m 01-03+06+07+09 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: On this night the Tawny Owl spent about 2 hours hunting around our patch, landing on the Meadow post 7 times. Here are 6 of the landings

View: D01_20180427_0231_017_FB6 Tawny Owl 7 visits to Meadow Post in 130m 05 of 10 (crop with Shrew (q) in beak).jpg
Description: In this landing (the fourth) the Tawny Owl has caught some prey and brought it back to the post to eat. From the size of lack of feathers we think this is/was a Shrew,

Date: 10 Jun 2018
View: E62_20180419_0757_003_FB5 Carrion Crow looking quizzical in rain.jpg
Description: A Carrion Crow doing his best to look like something out of a horror story?

Date: 09 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180423_0719_149-171 Chaffinch pair mating on old brick on top of FB5 IR sensor 1+3+9+16+19+22 of 25 (montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Arriving in the early morning to exchange the camera card in the 'meadow' we came across this pair of Chaffinches mating just 4 metres away on an old breeze-block. This is about the fourth attempt after which the exhausted looking male finally flew off. All these pics taken in 3 to 4 seconds

View: DF3_20180423_0719_164 Chaffinch pair mating on old brick on top of FB5 IR sensor 15 of 25 (crop).jpg
Description: A more detailed look at the mating Chaffinches that would slip in between upper right and bottom left images of the montage.

View: E63_20180419_1854_020_FB1 Chaffinch male with tiny black seed in beak.jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch in the peak of breeding condition. There is a tiny black seed in the tip of his beak. This is a different day, different site and different individual to the male we photographed mating

Date: 08 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180422_1508_045 Grey Squirrel female climbing Elm tree to eat exhumed Hazelnut 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: The female (notice the teat) Grey squirrel scurried up an Elm tree as we approached and then proceeded to eat this Hazelnut which she must just have dug from her (or somebody else's) winter cache.
Once this Elm tree gets big enough it will succumb to Dutch Elm Disease, but by then there are new shoots will carry on the cycle.

View: E60_20180422_1814_050_FB3 Grey Squirrel preening tail.jpg
Description: Hunt the Flea?

Date: 07 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180503_1557_070 Orange-tip butterfly male showing patterned underwing (crop 2).jpg
Description: This orange tip is newly emerged and flutters seemingly non-stop in search of a mate. Only the male has the gorgeous orange tips, but both sexes have the beautiful green and white patterning over the underneath of the rear wings, and along the edge of the forewing which perfectly lines up when the insect closes it's wings. Amazing!

View: DF3_20180425_0925_128 Green-veined White Butterfly feeding on Ladys Smock (Cuckoo Flower) Flower (Cuckooflower) (crop).jpg
Description: A Green-veined White butterfly stops to tank-up on some Lady's Smock (Cuckoo Flower) flowers that grow all around the edge of the main pond and the main pond island. The butterfly takes it's name for the patterning under the wing.

View: DF3_20180422_1345_034 Small White Butterfly male feeding on Dandelion (crop 2).jpg
Description: A male Small White Butterfly (commonly called Cabbage White) stops off for a re-fuel on this Dandelion flower.

Date: 06 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180421_1228_091+1228_094 Roe Deer hoof prints (right) and Badger Paw prints (left) in mud north boundary (montage).jpg
Description: The clay soil along the crop margins makes a good medium for catching animal tracks. On the right a Roe Deer leaves Hoof prints, and on the upper left a badger shows us the wonderful claws.

View: BU2_20180420_2011_463+467_SC7 Muntjac Reeves Deer female wandering up mound and looking upwards (montage).jpg
Description: The female Reeves Muntjac Deer wandering over the Mound, then for some reason gazing upwards.

View: BU2_20180420_2259_491+20180421_0337_510+20180422_2226_911_SC7 Badger visits to Round Mound (montage).jpg
Description: Badger visits to the mound over 3 nights.

Date: 05 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180420_1627_059+1636_065 Ford Model T 1913 reg SV 8435 on Farm Road (montage).jpg
Description: This beautifully restored/maintained 105 year old Model T Ford makes a really rather refined progress down to the industrial units, making his way back 10 minutes later. Top left of the montage is the detail of the polite notice affixed to the back. We notice that it is left-hand drive as one would expect for an American model - right hand drive versions are apparently now very rare. Googling finds this actual car portraying an Army WW1 Staff car.

Date: 04 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180418_1055_109 Primrose clump around base of young Ash tree.jpg
Description: Primroses are appearing in clumps all over the site, smiling up at us (or more likely the sunshine)

Date: 03 Jun 2018
View: E60_20180417_2152_024_FB3 Tawny Owl perched on rounded end of G-Cramp.jpg
Description: Two very different night hunters: Our 'regular' Tawny Owl visits the bird table at the kitchen window - most definitely NOT looking for scraps. We have noticed before that they like to perch on the top of the G-cramp, rather than on the wood.

View: E64_20180414_0220_146_FB2 Fox showing canines in partly open mouth.jpg
Description: Two very different night hunters: We see foxes a few times a week on the trail cam on the mound, but less often at the high resolution photo sites. Here this passing carnivore gives us a look at those effective canine teeth

Date: 02 Jun 2018
View: E64_20180414_1845_195_FB2 Pheasant male (blond).jpg
Description: Here is what we think of as the dominant male pheasant with his Blond plumage.

View: E64_20180416_0847_016_FB2 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: At the Woodland site the sun still gets through in the early morning to burnish the plumage of our dark pheasant. Should we call him a brunet?
Blond is male, Blonde is female, Brunet is male, Brunette is female. What a crazy language English is!

View: E62_20180415_1601_210_FB5 Pheasant male in rain speckled with drops.jpg
Description: Out in the rain, a be-speckled male Pheasant and not very impressed by the stale piece of cucumber.

Date: 01 Jun 2018
View: DF3_20180415_0844_008 Rook pair courtship or incubation feeding by nest 02 of 12 (crop).jpg
Description: The most advanced Rook nest (in the Black Poplar nearest the house) is now clearly being incubated. We assume that the male at the left has brought some food for the female.
We thought that birds feeding their partner while incubating would have a proper name, but it is mostly called 'courtship feeding' which it isn't. So we are using 'Incubation feeding' as a reasonably short description.

View: DF3_20180420_0726_006+007+009 Rook flying with leaves to nest 1+2+4 of 4 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: A lump of soft looking 'stuff' on it's way to line the Rook's nest.

Image Archive arch 2018 may.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 May 2018
View: DF3_20180419_1751_108 Tree Sparrow in Blackthorn blossom (crop).jpg
Description: A few Tree-sparrows were feeding on the blossom flowers, but the blossom hid most of the activity.
Is this Tree Sparrow adorning the Blossom, or the other way round?

Date: 30 May 2018
View: DF3_20180419_1059_032 Cherry tree in blossom inside east boundary.jpg
Description: We have several Cherry trees on our patch. These near the edge of the wooded area make a wonderful show of blossom.

View: DF3_20180419_1059_034 Cherry blossom detail.jpg
Description: Cherry Blossom detail.

View: DF3_20180419_1608_050 Cherry tree in blossom inside east boundary (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Cherry Blossom detail.

Date: 29 May 2018
View: DF3_20180414_1532_118 Bee-fly perched on dead Oak leaf with shadows of wings (crop).jpg
Description: We first spotted this Bee-fly flying around the shrubs in a sunny patch. Fortunately it landed on this desiccated Oak leaf, possibly to warm itself in the sun, and we caught this view with the interesting shadows of the wings.

View: DF3_20180419_1044_008 Bee-fly hovering (discontinuous) 4 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: Early Spring brings Bee-flies out to hover over anything, photographers included. They are not bees, but true flies that mimic bees. The long proboscis is not a sting, and the insect in completely harmless to humans.

View: DF3_20180419_1745_086+099+085 Bee-fly hovering (selected) 2+3+1 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: The range of wing movement of the Bee-fly seems to be very small - this montage includes the full range of up and down movement.

Date: 28 May 2018
View: DF3_20180414_1525_107 Violets growing from crack in disused concrete track.jpg
Description: Old concrete tracks have their uses - this strip of Violets is growing well in a decades old crack.

View: DF3_20180414_1531_115 Primrose clump.jpg
Description: There are primroses smiling up at us all over the site.

Date: 27 May 2018
View: DF3_20180418_1052_106 Brimstone Butterfly male on Forget-me-not flower (crop).jpg
Description: There seem to be quite a lot of male Brimstone butterflies waking from their winter sleep. Rarely stopping in their search for a mate, they do occasionally need to stop for a re-fuel, here on a group of Forget-me-not flowers.

View: DF3_20180420_1042_026 Forget-me-nots over a few square metres.jpg
Description: Under an Oak tree at the edge of the meadow is a carpet of Forget-me-nots of which this is one edge. Smaller self-seeded carpets are popping up all over the partly shaded area of the meadow.

Date: 26 May 2018
View: DF3_20180413_1618_041 Muntjac Reeves Deer male viewed looking South along east inner path 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: This male Reeve's Muntjac Deer walked quietly away from the humans arriving at the end of 'his' path. Just below the eye to our left you can see the scent gland bulging open.

View: SW2_20180414_2314_128_SC2 Roe Deer (crop IR).jpg
Description: Lost in the dark of the trail camera original were the antlers of this Roe Deer. We have seen quite a lot of 'larger than Muntjac' hoof slots in the endless mud, but this is our first 'sighting'. This species is bigger than Muntjac, has no facial mask, and no obvious tail.

Date: 25 May 2018
View: DF3_20180414_0928_060 Rook nest in Willow tree by main pond (crop 2).jpg
Description: We seem to be 'Rook-Ridden' this year, with all of the old nest sites refurbished or built again at the same site, plus several new nesting sites in the mature Black Poplars. This new site is in a medium sized Willow tree over the main pond.

View: E64_20180412_1358_063_FB2 Rook picking up twig from ground after rain.jpg
Description: On a day of heavy rain, this Rook picks up one of thousands of broken twigs lying all over the woodland floor.
The smudged image results from water and mud splashed onto the glass protecting the camera by a strong wind, despite being protected by a 20cm overhanging slate.

View: DF3_20180415_0642_141 Rook nest in Willow tree by main pond - with twig in beak (crop).jpg
Description: Next morning this Rook has obtained a twig (in the beak) to add to the nest.

Date: 24 May 2018
View: D01_20180417_0430_005+0059_002+20180415_2031_005_FB6 Tawny Owl + barn Owl + Little Owl landings at same scale (montage).jpg
Description: All three of our 'regular' owls making landing on the meadow post.
The sizes of the Owl images are all at the same scale.

View: D01_20180417_0432_008+0100_003_FB6 Barn Owl 2 minute visit to meadow post 2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Landing accomplished, the restless Little Owl did not stay, but the larger Owls spent several minutes in a quiet search for some imprudent rodent.

Date: 23 May 2018
View: DF3_20180412_1701_009 Muntjac Reeves Deer male resting on main pond island.jpg
Description: A Male Reeve's Muntjac Deer rests quietly on the island of the main pond.

View: D5C_20180412_1640_003-on Muntjac Reeves Deer male browsing over main pond & island over 20mins 01-28 of 28 (anim).gif
Description: This 28 image sequence is of a Reeve's Muntjac Deer contentedly feeding at the back of the pond and then wandering over the Iris roots to rest on the Island of the pond.

Date: 22 May 2018
View: E60_20180410_1552_015_FB3 Wood Pigeon alarmed by Corvid landing on bird table.jpg
Description: This corvid lands with a thump next to the distracted Wood Pigeon.

View: E60_20180410_1555_017_FB3 Wood Pigeon on bird table with under-wing detail.jpg
Description: 3 minutes later we have just this one lovely Wood Pigeon showing us the underside of it's wings.

Date: 21 May 2018
View: DF3_20180410_1235_013 Muntjac Reeves Deer male chewing cud and resting on Main pond island 09 of 11 (crop).jpg
Description: A male Reeve's Muntjac Deer spent a quarter of an hour resting and chewing the cud on the island of the main pond, easily reached by stepping on the Iris roots

View: D5C_20180410_1235_040-1247_056 Muntjac Reeves Deer male chewing cud and resting on Main pond island 02-05 of 11 (montage).jpg
Description: A male Reeve's Muntjac Deer spent a quarter of an hour resting and chewing the cud on the island of the main pond. Finally disturbed by hearing the crunch of shoes on gravel at the front of the house, he made a quiet withdrawal into the undergrowth.

View: BU2_20180408_0925_027+1318_047_SC7 2 Muntjac Reeves Deer male visits left=bone antlers right=velvet (detail montage).jpg
Description: A surprise for us - we have 2 male Reeve's Muntjac Deer.
These two pics taken 4 hours apart show on the left a Deer with his little antlers (made of real bone) visible above the ears, whilst the male on the right still has his antlers growing under skin (known by the lovely term 'In Velvet') to the left of his ears.
Muntjac Deer don't have a 'breeding season' - their Fawns can be born throughout the year, so the cycle of Antler growing is not synchronised for a 'Rut'.

Date: 20 May 2018
View: E64_20180407_1559_087_FB2 Grey Squirrel grooming.jpg
Description: "Where's that flea?"

Date: 19 May 2018
View: E60_20180406_2141_026_FB3 Tawny Owl landing.jpg
Description: The Tawny Owl visits the perch at the kitchen window. The wings are partly folded as the Owl lands.

View: D01_20180409_0005_001+007_004_FB6 Tawny Owl 4 minute visit 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: A Midnight Tawny Owl stays on the Meadow Post for a few minutes. The wings are partly folded as the Owl lands.

Date: 18 May 2018
View: DF3_20180410_1558_053-20180411_1032_001 Rook nest building 08Apr2018 daily to 11Apr2018 (montage).jpg
Description: A new pair of Rooks suddenly started a brand new nest a few metres from an established one. It is only clearly visible from one vantage point you see here. We caught the start with not many twigs in place, but only a day later it was quite developed. The third caught one of the builders 'on site' and by only the forth day it looked ready for 'interior decoration' - lining with leaves.

View: DF3_20180417_1621_040+18_1047_103+19_0732_160+20_0742_047 Rook nest started 08apr2018 fallen & rebuilt (montage 4 days).jpg
Description: 6 days later in high winds (not quite a 'storm' but a definite 'branch swayer') the nest tumbled out of the tree and we found it on the concrete track, here rolled over to see into the 'cup'. It didn't disintegrate so was nicely woven together - just not adequately anchored to the tree. Next day the site in the tree was still vacant, but another morning forward we were amazed to see a partially built replacement at the same site. Another 24 hours on at least twice as many sticks have been woven in. We hope what might be a 'starter-home' gets re-built better at the second try.

View: DF3_20180408_0823_039 Rook nest and Rook pair in Black Poplar tree nearest house - affection at nest changeover.jpg
Description: The most developed Rooks nest near the house is now clearly being incubated. Here for just a minute the birds 'canoodled' on an adjacent branch before one went back to settle on the nest.

Date: 17 May 2018
View: DF3_20180405_1318_097 Brimstone Butterfly (1st image of 2018).jpg
Description: We first saw a Brimstone Butterfly on 26 March, but this is our first pic of one (a male) feasting on one of many Primroses adorning the front garden.

Date: 16 May 2018
View: DF3_20180405_1117_051+055+059+062 Buzzard glide to right turning head left 1-4 of 4 (close spaced montage over 2 secs).jpg
Description: This Buzzard glides by slowly turning left but obviously finding something to it's right of intense interest, bending it's neck to watch.

Date: 15 May 2018
View: D01_20180406_2131_001_FB6 Tawny Owl 6 minute visit 1 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: The local Tawny Owl visits the meadow post towards the camera downwind of the post.

View: D01_20180407_2222_001+2224_004+2223_003_FB6 Barn owl 6 minute visit 1+3+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Next night the camera is upwind of the post, so this Barn Owl arrives with back to camera. We rarely see Barn Owls move their feet after landing, but their wonderful necks and body can twist to let this one look back at the camera

Date: 14 May 2018
View: E63_20180329_1448_027_FB1 Pheasant male with tail vertical.jpg
Description: Wet and blustery weather seems to have brought in several male pheasants to find some cover on our patch.

View: E63_20180401_1355_204_FB1 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: Wet and blustery weather seems to have brought in several male pheasants to find some cover on our patch.

View: E63_20180402_1715_050_FB1 Magpie and Pheasant male sharing site.jpg
Description: "Penny plain, Tuppence coloured"
Wet and blustery weather seems to have brought in several male pheasants to find some cover on our patch. Corvids and Pheasants mostly seem to tolerate each other as here.

View: E62_20180330_1817_076_FB5 Pheasant male at waterlogged site in rain.jpg
Description: After the rain, a male Pheasant inspects the waterlogged ground. Note the reflection of the red Wattles in the water at the bottom of the frame

Date: 13 May 2018
View: E62_20180402_1412_042+20180403_0420_072+0437_073_FB5 Magpie eating road-kill Rabbit before Fox takes it overnight (montage).jpg
Description: Walking in the quiet of early morning of Easter Sunday this Road-kill Rabbit was lying on the main road still reasonably intact. A bucket and spade transported it to the meadow camera site where it lay mostly untouched for the rest of that day. Then a magpie (top image) and Carrion Crows all pecked off a bit, before the arrival of 'our' young Fox who it seems was strong enough to drag it off to we-know-not-where a couple of hours before dawn.

Date: 12 May 2018
View: E63_20180330_1321_060_FB1 Blackbird female with earthworm in beak.jpg
Description: A wet female Blackbird has pulled a wet Earthworm out of the wet mud!

Date: 11 May 2018
View: DF3_20180403_1243_075 Buzzard with light plumage harassed by Rook.jpg
Description: We haven't seen any very light coloured Buzzard for at least a year. Here it is being made unwelcome, as usual, by one of the local Rooks.

View: DF3_20180403_1243_081 Buzzard with light plumage in flight (crop).jpg
Description: A closer view of the light coloured Buzzard shows the wings in a shorter and broader configuration, probably better for gliding rather than 'shaking off' the Rook.

Date: 10 May 2018
View: DF3_20180401_1209_036-040 Aeroplane G-RATE and Buzzard crossing in flight 1-5 of 5 (impression montage).jpg
Description: The sky is BIG - it is surprising how rarely things cross each other, so this line-of-site crossing was too much to resist.
This montage is genuine, but the paths of the plane and Buzzard are skewed to make the action clearer. Photographed at about 7fps.

Date: 09 May 2018
View: DF3_20180403_1301_129 Primrose clump near garage.jpg
Description: A few Spring flowers the Squirrels haven't eaten yet include clumps of Primroses.

View: DF3_20180403_1308_132 Blackthorn single opening flower.jpg
Description: One of thousands of Blackthorn flowers starting to emerge in patches in the hundreds of metres of our hedges around us.

View: DF3_20180330_0928_009 Lombardy Poplar (along Farm Road) first year with Catkins.jpg
Description: The Lombardy Poplar Trees planted along the farm road a few years ago have produced Catkins for the first time this year.

Date: 08 May 2018
View: D01_20180403_2139_005-2145_013_FB6 Tawny Owl 7 minute visit including departure diving down 1+2+4+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: After a couple of weeks of absence the Tawny owl visited for 7 minutes before diving down to the short grass on the right side of the post.
Photographing a bird leaving like this is just luck - beam breaks react much more slowly to the beam returning than being broken - here the next timed picture just happened to occur at the right moment.

Date: 07 May 2018
View: E62_20180326_1829_087_FB5 2 Tree Sparrows side by side (crop).jpg
Description: A small flock of at least 6 Tree Sparrows continue to wander around the plot. Here a couple of them lined up as if for a photo!

View: E62_20180327_1853_125_FB5 6 Tree Sparrows feeding together.jpg
Description: A small flock of at least 6 Tree Sparrows continue to wander around the plot.

View: E62_20180403_1706_016_FB5 3 Tree Sparrows each with seed in beak.jpg
Description: 3 of 'our' Tree Sparrows (genuine single frame) each with a little seed in the beak.

Date: 06 May 2018
View: E62_20180326_1807_080_FB5 Mallard Duck pair feeding together (crop 1).jpg
Description: A true 'togetherness' moment for this pair of Mallard ducks sharing the supper table.

Date: 05 May 2018
View: DF3_20180326_1214_028-030 Dunnock singing in hedge-top 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: A Dunnock sings his territorial song from this hedge-top.

View: E62_20180323_1453_050_FB5 6 Tree Sparrows + Blackbird male.jpg
Description: A small flock of at least 6 Tree Sparrows wander around the plot, seen mainly at this site in the meadow and occasionally at bird tables. Here a male Blackbird watches them.

Date: 04 May 2018
View: DF3_20180326_1205_005 Buff-tailed Bumble Bee on white and purple crocuses.jpg
Description: The first decently warm day brought out the Bumble Bees. We seem to have a colony of this species recently arrived in the UK.

View: DF3_20180326_1207_014 Buff-tailed Bumble Bee on Grape Hyacinth.jpg
Description: The first decently warm day brought out the Bumble Bees. We seem to have a colony of this species recently arrived in the UK.

Date: 03 May 2018
View: DF3_20180323_0956_084 Primrose clump.jpg
Description: Spring has Sprung - the Primroses are flowering

View: DF3_20180326_1208_018 Celandine flowers (crop).jpg
Description: In odd corners of the paths Celandines smile up at us.

View: DF3_20180326_1218_031 Daisy Flower on farm crop margin.jpg
Description: This is one of the tiny daisies that some people seem to think 'spoil' their pristine grass. This little flower was the only one we could find at the edge of the farmers crop.

Date: 02 May 2018
View: DF1_20180327_1140_010+021 Rook collecting bedding on Main Pond island and flying off with it 3+6 of 6 (montage upwards).jpg
Description: Now the nests are built, its all down to comfort and maintenance. Here a Rook collects and carries away a large beakful of last years leaves.

View: DF1_20180328_1759_008+020+025+1801_068 Blackbird female collecting bedding 1+3+5+7 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: The Blackbird's nest is much smaller than a Rooks, and needs 'lighter' lining. Here the Blackbird spent several minutes collecting an ever increasing amount of dead grass before, to our surprise, not flying off with it, but just walking through the bottom of the nearby hedge.

View: DF1_20180328_1800_033 Blackbird female collecting bedding 6 of 8 (crop).jpg
Description: A head-on view the beakful forming a somewhat untidy but otherwise impressive 'handlebar moustache'

Date: 01 May 2018
View: E62_20180324_0608_074_FB5 Song Thrush.jpg
Description: A lovely Song Thrush.
We have found at least one of the 'Anvils' a small paving slab under an evergreen that not used for a couple of years. A week later, as we finalise this, all the snail shells have gone! We understand from a BBC documentary about eggs that some Tits and other birds crunch up snail shells in their Gizzards to absorb the Calcium to make their egg shells. We guess that one or more birds found this already smashed up resource.
A discussion on the subject can be found at George Pilkington's site at
http://nurturing-nature.co.uk/gardening-for-wildlife/birds-need-calcium-to-lay-their-eggs-where-do-they-get-it-from/

Image Archive arch 2018 apr.htm (view it Here)

Date: 30 Apr 2018
View: DF3_20180323_0944_039-0946_068 3 Muntjac Deer (1 Male + 2 Females) browsing in Oil-seed Rape crop 1-3+-5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: 3 Reeves Muntjac Deer were wandering over the Oil-seed Rape crop using it as fodder. Whole areas are bare :-(. The single male is the one with short straight antlers (lower right top image). The Deer ambled away to the far corner of the field and eventually through the hedge to a wheat crop.

View: DF3_20180323_0945_045 3 Muntjac Deer (1 Male + 2 Females) browsing in Oil-seed Rape crop 2 of 5 (crop 2).jpg
Description: Here is a detail of the male Reeves Muntjac Deer making his characteristic bark.

Date: 29 Apr 2018
View: E62_20180321_1811_135_FB5 Mallard Duck pair feeding together.jpg
Description: In the rough and tumble of local duck ponds you rarely see pairs of Mallard ducks quietly together. But in the quieter rural settings they spend 'quality time' together until she has to spend most of her time incubating her eggs. He then stays away from her camouflaged plumage so as not to attract nest predators.

Date: 28 Apr 2018
View: E62_20180316_1740_057_FB5 Mallard Duck male feeding still wet from pond with duckweed stuck to plumage.jpg
Description: First sighting of a Mallard Duck at the meadow site. He is still wet from a pond and has duckweed stuck to his feathers.

View: D5C_20180320_1655_036 Mallard pair upending in main pond.jpg
Description: An hour before sunset we now expect to see this pair of mallard Ducks arriving to gobble up the corn we threw in the pond earlier in the day.

Date: 27 Apr 2018
View: E64_20180315_1814_037_FB2 Pheasant male walking across.jpg
Description: Love the 'ear' tufts on this proud male Pheasant. There are at least 9 female pheasants in our patch and he must be revelling in it!

View: E64_20180318_1401_134_FB2 Pheasant male searching snowy ground for food.jpg
Description: Our lovely male Pheasant searching the ground for some corn, or anything else edible

View: E63_20180322_0645_139_FB1 Red-legged Partridge rear view with feather detail.jpg
Description: We are suddenly seeing Red-legged partridges around the area, mostly in the distance or fleeing from us. This rear view provides a good look at the lovely patterning of the feathers.

Date: 26 Apr 2018
View: DF3_20180321_1227_045 Redwing in Tree.jpg
Description: A Redwing brave enough to let us get within about 15m as we walked down our concrete track. You can't see much red in this back-lit view.

View: E62_20180317_1014_073_FB5 Redwing.jpg
Description: An incidental Out of Focus pic of a Redwing showing his colours unusually well.

Date: 25 Apr 2018
View: D5C_20180315_1647_013+018 Squirrels fighting at edge of pond fall in to water 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: A couple of Grey squirrels roll over and over in a fight, so engrossed that they roll into the edge of the pond. The fight promptly stops and the Squirrels make a prompt exit from the near freezing water and dash off in different directions.
In the lower image you can see the water drops 'flying'.
The Chaffinch on the twig fallen in the water ignores the whole affair!

View: E62_20180317_1847_134_FB5 Rabbit leaping over lightly snow covered ground.jpg
Description: Whee!
If we were this Rabbit we would be hurrying back to our nice warm Burrow, so perhaps this is the need-for-speed.

Date: 24 Apr 2018
View: D01_20180319_2128_002_FB6 Barn Owl 10 minute visit to meadow post 1 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: A Barn owl makes a beautiful entrance ...

View: D01_20180319_2129_003-2137_014_FB6 Barn Owl 10 minute visit to meadow post 2-6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: ... and stays for about 10 minutes without moving the claws once settled.

Date: 23 Apr 2018
View: E63_20180314_1716_114_FB1 Blackbird male pulling worm from ground (crop at left edge).jpg
Description: This is the second time, at different sites, that we catch a Blackbird (last time the female, here the male) pulling a stretchy worm from the ground.
Why does such action always seem to fall off the edge of the frame!

Date: 22 Apr 2018
View: DF3_20180316_0704_051-055 Hare running along edge of Oil-seed Rape crop (chased by another OOF) 1-5 of 5 (acc montage 7fps).jpg
Description: To a field north of the bridleway growing an Oil-seed Rape crop, we were delighted to spot a couple of Hares chasing along the far edge of the crop. At this stage the chased Hare was streaking along - this is barely more than half a second of travel. The chaser is way out of Frame to the right.

View: DF3_20180316_0704_051 Hare running along edge of Oil-seed Rape crop near brook (chased by another OOF) 1 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: More detail for the right-most image of the Hare in the montage.

View: DF3_20180316_0704_052 Hare running along edge of Oil-seed Rape crop near brook (chased by another OOF) 2 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: More detail for the second from the right image of the Hare in the montage.

Date: 21 Apr 2018
View: DF3_20180316_0654_006 Muntjac Deer Reeves male ambling away through Oil-seed Rape crop 01 of 14 (crop).jpg
Description: The Reeves Muntjac Deer male stares at the cameraman ...

View: DF3_20180316_0654_011-0655_022 Muntjac Deer Reeves male walking over Oil-seed Rape crop 03-05+8+10+11+13+14 of 14 (montage).jpg
Description: ... before trotting away across the very patchy Oil-seed Rape crop.

Date: 20 Apr 2018
View: E64_20180313_2135_065_FB2 Badger.jpg
Description: A badger in fine condition trundles his way through the night. Note one of the huge claws is catching the light under the head.

View: BU2_20180314_0340_447_SC7 Badger on Round Mound.jpg
Description: 6 Hours later a Badger wandered over the bare earth of a 25 year old pond spoil heap. There must be SOMETHING to draw these mammals to the mound other than the tempting smell of Rabbit in the burrows - probably worms and other invertebrates!

View: BU2_20180313_0157_123+0203_128+129+0218_131_SC7 Polecat on Round Mound for 30 minutes 2-5 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: This Polecat spent 30 minutes wandering over the mound - we can only think that the bare soil is 'alive' with worms and other invertebrates.

Date: 19 Apr 2018
View: DF3_20180311_1044_004 Rook on Telephone cable.jpg
Description: A Rook on our telephone cable, peering at the ground!

View: DF3_20180313_0922_021 Rook flying from nest occupied by partner (crop).jpg
Description: This is the first of the two nests near the house - resurrected from the remains of last years. One bird is on the nest, and the other bird is flying off.

View: DF3_20180313_1545_060-062 Rook in flight with vegetation in beak 1-3 of 5 (approx montage).jpg
Description: Now the Rook nests are built, the materials for the nest moves on to insulation and comfort - here goes a beakful of dried foliage for one of the nests.

Date: 18 Apr 2018
View: D01_20180309_2235_004-2241_012_FB6 Barn Owl 7 minute visit to meadow post raising one leg twice 1-5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: In the rain the Barn Owl spends a few minutes on the meadow post, raising and lowering the left leg twice probably as possible 'targets' come and go.

Date: 17 Apr 2018
View: E63_20180305_1404_023+1544_053_FB1 Muntjac Deer female + Male (montage).jpg
Description: First the Female Muntjac Deer checked for food in this scrape, and then a couple of hours later the male, with a much less pristine coat, tried the same place.

View: E63_20180305_1416_028_FB1 Muntjac Deer female.jpg
Description: The female Muntjac Deer stayed for several minutes, wandering around the site.

Date: 16 Apr 2018
View: E63_20180304_1731_522_FB1 Red-Legged Partridge (crop from 3).jpg
Description: We have occasionally startled coveys of Grey Partridges as we walk about, but here the startling Red-legged Partridge visited this site one evening along with 2 more (poor images cropped out).
Fantastic colours not enhanced by us.

View: E64_20180301_0829_016_FB2 Pheasant male (blonde) in snow with ice covered tail.jpg
Description: The 'blond' dominant male Pheasant hunts beneath the coating of snow, his tail encrusted with ice.

Date: 15 Apr 2018
View: E62_20180301_1114_031_FB5 Chaffinch male snow-bathing.jpg
Description: If there is water - water bathe;
If there is dust - dust bathe;
If there is snow - Snow bathe.
Keeping those feathers in top condition is essential to fight the cold.

View: E62_20180301_1145_034_FB5 Dunnock snow-bathing.jpg
Description: If there is water - water bathe;
If there is dust - dust bathe;
If there is snow - Snow bathe.
Keeping those feathers in top condition is essential to fight the cold.

Date: 14 Apr 2018
View: E60_20180301_1536_023_FB3 Great Tit flying into blizzard.jpg
Description: Into the teeth of the blizzard this great Tit struggles along in search of food - the table still has corn and vegetable fat smeared over it. You can see the fine snow hitting his head - poor little sod!

View: E60_20180302_1608_057_FB3 Tree Sparrow in falling snow.jpg
Description: This tree sparrow can still find some sustenance as the flakes descend. We have picked up about 10 images of tree sparrows over a few days and they always seem to have one or more seeds in their beaks.

Date: 13 Apr 2018
View: DF3_20180308_1619_036 Muntjac Deer male looking south down east hedge gap at photographer.jpg
Description: Reaching the corner of the plot, down the gap between our internal hedge and the fence was this male Muntjac Deer giving the Cameraman a long hard stare before quietly deciding to move into the hedge on the left.

Date: 12 Apr 2018
View: DF1_20180303_1237_012-1238_021 Green Woodpecker probing ground under snow 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Green Woodpeckers mostly feed by probing the ground for ants and other insects. Here the bird has scraped away some of the snow to get at the ground to probe it.

View: E62_20180301_1348_047_FB5 2 Jackdaws in snow (crop 1).jpg
Description: A couple of Jackdaws out foraging in the snow.

Date: 11 Apr 2018
View: D72_20180306_1747_011 Sunset with sun two-thirds below horizon.jpg
Description: A particular lurid sunset with just the top third of the sun still showing.

View: D72_20180309_0618_004 Sunrise.jpg
Description: A few days later the Sunrise also made some interesting and threatening patterns in the sky.

Date: 10 Apr 2018
View: D36_20180303_0957_147_FB4 Robin pair calling to each other on snowy Tree-stump (crop).jpg
Description: Even being out in snow doesn't cool the ardour of this pair of Robins.

View: E63_20180301_1526_092_FB1 Robin pair sharing feeding site in snow.jpg
Description: Love is - enjoying freezing together?

View: E60_20180301_1335_011_FB3 2 Robin in flight squabble.jpg
Description: Robins are basically aggressive birds who suppress antagonism to their breeding partner for a few months of family raising. So this is presumably an extra-family affair as these two Robins squabble over who 'owns' the bird table.

Date: 09 Apr 2018
View: D01_20180302_2142_087-2144_090_FB6 Barn Owl 4 minute visit to Meadow post 1+2+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: During the snow all three local Owl species (Little, Tawny and Barn Owls) visited the meadow post top. Most of the pics were spoiled by snow crusted windows, driving snow or snow mist, but this Barn Owl timed the visit better.

Date: 08 Apr 2018
View: D72_20180304_0825_053 Badger paw-prints in thawing snow on access track.jpg
Description: In the snow on the concrete access track we feature here 3 clear badger prints, complete with indents from the claws. The prints meandered along the track for about 50m.

View: BU2_20180306_0314_257-20180308_0309_695_SC7 4 Badger visits to Round mound over 3 days (montage).jpg
Description: A montage of Badger(s) visiting a pond spoil heap over 3 days, looking for an easy meal while their supply of worms is mostly hiding under the frozen ground.

Date: 07 Apr 2018
View: E64_20180227_1346_125_FB2 Song Thrush with small snail in beak (crop).jpg
Description: A Song Thrush complete with snail in beak. We haven't found what we assume is a 'convenient' Thrush 'Anvil' as yet.

Date: 06 Apr 2018
View: DF3_20180228_1317_012+011 Grey Squirrel digging up food from exposed grass in snow (montage).jpg
Description: All over the site Rabbits and (here) Grey squirrels find or make (by scratching at the snow) a piece of bare grass or soil, and than rake away at it until they find an insect or worm to fill that ever-empty tummy.

View: E62_20180227_1439_127_FB5 Robin taking off from snow.jpg
Description: A Robin launches itself from the snowy ground.

Date: 05 Apr 2018
View: DF3_20180228_0916_093 Buzzard in tree by brook (crop).jpg
Description: A Buzzard about 100m away at the brook not quite as lost in the confusion of branches as usual.

View: DF3_20180228_0916_095-097 Buzzard flying from tree near brook 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Not pleased to see us even 100m away, the Buzzard quietly launched and flew out of sight.

Date: 04 Apr 2018
View: DF3_20180228_0912_090 Robin on Lichen covered branch in hedge.jpg
Description: Robins seem to 'light up' the hedges with their red and white breasts.

View: E62_20180227_1421_120_FB5 Magpie with bright iridescent tail (no brightness or colour adjustments).jpg
Description: This Magpie shows as an amazing range and vividness of iridescent colours in it's tail. We haven't changed the image beyond cropping it.

Date: 03 Apr 2018
View: DF3_20180227_1408_040+041+051 Rook Pair courtship feeding over 2 seconds 1+2+5 of 6 (montage downwards).jpg
Description: High in the Black Poplar nearest the house we caught this moment of Courtship feeding. The male Rook (right) brings the female an offering which she accepts. We can only see a single corn grain in his beak and she may not be very impressed! It's the thought that counts!

View: DF3_20180228_0910_076 Rook nest and Rook pair in Black Poplar tree nearest house.jpg
Description: In better light, the pair of Rooks declaring ownership of the nest, the bird on the right beak is open to call his grating tone.

Date: 02 Apr 2018
View: DF1_20180301_1611_018 Muntjac Deer male in snow eating vegetation behind pond.jpg
Description: From the house we watched this male Muntjac Deer wander along the back of the main pond, and finally trying some Laurel Leaves before disappearing from sight.

View: DF1_20180301_1611_019 Muntjac Deer male in snow eating vegetation behind pond.jpg
Description: From the house we watched this male Muntjac Deer wander along the back of the main pond, and finally trying some Laurel Leaves before disappearing from sight.

Date: 01 Apr 2018
View: D01_20180228_1825_004+1826_005+1827_006_FB6 Little Owl 3 minute visit to meadow post 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: The 'return' of the Little Owl (actual Species name) for just a few minutes. The ground has become frozen and partly covered in snow and we suspect that the bird's normal hunting patch is even less 'friendly' than ours.

Image Archive arch 2018 mar.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Mar 2018
View: E63_20180226_0418_240_FB1 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: 4 hours after midnight, Brock the badger stomps through the site.
Badgers frequently barge the camera triggering sensors out of alignment so we get no more pics until we fix them next day, but this individual seems to be less blundering than most.

Date: 30 Mar 2018
View: E63_20180223_1724_105_FB1 2 Chaffinch males together one with blue beak the other without.jpg
Description: The male Chaffinch on the left has his blue beak ready for breeding, but the similar bird behind is still a week or two behind.

View: D36_20180226_1513_028+1529_029_FB4 Chaffinch male with blue coating on beak partly rubbed off + female (montage).jpg
Description: A quarter of an hour apart this male and then female Chaffinch landed on the tree stump. You can see the males blue beak coating (left bird) is already getting rubbed off at the edges. The female beak does not change.

Date: 29 Mar 2018
View: E62_20180222_0953_015_FB5 Blackbird female pulling long earthworm from ground (crop).jpg
Description: Worms are very stretchy - you can see that this one has been pulled taut as this female Blackbird collects her mid-morning meal. Ugh!

View: E62_20180227_1621_164_FB5 Blackbird male probing mud with open beak.jpg
Description: The birds tend to keep clear the patches where we leave food. As well as picking up our offerings, the birds make the most of the exposed soil to probe for morsels. Here a male Blackbird digs in the soft soil. He might even find a tasty worm!

Date: 28 Mar 2018
View: D5C_20180223_1126_053 Goldfinch with Teasel seed in beak.jpg
Description: Teasel seed head provide seeds right through to Spring. This Goldfinch has just extracted a seed from the spiky remains on the ground.

Date: 27 Mar 2018
View: D01_20180225_1834_005+1836_007+1843_017_FB6 Tawny Owl 12 mins visit Landing + looks back Right + Left 1+3+5 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: A Visit by what we think of as the 'local' Tawny owl.
After the landing (left) we get a illustration of the rotation of an Owls neck - 270 degrees from multiple sources (all possibly referencing the same original). While this sounds like the bird can almost 'look behind' it, it is actually (360-270) / 2 = 45 degrees short of completely backwards each way. The eyes are so big they can barely move them in their sockets', so to remove the 'blind spot' compare the middle and right images to see that this Owl also twists it's body to increase the amount of turn.

View: E60_20180224_2000_032_FB3 Tawny Owl landing on kitchen window perch (back to camera) (crop).jpg
Description: The strong South Easterly wind has forced this Tawny Owl to loop round close to the house to make an 'into the wind' landing on the perch. So, back to camera, enjoy the spread of feathers!

Date: 26 Mar 2018
View: D36_20180216_1458_035_FB4 Robin.jpg
Description: A beautiful Robin perched on the tree-stump.
Some of the normally Grey/white feathers are tinged with brown tips, something we haven't noticed before. Could just be mud.

View: DF3_20180220_0932_002 2 Robins perched in hedge.jpg
Description: Winter is a hard time for small birds. Spring has not yet provided a new supply of food, but the bird must feed to keep warm and make a start on the breeding season. When we appear anywhere now, Robins rush about excitedly in the expectation of a hand-out.

View: E63_20180219_1528_097_FB1 Robin (right) landing by another.jpg
Description: Peaceful co-existence - for a few months of breeding season anyway

Date: 25 Mar 2018
View: DF2_20180220_1358_006 Muntjac Deer pair on path through meadow.jpg
Description: Though an upstairs window was this sight of a pair of Muntjac Deer quietly feeding together on the path East-West across the meadow.

View: DF3_20180221_1503_007 Muntjac Deer male watching photographer.jpg
Description: Next day walking at the edge of the meadow this male Muntjac Deer and the photographer had a moment of joint assessment before the Deer decided it was time to vanish into the overgrown edge of the path

Date: 24 Mar 2018
View: DF3_20180220_1307_145 Fieldfare perched high in black poplar with muddy beak.jpg
Description: Our RSPB record sheets we keep in Winter shows that it is some weeks since we saw any Fieldfares. This one (unusually) seemed to be on its own, high in a Black Poplar tree. Fieldfares are best know for eating berries, but the mud on this bird's beak tells us that this one has been probing the ground.

Date: 23 Mar 2018
View: E62_20180210_1612_241_FB5 Pheasant male in rain.jpg
Description: One of the 'normal' coloured male Pheasants out in the drizzle with his back glistening with tiny drops of water.

View: E63_20180220_1535_128_FB1 Pheasant male with muddy beak and claws.jpg
Description: We think of Pheasant as 'pristine' birds, but this one has a mud-encrusted beak and claws.

Date: 22 Mar 2018
View: E62_20180218_0845_207+0924_208+1022_209_FB5 Blackbird male + female + different male about 1Hr apart (montage).jpg
Description: At about 1 hourly intervals blackbirds photographed themselves at this site. At first we thought the males (top and bottom) were the same bird, but closer examination shows the primary feather tips of the top bird show a white outlining not present on the bottom bird, and there are differences in the shape of the eye-ring.

Date: 21 Mar 2018
View: DF3_20180215_1021_007+009 Carrion Crow jumping up to higher branch 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: Just about to photograph this bird perched on the lower branch, it suddenly leapt upward onto the branch perhaps half a metre above.

View: DF3_20180217_1321_099 Carrion Crow surrounded by Cherry buds.jpg
Description: A good show of Cherry buds frame this Carrion Crow.

Date: 20 Mar 2018
View: E64_20180209_1521_074_FB2 Pheasant male launching into flight as Grey Squirrel attacks (crop).jpg
Description: We don't think male Pheasants attack Grey squirrels unbidden, but will sometimes defend themselves vigorously if attacked by one.

Date: 19 Mar 2018
View: E63_20180209_1542_119+1625_134_FB1 2 Male Pheasants at same crop (montage).jpg
Description: A Comparison of two of the male Pheasants in identical crops.
They seem to be similar sizes with similarly magnificent tails.
We hope they don't injure one another squabbling over the girls.

View: E63_20180214_0837_106_FB1 Pheasant female on alert.jpg
Description: One of the female Pheasants on alert about something. Pheasants seem to live in a permanent state of Alert.

Date: 18 Mar 2018
View: DF3_20180210_0731_075-079 Little Egret in flight lit by sunrise 4-8 of 8 (approx montage).jpg
Description: Facing away from a lurid dawn, this Little Egret flew by us, lit by the pink of the sky.

View: DF3_20180214_0745_132-140 Carrion Crow launching from top of Conifer at sunrise 02+03+05-09 of 12 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: One of the Carrion crows on one of the favourite perches at the South East corner of our patch takes off from a bent-down branch.
The last 5 images (on the left) are accurately spaced at 7 fps.

Date: 17 Mar 2018
View: DF1_20180210_1004_002 Tree Sparrow pair snuggled together on twig in bush (crop 1).jpg
Description: We are so pleased to have back the Tree Sparrows, and think this moment of 'togetherness' (in dreadful light for long-range photos) really catches the moment.
Genuine single exposure - not a montage.

View: E63_20180212_0731_010+0741_013_FB1 Robin visits 10 minutes apart (accurate montage).jpg
Description: Two images of the same Robin, accurately montaged 10 minutes apart.
The left-right symmetry is close to perfect (this is NOT an optical flip).

Date: 16 Mar 2018
View: D01_20180210_1738_004+1739_005_FB6 Barn Owl 3 minute visit to meadow post 1+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl touches down and stays for 3 minutes, perched on what seems to be his favoured leg. In the cold weather they tend to pull one leg into the feathers rather more urgently than in the summer. Brrr!

Date: 15 Mar 2018
View: DF3_20180126_1309_073-081 Muntjac Deer female running south along crop & through hedge 2+-4+6+8 of 8 (approx montage).jpg
Description: A Female Muntjac Deer flees at our distant appearance, running down the crop edge and through a gap in the hedge.

View: D5C_20180208_1631_006 Muntjac Deer male browsing in front of main pond.jpg
Description: The Muntjac Deer sometimes appear near the house as it is getting dark, here the male is foraging on the edge of the main pond and IN the more overgrown parts.

Date: 14 Mar 2018
View: BU2_20180126_1659_405-20180128_2053_793 Courting Rabbits x 2 + Muntjac Deer Fem + Fox + Badger 1-5 of 5 (acc montage 50 Hr).jpg
Description: Four regular 'Mound visitors' species captured over 50 hours, all where they were at the time.

Date: 13 Mar 2018
View: E64_20180206_1621_072_FB2 Pheasant male (blonde) stepping over log.jpg
Description: A peaceful moment catches the dominant male pheasant with unusual colouration quietly stepping over what looks like a log, but is actually a piece of bark from the dead tree behind.

View: E64_20180203_1638_187_FB2 Pheasant male striding through site.jpg
Description: One of the 'normal' male Pheasants stomps proudly past the camera. His tail is nowhere near as glorious as the dominant bird's.

Date: 12 Mar 2018
View: DF3_20180206_1524_050 Swirls of Duckweed blown across Round Pond.jpg
Description: The 'Round Pond' is the only large enough open water to be really effected by the wind, and we often see interesting patterns formed in the surface duckweed. You can see the surrounding trees and sky reflected in the lightly covered water.

Date: 11 Mar 2018
View: E60_20180205_1932_015+1933_016_FB3 Tawny Owl 5m visit to kitchen perch 1+2 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Tawny Owl visits the Kitchen window perch for a spectacular landing and few minutes stay during which the bird seems to stare continuously at the camera (or perhaps it's reflection in the window).
The tips of the wing on our left were out of the original frame.

View: E60_20180207_1953_037_FB3 Tawny Owl brief visit to kitchen perch.jpg
Description: 2 days later, after a visit to the meadow post, the Tawny Owl flies straight to the kitchen window perch but stays for only a few moments.
The posture for the landing remarkably matches that from the previous visit.

Date: 10 Mar 2018
View: E63_20180203_0416_188_FB1 Fox.jpg
Description: Hello Reynard, staring intently at the ground.
The rump looks like it is starting to develop the 'greying' symptoms of Mange.

Date: 09 Mar 2018
View: E60_20180202_0107_011_FB3 Tawny Owl landing on bird table for short visit (appeared on meadow post half hour later).jpg
Description: The morning of Friday 2 Feb 2018 (Candlemass & Groundhog Day) saw the first of several sightings of Owls. The first was this Tawny Owl landing at the kitchen window bird table

View: D01_20180202_0144_002+0146_005+0147_006_FB6 Tawny Owl 4 min visit (followed by Barn Owl 8 minutes later) 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: 30 minutes later the Tawny Owl visiting the meadow post for a few minutes.

View: D01_20180202_0155_007-0355_165_FB6 Barn Owl 2 Hour visit after Tawny Owl 8 mins before 01+03+05+07+11+13-16 of 16 (montage).jpg
Description: 8 minutes after the Tawny Owl left a Barn Owl turned up and stayed for a whole 2 hours. During the entire stay he/she only moved the single claw on the top of the post just once, and that just to turn around. What patience! About one-third of the pics taken seemed to show the Owl asleep!

View: D01_20180202_0401_167_FB6 Barn Owl short visit 6 minutes after 2 hour visit (crop).jpg
Description: 6 minutes later probably the same Barn Owl visited for just this one frame, possibly digesting it's latest catch.

Date: 08 Mar 2018
View: E63_20180131_1614_179_FB1 Grey squirrel standing upright on stone.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel stands on the stone for 'his' portrait.

View: D36_20180127_1451_059_FB4 Grey Squirrel with top of carrot in mouth.jpg
Description: A Carrot top now at the mercy of a Grey squirrel.

View: D36_20180130_0737_028_FB4 Grey squirrel grooming.jpg
Description: Another Flea bites the dust?

Date: 07 Mar 2018
View: DF3_20180130_1652_089 Moon through haze the evening before Supermoon.jpg
Description: The evening before the 'super blood blue moon' (apparently the first such triple combination for 150 years) all we could see of the moon was this ghostly apparition.

View: P34_20180131_1757_633 Moon (supermoon) rising behind tree branches.jpg
Description: The morning of the 'super blood blue moon' (30 Jan 2018) was completely clouded over at Moonset around sunrise, but the following evening Moonrise viewed through the same trees over the Duck-shaped pond was quite attractive. It is not heavily light polluted here, so the surroundings appear completely black

Date: 06 Mar 2018
View: DF3_20180130_1248_079 2 Tree Sparrows in tree.jpg
Description: The Tree Sparrows are Back!

View: E65_20180201_0910_002 5 Long-tailed Tits on caged Peanut feeder (crop 2).jpg
Description: Outside the 'study' window we were charmed to catch 5 Long-tailed Tits all crammed into this one caged peanut feeder. Beautiful and subtle birds.

Date: 05 Mar 2018
View: DF3_20180130_0756_019+027+039+044 Buzzard flying off along crop edge with Wood Pigeon in Talons 01+03+08+10 of 10 (montage).jpg
Description: As this sight along the farm hedge came into view, this Buzzard some 50m down the hedge took off with what we think is a Wood Pigeon in its talons, landing perhaps another 50 metres further away. Impossible to accurately montage, this provides a impression of the 20 seconds of the flight and landing.

Date: 04 Mar 2018
View: D36_20180130_1618_053_FB4 Magpie at Sunset.jpg
Description: For a week or two a month either side of the Winter Solstice the sun penetrates the trees at around sunset with the current layout of this site. Here a Magpie triggers the camera.

View: D36_20180131_1627_069_FB4 Rook landing on tree-stump at sunset.jpg
Description: For a week or two a month either side of the Winter Solstice the sun penetrates the trees at around sunset with the current layout of this site. Here a Rook triggers the camera.

Date: 03 Mar 2018
View: D01_20180131_1925_018+2136_019_FB6 Tawny Owl visiting Meadow briefly & return 2 hours later for 3 mins 1+2 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Probably the same Tawny Owl visits the meadow post in two different directions in the same night.

View: E63_20180131_2248_191_FB1 Tawny Owl pouncing on ground behind stone (1st ever Owl at this site) (crop).jpg
Description: An hour after the second image we get a first ever image of ANY owl at the hedge bottom site - a Tawny Owl pouncing on some prey behind the stone.
We have poured over the original image for ages, looking into the shadows and really can't work out more detail than you see here. The bird is flying in from the left with tail sticking out to the left, with head down and hidden behind the outstretched wings. What looks like what might be the prey is poking up through the feathers of the right wing, but we don't know what it is and whether or not it escaped. It really is dark so unlikely in this unlit area to be a daytime bird on the ground.

Date: 02 Mar 2018
View: E64_20180127_0230_096+2027_143_FB2 Badger and Fox male with scrotum expanded for breeding (montage at same scale).jpg
Description: Early morning and evening of the same day sees the Badger (left) and Fox visiting the same place at the woodland site. We understand that male Fox genitals enlarge at this time of year ready for breeding - we think we see this here.

View: E62_20180131_0721_112_FB5 Robin flees from arriving Fox in rain (crop).jpg
Description: We adore our foxes, but really think this one arriving at the site in the rain shows a real sense of menace. The wise prompt exit by the Robin undoubtedly triggers the photo of this fox which is some 3 metres behind the camera's infra-red trigger beam and focus line.

Date: 01 Mar 2018
View: DF3_20180126_1306_026+054+059 Bullfinch eating emerging buds 2-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: A Bullfinch in a bush near the main pond was quartering it for buds. Oh well - the bush makes plenty to overcome this decimation .

Image Archive arch 2018 feb.htm (view it Here)

Date: 28 Feb 2018
View: E62_20180123_1302_093_FB5 Grey Squirrel feeding on apple core held in paws.jpg
Description: Waste from preparing cooking apples continues to be appreciated by the other residents of our plot.

View: E64_20180124_1251_087_FB2 Grey Squirrel bounding away with piece of carrot in mouth.jpg
Description: Carrot, always the last food to be taken in the summer, is treated as a 'dash-off-with-it' item in the cold of winter.

Date: 27 Feb 2018
View: E62_20180122_1744_061_FB5 Rat.jpg
Description: Yes - its a Brown Rat.
If a Rat can be 'twee' this qualifies - it reminds us of the anthropomorphic animated film 'Ratatouille'. We are always impressed by the strength of the tail compared to that of a mouse. Wonderful whiskers.

Date: 26 Feb 2018
View: DF3_20180125_1249_020 Robin singing in Cherry Tree (crop 1).jpg
Description: This week the Bird song has started - moving from occasional alarm calls to territorial declarations. Standing at the North east corner of our patch this Robin stood near the top of the adjacent Cherry tree and sang his little heart out. The kooky angle is genuine. The picture quality isn't great because the sun was almost behind him.

Date: 25 Feb 2018
View: E63_20180118_1425_048_FB1 Pheasant male (light back and head).jpg
Description: Our beautiful 'blonde' male pheasant looks for something more to eat. He seems to be back at the top of the 'pecking order'

View: E62_20180123_0831_076+20180122_1551_057_FB5 Pheasant male (montage).jpg
Description: A Fun montage showing different views of our 'blonde' male Pheasant.

Date: 24 Feb 2018
View: E62_20180121_1357_188_FB5 Magpie in light snow.jpg
Description: A few hours of sleet and then snow left a light covering that had melted by the next morning. You wouldn't think it from the black background but this is early afternoon.

View: E62_20180121_1427_191_FB5 Blackbird male in light snow with back covered in droplets.jpg
Description: A be-speckled male Blackbird - whether the speckles are water or ice we don't know.

View: E62_20180121_1524_197_FB5 Grey squirrel in light snow.jpg
Description: So much for Grey Squirrels only coming out of their Dreys on warm days!

View: D5C_20180121_1006_003 Grey Squirrel feeding on bird table in snow.jpg
Description: Out in the morning sleet, still finding something on the bird table to eat. Is he using his tail as an umbrella?

Date: 23 Feb 2018
View: E60_20180119_2013_023_FB3 Tawny Owl landing on kitchen window perch (crop).jpg
Description: A Gorgeous Tawny Owl makes a landing at the kitchen window.

Date: 22 Feb 2018
View: DF3_20180118_1228_008-012+14+16 Pheasant male at hedge to south flying to cover 1-5+7+9 of 9 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: A Pair of pheasants in the middle of the Oilseed Rape crop to the south separated as we appeared. This one flew down to the corner of the field where he made his way though the hedge out of sight. The decelerating bird images started to overlap when about to land, so we have skipped the 6th and 8th pics.

View: DF3_20180119_0839_100 2 Pheasant males in tractor ruts through Oilseed Rape crop.jpg
Description: In the Oilseed Rape crop to our east 2 pheasants wander away from us up one of the (what seems to us) altogether too many tractor ruts through the crop.

Date: 21 Feb 2018
View: DF3_20180118_1226_003 Chaffinch female in cut back hedge.jpg
Description: A female Chaffinch saw us exit the house and came down in the hope (fulfilled!) of a bit a nutritious corn.

View: DF3_20180118_1226_005 Chaffinch female on branch end of cut back hedge.jpg
Description: A female Chaffinch saw us exit the house and came down in the hope (fulfilled!) of a bit a nutritious corn.

Date: 20 Feb 2018
View: DF3_20180116_0911_023-026 Buzzard flying above 11kV power lines 1-4 of 4 (close spaced montage).jpg
Description: A buzzard flies by on the other side of the 11kV cables.
It may look like we could use the cables for an 'accurately spaced' montage, but we just couldn't see enough detail on the out-of-focus wires to position the images.

View: DF3_20180116_0911_055+059+062 Buzzard turning in flight 1+5+8 of 9 (impression montage).jpg
Description: The Buzzard swung back and made this turn over about 1 second.

Date: 19 Feb 2018
View: D01_20180119_0155_131-1057_134_FB6 Tawny Owl 3 minute visit including turning round 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: The Tawny Owl was back for a short stay. The third image from the left looks like it was in the process of turning, but even in the camera original we can't be sure what it is doing.

Date: 18 Feb 2018
View: D01_20180118_1517_112-1519_125_FB6 Buzzard visit to Meadow post and takeoff 1-4 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: This Buzzard made at least 2 visits to the meadow post on this day. This several minutes stay provide the opportunity for a few portraits.

View: D01_20180118_1519_126+127_FB6 Buzzard visit to Meadow post and takeoff 5+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Finger ready over the shutter button, as the Buzzard started to get a little restless, caught the Buzzard as it flew off to the next hunting post.

Date: 17 Feb 2018
View: E63_20180113_1421_160_FB1 Grey Squirrel pair fondling.jpg
Description: An affectionate encounter between 2 Grey Squirrels. You have to trust your partner to let 'him' put those sharp claws on the top of your head!

View: E63_20180114_1407_241_FB1 2 Grey Squirrels feeding together.jpg
Description: Next day, to within a few minutes, what we think is the same pair of Grey Squirrels are quietly feeding together.

View: E64_20180111_1542_067_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying mouthful of material for Drey.jpg
Description: The Drey must be one thing a Grey Squirrel must keep in good order to survive the winter. We found one (shown last week) laying on a path, but many must suffer damage or destruction in the high winds and we never see them. This mouthful looks too coarse for bedding, so is probably for restoration or reinforcement.

Date: 16 Feb 2018
View: E63_20180113_0820_143_FB1 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: The lovely light-backed male Pheasant visits the bottom of the hedge in the morning ...

View: E63_20180113_1558_194_FB1 Pheasant female striding over ground.jpg
Description: ... while one of his 'Harem' strides through at the end of the same day.

Date: 15 Feb 2018
View: D01_20180113_1701_032+1715_038_FB6 Barn Owl landing 15 minutes apart showing front and rear views 01+03 of 15 (montage).jpg
Description: This Barn owl graced us twice with a 10 minute gap, unusually landing in opposite directions, having no 'into-the-wind' preference on this nearly windless night.

View: D01_20180113_1723_049+1730_058+1742_074+1738_069_FB6 Barn Owl 32m visit 06+10+14+13 of 15 (montage).jpg
Description: From the second visit the Barn Owl landed towards the camera and spent over half and hour looking and listening. Here is a little selection.

Date: 14 Feb 2018
View: D01_20180112_2105_008-2120_027_FB6 Barn Owl 13m visit displaced by Tawny Owl for 4 min visit 1+2+6+8+9 of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: We think that for the first time ever we have seen one Owl displace another already on a perch. Here a Barn Owl flies in and spends 13 minutes looking around. It suddenly takes off (level flight to the right rather than a dive onto prey) and about 2 seconds later is replaced by this Tawny Owl flying in from the dark on the left. The Tawny stayed for about 4 minutes.
You get a good idea of the similar sizes but different postures of the two species.
Our knowledge of the timing comes from a very poor CCTV recording.

Date: 13 Feb 2018
View: E64_20180110_0617_110_FB2 Polecat (crop).jpg
Description: A Polecat speeding through the Woodland site. We normally see this creature once or twice a year.

View: E64_20180106_0631_084_FB2 Fox.jpg
Description: A Fox out on the hunt a couple of hours before sunrise.

Date: 12 Feb 2018
View: E63_20180106_1340_116_FB1 Pheasant male on alert facing Grey Squirrel ignoring him.jpg
Description: This male Pheasant looks really on alert, looming on claw-tip by the Grey Squirrel who seems more interested in the food caught under the stone. The Pheasant really looks quite 'athletic' compared to the normal view suggesting a rather stolid countenance.

Date: 11 Feb 2018
View: E62_20180105_1539_121_FB5 Pheasant female.jpg
Description: An elegant female Pheasant steps through the sense beam so taking her portrait.

View: E63_20180104_1623_040_FB1 Pheasant female.jpg
Description: All female Pheasants seem to have an elegance about them.
Apart from differences in plumage colour, we can tell our females apart by the different red colouration around the eyes. This is fairly consistent to the left and right of a particular bird, but very variable between the birds, over the short term anyway.

Date: 10 Feb 2018
View: D36_20180107_1554_093+1557_094_FB4 Chaffinch female & male landing on tree-stump at sunset 3 minutes apart (montage).jpg
Description: Mrs and Mr Chaffinch just about 3 minutes apart as the sun sets.
Did you know that both sun and Moon move their own similar visual diameters in close to 2 minutes? Here you can see that the suns (rather blurred) disc is moving down and to the right shows about this amount of movement.

View: E62_20180105_1339_067_FB5 Chaffinch male landing on grass.jpg
Description: Not yet quite settled on the ground, this male Chaffinch is looking over today's offering.

Date: 09 Feb 2018
View: D01_20180108_1654_011-1702_022_FB6 Barn Owl 9 minute visit 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Eyes shut for the touchdown of this Barn Owl followed by a busy search of the area without a single movement of the claws

Date: 08 Feb 2018
View: E64_20171231_1435_180_FB2 Buzzard feeding on dead Rabbit 22 of 45 (detail crop).jpg
Description: The Buzzard continues to rip apart the already dead Rabbit.

View: E64_20171231_1454_184_FB2 Buzzard feeding on dead Rabbit 26 of 45 (crop).jpg
Description: The Buzzard continues to rip apart the already dead Rabbit.

View: E64_20171231_1351_163+1409_172+1415_175+1515_190_FB2 Buzzard feeding on dead Rabbit 05+14+17+32 of 45 (montage).jpg
Description: 4 more pics of the Buzzard eating the dead Rabbit:-
TL: The hazy eye is just the nictitating membrane - the bird is 'blinking'.
TR: The bird has a fragment of meat in the tip of the beak.
BL: The bird is tearing back the skin. Raptors have strong muscles at the back of the neck that enables them to do this.
BR: The beak is wet with blood


View: E64_20180101_1444_009_FB2 Magpies feeding on Rabbit Carcass 1 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: We dragged the carcass back to the centre of the camera frame, and you can see a lot of the Rabbit has gone. The magpies are taking advantage of the lack of any 'competition' to make the most of what is left before the Buzzard returned.

Date: 07 Feb 2018
View: E64_20171231_1344_162_FB2 Buzzard and Magpies feeding on dead Rabbit 04 of 45 (crop 1).jpg
Description: Finding a dead Rabbit on a path as we occasionally do, we moved it to just outside the trigger beam at the woodland site in the expectation of a fox dragging it away overnight. The magpies have the first pecks, but a quarter of an hour later this Buzzard landed right on top of the Rabbit Carcass.

View: E64_20171231_1429_178_FB2 Buzzard feeding on dead Rabbit 20 of 45 (crop).jpg
Description: Here the bird had been picking off pieces for about 45 minutes.

View: E64_20180101_1621_037_FB2 Buzzard feeding on Rabbit Carcass 9 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: The Buzzard spent about 2.5 hours feeding on the coney till an hour after sunset as you see here.
Birds remove fur like they do feathers from bird prey - by plucking it out and it has made quite a pile.
The Rabbit got dragged about the site - here is mostly out of frame at the right, and we don't know how much has been eaten.

Date: 06 Feb 2018
View: E62_20171228_2347_076_FB5 Fox (crop 2).jpg
Description: Just before midnight, a local fox prowls through.

Date: 05 Feb 2018
View: E62_20171228_1346_032_FB5 Magpie in flight just over frozen ground.jpg
Description: A Magpie in the frost, undoubtedly pleased to find some easy 'fill-belly'.
Note the subtle grey and black outline to the flight feathers when viewed from beneath.

View: D5C_20171228_1045_015 Grey Squirrel digging food out of frozen ground.jpg
Description: The cold weather means that it is time to dig up some of the buried nuts!
You can see the hole where the Squirrel has dug out it's meal.

Date: 04 Feb 2018
View: DF1_20171231_1042_093 Goldfinch feeding on Teasel seeds 05 of 16 (crop).jpg
Description: About 2 metres from the living room window there is a low hedge into which we post cut off teasel stems to attract bird to feast on the seeds where we can get to see them. Here a Goldfinch spent a few minutes extracting seeds from the now dry months old seed head.

View: DF1_20171231_1043_142-144 Goldfinch feeding on Teasel seeds 10-12 of 16 (montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Read this left to right - beak in the seed pocket, pluck out the seed, and down the hatch, all in about a third of a second.

Date: 03 Feb 2018
View: E63_20171228_1433_045_FB1 Pheasant female.jpg
Description: A dainty female Pheasant looking coyly at the camera.

View: E64_20180103_1345_060_FB2 Pheasant female with strong wind from behind lifting feathers.jpg
Description: A few seriously windy days catch this female Pheasant with a selection of her contour feathers lifted inelegantly by the Westerly wind from behind.

View: E63_20180101_0808_012_FB1 Pheasant male.jpg
Description: In contrast here is the male looking superb.
What an apparently ridiculous amount of detail in the head and the feathers including an iridescent green sheen over the rump.

Date: 02 Feb 2018
View: D01_20180101_1811_018+1818_027+1824_035+1829_041_FB6 Tawny Owl 22 minute visit 1+3+5+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl came to visit and stayed for 20 minutes.
A neighbour (that's 1 quarter of a mile away) tells us that they have a Tawny Owl in one of their barns - and it makes quite a mess!

Date: 01 Feb 2018
View: E62_20171227_1012_161_FB5 Pheasant male with dark back and head.jpg
Description: Inclement weather has created an influx of Pheasants roosting in the trees in the centre of the woodland, and appearing at the cameras looking for something to eat.

View: E63_20171226_1509_131_FB1 Pheasant male with grey back and head.jpg
Description: Inclement weather has created an influx of Pheasants roosting in the trees in the centre of the woodland. This unusually light coloured bird is very striking. He has been the dominant male for a couple of years, but we think the presence of other males indicates he may no longer be 'at the top of the pecking order'.

View: E64_20171226_1555_123_FB2 2 Pheasant females with light & dark plumage.jpg
Description: Inclement weather has created an influx of Pheasants roosting in the trees in the centre of the woodland. Here are 2 of the female pheasants - the difference between the plumages is NOT a lighting effect.

Image Archive arch 2018 jan.htm (view it Here)

Date: 31 Jan 2018
View: E62_20171226_1613_147_FB5 Blackbird male with muddy beak and sparkling water drops on plumage.jpg
Description: Water drops are sparkling on the back of this male Blackbird.
Mud on the beak seems to be what the sartorial Blackbird is 'wearing' this season.:-)

View: E62_20171227_0754_153_FB5 Blackbird during snow and speckled with flakes (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Next morning it had started snowing, so here is probably the same Blackbird on the endless hunt for food, tail encrusted with ice.

Date: 30 Jan 2018
View: E60_20171224_2131_035+2136_037+2137_038_FB3 Tawny Owl 7 minute visit 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl made a landing at the kitchen window and stayed for about 7 minutes. The landing on the right was triggered by the bird's arrival, but it blocked the beam break so the middle and left images had to be manually triggered.

View: E60_20171227_0441_017+0443_018_FB3 Tawny Owl 3 minute visit during light snow 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: A Tawny owl made a short visit in the falling snow just before 5 a.m. The bird triggered the camera twice with these results.

Date: 29 Jan 2018
View: DF3_20171226_0812_051 3 Cormorants (of 8) in flight 3 of 5 (crop).jpg
Description: We usually see Cormorants as individuals, occasionally a pair, high flying overhead, so this skein of 8 was a first. The skein gradually drifted in our direction before splitting momentarily into groups of 3 and 5, one of the groups shown here.

View: DF3_20171226_0813_073 8 Cormorants making skein in flight 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: The 2 groups then merged back together into a neat Skein that flew almost overhead.

Date: 28 Jan 2018
View: D36_20171223_1601_048_FB4 Rook landing on tree-stump.jpg
Description: We have several images, similar to this one, of a Rook landing left to right on the tree-stump, just fitting the frame.
What a magnificent bird.

Date: 27 Jan 2018
View: D36_20171223_1145_042+20171224_0827_058+1511_070_FB4 Grey Squirrels grooming on tree-stump 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: These images over a couple of days illustrate either just how determined Grey squirrels are to keep groomed, or just how flea ridden they are. Or perhaps both!

View: E64_20171224_0844_110_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying leaves for bedding.jpg
Description: A mouthful of dry autumn leaves looks destined for the Drey.

View: E63_20171225_1418_045_FB1 Grey Squirrel eating apple core held between paws (edge of original frame).jpg
Description: Nibble - nibble - this should keep this Grey Squirrel fueled for a while.

Date: 26 Jan 2018
View: DF3_20171218_1207_007-009 2 Redpolls flying from Ash tree 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage @ about 5fps).jpg
Description: This is a couple of Redpolls from a flock of about 10. We have only managed to photograph Redpolls 3 times over the years since 2013, and in 2016 at almost the same date. Here we show two birds in flight over 3 consecutive exposures we estimate at 200mS apart - one bird already moving fast and the other just launching.

Date: 25 Jan 2018
View: E63_20171214_1440_047+1443_048_FB1 2 Grey Squirrels frolicking 1+2 of 2 (accurate montage 3 minutes apart).jpg
Description: A couple of Grey squirrels doing some 'serious' frolicking. 2 images over 3 minutes.

View: E63_20171219_1346_103-1415_116_FB1 2 Grey Squirrels frolicking 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: 5 days later our pair of frolicking Grey squirrels over about half an hour.

Date: 24 Jan 2018
View: E62_20171216_1458_214_FB5 Robin in snow.jpg
Description: Snow hides the food for many small creatures - this Robin is pleased to find some food that is easy to get at.

View: E62_20171217_1452_289_FB5 Pheasant female and male feeding at cleared patch of snow.jpg
Description: Mr and Mrs (one of Several!) Pheasants grabbing the corn before something else arrives to 'steal' it.

Date: 23 Jan 2018
View: D5C_20171216_0816_048+0817_054+0813_006 Grey Squirrel feeding on peanuts from feeder with top removed 2+4+1 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: This, or another, Grey Squirrel managed to lift the top out of the feeder, and just dived down the exposed tube to gorge on the peanuts.

View: E60_20171215_0916_026_FB3 2 Grey Squirrels (crop).jpg
Description: Don't know what is going on with these two Grey squirrel, but our guess is 'Whoopee'.

Date: 22 Jan 2018
View: D36_20171214_1512_039_FB4 Rook landing on Tree-stump.jpg
Description: A Wonderful show of glossy plumage as this Rook lands on the tree-stump.

View: D36_20171215_1920_066_FB4 Robin landing on Tree-stump.jpg
Description: Another landing on the tree-stump, this time by a Robin.
Not as spectacular as a Rook, but more colourful.

Date: 21 Jan 2018
View: D01_20171215_1846_006-1912_041_FB6 Tawny Owl 3 visit 1+6 of 7 + 1 of 4 + 1 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: 3 visits by what looks like the same Tawny Owl to the meadow post over about half an hour.

View: E60_20171215_1933_067_FB3 Tawny Owl few minutes visit 1 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: About 20 minutes after the last visit to the meadow post this Tawny owl touched down on the G-cramp at the kitchen window bird table.

Date: 20 Jan 2018
View: E62_20171209_1521_183_FB5 Blackbird female with wings spread + a hidden bird (q).jpg
Description: The moment we saw this we thought of the way Black Egrets (aka Umbrella Birds) shade the water to catch their prey. Worth a look on YouTube.
But we really don't know what is going on here - the shadow and a narrow tail tip sticking out to the right indicates that there is another bird hidden from sight.

Date: 19 Jan 2018
View: E65_20171210_1221_007+009+011+019 Muntjac Deer male walking over snow covered track 1+3+4+9 of 9 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This is the male Muntjac Deer slogging up the snow covered access track. The narrow legs sink right in and every step is visibly an effort.

View: E65_20171210_1221_014 Muntjac Deer male walking over snow covered concrete track 6 of 9 (crop).jpg
Description: This is the male Muntjac Deer slogging up the snow covered access track. The narrow legs sink right in and every step is visibly an effort.

Date: 18 Jan 2018
View: E63_20171211_1230_033_FB1 Grey Squirrel upright standing on stone (crop).jpg
Description: A Grey squirrel as King of the Castle?

View: DF3_20171211_1243_006 Grey Squirrel in fork of tree branch.jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels have a few favourite places to nestle in what there is of any warming sunshine. This is one of the picturesque ones - another is the top of a Great-Tit/Tree Sparrow nest box.

Date: 17 Jan 2018
View: E60_20171208_1200_049_FB3 Grey Squirrel male staring at kitchen window.jpg
Description: "Oi - You inside - where's the food then?"

View: E64_20171209_1335_277_FB2 Grey Squirrel chasing away Magpie.jpg
Description: " ... and stay away!"

Date: 16 Jan 2018
View: DF3_20171209_1059_063 Robin on twig in hedge.jpg
Description: Robins get extremely tolerant of a human that they think (usually correctly here) may give them something good to eat.

View: E62_20171207_0709_072_FB5 Robin with long thin worm in beak (crop).jpg
Description: A Robin has (presumably) pulled this earthworm out of the ground. Our experience is that the bird will bite it into a few segments small enough to swallow.

View: E63_20171210_1320_234_FB1 Robin with claws standing in ice.jpg
Description: Robin standing in a heap of chilly slush.
Most birds that we see have to tolerate severe cooling of their naked legs and claws, and have a heat exchanger at the top of the legs to warm the cold blood coming up the legs by cooling the blood about to go down the legs.

Date: 15 Jan 2018
View: DF3_20171208_1229_023+029+037+052 Red Kite with bird prey in Talons eating in flight 02+08+14+15 of 16 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This Red Kite flew past us really rather slowly against the northerly wind, much more interested in eating his most recent kill than in the humans on the ground. Read this sequence right to left.

View: DF3_20171208_1229_025 Red Kite with bird prey in Talons eating in flight 04 of 16 (crop).jpg
Description: As good an image of the Red Kite as we got at full resolution as it eat it's prey (looks like a pigeon) on the wing.

View: DF3_20171208_1231_088+091+097 Red Kite with bird prey in Talons landing in tree and feeding 01+04+10 of 11 (montage).jpg
Description: Still with the prize in it's talons, the Red Kite landed in a distant tree at the brook where it continued to devour the remains.

Date: 14 Jan 2018
View: D36_20171208_1523_078_FB4 Rook on Tree-stump top as sun sets.jpg
Description: A Rook still folding wings as it settles onto the tree-stump.
The recent discovery in a piece of amber of a Dinosaur feather suggests that these wonderful objects evolved initially as thermal insulation.

Date: 13 Jan 2018
View: D01_20171210_1704_044_FB6 Barn Owl landing on snowy meadow post top (crop).jpg
Description: Just after dark this Barn Owl took just this one pic of itself landing on the snowy post-top, already mostly cleared of snow by a succession of Corvids looking for food.

View: E63_20171212_0150_095_FB1 Fox.jpg
Description: In the small hours of the morning, a local fox out on the prowl.

Date: 12 Jan 2018
View: D5C_20171204_1040_007+012 Grey squirrel on top of cut elderberry stem then climbing down 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel spent a minute or two on this rather uncomfortable looking cut end of an Elderberry - that's the hedge plant that each year outgrows everything else to stick out by a metre above the rest. It then clambered down, the rear foot turned to grip the back of the stem.

View: D5C_20171204_1217_074+082 Grey squirrel grooming and eating the items 1+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel grooming (sweet) followed by eating what it finds (not so good!).

Date: 11 Jan 2018
View: DF1_20171207_1140_010 Sparrowhawk perched.jpg
Description: We got a surprise glimpse of a Sparrowhawk perched in an Ash tree in clear view of workmen by the house. We each grabbed a camera and dashed to different viewpoints.
Here is the bird quietly perched before the Grey Squirrel arrived.

View: D5C_20171207_1143_011+014 Grey Squirrel chasing off perched Sparrowhawk 2+4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: Then an irate Grey Squirrel, who had been relaxing on top of a nest-box on the same tree, chased off the Sparrowhawk, only to have it land further down the same tree well obscured from us by intervening branches and on too thin a twig for the Squirrel to reach it again.
Here is our interpretation of the 'get lost' from a camera downstairs.

View: DF1_20171207_1141_024+026 Grey Squirrel chasing off perched Sparrowhawk 2+4 of 4 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Here is the same event from an upstairs vantage point with faster frame rate & 'bigger' lens.

Date: 10 Jan 2018
View: D01_20171206_0645_006-0647_008_FB6 Barn Owl 3 minute visit 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: Still an hour before sunrise, the house windows thus 'ablaze' with lights, this lovely barn Owl made a 3 minute visit to the meadow post.

Date: 09 Jan 2018
View: E64_20171204_0101_162_FB2 Muntjac Deer Fawn + mothers shadow out of frame to left (q) (crop).jpg
Description: Here is the Muntjac Deer fawn visiting the woodland site giving us a lovely portrait. The shadow on the ground lower left might be mum, but she never appeared on camera at this site.
From another (headless!) image facing the other way we notice that the pale patterning on the Fawn is different on the other side.

View: E62_20171205_1932_081_FB5 Muntjac Deer female.jpg
Description: Here is mother Muntjac Deer at the camera site in the meadow.

Date: 08 Jan 2018
View: E63_20171130_0804_022_FB1 Blackbird male.jpg
Description: One of our 'resident' male Blackbirds - we love the yellow ring around the eye.

View: E63_20171202_1539_152_FB1 Blackbird female (immigrant) with fruit in tip of beak.jpg
Description: An immigrant female Blackbird has selected a little piece of fruit, which may be a small sultana, in the tip of her beak.

Date: 07 Jan 2018
View: DF1_20171204_1202_095 Bullfinch female.jpg
Description: This female Bullfinch worked her way up the bush/tree by the edge of the pond and ended up in the sunshine.
Striking Patterning with lovely Subtle colours.

View: DF1_20171204_1203_098+116 Bullfinch female hovering to feed on desiccated blackberry fruit (montage of 2 flights).jpg
Description: For several minutes the female Bullfinch pecked off dry Blackberry fruit by hovering for a few seconds in front of the bunch. Here you see moments from two separate flights to pick fruit from the bunch, each time returning to an obscured twig above to consume her prize.

Date: 06 Jan 2018
View: E63_20171128_1415_200_FB1 Greenfinch (1st of season) (crop).jpg
Description: Out first sighting this season of a Greenfinch,
Greenfinches are close in size to a Chaffinch.

View: E63_20171126_1439_049_FB1 Blue Tit landing on ground.jpg
Description: Tail still spread from aerobraking, this Blue Tit almost glows on the ground.

Date: 05 Jan 2018
View: E63_20171128_1331_180_FB1 2 Magpies.jpg
Description: These 2 Magpies are often seen together at the hedge bottom and meadow camera sites, so we think they are a pair building their bond.

Date: 04 Jan 2018
View: D01_20171130_1212_006_FB6 Heron in Meadow veiled by tall foliage.jpg
Description: This juvenile Heron is becoming a regular visitor, hunting in the overgrown meadow as here, and visiting the main and duck-shaped ponds.

View: DF3_20171130_0954_002 Heron juvenile at front of main pond flying to back of pond 01 of 22 (crop).jpg
Description: The Heron quietly walks by the edge of the pond with neck folded back.
The blue tinge reflects being lit by blue sky above. Our cameras where possible are locked on 'Sunlight' (also OK for Flash) because automatic colour temperature so often goes badly wrong.

View: DF3_20171130_1221_034+037+040 Heron flyover 2+5+8 of 8 (impression montage).jpg
Description: A Couple of hours later probably the same Heron made a fly-over. This is about 1 second of flight before it disappeared over the house, changing course a bit with the head not turning with the body.

Date: 03 Jan 2018
View: E63_20171124_1513_071_FB1 Blackbird female (migrant) with piece of blackberry fruit in beak.jpg
Description: One of our migrant female Blackbirds (without any yellow on the beak) carrying off a piece of dry Blackberry fruit at the tip of the beak.

View: DF3_20171130_1230_046 Great Spotted Woodpecker female on Black Poplar branch.jpg
Description: Great Spotted Woodpeckers frequently visit the Peanut feeders, but here one of the females perched for a minute or so on a Lichen encrusted branch of a Black Poplar were we took this pic.

Date: 02 Jan 2018
View: DF3_20171126_1034_060-063 Heron in flight aborting approach to main pond 01-04 of 27 (slightly stretched montage).jpg
Description: Exiting the house caught this lovely juvenile Heron flying in to land at the main pond. The bird saw us and aborted his glide path in favour of a powered 'escape'. This montage (stretched maybe 30% but maintaining the angle) gives you an idea of the action at about 2 wing flaps per second.

View: DF3_20171126_1034_068 Heron in flight aborting approach to main pond 09 of 27 (crop).jpg
Description: Heron climbing overhead

View: DF3_20171126_1034_072 Heron in flight aborting approach to main pond 13 of 27 (crop).jpg
Description: Heron climbing overhead

Date: 01 Jan 2018
View: E60_20171126_1917_005_FB3 Tawny Owl few minutes visit (hand triggered) (crop).jpg
Description: Our first Tawny Owl sighting for nearly 2 months was on the kitchen window bird table.

View: D01_20171130_0526_007-0545_031_FB6 Barn Owl (no ring) 21 minute visit (selected) 01+03+05+10+11 of 12 (montage).jpg
Description: Near the end of the night this Barn Owl made a 20 minute visit to the meadow post. The arrival flight dipped into the sense beam and triggered the camera with the Owl well behind it and out of focus. The Bird stayed for 20 minutes scoping the plot quite actively. Half way through the stay the bird atypically (for our Barn owls) changed foot position, even if only a slight swivel.

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

Date: 31 Dec 2017
View: DF1_20171126_1151_009+1152_039 Bullfinch male feeding of desiccated blackberry fruit 1+3 of 3 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: We have now seen 2 male and 2 female Bullfinches foraging for blackberry fruit in this Blackberry 'bush'. But rarely close enough to make a real 'pair' image.
Here we offer a male tucking into the human equivalent of currants.

View: DF1_20171126_1154_084+1155_091 Bullfinch female feeding of desiccated blackberry fruit 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: We have now seen 2 male and 2 female Bullfinches foraging for blackberry fruit in this Blackberry 'bush'. But rarely close enough to make a real 'pair' image.
Here we offer a female tucking into the human equivalent of currants.

Date: 30 Dec 2017
View: E63_20171117_2228_150_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) + Leopard Slug.jpg
Description: Fieldmice (Wood Mice) frequently take unusual interest in Leopard Slugs. We understand Slug slime is quite sweet and nutritious, and the Mice may lick it from the slugs!

View: E62_20171121_2156_076_FB5 Cat Domestic Tabby.jpg
Description: The local Tabby Cat takes a night-time stroll, just a ring of yellow for the eyes with pupils fully dilated.
We are far from being 'Cat People', but admit this is a fine creature even if it does kill rodents we would rather the Owls could catch.

Date: 29 Dec 2017
View: E63_20171117_1542_120_FB1 2 Grey Squirrels rough and tumble (crop).jpg
Description: We think this is a pair of courting Squirrels, but the claws look ready to inflict a scratch if needed.

View: D36_20171121_1304_022_FB4 Grey squirrel climbing tree-stump to reach food.jpg
Description: Another visit by the Grey Squirrel clambering up the tree-stump.
Ooh yummy - strawberry!
The streak down the wood is the slime of a Leopard slug that reached the top the 'hard way'

Date: 28 Dec 2017
View: E63_20171117_0809_106_FB1 Redwing around sunrise.jpg
Description: This is a Redwing, a similar sized Thrush to the Fieldfare. Redwing often form a small proportion of the birds in a Fieldfare flock.

View: DF3_20171119_1206_008 Fieldfare.jpg
Description: A Fieldfare perched unusually tolerant of the photographer while perched partly obscured in a Black Poplar tree.

Date: 27 Dec 2017
View: DF1_20171119_1156_062-065 Magpie flying from Willow tree 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage 2-4 @ 7fps).jpg
Description: A Magpie perched in one of the willow trees by the pond. This is accurately montaged, the 3 of the bird in flight being about 140mS apart.

View: DF1_20171121_1212_081+84 Wren taking off from hedge top 1+2 of 2 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: There is quite a lot of Wren activity in the hedge top outside the living room, including birds having little high-speed confrontations we just can't 'capture'. Here is one of them perched and then taking off.

Date: 26 Dec 2017
View: DF1_20171119_1136_009+031+035+041 Bullfinch male feeding on desiccated blackberry fruits 02+07+09+12 of 12 (montage).jpg
Description: A male Bullfinch spent several minutes picking desiccated blackberry fruit, spending several seconds working the fruit in the beak/crop, before bending down for another. The sun was shining as you can see from the bright background, but frustratingly the bird was in the shadow of the house.

View: DF1_20171121_1148_006+003 Bullfinch pair feeding on desiccated Blackberry fruits (montage for focus)jpg.jpg
Description: We saw two females and a single male Bullfinch in the same bush, all making the most of the dried out berries. The females were at opposite sides of the bramble bush, so this can show just one of them with the male.

View: DF1_20171121_1148_012+014 Bullfinch female feeding on desiccated blackberry fruits (montage).jpg
Description: Here is one of the female Bullfinches picking another 'dried fruit'.

Date: 25 Dec 2017
View: D5C_20171120_1224_007 Muntjac Deer male and female in front of main pond (crop).jpg
Description: A several minute visit by a pair of Muntjac Deer to the front of the pond. The male, nearest the camera' has the tiny antlers.

View: D5C_20171120_1227_025 Muntjac Deer male in hedge gap outside kitchen window (orig).jpg
Description: The male pausing with a quizzical look at the window - maybe it is sensing some movement on the other side of the glass.

View: D5C_20171120_1227_034 Muntjac Deer male in hedge gap outside kitchen window with scent gland open (detail crop).jpg
Description: This frame (not quite in focus) caught something we have not seen before - the opening of the scent gland just below the eye, possible paired with the one on the far side, about to mark a hedge twig. We had always assumed that stick ends were 'pushed in', but this makes sense.

View: DF4_20171120_1227_030 Muntjac Deer male biting off grass.jpg
Description: Muntjac Deer are herbivores, here making the most of the untidy grass edges we leave for them. You can see the normal view of the closed scent gland close to the right of the eye.

Date: 24 Dec 2017
View: D36_20171119_1037_065_FB4 Chaffinch male aerobraking to land (crop).jpg
Description: A male Chaffinch in his final aerobrake to (presumably) land on the tree-stump. Unusually crisp image for a small bird in flight.

Date: 23 Dec 2017
View: P10_20171117_1622_182 Sunset.jpg
Description: A very Red Sky at night not followed by the predicted 'Shepherd's delight', but a really grey morning as the Met Office forecast.

Date: 22 Dec 2017
View: D01_20171114_1746_023+0748_026+1750_029_FB6 Barn Owl 5 minute visit including preening 1+4+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: This Barn owl made a 5 minute visit to the meadow Post, relaxed enough for an impossible looking preen (the bird is standing facing right reaching down with the beak to the bottom of the back).

View: D01_20171114_1810_030_FB6 Barn Owl 44 minute visit 01 of 13 (crop).jpg
Description: Half an hour later we saw the owl return and stay for 44 minutes.

View: D01_20171114_1812_033-1853_082_FB6 Barn Owl 44 minute visit 02+05+06+08+11+13 of 13 (montage).jpg
Description: Half an hour later we saw the owl return and stay for 44 minutes.

Date: 21 Dec 2017
View: E63_20171112_1547_254_FB1 Muntjac Deer male 5 minute visit (middle of 3 frames) (crop).jpg
Description: The male Muntjac Deer made this lovely portrait - antlers freshly shed of their velvet coverings. This visit lasted about 5 minutes just before sunset.

View: E63_20171112_1626_264+1627_265+1628_266_FB1 Muntjac Deer male disturbing Grey Squirrel 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: About half an hour later the Muntjac Deer returned, disturbing the Grey Squirrel already at the site. These three images, taken consecutively at about 1 minute intervals, tells the story - "I'm bigger than you are".

View: E63_20171112_1627_265_FB1 Muntjac Deer male disturbing Grey Squirrel 2 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: The unusual juxtaposition in the middle image above at a better resolution even shows the Muntjac Deers wet nose.

View: E63_20171113_1608_105_FB1 Muntjac Deer male (head only).jpg
Description: Next evening the male Muntjac makes another visit. This animal obviously has little fear of the camera noise and flash.

Date: 20 Dec 2017
View: DF3_20171111_1225_065-069 Red Kite in flight 1-5 of 8 (approx montage).jpg
Description: A Red Kite glides by quietly turning towards us, giving us a good look at the top of the bird you don't often see. Very close to accurately spaced.

Date: 19 Dec 2017
View: E63_20171110_0825_092_FB1 Pheasant female with iridescent feathers on back.jpg
Description: Elegant female Pheasant shows a streak of Blue-green iridescent colour down her back.

View: E63_20171113_1514_089_FB1 Chaffinch male.jpg
Description: At the other end of the size scale, this is a male Chaffinch. His beak is now the pink-grey of the non-breeding season.

Date: 18 Dec 2017
View: E63_20171109_1555_038-1615_048_FB1 2 Grey squirrels eating and romping together 1+3-7 of 7 (montage).jpg
Description: We are starting to really enjoy these two Grey Squirrels as they repeatedly spend 'quality time' together. These 6 taken over just 20 minutes.

View: E63_20171114_1539_150-1544_153_FB1 2 Grey squirrels romping 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: 5 days later another 'date' around sunset for what we have to assume is a pair of courting Grey Squirrels.

Date: 17 Dec 2017
View: DF3_20171113_1226_012+016+022 Kestrel female in Lodgepole pine moving to another twig 03+06+08 of 35 (montage).jpg
Description: While we were standing slightly obscured this female Kestrel arrived about 50 metres away and commenced to hunt for a minute or two, either unaware of our presence, or not bothered. She landed in the top of this Lodgepole Pine but her perch wasn't very stable.

View: DF3_20171113_1227_026-037 Kestrel female in Lodgepole pine moving to another twig 10+14-16+19 of 35 (montage).jpg
Description: The female Kestrel flutters awkwardly onto another twig which bends under her weight from 60 degrees upward to just below horizontal.

View: DF3_20171113_1228_051 Kestrel female in Lodgepole pine moving to another twig 30 of 35 (crop).jpg
Description: The twig the female Kestrel moved to gradually sagged down as you see here. Her vertical tail is caught up on the twigs behind.

Date: 16 Dec 2017
View: E62_20171107_1649_082_FB5 Robin making vertical upward attack in rain (crop).jpg
Description: At the end of the day this Robin is out in the gloom and rain launching this attack on something above. Knowing Robins sweet disposition (NOT) it was probably another Robin daring to fly over!

View: E62_20171105_1434_186+20171104_0716_102_FB5 Robin landings (montage).jpg
Description: This Robin took a photo landing at this spot in similar 'diving down' positions more than 10 times in a week. We think it must have a favourite perch quite close and makes a similar approach each time.

Date: 15 Dec 2017
View: E62_20171106_1723_024_FB5 Polecat (crop).jpg
Description: Most years we get to see just 1 image of a Polecat passing through. It looks like this is this years offering at the meadow site where we have not seen it before. The back is wonderfully arched with the tail streaming out behind.

View: E62_20171106_1619_020+1723_024_FB5 Polecat & Grey Squirrel size comparison at identical scales (montage).jpg
Description: We have never actually SEEN the polecat and most of you won't either. But most of us have seen a Grey Squirrel, so here is a size comparison. The mounded back makes the Polecat look shorter than it is.

Date: 14 Dec 2017
View: E63_20171105_1348_226_FB1 Pheasant male (dark scalp).jpg
Description: One of the 4 male Pheasants with dark plumage and dark feathers over the head.

View: E63_20171105_1504_253_FB1 Pheasant male (pale scalp).jpg
Description: This seems to be the dominant male Pheasant, with silver-grey plumage over body and head.

View: DF3_20171105_1343_124+125 2 Pheasant males (montage for focus).jpg
Description: The groups of Pheasants has become more rag-tag. These two were walking up a path from the house. Note the subtly different plumages.

Date: 13 Dec 2017
View: E63_20171102_1918_045_FB1 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: A couple of Fieldmice (Wood Mice) sharing the remaining food at the bottom of the hedge.

Date: 12 Dec 2017
View: E63_20171107_1355_085+1319_072+1327_073_FB1 2 Grey Squirrels feeding and romping (montage).jpg
Description: Grey Squirrels are frequently far from companionable, but these two are apparently enjoying their time together. These taken over about half an hour.

View: E63_20171105_1405_234_FB1 Grey Squirrel eating apple peel.jpg
Description: With windfall apples over patches of the site, they make an ideal food for Grey Squirrels to 'tank up' ready for winter.

View: E64_20171105_1416_136+1418_137_FB2 Grey Squirrel eating segments of apple (montage).jpg
Description: With windfall apples over patches of the site, they make an ideal food for Grey Squirrels to 'tank up' ready for winter.

Date: 11 Dec 2017
View: DF3_20171104_1600_020 Autumn trees lit by setting sun against storm clouds (orig & final).jpg
Description: Our rural view of the storm clouds to the east shortly before sunset.

View: DF3_20171105_1057_087 Viburnum Birkwoodii starting to flower.jpg
Description: Behind the main pond the Viburnum Birkwoodii bushes have come into flower. The flower heads are always untidy as you see here, but the splashes of colour from the house are lovely and the perfume greets you 10 metres downwind.

Date: 10 Dec 2017
View: D36_20171105_0742_066_FB4 Jay (crop).jpg
Description: A Jay makes its fairly reliable annual re-appearance, here in a particularly nice pose on the tree-stump where we most often see it.

Date: 09 Dec 2017
View: D01_20171104_2212_016_FB6 Barn Owl (no ring) 8 minute visit 1 of 8 (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Here our Barn Owl lands with the Alulae both prominent half way along the top of each wing as the bird slows to almost nothing to touch-down.

View: D01_20171104_2212_016-2219_025_FB6 Barn Owl (no ring) 8 minute visit 1+2+5+7+8 of 8 (montage).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl visit (the second of two a few minutes apart) had a very active hunting approach you see here below the landing. It was full moon, so the Owl was undoubtedly looking as well as listening for prey.
For the single image above we 'Photoshopped' out the sprouting corn stem that detracted from the symmetry. We need a ladder or steps to 'weed' the top of the pole so it tends to get left.

Date: 08 Dec 2017
View: E64_20171029_1243_013_FB2 Grey squirrel in shaft of sunlight.jpg
Description: As the leaf canopy thins the light penetrating the inside of the woodland gradually increases, here illuminating a Grey Squirrel against a still black background.

View: E64_20171101_0721_112_FB2 Grey Squirrel with uneaten segment of Corn Cob.jpg
Description: Surely there can't be many more corn cobs for the Grey squirrels to find from the harvested and re-sown field.

Date: 07 Dec 2017
View: E62_20171031_0631_115_FB5 Robin standing on remains of windfall apple.jpg
Description: Before sunrise we have a heavy dew as this Robin stands on his breakfast.

View: E62_20171029_1107_003_FB5 Goldfinch landing.jpg
Description: A few fleeting glimpses of Goldfinches is augmented by this self portrait as one comes in to land.

View: DF3_20171028_0904_131 4 Yellowhammers on Bridleway hedge.jpg
Description: Male and female Yellowhammers in the farm hedge are back for the winter.
Discontinuities in hedge cut height result from both thick wood and unevenness in the ground that the tractor is trundling over. Here we think the cutter hit the heavy branch on the left side - it cuts this side left to right.

Date: 06 Dec 2017
View: D72_20171102_0714_029 Sunrise over Farm Road (orig & final).jpg
Description: Through the rows of Lombardy Poplars down the Farm Road we see this sunrise with the sun still hidden by the rise of the land.

View: D72_20171102_0717_033 Sunrise.jpg
Description: 3 minutes later from the top of the rise we see this angry sunrise.
'Red Sky in Morning - Shepherds warning' they say and is often right, but the day turned out not too bad.

Date: 05 Dec 2017
View: DF3_20171027_1253_033 White Wagtail (1st of season) on slate roof (crop).jpg
Description: A White Wagtail on our Roof, the first seen in 10 months Here it is having a stretch on the roof ridge.

View: DF3_20171027_1255_051 White Wagtail (1st of season) on slate roof (crop).jpg
Description: The White Wagtail was dodging backward and forwards over the ridge you see above, with us following it like sheep!
Pied Wagtails have Black backs
White Wagtails have Grey Backs (as here)
Grey Wagtails have Yellow Chests
Is it any wonder people get confused!

Date: 04 Dec 2017
View: DF3_20171027_0805_005-008 Carrion Crow flying from wires with bone in beak 1-4 of 5 + insert (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: This Carrion Crow perched on one of the other 3 high voltage cables pecked awkwardly at something held against the wire by one foot. When it took off we finally saw what was in the beak - some sort of small limb bone. Whether Bird, Mammal or Rodent we have no idea. Well it is a Carrion Crow!

Date: 03 Dec 2017
View: E63_20171025_1647_184+20171024_1632_109+1617_100_FB1 Chaffinch female + Great Tit + Bllue Tit (montage).jpg
Description: At the same scale and in similar positions you can here compare (left to right) the Female Chaffinch, Great Tit and Blue Tit.

View: E63_20171023_1708_039_FB1 Blackbird male with black beak (first of season).jpg
Description: The influx of migrant Blackbirds with Black rather than yellow beaks has arrived. Here we can see that the inside of the beak is (to us the more normal) yellow.

View: E63_20171026_1718_033_FB1 Blackbird female (Black beak immigrant (q)).jpg
Description: The male immigrant Blackbird has a really black coating on the beak, but the female of the same type sports a brown coating.

Date: 02 Dec 2017
View: E62_20171022_1219_245_FB5 Grey Squirrel nibbling chestnut.jpg
Description: The multitude of Grey Squirrels all seem to enjoy scraping out cooked chestnut husks. Meanwhile they are busy burying whole Horse Chestnuts for consumption in the winter.

View: E64_20171020_1017_082_FB2 Grey Squirrel carrying piece of corn cob.jpg
Description: The wildlife is still finding whole corn cobs in the harvested, harrowed and re-sown field adjacent to our access track. We estimate that at least 200 mostly eaten cobs are scattered over our patch. Here another third or so of a cob is taken away to be 'dismantled'.

View: E63_20171021_1810_147_FB1 Rabbit with piece of carrot in mouth + falling leaf.jpg
Description: Rabbit with carrot - just like endless illustrations in children's books. Rabbits don't store food against future need, but then the grass they mostly eat doesn't go away.
A leaf happens to have been falling at the moment of exposure just above the Rabbits left front leg.

Date: 01 Dec 2017
View: DF3_20171021_1343_066 Fungus Funnel (poss Clitocybe infundibuliformis) in grass by Farm Road (crop).jpg
Description: The Autumn continues to produce a succession of different Fungi in the grass area outside our east boundary. We have had a go at identifying this interesting shape - see label.

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

Date: 30 Nov 2017
View: DF3_20171021_1338_034-038 Buzzard flying low to ground into wind with windsock visible 1-5 of 5 (accurate montage).jpg
Description: The strong Westerly wind is blowing the Windsock of our distant neighbour nearly horizontal. The birds were finding it difficult to make progress against the gale. Against strong winds birds tend to 'hug' the ground, as with this buzzard here low over the crop and here rising just enough to clear the hedge and rails.

View: E62_20171022_1020_230_FB5 Robin and Dunnock crossing in flight (crop).jpg
Description: Not quite crossing in mid-air, this Robin and Dunnock apparently about to collide makes a fun visual image. The shadows in the original image indicate that the Dunnock is about a third of a metre (1 foot) in front of the Robin.

Date: 29 Nov 2017
View: D72_20171020_1258_009 Spider (5cm overall length) found in camera box for FB2 (crop).jpg
Description: While cleaning out camera box this largish spider literally crawled out of the woodwork. Here it is coaxed onto a gloved hand.
We took some 'prettier' pics of it on the leaf litter, but it is surprisingly difficult to see it.

Date: 28 Nov 2017
View: D5C_20171022_0943_007 Pheasant male on grass by main pond.jpg
Description: We have 5 male pheasant and 2 females around the area at the moment, but they have split up into a single male (shown here) and 4 males. The two females are hardly ever seen.

View: DF3_20171022_1046_072-075+084-085 Pheasant male running across farm road 1-6 of 6 (horizontally spread montage).jpg
Description: "Why did the Pheasant cross the road?"
To get back into the shelter of 'our' patch.
Note the limited foot contact with the road as he bounds along. This montage is about double the width of the actual spacings at 7fps.

View: E64_20171022_0759_220_FB2 Chaffinch female close to head of pheasant female.jpg
Description: "Little and Large?"
We didn't even notice the female Chaffinch just to the left of the female Pheasant's head when we first looked at the uncropped image!

Date: 27 Nov 2017
View: DF3_20171016_1201_015-022+024-025 Red Kite gliding over tree 09-16+18-19 of 19 (approx montage).jpg
Description: The sky had a definite orange tinge from the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia, but our focus was on this lovely Red Kite and we didn't notice until we looked at the images later.

View: DF3_20171016_1201_026-032 Red Kite banking in flight 1-7 of 7 (impression montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: The sky had a definite orange tinge from the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia, but our focus was on this lovely Red Kite and we didn't notice until we looked at the images later.

View: DF3_20171016_1202_071 Red Kite harassed by Rook in flight with sky hazy from Hurricane Ophelia 1 of 3 (crop).jpg
Description: This single image seemed to us to capture the endless harassment Red Kites get from the Rooks - usually 3 to 10 rooks (sometimes FAR more) chasing the bird with one or two brave or particularly fit birds doing threatening swoops.
The orange tinge to the sky is from the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia

Date: 26 Nov 2017
View: D72_20171016_1535_018+020 Dim Orange sun caused by high dust from remnant of Hurricane Ophelia 1+2 of 2 (montage for focus).jpg
Description: The remnants of Hurricane Ophelia arrived at various times across the UK. For us it was mid-day to late afternoon on Monday 16th Oct. Mid afternoon. It got really dark as the whole sky took on an orange tinge. You could look at the sun without it even feeling bright. We have chosen this image because it most looks how we remember it. We looked hard for sunspots but couldn't find any, and the NASA site confirms that there were none - its a 'Solar Minimum' of the 11/22 year cycle.

View: DF3_20171016_1202_096 Red Kite in flight with sky hazy from Hurricane Ophelia.jpg
Description: Against the here clearly orange sky from the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia, here is a good view of the orange tail-top and the sharp hooked tip of the bill.

Date: 25 Nov 2017
View: D01_20171017_0703_012+0704_013_FB6 Sparrowhawk male short visit to meadow post 30m before sunrise 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: What's this in the dark then - a (probably young) male Sparrowhawk. It is still quite dark so we guess this bird is REALLY hungry to be out hunting half an hour before sunrise.

Date: 24 Nov 2017
View: E64_20171012_2334_041_FB2 Cat domestic black leaping at mouse (crop 2).jpg
Description: All is NOT well for the Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) near the lower right corner.
We will never know who 'won' this battle for life.

View: E62_20171016_0508_315_FB5 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) tumbling in mid-air (crop 1).jpg
Description: A couple of Fieldmice (Wood Mice) in the hours before dawn, practising spectacular leaps. Such ability might be very useful in escaping from the local Cat.

Date: 23 Nov 2017
View: E63_20171013_1607_110+1608_111+1621_114_FB1 Pheasant female with Magpie + Attacked by & later threatens Squirrel (montage).jpg
Description: Within a quarter of an hour the female pheasant shared the site with a Magpie, got chased into the air by an aggressive Grey squirrel, and then in turn threatened a Grey Squirrel, probably a different individual to the one that attacked.

Date: 22 Nov 2017
View: E63_20171013_1519_083+1532_091+1534_092_FB1 3 Great Tit individuals visiting in 15 minutes 1-3 of 3 (montage).jpg
Description: In just 15 minutes the camera took images of 3 different Great Tits on the top of the rock. Note the different patterns of the black patch on the breast.
When you see the 'same' bird on your feeder all day you can be sure it is several different birds.

Date: 21 Nov 2017
View: E62_20171017_1922_146+1926_147_FB5 2 Fieldmice (Wood Mice) on ground + one mid-leap (montage).jpg
Description: The number of Fieldmice (Wood Mice) at all the sites is increasing. We expect the Owls (plus foxes and the local cat) will soon reduce the numbers :-(

View: E63_20171017_1852_125_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) leaping from ground.jpg
Description: Rocket launch, Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) style.

Date: 20 Nov 2017
View: DF3_20171015_1631_031+035+036+040 400 starlings flying in changing formations 1-4 of 4 (montage).jpg
Description: This group of about 400 Starlings made a short but interesting series of swirling patterns against the late afternoon sky.

Date: 19 Nov 2017
View: D36_20171014_1605_038_FB4 Grey Squirrel climbing tree stump and startling away Robin.jpg
Description: The Robin doesn't argue with the arriving Grey Squirrel - just grabs a final beakful and leaves!

Date: 18 Nov 2017
View: E63_20171010_1617_113_FB1 Grey Squirrel and Pheasant female face-off.jpg
Description: The Great Face-off?
This may be a regular event - we have seen similar confrontations several times.

View: E63_20171011_0737_174_FB1 Pheasant male preening breast (crop).jpg
Description: In the morning the male pheasant has a preen at the site. There is nothing wrong with his eye - he is protecting it from damage with his nictitating membrane.

Date: 17 Nov 2017
View: DF3_20171008_1013_138-142 Heron with neck in S-shape banking towards camera 1-5 of 6 (approx montage).jpg
Description: One or two sighting of Heron(s) in the last few days. This bird was atypical - the neck is usually either stretched out or more usually tightly folded so that the feathers hide the fold as a 'lump'.

Date: 16 Nov 2017
View: DF3_20171008_1006_109-114 Grey Squirrel bounding over east boundary grass 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: Over our east hedge this Grey squirrel took one look at the photographer and made a bee-line for the safety of the hedge. It didn't come through the hedge so may have run away along the hedge line. This montage is accurately spaced at 7 fps.

View: DF3_20171008_1006_112-114 Grey Squirrel bounding over east boundary grass 4-6 of 6 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: The problem with accurate spacing is that you don't get much detail - so here are the last 3 images for you to appreciate the athleticism of the little creature.

View: E64_20171009_1714_039+1657_036_FB2 Grey Squirrel with ruffled fur & landing after leap (montage).jpg
Description: A silly montage of most likely the same Squirrel in action (right image came first) and a quarter of an our later nibbling what is left of the food. We like the latest 'layering effect' of the fur.

Date: 15 Nov 2017
View: DF3_20171006_1251_184 Ivy Flower with Ichneumon pimpla hypochondriaca.jpg
Description: This Ichneumon (a parasitic insect that used to be referred to as a 'Wasp') spent several minutes on this one Ivy flower, crawling all over it to feed.

View: DF3_20171006_1249_175 Ivy Flower with Wasp flying in (crop).jpg
Description: Ivy always seems an unlikely plant to make flowers, but each year we get a good show at the end of the summer. The insects really appreciate this late bounty.

Date: 14 Nov 2017
View: DF3_20171006_1243_035-037 Red Kite in flight harassed by Jackdaw 1-3 of 5 (impression montage).jpg
Description: One of two Red Kites flew about for a couple of minutes, continuously harassed by Corvids before departing. This Jackdaw couldn't keep up with the much bigger bird.

View: DF3_20171006_1244_157-162 Red Kite in flight Harassed by Rook 1-6 of 6 (impression montage).jpg
Description: Rooks are larger than Jackdaws and can just about keep up with a Red Kite.

View: DF3_20171006_1243_106 Red Kite in flight eating prey in Talons accompanied by 2 of 3 corvids 4 of 6 (crop).jpg
Description: The other Red Kite winged it's way by, eating it's 'lunch' as it went.
Did the corvids want to get rid of the bird, or to steal it's catch?

Date: 13 Nov 2017
View: D36_20171007_1617_071_FB4 Magpie landing on tree stump next to another (poss a juvenile).jpg
Description: The bird on the left is suggestive of a juvenile, but without any real evidence. The bird on the right is just about to land. We have no idea what followed.

View: D36_20171008_1242_081_FB4 Grey Squirrel grooming.jpg
Description: The Grey squirrel assumes some strange Yoga position as it hunts the eternal flea.

Date: 12 Nov 2017
View: D01_20171008_0422_006+0426_008+0429_011_FB6 Tawny Owl 8 minute visit (selected) 1+3+5 of 5 (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl stayed for about 8 minutes. Standing at the left edge with the sense IR beam grazing it's breast, it only fired the camera a few times. The middle image shows the relaxed bird having a little preen, before getting down to the serious business of hunting. No images of the Owl at the ground level photo site it is facing, unfortunately.

Date: 11 Nov 2017
View: DF3_20171003_0900_033 Shaggy Ink Cap Fungus patch about 4m diameter (crop).jpg
Description: From a 100m away this patch of Fungi appeared as a sort of mini forest of short white spikes that wasn't there the day before. This is what we found - perhaps 100 Shaggy Ink Cap Fungi 'fruiting' (that is the word used) over an area about 4 metres square.

View: P10_20171002_1225_062 Shaggy Ink Cap Fungus development stages (montage).jpg
Description: Over a couple of days we saw all the stages of development over the area. Here is a montage of various 'fruiting bodies' in the patch over a couple of days in the order of the shapes.
  1. Ovoid
  2. Cylindrical
  3. Conical
  4. Bell shapes (2 stages shown here)
  5. The 'Ink Cap'


View: P10_20171002_1225_062 Shaggy Ink Cap Fungus (stage 1 - ovoid shape) (crop).jpg
Description: About a third of the fruiting bodies were knocked down and/or partly eaten. The ID book says that the fresh bodies are edible, but we didn't try any.
Here are some of the freshly emerged fungi.

View: P10_20171003_0958_102 Shaggy Ink Cap Fungus (stage 5 - cap shape) (crop).jpg
Description: This is the shrivelled final stage that gives the fungus it's name.
We have all of the stages as camera originals should they be wanted.

Date: 10 Nov 2017
View: D72_20170930_0839_004 Fungi Fairy Ring around young Lombardy poplar by farm road (2nd tree).jpg
Description: Down the Farm Road avenue of young Lombardy Poplar trees we have started seeing groups of fungi just around the tree plantings. They seem to be forming partial 'fairy rings' centred on the trees, though this may be more human 'pattern matching' than reality. This was our second discovery - next day two more trees had similar patches through not so apparently curved.

View: DF3_20171005_0747_003 Fungi forming patch (probably Marasmius oreades) near young Lombardy Poplar (crop).jpg
Description: The 'Fairy Rings' around the young Lombardy Poplars along the farm road have now appeared around about 6 trees on either side of the road. Some of them are patches of about 10 fruiting bodies, while other have more making partial rings. This is a closeup with our ID- - a species which does form rings.

Date: 09 Nov 2017
View: DF3_20170930_1236_009-013 Buzzard calling in flight 1-5 of 5 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: This Buzzard flew by, shrieking his head off, but soon vanished.

View: D72_20171005_1549_022 70 Rooks disturbed by single Buzzard (bottom centre).jpg
Description: Rooks REALLY don't like Buzzards - its 70 to 1 here!

Date: 08 Nov 2017
View: D01_20171002_0405_009_FB6 Barn Owl (no ring) 3 minute visit then single frame 1 of 4 (crop).jpg
Description: This Barn Owl made a couple of short visits, this landing shows the length of the feather-covered legs usually 'lost' against the body feathers.

Date: 07 Nov 2017
View: DF3_20170924_1218_191 Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus).jpg
Description: We found a couple of Squashbugs - this is a Dock Bug Apparently the segmented Antennae of this species are so strong that the insect can use them to right itself if it gets inverted.

View: DF3_20170924_1219_199 Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus).jpg
Description: Another Dock Bug individual. Squashbugs are really hard to identify because of their variability, and appearing in both adult and various Larval forms.

Date: 06 Nov 2017
View: D01_20170926_0346_004+0348_006+0349_008+E62_0352_085_FB5_FB6 Tawny Owl 4 minute visit 1-3 of 3 + Pounce on ground (montage).jpg
Description: Four days after the multiple Barn Owl visits this Tawny owl made a single short visit. The images from the post are very hazy so there was probably an early- hours mist. The time stamp on the ground level meadow camera indicates that the Owl's next stop was a pounce on some rodent at the photo site some 6 metres away. The owl did not return to the post, nor trigger any more pics here, so we have no idea whether it had caught anything.

Date: 05 Nov 2017
View: DF3_20170927_1729_008+024+031+1737_051 Grey Squirrel eating kernels from freshly plucked corn cob 1+3-5 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Up and down our entrance track are dozen of partially eaten Corn Cobs that must be being purloined from the adjacent Maize crop. We set up a 'Trail Cam' on the most promising spot to find out which creature was doing it, but it didn't catch a 'smoking gun' image. Finally, in the evening through the conservatory window this Grey squirrel was seen arriving dragging this intact cob and proceeded to pick away at it until over half of the kernels had gone. She then carried the remains onto the top of the nearby gate and continued scoffing the remains.

Date: 04 Nov 2017
View: E64_20170924_0504_102_FB2 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) stretching upwards.jpg
Description: A Squeaky Sweetie.
This is just before first light in the middle of nowhere!

View: E64_20170928_0426_123_FB2 Badger soaked in rain 2 visits 1 hour apart 2 of 2 (crop).jpg
Description: In a stunning contrast in size, a few days later at the same woodland site this rain soaked badger made two visits an hour apart. This looks like a really large adult, not the least bothered by the click and flash of the camera.

Date: 03 Nov 2017
View: E62_20170924_1851_030_FB5 Wood Pigeon taking off.jpg
Description: A Wood Pigeon just starting it's lift off.

View: DF3_20170924_1537_007 Wood Pigeon on nest in front garden (crop 2 Iris detail).jpg
Description: We have often commented on the 'teardrop' pupil of all of our local Wood Pigeons. This close-up shows the unusual form particularly well.

Date: 02 Nov 2017
View: D01_20170922_2225_038+2226_039+2233_048_FB6 Barn Owl (no ring) 9m visit with rodent (selected) 1+2+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: About 7 minutes after the first departure the Barn Owl returns triumphant with a rodent in the beak. The bird (as usual) moves the rodent under it's talons, but leaves it there for 9 minutes before finally swallowing it's prize. We suspect that during the absence from the post another rodent went 'down the hatch' and there wasn't room to swallow another yet!

View: D01_20170922_2226_039_FB6 Barn Owl (no ring) 9m visit with rodent (selected) 2 of 6 (crop detail for beak).jpg
Description: This detail from the middle of the montage shows something you rarely see - both halves of an Owl's beak. Normally the bottom half of the beak is snuggled down in the feathers giving the characteristic top of beak pointing downwards appearance you see in almost every owl image.

Date: 01 Nov 2017
View: D01_20170922_2153_001+2208_022+2155_004_FB6 Barn Owl (no ring) 28m visit (1st sighting for months) 01+12+02 of 17 (montage).jpg
Description: Our first Barn Owl Sightings since 25 Feb 2017 (about 7 months) turned out to be an extended affair with 6 landings on the post. This landing and stay lasted for almost half an hour.

View: D01_20170922_2156_005-2218_035_FB6 Barn Owl (no ring) 28m visit (1st sighting for months) 03+07+09+16 of 17 (montage).jpg
Description: Some of the more interesting images from the first half-hour visit.

View: D01_20170922_2345_059+2312+053_FB6 Barn Owl (no ring) 4 short visits 3m+single+5m+single (selected) 6+3 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: Four further visits brought back no prey, but provided a couple of portraits.

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

Date: 31 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170919_0954_007 Badger Paw-prints in soft mud laying on concrete track.jpg
Description: A disused concrete track gets plenty of mud dropped on it from the regular farm vehicles working on the adjacent field. Over some weeks rain washes this down to the edge and makes a good (if very slippery) coating to pick up animal paw prints. This is evidence of a badger taking a few steps on the mud before turning towards the cleaner surface that both it and the photographer prefer.

View: E64_20170921_0520_080_FB2 Badger (crop).jpg
Description: 2 days later a Badger stops by the woodland photo site to see what is left of last night's offering.

Date: 30 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170919_1603_042 Comma Butterfly sunbathing on Blackberry leaf.jpg
Description: A pristine Comma Butterfly warms itself on a blackberry leaf.

View: DF3_20170919_1611_048 Red Admiral Butterfly sunbathing on weathered breeze block holding down lid of storage unit.jpg
Description: The Red Admiral has chosen an old piece of Breeze Block that holds shut the broken lid of a tool storage 'bunker' to warm itself in the weak sunshine.

Date: 29 Oct 2017
View: D72_20170918_1120_011 Great Tit in recently flailed farm hedge.jpg
Description: Spot the Great Tit!
This image also illustrates the damage that flail Cutting of hedges inflicts. But the hedges soldier on regardless, and any other form of large scale hedge management is no longer economically viable. We would much rather have these hedges flailed than see this great wildlife resource removed.

Date: 28 Oct 2017
View: E65_20170917_0742_030 Great Spotted Woodpecker male on peanut feeder (crop).jpg
Description: A male Great Spotted Woodpecker collecting breakfast from the peanut feeder.

Date: 27 Oct 2017
View: E64_20170915_1832_063_FB2 3 Grey squirrel (adjusted crop).jpg
Description: Genuine single frame of what may be mother Grey Squirrel (seen frequently in the last few weeks with active teats) and her two offspring.

View: D5C_20170918_1735_002+007 Grey Squirrel reaching into top of Peanut feeder 1+2 of 2 (montage).jpg
Description: The Grey Squirrels learned how to remove the top of this 'Squirrel Proof' feeder, so we add a wire tie to hold the wire hangers together to prevent the top being removed.
"OK then, I'll reach in under the lid to get my prize."

Date: 26 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170916_0933_132 Red Kite in flight with prey in talons.jpg
Description: A beautiful Red Kite, beak open and peering at the ground. We can just see that there is something grasped in the talons.

View: DF3_20170916_0933_138+139+142+144 Red Kite in flight biting off piece of prey held in talons 2+3+6+8 of 8 (mirrored montage @ 7fp).jpg
Description: The Red Kite was biting pieces from the prey (a Rodent judging by the tail) as it flew majestically along.

View: DF3_20170916_0934_169+171+173+175+176 Red Kite in flight pursued by Rook 1+3+5+7+8 of 8 (mostly accurate montage @ 7 fps).jpg
Description: By now the Rooks had noticed the Red Kite in 'their' patch and set off in hot pursuit.

Date: 25 Oct 2017
View: D01_20170914_0123_020-0129_028_FB6 Tawny owl 9 minute visit (first sighting for weeks) 1+3+4+6+7 of 9 (montage).jpg
Description: This Tawny Owl (first sighting for weeks) spent 9 minutes hunting from the meadow post. Unusually it moved across the post during it's stay - it might have flown off and returned during the camera's inter-frame 'dead-time' of 45 seconds.

Date: 24 Oct 2017
View: E63_20170912_1643_083_FB1 Pheasant female.jpg
Description: A Portrait of our only female pheasant visiting at the moment as she quietly steps forward crossing over her legs.

Date: 23 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170912_1455_014-1502_041 Kestrel male on 11kV cables 1+2+4+6 of 6 (montage).jpg
Description: A male Kestrel was hunting from a perch on an 11kV cable. It stayed at the same spot for at least 10 minutes ignoring us while we crept quietly closer when we left it in peace - he was still there several minutes later as we left the area.

Date: 22 Oct 2017
View: E64_20170831_1637_011_FB2 Grey Squirrel chasing away Magpie flying off with tail still on ground.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel has decided it doesn't want the Magpie for company. The Magpie is taking off away and to the right (so head invisible) with the tail dragging on the ground.

View: E64_20170904_1704_004_FB2 Grey Squirrel female carrying off bedding.jpg
Description: The nights are getting chilly - this Squirrel is adding some bedding to the Drey.

Date: 21 Oct 2017
View: E62_20170901_0348_042_FB5 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) eating corn kernel.jpg
Description: In the dark of the small hours, a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) feasts on a single corn kernel.

View: E63_20170901_1708_094_FB1 Grey Squirrel chewing corn cob.jpg
Description: This Grey Squirrel was happily chomping it's way through the remains of this cooked Corn Cob. The ripening crop around us can also be found as partially eaten whole cobs scattered over our access track

Date: 20 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170904_1633_066 Robin on Rose twig (crop).jpg
Description: Robins have done well this year. This little guy was watching us watching him from a rose bush.

View: DF3_20170904_1633_065 Robin on Rose twig.jpg
Description: Robins have done well this year. This little guy was watching us watching him from a rose bush.
Note the delicate grass stem gently pushing into his breast feathers.

Date: 19 Oct 2017
View: E65_20170826_0945_001 House Sparrow juvenile.jpg
Description: We still seeing occasional House Sparrows. This one is a juvenile moulting to adult, with a trace of yellow at the base of the beak, and quite a lot of downy feathers to replace.

View: DF3_20170829_1129_026 House Sparrow.jpg
Description: Another sighting of a House sparrow just after it had a drink

Date: 18 Oct 2017
View: E63_20170828_0028_197_FB1 Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) standing vertical on stone.jpg
Description: Just after midnight a Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) is on alert.

View: E63_20170825_1758_070_FB1 Grey Squirrel nibbling blackberry fruit.jpg
Description: A Grey Squirrel gorging itself on a Blackberry

Date: 17 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170826_1443_156-236 Red Kite making complete circle in thermal approx every 3rd 04-84 of 84 (near accurate montage).jpg
Description: Here a Red Kite was rising in the thermal making 'lazy circles in the sky'.
This montage is built from a continuous sequence of photos at about 7fps (given a few momentary hesitations near the end when the camera could barely cope) and we montaged this (about 12 seconds) of flight using clouds for reference. This is typically every 3rd frame with a few adjustments to overcome obvious discontinuities.
This seemed like a 'circle' to us at the time, but it is a sort of epicycle like those needed to make the Ptolemaic Geocentric model of the solar system approximate reality. How many 'modern' scientific ideas will seem as silly the future?
We have all 84 images archived if anybody is mad enough to want them.

View: DF3_20170826_1444_239 Red Kite overhead looking down (crop).jpg
Description: The circling Red Kite then flew right overhead as it used it's potential energy to head off south.

Date: 16 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170826_1442_034-040 Red Kite in flight near brook to north 1-7 of 7 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: For a few days 3 Red Kites have been frequenting the area on all four sides as harvesting and re-seeding progresses.

View: DF3_20170826_1442_068-073 Red Kite in flight near brook to north 09-14 of 17 (accurate montage @ 7fps).jpg
Description: For a few days 3 Red Kites have been frequenting the area on all four sides as harvesting and re-seeding progresses.

Date: 15 Oct 2017
View: DA1_20170828_1313_068+1319_077+1315_071+1534_080_FT1 Speckled Wood Butterfly in 3 flight with Blackberry fruits (montage).jpg
Description: This Speckled Wood Butterfly was a fairly cooperative flyer. These are 3 different flights montaged together. The right view is of the 'top' of the wings while the centre and left images are from below.

View: DA1_20170828_1556_156+1553_144+1535_086_FT1 Red Admiral Butterfly in 2 flights with water mint (montage).jpg
Description: This Red Admiral butterfly was caught circling the Buddleia, but we had seen them over the Water Mint as well and this is what we show the butterfly with.

Date: 14 Oct 2017
View: DA1_20170828_1129_051_FT1 Ichneumon Pimpla Hypochondriaca (q) in flight (crop).jpg
Description: This Ichneumon is a parasitic insect, laying eggs in various other insect Pupae.

View: DA1_20170828_1207_056+1602_159_FT1 Cranefly in flight with Buddleia (montage).jpg
Description: A true sign of approaching Autumn is the appearance of Craneflies. This one is a 'whopper' practically filling the camera frame

Date: 13 Oct 2017
View: DA1_20170828_1118_010-1127_032_FT1 Canary-shouldered (q) Thorn Moth 4 flights & on box (impression montage).jpg
Description: The overnight moth trap caught several of these Thorn Moths - we think the Canary-shouldered variety. Here is an interpretation of a series of separate flights.

View: DA1_20170828_1127_045-046_FT1 Forest Bug on tip of brush flying off (impression montage).jpg
Description: Shield Bugs in general are good, if reluctant, flyers. This Forest Bug, unfortunately starting on the white plastic tip of a soft artists paintbrush, unexpectedly took off. These two images we taken about 200mS apart.

Date: 12 Oct 2017
View: E64_20170818_0311_025_FB2 Fox with mouthful of cooked fruit (crop).jpg
Description: This Fox in good condition is very happy to fill it's mouth with some cooked fruit. Foxes are omnivores, both hunting prey and eating plants and fruit.

Date: 11 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170825_1336_004 Common Darter Dragonfly perched on Dogwood at Duck-shaped pond (orig).jpg
Description: Out first Darter Dragonfly of 2017 is appropriately a 'Common Darter', here perched on the leaves of the Dogwood that dominates the island of the duck-shaped pond looking for something to hunt and something to mate with.

Date: 10 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170825_1035_017 Oak Gall (crop).jpg
Description: Oak Galls can be weird but strangely attractive.
Plant galls are usually plant reactions to specialised insects.

Date: 09 Oct 2017
View: DF3_20170823_1339_001-003 Rough-legged Buzzard juvenile in flight 1-3 of 3 (horizontally spread montage).jpg
Description: Rough-legged Buzzards are said to be able to hover, and this one was certainly flying very slowly - the image separation is about doubled from 7 fps. The 'Rough Legged' term comes from the legs being covered in feathers almost down to the Talons.

Date: 08 Oct 2017
View: E63_20170817_1824_014_FB1 Chaffinch female with beak stained by berry juice.jpg
Description: This female chaffinch has put on her lipstick!
Birds often stain themselves and their droppings with the juices of autumn fruit.

Date: 07 Oct 2017
View: D72_20170818_1351_169-1352_181 Red Kite eating Rodent in Talons while in flight 02+04+08(mirror)+11 of 11 (montage).jpg
Description: A Red Kite with some rodent in it's talons, taking bites from it as it flies along.

View: DF3_20170820_0701_019-023 Red Kite in flight 04-08 of 10 (accurate montage @7fps).jpg
Description: 3 Red Kites spent a few days roosting in an Ash tree 150m away, and would be active soon after sunrise

View: DF3_20170820_0703_121-125 Red Kite in flight pursued by Carrion Crow 01-05 of 14 (impression montage).jpg
Description: This Red Kite being pursued by a carrion crow - the crow is just about able to keep up. On another occasion we observed that Jackdaws can't keep up with Red Kites even if the kite is not trying to get away.

View: DF3_20170820_1512_026 Red Kite flying overhead.jpg
Description: If we keep still the Kites mostly ignore us, as this one flying overhead.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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!