Bowes Valley Nature Reserve

A few hours at Kibblesworth Brick Works the other day was very enjoyable and quite productive. It took a while but the dragonflies eventually showed well. Migrant and Southern Hawkers were out in good numbers, as were Common Darters. A few Emerald Damselflies were on the wing and it was nice to see the Green Woodpecker that I have only heard on a number of visits to the site.

Juvenile male Green Woodpecker seen at a distance and I only had a 300mm lens with me.

It flew off into the surrounding trees



I managed to get reasonably close as it made its way up the trunk (it’s still a biggish crop)

Southern Hawker



Migrant Hawker

A Migrant Hawker with what looks like a damaged abdomen

Female Common Darter

Mating Emerald Damselflies

Female Emerald Damselfly

It was nice to see the Mute Swan still on the pond and it looks to be in good shape

 

Hook Norton Holiday part 1

Just got back from a holiday in the Oxfordshire village of Hook Norton. We were staying just outside the village in a beautiful cottage called Hook Norton Barn well worth a visit if you are down in the area. While we may have been based in Hook Norton we drove for miles all around the Cotswolds and the surrounding area. I wanted to get shots of all the dragonflies and butterflies that we don’t normally see up North but the weather didn’t really allow that however I did see one or two.

This juvenile male Green Woodpecker was right outside the barn.

Turtle Dove

GSW

Brimstone

Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix moth



Pammene Aurita (thanks Michael)

Grey Dagger

Male Ruddy Darter

Female Ruddy Darter

 

A Few From Work

I still take my camera to work every day just in case something turns up. I never get anything rare or unusual but here are some shots I have taken over the last few weeks.

Green Woodpecker looking for something to eat

Wren

Robin

Grey Wagtail

Who do you think you’re looking at?