notmanywords: July 2014

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Not a lot about

There wasn’t a lot to see at Far Pastures today the only thing of note was the Kingfisher, which put in a brief appearance. The Little Grebes were chasing the only other things on the water, Mallards (four), Black-headed Gulls (three) and Moorhens (two).

Kingfisher

Little Grebe

Black-headed Gull

Monday, 28 July 2014

They are there, honest

A couple of shots from tonight when I went out looking for Purple Hairstreaks, yet another first (I have been doing well on the butterflies this year this is my 8th new one). There must have been at least half a dozen around but would they come close, would they heck. These two shots were taken from at least 70ft away with a Sigma 150-500mm at the longest end as they were always at the top of the trees. I will have to go back and try again.

Purple Hairstreak

Friday, 25 July 2014

Butterflies & a couple of Bees

Another first for me on the Butterfly front, Holly Blue. And there are a few shots of some of the other Butterflies I saw around and about today. Oh and has anyone got any idea as to what these two Bees are up to. Are they mating or fighting, they were flying attached together and on the ground together. Both were very much alive when I finished taking pictures.

My first view of a Holly Blue

Holly Blue

Meadow Brown

Large White

Small Tortoiseshell

Green-veined White

What’s going on?

Wednesday, 23 July 2014

….And the sun shone

A red hot day started at Far Pastures where Kingfisher, always nice to see, and Little Grebe were showing well. Then it was a trip to Wingate Quarry for Marbled White butterfly another first for me. There were about a dozen or so flying around along with Small Heath, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and Common Blue. The afternoon was spent digging in the garden where I still managed to get a Small Tortoiseshell on the Buddleia.

Kingfisher

Little Grebe

Marbled White

Small Skipper

Small Heath

Small Tortoiseshell

Friday, 18 July 2014

White letter day

Had a great day out yesterday at Blanchland with some friends of ours. The day started well with Spotted Flycatcher in the car park (no Golden-ringed Dragonfly when I was there, hope you got one Rob) then Swifts flying around the village. On to the White Monk for a coffee and scone then a walk along the river which produced a very obliging young Robin and Dipper (no pictures of the Dipper, wrong lens) and a couple of Forest Bugs (right lens). It was lunch in the Lord Crewe then a walk up to the lead mine. Green-veined White, Small Skipper and a Grasshopper posed for pictures.

Said goodbye to our friends after a great day dropped my wife off at home then it was down to a well-known spot (very well known judging by all the trampled grass) for another first for me White-letter Hairstreak of which I saw two.