Norfolk part three

 We visited Blickling Hall National Trust on the 20^th; we first had a walk around the gardens where there were loads of butterflies flying around then after a bit of bait, we looked around the house. We came back into the gardens where we could hear Green Woodpecker what I didn’t expect was to see four of them on ground feeding on ants. I know you should never blame your tools but I had only had a 300mm lens on the camera and the light was horrendous with harsh sunlight and dark shadows but I got some images and photoshop has done canny.

I came across some Green Woodpeckers feeding on the border of a path. They flew into the trees on seeing me.

But came back down.

They were constantly getting chased off by visitors.

However, they came back to the same borders to feed.

The four of them were watching a Grey Squirrel in the branches above them. 

Back to the trees.

Female Black-tailed Skimmer.

Male.

Mating pair.

Emperor Dragonfly.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser.

Painted Lady Butterfly.

Common Blue Butterfly.

Small Copper Butterfly.

Meadow Brown Butterfly.

Harlequin Ladybird I wish I had my macro lens with me.

Reed Warbler. It was moving about in the reeds and when it did come out it was behind a wire fence.

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