A drive up onto the Durham Dales at the beginning of the month in some sunny if blustery weather. My aim was to find Adders, which I did, and Ring Ouzel which unfortunately I didn’t however it was still a canny day out.
Female Adder.
Female Wheatear.
Male Wheatear.
Meadow Pipit.
Sand Martin.
Toad.
Black Grouse.
It’s nearly two weeks ago (I’m always behind) since my wife and I had a drive around the Durham Dales looking for Black Grouse. The Grouse that we saw were always at a distance but three “big birds” came very close.
Black Grouse.
Curlew.
Lapwing.
Toad.
Dunnock.
One of the “big birds” that came close.
I haven’t got one leg longer that the other, this is
the way it flew towards us.
First time I have been waved at by someone in a helicopter
(not a cropped image)
Around the middle of last month, I had a walk around Twizell Woods in the hope of seeing some Dragonfly it turned out to be a canny morning.
Common Darter.
A pair of Common Darter.
Southern Hawker.
Black-and-yellow Longhorn Beetle.
Leaf Beetle.
Common Froghopper.
Harlequin Ladybird.
Plant Bug.
Dung Fly.
Speckled Wood Butterfly.
Peacock Butterfly.
Comma Butterfly.
Green-veined White Butterfly.
Wasp.
A young Toad.
Another visit to Harperley for coffee and photography from the coffee shop and the carpark.
Emperor Dragonfly.
“And away.”
Common Darter.
Female Broad-bodied Chaser ovipositing.
She landed for a rest.
The Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins were all
flying over the pond.
Toadlet (is that even a word).
A couple of Kestrel high up.
A couple of Red Kites were having a bit of a spat.
This is one of the protagonists.
This is the other one.
I think the older bird may be trying to chase the
younger one off.
I only had my 300mm lens with me and this bird landed too far away for me to identify it (these images are a 200% crop). It may be a Buzzard but I’m not sure so any held would be most welcome. Possibly Marsh Harrier thanks to DaveH for ID.
When we got home this Buzzard was flying over the
garden.
