February 2012
A bright but cold day on the 2nd found me again in my garden hide hoping that some different birds may visit my feeders, but the highlight was a very brief visit by two Longtailed Tits, with no chance of photographing them on the tree before they went to the feeder. Plenty of House Sparrows on the fat balls, and the usual Blue and Gt Tits, and a few Finches. A new Lichen covered twig was put in place near to the feeders, and the below two pictures are my pick of todays shots.
Another session in my garden hide on February 1st provided me with several pictures of my garden birds as they flew to the feeders.
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January 2012.
Above a chaffinch flying to the feeders in my garden.
An hour or so in my garden bird hide only provided me with the usual mixture of garden birds that had come for their free feast of assorted seeds and peck away at the fat balls. A selection of the pictures are below. It was nice to have about a dozen House Sparrows, and several cock Green Finches in breeding plumage. They must think is spring!
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December 2011.
I made another visit to the RSPB heathland at Sandy, Beds, today 28th December to photograph the Lichens. The below picture was taken with the Canon Tilt and Shift 24mm lens. This enabled me to to get everything sharp from the closest Lichens (Cladonia portentosa) to the distant trees.
Below is a group of Clodonis fimbriata Lichens were growing on an old decaying tree stump.
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The hooks of the seedhead of Greater Burdock Arctium lappa (below) is the "Buleprint" of Velcro, now so useful and an everyday item on clothing and around the home. Developed by plants many millions of years ago, but only "invented" by humans a few decades ago.
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A male Winter Moth Operophtera brumata came to my window on the evening of December 19th. I boxed it up and photographed it the next day on some bark. I have never seen the wingless female, but plan to breed through some larvae next year, so with luck I will have some females hatch next winter.
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I had another go at a feeding station that I set up for Squirrels and Jays, it only privided me with a few more Grey Squirrel pictures. The Jay only came twice soon after putting the Acorns out.
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Lichens are both colourful and have interesting shapes and paterns. During the past week I have made several visits around Bedfordshire to take photographed these plants in their habitats. Below are a few of the pictures that I took.
Above a carpet of Clodonia portentosa at the RSPB reserve at Sandy, Beds. Below a close up of this Lichen.
Above Xanthoria parietina and below Caloplaca aurantia two species of Lichens on Tombstones in St Mary's Chruchyard, Linslade, Beds.
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Being a nice sunny day (2nd December) I decieded to visit the Lea Valley Park on the Herts Essex border to see what birds were willing to pose for me. As nothing out of the ordinary was showing I had a go at photographing Blue and Great Tits as they flew to a feeder.
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November 2011.
A visit to a Bedfordshire Churchyard revealed an attractive display of Lichens Xanthoria aureola on one of the tombstones.
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A visit to the Lea Valley Park on 28th November rewarded me with some Jay and Grey Squirrel pictures. A feeding station was set up with Acorns as bait, and it was not long before several Squirrel's and a couple of Jays put in appearance.
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A visit to the new heathland area of the RSPB reserve at Sandy, Beds, only provided pictures from a small selection of fungi species, but those that were found were usually in good numbers. Below Myceana fibula a small fungus growing in moss.
Above Sulpher Tuft fungi that were frequently seen. Below a species that I have not indetified yet, possibly Laccaria moelleri.
Above Glistening Inkcaps fungi growing on a rotting tree stump, this species was very common in one area.
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Although the autumn colours are not as good as some years, there are still some locally good shows. A late afternoon visit to Coopers Hill NR near Ampthil, Beds, had the Birch trees glowing in the warm late afternoon sun.
Above late afternoon sun on Birch Trees on Coopers Hill NR, 1st November.
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October 2011.
A drive around the back roads this morning 26.10.2011. produced a few Red Legged Partaridge pictures, but nothing else.
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Computer problems, gardening, and editing the summers pictures has ment I have not been out taking many pictures. A trip to see the deer rut in Richmond Park in mid October was very disappointing, as it had finishes a few days earlier. Below are a few shots that I did take that day.
Below a Parakeet eating a Chestnut in Richmond Park.
Above two Red Deer Stags in the morning mist that lasted from dawn until about 11.00am and below Red Deer hind with Jackdaws feeding on Ticks and other insects on it's body.
Below a Garden Spider in my garden repairing it's web.
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September 2011.
Recently I have been rather busy editing this summers pictures, and doing other things, rather than taking new pictures. Butterflies have now almost disappeared locally, my Sedum has been in full flower in my garden, but butterflies were almost absent, one Comma earlier in the month, and one Red Admiral and just a single Small Tortoiseshell is all I saw. A few of the pictures that I did take this month are shown below.
The above Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes is widespread species in Britain, but this is the first one that I have seen this year. It was sitting on a pillerbox and I found it when I posted my latest batch of pictures on a DVD to British Wildlife magazine. This magazine is in my opinion the best journal covering British wildlife. Their Website is: www.britishwildlife.com
A visit to Maulden Wood early in the month was rather disappointing, with the above picture of 7-spot Ladybirds with Wood Ant and Aphids being the best of the day, Below is one of five Adonis Ladybirds that were feeding on Aphids that were on the Nicotina plants growing in my garden.
The Bishops Mitre Bug is not uncommon, and this one (above) was found when I did some "sweeping" in a local rough area. There was also several Lesser Marsh Grasshoppers (below).
The above a Slender Groundhopper was also "swept" that day. Early in the month the Ivy in my garden had some insects feeding on the flowers, including some Common Wasps, Vespula vulgaris (below).
Above and below, are pictures of Britain's largest Hoverfly Volucella zonaria that is a Hornet mimic, I saw several on my garden Buddliea this year, the last one was in early September.
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August 2011.
One of my regular Blackbirds was doing some preening on a stump in my garden, then it decided to attend to it's eye. I have never seen this kind of "preening" before.
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Although prickley the Wooley Thistle is a striking plant. This one was photographed earlier in the month in a disused chalk quarry @ Sundon, Beds.
A vist to stay with friends in Norfolk at the end of the month resulted in a few nice shots of a Heron at Strumpshaw Fen NR. This Heron hunted and preened in front of the Fen Hide. At one time it just jumped about in a playful mood.
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On the 27th I visited Maulden Wood in mid Bedfordshire to have a go at photographing the Wood Ants. There were plenty in the usual places, but hardly any were carring prey. I think that they must have eaten everything in their area of the wood. I only saw three species of Butterfly in the wood, one Speckled Bush Cricket (below) and a number of Ladybirds.
Above a Wood Ant searching for prey on a twig in Maulden Wood.
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Recently a morning spent in Potton Wood, Beds, produced me with pictures of a Cuckoo Bumblebee Bombus rupestris and a Conopid fly Conops quadrifasciata that were feeding on Knapweed and Marsh Thistle flowers.
Above a Cuckoo Bumblebee and below a Conopid fly.
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The Adonis Ladybird is about the same size as the 2-spot Ladybird but more elongated. I found the below one feeding on aphids in my garden.
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Today I returned to the Bedfordshire site of the Fire Bug Pyrrhocoris apetrus (below) and found them still around, although not quite in the numbers of a few years ago. My previous visit to this site was in June 2009.
Above Fire Bugs mating and below a pair with the female feeding on a squashed Wasp on the track.
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I found a couple of Pictured-winged Flies in my garden last week. These small flies have a wing-span of only about 3 to 4 mm so it was not easy to get pictures of them, but I eventually managed a few shots (below).
Above Phagocarpus permundus, and below Palloptera muliebris.
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A recent visit to the Aston Rowant NNR in Buckinghamshire found the Silver-spotted Skipper butterflies very common on the closely grazed downland.
Above a Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly feeding on a Small Scabious flower. On the way home from Aston Rowant NNR I visited the Beech woodland site where the very rare albino form of the Violet Helleborine Orchid occurs. This stunning plant (below) was in prime condition.
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The Berberis in my garden has about finished flowering, but I managed to get the below shot of the Median Wasp Dolichovespula media feeding on the few remaining flowers yesterday, 8th August.
The Tree Wasp Dolichovespula syvestris (below) is a small social wasp that builds its nests in trees. It is seldom common but quite widespread in Britain. Below is a picture of a male feeding on Angelica flowers, and a "mug shot" of a male. These I encountered in a local wood. Males have longer antenna than the workers and queens, also males cannot sting.
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There has been some spectacular dispalys of wild flowers recently on the downlands of the Chiltern Hills. Below is one in Bucks, and the one below that is in Bedfordshire.
Above and below Chiltern Gentians in Sundon Quarry, a large disused chalk quarry where there are thousands of these plants growing.
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While visiting a disused chalk pits on the Bedfordshire Chiltern Hills many of the ant hills of the Yellow Meadow Ant Lasius flavus erupted with hundreds of male and queen ants. To get pictures of this happening I had to move in close and got bitten on my arm sevseral by these insects.
Above a Yellow Meadow ant Lasius flavus queen about to take flight, and below male and queen ants about to take flight. The dispersal was over in 20 minutes.
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July 2011.
On a walk around my nearest nature reserve to-day 31st July, I saw several female Six-belted Clearwing moths flying in and around the Birds-foot Trefoil, obviously egg laying.
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My garden has been very short of Hedge Brown butterflies this summer, but one that has survived a bird attack (below) has been present for a couple of days, but not seen today. Has it finaly been eaten?
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On Sunday 24th July I made a return visit to Pamber Forest NR and took some more butterfly pictures. Below is a Brimstone back-lit as it fed on Betony flower.
Above and below Silver-washed Fritillaries mating, this pair flew from flower to flower feeding while paired! I saw several other pairings in different places in the forest during the day.
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The below insect is only 3 - 3.5mm long so seldom seen but is quite common on leaves of many trees. This one was in my garden on a Honeysuckle leaf. It is one of the Psocoptera (family Stenopsocidae): Graphopsocus cruciatus (Linnaeus, 1768) and has no common name.
The Berberis in my garden is as usual attracting plenty of wasps and bees, with the Median Wasp Dolichovespula media (below) being the most common wasp.
Above a male White-tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lucorum) on my Berberis.
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I have dodged the showers today to check two of my local Chalkhill Blue butterfly colonies. One is doing well with many flying and several dozen pairings seen (pic below), but the other one is down from several thousands ten years ago to several dozen now. The reason for the decline? the lack of grazing by sheep during the winter, and the grasses are now smothering the caterpillars foofplant.
Many pairings of Chalkhill Blues were seen today at Sharpenhoe NR where these butterflies are flourishing. At Hexton NR numbers have fallen from maybe 5,000 ten years ago to a few dozen now.
The Dark Green Fritillary (above) had a good season on Sharpenhoe Clappers. On Saturday 9th July one was caught by a Emperor Dragonfly and I managed a picture of it eating the butterfly (below).
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Although many butterflies have been extremely scarce this summer in Bedfordshire, there have been thousands of 6-Spotted Burnet moths (below) in my nearest reserve.
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During July I have had a hatch of my lanceolata Ringlets (below), this rare aberration I have continually bred since the late 1990's, and this years hatch has produced some exceptional specimens. The male below is the most extreme I have bred or seen, and the female is as good as any that I have bred before.
Above an extreme male and below a female lanceolata Ringlet aberration from this years hatch.
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Several plants of Birds-foot Trefoil growing in my garden died a month ago, and I dug up the dead plants and found several larva responsible. I boxed up a larva and a pupa resulted. The above Six-belted Clearwing moth hatched a couple of days ago from the pupa. The larva of this moth feeds on the roots of Birds-foot Trefoil, and although it is a nice moth, do really I want the larvae killing my plants?
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I visited Pamber Forest NR in Hampshire on Sunday 10th July, the first time for about 18 years, and it has changed for the better. The rides are nicely opened up ideal for butterflies and other insects. Silver-washed Fritillaries were common but not in the numbers I had hoped for, but as many were in fresh condition, I expect that many more will be hatching during the coming two weeks.
Plenty of insects in the nice open rides in Pamber Forest NR, including Silver-washed Fritillaries (below).
Above two Pamber Forest male Silver-washed Fritillaries, and below a female.
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There has been a fair hatch of Dark Green Fritillaries at Sharpenhoe, and the local woods now have a showing of Silver-washed Fritillaries flying along the rides and clearings.
Above mating Dark Green Fritiullaries at Sharpenhoe, Beds, and below a male Silver-washed Fritillary feeding on Marsh Thistle in Gamlingay Wood, Cambs.
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The drought that has now ended considerably reduced the numbers flowering orchids in my area. No great variation found this year in the local Bee Orchids colony, with the two below showing the extent of the variation in markings.
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My three day visit to the NEW FOREST in early June was rather disappointing as the Early Marsh Orchids were difficult to find and those we did find had about finished flowering. It was also very windy that made photography difficult. However I managed to take some decent pictures.
Above a New Forest stream in early June 2011, and below a Keeled Skimmer Dragonfly and Southern Damselflies mating that were photographed beside this stream.
On the heathland Silver-studded Blue butterflies (below) were just coming on the wing.
Above a nicely marked Heath Spotted Orchid, this species was locally plentiful, and below the uncommon white form of the Early Marsh Orchid var. leucantha. This was the only plant of this species of orchid that was found in a condition worth photographing. I must go earlier next year.
Below the Plumed Fanfoot moth Pechipago plumigeralis that has only recently been added to the British list of moths turned up in a Lymington Moth trap while I was staying in the New Forest area.
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During the past few years the roadside Nature Reserve near Heneydon in north Bedfordshire has has spectacular displays of three very scarce British plants; the Spiked Star of Bethlehem, Crested Cow-wheat and Sulpher Clover. All three can be found flowering close together during June. Below the Spike Star of Bethlehem flowering on the Honeydon N.R.
Above and below Crested Cow-wheat.
Below Sulphur Clover.
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Early summer Orchids.
Most of the flora around the eastern area of England are suffering from the drought. Here in Bedfordshire we have only had about 20mm of rain during the past 3 months. I have left most of the Orchids for doing another year when they will be in better condition, but some are still in good condition this year.
On Saturday 11th June I visited Cowslip Meadow NR Luton (above). There were several hundred Southern Marsh and other Spotted orchids in a small area of this small wetland reserve. Most of them were hybrids, with perhaps 150 true Southern Marsh (no spots on the leaves), about 20 Common Spotted, and around 400 to 500 hybrids orchids in flower. All the larger orchids are hybrids and have spotted leaves.
Above a Southern Marsh Orchid in full bloom. Below some hybrids that all have spotted leaves and I think rather prettier flowers.
Above a group of hybrid Southern Marsh / Common Spotted Orchids, note the spotted leaves. Below a close up of one of the few surviving Common Spotted Orchids in Cowslip Meadow NR.
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Not so many Bee Orchids (below) this year in my local reserve, as the location is becoming very overgrown with other flowers. All very pretty but bad news for the Bee Orchids.
Above on of the Biggleswade Bee Orchids that has managed to survive the drought and the growth of the other vegetation.
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The above ochroleuca subspecies of the Early Marsh Orchid is only found in two localities in Britain. I photographed this great rarity in the Suffolk site, where there were about ten flowering. There were no other kinds of Early Marsh Orchids found in that locality.
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My Lizard Peninsular visit in Cornwall.
I spent the 3rd week of May on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall. My main photographic targets were the flora and landscapes of this area of Cornwall using my latest "toy" the new Canon 24mm f3.5 Tilt & Shift lens. By using this lens I am able to adjust the focus plain to achieve sharp focus from close up subjects to the distant backgrounds. There was mixed weather that week, a bit of light rain and sea mist at times, but it was mostly quite good, although there was not any decent sunsets.
The above pictures shows the ability of a T & S lens to adjust the plain of focus to capture sharpness of both close up subjects and the backgrounds in the same picture.
Below are some flora of the Lizard peninsula, some of which are rare British plants.
Above Spotted Catsear, restricted to a handful or so locations in Britain.
Above Rosy Garlic and below Three-cornered Leak are again plants with a very restricted British distributions.
Above Prostrate Broom on rock, and close-up of flowers and seed pods.
Above, the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly was frequently seen on the Lizard.
There was only one rather poor sunset (above) during the week I was there.
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I made a visit to Felmersham Pits NR in north Bedfordshire on 8th May. These old gravel pits were as always rich in Damselflies that were flying in numbers in the adjoining meadow. No unusual species, but nice to see that plenty have hatched this year and are on the wing. A pairing of Common Blue butterflies was also seen (below).
Above one of the many Azure Damselflies at Felmersham Pits NR.
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On Thursday May 5th I made a trip to Bedfordshire's only site for Burnt Orchids and I only found three plants, one in full flower (below) and two just coming out. All three were very small, the one in flower no taller than three inches, about half the size they normal are. In recent years there has been about three dozen flowering, no doubt the drought is responsible for this poor showing.
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An inspection of the Asparagus growing in my garden revealed a scattering of Asparagus Beetles on the plants. These are some of the most attractive beetles to be found in gardens.
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A visit to a local wood on a windy Monday made photography difficult, but some shots of Yellow Archangel flowers made the trip worth while. Several Speckled Wood butterflies were also seen.
Back with the Butterflies
With the recent warm weather the spring butterflies have got off to a good start, with good numbers of many early species. I recently spent an afternoon often on my hands and knees trying to get pictures of the Duke of Burgundy, Grizzled Skipper and Green Hairstreaks in two localities on the Bedfordshire Chiltern Hills. A stiff breeze made it very difficult, but I have ended up with some reasonable shots.
Above a female Duke of Burgundy that passed well for me, and below a couple of shots of males.
While some Grizzled Skippers (below) posed for me, others would not allow a close approach.
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The two ponds in my garden have Large Red Damselflies flying around. There was one paired couple that I managed a picture of (below).
Cowslips are now at their best, with thousands locally.
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After a gap of some 15 years I made a return visit to Kite feeding station at Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Wales. There has been a considerable change since I was last there, when there was only one small hide. This time I went into the new tower hide, and had an excellent couple of hours taking pictures of the Kites and Ravens. A few of the pictures I took are shown below.
Above a couple of Raven's as they flew by, and below some Red Kites pictures.
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VIST TO ISLAY, INNER HEBRIDES.
On 2nd April I left with another wildlife photographer for a weeks stay on the Inner Hebrides inland of Islay. We arrived in decent weather on Sunday 3rd. While southern Britain basked in warm sunshine, we had very mixed weather with periods of wet and windy weather. Regardless of conditions we managed to get out and about in search of pictures every day. Below is a selection of my pictures.
The above Heron picture were taken from the RSPB hide at Loch Gruinart.
Roe Deer were frequently seen early and late in the day. Above are several different buck's, photographed during out stay.
Above, Brown Hares were often seen on Islay. The top one was in a field next to a road, and the picture taken from the car, while the two Hares were running around in sand dunes next to Loch Gruinart, and were unconcerned that I was standing nearby.
Chough were seen in several places, the above group were working the dunes at Ardnave, but I failed to get close to any. The above in flight shot was the nearest I managed to get to them.
Above White-fronted Geese, they were rather nervous and seldom posing for a picture. I was rather lucky to get the in-flight shot. Below are a couple of shots of Barnacle Geese, again it was impossible to get close to them.
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I payed a visit to the RSPB hide at Sandy, Beds, this morning (1st April), and the Redpoles are still coming to feeders at the hide. The below two are the best of pictures that I took.
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With sun forecast for Saturday March 19th I set off with 3 photographer friends to have a go at photographing the Chiltern population of Red Kites. Food was put out away from where I have photographed them before. Would they find us? I need not to have worried, as within minutes of putting out some chicken drumsticks several Kites were circling overhead. At one point at least 50 Kites were in the skies nearby, and coming down to take our offerings.
Above is just a small selection of pictures that I took. It was great fun photographing these superb birds.
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The frogs have had this week spawning in one of my garden ponds. Plenty of spawn, but I did not spend much time taking pictures this year as I already have plenty from previous years. One of my garden pond saw all the spawning action last week, but it was not until Monday that it began in the more shaded pond near my house. The below pictures were take on March 16th or 18th. Spawning is now about over for another year
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A visit to Welney reserve in Norfolk on Tuesday 8th March was a little disappointing as the Bewicks Swans had all left for their breeding sites in Russia. There was still a few Whooper Swans left, and they performed for us, coming and going so that action pictures were obtainable. I am quite pleased with my pictures, and a few are shown below.
Most of the Ducks were to far away to make a decent photograph, but I did take a few pictures worth keeping.
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Recently I have made a visit to the RSPB HQ at Sandy this morning, and photographed the Lesser and Mealy Redpolls coming to the feeding station at the main hide.
Above a Mealy Redpoll, and below a Lesser Redpoll.
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A morning on Havergate Island provided me with some nice Brown Hare pictures, but I did not see any boxing, maybe next time. Thanks Liz for arranging this visit.
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Plenty of Heron activity early this morning (Feb. 27th) at St. Albans. Much nest building taking place between 8.15am and 10.00am, then most left the heronery, no doubt to do some fishing.
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Another session in my garden hide only had the resident species coming to my feeding station. However with them getting into breeding colours, they are still well worth photographing.
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Another visit to my favorite Coot location saw plenty of chasing about but no actual fights today.
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A morning visit to a woodland feeding station provided me with a selection of pictures of birds. Nothing unusual came, but a very pleasant 3 hours was spent taking pictures, and a small selection is shown below.
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Spring must be here, as the Coots are getting frisky! A number of fights took place today (8th February) while I was at one of my favorite wetland locations.
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I recently made a trip to the North Norfolk coast to photograph Snow Buntings, every winter these birds visit the coastal shingle beaches. I put down some bird food for them, and I managed some nice in-flight shots of them as they came for their free meal.
Above a Snow bunting feeding on the ground near the shingle beach, where I had put down some bird feed.
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Another session in my garden hide today (30.1.11) proved to be entertaining, but not that productive in the way of bird pictures. The usual species turned up in above average numbers, with 6 Goldfinches almost always at or near the feeders. Although cloudy I managed some nice shots of these attractive bird.
As it was sunny, today, (21st January) I decided to spend an hour and a half in my garden hide, and was rewarded by getting what I class as my favorite Longtailed Tit picture. Twice two of these birds came to my feeders, and this one posed just long enough on a nearby branch of my apple tree for me to take this picture. So far it is my favorite bird picture of 2011.
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Snow in Bedfordshire.
At long last there has been some snow in my part of Bedfordshire. Yesterday afternoon and evening almost 7 inches fell. This morning unfortunately it was overcast, with only a very hazy sun in the afternoon. Not what we want for good snow photographs, For about an hour I sat in my greenhouse hide, but only a thin scattering of birds came to my feeders, and the best ones are below of a Robin and a Dunnock. Then for about 2 hours I walked along the river Ivel along back meadows, and over Biggleswade common. Maybe the sun will shine tomorrow.
The river Ivel over Biggleswade common. Below are a few birds that are posing for me in my garden.
Above are four nice, but normal birds to be found in most gardens. It would be good to have something a bit unusual come to be photographed.
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All pictures are Copyright of Richard Revels FRPS