4th September 2010.

It's been a quiet couple of weeks, what with bad weather, lack of subject material and poor photography, I haven't taken anything worth showing. I have trawled through some of my photo's from previous outings to find something to post. Here are a couple of pictures taken in Oversley Wood. Last years influx of Painted Ladies was exceptional, this year I think I have seen four.

The outer wings of the Red Admiral are just as stunning as the inner.

22nd August 2010.

We didn't manage to get out on Friday due to poor weather, however, earlier in the week Lesley, Brian and I travelled a short distance over the border into Worcestershire, to Grafton Wood near Flyford Flavel. This is a location of a breeding colony of Brown Hairstreak, we were fortunate to see at least three females.

15th August 2010.

We have just returned from a weeks holiday in Cornwall, the weather was variable, allowing you to get sunburn one day and soaking wet the next.

Lesley and Alice went on their usual sea trip with Marine Discovery in the hope of seeing dolphins or basking sharks. The company has changed its vessel from powered inflatable to catamaran, unfortunately there were no marine animals and to make matters worse the motion of the boat was a little uncomfortable.

We visited various sites and Alice spotted a Common Lizard basking in the sun at Marazion Marsh.

and this huge Cricket 55mm. Great Green Bush Cricket.

The south of the country has some different butterflies and we found The Wall.

and Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary.

1st August 2010.

It's so depressing the continual cloudy skies make photography difficult and keep the butterflies away. Friday Lesley Brian and I went to Ryton Pools, there was very little about and I didn't take anything worth showing.

Today Lesley and I went to Oversley Wood, still no sun. However, my ace spotter came across this Slow Worm. I managed to get a couple of shots before it disappeared, the only problem being that it's not much use having the benefit of Image Stabilizer if you forget to switch it on, Duh.

Slow Worm.

25th July 2010.

There must be something about Friday's, it was another cloudy day, Brian and I went to Ryton. I managed to get this photograph of a female Gatekeeper and a beetle that I haven't seen before Chrysomela populi or if you prefer, as the name implies, Poplar Beetle.

and by coincidence I put the moth trap out on Friday night and had this Poplar Hawkmoth.

17th July 2010.

It was windy and looked like rain so Brian and I stayed local and went to Snitterfield Bushes. The thing with being out and about is that you never know what you are going to see. We had almost completed our walk round when I saw a small brown butterfly on a thistle head. I thought it was a Brown Argus and was almost within touching distance when I realised it was a White Letter Hairstreak, too late, it took off into the nearest tree. We also saw two Roe deer and the following butterflies: Silver Washed Fritillary, White Admiral, Comma, Peacock Common Blue, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Small White and Meadow Brown.

Common Blue

Holly Blue (in the back garden).

11th July 2010.

Brian found the public footpath to Oxhouse Farm earlier in the week so we made another visit on Friday and on Saturday I went with Lesley. Still lots of Dark Green Fritillaries and Marbled Whites also Roesel's Bush Crickets, several with long wings, which occur in hot summers.

Roesel's Bush Cricket.

Marbled White.

4th July 2010.

Another busy weekend, I've got so many pictures to process. Friday Brian and I went to Snitterfield bushes to try for the Marbled Whites and to try out the new macro lens. It makes a difference having the benefit of image stabilizer not having to take a tripod. The place was alive with butterflies.

Marbled White.

Silver Washed Fritillary.

Friday night the moth trap went out, several different moths with this nice Buff Tip

Later on Saturday I went to Oxhouse Farm near to Combrooke, the Warwickshire Butterfly Conservation held a butterfly walk with the target being Dark Green Fritillary. I have never seen this butterfly before so to see a meadow with Dark Green Fritillaries everywhere was a bit special.

26th June 2010.

Its been a busy weekend, taking advantage of the fine weather I put the moth trap out on Thursday night. There were over 100 moths in the trap Friday morning with this beauty, the first Hawk Moth.

Elephant Hawk Moth.

Brian and I then went to Oversley Wood and saw the first White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak of the year. Purple Hairstreak is the commonest Hairstreak, they are overlooked because they spend most of their time in the tree tops (Oak Trees) Brian took this great picture.

Lesley, Alice and I returned this morning unfortunately we could not find any Purple Hairstreak although we did see several White Admirals and Silver Washed Fritillary. We were also lucky to see a Red Kite flying over the wood, the first I have seen in Warwickshire.

Broad-bodied Chaser

20th June 2010.

There must be something about Friday's, under leaden skies Brian and I went to Snitterfield Bushes. It wasn't too bad as the Ringlet butterflies were starting to emerge, first of the year.

Ringlet.

I have also purchased a moth trap which I set up for the first time last night, I had 26 moths with six different types. I must get some more practice, 1 escaped before I could take its picture and identify it. Another was taken by a Robin which had watched me putting them in a container and they proved difficult to photograph, they wouldn't stay still once they started to warm up.

Great fun, I really must grow up.

Buff Ermine.

12th June 2010.

The forecast on Friday didn't look too promising, Brian and I decided to stay local and went to Snitterfield Bushes. It turned out very nice, Brian kindly let me use his 180 macro lens whilst he put his new Canon EF 100mm f2.8L Macro IS lens to good use. We had a close encounter with a Jay and a fast moving Humming Bird Hawk Moth unfortunately no pictures of either.

Large White Butterfly.

Yellow Shell Moth.

5th June 2010.

We have been out and about quite a bit this week, Thursday Lesley and I went to Ryton Meadows, we were fortunate enough to see two new butterflies. Several Marsh Fritillaries, which is remarkable considering the following quote from the Warwickshire Butterfly Conservation Site (Various reports of Marsh Fritillary between 1900 and present day across Warwickshire. Reports since the 1950's are the result of unofficial releases or accidental release by breeders) Extinct in Warwickshire since 1951. We also found a Wood White butterfly

On Friday Brian came with us and was able to get some pictures of the Fritillary

Marsh Fritillary.

Wood White.

Common Blue

Black Tailed Skimmer.

31st May 2010.

On Friday it was a visit to Ryton Meadows, lots of Broad Bodied Chasers and the same variety of butterflies as the previous weeks visit. Brian caught a brief glimpse of a Large Skipper.

On Sunday Lesley and I visited two new locations for us, firstly to Wormleighton Reservoir south of Southam. It was cold,windy and overcast which is all you could say about the visit. We moved onto Stockton Cutting, an old disused railway cutting and with the weather improving we saw Grizzled and Dingy Skipper, Common Blue and Brimstone butterflies, Four Spotted Chaser and a Green Tiger Beetle.

Taking advantage of the day off for the Bank Holiday we went to Snitterfield Bushes. We kept hoping that the sun would come out, it was not to be. So other than two Speckled Wood no butterflies.

Straw Dot.

22nd May 2010.

What a difference a rise in temperature brings, on Friday Brian and I went to Ryton meadows. Green Hairstreak, Grizzled and Dingy Skipper, Small Copper, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Small Heath and the bonus of seeing the Cuckoo sitting on the fence.

Green Hairstreak.

Brown Argus

I returned today with Lesley and we were lucky to see this grass snake. It was as thin as a pencil and about 12 inches long (not long out of the egg).

Small Copper

Common Blue

and the first dragonfly of the year, a Four Spotted Chaser.

15th May 2010.

I am pleased to announce that we have a prize winner in the family. Alice entered a photograph into a competition, the photograph was taken whilst she was on her visit to Africa last June.The picture will appear in a book which she will receive a copy of.

On Friday Brian and I went to Brandon Marsh, temperature still on the chilly side. We were lucky enough to have a Whitethroat just in front of the hide and also a Sedge Warbler. The Oystercatcher and Lapwings have young and the terns are starting to return.

25th April 2010.

The Warwickshire Butterfly web site states that it is possible to see 21 species of butterfly in Warwickshire in April. With this in mind Brian and I decided to try the butterfly meadow at Ryton. I think I have seen more in the back garden. We did see Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Jay and the first Whitethroat of the year. We also heard a Cuckoo.

Brimstone

Marsh Horsetail.

17th April 2010.

It's been a bit quiet that last few weeks, we have been away on holiday in Norfolk. Norfolk 2010

Yesterday Brian and I went to Brandon Marsh in the hope of seeing a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker which has been seen. No luck although there was a Avocet on the main pool which is extremely unusual this far inland. Birds of note being several Willow Warblers and Cettis Warblers (heard but not seen) Swallows,Sand Martins and Jays.

28th March 2010

On Friday Brian and I made our first visit of the year to Oversley Wood, the first migrants of the year are starting to arrive with several Chiffchaff singing. Other birds seen Great Spotted Woodpeckers,Nuthatch,Willow Tit, Great Tit and Blue Tit, Buzzards, Raven and Mistle Thrush. The Wood Anemone are also starting to flower.

The Chiffchaffs are also about along the canal.

27th February 2010.

Due to the weather this Friday we didn't manage to go out, here are a few pictures from the Slimbridge visit.

21st February 2010.

A Grand Day Out.

Friday Lesley, Brian and myself went to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust centre at Slimbridge. Ducks of all shapes and sizes, lots of photographs to sort through.

Goosander (Male)

Wood Duck.

There is a nice hide called the Kingfisher hide with bird feeders set up close to the windows. Lots of Blue Tits and Great Tits on the feeders and this Wren which would not keep still.

7th February 2010.

A change of scenery this week for Brian and I, we decided to try Brandon Marsh. Not one but two Bitterns today, lots of Robins, some still willing to feed from the hand. Great Tits,Blue Tits,Bullfinches and Reed Buntings.

31st January 2010.

Although the weather on Friday didn't look too promising Brian and I decided to go out. We went to Ryton Pools, the usual on the Pools with Pochard, Tufted Duck, Mallard. Moorhen and a large number of coots. Whilst feeding bread to the ducks we were visited by two Pied Wagtails.

25th January 2010.

Awful weather on Friday which meant that we didn't go out. We are still having a variety of birds visiting the garden with the male and female Bullfinches and a regular visitor at the moment is this female Blackcap, which seems to have taken a liking to the fat blocks. This weekend is the RSPB garden birdwatch lets hope the birds hang around.

At this time of year we are visited by Redwings and Fieldfare which are members of the Thrush family. The Redwing is slightly smaller than the Song Thrush and the Fieldfare similar in size to the Blackbird. These birds are not easy to photograph, so I was happy to take up Brian's offer as both of these birds have taken up temporary residence in a berry bush in his back garden. Using his shed for a hide and his equipment I managed to spend a productive hour, thanks Brian.

Thrushes

28th November 2009.

Friday a grand morning out, Brian and I decided to go to Brandon Marsh, it was one of those days that you just get lucky. It started with a fox hunting in the grass.

Followed by not one but two Water Rails in front of the hide.

and an equally shy and elusive bird the Bittern.

Here is a link to some more photos from our Norfolk Holiday

Norfolk 2009.

Links

BJKilby

Alice's Africa