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Thursday 25 April 2024

Local Walk - Surprise

In the latest of my local walks it became obvious that the slightly improved weather conditions was helping the Spring nature to come alive.


Flag Iris

In recent months I have heard the very obvious call of a Cetti's Warbler along a certain path which is lined with a small waterway and a hedgerow.

I thought it unlikely thet I would see one in the feathers as it were.
However, luck was on my side and the bird put in an appearance at last.









Due to the warmer conditions the Bumble Bees were foraging any flowers they could find.


More Chiffy action. These two were still singing away as if he had only just arrived on migration.



Robins are nesting now and collecting food for their young.





This assumed 'Male' Wren was singing away on an exposed perch, as they tend to do at this time.


A distance male Blackcap was annoyingly singing away across the river and I only had a medium lens with me.


My first Red Campion observed this year sighted on the walk.


Another brief sighting across the river was this Grey Wagtail collecting food.




The Lady's Smock (Cuckoo Flower) is showing really well now.


Another unhelpful bird observed momentarily was this Tree Creeper, which then disappeared around this tangled tree. 

A Male Brimstone Butterfly warming up in the sunshine.


The presence of a second Lesser Celandine behind this one helped with the finished Image. 

A Bluebell, just one of a few in a small area which was  created for nature.


This female Mallard was resting and preening near a river bank.


A doe Roe Deer was sighted grazing in a small isolated field.
I have observed three in that field recently.




Wednesday 17 April 2024

Orange Tip

 The Orange Tip butterfly is not normally one of the first species I am able to observe and shoot during the season. However our weather in this area in late Winter into Spring appears to have confused the natural flow of things this year.












Monday 15 April 2024

Blackcap in the Bushes



Female Blackcap

     It is that time again now when we get to hear the lovely song of the Blackcap.
That said, it can be quite frustrating to hear the male singing away in the middle of a Blackthorn tree which is adorned with flowers, but unable to locate it.


Although predominantly a Summer migrant to UK many Blackcaps overwinter in the Southern part of the Country.  One study showed that a one Blackcap spent the Winter in Southern England and Summer in France.

Male Blackcap

I was fortunate to observe and photograph this male and female in the same tree on the edge of the Lodmoor Reserve, Weymouth.