A few more of my many Owl photos from mid Wales

I also took photos of Kestrel, Peregrine, Merlin, and Hobby, which will hopefully end up here when time allows.
I also took some photos from Grigin farm at the Red Kite Feeding station and again will add these soon.

42 - 2533 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

Not only does time fly, but the weather has turned to Autumn already.  There seems to be very few butterflies about and those that are still with us are looking very tatty.  I have updated my  Speckled Wood  page with some photos taken a few weeks ago, and I guess that any more updates to my butterfly pages this year will also be as a result of a rummage around photos taken earlier this year.

In 2009 I have taken photos of 42 different species of butterfly   Of these 42 species, I have downloaded 2533 photos onto my PC 5 species of British butterfly I have seen prior to 2009, but during 2009, I did not see these species (Lulworth Skipper, Small Blue, Northern Brown Argus, Adonis Blue, and Wall. The British Butterfly species I have still to photograph is 4 The British butterfly species that I have not yet seen is 3 I managed to get photos of the 2 species of Butterfly that commonly migrate into Britain (Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow) and there is 1 species (Purple Hairstreak) that I have seen last year, and I saw it twice this year, and I have still not photographed it.

Time to switch to birds and other wildlife photography

Better Brown Hairstreak

One of the species that I managed to photograph early in my quest to photograph all the British Butterflies was the Brown Hairstreak.  But I have been after improving the images for some time.  At the Birdfair whilst enjoying a beer with Roger Wasley and Mike (Brown Hairstreak recorder for West Midlands Butterfly conservation, it was suggested we should meet at 8.00 the following day at a Brown Hairstreak assembly tree in Worcestershire.  A couple of hours and two sites later the photos were on the memory card and can be viewed by the link below.

Brown Hairstreak

The elusive Purple Hairstreak I have seen Purple Hairstreak several times including again today in Worcestershire I even thought I had a photo but it has eluded me yet again Purple Hairstreak is therefore a major photographic target in 2010 along with the other three species I have yet to photograph These are: Chequered Skipper, Large Heath, and Silver Studded Blue

I decided that I needed a potable hide a while ago, but did not know where to start.  So when my butterfly photographer mate roger Wasley said why don't we meet you at the beer tent at mid day at the bird fair, it seemed like an ideal opportunity to have a look around at what was on offer.  Needless to say a small portable hide was in the back of the car during the drive home.  I will report back on it's progress.

Back in September 2008, I answered an appeal on the Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society (LROS) web site asking for photos for their forthcoming book. 

To cut a long story short, one of my photos of a pair of Egyptian Geese, ended up as one of the thirty three colour photos in their book  
The photo taken at Rutland Water, the same place the book was launched at Rutland Water at the 2009 Bird Fair.

The book is hardcover and contains 704 pages.  It is one of the County Avifauna  series by AC Black entitled "The Birds of Leicestershire and Rutland". e book

This woodpecker photo was taken in Finland back in July.

This Red Kite image is a disaster dragged from the jaws of success.

A few weeks ago, I spent a day in Oxfordshire taking butterfly photos, and whilst at Whatlington, I saw 8+ Red Kites and grabbed my long lens.  Unfortunately it was set on manual focus and +1 exposure.

Butterflies

A look through my postings over the past few months, you could be forgiven in thinking I am a butterfly photographer rather than a wildlife photographer.  I had not realised that apart from a visit to Finland in July to photograph bears, that I have virtually concentrated on butterflies since late April.
I am very pleased that I now have 54 species photographed (even if a few of these species have been photographed badly and need improvement.  I guess I only have a few more weeks of butterfly photography this season and I guess I will end up with 54 species but it's been a very good butterfly year.

Birds

Focus will shortly return to birds, the long lens will get dusted off, and some more targets will hopefully become reality.  I have not had the success with Owls that is a long term aim to improve this.  I have a weekend booked in September which will hopefully provide a few better pictures.  I also hope to get some better Red Kite images at the same time.  Kingfisher photos is another target this autumn at a site about 45 minutes from my home.

Feeding Station

I am looking to improve my Woodpecker pictures and feel I need to get a portable hide to put near to the nut feeders in my garden along with some branches and other bits.

Worldwide Images

I have been very fortunate this year that I have been on several trips abroad with my camera and as a result I am very pleased with the images of Brown Bear, Pigmy Owl,  Crested Tit, Sib Jay, etc.
I guess I won't be able to spend as much time or money doing the same next year, but plans are taking shape for one overseas trip.  more details when this is finalised.

But I am also planning a visit to Scotland next June for Chequered Skipper.
then there is Large Heath in The Lakes in early July
and I need to find and photograph Silver-Studded Blue and Purple Hairstreak
.... back to butterflies again...........

Longer Term

My thoughts are still to photograph all the woodpeckers and Owls of Europe along with all the British Butterflies.  Other longer term targets include Hoopoe, Rollers, Bee eaters, Raptors, etc. 

I guess this list is no different from the species that most wildlife photographers want.

not sure how I will be able to fund the expensive stuff such as Penguins, Tigers, and Polar bears.....

The smaller the species, the harder is to get the photo.  This Green Shield Bug was only a few mm long.  I used my Sigma 150 macro lens with a Cannon 25 mm extension tube.

Larger pictures can be seen at   Green Shield Bug

I was very pleased to improve my photos of Chalkhill Blue's

My efforts can be see at  Chalkhill Blue

Blimely August already - soon be Christmas.....

A day out with my friends Roger & Shelia from Gloucestershire produced some good sighting and a few more photos to match.

The most exciting find was a Clouded Yellow butterfly at Coombe Hill Nature Reserve in Gloucestershire.  Roger had been informed yesterday that one was seen on the reserve so we were pleased to get a reasonable view and a quick photo.  It never seemed to sit still.  But as an uncommon migrant from continental Europe I was pleased to see my 54th British butterfly species.

At the same reserve we managed Red-tipped Clearwing and there were several Emperor Dragonflies.  Roger is targeting the clearwings and was pleased to get some pictures.

One of the harder butterfly species to photograph is the Grayling.  A master of camouflage that just doesn't seem to produce good photos.  We visited North Malvern and managed to see several Grayling, and managed a few pictures as well.

 

Clouded Yellow	Grayling	Red-tipped Clearwing

Recent reports on two of the Wildlife sites I regularly visit online suggest that there is currently a Billion Painted Lady butterflies in Britain at the moment.

I therefore thought I should at least have a reasonable chance of getting a few pictures.

My efforts can be see at   Painted Lady

Two new ticks brings up 53 species of British Butterfly photographed
but the weather ensures the photo standard takes a dive

A very late afternoon visit to Arnside Knott produced rain and wind.  Eventually it also produced a few species of Butterfly.  Amongst these were two new species for me High Brown Fritillary  and  Grayling.  The HB Frit that I did mange to get a few photos of was a worn female butterfly.

The High Brown Frit is now a rare and declining British butterfly and Arnside Knott is one of a small number of British sites for this species.  It is a great site and I definitely need to return to try to improve on my photos of the High Brown.  Hopefully better Grayling pictures should be easier to find as this is not a rare butterfly although it's camouflage certainly help it disguise itself.

There were a few other species about including Scotch Argus which is very uncommon South of Scotland.  Unfortunately I arrived to late and the weather was too bad for any pictures of these.

Three new species

I was pleased to see three new species that I had not seen before on a visit to Baggeridge Country Park in the West Midlands.

The target was the White-letter Hairstreak which I saw just one.

I also saw two six belted Clearwing moths which are reasonably rare and I was lucky to get a picture.

Amongst some of the commoner butterfly and moth species seen were lots of Burnett moths and this Cinnabar caterpillar.

Six belted Clearwing Moth

I am in the process of sorting, processing and adding a few photos from over 1500 photos taken in Finland.

The main target and highlight of the visit was the excellent bears.

Brown Bears in Finland which is one of the many wildlife highlights of North East Europe and well worth the travel to the Finland - Russia border

I was pleased to get a few pictures of Small Skippers including a mating pair just 5 mins from my home.  Certainly an improvement of the older pictures I have of this species.

Larger images on my  Small Skipper  page

On 29th June, I reached my 2009 target of 50 butterfly species photographed when I managed to take a few photos of the Mountain Ringlet.  As always from a photographic point of view, not the best pictures.  But as this is not an easy species to see, I was pleased with this sighting and the resulting images.
The  Mountain Ringlet  is only found in a few small mountain areas of Western Scotland and The English Lake District and is by no means an easy butterfly to get pictures of.

I was pleased to see and photograph another new species for me.  The Large Blue is a rare butterfly in Britain.  It became extinct a few years ago and is currently doing well in a handful of sites in the West Country.  I visited Collard Hill a National Trust site near to Street in Somerset and managed to see good numbers.  Plenty of orchids about and a good place to visit.    Larger pictures on my  Large Blue  page, again more to process soon.

An evening with my friend and Little Owl man Paul Riddle produced a great number of sightings.
We visited at least a dozen sites known to Paul and at least six sites we managed to see Owls.  We saw at least nine Little Owls (plus a few more in flight).
As we were driving home and only about 2 miles from my home we got long views of a Barn Owl.  Most birds were to far away for photos or were showing after the light had gone.  But a great evening.  A few more pics on my Little Owl page. More to process soon.

As regular readers to this site will know, I have been pleased to see regular numbers of woodpeckers visiting my garden for quite a few years.

I have also been keen to take a few pictures of some of the "cute" youngsters.
so pleased to get these quick grab shots taken through glass.

larger picture at British Woodpecker gallery

An afternoon at Strumpshaw Fen near Norwich looking for the Swallowtail butterfly produced a few interesting species.
We visited on Saturday 6th as the weather forecast was better than the Sunday forecast.  Even so the weather was fairly cold and fairly windy for June.  As a result Swallowtails were hard to see and after three pleasant hours walking around the reserve we were pleased to see a single Swallowtail and to get a few brief pictures before it flew across the meadow and out of sight.  A lovely butterfly and I definitely want to visit again in warmer less windy weather to attempt better pictures, but I guess this may not be in 2009.  This brought my number of butterfly species photographed up to 47.  This is rising well in 2009 and I am still hopeful that 50 can be achieved in the next few months.

Garden Tiger	Swallowtail	Bee Orchid

The Garden Tiger moth is classed as a common moth, but I am not sure this is true.  I was pleased to see a Garden Tiger moth caterpillar even though it did not want to sit still for it's photo. I would love to get a picture of any of the adult Tiger Moth's sometime.  They are all lovely colours and certainly don't fit the common view that moths are brown and dull.

I have previously seen and photographed Bee Orchids before, but always pleased to see and photograph these again.

Other species seen include a few Dragonflies yet to ID, along with Large Skipper, Painted Lady, Large White.

Two days in Devon proved to be very productive in getting two of Britain's rarest butterflies the Heath and the Marsh Frit. I was also please to get a couple of pictures of Southern Marsh Orchid.

Heath Fritillary	Southern Marsh Orchid	Marsh Fritillary

A day at the Butterfly Conservation reserve near Coventry gave more opportunities to photograph some odds 'n' ends.
including:  Lesser Treble Bar moth, Brimstone eggs, Mute Swan cygnets, Mother Shipton Moth, Small Heath butterfly, etc.

Cardinal Ladybird	Grizzled Skipper	Green Hairstreak
Broad Bodied Chaser	Orange-tip caterpillar	Coot

A day in Gloucestershire with my friend Roger gave some excellent opportunities to photograph a couple of species not available near home these were Duke of Burgundy and Pearl-bordered Fritillary.  I also managed a few other more common species such as Small Cooper, Green Hairstreak, etc.

Small Copper	Duke of Burgundy	Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Frog Hopper	Common Heath Moth	Red headed Cardinal Beetle

2nd May - A Dingy and Grizzled start to 2009 is a long way from being as bad as it sounds !!!

In fact I was rather pleased to get a few snaps of these two species on a visit to Twywell Hills and Dales country Park in Northamptonshire today.
A fine start to the 2009 butterfly photography season.

Grizzled Skipper	Dingy Skipper

I would have liked to have added green Hairstreak to the photographic tally but even without this it was a good afternoon with the camera.   I managed to see plenty of other wildlife including Bee-fly, Green woodpecker, whitethroats, Linnet, etc. so a good afternoon.

The first British Orchid to flower each year is the Early Spider Orchid, which is about in late April.    As it is classed as  "nationally scarce"   I was therefore pleased to get some photos during my recent visit to Kent.

A few days in Kent gave me the opportunity to visit a few new sites and this resulted in a few more photos of various species.

Turnstone	Red-legged Partridge	Marsh Harrier	Pheasant

Sites visited included Isle of Sheppy, Ramsgate, Rye Harbour, and Samphire Hoe.

A couple of pictures from Brancaster in Norfolk added to the galleries.
I am still updating my pictures of common birds.

 Redshank

Rather than Easter Bunnies, I have ended up with Easter Hares this year.

 Hares

A visit to Lathkill Dale in the Peaks produced a double figure number of Dippers, a pair of Grey Wagtails and various common ducks.
Lots of people out with dogs.  (unfortunately some of these were quite happy to let their hounds loose in the river despite signs asking people not to do so because of the Dippers)

I managed a few pictures which were an improvement on my previous attempts at Dipper photography.  My photos can be seen at:   Dipper

Whilst not wishing to advertise anywhere, we then visited one of the many Bakewell Pudding shops in Bakewell and we enjoyed their afternoon tea.  (Bakewell Pudding, Scones, Jam, Cream, and Coffee)  which we felt we had earned.

Four days were spent in the fantastic Black River Valley area of Sweden looking for and finding some great birds.

more pictures from Sweden here

more Pygmy Owl pictures

Siberian Jay

Nutcracker

Black Woodpecker

Whilst working on my computer, I saw some movement in the garden which caused me to look up and there was a young fox in the garden.  I rushed downstairs as my camera was sitting on the floor in the lounge.  I grabbed my 40D as it had the 70 - 200 lens attached.  I managed to fire off half a dozen shots before it disappeared under the fence into next door.  Unfortunately the ISO was set to 1600 but considering I only had a few seconds the pictures are ok.
This is the third time in about a month that I have seen a fox in the garden, the other two were in very poor light.  A few bigger pictures of the Fox

I have been tidying up a few pages checking a few links, adding a few older pictures and splitting some of the combined pages into their own species pages.  The  Birds  by  A-Z  has more thumbnails and links to more individual pages.

New species pages include :  Green Woodpecker   and   Great Spotted Woodpecker
I have also added a separate  Barn Owl Gallery  as well as the existing  British Owl Gallery

total number of bird species on this site is now = 208


Pinkfoot Goose

Spotted Redshank

A visit to the North Norfolk coast is always a good day out, so I was therefore looking forward to the opportunity to see and photograph a few more birds.  The prime objective was Owl's with hopefully a few more wader and geese photos.
We saw quite at least 5 Barn Owl's during the day, along with a SEO, but unfortunately none were near enough to improve on the photos I already have.

During the day we visited at least half a dozen sites with plenty of Brambling, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Marsh and Hen Harriers seen, but again at distances to great for pictures.
Plenty of geese including a single Black Brant at RSPB Titchwell where two Water Rails were showing well.

Bar tailed Godwit (left) Black tailed Godwit (right) Godwit's

So far my 2009 total is 4 species
3 Long eared Owls, and 1 Little Owl seen on 4th Jan.
1 Barn Owl, and 2 Short eared on 14th Jan.

Woodpeckers, and a Bittern

Also today a Greater Spotted Woodpecker on my garden feeder

But best bird of the day during my few hours out was a Bittern seen at Eyebrook Reservoir.  Far to long range for photos but great to see none the less.

British Owl Gallery

Water Rail has until now managed to elude my camera.

During my recent visit to Gloucestershire to take advantage of the £9 rooms at travelodge near to WWT Slimbridge, I managed to see two Water Rails on two consecutive days.

206th British wild bird species on this site :  Water Rail

During our weekend visit to Slimbridge, there was plenty of opportunities to photograph birds in the harsh winter conditions.  Although the cold weather is very harsh for our birds, the photographic opportunities of these birds on frozen water can make good images.  As always there are larger and more images on the species pages.

Mallard	Shelduck	Moorhen	Coot
Teal	Greylag Goose on Geese pages	Black-headed Gull	Pintail

As anyone who reads this blog will know, I am not keeping a tally of British Birds seen during 2009. But I am going to keep a record of Owl's and woodpeckers.

So far my total is 2 species
3 Long eared Owls, and 1 Little Owl seen on 4th Jan.

Targets for later in 2009:
Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Short eared Owl in Britain.
Eagle Owl, Hawk Owl, Pigmy Owl, and Tengmalms Owl in Belgium in the spring.

2009 is my
"Owl photography year"
with Barn Owl's one of the species for improvement.

Whilst looking at some of the online birding information sites, I saw that there was a Slavonian grebe at Pitsford Reservoir in Northamptonshire.  So I popped across to take a few photographs.  I was pleased with the results and now need to improve my Summer Slav pictures with a visit to the Scottish lochs sometime.
more and larger pictures