Hertfordshire June 2010.

After spending 4 hours waiting for some bathing images and nothing to show I decided to at least save the day by trying for some wagtail shots on a manure heap.

The Yellow wags' were actively feeding alongside the Pied wags', most of them carrying the food away to young nearby. The Dung flies and Drone flies were a tasty morsel no doubt, judging by the size of some a hearty meal for sure. The birds would walk around the heap and at breakneck speed launch an assault when the flies gave themselves up. And there was definitely not a shortage of them.

There were quite a few young Pied wags' accompanying the adults and learning the trade as it were, the young Yellow wag' below was so good at blending in with its surroundings due to its 'grubby plumage'.

And the male Yellow wags' still look stunningly bright.

A solitary Turtle dove made a brief appearance and was a most welcoming sight.

Lapwings were evident around the crop fields, especially when a corvid decided to enter their airspace, it didn't stay in it for too long though !.

And a great moment was when two tiny young Lapwing chicks appeared from nowhere to scamper around the heap feeding on insects. Never too far from the parents watchful gaze and amazingly camouflaged, if I took my eye off one for a couple of seconds then I would strain my eyes on the slightest movement to relocate them, it must of been like a vast lunar landscape to them ( only made up of manure!).

The day turned out okay in the end.

Berry Fen.Cambridgeshire.June 18th 2010

Due to last minute change owing to the dull, cloudy and drizzly weather I set off early for the Blue winged teal at Berry fen in Cambridgeshire. I had not been to this site before but it seemed a good place for birds and insects too. Despite a lot of searching I could not locate the Blue winged teal, I did spot 2 Garganey amongst the Teal and Shoveler.

It wasn't until upon retracing my footsteps for the third time that I noticed another birder scoping, and so on asking I was to be shown the Blue winged teal skulking amongst the vegetation. It was quite elusive whilst feeding in the grasses but when it did show there was no way of missing it. Its identity unknown but still a welcoming sight for me none the less.

Not being able to get to the female at Fen Drayton I was glad to connect with the male.

The Reed warblers seemed to be in good numbers at this site and busily taking food back to young no doubt, they were more than happy to climb up the reeds and pose for me too. Definitely more obliging and out in the open compared to my last jaunt to Fen Drayton for 'reedies'.

On the way back to the car the temperature had risen enough to awaken the chasers and darters, with this Four spotted Chaser, below, being the only one still enough to photograph. On a good day with the weather right I'm sure this would be a great place four dragonflies, so I may have to return.

Fields of Red.

Whilst driving, a couple of villages away from my home, my vision was distracted by this sea of red visible through gaps in a hedge. I knew they were poppies but I had not seen such an abundance so close to home before. It is one of those sights that you cannot take your eye off, so I knew I would return with camera in hand. But standing in front of this ocean I wondered where to begin, the vibrancy of the colours gave the whole scene a psychedelic feel, blending in as one, and every now and again a thin line of yellow flowers breaking through. The wind was not still enough to really work with the poppies but I tried my best and left in awe.

June 2010.

Lime Hawkmoth.
Lime Hawkmoth.

White Ermine.

Spruce Carpet.

Spruce Carpet.

Green Carpet.

Damselfly (?).

Damselfly (?).

Large Red Damselfly.

Large Red damselfly.