A bit of macro

The last post for August, so some recent macro shots. First up, a dragon, by the name of Southern Hawker.

The next one is another Hawker, the Migrant Hawker.

Something a little different next. I found this feather caught on a leaf.

A couple of damsels getting it together,

Common Blue.

And a female Common Blue, that looks like she’s doing a hand signal.

And the last two, a couple of butterflies.

Small Copper

Common Blue

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Off out from the holiday…….

The Cormorants are leaving the holiday weekend behind them.

What a tenuous start. lol

 Well, it is early as I do this. A few more from the month of August, before September arrives.  

A young Wood Pigeon. He hasn’t earned his white collar yet. 

A waiting Heron. He saw me eventually, and flew off, despite my efforts of going through the bushes.

  

A big ol’ Mute Swan, showing everyone he’s the boss. 

Indian Balsam. You either love it or hate it.

  

And acorns forming. The year marches onwards.

Time for me to as well. If you’re out too, travel safely. Catch up with everyone later.

  

A roundup

A little roundup of pictures, as we head into a holiday weekend here; apparently.

The early morning flying ducks make another appearance. Actually they were geese, you’ll have to take my word for that.

A hoverfly. This one’s for Bob; because he likes hoverflies.

A Common Blue butterfly. These have been very ‘common’ round here, this year.

I’ve noticed a lot of mushrooms growing when I’ve been out. Another sign of autumn? Or just all this rain we’ve had recently?

A fly. Someone must like them. Lovely coloured eyes.

And a young Swallow. There have been a lot of these flying round my local recently. This one is taking a brief rest from flying practice, as he looks like he’s contemplating the long journey ahead of him in just a few days. An incredible journey, when you think him and the rest of his family will be travelling over 3,000 miles; battling against all the hazards on the journey……..weather…..predators…..looking for food, and then hopefully coming back again next year. And all by a small bird, weighing no more than a dragonflies fart.


Pretty incredible when you stop to think about it. Good luck to him, and all the birds, that are soon to begin their great migration journeys.

And have a great weekend, and safe journey too, if you are travelling.

Signs of autumn

Another plug before I start this post, but not for me, but this time for a fellow blogger.

His name’s David, of One Foote Closer, and he’s got this great idea for a challenge, about taking 10 pictures; the same, or differently.
Take a look here; he explains far better than I could lol

The signs of autumn seem to be around everywhere here, at the moment.

I took a wander up Ivinghoe Beacon yesterday; a bit tiring climbing to the top,

but worth it for the view when you get there.

Nearly everything is taking on a golden brown colour, and the hedges are just bursting with berries of all sorts.

There weren’t many birds to be seen; far too windy for that. A very large flock, or charm, of Goldfinches though, mostly juveniles, going from bush to bush, and settling on the many thistles that have gone to seed.

Some lovely blue, bell shaped flowers too; but too windy for any pictures. I did find one sheltered spot though, and saw some of these growing there.

Not sure what they are, but very small and beautiful.


From the beacon, I made my way to Wilstone reservoir, at Tring, but again, much too windy to see many birds. Even the Reed Warbler that mimics the Cetti’s, was quiet.
I took a walk round the reservoir, and came to the field of corn that I took some pictures at last week. It looked very different yesterday; harvest time.

Couldn’t resist a cliché shot, but it didn’t quite come off. Wrong lens.

A more natural looking shot.

Despite the efforts of the wind, and the lack of birds, it was still an enjoyable morning. And when I got home, a nice visitor to the sheltered garden;

a Migrant Hawker, taking in the rays of the sun.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Start the week

We’ll kick the week off with a couple of dragons, couple of butterflies, and some flowers.

First one though, is a pigeon, that wouldn’t keep still.

Wood Pigeon.

Ok, dragon number one, 

A Ruddy Darter. Two of him, because he was so obliging. Next one wasn’t,

 

Brown Hawker. He just wouldn’t keep still for more than 2 seconds.

First butterfly, 

Common Blue. There have been hundreds of these little ones here this year. This next one hasn’t been so numerous though,

  

Speckled Wood. He was enjoying some sunshine.

The flower is this beauty,

   

Orange Balsam; a relative of the equally invasive ‘pink’ variety.

And a nice smelly one to finish on,

  

Wild Thyme. Lovely scent.

Enjoy your start to the week.

 

A quick plug for a new blog I’ve started. It’s called Caldecotte Lake, and the link is ‘here’. And yea, I’ve spelt it right; it has two 't's' 

It’s my local lake, and as I spend so much time there, I thought I’d try and keep a blog of the visits and sightings.

Right, plug over, back to this one………

Went out early the other day; always the best time of the day. A beautiful sunrise, although its best was soon over.

Even the birds played nicely for a change.

I spent a lot of time in a cornfield; it was so photogenic. Well, I thought so,

I was surprised just how dirty it looked though.

These seed heads of some Honeysuckle made an interesting picture, I thought.

And this pair of damselflies made a perfect heart shape.

And last two pictures are of a Black-tailed Godwit.

A nice pair that dropped in at Wilstone Reservoir the other day.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, and if you get a chance, pop over to my local. Let me know what you think

The mimic

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Ok, here’s a bit of a fun post for today.
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I went out the other day to take some pictures, and while I was out I met a fellow birder. We got chatting, and I mentioned I was going to try and get some pictures of the Reed Warblers, in the clump of reeds, just ahead of us.
He told me there was one there, that sang just like a Cetti’s Warbler. Not as loud, and as powerful as a Cetti’s; but did a remarkable impression of one, nonetheless.
This I had to see…………..and hear!
And I did!
Now I briefly saw the bird in question, but he was very shy, and stayed hidden amongst the reeds and bushes. I did manage to film the bush though, and you can hear him singing.
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Now first, this link takes you to RSPB site, where you can click the sound file for Cetti’s Warbler. This is what he sounds like; although personally I don’t think this is a particularly good sound file; but it’ll give you a good idea.…..………
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Cetti's Warbler
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Next, the link for Reed Warbler. This is what he should sound like……….
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Reed Warbler
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And the video I took of the reeds, with the crazy Reed Warbler
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A real performer, and great mimic!!
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At last

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Finally cobbled together enough pictures from the last few days, to do a short post.
And because the birds have been in short supply, I’ll make this one all birds!
Not all brilliant, but I’m just happy to get these at the moment.
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(And I’ve plenty of catching up to do on my favourite blogs, so I’ll be along soon….……….)
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So, first picture……..
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The humble Pigeon. I’m pretty certain this is just the common old Feral Pigeon, but he sat and posed so eloquently for me, I couldn’t resist.

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Cormorant, posing equally eloquently

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Great Crested Grebe, that had been fishing………..….unsuccessfully.

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And a baby one, wondering who the strange looking man is, looking at him.
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A Greenshank. One of about 4 or 5 that turned up at Summer Leys the other day
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Greenshank again, with a Spotted Redshank in the background, trying to mirror him. Unfortunately the sun was in totally the wrong place for good pictures, and the ‘spotty’ didn’t want to move. Oh well.
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Little Egret. He’s becoming quite a regular at one of my local lakes.

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And last one for now; one of his cousins……….
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Grey Heron. Fishing, but also unsuccessful.
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Enjoy the rest of the week, and the upcoming weekend.
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