A photographic diary featuring all of my latest images
Wednesday 29th April 2009
Farlington Marshes
Today I went to Farlington Marshes in Portsmouth, and found this Whitethroat nest building
It was obviously a good day for construction as I also spotted this pair of Linnets. The female had worked out that the cattle had left fur on the barbed wire and spent ages collecting it in her beak before flying back to the nesting site. The male busied himself "standing guard".
The reserve is currently alive with the sound of music, as supplied by the Sedge Warblers
Tuesday 28th April 2009
Meon Canal Titchfield
I was just loading the car today when I noticed this Jackdaw collecting nesting material opposite my house. I took a couple of photographs and when I uploaded them I realised that the bird had picked up a cigarette butt!
With the aid of a dog walker I located a great Spotted Woodpeckers nest alongside the canal and this male who remained in the vicinity. Not a great photograph but I intend to spend more time watching the nest in the near future.
In the same tree, I discovered a Blue Tits nest.
Just before the heavens opened and I was forced to return to the car, I just had time to photograph this Greenfinch and a Speckled Wood butterfly.
Saturday 25th April 2009
Hook with Warsash nature Reserve
A wander along the Solent at Warsash today, although the sun was shining it was very windy and the birds were scarce. On the way back a Heron was disturbed in one of the gardens and took flight.
Wednesday 22nd April 2009
Noar hill, Selborne and later, Old Winchester Hill, Warnford.
Still in pursuit of the Orange Tip butterfly, I went to Noar Hill reserve today and I was fortunate enough to have at least a dozen sightings,all males, but once again none of them landed. I think they are all too busy looking for partners at the moment. Not detered, I turned my attention to the Speckled Wood and the Peacock.
It was a beautiful sunny warm day and on the way home I dropped into old Winchester Hill reserve and was rewarded with a glimpse of this Willow warbler.
Monday 20th April 2009
Swanwick Reserve
I revisited the reserve today in the hope of spotting the Kingfisher or photographing an Orange Tip butterfly, I didn`t see the Kingfisher and although there were two or three Orange Tips about, none had the good grace to land for photographs! The trip was not altogether a waste, as I saw this Smooth Newt in the small pond.
Later I sat by one of the lakes hoping to see the Kingfisher appear and my attention was drawn to movement on a plant overhanging the water and although I cannot be certain, I believe that this Large Red damsel Fly had just emerged and left its nymph shell behind.
I managed to catch up with the ducklings again, but a visitor at the reserve told me that there were only seven or eight left out of the original fifteen.
Finally, two shots of a Red Tailed Bumble Bee enjoying the gorse.
Sunday 19th April 2009
Swanwick Reserve
I am one of a number of photographers who volunteer their services for the Hampshire Wildlife Trust and today was one of our meeting days. We met at the Swanwick Reserve and after the agenda was complete we took a wander round the Reserve. Not suprisingly the wildlife was too embarassed to pose in front of so many cameras at once, but I did manage to get a few shots and more importantly had a good chin wag and picked up a few tips from the others along the way.
Coot in the sunlight
Mallard and one of her fine brood
Great Tit
Thursday 16th April 2009
Garden
A lovely sunny day and I needed to catch up on some gardening, but I took the camera with me just in case! The Dunnocks and Goldfinches were busy in the garden but nervous of my presence. In the afternoon the birds stopped coming into the garden and so I turned my attention to the insects and spiders. I was unable to identify either of the spiders I photographed (any suggestions welcome). The brown one with the orange mark was about 7mm long and the other one approx 3mm.
Bee Fly. Most Bee-flies have a long, thin proboscis extending in front of the body. Bee-flies are true flies but their furry appearance makes them look a little like bumblebees and this is how they get their name. Adult bee-flies feed on nectar and use their long proboscis to sip nectar from flowering plants whilst hovering in front of the flower - rather like a humming bird. Most species of bee-fly are parasites on the nests of solitary bees. The adult bee-fly hovers above the entrance hole to the nest and drops eggs into the nest. The bee-fly larvae eat the pollen food stores and the grubs of the solitary bee. (Taken from the Amateur Entomologists website)
Buff Tailed Bumble Bee
004
003
Wednesday 15th April 2009
River Itchen
One of my favourite spots, where I have seen deer, foxes,and water voles earlier in the year. This visit didn't disappoint and I was fortunate enough to see a Water Vole. The Water Vole is the fastest declining mammal in Britain. Research suggests that two thirds of the population was lost nationally between the 1950s and 1990s. There are many reasons for the decline, not least the "accidental" introduction of the American Mink, a fierce predator of the Water Vole. The Test and Itchen are now the best rivers in Hampshire for the voles.
A pair of swans have built their nest very close to the riverside path and as I walked upstream Mum was sat on the nest. On my return downstream the Swan was not visible but there were three eggs in the nest. You have to fear for their safety as the nest is so close to the path. Fingers crossed.
As I was walking back along the river bank I saw this Willow Warbler, they are very similar in appearance to the Chiff Chaff, especially in the spring. I hope I have identified this one correctly?
Tuesday 14th April 2009
Meon Canal Titchfield
A late afternoon walk along the Meon canal towards Hillhead, this is a beautiful location and I had hoped to see a Treecreeper and maybe a Kingfisher. As it turned out I saw neither, but it was not long before I heard the unmistakable sound of swans in flight.
I was then treated to an aerial display by a Lapwing although it was too distant to photograph. I retraced my steps and suddenly two Great Spotted Woodpeckers flew through the trees towards me, one stopping in the top of a tree directly above me. I managed one shot before the bird flew off again.
Sunday 12th April 2009
Blashford New Forest
Easter Sunday and I went to Blashford, a Hampshire Wildlife Trust reserve. I was very fortunate to have a great view of a Lapwing foraging on the edge of Ibsley Water
A Redshank joined in briefly
Near the woodland hide there was a sudden commotion with a host of small birds who were obviously very agitated. Although I was unable to see what had uspset them I did get some shots of a Nuthatch which seemed less disturbed by the proceedings.
I did visit the Woodland hide but as I prefer not to user feeder shots on the website I resisted the temptation and concentrated on a Bank Vole taking easy pickings from beneath the feeders!
Tuesday 7th April 2009
Hook with Warsash Reserve
Meadow Pipit
Tuesday 7th April 2009
The River Meon Canal
Very pleased to get some shots of this little chap, a Willow Warbler just arrived from a winter in Africa.
Sunday 5th April 2009
Hook with Warsash Reserve
A morning at the reserve watching the Black tailed Godwit and the Skylarks.
