Corsican Heath

One more photo from Sardinia.

Durham - Red Kite and Dipper added to the Year List

I was in County Durham today for work. A very beautiful part of the UK, I also managed to pick up two year ticks, Red Kite near Stanley (203) and Dipper on the River Tees at Barnard Castle (204). Not bad for a day at work. The photo is of the River Tees at Barnard Castle. There's a Dipper on there somewhere......

Cumbria

Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny, despite the dire forecast of rain. I arrived at the Large Heath site in Cumbria at 8am, and already it was warm, and butterflies were on the wing. I counted at least 40 Large Heaths.

The other star of the day was a moth, Manchester Treble-bar, which was all over the site. I estmated at least 100 individuals, probably a lot more. Birds seen included a singing Tree Pipit and a male Stonenchat.

Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, I only managed one photo with my camera (Manchester Treble-bar), and the other photos were taken on my mobile phone. The Bog Asphodel has come out well, but the Large Heath is only just recognisable!

Manchester Treble-bar


Bog Asphodel

Large Heath

Gronant, North Wales

Little Terns - Gronant is the largest colony in Wales with 110 pairs this year.

Little Tern - Year 202


Red-veined Darter



Red-veined Darter

Six-spot Burnet Moth

Small Skipper

Pyramidal Orchid

Mountain Ringlet, Honister Pass

Lots of Mountain Ringlets flying today, but only in the brief preiods of sunshine. When it was cloudy, they all just disappeared!

The habitat of Mountain Ringlet. Thousands of people walk this way every year, just for the view and aren't even aware of the existance of Mountain Ringlet, so it seems a shame to ignore the view. From the left, the mountains are Pillar, Haystacks and High Crag.

Ospreys, Bassenthwaite, Cumbria

We had excellent views of two birds, one next to the nest and in flight, the other sat on a post in the lake. You can see the nest in the bottom right of the photo, with an adult sitting to the right of it. The lake in the background is Derwentwater. There are three chicks in the nest, almost ready to fly.

Queens Park, St Helens

A few moths from my backyard, on a hot and humid night.


Blackneck - the first for my yard and about the 20th record for St Helens.


Dingy Shell - 2nd for my yard and about the 8th record for St Helens.

Swallowtail - Relatively common and widespread throughout St Helens. Single brooded, flying in late June and July. On blackthorn, hawthorn, goat willow and black currant.