Eric & Lesley's Wildlife Blog - Wildscotphotos

A Little More from Down South

13/8/2021

Continuing from last theme, another picture from "down South", this time a Little Owl.
Little Owl is, in many ways, a controversial species since it was originally introduced to Britain. I don't think anyone would like it eliminated but it makes it more difficult to pursue the general theme of eliminating alien species. It is however, also present in New Zealand where it may be eventually culled.
This is an adult bird, likely a female, since there were two Little Owlets close by but no other adult. It nested in a fruit farm so was quite used to the comings and going of human traffic and their vehicles. It was pretty chilled.
Since I am unlikely to see one close to my home this was a thrill just enjoying that stern gaze.

The Return of Ratty

31/7/2021

Travel is still fraught with stress at the moment but when I was invited to join a friend who lives in SE England I took up the offer of "getting away". I'm glad I did.
The insect fauna was quite different from what I usually see. For example the Hoverflies; I ended up ordering the Hoverflies of Britain to try to photograph then identify more of them. However, our main targets were a bird, Little Owl, and a mammal, Water Vole. The vole seems to making a bit of a comeback so we were delighted to be able to view at a private pond. Due to fluctuating water levels they were not as predictable as hoped (when is wildlife?). Through a fair bit of patience I was able to secure a selection of pictures of this, most charming, indigenous mammal.

Pretty in Pink

22/8/2019

Last month we travelled to the southern counties of England on the lookout for insects including some rarer ones. At Kingcombe it was moth trapping along with outings for butterflies, We failed on Purple Emperor but had success with Southern, and Scarce Blue-tailed, Damselflies as well as commoner species like Gatekeeper. It was hot but not suffocatingly so.
In the New Forest we were very pleased to see Nightjar hawking at sunset.
This picture is of a female Marbled White against the pink of Rosebay Willowherb.

Plumage Problems

24/8/2018

We are not long back from a short visit to England, incorporating Lincolnshire, the Rutland Birdfair and the Zoological Photographic Club (ZPC) 2018 Convention.

After that we spent a couple of day looking for birds and butterflies. Many Butterflies were nectaring, in preparation for winter. Birds are feeding too but the other noticeable impression is that there's a mix of young and adult birds. Often the young birds are changing plumage. One sight that is fairly uncommon for us was to see this juvenile Water Rail. Out of the nest it would be black; later it will be much greyer, with a red bill but for now it more resembles a Crake. The striped Crake perhaps.

Northumberland Coast

25/7/2018

A change of scenery was needed, so we decided to head south and visit the Northumberland coast for a couple of days. Not a county we know well. A particular target was Roseate Tern, but there were plenty other things of interest to seek out along the coast. Visiting one of the many coastal wetlands to look for Barn Owl (which we failed to see!) we passed a farm with this Little Owl sitting outside on the wall. Another highlight was a damp meadow with a Grasshopper Warbler in full song.
We did a couple of boat trips and did see Roseate Terns as well as plenty Sandwich and Arctic, but never close enough for good photos.
Butterflies were abundant too with lots of Small Skippers and Dark Green Fritillaries around the wet ponds.

Dormant?

18/10/2017

Last week we visited Norfolk and Suffolk. We have fairly regularly spent time in that part of England. It is rich in birds and sometimes opportunities for bird pictures. That said, it is now full of photographers with big lenses and sometimes bigger voices. We did see a good selection of waders and wildfowl. The waders were either passing through or arriving for winter. In the case of the wildfowl they will mostly spend the winter there in milder conditions than the northern climes they choose for breeding.
Our highlight of the visit was not a bird but a mammal. Its not often I get to see a new mammal. We were able to meet up with an field worker who was able to show us a Hazel Dormouse. Fortunately it was dormant otherwise it would have bolted. We were able to leave it safe when we departed. A thrill.

Malham

7/8/2013

Summer is always a difficult time for bird enthusiasts but if you have a wide range of interests there's always something to see and do.

For the past week we have been based at Malham Tarn a Field Studies Centre in Yorkshire for the purposes of studying Moths and Butterflies. Like our previous courses around the UK it has been a satisfying week with new things to see and plenty of exercise in pleasant surrounds.

The moth highlight was the pretty one in the picture. It is a Vestal which does not breed in Britain. It has come from the Mediterranean or further afield in North Africa. Flying high, it fortunately avoided Swifts to fall to earth close to Malham FSC before finding John's light trap. Lucky us.

Somerset Moths and Butterflies week

20/6/2011

Just back from a great trip to Somerset concentrating on Light trapping Moths and Butterfly walks. Many highlights to choose from but I have chosen the Privet Hawkmoth as the star, even over the Large Blue Butterfly and rare Heath Fritillary. It has the largest wingspan of any of the native moths.
More pictures from out Somerset visit can be found here:http://www.pbase.com/wildscot/somersetleps