On a sunnier day, it is possible to see a Common lizard or two wandering through the grass. Today however, there were tucked away keeping warm. If we ever get some sun again, I will try and find some.
Saturday, 28 April 2012
Cross Country Walking
Rest & Relaxation
As part of the Swanage Walking Festival I took a couple of brave souls to Dancing Ledge and risked getting wet and muddy on the walk back to Swanage. Even though we got very wet, very muddy and we slipped a lot, I think we had fun. At least, I did!
I saw just one Roe deer in the rain, which just goes to prove that animals are far more sensible than humans.
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Black & White
One of the increasing number of predators patroling the cliffs! Along with the Peregrines, Kestrels, Ravens and Jackdaws, the Black-backs better hope that the other residents are having a successful year.
Scattered Showers
Corfe Castle is the obvious choice for a photograph when the weather is changeable, it shows up well when the Sun breaks through the clouds.
Sunday, 22 April 2012
Purples and Greens
The female Chaffinch has got to be one of the prettiest little birds we have.
Very suttle and understated, she is also fearless. Not even a huge stinging Nettle will scare her.
Songs From The Tree Tops
Strangely enough, most of the birds that I photographed today were out of focus.
The Mistle Thrush was still for only a very short time but, luckily, he wasn't blurred.
All The Small Things
This mornings bug hunt was, more or less, lacking in substance. We went to an area that I haven't been to for a while, in search of anything small.
The Ladybird was the only thing to hang around long enough for me to take a shot.
Saturday, 21 April 2012
Green Everything
We have had plenty of rain over the last few days and everything is looking greener than before.
Which is quite lucky if you are a Greenfinch.
Green Wings
This years Orchids are starting to pop up now and although they are still not easy to find, they are worth the effort.
There was just one Green Winged Orchid (no spots on the leaves like the Early Purple, so I think I'm right) and we couldn't find the Early Spiders that are out at the moment.
Green Head
After a promising start to the morning, the clouds closed in and the rains came. Not much chance to shake the dust off of the camera either, but luckily help was at hand in the shape of a grumpy Mallard.
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Gannet In A Box
You can see Gannets quite often from the cliffs at Durlston but they are usually quite far away. This one was found by my wife on the beach with an obviously broken wing.
The R.S.P.C.A. were called out but, this rather beautiful bird had to be put to sleep because of the severity of the break.
Very sad, but the kindest thing to do, I suppose.
Sunday, 15 April 2012
The Young And The Restless
Curled up underneath a rock was a young Slow-worm. I have never seen them this small before, half as long as a pencil and less than half as thick. They have a skin that always reminds me of molten metal.
The Blues
There were very few butterflies to be seen this morning, perhaps the strong wind was keeping them tucked up. Along with a rather pristine Speckled Wood was this one and I have been informed that it may well be a Holly Blue.
S.S.R.C. Winspit
Yesterday the Swanage Sea Rowing Club named and launched its newest baby.
It is 32ft long and is made of Elm and Oak using traditional techniques and a fair bit of skill.
The rowing club have called it Winspit and it really does look quite nice.
For more details, have a look at www.ssrc.org.uk
Saturday, 14 April 2012
More Chat Less Snaps
There were plenty of Chiffchaffs keeping me entertained this morning, on an otherwise uneventful wander.
Then the rain came forcing me to go home, which is always a pain when I have a day off, but we have the forecast of Sun tomorrow.
Head On Collision
For a tiny little chap, not much bigger than my thumb nail, he got up to quite speed! He didn't seem to be bothered what got in his way either, perhaps another reason why we call these Bloody-nosed Beetles...
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Two By Two
I was very pleased to find one of our female Roe deer settled down in the grass this evening and even more pleased when she let me get quite close.
That said, my pleased-o-meter went completely of the scale when her old man stood up and made his presence felt, he was even closer and probably accounted for her relaxed attitude. Both then wandered slowly passed to find somewhere they wouldn't be disturbed by a grinning idiot.
By the way, this photo has not been cropped and neither has the young lady's left front leg (it was there somewhere).
More Of Fluffy
Last year the cliffs at Durlston were home to a family Kestrels that resulted in triplets. Fingers crossed we have the same luck this year and I can spend even more hours clicking away.
Monday, 9 April 2012
Hawk Eye
A brief blur as the rain came down signalled the arrival of this young lady! Now, it was too rainy to wander around looking for things to point the camera at, but not too rainy to stop me from getting as close as I could to a Sparrowhawk.
It was too dark to get more detail, but I am quite pleased with this. Only my second ever Sparrowhawk shot too.
Rain Continued to Stop Play
There is a place not far away where there are a number of English Bluebells but the rain kept from walking there today. These then are Spanish Bluebells and were a lot closer to home.
Rain Stopped Play
Too much rain and the forecast of more to come meant that there was little chance of getting out with the camera.
I did manage to get a couple of minutes though, in between heavier showers, to snap away at a few flowers.
Sunday, 8 April 2012
U.F.O.
I am not known for my identification skills, but after a while trawling through reference books, I have decided that this is a moth. If anyone has any other names for it, please feel free to let me know.
Prim & Proper
This morning was not a great day for photographs, the clouds were low and the sky was that horrible, uniform white!
Plenty of signs of Spring though and a fine covering of Primroses under the trees.
New Home
We have just moved in to a new place, and for the first time we have a garden big enough to swing a cat in (I haven't tried this). Anyway, yesterday we put up a nest box and within a couple of hours we had resident Blue Tits.
Now, I know that this is not ground-breaking conservation, but I am ridiculously chuffed!
Saturday, 7 April 2012
Black Shadows
Another rival for the title of 'biggest & baddest' is the Raven.
Whenever I see one of these, the theme tune to The Omen starts playing in my head!
Interior Design
One of my favourite 'bad attitude' birds is the Jackdaw! Not to be trusted in the slightest, just one look into those bright silver-grey eyes makes you think there may be another one behind you, trying to steal your wallet!
Small Birds, Big Noises
One of the things I like about this time of year is that there are of dozens of little birds with much more on their minds than dodging cameras.
Friday, 6 April 2012
Side On
The same friendly Speckled Wood that put up with me sticking a macro lens in his face, stayed for a few profile shots too. The only thing that made him fly off was me trying to move the leaf away from the foreground!
Head On
Just the one butterfly on the wing today and that was a Speckled Wood. Quite a sociable little thing too, happy to sit and pose for a couple of shots while it soaked up the sun.
Early Morning Chills
The first morning walk of the holiday weekend went rather well. A very brief glimpse of a Peregrine (perhaps) followed by great views of a feisty Kestrel giving the local Jackdaws and even a Raven a hard time.
I think that blue skies are going to be hard to find over the next few days so I had better make the most of it.
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