Corfe Castle looks very different when you see it from the heath to the North.
It still looks impressive though and must have been quite a site in its day.
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
A Different Castle?
Not A Baby Sika
After Monday's walk when I went looking for the newly born Roe deer, last night I went on a Sika hunt.
A much easier mission, but not too many youngsters about. A couple more weeks perhaps?
Still, there were plenty of Squirrels around and they are alway fun to watch.
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Golden Hammer
Evening walks are a must when the weather is like it is now! Clear blue skies, a slight warm wind and the promise of a few Yellowhammers! There was plenty to see last night, but these were the brightest.
Walking In The Tall Grass
There was lenty of things in the tall grass and most of them seemed intent on biting me.
My main aim was to find the local Roe deer to see if there were any new borns. It didn't take long to find one group and they had just a single nipper. I took a photograph, but they were a long way off and between me and the Sun, so it is not great. I'll leave it for a few weeks before I try to get closer. This then, as a consolation prize, may be dad!
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Head On
Large Red Dragons as well as a few assorted blues kept me amused for a while. Not a bad spot to sit either, off the beaten track, with newts in the pond and Kestrels and Buzzards overhead.
Small & Blue
Just abnout every little butterfly we saw this morning was blue and very quick. These two had other things on their minds and stayed still for a while. Holly Blues I think, but I am now expert.
Summer Meadows
Today was just about perfect for enjoying the meadows at Durlston. The breeze made the flowers and grasses move like a hilltop ocean.
Beautiful colours and an incredible amount of life means there is always something to photograph.
Thursday, 24 May 2012
Dinner With A View
The Durlston Kestrels were very active again with both male and female showing off.
Dinner for one was not the popular choice though and tempers flared.
Take Off
One minute this chap was basking in the warm sun, the next he was off like a rocket.
It is always good to see Hares even if they don't hang around for long.
This one was disturbed by a young cow.
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Downy
I haven't seen too many dragons yet this year, but there were a few of these (Downy Emeralds, I think).
They weren't settling often either, which made things a little difficult.
Larking About
Sitting with your back against a wall in a very damp field may not be everyones cup of tea, but I was having a great time.
There were plenty of Skylarks around and it was quite difficult to pin point just one.
Several hundred shots later, this is the best I could do.
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Fluffy
Probably the next most vocal bird after the Chiffchaff was the Whitethroat. There are loads of these around and they are always fun to photograph.
A Bit Of A Squeeze
We had blue skies again last night and that meant another evening walk with plenty to point the camera at.
Plenty of bird song too, with the Chiffchaff leading the chorus.
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Twelve Months Later
Last night, as the sun started to set, I went out to find our local Roe deer. I saw seven including this young lady, a favourite, who gave birth to a single deerling last year. Both are doing well and mum is due to give birth again very soon.
By the time I found her it was a bit late for photographs and so this is one from twelve months ago.
Saturday, 12 May 2012
Four Moor Hens
You could hear Mrs Moorhen not too far from her eggs, but this is a town centre residence and it is far from peaceful!
Wheat Rear
Evening walks, on a beautiful blue sky evening, just cannot be beaten.
Last night the Gorse seemed full of Linnets, Greenfinches and Wheatears.
Not a bad end to the week.
A Tangled Web
Three young Slow worms quite content to spend a sunny afternoon under a rock in my garden.
I just cannot resist looking under the rock every now and again to check up on them. For scientific reasons of course....
Monday, 7 May 2012
Colours
Plenty of Chaffinches around at the moment and they always seem happy to pose.
No females here though, perhaps that is why he looked so worried!
Pure Gold
A flock of four Goldfinch gave me a lot of fun at St.Aldhelm's Head. They were very quick and, with the intermittent Sun, that made it difficult to get any detail.
We have a pair nesting in garden now and they are constantly feeding.
Lunch
Not a great shot, but it is the first time I have seen this. The Peregrine took its lunch back to another that was waiting at the cliffs.
This is a really heavy crop!
High Places
The main reason why St.Alhelm's Head is one of my favourite places is the cliff edge.
The land just stops and all of a sudden there is nothing but sky.
Unlike most of the cliffs along the Purbeck coast this one does not have the sea directly below it but there is a semicircle of land covered in rocks.
From te cliff edge you can look down on the sea birds and the deer far below.
Sunday, 6 May 2012
Swallow Hotel
The chapel at St. Aldhelm's Head was build about 800 years ago may have started life as something else. Thought to be built within a pre-christian circle, it may have been used as a beacon in its early life. Now, more importantly perhaps, it has become home to a family of Swallows. Nearby there is also a breeding pair of Peregrines, plenty of Wheatears and a choir of Skylarks.
V.T.O.L.
Skylarks are beautiful little birds but are not easy to get a shot of. They appear as if out of nowhere and rise straight up into the sky.
Yellow But No Blue
This mornings walk took us back to St.Aldhelm's Head, one of my favourite places on the Purbeck. Plenty of birds around too, with Whitethroats, Wheatears and various warblers making an appearance. Just the one Yellowhammer though and not too much Sun either.
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Thursday, 3 May 2012
The Wood Warbler
The weather has not been great, but I bumped into a very friendly local quarryman who pointed out these and a few other incomers. Lesser Whitethroats, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers ducked and dived in the trees while the Swallows and Martins passed overhead. Even with an 800 iso, the speeds were dropping to 1/60th of a second. Great fun though but some sun would have been nice!
As always, confirmation of the I.D. would be good.
The Willow Warbler
The weather has not been great, but I bumped into a very friendly local quarryman who pointed out these and a few other incomers. Lesser Whitethroats, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers ducked and dived in the trees while the Swallows and Martins passed overhead. Even with an 800 iso, the speeds were dropping to 1/60th of a second. Great fun though but some sun would have been nice!
As always, confirmation of the I.D. would be good.
The Garden Warbler
The weather has not been great, but I bumped into a very friendly local quarryman who pointed out these and a few other incomers. Lesser Whitethroats, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers ducked and dived in the trees while the Swallows and Martins passed overhead. Even with an 800 iso, the speeds were dropping to 1/60th of a second. Great fun though but some sun would have been nice!
As always, confirmation of the I.D. would be good.
The Whitethroat
The weather has not been great, but I bumped into a very friendly local quarryman who pointed out these and a few other incomers. Lesser Whitethroats, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers ducked and dived in the trees while the Swallows and Martins passed overhead. Even with an 800 iso, the speeds were dropping to 1/60th of a second. Great fun though but some sun would have been nice!
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
This is Oscar. One of a brave few that took to the water at the weekend to show off their boarding skills. The sea is still extremely cold and the weather was not great, but this didn't stop him. Oscar's dad is a member of The Swanage Lifeboat and so is used to messing around in a cold, rough sea. It looks like they have a lot in common.
Foliage
Every year the Moorhens in the Swan Brook take up home and raise a family. After the rain we have had the brook is swollen and running very fast, but Mrs Moorhen is still there, sitting on eggs.
Afternoon Fishing
After a lovely walk with lovely people, but no camera, it was time to hit the bay and snap at the Sandwich Terns. Beautiful birds and always great to watch
Angels
Sandwich Terns were in the bay today diving for Sand Eels and making a great deal of noise.
These are always good to watch and are great for target practise.
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