Monday 17 June 2013

I was late out today, as I spent some time this morning photographing the birds in my garden, so as to fill up the blog folder  :-) I didn't leave for a patch visit until 09:45, when I went straight over to the Scrubby Woods to see if I could find any newly fledged birds, the weather had warmed up a bit, despite the cloud and breeze so conditions were in my favour for once.

On arrival I could here one or two CHIFCHAFF singing but just one BLACKCAP, a SONGTHRUSH also sang for a while, and calls from at least 3 BULLFINCH were heard. Young ROBINS, BLUE TITS, GREAT TITS and LONG TAILED TITS were found easily enough, but I did eventually winkle out another new species for the years successfully bred list, when a family of Blackcaps were found, at least 3 were being fed by both adults. Shortly after a TURTLE DOVE was heard singing, a hopeful sign that there may be breeding from this now scarce migrant dove.

While wandering the Scrubby Woods, I was on the lookout for Odonata and Butterflies, but as the sun was not out they were few, just one Azure damsel and a couple of White-legged Damsels were seen, and not one flutter!

Typically, as I arrived home around 13:00hrs, the sun came out, so after grabbing a drink and a bite to eat, I went back out, armed with a canon 100mm 'L' series macro lens, not mine of course, but one I was trying out for a friend  :-) The greenhouse grounds are about as good a chance as I stand of finding any flutters on this side of my patch, and i found just one, how sad is that  :-(  It was at least a Common Blue though, my first this year, and it posed well for the new lens.
Common Blue
Common Blue
Common Blue
Common Blue
As I searched for more flutters, I kept my other eye on the sky, seeing both KESTREL and SPARROWHAWK up hunting, strangely, no Buzzards though, not seen one since the 6th. A Dragonfly flew up from the long grass, and I was pleased to see it was a Four Spotted Chaser, not common here, it was a spanking fresh specimen, and very helpfully sat for a few photo's  :-)
Superb looking Four Spotted chaser
It allowed quite a close approach once it got used to my presence
I found the lens was better if I didn't get too close, standing back about 50cm.
A better depth of field was had if I stood back a bit  :-)
Four Spotted Chaser, just brilliant little creatures  :-)
This Bee made for a nice test for the macro lens as well.....
Busy Bee
Ive got so many photo's now, the blog should be brightened for the next ten days or so!

11 comments:

Marc Heath said...

Beautiful shots of the Chaser, lovely quality by the looks of it in that lens, very sharp.

Warren Baker said...

Hi Marc,
I'll have to go out with my 300mm and the extension tube tomorrow and compare results :-)

Phil said...

Nice dragon shots Warren. I only found 2 species of butterfly during a brief visit to NH this morning, Common Blue and Green Hairstreak.
The fishermen have bulldozed a road along the west side of Abbey Mead lake, chopped trees down and made new fishing platforms in the reeds. Prime habitat ruined. It might be a while before I go back.

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

Keep that lens handy Warren looks like there's some warm weather coming your way. Bring on the inverts!

Cheers

DaveyMan

Warren Baker said...

Hi Phil
Its gutting isn't it, seeing a favourite place being trashed. I no longer visit the College Grounds, makes me feel sick at what they did :-(

Greenie said...

Warren ,
I assume it's the IS 100mm lens .
Really good results .
I can see a purchase coming on !
I've looked in my butterfly book , but can't find the species 'Add caption' .

Warren Baker said...

Davyman,
Ive got the lens for the week, I bet the weather doesn't hold out that long!

Warren Baker said...

Greenie,
Yep, it is the IS lens.

I bet they are expensive though!

Sorted the butterfly species out :-)

Sharon said...

Your photos make me want to get & take pics of insects, Warren (& I'm not really a creepy crawlie kinda gal!) They're beautiful!

Alan Pavey said...

Your macro stuff is great Warren what lens are using for that?

ArtInMyAttic said...

Hello Warren, thank you for visiting my blog and for leaving such a kind comment about my artwork! Your photos are stunning! They are so detailed!
Would you give me permission to use the blue butterfly or maybe the dragonfly, of your beautiful photos as a reference for drawing? If that is ok for you, I would link back to the original, once I am done and if I decide to show it on my blog. Let me know what you think.
Great work! I use a camera for taking photos of my art, but I need to correct a lot, before I can blog them! ;)
Saludos, Nelly