Ellerburn Bank

First Posting of pictures of Butterflies taken at Ellerburn Bank. Many species seen including Large White, Marbled White, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, Small Heath, Small Copper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown.

The walk to Ellerburn Bank produced Coal Tit, Long Tail Tit, Blue Tit, Crossbills, Robin. Around the nature reseve were Chiff Chaff, Linnets and Sky Lark.

Tophill Low

A visit to Tophill Low last Sunday provided my best pictures to date of Reed Warblers. They were extremely active, constantly moving with pairs of juvenilles chasing one another. They may not be necessarily musical but the sound of this bird in it's reed bed habitat is a sound of summer that for me is hard to beat.

Sigma 50-500mm lens at 500mm, 6.3f

Harwood Dale

Pictures taken on a walk today in Harwood Dale. First pictures are of two Common Blue butterflies mating this was shortly followed by excellent sightings of male and female Common Crossbill 's. The next sighting was of a very obliging Chiif Chaff with a Hover Fly in it's bill continually calling to its's mate.
From one species to another was probably two hundred yards for a wonderful half hour.
Pictures all taken with 50-500mm Sigma lens at 500mm, various settings.

Spot the Difference

Very wet visit to Blacktoft Sands on Sunday (15 July). Comparison shots of Redshank and Spotted Redshank albeit in dark light and from a distance.

Wykeham's Butterflies

On an afternoon (14 July) when I did not capture any pictures of birds there were many unusal insects on the flowers and I was lucky enough to capture these shots of butterflies. The Marbled White has it's wings half closed to give a heart shaped appearance. My first pictures of a Common Blue.

Yellows and Mauves

This male Siskin was so busy feeding on these thistles that I was able to approach cautiously and get in good range. Pictures shot handheld in bright light, Sigma 50-500mm lens, just about my first shots with this lens taken on 1 July after a week of rain. Posted late as the weather detered me agin tonight!

Idyllic Childhood

They may be common but I could not help but think what a wonderful environment these young House Sparrows have to grow up in. The beige background is a grain field, the fence divides the field from a garden centre where there is seed and other delights, plus a patio to the cafe area for those added crumbs.
Pictures hand held, lens balanced on the patio fence railings. Canon 20D and Sigma 50-500mm lens at 500mm , f11, shutter speed 1/800sec, ISO 200.

Drying Out

Tawny Owl found trying to dry out in the warm sunshine between the storms last Sunday, 1st July.

Got a number of pictures (handheld) before moving off to leave the bird in peace.

Taken with a Canon 20D and Sigma 50 - 500mm lens at 500mm.