As an extension to the ongoing "I saw my first kingfisher today" thread, I thought it might be interesting if people wanted to post and share any wildlife pics that they've taken. As I said on the other thread, that way instead of just talking about what birds and other wildlife we've seen, we can also show photos of them. 

 

Hope you think it's a good idea.

 

As the current topic in the "kingfisher" thread is herons, I thought I'd start with a couple of pics of them that I've taken...

 

Juvenile heron (looking very interested in a dragonfly)

 

Heron in sunset silhouette

 

Next up, a couple of pics of blackbird chicks, which I was lucky enough to get while looking out through a window at home.

 

 

 

Come on then, show us what you've got. The only condition is that the photos are ones you've taken yourself.

 

It looks like you don't have to keep your fingers crossed Steve, just get yourself to Norfolk

Dave

It looks like you don't have to keep your fingers crossed Steve, just get yourself to Norfolk

Dave

Dave. its a bloody six hour drive from Manchester

Steve

Dave. its a bloody six hour drive from Manchester

Steve

It's not like you have anything else to do 

Remember that Tawny Owl chick from the other week, here is another shot of it from Sunday, poor thing got a bit wet in the rain

 

 

Also caught this Tern having a go at a Hobby

 

 

 

Remember that Tawny Owl chick from the other week, here is another shot of it from Sunday, poor thing got a bit wet in the rain

 

405_005.jpg

 

Also caught this Tern having a go at a Hobby

 

405_137.jpg

Very nice, particularly the tern mobbing the hobby.

It's not like you have anything else to do 

Martyn. I,ve got to come on here and get abused. (Smileys not working), just like me really

Steve

Martyn. I,ve got to come on here and get abused. (Smileys not working), just like me really

Steve

Cheaper than going out to get abused ... you at Prestwich Saturday ?

Edited May 15, 201411 yr by martyn pitt

Cheaper than going out to get abused ... you at Prestwich Saturday ?

Ha Ha. Not sure yet mate. You and Carol going ?

Just had a phone call to tell me of a lesser spotted woodpecker and nuthatch nests with chicks about five mins away, I,m on my way to get some pictures. Fingers crossed will have some pictures to post later

Steve

Remember that Tawny Owl chick from the other week, here is another shot of it from Sunday, poor thing got a bit wet in the rain

 

405_005.jpg

 

 

 

Isn't it a night bird ? Here in France we can't see them during the day. Or is England so dark there's no sun (just kidding)?

 

PS : Martyn, your pictures are beautiful.

Edited May 15, 201411 yr by Philippe

Dave. its a bloody six hour drive from Manchester

Steve

And you'll get to see storks at the end of it, maybe even a local with polydactylism or webbed feet too!

Dave

Remember that Tawny Owl chick from the other week, here is another shot of it from Sunday, poor thing got a bit wet in the rain

 

405_005.jpg

 

Also caught this Tern having a go at a Hobby

 

405_137.jpg

Ran out of likes again, beautiful pics Martyn, once had four Tawny Owl chicks on the end of my bed when in the army, most disturbing to wake up to

Greater spotted woodpecker from Queens Park. Heywood. Will be returning in the next few days with tripod to try and elevate the camera to alter the angles and try and get pictures without the branches obscuring the view

Steve

Edited May 15, 201411 yr by Winsford Soul

Ha Ha. Not sure yet mate. You and Carol going ?

 

Yes we have tickets

Isn't it a night bird ? Here in France we can't see them during the day. Or is England so dark there's no sun (just kidding)?

 

PS : Martyn, your pictures are beautiful.

It is common to see the adults and youngsters roosting during the day.

 

Glad you like the pics

Also caught this Tern having a go at a Hobby

 

405_137.jpg

 

Martin. Forgot to mention . Talking of a hobby. Seen one of its favourite snacks on Tuesday a brown hawker . First of the year for me

 

Steve

.

Ha Ha. Not sure yet mate. You and Carol going ?

Just had a phone call to tell me of a lesser spotted woodpecker and nuthatch nests with chicks about five mins away, I,m on my way to get some pictures. Fingers crossed will have some pictures to post later

Steve

They were greater spotted not lesser spotted woodpeckers

 

Steve

Steve

 

Lesser Spotted are the size of a Sparrow

Some more wildflower photos I took over the weekend down my favourite woods

Forget Me Nots; Red Campion; Cowslips; Bugle Flower; Dog Violet; carpet of Bluebells; Wild Garlic and White Nettles with a Bumblebee on them

Suz x

Edited May 19, 201411 yr by suzannek

sideways again, but it's a Female Pied Flycatcher

 

Peacock in Benalmadena

 

Pseudobombax ellipticum flower, better known as the shaving brush tree.

 

Sorry about them being on their sides, but I take photos with the camera on the side, despite revolving them they come on here in their original form, sickening!!

Some more wildflower photos I took over the weekend down my favourite woods

Forget Me Nots; Ragged Robin; Cowslips; Bugle Flower; Dog Violet; carpet of Bluebells; Wild Garlic and White Nettles with a Bumblebee on them

Suz x

I didn't realise I missed the British native plants so much, hope to see a few this weekend.

Been listening to a cuckoo all weekend but didn't manage to catch a glimpse of it. If it is still cuckooing next weekend I will be out looking for it.

Edited May 19, 201411 yr by chalky

Some more wildflower photos I took over the weekend down my favourite woods

Forget Me Nots; Ragged Robin; Cowslips; Bugle Flower; Dog Violet; carpet of Bluebells; Wild Garlic and White Nettles with a Bumblebee on them

Suz x

Lovely pictures.

 

Sorry to be pedantic, though, but your Ragged Robin is actually Red Campion.

Been listening to a cuckoo all weekend but didn't manage to catch a glimpse of it. If it is still cuckooing next weekend I will be out looking for it.

 

I heard a Cuckoo the other day in Market Drayton. It's years since I've heard one. A rarity now!

Thanks yes you are right it is red campion

Here's some Golden Saxifrage Alternate Leaves variety

Suz x

Edited May 20, 201411 yr by suzannek

Yes I heard the Cuckoo in Romaldkirk, Teesdale last weekend

I heard a cuckoo in Worcestershire near Kinver Edge on the May Day holiday but not heard one since.

 

Pleased to  say that the swifts have just returned to the village this week.

Been listening to a cuckoo all weekend but didn't manage to catch a glimpse of it. If it is still cuckooing next weekend I will be out looking for it.

Chalky. Where was you listening to it ?

 

Steve

I heard a Cuckoo the other day in Market Drayton. It's years since I've heard one. A rarity now!

Pete. I've being running round the leafy lanes of Cheshire for the last couple of weeks and I've not heard or seen a single one.  they're classed as secure according to the RSPB .2011 revised edition of there birds of Britain book. but think scarce to rare in certain parts of the country.

 

Steve

Female Pied Flycatcher.JPG sideways again, but it's a Female Pied Flycatcher

 

Peacock Benalmadena.JPG Peacock in Benalmadena

 

Pseudobombax ellipticum.JPG Pseudobombax ellipticum flower, better known as the shaving brush tree.

 

Sorry about them being on their sides, but I take photos with the camera on the side, despite revolving them they come on here in their original form, sickening!!

Love pied flycaters. They used to nest in a box about 4 ft from my Mum and dad's caravan which they had at a place called mellington hall nr bishops castle in Shropshire.

 

Steve

Love pied flycaters. They used to nest in a box about 4 ft from my Mum and dad's caravan which they had at a place called mellington hall nr bishops castle in Shropshire.

 

Steve

I had a couple nest behind the branch of an espalier pear, but they fell victim to a squirrel, sadly.  This one was in a Jacaranda, and looked beautiful, but decided to move when I tried to take a pic. 

 

Dave

I had a couple nest behind the branch of an espalier pear, but they fell victim to a squirrel, sadly.  This one was in a Jacaranda, and looked beautiful, but decided to move when I tried to take a pic. 

 

Dave

Dave. It's sounds like you have the luck of me. 

Sad news today. For what ever reason the blue tits chicks in one of my nest boxes have been abandoned by the adults. Unless both parents have been predated. They where piping all day yesterday whenever anyone or anything went near the box. Didn't see the adults yesterday after about nine am. This morning the four chicks were dead. They hadn't even developed feathers.

 

Steve

Dave. It's sounds like you have the luck of me. 

Sad news today. For what ever reason the blue tits chicks in one of my nest boxes have been abandoned by the adults. Unless both parents have been predated. They where piping all day yesterday whenever anyone or anything went near the box. Didn't see the adults yesterday after about nine am. This morning the four chicks were dead. They hadn't even developed feathers.

 

Steve

That's sad, I rescued a little sparrow chick from the cat this morning, it was unhurt and I put him in a visible position for his parents to see him and they were feeding him within a couple of minutes.  The cat brings in geckos, snakes, birds, all sorts, and comes out walking the dogs with me. 

 

Dave

Dark Red Helleborine

 

Small Flowered Tongue Orchid

 

I have no idea what this is, a very large grasshopper or a weird cricket, it was about 3" long.

Chalky. Where was you listening to it ?

 

Steve

 

Goole mate, from the back garden.  I've a rough idea where it is.  If it is heard again at the weekend will get out with camera.......I would have Sunday but i was too fragile with a hangover

It might be a locust Tattoo Dave?

It might be a locust Tattoo Dave?

It could be Suzanne, but it's wings were tiny.  Scared the bejesus out of me as it wasn't prepared to move very far when I was trying to photograph the Prunus prostrata

Had a nice day at Burton mere, few mishaps. Seen a little owl but couldn't get a decent shot without my tripod which was in the car. Went back got tripod yes you guessed it. Owl gone. Then seen a common tern , it dived into lake, surfaces with fish and flies towards me. Guess what. Camera was on tripod and couldn't swivel it quick enough to get picture. Took camera off the tripod and never seen another tern. That's nature for you.

 

Steve

A couple more photos of wildflowers from my walk last weekend: Purple Vetch and Herb Robert

Suz x

Ducks on drive outside house yesterday afternoon.

Where I take my dog for a walk, along the cliffs near a place called blackhall in county durham. Over the past few times ive been, I could hear a strange grating like noise in the long grass and gorse. Ive allways been intrested in wildlife and know most of the british bird song, but never heard anything like this, so I looked into it further. After googling the area I found it was a strong hold for this bird. Ive never seen one before. Grasshopper Warbler

Blue Tit on our table tonight....

 

 

Blue Tit on our table tonight....

 

Blue Tit_2.jpg

 

Blue Tit_3.jpg

Lovely to see them Chalky. We have chicks in our nestbox at the moment, been a tough few days for them what with all the rain, I thought they had deserted the nest. Until I went out in the backgarden this morning, and got played hell with, by the male Blue tit. Never ceases to amaze me just how tough these little birds are for there size.

On the feeder today -

 

 

 

 

Where I take my dog for a walk, along the cliffs near a place called blackhall in county durham. Over the past few times ive been, I could hear a strange grating like noise in the long grass and gorse. Ive allways been intrested in wildlife and know most of the british bird song, but never heard anything like this, so I looked into it further. After googling the area I found it was a strong hold for this bird. Ive never seen one before. Grasshopper Warbler

 

Their whole body trembles when they sing, great bird to find 

A swimming Zebra or a baby Great Crested Grebe, we have a few of these youngsters on the reserve, 

 

 

These two were taken last year when we were on holiday in Greece. There's a small freshwater stream that flows into the sea at a certain point and it's home to a good many of these small turtles. 

 

 

The sea urchin is one I collected when out snorkelling one day. Will be back there very soon. 

 

 

 

Went for another walk up Romaldkirk, Teesdale on Saturday took a few photos

Loads of Cranesbill around also a pic of a Red Admiral butterfly, there was lots of bees and butterflies

A swimming Zebra or a baby Great Crested Grebe, we have a few of these youngsters on the reserve, 

 

408_119.jpg

 

408_120.jpg

 

They're beautiful.  Which reserve was this?

Hope to be out plant hunting this weekend, too wet in England this last weekend to do much, so dug these out of my archive, just a few of a big family that are very difficult to sort out.

I'm on the Committee of the Friends Group for our local Park.

 

There is a chap who takes some fantastic wildlife photos in the Park and the Sandwell Valley.

 

There are a few on the website at the moment - bottom of the page. http://www.friendsofdartmouthpark.org.uk/index.htm

 

Until a few days ago there was a beautiful one of 2 swans with their necks making a heart shape.

 

I'll post the link again when any new ones go up.

 

MB