Sunday 26 April 2020

Belated butterflies...

Having more free time at the moment has allowed me to do some work on my backlog of photo editing which needs doing.

Here's a few images from the 12th of May last year when I had a successful day of butterfly hunting in Yorkshire...



Pearl-bordered Fritillaries


Duke of Burgundy
Dingy Skipper

Brown Argus

Saturday 18 April 2020

Lockdown update...

Just realised it's nearly two months since my last post on here so here's a little update on my limited birding since the lockdown started a few weeks ago...

We are lucky to live within walking distance of Bothal Pond, so a two or three times a week we are heading there on our daily walk to see what's going on. Two female Scaup have been present throughout and other highlights have included a flyover Marsh HarrierEgyptian Goose, Black-tailed Godwit and Wheatears.

Otherwise, we have also been having a few walks around the woodland and farmland close to home. Probably my favourite find so far has been Willow Tits in what I think is a new site for the declining species. We've also seen variety of other common species, and in a way it's been nice to take the chance to appreciate these.

Spending more time at home has led to three firsts for the garden so far: nocmig Common Scoter, flyover Goosanders and, most excitingly, a Red Kite yesterday afternoon - just my third in Northumberland.

Here's a few of my photos taken during lockdown so far, and I'll try to post any more I take over the coming weeks...


Willow Tits
Scaup

Male and female Grey Wagtails
Willow Warbler

Chiffchaff
Common Buzzard
Red Kite - a panicked record shot through my bedroom window!
Comma