Orb Weaver Indian Blanket Flower Grey Heron Greenfinch Bird of Prey Sparrow Emperor Dragonfly Goldfinch Fungus Swan feeding Egyptian Geese Cactus Bird of Paradise Frog Gull Bug Large White butterfly Bee in flower Ladybird Common Blue Damselfly Holly Blue butterfly Gull coming in to land Baby Robin
Great-crested Grebes

A few Ducks and Water Birds

Here are a few recent photos of ducks and grebes etc taken on local lakes.  There are dozens of Great-crested Grebes everywhere, mating and nesting so there should be some young soon. Lots of ducks sleep on the sides of the ...

Jay

Even More Birds

Hopefully this is the last catch-up of recent bird photos although I wouldn't bet on it.  I definitely have ducks and gulls etc still to come!  I will start with the Jay. and a Magpie at Southlake that I almost got ...

Meadow Pipit

More Birds

These are photos of different birds, again all taken recently and locally, starting with the meadow pipit, yellowhammer and bunting taken on the Berkshire Downs.  The fields are full of rapeseed in flower and are home to many birds. a high-flying ...

Blackcao, male

Lots of Small Birds

I have got really behind on post lately and so have tried to divide some of my recent photos into more general groups.  Today, I am going to do some of the smaller birds.  They are all recent and local ...

Big Rabbit

A few animal oddments

These are just a few recent photos that I have taken while out and about, starting with a big rabbit.. On the way home quite late one evening I saw a group of deer in a field.  I stopped and took ...

Goldfinch, Nerja

Birds and butterflies

A few pictures from a little wander on Tuesday afternoon. Still experiencing gusting winds at the moment, very strong at times, but at least it is dry and warm, so can't complain too much really. Lots of Goldfinch about. There was a ...

Sea Fig, Nerja

Sea Fig

This rather nice bloom is a member of the Aizoaceae family, this particular one, I believe, being Carpobrotus chilensis, commonly known as the Sea Fig. It is a succulent, originating in Southern Africa, but now found throughout the world. It spreads ...

Fish eating bread

Fish in the lake

Lots of people take their children to Maiden Erlegh Lake to feed the ducks and they throw bread in even if the ducks are not very interested so there is often bread floating on the surface by the feeding area. ...

Sparrow by its nest in the roof

A Cautionary Tale

I wasn't sure whether to post this one or not but is part of nature, albeit the sad side.  Every year we get sparrows nesting in the corner of our house roof just above the guttering.  We have a covered ...

Male and female Mallard with single chick

More new arrivals

The Mallards at Maiden Erlegh Lake are producing chicks in varying numbers.  One pair has a single chick while another has ten. I also went to Southlake - the coots still have four babies but the Egyptian Goslings are now down ...

Male Pheasant

Pheasants

I have never seen so many pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) as I have in recent weeks.  We have had to drive really slowly in some places as they are wandering all over the road and some occasionally dash out from the ...

Starlings on the peanut butter

Starlings

Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are common and widespread, often forming large flocks,  but are now apparently on the decline in the UK.  They make a huge amount of noise, even more so when the young arrive and chase their parents round ...

Bee on flower, Nerja

Windy but sunny – Part II

When I first spotted these birds in the far distance, wading their way through the green slime, I assumed they were the usual Wagtails, but on closer inspection this turned out not to be the case. I think they are Little ...