Holland Haven, Essex

Visited Holland Haven to see the Rough-legged Buzzard which showed unbelievably well at close range on prey.  Several Short-eared Owls also present.

Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) Olympus OM-D-Em1, Olympus 40-150 f2.8 + TC14 @ 210.  ISO 200 f5.6 1/500

Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) being mobbed by a Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus). Olympus OM-D-Em1, Olympus 40-150 f2.8 + TC14 @ 210 ISO400 f5.0 1/1600

Shetland Trip 2015 - Day 6 Mainland Shetland

Back to Cott for the Arctic Warbler which eventually showed well.

 Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) Olympus 40-150 f2.8 @ 210mm.  ISO 800 1/200 f5.6

After having good views of the Arctic Warbler headed south to Hestingott to try for the Blyth's Reed Warbler which unfortunately failed to put in appearance.  Fortunately an extremely obliging Red-breasted Flycatcher was present as were 4 Yellow-browed Warblers.



 Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) Olympus 40-150 f2.8 @ 210mm.  ISO 800 1/80 f5.6

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) Olympus 40-150 f2.8 @ 210mm.  ISO 800 1/200 f5.6

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) Olympus 40-150 f2.8 @ 210mm.  ISO 800 1/100 f5.6

 Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) Olympus 40-150 f2.8 @ 210mm.  ISO 800 1/200 f5.6

Shetland Trip 2015 - Day 5 Mainland Shetland

After a smooth overnight crossing from Aberdeen drove straight to Norbury Loch to see the Pechora Pipit.  After an hour or so, with only frustration glimpses of the bird in flight and creeping through long grass, the bird showed very well in the open by a small stream.

 Pechora Pipit (Anthus gustavi)   Olympus 40-150 @ 210mm ISO800 1/640 f5

On to Cott for the Arctic Warbler which showed only briefly and poorly.  An adult winter plumage Little Gull was at Weisdale with a flock of Black-headed Gulls.

Adult winter  Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) and Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) Olympus 40-150 f2.8 @ 210.  ISO 400 1/500 f5

Shetland Trip 2015 - Day 4 Loch Garten area

Glorious warm weather, lots of  parties of tits mainly Coal but with several Crested amongst them.  No good photo opportunities for birds.

Loch Mallachie Reflections.  Olympus 7-14 f2.8 @ 11mm ISO200 1/1600 f4
 

Shetland Trip 2015 - Day 3 Strathdearn (Findhorn Valley)

Visited Findhorn Valley hoping to see Golden Eagle and was succesful in getting good scope views of an immature bird soaring on the hillside ridge, though too distant for photos.

Sadly this scenic and peaceful valley much loved by birdwatchers is under threat from wind farms and associated cables see http://www.savestrathdearn.com/ for details.

River Findhorn, near Farr.  Olympus 40-150 f2.8 @ 56mm ISO200 1/640 f8

Shetland Trip 2015 - Day 2, Rothiemurchus

A stopover at Rothiemurchus campsite produced good views of  European Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) and Red Squirrel 
  

 European Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus), Olympus 40-150 f2.8 @ 210mm ISO800 1/125 f5

River Druie, near Coylumbridge.  Olympus 40-150 @ 56mm, ISO 400 1/100 f8

 Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) Olympus 40-150 @150mm ISO 800 1/160 f2.8

Shetland Trip 2015 - Day 1, En route County Durham

En route from home to Shetland, my usual stopover produced 42 feeding male Black Grouse at 4pm in the afternoon.

Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) Olympus 40-150mm f2.8 @ 190mm 1/200 f7.1

East Bergholt

Distinctly autumnal feel to the moths caught in my trap last night.  No migrants but The Mallow, Barred Sallow, Feathered Ranunculus and Beaded Chestnut new for this years garden list.


Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) Olympus 60 mm micro 1/1.3s @ f11 ISO-200

The Mallow (Larentia clavaria) Olympus 60 mm micro 1/125 @ f7.1 ISO-400

The Mallow (Larentia clavaria) Olympus 60 mm micro 1/320 @ 8 ISO-200

Feathered Ranunculus (Polymixis lichenea)  Olympus 60 mm micro 1/640 @ f7.1 ISO-400

East Bergholt

Quiet moth trap last night but did produce this years first Frosted Orange and a few Angle-Shades



Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago) Olympus 60mm macro 1/13s @ f8 ISO-200

Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) Olympus 60mm macro 0.1s @ f8 ISO-200

Garden, East Bergholt

MV trap run last night 1 Vestal, several Centre-barred Sallows and Feathered Gothic being the highlights.  Also in the trap a site record of 78 Large Yellow Underwings.

Sunny conditions in the afternoon brought out 2 pairs of Common Darters while 2 Blue-winged Damselflies remain on the pond.

Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)
 Olympus 60mm macro 1/60 @ f8 ISO-400

The Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria) Olympus 60mm macro 1/1.6s @ f8 ISO-200

Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago) Olympus 60mm macro 1/60 @ f8 ISO-400

Feathered Gothic (Tholera decimalis)
 Olympus 60mm macro 1/60 @ f8 ISO-400

 

Normandy, Le Haute de Croute

Started this year's French trip with a short stay with our friends Charles and Anna.  Moths trapped overnight in their splendid garden, more like a small nature reserve really.
 
Nice to see Spotted Flycatcher and Turtle Doves doing well as they are now sadly very scarce back home.

Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) at nestbox.  Olympus Om-D-E-M1 40-150mm f2.8 @210mm 1/250 f5.6 ISO 640

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsia) Olympus Om-D-E-M1 40-150mm f2.8 @210mm 1/1000 f5 ISO 200

Cream-spot Tiger (Arctia villica) Olympus Om-D-E-M1 60mm f2.8 macro  1400 f5.6 ISO 200



Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda). Olympus Om-D-E-M1 60mm f2.8 macro  1/640 f5.6 ISO 200