Guest MBarrett Posted May 28, 2014 Posted May 28, 2014 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
Martyn Pitt Posted May 29, 2014 Posted May 29, 2014 They're beautiful. Which reserve was this? Hi Pete, these as most of my images were taken at Belvide Reservoir, (just north of Wolverhampton), West Midland Bird Club control access. 1
Winsford Soul Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 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.Mark. some nice pictures there. look forward to seeing any new ones appearSteve MB
Winsford Soul Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 Well that's me off for two weeks Badger, Otter, Puffin and anything else watching. Hope to return in a few weeks with some decent pictures of the aforementioned.Steve
Peter99 Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 Great stuff everyone - thanks and well done. I've run out of likes. Peter 2
Tattoodave Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 (edited) Common Blue Dark Green Fritillary Spanish Gatekeeper Plant wise a fairly poor day but for the Epipactis, but the butterflies were in abundance, lots too busy to photograph or identify. Edited June 7, 2014 by TattooDave 3
Tattoodave Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 Euphorbia serrata Common Centaury LeuziaSpanish flora is the most diverse in Europe, but some are very difficult to identify, when I post things it's because I'm pretty certain I've identified them, if you could see the file of unidentified plants you'd cry, and I have a degree in Botany
Suzannek Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 We get the top and the bottom butterflies here where I live in Teesdale Here's a couple of wild plants, first one taken yesterday just in the next field it is Yellow Rattle Plant, they're a parasitic plant which feeds on grasses, they help the diversity of meadows, in other words with these plants around you can bet a field will be packed with different wildflowers. These plants have grown here as long as I can remember. The next one is Red Nettle just growing near our garden wall Suz x
Tattoodave Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 We get the top and the bottom butterflies here where I live in Teesdale Here's a couple of wild plants, first one taken yesterday just in the next field it is Yellow Rattle Plant, they're a parasitic plant which feeds on grasses, they help the diversity of meadows, in other words with these plants around you can bet a field will be packed with different wildflowers. These plants have grown here as long as I can remember. The next one is Red Nettle just growing near our garden wall Suz x You get Spanish Gatekeeper butterflies in Teesdale? Probably from the Armada if you do. Yellow rattle is here too, though red nettle not 1
Suzannek Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 We get Gatekeeper butterflies yes I'll take a pic next time Suz x
Suzannek Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 Do you get blue Spring Gentians growing there Tattoo Dave? Suz x
Tattoodave Posted June 5, 2014 Posted June 5, 2014 Wall Brown Small Skipper Grizzled Skipper Male Cleopatra (Cleopatrick lol)the only ones that stayed still long enough 1
Tattoodave Posted June 5, 2014 Posted June 5, 2014 We get Gatekeeper butterflies yes I'll take a pic next timeSuz xHello Suz, it's a different one, Gatekeeper is Pyronia tithonus, Spanish Gatekeeper is Pyronia bathseba.Dave 1
Tattoodave Posted June 5, 2014 Posted June 5, 2014 Do you get blue Spring Gentians growing there Tattoo Dave?Suz xHi again Suz, never seen it here, but supposedly grows on Sierra Nevada in damp grassy places, there's a poster with an area full of them, it's a bit too warm here, it grows also in the Pyrenees and the Massif Central.Dave 1
Guest Posted June 6, 2014 Posted June 6, 2014 Company I work for has just moved into new warehouse and we've got a robin nesting in one of the book bays. Haven't managed to photograph her yet, but we found a nest that she made and abandoned a few bays over -- check out how cute and weeny this little egg is!!!
Popular Post Martyn Pitt Posted June 6, 2014 Popular Post Posted June 6, 2014 Managed to catch a glimpse of a Reed Warbler sitting on eggs. What always amazes me is the nest, they weave them around 3 reed stems just using their beaks. 8
Suzannek Posted June 7, 2014 Posted June 7, 2014 Cool. The blue Spring Gentian grows in the Burren in Ireland, here in Teesdale and no where else in the UK or Ireland. They've grown here in Teesdale since the last ice age. Suz x 1
Suzannek Posted June 7, 2014 Posted June 7, 2014 Hello Suz, it's a different one, Gatekeeper is Pyronia tithonus, Spanish Gatekeeper is Pyronia bathseba.Dave Sorry it looks the same as the ones we have down the woods, my mistake. The other one is a common blue though isn't it? I know more about wildflowers than butterflies Suz x 1
Tattoodave Posted June 7, 2014 Posted June 7, 2014 They are similar but the Spanish has a cream band on the underwing, an easily overlooked detail, I had to look in a reference book. Sorry it looks the same as the ones we have down the woods, my mistake. The other one is a common blue though isn't it? I know more about wildflowers than butterflies Suz x 1
Popular Post Martyn Pitt Posted June 8, 2014 Popular Post Posted June 8, 2014 These are only a few days old, there are ten of them following mum around at the reserve, they have no fear of humans and are seriously cute. They are Red Legged Partridge The wind got a bit chilly so they all got under mum's wing to keep warm, once they were all under I could only see a couple of tiny legs showing. 6
Peter99 Posted June 8, 2014 Posted June 8, 2014 martyn pitt, on 06 Jun 2014 - 4:03 PM, said: Managed to catch a glimpse of a Reed Warbler sitting on eggs. What always amazes me is the nest, they weave them around 3 reed stems just using their beaks. 410_001.jpg Yep, using spiders webs Martyn - so the nest can move and be flexible. Amazing picture Sir. Peter 1
Amsterdam Russ Posted June 8, 2014 Author Posted June 8, 2014 These are only a few days old, there are ten of them following mum around at the reserve, they have no fear of humans and are seriously cute. They are Red Legged Partridge Aka French partridges - if I recall my Observer Book of Birds correctly. Really nice shots 1
good angel Posted June 8, 2014 Posted June 8, 2014 (edited) Aka French partridges - if I recall my Observer Book of Birds correctly. Really nice shots And why they call them French Partridges is because they always ran, this goes back to when we was at war with the French. Edited June 8, 2014 by good angel 1
Amsterdam Russ Posted June 8, 2014 Author Posted June 8, 2014 And why they call them French Partridges is because they always ran, this goes back to when we was at war with the French. Most sources I've come across suggest that it's because they have red legs - and so share a similarity with the trousers worn by French soldiers in times past. And they originated from the warmer climes of France and Italy, too. Nice concise overview of their introduction into the UK here... http://www.purdey.com/shooting-life/a-guide-to-game-birds/red-legged-partridge/
Suzannek Posted June 8, 2014 Posted June 8, 2014 We get the Grey Partridges here, love to see them, great photos
Tattoodave Posted June 9, 2014 Posted June 9, 2014 Just some of the problems faced while trying to identify plants, these are all parasitic, and it helps to identify the host plant mostly, but they still leave me foxed 2
Amsterdam Russ Posted June 9, 2014 Author Posted June 9, 2014 This fine creature, a Green Darner I believe, and a good 2½ inches long, paid a visit to our 2nd floor balcony early evening and rested on the railings for a good while. 3
Martyn Pitt Posted June 9, 2014 Posted June 9, 2014 This fine creature, a Green Darner I believe, and a good 2½ inches long, paid a visit to our 2nd floor balcony early evening and rested on the railings for a good while. I think Dragonflies are great, not sure I would have wished to encounter their prehistoric ancestors with their 3 foot wingspan 1
Suzannek Posted June 9, 2014 Posted June 9, 2014 Only a few photos of my favourite woods, Herb Robert, the flower of the month here as they're all over the place, them and Meadow Cranesbill (one of the wild geraniums native to the UK)
Amsterdam Russ Posted June 9, 2014 Author Posted June 9, 2014 I think Dragonflies are great, not sure I would have wished to encounter their prehistoric ancestors with their 3 foot wingspan A scary thought. The one in the pic looked a real monster excepting for the reality of its actual size. The pic was taken flat to the subject, so doesn't really show just how amazingly thick set and armour plated it looked. Give it a three-foot wingspan and you'd need to be out there defending yourself with something that was mightily powerful - and lightning fast! 1
Suzannek Posted June 9, 2014 Posted June 9, 2014 The nymphs of dragon flies and damsel flies are pretty ferocious also they'll attack anything 2
Suzannek Posted June 13, 2014 Posted June 13, 2014 Thought I'd share these photos of the Foxgloves I took today down the woods.. Suz x 2
Tattoodave Posted June 14, 2014 Posted June 14, 2014 Thought I'd share these photos of the Foxgloves I took today down the woods..Suz xThis is one of the Spanish foxgloves, the other two native species have eluded me thus far 1
Popular Post Martyn Pitt Posted June 14, 2014 Popular Post Posted June 14, 2014 A 4 Spotted Chaser, a Blue Damselfly in flight and an Emperor Dragonfly in flight (never seen one perched ) Right off to pack, away on holiday for a week 4
Philippe Posted June 14, 2014 Posted June 14, 2014 (edited) Bravo Martyn, fantastic pictures ! Edited June 14, 2014 by Philippe 1
Suzannek Posted June 14, 2014 Posted June 14, 2014 (edited) Woo loving all the photos they're fabulous. My photos are Birds Foot Trefoil; Lesser Yellow Trefoil; Yellow Rattle plant getting ready for the pods to disperse seeds; Whitlow Grass I think although am open to being corrected, tiny white flowers with four petals smaller than stitchwort; Edited June 14, 2014 by suzannek 1
Winsford Soul Posted June 15, 2014 Posted June 15, 2014 I think Dragonflies are great, not sure I would have wished to encounter their prehistoric ancestors with their 3 foot wingspan They would be as big as you mate. Steve
Winsford Soul Posted June 15, 2014 Posted June 15, 2014 Just back from two weeks in fabulous Tenby. Will post some pictures when I get chance to download them from the camera. Steve 1
Tattoodave Posted June 15, 2014 Posted June 15, 2014 Just back from two weeks in fabulous Tenby. Will post some pictures when I get chance to download them from the camera. Steve Welcome back Steve, hope you got some good Puffin shots. Dave
Winsford Soul Posted June 15, 2014 Posted June 15, 2014 Welcome back Steve, hope you got some good Puffin shots. Dave Thanks Dave. Got a few, none with sandeels in beaks though, for some reason the puffins are approximately two weeks behind this season. So they're still sat on eggs. Got a few plant and orchids pictures (not very clear, windy on headlines) and they will need identification along with a few moths, butterflies and a spider Steve
Tattoodave Posted June 15, 2014 Posted June 15, 2014 Thanks Dave. Got a few, none with sandeels in beaks though, for some reason the puffins are approximately two weeks behind this season. So they're still sat on eggs. Got a few plant and orchids pictures (not very clear, windy on headlines) and they will need identification along with a few moths, butterflies and a spider SteveI'll lend a hand if need be with the orchidsDave 1
Winsford Soul Posted June 16, 2014 Posted June 16, 2014 Buff tipped moth.Speckled wood ?unknown to meGrasshopperunknown to me
Tattoodave Posted June 16, 2014 Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) IMG_7861.JPGBuff tipped moth.IMG_8798.JPGSpeckled wood ?IMG_8804.JPGunknown to megrasshopper.JPGGrasshopperIMG_8561.JPGunknown to meYou're right about the Speckled Wood, the Blue one could be a Common Blue, but looks ragged, so hard to say, the last is a Red Admiral, quite common that one and not difficultDave Edited June 16, 2014 by TattooDave
Tattoodave Posted June 16, 2014 Posted June 16, 2014 IMG_8813.JPGIMG_8807.JPGIMG_8809.JPGIMG_8698.JPGAll unknown to meSteveTop one is Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagalis arvensis), next is the Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis), next is Vipers Bugloss (Echium vulgare), the last could be more pyramidal orchids, doesn't enlarge enough to be certain.Dave 1
Tattoodave Posted June 16, 2014 Posted June 16, 2014 IMG_8811.JPGThink its a daytime moth of some discriptionLooks like a Burnet Moth Steve, though I could be wrong.Dave
Tattoodave Posted June 16, 2014 Posted June 16, 2014 IMG_8412.JPGUnknown to meLooks like an harvestman spider, though don't quote me,Dave
Suzannek Posted June 16, 2014 Posted June 16, 2014 It's a Cinnebar Moth they feed on Ragwort, beautiful moth Suz x 1
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