Common Snipe, Ferry Meadows

This snoozing Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) provided a bit of digiscoping practice.

Digiscoped with the Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 and 20x eyepiece.

Garden hover-fly

The garden pond is only a couple of months old but is producing insects like this hover-fly that likes to sunbathe on waterside vegetation.

Helophilus pendulus

Nikon CP995.

Brown Argus in cop.

A real treat these especially as I didn't expect to find them on the banks of the river Nene near Elton Bridge.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)

Nikon CP995.

Manx Shearwater, Baston & Langtoft Pits

Could this be the worst photo so far? Probably. But its one of the best birds I've ever seen in the area. I have a thing about inland seabirds and Manx Shearwater is right at the top of the list. Josh Jones was the finder and got the news out lightning fast. You had to be quick as the bird only stayed the one evening. It was bizarre and unforgettable to see this bird shearing over the flat fields of the fens.

Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)

Digiscoped (badly in very poor light) with the Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 and 20x eyepiece.

Wall Butterfly

It was a devil of a job to get this butterfly to sit still long enough to get the shot. It was a hot day at Orton Brick Pit.

Wall Butterfly (Lasiommata megera)

Nikon CP995.

Migrant Hawker laying eggs

There were loads of insects about on this very warm day during a family outing to Burghley House. Silver Y moths and Hornets were particularly obvious but this female Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) laying eggs in the pond was the only one to sit for a photo.

Nikon CP995.

A few garden visitors.

Common Frog (Rana temporaria)


Hawthorn Shield Bug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale)


The rather wierd-looking larva of the hover-fly Epistrophe eligans.


Common Pond Skater (Gerris lacustris).

Nikon CP995.

Pectoral Sandpiper

A great find for Steve Dudley but unfortunately only a couple of people had permission to visit the private site the bird favoured. Another bird or perhaps the same one appeared on the High Wash of the Nene the day after during a large influx of the species into the UK. A difficult subject for digiscoping.

First winter Pectoral Sandpiper (Caladris melanotos)


Digiscoped with the Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 and 32x eyepiece.

Mandarins, Ferry Meadows

Mandarin are not often seen around the Peterborough area and certainly not right in front of a hide at the country park. A perfect digiscoping opportunity and some nice images from the party of five birds. The group included adult female, eclipsed male and juveniles but the species is hard to age with certainty.

Mandarin (Aix galericulata)
 
 
 

Digiscoped with the Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 and 20x eyepiece.