Snake not in the grass

A bit of shock to see this in the road on the way from Etton to Maxey. Good job I normally slow down here to glance along the Maxey Cut. More shots on Weedon's World of Nature.

Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)



Nikon CP995

Red Admirable

Another visit to Prior's Fen looking, unsuccessfully, for storm-blown seabirds (or anything else). This corker sat up at Stonebridge Corner in full sun on a chilly cloudless morning.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)


Nikon CP995.

Windswept Wheatear

This week I ar' mostly been findin' Wheatears. Another one at Prior's Fen in a stiff norwesterly. 4 Ruff, 3 Dunlin and c.100 Golden Plover also around.

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)


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

Oak Bush-cricket

Just one from a mainly family outing to Suffolk. This was taken in Rendlesham Forest on heather. One has since turned up in our garden in Elton on a wine rope in an Alder tree.

Oak Bush-cricket (Meconema thalassinum), female

Nikon CP995

Indigo Wheatear

Not sure what is causing the indigo shades on this bird's plumage but it made a handsome sight in the early morning light. It was at the southern end of Willow Hall Lane on Flag Fen.

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)


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

Pip-squeak

Pipistrelles are very common sight around our house and the roof was once home to a maternal roost of 200 or so. This one was probably a victim of the recent stormy weather. It has a slightly injured right side but climbed the tree we moved it to so might survive.

Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)


Nikon CP995

That Shrike Again

Well frankly I didn't even expect it to stay overnight let alone 8 days. But here it is still favouring bushes on the north side of the second pit along the footpath from Stonebridge Corner. A Marsh Harrier, 3 Hobbies, 2 Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and a Wheatear were the supporting cast on this beautiful morning.

The warm early light helps to enhance the rather reddish tail.

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), first winter.


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

Snail Killer!

This Sciomyzid fly is one of a group whose larvae feed on snails. Possibly a female Euthycera fumigata or similar.



Nikon CP995

Garden Birds

After an erratic performance at the Red-backed Shrike I thought I could do with some digiscoping practice so the birds in the garden got some attention.

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)


Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)


House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

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

Butcher Bird at Prior's

About time we had a confiding Red-backed Shrike in the Peterborough area and it almost goes without saying that it was Kevin Du Rose who located it. That was on the Friday evening, when there was also a Spotted Redshank flying about. These pictures were taken the following morning in beautiful sunshine. 3 Dunlin, 3 Ruff, 20 Golden Plover, c.1000 Lapwing, 5 Wigeon, Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, at least 7 Yellow Wagtails and a Whinchat were also present.

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)





Digiscoped with the Nikon CP995, Leica APO77 and 20x and 32x eyepieces.

Prior's Fen

A return to an old haunt and some good birds including my first Golden Plover of the autumn, 8 Snipe, 3 juvenile Shelduck and c.250 Lapwing. The female or immature Garganey was with a good selection of duck including a Wigeon.

Garganey (Anas querquedula)




Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus)

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