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Where I live its not only the people that use the foot paths but also the deer like this cute adult male Muntjac. I was on my way to post a letter in my local post box when all of a sudden this fine good looking male decided to walk in front of me for a while until he noticed me and that was that, lucky for me I had my camera with me.
European Otter - Lutra Lutra
Ollie
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One of 10 species to be found in the UK. If there was ever a suitable name to describe any animal than the name Pond skater has it all. Can also be known as Water Striders, Water Bugs, Water Skeeters and even Jesus Bugs. For the record after I took I this photo I fell in the pond, luckily the camera and ring- flash survived, so I guess miracles do happen !
It took a few short weeks but this young lady and I have become good friends now. When not having her snooze next to me she'll be digging up the earthworms around me and trying to stick her nose into my camera bag. The future boyfriend of her is always near by watching us and is starting to except me and starting to get a little closer to me each time, oh happy days.
What looks like a pair of boxing gloves or an extra pair of legs here are in fact the males pedipalps that are used to hold the sperm which the male will use when mating with a female and putting it in her epigynum if the mating is successful. Can be found on grasslands, heathland, woodland margins and in marshy areas. Very similar to the wolf spiders but differ in the size of their eyes . Adult females can often be seen carrying their own egg sac.
Can often be seen growing with Hogweed but differs in having round pink-to brown-tinged flowerheads with a green to purplish stem, a great attractive plant for pollinating insects. We tend to take for granted what pollinating insects do for us yet we have lost so much of our wild flower meadows in the UK and around the world there's the destruction of the rain forests and huge volumes of pesticides and herbicides (including the dreaded Roundup) being used that is taking its toll on the insect world. 75% of the food we eat is on our plates because of what pollinators do, will we ever learn. And for a bit of banter my Victoria Sponge cake could even become extinct in the near future.
Can sometimes be known as the Eastern Grey Squirrel depending on region and not every ones cup of tea here in the UK but is the one wild mammal that children can get to see regularly. Less arboreal than then the Red Squirrel as the grey tends to feed extensively on the ground. Its not their fault that there over here in the UK that one lie's with the worlds most destructive and most dangerous animal on the planet called the human.
I had never watched such an aggressive Water Pipit. Anything else approaching this frozen patch of water was immediately chased away.
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Can be seen on the wing from mid May to early August, found widespread and sometimes common in the southern half of Britain and is slowly spreading northwards and can be found in its preferred habitat of ditches, pools, ponds and lakes. The male differs from the female by having a powdery blue abdomen with yellow spots along the body. The male will often return to the same sunlit perch and will defend its territory by flying of to intercept any possible intruders.
Taken in the Toledo Region of Spain.
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There are 16 species of Araneidae to be found in the UK and all with 8 eyes and many and have distinctive abdominal patterns. Some species can be found in a variety of colours but will always have the abdominal patterns usually remaining the same.
The Shoveler's method of feeding is thought to harvest around 10 per cent of it's own body weight in a day. When feeding a Shoveler can pump water in and around it's large beak with it's tongue. By moving the tongue backwards and forwards which can be more than 10 times per second the Shoveler can collect food particles that are trapped on the filtering lamellae of the beak and bristly tongue and then transferred to the back of the mouth in which to be swallowed.
A member of the rail family Rallidae and fond of swimming in open water even though unlike ducks coots do not have webbed feet. The distinctive white shield above the white beak earns it the title 'bald', hence the saying 'bald as a Coot'. These birds have been known to kill their own young if they have too many young to feed which is usually the youngest of the brood. Males are normally the more aggressive than the female, if an intruder enters their territory they will use their large feet and claws to chase them away using their spattering behaviour.
The proper name of this butterfly is more commonly known as the European Peacock and can be found in Europe and as far away as temperate Asia and even as far away as Japan. This species was formally classified as Inachis and was the only member of this genus with the name Inachis being derived from Greek mythology meaning lo, daughter of Inachus. The large peacock like eye spots on the upper wings are used to startle and frighten its predators. When resting the wings when closed will look very similar to a dead leaf and when felt threatened a quick flash of those eye spots is usually enough to scare its predator off. Can be seen on the wing from July- September, and after hibernation March-May.
Exotic-looking duck of Southeast Asian origin. The female of this species are dark grey-brown and are mottled paler on the sides with fine white spectacles. In China these ducks are called Yuan-Yuang meaning odd couple because of the difference in the way the two sexes look.
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One of two noisy oystercatchers chasing each other near our local cafe.
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Poppies - Scotland
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Can vary in colour from green to brown with some females being quite pink. The females wings are much shorter than the males and as this species has no hindwings it is the UK's only flightless grasshopper. Can be seen from June to October mainly on dry grasslands.
Grey Seal - Halichoerus Grypus
Donna Nook Nature Reserve
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Another one of my young friend who always liked nothing more then to lay about on the back lawn and sleep in the afternoon sun. Having a good stretch after his daily afternoon nap here as he's just noticed that I had come home from work and getting ready to say our hellos to each other.
One of six species of deer to be found in the UK with the Red and Roe deer being the only native species. The red deer is the fourth-largest deer species behind the Moose and the UK's largest land mammal. Adult female seen here with her fawn which has almost lost the white spotted coat now slightly older.
Seen here getting ready for its dust bath. Such a shame that these once widespread found birds are declining in the UK. The House Sparrow is now a Red-Listed conservation species due to its long-term decline particularly in urban and suburban environments. Despite the small size the House Sparrow can have a lifespan of 3 years in the wild.
Female seen here depositing here eggs. Although when both male and female emerge into adults they are both pale green with brown markings with the male later taking on a sky blue abdomen and an green thorax with the female being mainly green. Can be seen on the wing from June to August and sometimes can go beyond September depending on the weather. Can be found widespread and fairly common in Britain and are increasing in numbers in Scotland and Ireland.
One of 6 species to be found in the UK and sometimes known as the Assassin fly and can be found in scrubby grasslands and woodland edges. These flies are aerial or ambush hunters with excellent eyesight and will stab their prey and inject a protein dissolving saliva in which to kill and help digest their prey.
A large slender-bodied damselfly with a stunning metallic green colour where as the male is a blue green colour with dark patches on the wings. Often found over slow flowing streams and rivers on waterside vegetation. Can be seen from mid May to mid September.
Hard to believe that the UK only has one species of hornets but in time the Asian hornet maybe the second which has recently arrived. Although much larger then its close relative the common wasp the European hornet is less aggressive and as well as feeding on invertebrates etc is also an important pollinator as nectar and sap is a great source of a high-energy substance. Can be found mostly in woodlands, gardens and parkland in south and central UK expanding northwards.
A colourful and distinctive long-tailed bird with a loud call. This parakeet's natural range is in Asia and Africa and now established in Britain with the suburban western fringes of London being the stronghold. There are several theories of how these birds got to be here in the UK and one being that the music legend Jimi Hendrix while living in London released some, more likely he just released great rock music instead of Ring-Necked Parakeets. The most probable explanation is that these were kept as pets and escaped out in to the wild where they gradually became naturalised in the wild and helped by our warmer winters. This birds can also be known as the Rose-Ringed Parakeet and its is the male that has the thin black and pink collar and a black throat, while the female is mainly all green.
Can be variable in colour from whitish - green, to bright yellow depending on the spiders habitat in matching the colour of the flower its on. An ambush hunter that will sit and wait for its prey. Can be found on flower heads, among grass, scrub, woodland edges and gardens. Around 27 species of crab spiders to be found in the UK and named after the spiders crab like appearance.
Occasionally as a photographer you come across a situation you instinctively know is going to be special.
I had been watching the herd for sometime when I saw this lovely hind moving into the ferns. I was not disappointed when my hunch paid off.
Sadly we were too late this year for the rut, but it's always a pleasure to see these beauties in the wild.
Red Deer Hind - Cervus Elaphus
The Highlands - Scotland
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Just caught these by chance out in the Peak District. They're about 250ft away so there's not much detail.
A large slender-bodied damselfly with a stunning metallic green colour where as the male is a blue green colour with dark patches on the wings. Often found over slow flowing streams and rivers on waterside vegetation. Can be seen from mid May to mid September.
European Otter - Lutra Lutra
Ollie
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The Lady Was A Little Too Close
A forgotten photo from my archives.
Barn owl (Tyto alba)
Yorkshire Dales - Lower Barn/ Embankment Female
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A member of the Rail family Rallidae and a close relative of the moorhen. The name Coot comes from that fact that in Latin Fulicia is coot and atra is black. Can often be seen swimming in open water. Sexes are very similar with the male being slightly larger than the female. They often seem to have many quarrels with each other striking each other with their feet.
European Otter - Lutra Lutra
Ollie
Many thanks for stopping by to view and comment on my photos. It is very much appreciated and welcome.
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Mandarin Duck male - (Aix Galericulata)
Golden Acre Park - Leeds
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Beautiful Red squirrel jumping in the rain, this was taken a few weeks ago on my trip to Blairgowrie. We had poor light all day and most photos were unusable however we did get a brief afternoon reprieve and this shot was one of them.
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Rumours abound that Ollie is sadly no longer with us his fate uncertain. I still hope he is safe and well somewhere and feel blessed by the hours of pure enjoyment he brought to me.
A couple of new otters have appeared in the bay and hopefully health permitting I will catch up with them soon.
European Otter - Lutra Lutra
Ollie
Many thanks for stopping by to view and comment on my photos. It is very much appreciated and welcome.
Mandarin Duck male - (Aix Galericulata)
Golden Acre Park - Leeds
As always I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who take the time to stop by and comment on my photos.
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Two portraits of Ollie today I do hope you're not tiring of him
European Otter - Lutra Lutra
Ollie
Many thanks for stopping by to view and comment on my photos. It is very much appreciated and welcome.
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