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From the archives... one of last year's youngsters. They seemed to have had a successful year this year as well - I again heard squeaky juvenile calls in the summer and currently, so long as it is dry, we are hearing adults calling most evenings.
Swift over Chasewater dam, Staffordshire. Very much a lucky shot but one I have been attempting for a long time.
Nearly two years since I last posted a pic of this lovely duck. So happy to be in a much happier place than I was then too.
Tufted Duck - Aythya Fuligula
Yeadon Tarn
As always I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who take the time to stop by and comment on my photos.
DSC_1761
Please see Local Birds & Wildlife 2017 set www.flickr.com/photos/wendycoops224/albums/72157677498251730
The policy of Epping Forest is to leave dead trees to rot and fall where they stand. This provides a starting point for many food chains.
While watching Springwatch this year I was surprised to hear Chris Packham say that he had not seen Spotted Flycatchers since childhood. The population has declined by 92% since his childhood (1967) but it still surprised me that he hadn't seen any. I too have noticed a massive decline here in the Pennines. They used to be common, and now they are not. But I still chance upon a breeding pair or two each year, and I see passage birds, usually juveniles in the autumn. I'm assuming the decline in southern England has been even more severe than here in the north. The causes of the decline have proved elusive but research suggests poor survival of juveniles may be the issue. There has been no significant change in nest success rates and the number of fledglings per nest shows no trend. Juvenile survival could be affected before migration, during migration, or on the African wintering grounds.
I got a fantastic e-mail from the BBC on Monday afternoon telling me that they were going to use one of my images on the Springwatch Unsprung program on Monday night.
It's not often you get Chris Packham to give critique on your photos, so when I got in from work that evening I eagerly watched.
I really liked it to start with and then said that the bird could do with being in the centre of the rising sun, If you look at the original I used the rule-of-thirds with the subject off centre to the left.
He gave it a mark of 6.1 out of ten, so I have posted a shot taken at the same time but re-composed with his suggestions, let me know what you think please.
butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/orange-tip
Common and widespread, this medium sized butterfly can be found in gardens and hedgerows.
The males are unmistakeable; white butterflies with bright orange wing tips. The females are white with black wing tips. Both have mottled green underwings.
The Small White is very similar to the female, but lacks the underwing markings. Discover how to identify white butterflies with this handy guide.
Size and Family
Family: Whites and yellows
Size: Medium
Wing Span Range (male to female): 45-50mm
Conservation Status
Butterfly Conservation priority: Low
European status: Not threatened
Caterpillar Foodplants
Several crucifers are used, especially Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) in damp meadows and Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) along road verges and ditches. Occasionally, it uses Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale), Winter-cress (Barbarea vulgaris), Turnip (Brassica rapa), Charlock (Sinapis avensis), Large Bitter-cress (C. amara), and Hairy Rock-cress (Arbis hirsuta). In addition, it lays its eggs on Honesty (Lunaria annua) and Dame's-violet (Hesperis matronalis) in gardens, but larval survival is thought to be poor on these plants.
Habitat
Orange-tips prefer damp habitats such as meadows, woodland glades, hedgerows and the banks of streams and rivers, but readily visit gardens.
Distribution
Countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland
Widespread throughout Britain and Ireland, having spread considerably in Scotland over the past 30 years
www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=cardamines
Life Cycle
There is a single brood each year, with adults flying from the beginning of April, through May and into June. In exceptionally early years a small second brood may appear.