The RSPB: Linnet

www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/b....

Linnet numbers have dropped substantially over the past few decades, with the UK population estimated to have declined by 57 per cent between 1970 and .

Bog Asphodel - Narthecium ossifragum, found growing near to the Round-leaved Sundew on a dark boggy section of the heathland in the New Forest, Hampshire. Another 'first' for me :) I love it's 'bottle brush' spikes!

Info from The Wildlife Trusts.

The sulphur yellow, star-like flowers of Bog Asphodel brighten up our browny-green peat bogs, damp heaths and moors in early summer. Borne on spikes, the flowers appear from June to August; as they fruit in autumn, the plants turn deep orange, continuing to colour the bogs. Bog Asphodel produces creeping rhizomes (underground stems) from which it can reproduce; however, it also produces seeds and its flowers attract a range of pollinating insects.

Four Spotted Chaser hanging on in the breeeze at North Cave Wildlife Reserve. (698)

A pair of Marbled White butterflies roosting on a Heath Spotted Orchid in a local meadow.

He/she was coming into land on the Isle of May this afternoon.

Peacock Butterfly searching for nectar at Kilnsea Wetlands. (686)

Another flight shot of one of the juvenile Goldfinches in my garden recently with an adult flying through as an added bonus.

From the Tay road bridge this evening.

Another, slightly tighter shot of a Marbled White on my local patch last week.

I hope everyone's participating in the Big #ButterflyCount just fifteen minutes of your time to record the Butterflies you see in your garden, local park or in your favourite Butterfly location.

The Woodpeckers have been conspicuous by their absence over the last few weeks but this weekend two juveniles and a male adult appeared. This youngster showed well for me, allowing me to capture lots of shots, this being my favourite.

Picture taken on the river Don, Sheffield.

I really don't know how I managed to get this picture as the weather was very poor (overcast and raining).

Ringed Plover looking out to sea at Spurn Point Reserve. (706)

My first Butterfly shot of 2019, hopefully more to come over the next week or so!

I came across this lovely Butterfly in the wilds of Perthshire in glen Tilt beside the river Tilt.

Lots of youngsters in my garden at the minute and lots of shots to show you, here's a starter for 10 - a very handsome juvenile Greenfinch

A Small Copper with a selection of friends on a Knapweed

A Roe Deer in the shadows with Autumn sunlight highlighting it in the woods of Bolderwood New Forest National Park.

Even on a dull, overcast day the kingfisher still looks stunning. Picture taken on the River Don, Sheffield.

A nice day in the Firth of Forth

Lovely to see this juvenile Greenfinch, along with at least 4 adults, in my garden this week

There are good numbers of juveniles of varying species in my garden at the moment including this Goldfinch flying around.

Swallow in the Spurn Point area. (1188)

Another shot of one of the juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers in my garden recently.

A solitary female Marbled White butterfly, resting on a Heath Spotted Orchid, from the shoot at my local meadow last week.

Picture taken on the River Don, Sheffield

Another take on one of the Small Coppers on my local patch at the beginning of August

Staying with the theme of juvenile birds, here's a delightful Goldfinch not long fledged and still being fed by it's parents (missed the shot of that unfortunately)

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green woodpecker ~ picus viridis

The green woodpecker is on the RSPB Green status list.

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meadow grasshopper ~ chorthippus parallelus

I finally tracked down a solitary male Common Blue, newly emerged on my local patch yesterday. If the rain stops, hopefully, I can find a female too.

Not great weather for Butterflies this week so here's a common Green Grasshopper that posed nicely for me whilst out looking for Common Blues.

In Dundee botanical gardens today,they have a few Greenfly but their still beautiful i think.

Common Tern at St Aidan's RSPB reserve. (1179)

This was taken just as the sun was setting. It's by no means a quality picture but it's my first barn owl :)

A couple of the 11 Curlew grazing at RSPB Blacktoft Sands. (721)

After a rainy day in Perthshire.

I finally had a successful visit to my local Marbled Whites, in particular this one roosting on a Heath Spotted Orchid.

Best viewed full screen!

Kestrel, hovering, searching.............. at RSPB Frampton. (1146)

Another juvenile in my garden recently.

From my bike near Newtyle this morning.

Tricky to catch this Small Copper on this thin stem, the wind was quite strong, but quite liked the end result.

Just adorable this four week old baby Barn Owl at the Dorset Chilli Festival held at St Giles House Wimborne St Giles Dorset.

Black-tailed Godwit having a stretch at Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve. (953)

Common Darter warming up on a stem at North Cave wildlife reserve. (722)

I spent last week on the North Cornwall coast and hoped for a spectacular sunset. This didn't materialise but I did manage this long exposure at Trevose Head, looking towards the Lighthouse from Dinas Head over Stinking Cove.