Other Wildlife

11 May 2008

It's that time of year when I start looking at things other than birds. This Orange Tip was very active and only stopped flying for a few seconds, but enough to grab this quick shot.

17 November 2007

Apex Park in Burnham is absolutely heaving with Brown Rats at the moment - they're everywhere! Good opportunity for photographing them though. Lots of people get them confused with Water Voles, especially when they're swimming across open water. They do look superficially similar.

15 November 2007

This Weasel was a welcome diversion from photographing the Greylake Glossy Ibis.

9 September 2007

Insects were good today with this Roesel's Bush Cricket (top) and Comma butterfly both showing well near Bridgwater.

On the 11 August 2007 Chalkhill Blues were showing well on Brean Down.

A Holly Blue photographed at Wellington. Seems to be a few about at the moment, but the first that has stayed still for a few moments (6/8/07).

This Small Copper at Brean on 17 July 2007 was virtually the only insect around. Howling winds and rain have meant an abysmal year for insects. This photo would have been more aethetically pleasing were it not for the spiders' web.

On 30 June 2007 we managed to check some Dormouse nest boxes in between torrential rain showers. A few Common Dormice were expected (top) but this Brown Long-eared Bat (lower) was a bonus. Both species are a European Protected Species and require a licence to handle (which I have!). And yes, the bat handler should have been wearing gloves - they're not my hands!

Roe Deer at Ham Wall RSPB.

On 17 June 2007 I went for a quick stroll up Crook Peak. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (top) were numerous, and this Black-tailed Skimmer (lower) was unexpected right on the top of the peak.

These Bee Orchids at Berrow seem to be of the 'Belgarum' variety. They were only classified recently but have since been found between Somerset and Hampshire.

A Beautiful Demoiselle at Wellington, Somerset (18/5/07).

This Brown Hare was a bit more photogenic than the one below. Taken at the RSPB Greylake Reserve.

This Brown Hare had to go for a swim as it got trapped by high tides on The Axe Estuary (9/9/06). I'm not convinced it made it to dry land as a lot of splashing was followed by it apparently disappearing.

On the 30 July 2006 there were lots of Chalkhill Blue butterflies on Brean Down.

This weekend has been nice and warm for a change. The Green Hairstreak above was on Blackdown and the Grass Snake was still in our garden pond (4 June 2006).

The afternoons entertainment on 15 May 2006 was thanks to this Grass Snake that spent its time in and around our garden pond. And, yes, that's a frog! I thought Grass Snakes were supposed to eat frogs too... Looks like this one just wanted to make friends.

Fox Cubs on Brean Down, 12 May 2006.

At Berrow, Otters have been discovered to be using the marsh by the presence of fresh Otter spraint. These black droppings are distinctive in that they smell fishy and contain fish bones. The accumulation of spraint, shown above, indicates that the site is regularly visited by at least one Otter that is using this sprainting site as a territorial marker.

...see the fish bones and scales? Lovely, you can almost smell it.

These Wild Boar are a mystery. How can they suddenly appear miles from any Wild Boar Farm? Photos taken on 16 March 2006.

Shapwick and Meare Heath's are undoubtedly one of, if not the best place in the country to see Otters. This one was seen on 25 Feb 2006. I've not been here and failed to see Otter on any visit for about the last year or so (OK, so I don't that often!).

In Berrow, an old war pill box has been adapted to make it suitable for roosting and hibernating bats. No bats yet, but these hibernating Herald Moths are hopefully a sign of things to come?

May well be dull, but it's come a long way. Scarce Bordered Straw on 12 September at Berrow.

This Great Green Bush Cricket in my garden was a nice find today (31st).

Red Squirrel, Lancashire

Small Marbled in my garden at Berrow, 1 June 2005 (an immigrant moth).

Three of the four Otters watched for about 20 mins at Meare Heath on 2 June 2005. I've seen Otters here on three of my four recent visits.

Thousands of By-the-wind-sailors (Velella velella) appeared on Berrow Beach during September 2004. These jellyfish like hydranths have been blown in from warm, tropical seas. They are quite bright blue in appearance and have an upright sail. Photos taken on 26/9/2004 and 28/8/2004 when probably tens of thousands were present at high tide.

Fantastic views of the Collard Hill Large Blue Butterflies on 19/6/04 which was when these photos were taken. I was particularly lucky to witness the copulating pair below, but to see several resting with their wings open was also good.

For more details about visiting Collard Hill to look for the Large Blue Butterfly, go here.