Butterflies of Kenidjack Valley

The first is a Green Hair Streak, the second ( thanks to JR and Sue) is a female Orange Tip . The Blues a presume are Common Blues. (could do with some help with these) any ideas anyone

Macro Without A Macro

As we have had a massive influx of Painted Ladies I have posted three more images of the species photographed this morning at Botallack Cliffs. I do not possess a Macro Lens so the quality may not be as good as expected. With regards to the Butterfly, this morning I experienced something special seeing hundreds of this species sometimes in clouds of 50+ and spread across the area sucking nectar from the thrift.

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Common Sandpiper and Rock Pipit

Common Sand Piper photographed at Ryan's Field. and the Rock with a beak full of feed at St Gothian. I then gave in due to the strong easterly wind. (Does that rhyme) Click on the images to enlarge

Nanquidno Valley Again

Two images from the valley. The first is as all of you will know is a Painted Lady Butterfly, according to Spring Watch they have migrated into the UK in vast numbers this year. The second is a wild black Rabbit, these are seen on a regular basis, and they are probably escaped pets that have interbred with the wild population .

Sedge warbler

Sedge Warbler on a Umbellifir at kenidjack

Family Of Foxes

These following photo's are the result of a few days toil of tracking down the general location of their Den. We usually have a couple of breeding foxes in Kenidjack Valley and can be difficult to find. Lisa managed to photograph the cubs, my favourite is the last photo.

Skylarks At St Gothian, Gwithian

Whitethroat

Two White throats photographed at Kenidjack Valley 19th of May. The flight shot took me by suprise, VR switched off, over cropped and processed in a rush ( Bummer) but I still have the original raw shot.

Butterfly, Swallows, a Cow

The Swallow for me was an unusual shot as I very rarely get the chance to photograph them from above showing their lovely shades of blue in the feathering. The speckled wood butterfly is my first butterfly photo. Hopefully I will capture more of them as the summer progresses. The Longhorn Cow was photographed at Nanquidno as most of us locals will know. I thought I would throw it in to help with the title. They are actually playing an important ecological role in grazing the cliff tops, helping to re-establish the Chough, and allowing wild flowers to return.

This weekend (Sunday 17 of may) I had an interesting bird/seawatching session with a couple of local experts.The storm pushed in storm petrels, Manx Shearwaters, Sandwich Terns,Arctic Skuas, Pomarine Skuas, high numbers of Gannets and three Northern Divers with one in its summer plumage into Mounts Bay.No photo's as the weather was atrocious.

Rock Pipit

When I was photographing the Gannnets this Rock Pipit landed about twenty feet in front of me.

The photograph has had no post photograph enhancements whatsoever. You can't beat getting up close to your subject for a stunning picture, however it is wrong to stress the subject by continually getting to close and affecting its natural behaviour.

Garganey

Two Garganey, today the 12th of May one at St Gothian, Gwithian and One at Marazion. One is my Father In Laws and two are mine. Can't tell you which one is his as it's better than mine.

Cape Cornwall Gannets

The Gannet, is one of my favourite sea birds, so on Saturday while the wife had her hair done I spent a couple of hours at Cape Cornwall photographing this species. I reduced the aperture to f8 or there about to give some depth of field as I feel that, when photographing this species the sea should be in focus. If you think I am wrong please tell me. Click on the images to enlarge

Waders

The photo's below were taken on the same day as the previous photographs of the swans at Marazion. They are Sanderling and Dunlin well into their breeding plumage. They amazed me how close they allowed me to them, although they were avidly feeding. I got annoyed with the so called dog lovers allowing their dogs (and encouraging them) to chase the birds and spoil their feeding routine.


Sanderling


Dunlin

I can Fly

A trip down to Marazion Reserve brought home these little heart warmers, Mute Swan chicks not long out of the nest.

You will notice that I have put a moderator on the comments,this is because someone has started to post adverts on my comments page and I don't really want this. I do appreciate the genuine like minded people commenting and I thank them for that.

Summ Plum Dun And Whimbrel

Summer Plumage Dunlin and Whimbrel photographed at St Gothian Sands,Gwithian today 5th of May. Camera details, exposure compensation 0.0 ( I wondered why I had to compensate for over exposure in the processing) spot metering and centre focus, f4.8, shutter speed 1/2000 sec focal length 500mm. By the way I'm on holiday, the blog is likely to fall apart next week.Click on the images to enlarge

Whimbrel
Dunlin

Kingfisher

The Kingfisher pictures were taken at Slimbridge from the Kingfisher hide, the first and the last picture was taken by the Father in Law, Alan .These birds where particularly difficult to photograph as the distance to the subject was to great, the hide had a tendency to shake with the amount of people viewing ,and the speed of flight.My favourite is the first where the Kingfisher has come up out of the water and created a blue haze around itself with the spray .

The Consequence of Duck Love

Love a Duck

What more can I say.Click on image to enlarge

Swallows and Kestrels

I revisited one of my favourite valleys,Nanquidno, on Wednesday 29 April and got a nice photograph of a Swallow and a couple of flight shots of a Kestrel.They say one Swallow don't make a summer but we have thousands now so come on sun, shine.Click on images to enlarge