Butterflies at Sheepwash Lane 15 July 2014

For the first time since I got the mobility scooter, we took it to Sheepwash Lane. We couldn't go before they had workmen and it became very muddy, then we had to wait for everything to settle down.

There's not much in the way of birds down there, although there is a Kingfisher about and one day I might get a photo of it. Instead there are more butterflies than I have seen all year.

After only a few minutes the first one presented itself, a Skipper on a thistle head.

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 400, 380mm

Not very far away was this Ringlet, but with a bit of a breeze most weren't happy to spread their wings.

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

The skipper was still crawling around the thistle head so I took a pic of his back.

1/500 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

and his front ...

1/400 @ f7.1, iso 400, 400mm

I always like to see Peacock butterflies, but again it would have been better if he'd spread his wings.

1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

In a more sheltered area the Tortoiseshell was happy to show off its colours.

1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

1/500 @ f8, iso 400, 400mm

All taken on a Canon EOS7d, fitted with EF 100 - 400mm L series lens

Winter is Here - 13 December 2012

There has been some good frosts recently and most of the lakes are frozen. The birds are keeping under cover so after a hard year for finding wildlife, it has now got harder. The other day I did see a Goosander, but it was being swept rapidly down a swollen river and the light was going, so I didn't get any pictures.

Today I went out in the frost, I only managed a few photos.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/250 @ 5.6, iso 400, 400mm

By the bridge at sheepwash lane,  I saw this Burdock plant coated with frost. It'd probably make a good Saturnalia decoration if the ice didn't melt.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/200 @ 5.6, iso 400, 100,mm

We moved on to Swithland woods, but the only bird we saw was this Robin

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/80 @ 5.66, iso 800, 390,mm