Deer at the Research Park

Although I had taken photographs of these Red Deer previously, I found them to be more tolerant of a human on this occasion.    They didn't like the dogs though and on a couple of occasions charged towards the fencing to frighten them off!   No sign of the stag.

 Worth presenting these attractive animals in monochrome too.

Swallows

Bottisham Pumping Station has Swallows breeding and roosting in it and around it.   These young ones were enjoying the warmth of the morning sunlight and getting some preening done.   On this and a previous occasion there must have been about 50 Swallows perching and flying around.   About an hour later they had left the site - I think to spend the day on the wing, feeding.   With these weather conditions they may not hang about in the UK for much longer.

 I believe the butterfly is a Green-veined White.

Mute Swan

I set myself a rather silly objective of trying to photograph the head and top part of the neck of a Mute Swan when it was under water.    The symmetry of some of the neck above the water and the head underneath held my attention for a while.   And there's reflection and shadow, but what is which?!

Research Park - evening light

I hadn't managed to get out for a walk with the dogs until the evening.    Doing the walk at the other end of the day brought a very different light and atmosphere to an otherwise familiar walk.

Evening Light, Landbeach

Initially I thought the haziness was a ground mist, but as I got nearer it was smoke from quite an important bonfire.   The second image has a 'polar' filter on it.

Swallows at Bottisham Pumping Station

All the Swallows' nests at this location are out of sight behind a very large grill, so early on in the breeding season one sees just adults flying in and out of the grill.   As time goes by, the young Swallows fledge and expect to be fed as often as possible.   The noise is quite intense as each youngster demands its fair share!

Swans in flight - Research Park

Perhaps I shall develop a theme of images called "Syncronicity".   These are not the only pairs of Swans I've taken in flight.   It is amazing to see how close they are to one another, and the confidence they must have in the bird in front not to do something untoward!

I haven't seen that many damselflies this year, but was pleased to see this well camouflaged Common Darter this morning.

Wicken Fen - other samples of wildlife

Yesterday was a glorious morning and prompted an early walk.   Although it was sunny with virtually no wind, there were few birds to be seen.

However, there were masses of Swallows on telegraph wires at the Upware end, perhaps contemplating migration to southern Africa.   What I don't recall seeing before were Swallows sitting in trees.   As there was hardly a Swallow to be seen on the way back, it prompted the thought that perhaps they had been roosting on willow branches before spending the day catching insects.

The Buzzard made its presence known when it called out.

I expect the butterfly is a Common Blue and I have yet to identify the Fly, but I have seen images others have taken of the same fly.

Wicken Fen - Kingfisher

I was delighted to see this Kingfisher on Wicken Lode yesterday morning.   I had seen it 'flash' by about 30 mins earlier, never expecting to see it again!   Thankfully it was perched on the other side of the Lode, opposite a gap in the reeds when I did spy it again!   The first image doesn't display the Kingfisher at its most attractive but I haven't photographed one 'face on' before.   I bet it had seen me long before I noticed it!

Sad about the busy background but as the lower image is probably the best image I have of this bird, it appears here.   The iridescent blue isn't quite the colour I remember seeing, but I haven't tampered with the colour balance in Lightroom either!

Lazy Otter

Quite a bit of vegetation has been cut away on the bank from the Lazy Otter and this is having an impact on the amount of insects to be seen during the walk to Streatham Old Engine.

A Swallow caught having a good scratch - with something of a supercilious expression!