Wildlife

This is the Keer Channel on Morcambe Bay, just south of Carnforth. I heard this flight of birds before I saw them. As to what they are, they were moving so fast that even my fast shutter speed fails to make them out that good. My research makes me think they might be Golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria) that are known to visit this area. Maybe somebody may know better. Enjoy full screen.

As the sun starts to dip and all is going quiet , it is time for the night creatures to come out and feed. Shortly this rabbit was to be joined by its friends and family, about 5-6 in total. This seen from just next to our temporary holiday home here in Anglesey Enjoy full size. Have a great weekend. Herb

Taken alongside the river, on my next photo here.

A loud honking of duck/geese calls draws our attention up to the skies where we see a very large flock of migratory ducks or geese heading south (right to left here). I don’t think I have ever seen such a large flock with even more there than my two photos reveal. There was at least another length as big as the top photo that I missed to capture. As to what kind they were, we could not tell, even from close ups with my original large RAW pictures but we do have, generally much smaller flocks of Canada geese passing us at times and so it might be the same. I include a PiP of my blow up, maybe you can tell what kind they are. Enjoy full screen.

The high north-facing cliffs of Handa were full of sea birds like this. These could be either guillemots or razorbills which both have white chest and black backs. The white and grey birds here are most likely kittiwakes. Skuas and fulmars are also present around here, as well as the most adorable puffins. In fact during the summer months these cliffs are the home of 100,000 breeding seabirds. Many years ago, the local population from the mainland would climb these cliffs for the eggs, as food for their families. Enjoy full screen.

In October I posted a photo of the famous Godrevy Lighthouse in Cornwall (see pip) where I mentioned we had seen grey seals around the rocks too. Here then you see a collage of just three of the photos that I snapped there. The bottom two, showing the same mother and her pup. I was very pleased to catch the one with the pup suckling its mother, which I think is quite rare to see. The tide was out as I took these from a high cliff vantage point some way from the seals, and I imagine it would have been quite a different picture with the sea being in. Enjoy full screen.

Seen in Lincolnshire on a warm summer’s day. As a moth it has grey/black forewings and hind wings of scarlet with charcoal edging. Found normally in open places during May to August. There numbers have been reported to have fallen by 83% during the last 35 years. We see again the colours of the Ukraine flag here integrating into the beauty of nature. Let’s hope for peace and happiness soon. Enjoy the day in peace. Herb

Another look at this castle. This time from the front corner. A bit of sunshine lights up the castle for a minute or so as I walk along the edge of the stream that runs down to the sea from here, only a few metres away. I had to wait a while for the swans to locate themselves just here but patience was rewarded. The original castle was built in the 12th century but the current castle was built in the 1508 with further major restoration and repairs c 1774. The castle served as a bastion for the MacDonald family and several MacDonald lords resided here. The PiPs show other photos, all taken from around here too. Enjoy full screen

As Ukraine is hammered relentlessly by bigger and bigger bombs we try to relax here for a while watching the seals. We are making a walk along the shores to a place full of rocks and boulders pounded by the Atlantic. The building in front of us is actually the ‘Marine Environmental Research Laboratory’ run by the Institute of Agriculture, University of Stirling. To the right is the Machrihanish Seabird/Wildlife Observatory and it is from that we see the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine proudly flying high with our support. Enjoy full size and enjoy your week in safety. ps the seals are on the rocks in the foreground plus the white baby seal.

Also called the 'harbour seal' . Seen near the Marine Environmental Research Laboratory at Machrihanish on the Mull of Kintyre. See PiP

Another view of the Marine Environmental Research Laboratory at Machrihanish, this time with a closer look at the seals too.. See PiP

Around our Seven Seas, man has always fished. Here on the coast of Scotland, between Islands, the Scottish and Irish mainland and the wild Atlantic, fishing is a long established tradition. This fishing boat has returned from a short day out in our local Killbrannan Sound, the stretch of water dividing Kintyre and Arran. Nowadays, the catches are a shadow of what they used to be and as we come close to the home port of Carradale, some waste, as usual is discarded into the waters. It’s a feast for the local sea gulls of course. See PiP for alternative view Enjoy full screen.

Another of our local walks and we are lucky to see more than our usual share of Summer wildlife. From top left: Grey squirrel, Young common frog, Field mouse and a Nuthatch (Sitta eurpea) Enjoy full screen.

‘Bombus spp’, as seen on our garden Lavatera bush. Today, the bush’s many flowering blooms were full of them. Another chance therefore to try my macro lens again. The white spots are pollen seeds from the centre of these flowers that this bee has just rubbed itself over. These large, hairy bees are generally black with varying degrees of yellow banding. Look closely at flowering plants and you’ll probably spot several species. Common bumblebees include garden, buff-tailed, red-tailed, white-tailed and field bumblebees. They are social insects, living in colonies of up to 200 workers. Queens hibernate underground during the winter, emerging in spring to find suitable nest sites – for example, abandoned mouse holes. Each queen builds a nest of dried grasses and then lays about a dozen eggs that hatch into workers – sterile females. The workers gather pollen and nectar to feed later batches of grubs. New queens and males hatch at the end of the season and mate. The males, workers and old queens die; new queens hibernate. Bumblebees are not aggressive and will only sting if they feel threatened. They are important pollinators of many plants and fruiting trees eating nectar and pollen Nice full size.

A rare natural history insect capture from me here. This seen in a pond on a recent drive and walk. Damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) are smaller than dragonflies and are known for their graceful flight and dazzling colours at times. This couple are in their mating position. More info: www.britannica.com/animal/damselfly Enjoy full screen.

I had a shock on the morning of December 23, for as I looked out of my window I saw two parakeets on our feeder. I had never seen them in the wilds of our country before. Apparently they are indigenous to Australia but they have made a nice home for themselves in parts of the Manchester area and even further north. It is supposed that they were originally pets that escaped from captivity around 1970 in the London area and have slowly moved north. They are a colourful bird and a little noisy at times but I fear that they might drive away our native far smaller garden birds. (They also eat a lot!) After seeing them for a few days running, I have not seen them here since. Have a good day.

Seen near the Scottish Perthshire village of Killin. This is a rare sight for me living much further south in England, as the much more aggressive grey squirrel dominates and have made the reds almost extinct in England. This was seen scampering under a bridge that I was stood on trying to catch images of the river. Sciurus vulgaris: Due to their overall population declines, red squirrels are classed as endangered on The Mammal Society's Red List for Britain's Mammals. Scotland supports 75% of the UK population, yet even here they are classed as near threatened.

A friendly bee takes to the pollen in this Geranium flower in our garden. This is only one of the 270 species that live in Britain. They are in the order Hymenoptera. See PiP (adjacent photo) for flying bee. Best full screen (naturally) Enjoy the day.