Curlews DLLWT

Two of three Curlews on the east pit of Deeping Lakes LWT, the other day. I have only seen a very few Curlews this year locally, so these were a welcome treat. They didn't stay long, though, and soon flew off east.

Grey Partridges, Deeping High Bank, Lincs

That Garganey... again

Little Owls near Deeping St James

Even more Garganey (FMCP) photos...

Bumblebee mimic

This is the hoverfly Eristalis intricarius. It is a bumblebee mimic. Brilliant isn't it? This is a female, photographed at Baston 'wader pit' at the weekend. I think it looks closest to a Tree Bumblebee.

Some recent butterflies

Chalkhill Blue, males, Barnack Hills and Holes

Painted Lady, Barnack Hills and Holes

Silver-washed Fritillary, female probably of ab. confluens, Bedford Purlieus

Peacock, Bedford Purlieus

More FMCP Garganey portraits

Eclipse male Garganey, Ferry Meadows CP, Peterborough

This is only the second Garganey I have ever seen at Ferry Meadows. Like the first (in mid-September 2012), this bird was on the small lake called Lynch Lake. This is the smallest of the three conjoined FMCP lakes, and is often the most attractive to wildfowl, particularly dabbling ducks (it is very shallow), where the ducks are remasrkably tolerant of people. This bird, I believe from the wing pattern is an eclipse male, and it is the most confiding Garganey I have seen around Peterborough (to be frank, they are usually exceptionally shy buggers!). The Garganey was found by Andy Frost yesterday, but I was down at Heathrow picking up my dear son Eddie after his flight back from San Diego, so could hardly dash to see the duck...