Port de Pollença, Mallorca (digiscope)
Click 'em!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Mallorcan appetiser
Hoopoe, Port de Pollença, Mallorca, 12.8.07 (digiscope).
Click the pic for a bigger one.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Lesser Emperors
Proof of breeding in the Peterborough area, 5.8.07 (DSLR).
Click it for a large version.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Pond carnage
The final breaking of warm weather has encouraged an emergence of flying ants, today (31.7.07). Many of them have found their way into the pond, where Pond Skaters are acting like Alaskan Grizzly Bears at a salmon run. These are times of plenty, my skating friends - but sharing a meal with a friend while you mate is surely going too far... (A640).
Monday, July 30, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Tern for the worse
I fear for this young Common Tern at Maxey pits (29.7.07), which appears to have a damaged wing (digiscope).
Juvvy Med
This juvenile Mediterranean Gull was the star bird at Maxey pits this evening (29.7.07), despite competition from the two Wood Sandpipers (one of which was particularly vocal). Mmmm, the scalloping (digiscope)!
Gas
The best thing about my new work place is the cycle ride to and from it. It takes me five miles through some pleasant parts of Peterborough and soothes the mind, as well as helping get me fit, tone my muscles and lose weight. Most days, I listen to my iPod as I cylce and it is vital that I choose the correct music for the journey as it moulds my mood for the ride as well as the day, but particularly the ride. Sometimes, I just listen to one track on repeat...
The message-filled music came loud and clear as I emerged the other day. Hundred-mile-an-hour winds were ice-blasting the side of my face and body with hailstones and sleet. I invoked the name of our Holy Mother during my descent through the storm to the side of the rowing lake.
A hairy-faced, gum-chewing old lady walking her hounds there was not pleased to see me, seeming to deliberately step in my path, forcing me up a little muddy slope to avoid her and her pack. She even had the cheek to try and whack me as I passed with a leather lead - to teach me a lesson for daring to cycle on the same path as her.
In accordance to this Biblical season, the rain came down harder, soaking deep into my bones. I continued riding - a frozen wet corpse. At Ferry Meadows, the puddles were lakes and it became harder to control the bike. I skidded, fell, and gashed my knees. The blood spilt out and joined my sandwiches, scattered in pieces in the mud. I was not pleased.
Final humiliation came as I passed through Lynch Wood. Unseen to my shaded eyes, a branch of a wild rose was hanging over the path. Thorns inevitably tore into my scalp, drawing further crimson.
But, it's all right now.
The message-filled music came loud and clear as I emerged the other day. Hundred-mile-an-hour winds were ice-blasting the side of my face and body with hailstones and sleet. I invoked the name of our Holy Mother during my descent through the storm to the side of the rowing lake.
A hairy-faced, gum-chewing old lady walking her hounds there was not pleased to see me, seeming to deliberately step in my path, forcing me up a little muddy slope to avoid her and her pack. She even had the cheek to try and whack me as I passed with a leather lead - to teach me a lesson for daring to cycle on the same path as her.
In accordance to this Biblical season, the rain came down harder, soaking deep into my bones. I continued riding - a frozen wet corpse. At Ferry Meadows, the puddles were lakes and it became harder to control the bike. I skidded, fell, and gashed my knees. The blood spilt out and joined my sandwiches, scattered in pieces in the mud. I was not pleased.
Final humiliation came as I passed through Lynch Wood. Unseen to my shaded eyes, a branch of a wild rose was hanging over the path. Thorns inevitably tore into my scalp, drawing further crimson.
But, it's all right now.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Sand
Sanderling, Maxey pits, Cambs, 28.7.07 (digiscope).
At Maxey this evening were:
Sanderling, 1,
Wood Sandpiper, 2,
Green Sandpiper, 14,
Common Sandpiper, 5,
Dunlin, 8,
Redshank, 1, juve.
Also usual breeding waders and a pair of visiting Shelduck with two youngsters.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Water Measurer
This fascinating, cool bug was in our pond today (27.7.07). It looks like a child's drawing of what a Pond Skater ought to look like, and moves like the same drawing (A640). The eyes, for instance, seem to be in totally the wrong place.
For a bigger view, click the pics.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Small Red-eyed Damselfly
Photographed at Media House lake, Lynchwood, Peterborough, 24.7.07 (A640). This species was only recorded in the Peterborough area for the first time last year. It only reached the UK in 1999 and is still spreading northwards. Other sites in the local area where it has been found include Ferry Meadows (not far from here), Thorpe Meadows, Farcet Fen and just outside Crowland.
Click it!
Monday, July 23, 2007
New pond insect
This male Black-tailed Skimmer was a new insect for our pond (22.7.07). It is the ninth species of drag to visit since we created it less than two months ago (DSLR).
For your records, the list goes:
Azure Dameslfly,
Blue-tailed Damselfly,
Hairy Dragonfly,
Emperor,
Brown Hawker,
Broad-bodied Chaser,
Four-spotted Chaser,
Common Darter,
Black-tailed Skimmer.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
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