Pectoral Sandpiper

With still being restricted with my neck/back injury (My C6 Vertabra) times have been frustrating with so much turning up but not been able to drive far or carry my equipment!! But having to drive to Oxford for Physio i decided that if i could do that then i could get out & about a little & if there was anything about which didn't require to much walking with the camera then i was going!! With a confiding Pec Sand at Toft Res,Lincs a txt to Dean Eades had me with all the info i needed! Met up with Darren Chapman,Rich "Tricky Dicky " Dawkins ,Anthony Bentley & Deano where we had fantastic views down to just feet only a short walk from the carpark so a bonus!!!

8th September 2012

Been a while since iv'e been out & about due to ongoing problems with nerve problems in my shoulder & back & not being able to drive! so the chance to get out for the day with Tom Perrins & Jules Allen was seized on (Plenty of fluids & painkillers) Destination Lodmoor RSPB, Dorset for the juv Short-billed Dowitcher (only the 2nd for Britain) I didn't need the bird but having been cooped up for the best part of 5 weeks I just had to get out!! The bird showed ok but distant with no pics as I still can't carry the big lens about so resorted to just carrying my Macro set up..... Which worked out well as Gary Thoburn pointed out a Jersey Tiger (moth) a lifer for me on site!! We then headed off to Portland for the Monarch Butterfly (Another lifer all the way from America) Many thanks to Jules (for driving) & Tom (for the entertainment) Few pics below...........

8th & 9th August 2012

With the bird front still quiet in the UK I've spent the last few days doing butterflies with Essex Skipper just down the road from me on the local meadows showing well (My 1st here for 2yrs) & then a little further afield to Aston Rowant,Oxfordshire for Silver-spotted Skipper & Chalk-hill Blues..........

 

5th August 2012

Decided that I just had to have a go for the Alpine Swift at Beeston Bump,Norfolk today (My all time bogey bird!!!)With good mate Andy Jones getting to mine for 6am we set off!! A steady journey down & we were on site for 9:00 & the bird performed nearly straight away,showing well but a little hard to get pics with the Sigmonster & like a divvy had left me 300 in the car!! But just so happy to finally get this bird on my Brit list after dipping countless birds over the years inc 1 in Warks last Yr!! The last 1 I had in Britain was 1988 at Sandwell Valley which had just been taken into care so not tickable (Although I know a few locals ticked it & have still got it on their lists!!!) Cpl of record shots below

2nd August 2012

With 1 of my cameras now back from repairs & a window of good weather at my intended destination I was  off,meeting up with good mate Steve Seal in Risley,Cheshire with the destination nearby Risley Moss & the target Black Darters!! An enjoyable few hrs with Black Darters,Emperor Dragon,Brown Hawker & my 1st Migrant Hawker of the Yr also Emerald Damselflies!!! Glad to say the camera worked well & was impressed with most of the shots taken (Just need to get my Mk111 back now)

Black Darter (male)

Black Darter (female)

Black Darter (male)

Common Darter (Imm male)

Emerald Damselfly (male top female bottom)

22nd July 2012

With another good forecast with plenty of sun decided to head out doin butterflies with the target being White-letter Hairstreak,Purple Emperor & Silver-washed Fritillary! so set of with good mate Andy Jones for Bedford Perlieus,Northants where we were soon watching Silver-washed Frits in good numbers but getting a pic was a lot harder with them always on the move!! also seen were plenty of Ringlets,Marbled Whites a cpl of Purple Hairstreaks! after getting the pics of the Frits we headed off to Fermyn Woods for the Purple Emperors & within mins of pulling up we'd had at least 5 giving fantastic views,then the call went up someone had got a photographable White-letter Hairstreak further up the track when disaster struck the 1D Mk111 packed up with a error 30 (Terminal shutter fault) What a bugger!! At least i'd managed to photograph the Emperors which were a lifer!! Photos from the day below...........

21st July 2012

With a few days off work & the weather looking ok I was determined to get out & about!! but what to go for? nothing in the way of bird news so either Dragons or Butterflies!! Dragons wins the vote & off i set for Cramer Gutter,Shrops with the target Golden-ringed Dragonfly & Keeled Skimmer!! spent a few hrs on site having a few Keeled Skimmers but no luck with the GR until I was thinking I was to late,2nds later & the 1st Dragon flew past & I spent the nxt cpl of hrs trying to get 1 to settle!! Eventually 2 gave themselves up giving me fantastic views!! also on site Small Heath & a late Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary  pics below

Keeled Skimmer

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Small Heath

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary