Tim writes: Many British birders will be aware that Semi-palmated Plover is the American equivalent of the Ringed Plover, which turns up in Britain from time to time. But maybe not so many birders will be aware that Little Ringed Plover and some races of Ringed Plover also have semi-palmated toes. You can…
Category: THE PHOTOGRAPHS: by Tim Melling, Oscar Dewhurst, Paul Leyland, Guy Shorrock, Brian Leecey
Guy Shorrock – Arctic Tern
A remarkable traveller Guy writes: Christmas is a time for many things, including travelling as people move around the country to see friends and loved ones. Spare a thought then for the arctic tern. I am sure many will be aware of its epic annual migration from the top of the world to the bottom…
Tim Melling – Common Blue
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Tim writes: this is a male Common Blue resting in a sea of Bird’s-foot Trefoil, which is also its larval foodplant. This is a second brood individual photographed in late August, which is the offspring of the generation that was on the wing in June. I took the photograph at the RSPB’s new reserve…
Tim Melling – Parrot Crossbills
Parrot Crossbills are restricted to the Western Palearctic, breeding mainly in Scandinavia and NW Russia. But this population is nomadic, occasionally wandering to Britain when their pine cone crop fails. Wandering birds occasionally stay here to breed, and it has become apparent in recent years that a population of about 100 pairs breeds in Caledonian…
Oscar Dewhurst – Red Deer stag
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Oscar writes: I’m now back at university for a research masters, but before I left I had time to squeeze in a couple of visits to Richmond Park for the annual deer rut. The morning this was taken on was one of those magical sunrises where the ground is covered in mist, so shooting into…
Tim Melling – Racoon
Tim writes: Raccoons (Procyon lotor) were once thought to be related to bears but they are an early offshoot of the dog family. They are only found naturally in the New World and the family includes Coatis and Kinkajous. The generic name Procyon means “before the dog” indicating that distant relationship. But the specific…
Paul Leyland – Bee Wolf
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Paul writes: This solitary wasp is a pretty fearsome looking beast, especially if you are a honey bee. Females are estimated to collect over 100 bees, mainly honey bees, during their flight period between July and mid-August. Thirty years ago in the UK the Bee-Wolf (Philanthus triangulum) was restricted to a few locations in…
Tim Melling – Western Sandpiper
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Tim writes: this is a juvenile Western Sandpiper being engulfed by the foam of an incoming wave. It was roosting on a beach when both it and me were taken by surprise by an unusually big wave. I was lying flat on my belly at the time and so was soaked to the skin but…
Nightjars by Gordon Yates
Gordon Yates has supplied some fantastic Hen Harrier images for this blog, but he takes other photographs too – see his website. I’ve never seen Nightjar chicks – aren’t they amazing? Seen here with the female at the nest (such as it is). A reminder of balmy summer days in these early days of December.
Oscar Dewhurst – Beaver
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Oscar writes: while I was walking around Stanley Park in Vancouver, I got chatting to another photographer who mentioned that I had a good chance of seeing Beavers in one of the small pools towards the entrance. Later that evening, after a short wait, sure enough a family emerged from their den and treated me…