Wednesday, we took to the sea in Ilfracombe and went on a 2-hour boat trip on the Ilfracombe Princess along the coast . We spotted about 20 Grey Seals. Not many seabirds were still on the cliffs as the breeding season has now passed, but I did spot one lone Gannet.
Today’s post is back to my current photographs. A walk across some of the heathland in the New Forest, lots of Orchids in flower – I am not a plant expert, and a lot of the Pink Orchids look very similar, and they also hybridise. I think these are Common Spotted Orchids, but I am happy to be corrected.
A nice specimen of Oyster Mushroom growing on an old tree.
Now that we are into June, lots of foals have been born, both ponies and donkeys.
Numerous Cuckoos were both seen and heard on our walk, but all too far off to film. The highlight spot of the walk was several Redstarts. A summer visitor, the male is a handsome bird which is pinky-red below with a black face, silvery-white forehead, grey back and striking red tail. They were formerly classed as a member of the thrush family, but are now known to be a flycatcher.
A few hours around Hatchet Pond in the New FOREST
Bumble Bees on Water Lillie flowers. Thought I would try some in-flight shots.
There are 24 different species of bumblebee in the UK.
Canada Geese with just 1 gosling.
An early start up on the South Downs before the sun gets too high, especially as it looked like we had another hot day ahead, with some good light early as well for photographs.
Yellowhammers were fairly abundant before it got too hot. The yellowhammer is a passerine bird in the bunting family; it is a bird of farmland.
Brown Hares.
Red Legged Partridge.
Baby Rabbits.
Red Kite.
Crow.
Great Spotted Woodpecker, New Forest.
Here in the UK, we have three resident woodpecker species.
1, The Great Spotted is the most common.
2, The Green Woodpecker.
3, The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.
The Two-banded Longhorn Beetle (Rhagium bifasciatum). in the New Forest.
A little while ago, I posted pictures of a female Stonechat. https://skylid.travel.blog/2026/04/15/female-stonechat/
At the time, I could not get any pictures of a male bird, but yesterday I spotted this male Stonechat.
black-and-white-striped, an old-fashioned boiled mint sweet.
Great Crested Grebe family – checks effectively known as “humbugs” due to their black and white stripes, are doing well on a local pond.
Little things spotted at Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve while on a Sunday morning walk.
Alder Beetle – mating pair.
Large Red damselfly.
Common Lizard enjoying some sun.
I believe this is a Little Reed Beetle.
Azure Damselfly {male}.
Bee.
Something a bit larger.
Picked up a Mute Swan egg on the path.
Continued Reflections from my World. 