When you see a Cormorant what colour bird do you see? To me, they always look black. Take a closer look to see the real bird.
Black?
Close Up
Moon
View of the moon tonight from my garden.
fuji HX2s with 150-600mm. handheld 60th sec.
A hole hunt.
“So should we find a nest hole?”
” Well, I saw one over there”. “So let’s take a look”.
With the sun out I thought it was a good morning to make a visit to take a look at the local Ringed-necked parakeets to see if they were looking for nest holes.
The birds had found a hole which they were checking out. The male bird watched on as the female checked out the hole. ( the male parakeet has the neckband).
I hope this will be the chosen hole to nest in as I will be able to monitor it during the nesting season.
Stoney Cross.
A walk across Stoney Cross around the edge of the WW2 airfield today’s nature walk gave a few gifts, although no deer sightings today.
Large flocks of “Fieldfare” were everywhere but not keen to stay for me to take a photograph or two! Fieldfares are large and colourful thrush. They are social birds, wintering in the UK. Flocks can be ten or twenty birds to several hundred strong. The flocks are noisy and the birds chuckle as they fly between trees looking for the best berries. Finally today and after trying for the last 3 weeks I got a couple of shots.
The Devil’s Fingers fungus [Clathrus archeri], this rare fungus I posted pictures of a few weeks ago has now gone over but others have now grown.
Another fungus spotted was a Yellow Stagshorn – {Calocera viscosa} – It is a Jelly Fungus which grows on decaying conifer wood, typically stumps and roots. This was a 1st for me this year.
Grey Day Heron
A Grey Heron on a grey day at Titchfield Haven viewed from the Harbour road bridge.
Some of the 2700!
It has been stated that the New Forest has some 2700 species of Fungi. Here are a few I spotted today.
Sunday spiders!
Four-spotted orb-weaver (Araneus quadratus).
Wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi).
The Adder.
The New Forest Reptile Centre is located near Lyndhurst in the New Forest. There are unique outdoor ‘pits’ that provide a natural home for reptiles and amphibians found in the forest. During the summer season to help educate visitors to the forest and help them see our various snakes lizards and frogs they are on show in the pits (they are released after a couple of weeks).
As part of a walk through the forest on Friday we called into the centre. We arrived on foot just prior to the car park gate opening. So had the opportunity to chat to the staff before the influx of holidaymakers. The snakes were being offered food – this adult female Adder was quick to come out of the undergrowth and take the offering. Adders are the only venomous snake found in the UK. Sightings are not guaranteed.
A number of juvenile Adders were visible (about 8 inches long) note their zig-zag pattern has not yet developed.
New Forest views.
Due to the nonstop heavy rain, this morning walk was under the trees on our forest walk.
Tree views set on monocrome with green highlighted.
Forest Pony brands on an old wooden forest pen.
Near a stream.
Some Dragonflies and Damselflies spotted in the New Forest today.
The “Common Darter” is a smaller Dragonfly. The male is orange-red but becomes brown with age. Females (and juvenile males) are yellowish to light brown. I believe this one is a male.
A “Golden-ringed dragonfly” is a very large,and handsome dragonfly, they are on the wing from May to September.
“Beautiful demoiselle” damselfly the metallic blue males have solid dark blue wings.
The damselfly below had landed in the stream.
Continued Reflections from my World. 