Image of Summer


Title says it all! Posted by Picasa

Blue Tit Gymnastics!


Last Blue Tit picture...................for today! Posted by Picasa

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)


Love this picture. The light, contrast and the movement it conveys. Posted by Picasa

Friday 30th June

Looked like it was going to be a nice day for our walk but half way round it clouded over and the wind got up. Still we shouldn't complain. There are plenty of people who don't have access to a facility like Coatham Marsh. There was a large flock of Black Headed Gulls on the west lake, why they are called black headed I don't know, when there heads are clearly brown.
Met the Trust peeple deciding where to instal some cycle racks!
Enjoy todays photos, I've included a current favourite of mine!

Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)


First one I've seen this year. Not the best photo, but just in case I don't see another one. Posted by Picasa

The 'Fleet', Coatham Marsh Nature Reserve


I keep mentioning this place, now you know what it looks like! Posted by Picasa

Great Willow Herb (Epilobium hirsutum)


Not welcome in the garden, but a pretty flower on the marsh, notice the hairy stems! Posted by Picasa

Blue Tits (Parus caeruleus)


Plenty of insects to eat! Posted by Picasa

Thursday 29th June

What a glorious day, sunshine, light breeze, what more could we ask for? The marsh was busy today, plenty of people enjoying the sunshine. Took a few moments to watch the swifts acrobatically skimming over the 'Fleet', every now and then one would just touch the water. I presume it was taking an insect and not having a drink. Shared a bottle of water with Holly, we were both panting in the heat. Took a couple of good photos today, hope you enjoy them?

Wednesday 28th June

Lovely day for a walk! Got some good photographs of flora and insects. Spoke to a gentleman looking for orchids and was able to point him in the right direction. Hope he found them?
Spent half an hour following a butterfly (see pictures), much to Holly's frustration at all the stopping and starting, she eventually wandered off in search of rabbits. I was the more successful.
Enjoy today's offering.

Five-spot Burnet Moths (Zygaena trifolii)


The warm day had caused a lot of these moths to hatch, the larva feed on 'Bird's foot trefoil' plant which is in full bloom. Posted by Picasa

Bee on Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea)


The bees were having a 'field-day'! Posted by Picasa

Common Stork's Bill (Erodium circutarium)


A stickily hairy annual of bare, grassy places. Posted by Picasa

Holly's 'friend'?


I saw him/her, Holly didn't. Posted by Picasa

Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele)


Excellent camouflage. Very easy to miss. Posted by Picasa

Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea)


Found in the valley near to the 'Fleet' Posted by Picasa

Flower of the Great Mullien (Verbascum thaspus)


Striking but common plant on the marsh. Posted by Picasa

Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata)


The weird leaf formation made this stand out. It was the only one I could see on the scrub land near the 'Fleet' Posted by Picasa

Black Garden Ant (Larius niger)


These ants were ontop of some hogweed. Posted by Picasa

Tuesday 27th June

8:00am today which seems early. Good still morning for a walk and too take some pictures. Took some photos of the litter that I mentioned yesterday but I will not clutter up this site with them. No reply from my email to Corus, perhaps they are not so environmentally active as their publicity would have you believe!
Anyhow enjoy today's photos.

Monday 26th June

Rubbish Rubbish everywhere!!!!!!!!!

Today our walk was spoilt because of the rubbish left behind by the Corus Anglers. In protest I have emailed the HQ of Corus.
I should have taken photo's and I probably will go back and do so. You can put up with a certain amount of rubbish, but you shouldn't have to. However when they start bringing mini barbecue sets and leave them behind with uncooked food along with plastic lemonade bottles and carrier bags strewn everywhere, its time for action. In future I shall take registration numbers and photographs.

Rant over, enjoy photos and have a look at my other site (link: 'Visit My Photo Gallery')

Beaked Hawk's-beard (Crepis vesicaria)


A lot of this plant on the marsh, not very pretty. Posted by Picasa

Rose among Thorns


Why am I publishing a photograph of a rose? Well this rose and several similar blooms are on the marsh, well next to the marsh. Somehow a seed has managed to find a little bit od fertile soil to germinate and flourish. Posted by Picasa

Ground Thistle (Cirsium aculon)


Not a plant to stand on in your bare feet! Posted by Picasa

Blow Fly (Calliphora vacina)


I was experimenting with my camera and its macro lens. I won't describe the habits of this fly. Posted by Picasa

Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)


This plant has just come into bloom and although scentless, it looks bueatiful. There is also a pale pink variety nearby. Posted by Picasa

Yellow-Rattle (Rhinanthus minor)


Here you see an example of 'Cuckoo-spit' which has nothing to do with the bird but is a protective excretion from the larva of the 'Frog-hopper' insect. Posted by Picasa

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)


This common little butterfly can be found all over the marsh. This one is still intact. Their wings take quite a bashing and can become very tattered. Perhaps that is were their latin name refering to 'Icarus' comes from.
 Posted by Picasa

Cuckoo-flower (Cardamine pratensis ssp.dentata)


Also known as 'Ladies Smock'. Posted by Picasa

Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)


Flowers have a similar construction to a 'Snapdragon' flower. The flowers hinge open to allow insects in to pollinate them. Posted by Picasa