Taunton Wildlife – Nature Photo Diary

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Archive - Summer 2011

21 August 2011 - Shapwick Heath NNR

This Osprey has been at Shapwick for a few days. Today I watched it fish for over half an hour before it eventually caught a bit of a tiddler. Also, below, a few waders on the drained lagoon at Meare Heath - from left Greenshank, Lapwing and Ruff. There were also a Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper. Then, a Ruddy Darter nicely posing and some beautiful Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea.

14 August 2011 - Swell Wood RSPB

This Rabbit first ran towards me, then tried to hide behind a tree trunk. While it tried to pretend I hadn't seen it, I took these pretty much uncropped photos.

10 August 2011 - Aisholt Common, Somerset

A couple of very small and easily overlooked wild flowers from the Quantocks. Above: Heath Milkwort (I think), Below: the tiny but beautiful Eyebright.

4 August 2011 - Taunton

The colder weather today enabled be to get some better photos of this Jersey Tiger which was back in the garden again.

3 August 2011 - Taunton

I had time to get a couple of record shots of this Jersey Tiger in the garden before it flew off. Earlier, a Hummingbird Hawkmoth had visited the garden - the second of the year.

28 July 2011 - Taunton

This Marbled White added itself to my garden list today but my highlight was a Jersey Tiger moth flying along the road outside.

26 July 2011 - Taunton

Just to keep the site ticking over - a Common Green Grasshopper and a caterpillar of the Cinnabar Moth - both, well, common.

11 July 2011 - Broomfield, Somerset

Driving along with the windows down was glorious this evening, with singing Yellowhammers seemingly around every corner.

3 July 2011 - Ham Wall and Greylake

Above: Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler at Greylake. Below: Little Grebe and Emperor Dragonfly at Ham Wall.

2 July 2011 - Greylake RSPB

Currently absolutely heaving with fledglings being busily fed by parents. From top: Sand Martin, Swallow and Reed Warbler fledglings/juvs. Below: Adult Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler.

24 June 2011 - Highbridge, Somerset

I always find this hoverfly impressive - Vollucella zonaria feeding on Bramble nectar in the school wildlife area.

19 June 2011 - Greylake RSPB, Somerset

This Stoat seemed almost totally unperturbed by my presence - running along the boardwalk right up to within the 3.5m focal limit of my lens. He was as interested in the abounding Reed Warbler fledglings as I was, although I only wanted to photograph them! Below: Small Magpie moth which I liberated from the hide.