Taken With Old Faithful !!

Old faithful is my 40D Body, never let me down yet and will not be retired just because there's a new kid on the block (namely 7D Body), Bank Holiday Monday found this Female Brimstone in the Farm Fields then went over for first visit to Dane Moss were I got the Black Darter and Brown Hawker along with the larva of a Grey Dagger Moth.

It's Working Well !!!

Have been asked how the new camera is doing and were are the photo's, well below was first major outing to Macclesfield forest , we were hoping for Crossbill's but found this Comma and Four Buzzard's enjoying the thermals instead, Loving the new equipment!! going to give it a major test next week on Mull, so watch this space....

Hot News Just Off The Press!!!

So inspired by the Bird Fair that the O.H. has decided to give me an early Christmas Present, I now have a brand new 7D winging its way to me, he has ordered another one himself but I don't mind that and it will be here ready for me to give it it's first outing on the Isle of Mull, off there in two weeks. Can't wait for either, may not sleep tonight!!

Rutland Bird Fair!!

Had a great day as always catching up with old Friends and making new ones, the O.H. and myself arrived a little later than normal as he decided to have a lie in, while I got up and prepared the sandwiches and flask for the day ahead, we resisted the temptation to bring back all the information on the many great destinations on offer as we usually have in previous years, the planning always sounds better than the actually getting round to book abroad holidays and we usually have so many to choose from we end up not going to any of them, we met up with good friends Pete Walkden and Dave Hutton and spent a good few hours trawling the many stands, as O.H. always has to make sure he adds to his book collection, he also for weeks had been planning to get a new lens when he got there, but once there we had the usual "should I, shouldn't I" deliberation, with so much conflicting views from others we met to cloud the decision even further, that in the end we almost had to physically pick him up and carry him to the Stand, because I know from old as soon as he got home it would be the same as previous years, "I should have got it while I was there you know"! Well not this year! Pete very kindly introduced me to his good friend Wildlife Kate and we had a great chat on her stand, with her spending much more time with us than I am sure she had to spare, and I came away more inspired than usual. Even though the guy's pulled my leg for most of the day, I had to make sure I visited Johnny Kingdom's stand and again managed to get a photo, this is truly a great gentle man, who deserves the recognition he now enjoys, I am looking forward to reading his book and watching the DVD that I bought and got signed by him, and again someone who will spend time talking to you, if like me you find him inspiring then join his new venture, an interactive online magazine and social network, learning more about him and his work, on: www.johnnykingdomsworld.com it cost £20 to join, of which £2 goes to his chosen charity.

Bosley, Cheshire.

Still getting to grips with my Macro Lens and as we were off to the Bird Fair the next day (Saturday) we stayed on our own patch today (Friday)just a few images to share with you below. Painted Lady

Painted Lady

Painted Lady

Common Darter (Female)

Common Darter (Male)

Common Darter (Female)

Speckled Wood

Peacock

Moat Hall Farm Macclesfield

Neighbours of ours, famous on this blog for owning the Farm Track I am always referring to, were competing in one of the local Macclesfield and District Riding Club events held at Moat Hall Farm, so we went along to see how they got on and enjoyed a good few hours there, watching the show classes.

First For The Wood!!

Great excitement and a frantic call from the O.H. of "get your camera and come down to the farm track", to find he had found the First Dark Green Fritillary, the first ever sighting for the wood, this was Friday the 9th August and now brings the total to 23 species of Butterfly to be recorded 22 of those seen this year alone.

Beaver Hall Leek

Just a little diversion to the norm, visited Beaver Hall just outside Leek, a couple of week-ends ago, as the weather was not really conducive to chasing Butterflies and at least the car was near by if the heavens opened as they invariably did.

Easy To Forget Those That Visit Every Day!

Yes it is great to get out and about but oh so nice to get Home, with all the Trips lately it is easy to forget the Birds that visit our feeding station on a daily basis, so here is to our resident Nuthatch!!