Leighton Moss

An early morning visit to Leighton Moss primarily to try and get some shots of the Red Deer, I was up and in the Griesdale Hide by 8am and a small group of hinds were on the edge of the reeds about 50 yards opposite, with one of this years young, although the light wasnt great managed to get some ok shots and then lower down in the long grass movement caught my eye, an even smaller youngster who did get up but didnt really get any clear shots. It was a relatively quiet morning bird wise, the highlights were a couple of Marsh Harriers in the distance, and the Little Egrets on the Pools from the Eric Morecambe hide.









Lots of Little Egret on the Pools today





Canada Geese



Heron feeding on the pool edge



Pheasant basking in the sun



Lots of butterflys around today, I think the first is a Tortoise Shell, but not sure of the others if anyone can put me straight, not my speciality!

Blackpool Air Show

A slight deviation from the theme of the blog, although not wildlife they do have wings!! Me and the lad went across to Blackpool on Sunday to watch the annual Air show on the sea front, parking up near St Annes and biking it in to avoid the queues as 100,000 others made their way to the prom. It was a lovely sunny warm afternoon but the blue sky disappeared which would have been a nice background to photograph the planes against, but an enjoyable afternoon nonetheless.

First set of images are veterans of our skies and the Second World war, a Lancaster bomber, Spitfire and Hurricane, which make up the Battle of Britain Fleet.













Of the 100,000 people watching, best seat in the house this one I think!!



Next set is the Brietling Wing walkers, absolutely amazing and very brave, the two ladies performing on the wings of the Bi Planes

























Then it was the highlight of the show, The Red Arrows

Farne Islands

Its the school holidays and my time for getting out with the camera is severely limited, but with all the wet weather recently it has given me a chance to sort out some of the thousands of images I have taken, I am normally quite organised but I had so many pictures to sort through and file, and while doing so realised the number of decent ones there was that i never gave a second glance at the time. The first set of these is from my last visit to the Farne Islands last summer, a few favourites but mostly new images not publicised, hope you enjoy.

One of my favourites and many other peoples, the Puffin.





























Guillemots







Lots of Eider ducks on and around the farnes





My abiding memory of the Arctic Terns was getting my head pecked several times, as they protect their nests very close to the path









A splendid pair of razorbills



Another highlight of the trip was the large seal colonies around the Islands.















An amazing experience, unforgettable and i look forward to my next trip there.