The idea of a blog, so I'm told, is to keep it up to date. Apologies for not doing that. However, my excuse is a good one: I've been busy: busy snapping away at wildlife at every opportunity! This + work + kids + world cup footy have all taken their toll I'm afraid. At long last though, I can begin to unfold the highlights of rather an eventful midsummer photography binge.
On Sunday 8th June I awoke to a noisy dawn chorus at 5am. I noticed a huge bank of cloud to the south moving slowly north, the north itself was cloudless. To head north was a no-brainer, but a trip to the legendary Barbondale was a bit of a gamble. I had heard plenty about this place, but would it live up to expectations?
Just after the village of Barbon near Kirkby Lonsdale, I disturbed a Tawny Owl perched on a dry stone wall, a good omen I thought. From there I descended into paradise: a perfectly formed little valley, isolated and gorgeous. I parked the car just before a stone bridge and, as soon as I opened the door, the first sound I heard was that of a cuckoo. Moments later, the same bird shot right across the valley.
On Sunday 8th June I awoke to a noisy dawn chorus at 5am. I noticed a huge bank of cloud to the south moving slowly north, the north itself was cloudless. To head north was a no-brainer, but a trip to the legendary Barbondale was a bit of a gamble. I had heard plenty about this place, but would it live up to expectations?
Just after the village of Barbon near Kirkby Lonsdale, I disturbed a Tawny Owl perched on a dry stone wall, a good omen I thought. From there I descended into paradise: a perfectly formed little valley, isolated and gorgeous. I parked the car just before a stone bridge and, as soon as I opened the door, the first sound I heard was that of a cuckoo. Moments later, the same bird shot right across the valley.
Cuckoo, 08/06/14, Barbondale, Cumbria. A rubbish shot but a significant one for me. The last time I saw a cuckoo in England was 31 years ago: Howick, Penwortham.
Pied Flycatcher (female) 08/06/14, Barbondale, Cumbria. From the stone bridge, double back and walk beside the dry stone wall above the stream. The birds were plucking flies from the trees overhanging the wall.
Pied Flycatcher (male) 08/06/14, Barbondale, Cumbria.
Spotted Flycatcher, 08/06/14, Barbondale, Cumbria. Incredibly, this bird was in the same tree.
Reluctant to leave the Flycatcher festival, I headed towards Fowlshaw Moss with a view to getting home before lunch time...
Four-spotted chaser, 08/06/14, Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria. No sign of the White-faced version.
Blue-tailed Damsel, 08/06/14, Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria. I'm seeing a lot of these recently.
Osprey, 08/06/14, Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria. Honest, there's an osprey here, at the top of the tree on its nest, opposite the camera post. Good to see Ospreys nesting in England, albeit at a ridiculous half-mile distance.
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