Arne and Stourhead

This Sika was grazing in the overflow carpark at Arne.  I took the pictures on my way to Coombe Heath.

Not to be sniffed at

Of course I can see you

What?

Oh, these spots

They'll soon wear off

Sika have spots in the summer and are sometimes confused with Fallow Deer by visitors to the RSPB reserve.  Originally from Japan, they are excellent swimmers and undoubtedly came to the mainland at Poole Harbour by swimming from Brownsea Island, where they were introduced back in the day.

These next Sika were in the woodland near Shipstal Point.

Risk assessment?

Mum says it's OK

Antlers still in the original wrapping

... and telling the world?

A closer view

This chap was relatively cooperative last year.  We'll have to see how he feels disposed this winter.

I can't be sure what this butterfly is.  Any suggestions?

This I know.  It's a Wood Ant.

Trying to catch one again a suitable background took some time.  They don't half go fast.

Rose Chafer Beetle

I was hoping that a Dartford Warbler might perch just there.  This is the stand-in.

I couldn't pass up on the chance to see what the Raft Spiders were doing.

Here's what seemed to be uppermost on the menu that day (according to other witnesses):

Common Blue Damselfly

... and here's a lonesome Sunflower.

Later in the week I was at Stourhead.

Marsh Tit

It wasn't me that put all that food out!
 

Nuthatch.  We can see which food item it prefers

... and seeing what might have been dropped

Catching up at Stourhead

Although Stourhead is on my doorstep, it had been a while since I visited.  I decided to remedy this.

This Mallard drake is slowly working his way out of eclipse on the Lily Lake.

I moved into the woodland that runs up the valley towards Alfred's Tower.  There's always plenty to see there, but, as might be expected in such a habitat, the light-levels are normally pretty grim for shoot-from-the-hip wildlife photography.  I was not disappointed (in either respect!) on this occasion.

Spotted Flycatcher

Exif data:  1/50s; f7.1; EC = 0; ISO 2000

Robin

Exif data:  1/100s; f5.6; EC = -1; ISO 2000

Back in the more open parkland and by the main lake, I was approached by a (another) Robin.  I don't think I recognised it, although it could have been one I worked with at the beginning of the year.  (I've been looking at the images I took then.  I'm not sure.)  Anyway, it came within a couple of metres and posed 'provocatively' in the shrubbery.

... and my favourite:

A Tufted Duck family was out on the main lake.  The mother was keeping the chicks close at all times.  This is probably the best defence again Pike – they'll not notice the bite-sized youngsters.

"I think they've got their mother's eyes"

Four days later and I was back at Stourhead.

Canada Goose enjoying the morning sun

Coot.  All spruced up in its Sunday best

I think this is a Small White butterfly, but I'll stand to be corrected.

This last group of images was taken a few days later again.

Robin

This one was hanging out near the Iron Bridge.  It's been in the wars.  Apart from the missing claw on its right foot, it's lost the whole of its left foot.  If you look closely you can make out the end of the tibiotarsus section of the leg.  Everything below the human equivalent of the ankle is gone.  I asked around some of the regulars and one couple reported having seen the bird two days earlier with the foot hanging by a thread.

The bird was quite close and very trusting.  From a lower point-of-view and with close-focusing binoculars, I could see the end of the 'stump' and it looked to have healed healthily.  We'll have to see how it gets on with this impairment.

Here's a closer image.  Looks bright enough.

Busy feeding:

Canada Goose

Another day on The Levels

I've noticed that many of my whole-day photographic outings recently have been to the Somerset Levels.  There is a reason.  The best breaks in the unsettled weather we've been having of late seem to have favoured that area.  Again, there's always a chance of spotting our new Great Egret chicks – and, just possibly, the Common Crane.

This day started, like many others, at Noah's Hide on Shapwick Heath.  It affords a great view and the light is in the right direction, i.e. not in your face.  It is shaded from direct sunshine by its edge-of-woodland setting and so it doesn't get hot.  It does frequently get cold.  (I'd rather wrap up than roast.)

The near-by hide overlooking Meare Heath sometimes provides rare glimpses of Otter and occasional sightings of Marsh Harrier.  Bittern have been known to show very close.  However, most time spent there can be like watching paint dry.

Mute Swan in the early light

... and a little later in the morning

This Lesser Black-backed Gull flew past leisurely.  I was able to keep it fairly steadily in the frame, so here's the whole sequence at 8fps.

When it landed, it seemed to think that its mate should come and join it.

Completely detached from all this rowdy behaviour, a young Coot foraged around the edge of the reed-bed.

Before I left, I captured this image.  See if you identify the bird (answer later).

Mystery bird

After some lunch at the Avalon Marshes Centre, I went to RSPB Greylake.  It's always worth looking by, even at the quiet times of the day.  You never know what might present itself.

I caught up with the family of Mute Swan that I had photographed on the boardwalk earlier this year.

Dad

I wonder if it tickles

Dad did seem to be finding paternal oversight rather soporific!  (I'm allowed to use this word because it's used in The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.)

When I was frustrated in my attempt to get a decent shot of this Kestrel, I thought it time to go home.

There's a postscript:

It's the postbox outside the Post Office in Sherborne, Dorset.  It's been painted gold to honour Peter Wilson of Glanvilles Wootton, near Sherborne.  He won gold in the 2012 Olympics in the 'Double Trap' event (clay-pigeon shooting to you and me).

I took the picture on my mobile phone and removed a blue colour-cast in PS Elements.

The mystery bird?  It's a Grey Heron.