Warnham LNR

Another great afternoon at Warnham LNR, saw more then I was expecting to find on a Saturday afternoon. The first things I found of interest was around the mill ponds, where I came across a number of species of insects including Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas), Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) and Common Blues ( Polyommatus icarus).

Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum

After spending some time taking some images of the insects I moved on to the Heron Hide, where I saw 6 herons(Ardea cinerea), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), tufted ducks (Aythya fuligula) , Greylag Geese (Anser anser), a female Shoveler (Anas clypeata) and a Terapin.

Female Shoveler - Anas clypeata

Terapin

To finish my afternoon at Warnham I headed up to the top of the reserve and investigated the ride that had created there. They have also re done part of the path up there which helps accessibility to the area. It all looks great and I look forward to see some butterflies up there in the future.

Warnham Workshop & Butterflies on the South Downs

Had a great day yesterday with the Crabb family, teaching their two children about some of the amazing wildlife that can be found at Warnham LNR. While there they borrowed my cameras to use and learn how to photograph some of the species we found. Both of them have the makings to become great wildlife photographers in the future!

If anyone else wants some help with their photography please visit my website (www.oliverwilksimages.co.uk) and please hesitate to contact me.


Today me and Dad went down to the South Downs by Shoreham, we were hunting for Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus), Along the bank of the hill we found a number of blue butterflies, trying to identify them when they were in flight was impossible only when they landed. After they did land however they seemed flighty and wouldn't let us get within a few feet of them without flying away. Only when they landed for a feed on some old dandelion flowers were we able to get some shots. THis also gave us a chance to identify which species we were looking at.

Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus

Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus

Warnham LNR

Again at Warnham LNR this morning, found the Roesel's Bush-Cricket (Metrioptera roeseli) now 5 of them in the same patch as I found one yesterday. While going around the rest of the reserve I ended up in the 2nd hide where I waited and watched the Kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) go up and down the lake and the Herons (Ardea cinerea) as they sat and watched from the reeds, waiting for a fish to come past in front of them. While I had my eyes on one of the Herons I heard the sound of the Kingfisher flying up from the right, at first ignoring it as there was only come call which normal means he has stopped further down the lake. But in the corner of my eye I noticed a flash of blue as the kingfisher landed on the closest post, I quickly grabbed my camera and managed to fire off 2 photos at 5fps before he was gone. Sadly this meant that the motion of me grabbing and moving the camera up had created some vibration blurring the image slightly. The best of the two is below not my best but still great to see a kingfisher so close!!

Roesel's Bush-Cricket (Metrioptera roeseli)

Kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) 

Long time no see!

As you may have all noticed I haven't posted anything in awhile this is down to work, however I was able to get out last Tuesday down to Dover to see my Uncle. While there me, Dad and him went out on the North Downs Way where we found 21 different species of butterflies including Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) , Clouded Yellow (Colias) and Silver Spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma). 

Common Blue's Mating - Polyommatus icarus

Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus

This morning I was out again at Warnham LNR on such a lovely day how could I resist the urge to go out and take some photos. While there the first thing I noticed was the lack of the Terns (Sterna hirundo) which have now all left their nests and headed off. From the 1st hide where I saw that the Terns were missing I headed to the meadow in search of Grass Hoppers and Butterflies. I found a number of grasshoppers including an Roesel's Bush-Cricket (Metrioptera roeseli). We also found two Grass snakes, one in the 3rd Mill pond and another on the path between Walnut and the feeders station.

Meadow Grasshopper - Chorthippus parallelus

Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus

Out on the lake we saw Greylag Geese (Anser anser), Herons (Ardea cinerea), the pair of Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) and 2 Kingfishers (Alcedines) which flew past at high speed making them hard to spot let alone photograph.

Goldfinch - Spinus tristis