Corn Bunting, Meadow Pipit and Skylark

These three are nesting very close to each other in a field in south Beds, the CB about 20 mtrs in to a cereal crop. All are now feeding young.

Little Ringed Plover

The single survivor from the clutch of four, can now fly but still prefers concealment as the first option

Cambridge, 24 June 10

Clouded Brindle Apamea epomidion, a new species for the garden. However, the oval is elongated and run into a blurred kidney mark, producing a quite striking pattern. Not unusual in this species, judging by the number of similar images on the web.

pete
CB1 3ST
40W actinic
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

New look

It seems to be fashionable to change one's blog template at the moment, so being a mindless herd-follower I thought I'd change mine as well.

Turtle Dove

Female watched flying in to take over incubation from the male, in a Hawthorn in the brick pits today. Brick Pits 19/06/10

Uncanny

Many thanks to John Judge for discovering that a well-known Leicestershire birder, blogger, comedian and now star of local radio is in fact a reincarnation of early twentieth-century German playwright, Bertolt Brecht:

Spotted Fly

Spotted Flycatcher, Tempsford, 15th June 2010.

Hungry GSW

This splendid bird was a frequent visitor, only 2m from a convenient window. There was a younger one too, but the camera wasn't set up in time.

How big is the orange dot?

I've been hoping to find breeding Wheatears on Thurleigh Airfield and this looks like a pretty good bet - a month after my last sighting here. These are in the same place as a pair of Curlews... Fingers crossed for confirmation.

Red Kite 9 June

1 of 2 Red Kites between the Haynes turning and Old Warden. Pictures taken under heavy cloud cover, but compensation for the poor light was provided by a second Kite that joined it once it took to the air. Ray Roche

Hoopoe at the Lodge

A fabulous end to the working week! In exactly the same spot as one two years ago.

A lucky escape?

Lagoon 4's recent run of form continues, with another county first this evening - a Broad-billed Sandpiper. I found out at about 20:50 when I looked at my phone and saw that I'd got five missed calls - it had been on silent for some reason. Arse. The last time this happened there was a Whiskered Tern at Eyebrook (also a county first) - technology's great, but it helps if it's switched on.

However, there was a huge silver lining to what at first appeared to be a very large and very dark grey cloud - just as I was cursing my luck, I got a message saying that it had flown off north-west at about 20:40. Had I got the first call from Matthew (at 20:00) I would certainly have set off for Rutland Water.... and missed it by a matter of minutes.

The fact that it's gone also means that I don't have to set my alarm for about 3 a.m. tomorrow morning. Hurrah.

See Matthew's gripping photos here.

Cambridge, 28 May 10

A splendid pair of Eyed Hawkmoths Smerinthus ocellata, present on this alium sp. from dawn 'til dusk on 28 May

Treble Lines Charanyca trigammica, best year here for this species

The Shears Hada plebeja, first of the year here

pete
CB1 3ST
22W actinic
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38