Thursday 2 September 2010

Rodden rambles - part three

For the final set of photos from Rodden reserve (for now), I thought I'd start off with the ubiquitous Purple Loosetrife photo (-: It really is a lovely sight at this time of year.
Common Blues seem to be plentiful over there at the moment. This one is feeding on water mint along with some type of Bumble Bee, not sure which as there are a couple of similar species!

I was walking along the path to check one of our mammal areas (corrugated iron sheets that small mammals love to stay under to get warmth) when I became aware of this female pheasant hunkered down on the path ahead of me. I stopped still and took a couple of shots of her before slowing retreating to leave her in peace.
A sign of summer being over, lovely bare teasel heads!
While walking round, I heard the unmistakable loud 'chip' of a Great Spotted Woodpecker. He landed on a dead tree ahead of me and I got off a few shots as he was busy having a preen.



A slightly faded looking small copper on this dead thistle head made for an autumnal shot.
And as it's now September and officially autumn in my book, I'll finish this set of posts with some lovely autumn fruits, sloes and blackberries.


Thank you all for coming along on my Rodden rambles. (-:

11 comments:

Sharon said...

Absolutely gorgeous photos Jenny! I bet the Goldfinches will love the teasels!
I see the signs of autumn are fast approaching.

Eve said...

I love rambling with you Jenny! Of course you know Teasel is my favorite!! I wonder why that is??? You did good out there Jenny and even tho Roy would never believe that you and I could be quiet long enough to bring in some critters...and he's probably right...we'd still have a great time! ha ha!!

Dog Trot Farm said...

I do declare Fall is in the air! Just gorgeous photos Jenny. Your pictures leave me speechless. I especially like the new header.Are you a Cannon or Nikon Gal? Do tell.

Jenny said...

Hi Sharon, yes, there are lots of Goldfinches about the reserve and they'll definitely be on that Teasel and all the thistle heads too.

Hi Evie, I guess we'll just have to prove him wrong eh? (-:

Hi Julie, Ha! Well, as it happens, I'm both a Nikon and Canon gal! I use a Nikon D40X and have a 70-300ml lens on that most of the time (to try for birds and bugs and stuff)except when I get into macro mood when I have the 105ml macro on it. And for mostly scenic shots I also have around my neck a Canon G10 (with which I think, you are quite familiar)! (-: Getting into photography a bit has changed the way I look and think when I go out for walks and on trips now. I love it! (-:

Friend of HK said...

Love the wildlife in UK! They are so different from what we have in Hong Kong.

Rural Rambler said...

Wren the Rodden Reserve Ramble was colorful, fun and interesting. The pictures really are stunning. Now we need an "over the puddle" ramble from you! Those two butterfly shots, goodness you can see the little fuzzies on the body?, I don't know correct terminology on butterfly parts, well except for wings, feeties and antenna. Feeties not so much, I guess. Thank you for all the Purple Loosetrife shots. I would still love a whole field of it!

Mary said...

I love that purple loosetrife photo! Very pretty! Great shots of the butterfly and bee. You have a good eye to spot that pheasant in the grass! I love your woodpecker...so colorful!

The Giraffe Head Tree said...

Ah.....sigh.....lovely! Thanks for the stroll!

Jenny said...

Hi HK friend, thanks for commenting on my blog. I've had a look at yours, stunning photography! I've stuck you on my blog roll! (-:

Hi Pix, I bet if you got some over there, it would soon fill a field, tho I think it likes to be near water! One day hopefully next year, there will be several rambles across the puddle! Digits crossed!
(-:

Hi there Mary, I wish our woodpeckers were as confiding as yours, it's not often that I get the chance for photos of our ones and we only have three, one of which (the lesser spotted woodpecker) is a myth! I've seen less than 10 in the 12 years I've been birding!

Hi there Debs, glad you liked the ramble. I hope to get out there again soon! Or somewhere....anywhere! (-:

Anonymous said...

Love the first shot Jen, and that was a lovely ramble altogether. Thanks.

Quiet Paths said...

Delightful walk again! Love those tree / sky shots of the woodpecker. It looks a bit larger than the common ones we have around here.