July 2008

Part 2: Birds & Flowers

Most of the rest of my photographic trips this month were to various sites on Anglesey.

Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) - Anglesey, Wales (More Chough photos here)

Choughs were my main target since the photos I got in May were not particularly stunning. I got a perfect opportunity early on one Saturday morning with a pair of birds posing on the cliffs for over half an hour.

Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) - Anglesey, Wales (More Chough photos here)

My other main target of the month were Black Guillemots. There is a small population of these charismatic auks on the east coast of Anglesey, and they were busy flying back and forth to their nest hole (crevices in the cliff) carrying fish and octupus to their chicks.

Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) - Anglesey, Wales (More photos here)

Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) - Anglesey, Wales (More photos here)

Whilst sitting on the ledge below the Guillemot nests, a solitary Whimbrel made a close fly-by appearence.

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) - Anglesey, Wales

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) - Anglesey, Wales

An immature Cormorant was also fishing close offshore before clambering onto some nearby rocks to dry its soaking plumage. Cormorants don't have waterproof oils to protect their feathers from getting waterlogged, so they have to regularly come to land to dry themselves off.

Immature Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) - Anglesey, Wales

Immature Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) - Anglesey, Wales

Most of the wildflowers are past their best by July, but a few are still in bloom. One of my favourite British orchids, the Marsh Helleborine, was numerous at Newborough.

Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis palustris)

Wild Pansy (Viola tricolor)

Goatsbeard (Tragopogon pratensis)

The remainder of the photos from Anglesey were of insects. The best of which can be seen on the following page...

July 2008 (pt.1)

2008 Diary Index

July 2008 (pt.3)