May 2009
May is always a busy month for wildlife photographers, and this year was no exception!
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Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) - Anglesey, Wales
The month got off to a bit of a slow start with some cold, wet, and windy weather, but it started improving from mid-May and just got better and better.
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Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) - Anglesey, Wales
Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) - Anglesey, Wales
Breeding season is in full swing by mid-May with many of the residents already feeding young that are close to fledging, as was the case with the Tree Sparrows below...
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) - East Yorkshire, England
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Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) - East Yorkshire, England
The high amount of rain at the beginning of the month meant that water levels at many reserves were a bit high and most of the wader scrapes had little or no mud exposed to attract migrant waders. Longer-legged shorebirds like Avocets were, however, still present.
Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) - East Yorkshire, England
At least the high water levels meant the Gadwalls came close to the hides...
Male Gadwall (Anas strepera) chasing a Mayfly - East Yorkshire, England
The wind was in the wrong direction on the afternoon I visited the Gannet colony at Bempton Cliffs. All the birds were flying nice and slow only when they were facing away from the sun, but zipping past at about 30-40mph when facing the sun. It made keeping them in frame a bit of a challenge!
4th summer Gannet (Morus bassanus) - East Yorkshire, England
adult Gannet (Morus bassanus) - East Yorkshire, England
3rd summer Gannet (Morus bassanus) - East Yorkshire, England
Fulmars and Kittewakes are also common at the cliffs...
Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) - North Yorkshire, England
Kittewake (Rissa tridactyla) - North Yorkshire, England
I also spent a large amount of time doing insect photography this month, and below is a very small selection from the 2000+ photos I took.
Drinker (Euthrix potatoria) caterpillar - Cheshire, England
male Non-biting Midge (Chironomidae) - Cheshire, England
Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis) |
 Longhorn moth (Nemophora degreerella) |
Acorn Weevil (Curculio venosus) - Cheshire, England
Acorn Weevil (Curculio venosus) - Cheshire, England
Mirid Bug (Cyllecoris histrionius) nymph - Cheshire, England
Mirid Bug (Rhabdomiris striatellus) nymph - Cheshire, England
Chrysomelidae beetle (Donacia thalassina) - Cheshire, England
mating flies (Diptera) - Cheshire, England
Buttercup meadow - Cheshire, England
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