Chasing the Cuckoo

I heard the Cuckoo today for the second time this year.
I observed it several times from a distance. It was flying to and fro across a river from a wood to a clump of trees on the other bank. By the time I got to that area it had flown back into the wood. I positioned myself under the trees waiting for it to return again so I could get some flying shots. Of course, it didn't, but just stayed in the wood calling.

Later I noticed what I initially thought was the Cuckoo high up in the trees. It was quite a distance away, but I took a few shots of it and then discounted it (mistakenly) as a Woodpigeon. Subsequently I was rather glad I didn't delete the images there and then because when I uploaded all the images on to my Mac there it was, a distant image of a Cuckoo.


These are some unusual and somewhat lazy birds as they don't make a nest nor do they rear their young. The female lays approximately 9 to 10 eggs (one in each different nest) of other smaller birds such as the Reed Warbler. When the Cuckoo egg hatches the fledgeling cuckoo turfs out all the other eggs in the nest and the poor old Reed Warbler rears the single cuckoo until it flies.

Mute Swan Nest Update

In my 15th of April post I displayed photographs of a Mute Swan with three eggs on the nest. Today I checked as I walked by and noticed that there were now eight eggs on the nest and both male and female were in attendance. Eight is normally the maximum amount of eggs laid by the female and they only have one brood per year.

Shift Change



Note: These photographs were taken long range from a high bank using a 400mm lens so as not to disturb the birds. However you are unlikely to disturb a pair of Mutes, quite the opposite.

Cowslip Field

Thundery skies today, in fact we had some later this evening.
On one of my Parkland walks is a field that I make a point of visiting every year at this time. There are masses of Cowslips (Primula veris) growing and they appear to increase in number each year.

Fishermen's Post

The post in the ground (see at the water's edge) denotes a numbered point where one person is able to fish from during either a fishing match or just a days fishing.

I have used a bit of artistic licence with the second identical image and tweaked it with iPhoto into an "Antique" effect. I think it gives the photograph a bit of an Oil painting look.

Small Copper Butterfly

Small is an appropriate name for this species. It only has a 25mm wing span and you can scale it against the Common Daisy that it is perched on. The Daisy flower head ranges from 15 to 25mm across.

I was surprised to see this species already this year. It normally flies from at the earliest May through to September. I have previously observed it in this area at the end of May. I have yet to observe a female of this species which is blue and orange. So you can be sure I shall post one if I ever get to see and photograph it.

The Small Copper comes from the Lycaenidae family of butterflies such as the Hairstreaks, Heath and all the little Blue species.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Blue Slopes

In my 8th of April Post "More Parkland Views", I mentioned that I had observed just a few bluebells on the slopes of Bluebell Wood and that it would need a couple of weeks before a real blue picture emerged.

As you can see from the first two photographs below it certainly has changed.



I also quite expected to find plenty of butterflies around as the slope of the wood ends at the edge of a river and its a great spot normally for butterflies all along the pathway.

It was around this time last year that I photographed the first Large White for the year. I think this species has more detail on the undersides of its wings than on the top. Its name is appropriate as its one of our largest species with a wing span of 60mm.

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

1/1000 at f11. 400mm. ISO400

Amongst the bluebell plants I found this Red Admiral, which from its well worn appearance is one that has hibernated over last winter. The greater number of this species are summer migrants and are most common from July to August.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)


This Robin perched momentarily for a photograph during its busy food collecting schedule. It went on to collect more grubs and flew off purposefully.


Further along the pathway a familiar onion like aroma was filling the air. The Ramsons plant is now starting to flower in the wood and this will form another carpet on the slopes. I have featured this plant before, it prefers a more dense covered area under the trees.

Ramsons (Allium ursinum)


Having observed my first Orange Tip Butterfly of the year only three days ago, now they appeared to be everywhere. I thought this photograph of one against the bluebells was quite contrasting.

Sandringham House Visit

Sandringham House, one of the residence of Her Majesty the Queen is located on the Sandringham Estate in North Norfolk.

It is open to the public at various times during the year.
It is a beautiful place to go for an afternoon walk in the sun.
(See the website link at the end of this Post.)

The first images below are of various views in wide angle around the gardens.
(All images are click-able to enlarge as usual.)





From this point on I have included scenes of the grounds and some of the beautiful flora that can be found at the moment.
Of course this varies throughout the seasons.








This is the Church of St Mary Magdalene located within the grounds and appropriately for today (St George's Day) is flying the flag of St George.


The next two images reveal a Greylag Goose occupying her own private little island where she is sitting on her nest.





Below are two collages with more scenes from around the grounds.



See the website link below for information:

http://www.sandringhamestate.co.uk/

Early Purple Orchid

Two completely different observations to show you from today.

The Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) Perennial
The leaves of this Orchid show in January and then the flowers reveal from April to June. The name is appropriate as it is one of the early Orchids and of course its purple. Note the spotted leaves in the third image below. I found this plant in a wooded area. There were quite a few spread around under trees although not close together.

Bracket Fungus

Another variety of Bracket Fungi (Polyporus squamosus) commonly known as 'Dryad's Saddle' or 'Pheasant's back Mushroom'. I think the latter common name is more appropriate. This fungus can be found on various species of trees.



This species is apparently edible. I wouldn't like to try it though. You really need to be an expert in edible Fungi before you start picking them for food. You may end up going on a trip, both in an ambulance and otherwise. {:)

Scenes from a Cycle Ride (Part 3)

The third and final part of scenes from my latest cycle ride.

Bright Flowers and Butterflies

This field of Oilseed Rape (Canola) is now in full bloom. Some types of this plant now have been developed so that it doesn't give off such a pungent smell. This must have been that type as it was OK and not causing me to jump on my bike and head off at speed.


A close up of the flower head.


The Green-veined White Butterfly (Artogeia napi)
The female is more heavily marked and has two spots on each wing. The male only one spot and sometimes that is very faint.




White Dead-Nettle (Lamium album) Perennial
Grows to a height of 40cm from March to November. A very common plant and found in woodland, fields and roadside.


This has to be my find of the day. An Orange Tip Butterfly. (Anthocharis cardamines) Chiefly because its the first one I have seen this year. These two angled shots are of the male which shows you the top of the wings with the orange tip and the blotchy green and white undersides. The female lacks the orange tips to her wing tops, but is the same in every other respect.



Its seems strange to find a pair of Mallard Duck in the middle of a large wood that is miles from any appreciable water. There is the odd small pond around, but hardly "Ducksville".
I have this theory that there are two Mallard sub species.

One type are the ones you see in the lakes and rivers, where the males in Spring chase any female around and then go on to the next available. They also are very tolerant of humans.

The other type are those that I have found in the woods and out on small fenland dykes in all seasons of the year. They being a pair that appear to stay together in a monogamous relationship. They are also quite nervous of humans.
Its just a theory.


I have posted these two species of Butterfly recently but just couldn't overlook them on this occasion.

The Comma (Polygonia c-album)

The Small Tortoisehell (Aglais urticae)

This little "Jenny" Wren was singing away in a secluded bush alongside one of the tracks.


On my way home I observed this field of green wheat being sprayed.


I took this indifferent effort of a photograph (below) early in the morning when the sky was very cloudy and the light was poor. This Red Kite glided over the top of me and initially the camera was in the back pack when the bird was first sighted. I later observed a Common Buzzard at a great distance and I heard him several times after that, but he never came close.