wonders of the UK and is one of my favourite places
to visit. I have been going there for many years.
I started photographing the wildlife and scenery there in 2009.
The Seven Sisters in the background. 02.02.2011
17.11.201001.02.2011
02.02.2011
08.02.2011
14.02.201124.05.2010
15.11.2009
You have to watch the tides!
02.02.2011
The Chalk cliffs are comprised of millions of fossilised Sea Creatures.
17.11.2010
Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) 17.11.2010
Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) 22.11.2010
Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) nest in the cliffs. They are related to the Albatross. They defend their
nests by spitting out a foul-smelling oil.
14.02.2011
17.11.2010
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). A small white heron.
Shanny (Lipophrys pholis) in a Rock Pool.
24.05.2010
Starfish
15.11.09
Walnut Orb Weaver Spiders (Nuctenea umbratica) live17.11.2010
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). A small white heron.
Shanny (Lipophrys pholis) in a Rock Pool.
24.05.2010
Starfish
15.11.09
on the cliffs. They catch Sea Slaters, Shrimps as well as
Flies in their webs.
17.02.2011
A Sea Slater (Ligia oceanica) Closely related to Woodlice.
Missing Sector Orb Web Spider (Zygiella x-notata) also dwell on the Cliffs.
08.02.2011
Red Sector Orb Web Spider (Zygiella atrica) I think this is Z. atrica due to the distinctive reddish
marks on the abdomen.
08.02.2011
The flightless Oil Beetle on the Cliffs. I have observed Burrowing Bees on the Cliffs too,
which is probably how and why Oil Beetles are there,
as they depend on these Bees to transport their Larvae into
the burrowed nests so the young can devour the collected Pollen and
sometimes the Bee Larvae.
Harbour or Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) along the Estuary.
The remains of a Crab were alongside him so
I gather he was digesting his lunch and waiting for
the tide to go back out.
I sat with him for at least half an hour.
He wasn't at all bothered by my presecence.
22.11.2010
His usual perch at the mouth of the Estuary.
01.02.2011
Hunting for Crabs!? 08.02.2011
A second, younger and smaller Common Seal.
Also along the Estuary.
25.11.2010
For a Video on Youtube of both these Seals click HERE
15.12.2010Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
25.05.2011
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
14.02.2011
Yellowhammer
(Emberiza citrinella)
06.06.2011
Views from the Dew Pond.
08.02.2011
Female Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus).
Found along the edge of the Dew Pond.
Sadly she was injured - tail missing and broken
front right leg. She was quite fat so maybe pregnant too.
There are Sheep that drink from the Pond so perhaps
she'd been trodden on, unless she was a victim of an Adder.
02.04.2011
Male Adder (Vipera berus)
Drinking from the Dew Pond, roughly 3ft away
from where I found the Newt.
He climbed a tree which seemed to be his home.Close-up of the Adders' Scales.
Adder food? Found under the tree he was hanging out in.
17.04.2011
For a Video on Youtube of this Adder click HERE
I also found this young Lycosid running across the Dew Pond.
I sent the photo to Peter Harvey of the British Arachnological Society
I sent the photo to Peter Harvey of the British Arachnological Society
who identified it as a juvenile of the Pirata sp.
17.04.2011 Adult Pirata sp. (?)
Hunting on the same Dew Pond.
A new find for me! It's a Male Phaeocedus braccatus
He found me, noticed him crawling on my arm.
I thought he was an Ant at first. Quite a rare Spider.
Confirmed by Peter Harvey of the British Arachnological Society.
Larinioides cornutus
Family - Araneidae
Genus - Larinioides
Green Orb Web Spider
Family - Araneidae
Genus - Araniella
25.05.2011
Magpie Moth ( Abraxas grossulariata) He found me, noticed him crawling on my arm.
I thought he was an Ant at first. Quite a rare Spider.
Confirmed by Peter Harvey of the British Arachnological Society.
Larinioides cornutus
Family - Araneidae
Genus - Larinioides
Green Orb Web Spider
Family - Araneidae
Genus - Araniella
25.05.2011
Newly emerged Brown Tail Moth (?) Alongside the Estuary.
Large Skipper Butterfly (?)
Mating Common Blue Butterflies.28.07.2010
Bee Fly
02.04.2011
Male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum sanguineum)
14.10.2010
06.06.2011
Some lovely ones up there already, mate - I'm glad you're doing a blog concentrating on this subject...I've already enjoyed your photography and film on YT and FB, but a blog is the best way to tie it all together..
ReplyDeleteAll the best with it,
Dave J