What with babies, house moves, new(ish) jobs and rather too much miserable weather I haven’t had as much time as I would like for either getting out to take photos or update my blog.

With the sun begining to think about shining and the counties wildflowers showing their heads it is time to share some of this years photos. Hopefully with brighter weather ahead there will be plenty more to follow soon.

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Having spent all winter trying to get a glimpse of these stunning birds I didn’t get my hopes up despite at least 6 individuals in the area over the previous days. I was however in luck as there were at least 2 owls quartering the moor.

Most of the time the owls were quite some distance away and my 300mm lens didn’t have quite the reach i needed. Despite this I managed some shots that, whilst no-where near a good as a lot of the photos out there, I was rather pleased with.

All in all it was a fantastic afternoon out with this great species even if the photos need a bit of work.

Whilst toodling through the woods with my Daughter I bumped into Justin Smith (http://www.bristolfungi.org.uk/) a local mycologist who helped to identify some of the photos. Given the time of year there were not as many fungi as I would have hoped so I have included in the photos some lichen and moss.

Even without knowing much about fungal taxonomy or identification I hope these photos show what a beautiful group this is,

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After a few days of rain the forecast of a misty morning seemed to much to pass up. Up bright and early I headed to Deer Leap on the southern scarp of Mendip. As predicted the autumn mist lay heavy across the somerset levels.

Whilst taking a few photos a local birder turned up an we had a chat. I explained that I still can’t really identify birds by call and am not sure I ever will. His suggestion was to get a book with bird calls on a CD and listen to it in the car. We chatted further and went our separate ways. Upon returning to my car I was both suprised and rather pleased to find that the gentleman had left copies of the aforementioned cd’s on my windscreen. What  friendly and generous act. If you ever happen to stumbe across this please accept my thanks.

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Devil’sbit scabious flowers late in the year and as such provides an important nectar source for a wide range of invertebrates. The flowers this weekend at Ubley Warren were busy with bees and hoverflies.

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Devil’s-bit Scabious is a good indicator of unimproved grassland and is important as the food plant for Marsh Fritillary caterpillars (this one was from June this year from elsewhere in the county).

Todays ticks included 2 juvenile yellow wagtails (a new species for me), 4 linnent, a small flock of starlings mobbing a kestrel and a wheatear perched on round bale silage.

Driving along the drove on the otherside of the field a wheatear (possibly the same one) was perched on a gatepost. I had my camera in the car rather than in the boot and was able to get these photos.

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I always think it is amazing how these little plants manage to survive growing in cracks in the rocky outcrops being constantly battered by the salty sea air.

At least they have a nice view across the Severn Estuary for their troubles.

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Lyme Regis was as busy as you would expect what with it being summer holidays and the end of Lifeboat Week. That meant that most fish and chip shops had ran out of food or had stupidly long queues. Fortunately we found some friends who had a table and were kind enough to let us join them.

As you might imagine our food turned up just as the wakeboarding started meanign that I didn’t have as much time photographing the competitors in the Red Bull Harbour Reach as I would have liked. Having tried wakeboarding a couple of time on honeymoon I have a lot of respect for these guys flying over the North Wall of Lyme Regis Harbour.

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One species I have never seen before was Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha). This rather spectaclur orchid is found in woodlands and more open habitats and has a preference for calcareous soils. Greater Butterfly Orchid is listed on the Somerset Rare Plants register (status – not scarce).

The light was great as it was getting later on when I finished and so I took the opportunity to take a few photos which I have finally got round to going through.

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Here are some of my favorite photographs. I particularly like the Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) as it is the first time I have got a decent (ish) photo of this species.

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