Wild flowers

Here are a couple of the wild flowers which grow around Braunton Burrows, and possibly everywhere else in the UK, I have tried to ID them but, I had some pics that I gave up trying to ID they don't look like anything I can find, probably just weeds :)

Flowers aren't really my thing, but if they look good I'll snap em (in a photo sense that is lol).

The first shot is of a Viper Bugloss and the second shot is a Pyramidal Orchid, I'm sure this is wrong and if I am please let me know.

Photo taken with a Nikon D70 + Nikkor 28-100mm and x4 Macro adaptor

Finally I went for a quick walk this evening and photographed a new butterfly for my collection, this one is a Gatekeeper another 1st for me.

Photo taken with a Nikon D70 + Nikkor 28-100mm and x4 Macro adaptor

It's been a while since I have done so many posts and I'm getting back into it and hoping to keep it going, hope you liked the pics.

Mike.

A bit of sanity

Taking a break from the madness of trying to photograph butterflies I took a couple of shot of birds yey back to a bit of sanity :)

These two came in pretty close for some food I had thrown out on the grass, I've wanted to try and get some low level shots like these for a while, also this is the first time I have photographed a Crow and Pied Wagtail, because they are so common I think I have overlooked them.

The first shot is a Pied Wagtail and second the Crow.

Photos taken with a Nikon D70 + Sigma 170-500mm

The next post is of wild flowers (well out of my depth with these), but once I have put an ID to them I will post.

Mike.

Butterflies

I am finding photographing butterflies a real challenge, not only will they not stay still, when they do I am spooking them with my macro lens. They also fly around in what appears to be a state of confusion, none the less I managed to get a few shots, some with my macro lens and others with my 500mm.

We had read before heading to North Devon that Braunton Burrows (the largest sand dune systems in the UK) that it was good for seeing butterflies and we weren't disappointed.

Here are some of the shots I managed to get, I have so many shots of empty leaves and flowers maybe I should do a post of leaves :) I will try to ID them, but if I get any wrong please let me know.

The first pic is Red Admiral, it was along the track heading towards the dunes.

Photo taken with Nikon D70 + Nikkor 28-100mm +4 macro adaptor.

The next photo is of a Dark Green Fritillary

Photo taken with Nikon D70 + Sigma 170-500mm.

The next pic is my favourite of the 5 it was on a high perch so I was able to get a good angle for the shot, it is of a Small Skipper.

Photo taken with Nikon D70 + Nikkor 28-100mm +4 macro adaptor.

The next butterfly is a Ringlet.

Photo taken with Nikon D70 + Nikkor 28-100mm +4 macro adaptor.

And finally a Comma, I was so pleased to see this butterfly because it looks more interesting than the other butterflies, but would you believe yesterday one landed on my garden fence, I'd never seen one before my holiday and now they are in my garden, won't complain though.

Photo taken with Nikon D70 + Sigma 170-500mm.

Theres nothing out of the ordinary here, its pretty much what you would expect to see around dune areas, but when you haven't paid attention to these things before each it more spectacular than the last.

Hope you liked the pics and I hope I've got the ID correct for you all.

Mike.