Holly Blue.

A Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) captured above the ground at long last using the 17-85 lens [F/10: 1/250: 83mm and cropped] during a brief local patch walk earlier this week just as it was starting to drizzle with rain but not enough to unsettle this flutter.     FAB.

Just a Fly.

A fly visiting one of the lily flowers. Taken with a 17-85 lens; F/7.1: 1/160: 85mm and cropped.    FAB.

Silent Sparrow.

A young House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) staying silent while perched in the hawthorn.
Image captured yesterday in the garden. F5.6: 1/250 at 220mm......FAB.

The Gatekeeper.

The Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) also known as the Hedge Brown is in my book one of the most attractive little flutters that can be seen dancing unhurriedly along sunlit lanes and hedgerows edged with Brambles and long grasses. Adult males are very distinctive with their much darker colouring and the strong sex bands on the forewings. Likes to feed on Ragworts and visits other flowers with an open nectar source later in the summer. Usually appear in late June as a single brood flying until late August but sometimes into early September.  Captured at F13; 1/100; ISO 800 using 70-300 lens at 300mm.   FAB.

Brimstone.

A Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) feeding on a thistle, its favourite wild flower.  FAB.

Preening Egret.

Something from the archives as I haven't done any coastal birding recently.

Little Egret ( Egretta garzetta) digiscoped at Cley Marshes in Nov 2008 using my pocket  Samsung S1030 (which died recently...probably through misuse and will apparently cost more to repair than it is worth!) and Swarovski 80HD.....FAB.

A resting Chaser.

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata).

This resting individual was seen at Thursley Common on 1st July. Shot at F/9; 1/250; 250mm...FAB.