Wednesday 1 September 2010

Week-end at Goonhilly, (mostly)

I Noticed this Sparrowhawk while at work and all I had was a small camera and an old pair of binoculars that I keep in the van so I took these shots through the binoculars.
Not perfect by any means, but needs must, as they say.


No other birds but we have amassed a lot of Dragonflies and Butterflies over the weekend.






This Keeled Skimmer was trapped in a web and fighting desparately to escape.
John's brother Chris set it free but It's wings were stuck together and it could hardly fly.
I suppose it came to a sticky end. Sue






Can anyone name these 2 Damselflies?
We think they are one of the Emeralds. (Scarce would be nice)







16 comments:

  1. I think the top right Damselfly is indeed an Emerald. The next one down on the finger in my uneducated opinion is a Beautiful Demosoille rather than Banded. The two together i really wouldnt like to say but Scarce Emeralds are rare so lets hope it is. Try posting it on the insect threads on Birdforum. Ps - If this information is wrong it's not my fault, they have obviously put the wrong pictures in the Collins Guide!!!! :-)

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  2. BTW - Top technique on the Sprawk mate. Is that digibinning??

    Top images again John...

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  3. Great piccis John and the Sparrowhawk is brill considering how it was taken. Yep you've really come up trumps with this set.
    Sue thanks for the ID much appreciated.

    I'll say CU both soon as one day we will.

    Digibinning I like it !

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  4. Superb set again. And the Sparrowhawk.......well, just amazing.

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  5. Digi-binning!!! I can't keep up with you. Excellent shots. I am knocked out by the Sparrowhawk.
    Sam

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  6. Another beautiful series! The dragonfly shots are supurb!

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  7. Great pictures of the Dragon & Damselflies.
    I cannot believe the brilliant digibinning. I recently tried phonescoping and got nothing but blackness!

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  8. Great set of photos again. Your dragonfly shots are exquisite!

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  9. Always fun to have a look-see. The dragonflies are spectacular. Hmmmm. never thought to use a camera lens through a pair of binoculars. Have a good weekend~ Mary

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  10. Your brown argus looks like a female common blue. Brown argus are not recorded on the Lizard! Were all your photos taken on Goonhilly? Grayling are having a good year, recently saw over a hundred near Kynance and Porthgwarra; and Small Tortoiseshell are doing better than in recent years.
    all the best,
    John
    Cornwall Butterlfy Recorder

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  11. Thanks everyone. I don't think I'll make a habit of Digi-binning (too awkward) but It's good to see that it can be done in an emergency.

    Jowan, Thanks for the correction, will put that right, although that one and the Tortoiseshell were taken in the reserve opposite Gothian Sands. The Clouded Yellow was taken at Par and everything else at Goonhilly. John

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  12. Well done with the 'digibining', I haven't resorted to that for some time!
    Great set of images as usual. FAB.

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  13. Well done, John and Sue!
    I haven't tried it, but after seeing your amazing results, I will try my hand, or should say hands at this.

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  14. Wow! Great selection of shots again.

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  15. Many thanks for the info re sites. I put butterfly records into a database and send to Butterfly Conservation.
    John
    Cornwall Butterfly Recorder

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