Scozmo's Photery

August 11th 2025

Well, after my session with the young owl pair, is it worth carrying on? Do I just head back and get editing?

No.

I carried on regardless 😉

Onwards, up to the old Oak and as I strolled along the flat stretch towards the portal, I glanced left.

A Roe buck stood staring back at me, then sauntered deeper into the wood.

Stopped for another look and drifted slowly deeper, not bothered by my presence at all.

I call it the Portal, out there be “others” so, I turned right at the sign and headed through the woods down to the ponds. I’m just rock’n’roll aren’t I? 🙂

I took my time down the hill, it’s pretty steep but, there are also usually loads of warbler types down there……. nothing! For me to photograph anyway!

So, down at the ponds and I stood for a good while looking for Dragonflies and Damselflies perched, the numbers seem to be dwindling.

I did spot this rendezvous, being watched from nearby!!!! All Emerald Damselflies, I believe.

Also tucked in among the leaves.

A Common Darter, they’ve been around in large numbers in this area and on the lane.

See! 🙂

I spent a while gazing into these reed leaves looking for anything different; I did notice that damselfly has a broken wing. Can it still fly ok? Hmmmmm

The area all around these ponds, there are three, is planted with wild flowers, looks fabulous and is a heck of a draw for all the bugs and beasties.

Red and yellow and black and white! Red Admiral on the wild flowers.

A couple of final shots before I wander on.

That Emerald Damselfly waved me bye bye see!

I got a great wee treat as I walked by the final, big pond!

This young? Wren popped out onto that branch right in front of me and wasn’t sure what to do, long enough for me to get some nice shots anyway.

I hiked my way up the steep hill with nothing to report until I was almost back on the level.

That Speckled Wood was hanging onto that grass stem for dear life, the wind blowing it all over but what a beautiful display!

I was back out onto the lane again, just above the portal and on the homeward stretch, lots of butterflies hang out here, as well as a Honey bee nest in one of the old trees!

A Green-veined White, trying to hide and another Speckled Wood sunning itself.

As I crossed the junction, I looked left and spotted a very pale bird cruising over the crop, before turning up, over the hedge and flying between the trees.

A terrible, long-distance shot but, I think it was a male Hen Harrier! Not many pale coloured birds hunt low to the ground like that and I don’t think it was one of the Barn owls.

Anyway, that was it, almost, right at the boundary fence for the house….

A pair of male House Sparrows, the second one being a youngster. It’s been great to see a few young ones around recently, they’re one of our birds whose numbers are dwindling.

I have to say I felt pretty pleased with my walk all in all. So, until my next post, stay well.

patch photos august 2025