Silver-studded Blue in early morning back-light

Taken with the sun at about 10 o'clock of the image.

Four-spotted Chaser

Taken at Bissoe.  This is the prenublia form with extra dark markings in the wing.

Back-lit Silver-studded Blue

Taken with 200mm Nikon micro Nikkor F/4, tripod, Ap F/10.  Exp +1.0EV.  The setting sun was just above the image.

First year Dotterel at Davidstow in early morning light

Taken just as the sun was rising.

First year Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Davidstow, October 2010

One of my overall favourite waders

Green Heron at Heligan Gardens, Cornwall

Bird of the Year 2010; second for Cornwall and seventh for Britain.

Storm driven Little Gull in Mount's Bay

Taken in February 2010 off Newlyn

Fly on a blade of grass

Taken with 105mm macro.

Spotted Orchid among Cowslip

Two shots of the same flower taken a week apart; the first tonight with a 105mm macro lens and the second with a telephoto at 400mm F/4. Both have their merits. 

Lesser Whitethroat with prey

Adult female Rock Thrush, Northern Cyprus



We average just one Rock Thrush every Spring.



Roller in Northern Cyprus, April 2010

Spring 2010 was the best year for Rollers with double figures seen daily.

Male Red-backed Shrike and larder

Taken in Turkey, June 2009.

Glossy Ibis at Memetcik flood meadow, Northern Cyprus

April 2009 - one of my favourites from the trip.

Whooper Swan composition at Drift Reservoir

Egyptian Vulture with prey in Boa Vista, Cape Verde

Less than a handful of pairs breed on Boa Vista - I managed to see this adult take some prey from the ground and then fly past me.

Black-capped Finch Lark in Cape Verde

These tiny larks were very common in Cape Verde.  This male is feeding a juvenile in the desert in early morning light.

Close-up Red-throated Diver at St. Andrew's Pool

This non-breeding adult Red-throated Diver was first found on Par beach pool but it later moved to St. Andrews.  It was unusually tame and offered fantastic photographic opportunities.  Of all the shots I took, this is one of my favourites.

Marsh Cinquefoil among Yellow Flag Iris on Goss Moor

I took these shots tonight on Goss Moor.  The weather turned grey and any ideas of finding butterflies vanished quickly.  I turned to these Marsh Cinquefoils which were found in boggy ground with some Yellow Flag in the background.  Aperture was set to F/4 to blur the background.

The name Cinquefoil derives from the plants' double five pointed star-like leaves. 

Bar-tailed Godwit on Marazion Beach in February

One of my favourite shots this winter - there's something special about the light in Mount's Bay.

Lady's Smock

Taken in mid-May near Perranporth - the subtle pink leaves set against the grass appeals. Aperture F/4. 

Short-tailed Blue - my favourite insect image of 2010

Photographed in Bordeaux, France in August 2010.  The soft background colours contrast well with the insect.

Spider suspended on its' web at dusk

The shot is taken looking directly into the sunset.  The single web strand is just visible.

Long-tailed Blue

I took this shot in Bordeaux, France.  Sadly the wing has been damaged but the colour background blends well.

Common Blue Damselfly eating a gnat

I photographed this blue in July 2010 at Breney Common, Cornwall.

Fly in macro mode

Fly in macro with late evening sunshine directly in front

First Common Blue for the year

My first Common Blue for the year at the lost church, Perranporth 

Flesh Fly on a leaf in macro

Dung Fly in late evening sunshine

Dung Fly in late evening taken at Perranporth Dunes

Bridled Guillemot asking the question

Three thousand pairs of Guillemots breed on Hornoya Island, including the Bridled form.

Steller's Eider in Vardo Harbour, Varanger

A true speciality species from Arctic Norway. 

Puffin braving a blizzard

The weather can change dramatically in Arctic Norway - luckily the wind was behind me when I took this shot. 

Willow Tit resting on Willow Catkins

A pair of Willow Tits were busy feeding when this one paused long enough for me take the shot.

Male Snow Bunting feeding in snow

One of a group of two hundred birds at Kongsfyord, Finnmark.

Adult Kittiwake in early morning light

Kittiwake at 4am at Ekkeroy, Varanger, 200m from its' cliff colony of thousands of pairs.

Male Lapland Bunting at Vadsoya, Varanger. May 2011

A flock of seven Lapland Buntings landed close to us and this stunning male stretched upwards for just long enough to capture this unusual pose.  It's one of my favourite images of the Norway trip.

Puffin on Hornoya Island, Varanger, Finnmark

Up to ten thousand pairs of Puffin breed on this island in Finnmark, Norway.  The subtle background light makes this image one of my favourites.

Common Gull in late evening sunshine

Adult Common Gull at Varanger Fjord, May 2011.