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.