A Holly Blue, and more fluffy ducklings (and goslings)

Among the numerous butterflies seen in the garden the one I hadn't yet managed to photograph (or identify) was the small blue butterfly that's skipped its way along the boundary hedge several times over the past week. Today I was in luck and it settled on one of the low shrubs. I'm far from expert at identifying these, but I'm reasonably sure this is a holly blue (please correct me if I'm wrong. I can take it!).

The rest of today's photos are from another visit to Falmer Pond, in the latter part of the afternoon. There are now three families of ducklings: the original clutch which are looking all grown up, a small group of four, and the newest group of nine. I'll try to keep track of numbers, but it seems that mortality rate must be quite high. Unlike the goslings they don't have powerful protectors against predators, nor like the moorhens do they keep to the more inaccessible parts of the bank. For now though they are doing fine.

The goslings are thriving, ably protected by a trio of geese (two greylags and a giant (feral) domestic white goose). Here's the family group.

And here's the white goose issuing a warning not to venture too close.

I kept my distance, but a long lens is more then able to outreach a goose's hiss so here's a little cuteness overload to end this Bank Holiday. 😀


Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D. The butterfly was photographed with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM, and the duckling and goslings with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

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This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. RobinL

    26 Apr 2011

    Words, what wonderful shots! High on the cuteness scale but I can handle that!

  2. anonymous

    26 Apr 2011

    Anonymous writes:

    I notice you caught a bee in flight in one of the pictures. But anyhow, the baby ducks and goslings are soooo sweet. Awwwww! 🙂

    Marilyn

  3. cakkleberrylane

    26 Apr 2011

    Great shots as always! How big was the butterfly? We have some that look just like that but are yellow and very tiny – less than 2 cm.
    And what a beutiful family portrait of the goose family!

  4. Words

    26 Apr 2011

    Robin, thanks! Good to know you have a high cuteness threshold!

  5. Words

    26 Apr 2011

    Erwin, thanks!

  6. Words

    26 Apr 2011

    Marilyn thanks. The bee was a bonus, but I really ought to get the macro out soon and get some proper shots of them. The goslings are so sweet!

  7. Words

    26 Apr 2011

    Lois, the blues are around 16mm, so yes very small which is why they are so tricky to photograph on the wing. Nothing to aim at! I love the way the white goose has adopted the others. It's always with them, and absolutely a family unit.

  8. SittingFox

    26 Apr 2011

    Definitely a cuteness overload! 😀

    I've seen a few blue butterflies (species unidentified!) flitting about, but no chance of a photo. Well done for finding one perched!

  9. gdare

    26 Apr 2011

    That goose has teeth :insane:

  10. Words

    29 Apr 2011

    Darko, don't mess with the geese! That one could give quite a nip.

  11. Words

    29 Apr 2011

    Adele, thanks. The blues are almost impossible to photograph unless they decide to rest. And so far they're not around in great numbers, just the occasional one but that might change. Orange tips are still the dominant species locally for now.

  12. Ukwildlife

    7 May 2011

    Awwww great photos

  13. Words

    7 May 2011

    Thanks Neil! I've been having fun with these little goslings.

  14. Wulpen

    19 Oct 2012

    Cute…..:up:

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