An Easter selection without a bunny, a duckling, or an egg… but it's all I can manage from today.
The bees are busy in the garden. They tend to congregate around the flowering currant shrub, but this one was either lost or simply had a greater sense of adventure. I found it taking a stroll across the pond, using the weed and leaves as stepping stone. Odd behaviour, but it made for a nice couple of shots. The second shot is the same bee on a small stick that I've left in the pond for the damselflies to crawl up when they emerge from the larval stage. 
The butterflies are slowly making their presence known. An orange-tip managed to evade the camera but this pretty speckled wood settled long enough for a shot.
Later in the day I went over to Sheepcote Valley and was rewarded with a kestrel, though it seldom came in quite close enough to get more than reference shots.
The crows were another matter… I swear this one winked at me as it flew past.
The final shot is of a magpie which is really doing nothing other than setting off the background.
Camera note: bee and butterfly shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM. All the rest taken with the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
12 Comments
Nice shots, Words … especially the bee on the twig.
And Happy Easter, if I don't see you then.
That crow noticed you make a lot of photos. Now it wants to be famous 😀
Originally posted by gdare:
Trying for its 15 minutes of fame!
Strange behaviour from the bee. Maybe the continued drought in the UK has made them search for water in unusual places? Great shot of the speckled wood :up:
dW, thanks! That was the one good day we've had over Easter. Hope yours was good!
Originally posted by SittingFox:
Warhol reaches Crow world!
I did wonder if the bee had originally got stuck in the water but it was moving fine and was able to get free quite easily. The dry weather (now temporarily vanished) might have had something to do with it. It made for a nice and slightly unusual sequence.
Darko, well it did a good job and made it to the interweb! 😉
Very nice selection :hat:
Julia writes:
Just spotted a Roe Deer in the Bluebell Woods @ Stanmer Park. Quite unusual, but more so at mid-day! No sooner did I see it, than it disappeared into the undergrowth. Several dog walkers I spoke to said it was quite common to see them, but I've walked in these woods for years and have seen them perhaps 3 times.
Nice photos but i like the bees most. :up:
Julia, that's a great sighting to get in Stanmer Park. I occasionally see roe deer over at Ridge Road (easier to spot them in the fields). I must check out the park again.
Sami, thanks!
Rachel, thanks! I liked the bees too. It was nice to get them in slightly unusual situations.