One of those rare days.

[glsammy]

Today turned out to be a rare day for me, one where I couldn't have wished for a better outcome!

We started out by going to Rufford Park, we couldn't stay long, I worked out we just had time to get to the lake and see what was there before we had to move on to our lunch appointment.
As soon as we arrived at the lake, we spotted a Great crested Grebe Family, right by the walkway:

I managed about half a dozen shots, here's three of them:







We were already thinking of turning back, when my Mrs spotted this juvenile Robin:






That was all we had time for, I was only able to spend 10 minutes taking shots, so I'd already considered myself lucky.

After Lunch we decided to go to Clumber Park. We parked by an open field area. The weather was starting to spit rain, so I wasn't very hopeful of seeing much. We hadn't even walked out of sight of our car when we noticed a heathland area. Almost immediately we spotted a Small Heath Butterfly:





Quickly followed by a six-spot Burnet:



Then loads of Grasshoppers.




Also plenty of Small Copper Butterflies:



Then this beauty, it's colour in the sun was amazing, electric Blue:



Then this one:



Plus loads of Small Skippers:





All this in about an hour, and still in sight of our car!


That made it four new species for me, all in the one afternoon. It's not often, if at all it happens like this, so we realise how lucky we were.

[seamusagleann]

wow really good shots really like the one with the grebe with the fish in it's beak

[agrumpycow]

Sounds like a lovely day and a fantastic set of photos.

[Ollie]

Great shots Graham and an hour well spent. I'm envious because I'm stuck indoors with a dodgy back again.
Roger

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Great shots Graham and an hour well spent. I'm envious because I'm stuck indoors with a dodgy back again.
Roger

I'm sorry to hear that Roger. We seem to be taking turns. I hope your not out of action for too long mate.

[buzfuz8149]

Some good photos and a great day out, glad the weather held for you. We had been out in the morning but the family was coming and I was hoping for a good walk with the grandchildren, middle one has just got a new camera but the heavens opened and the drains could hardly take the water at times, it rained most of the afternoon. Good to see some one got some dry weather - well dryer than us.

[Little Firewall]

All in an Hour? Help I have hardly seen that much in a MONTH.
Well done and thanks for sharing these lovely pics with us less fortunate mortals.

[demicav]

Excellent photos. We were stuck in all day, the weather was bad.

[colincurry]

Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

Skill also needed for the super shots.

Best

Colin

[jennyb]

As usual fantastic shots, Graham. You obviously had a great day.

Jenny

[glsammy]

Thanks for all your comments.
I decided to go back again this afternoon, this time to concentrate on the birds. Linnets, Yellowhammers, Meadow Pipit, plus some form of Game bird I'm not sure of the id of. I again saw the Forester Moth, plus a couple of others I've no idea what they are.
That area in Clumber Park is a real treasure of a place. I'll be back again, as I'm still not happy with my Linnet shots.