Late Summer Gold

Ok the title Late Summer Gold is a little misleading more accurately it should be Early Autumn Copper, but that didn’t sound romantic enough to me (and I know it will suck for SEO so Google will probably not have a clue where to list it, oh well, romance and poetry have a place in blog titles for me). Today was made quite special for me for the fact I photographed one of the more tricky (for me at least) butterflies in Milton Keynes the Small Copper (actually photographed two individuals and saw at least 3) – Hence Late Summer Gold (or Early Autumn Copper), anyway you get the point.

I’m going to skip through my order and talk about the Small Copper butterfly that I had an opportunity to photograph. Firstly because they are one of my favourite butterflies and secondly because I have always struggled to capture a decent close photo. I have found them flighty and one of those butterflies that doesn’t often pose with their wings open. Anyway I spotted, this small gem flutter down in front of me and land in among some brown decaying weeds. This made an ideal background. And I quickly changed from my long lens to my macro; and set about getting down and dirty with the wildlife and creeping up on my quarry.

As you can see form the below photos (and the title photo) it allowed me a nice close approach and I hope you enjoy the images as much as I do. Real late Summer gold.

Small Copper – Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes

Back to Normal

Rather than wax on and on about the Small Copper, I’ll go back to the early part of my walk, I decided to take a different walk today following the sheep field hedgerows (the Wolverton Mill side of the canals) on the hunt for migrants, in that respect it was a little disappointing however I did see at least 4 Reed Buntings fly out and had fly over Grey Wagtail and Little Egret (I saw 10 in total today).

Heading on my convoluted path I ended up back at the entrance to the Old Locks where a very confiding Great Spotted Woodpecker sat giving me wonderful views, although as with all these things as soon as the camera was out it was off (I did manage a couple of quick snaps). The only other birds of note were the usual Goldfinch and a few Chiffchaff.

Great Spotted Woodpecker – Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes

Goldfinch – Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes

On to Manor Farm

I headed up the canal (after the brief time with my butterfly) and on to Manor Farm pits, where there was a distinct lack of birds, I mean there were virtually none! I counted 1 Greylag goose, but no canada geese, 3 lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Common Snipe, and that was it for notable birds.

Heading Home

I headed back home but kept my macro lens out and managed a few shots of Red Admiral and a few flies and hoverflies, there can’t be many more macro insect days left this summer, so it’s always nice to make the most of it.