Views From an Urban Lake 2014 Review

Views From an Urban Lake 2014 Review
Views From an Urban Lake 2014 Review

I decided to give an end of year Views From an Urban Lake 2014 Review. OK mainly it will be a selection of my best photos of the year. The highlights on the two patches, the best bits away from home etc. I hope you like what is here.

WARNING – There are a lot of photos on this page, so it may be slow loading!

Views From an Urban Lake 2014 Review

2014 saw me move from watching Lodge Lake in Great Holm, to watching Manor Farm in Wolverton, a pretty impressive change for me as my bird species totals shot up, but it did mean that I missed spring movement on the new patch (or autumn on the old one?) and so most photos since August have been birds or landscapes (not many insects).

You’ll also notice as the year went on the number of photos increases quite a bit (new camera obviously made a difference!).

I hope you enjoy Views From an Urban Lake 2014 Review.

January

Jan was all about Coots, Grebes and Rain for me, judging by the posts. My best photos of the month also reflected this.
Golden light Common Coot
Golden light Common Coot
Great Crested Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Little Grebe

February

Feb was a quiet month for me around Lodge lake but there were some smart birds (Tufted Ducks) and these are the best photos:

Bubs puddle Splashing
Bubs puddle Splashing
Robin Singing
Robin Singing
Great Crested Grebe
Great Crested Grebe

March

One of my busiest months on the blog (20 posts) and the blog kind of took a new direction here, posting more than just my walks, but also reviews and articles about stuff that interested me. Bird wise I got some cracking photos (including one I have wanted to capture for a number of years) and saw some great birds. It was also the start of the insect/bug season.

 

Long Tailed Tit
Long-tailed Tit.
Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Great-crested grebe in the mist my favourite photo from Views From an Urban Lake 2014 Review
Great-crested grebe in the mist my favourite photo from Views From an Urban Lake 2014 Review
Peacock Butterfly
Peacock Butterfly
Shield Bug
Shield Bug

April

April was when the bugs and butterflies started to come out in force, it was also remarkably hot (If I recall correctly we had a mini heatwave), and I managed some lovely photos, there was definitely less of an emphasis on birds now.

 

Reed Warbler
Reed Warbler
Peacock Butterfly
Peacock Butterfly
Sloe or Hairy Shieldbug
Sloe or Hairy Shieldbug
Bluebell
Bluebell

May

May really was bugs and butterflies for me (I find summer sun too much for many bird photos).

Banded Demoiselle
Banded Demoiselle
Wasp Beetle
Wasp Beetle
Large Red Damselfly
Large Red Damselfly
10 Spot Ladybird
10 Spot Ladybird

June

June saw me get my new camera (Canon 70D) and so I set out with a vengeance to find worthy subjects. there were lots of pretty flowers, interesting bugs and birds. And so there are a lot more photos for June (and the odd video from now on as well!):

 

Broad Bodied Chaser
Broad Bodied Chaser
Fragrant Orchid
Fragrant Orchid
Rosemary Leaf Beetle
Rosemary Leaf Beetle
Emperor Dragonfly
Emperor Dragonfly
Common Green Shieldbug
Common Green Shieldbug
Bee Orchid
Bee Orchid
Large Skipper
Large Skipper
Black Tailed Skimmer
Black Tailed Skimmer

July

Full on summer now so it was more butterflies, dragonflies, bees, bugs and anything that crawls (I’m really looking forward to summer on the new patch). Now was also the time that I merged my moth trapping into this blog (moving away from a separate blog as it was on), so Moths also came into the photo front. July also saw a couple of off patch trips to Tring for the museum and park (where I took photos and entered a competition for which I was shortlisted!) and to the tear drop lakes (in MK) for White legged damselfly.

 

Small Skipper
Small Skipper
Figwort SawFly
Figwort SawFly
White-Legged Damselfly
White-Legged Damselfly
Purple Flower
Purple Flower
5-Spot Burnet
5-Spot Burnet
Black-tailed Skimmer
Black-tailed Skimmer
Bee Orchid
Bee Orchid

August

August was the month of the big move so less walks but the location did change (I also had a weekend at the British Birdfair), Now the new patch kicked off really well with birds like a Pectoral sandpiper (a real rarity) – sadly no photo – and Redstarts the best birds.

 

My Family
My Family
Old Wolverton Church
Old Wolverton Church
Redstart
Redstart
Bill Oddie and the Birding For All Team
Bill Oddie and the Birding For All Team
Male Common Redstart
Male Common Redstart
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly
Green Grasshopper
Green Grasshopper

September

September and I was fully ensconced in the new patch, waders were streaming through as were migrants (flycatchers, redstarts and Whinchat). I was also already fast approaching 100 birds for the patch (in under 2 months!!)

 

Wheatear
Wheatear
myathropa florea hoverfly
myathropa florea hoverfly
Doc Bug
Doc Bug
Eristalis horticola
Eristalis horticola
Swallows
Swallows
Common Buzzard
Common Buzzard
Chiffchaff
Chiffchaff
Small Copper
Small Copper

October

Autumn was now in full swing but the wonderful world of bugs and birds kept giving on the patch. it also saw me make an excursion out to my first ever deer rut! And what an amazing day that was (with some great photos).

Iron Trunk Aqueduct
Iron Trunk Aqueduct
Another purple Flower
Another purple Flower
Red Deer at Woburn
Red Deer at Woburn
Stag between trees
Stag between trees
Bolving (or Bellowing) Red Deer Stag
Bolving (or Bellowing) Red Deer Stag
Hawthorn Shieldbug
Hawthorn Shieldbug
Yet more purple flowers
Yet more purple flowers
Harlequin Ladybirds
Harlequin Ladybirds

November

November saw me take a few trips away from the patch (Willen and Walton lakes in Milton Keynes and a week in Margate) but it did give me some great bird photos.

 

Reed bunting
Reed bunting
Inside a Rainbow
Inside a Rainbow
Robin
Robin
Brent Geese in Flight
Brent Geese in Flight
Male Stonechat
Male Stonechat
Mute Swan
Mute Swan
Slavonian Grebe
Slavonian Grebe

December

Finally on to December and the end of Views From an Urban Lake 2014 Review. I must admit I have not got out as much as I would like this month, but when I have I think I have managed some cracking photos.

Sunrise over Ouse Valley
Sunrise over Ouse Valley
Golden Hour at the Old Lock
Golden Hour at the Old Lock
Teasels in Gold
Teasels in Gold
Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Geese at Sunset
Geese at Sunset
Robin
Robin
Sunset
Sunset

Did you enjoy Views From an Urban Lake 2014 Review? Or find it useful? Then please do share it with your friends using the links below.

Please feel free to leave me a comment. I really appreciate the interaction and will reply as soon as I can.
Like it? Share it!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.  Learn more