Taunton Wildlife

On the move: the five Wheatear on the Capstone weren't hanging around long - they quickly flew west. Also, a group of four fishing Gannet helped me find the cetaceans offshore - a group of Harbour Porpoise and at least two Common Dolphin.

16 August 2010 - Crow Point / Horsey Island

Braunton Burrows was buzzing with insects on this hot day, including this Six-spot Burnet (above) and this Small Copper...

Above: Common Darter female.

1-7 August 2010 - Finistère - Based at Le Guilvinec

Above: In such beautiful light, it was impossible for me to resist photographing the Mediterranean Gulls that constantly patrolled the Plage du Steir next to the camp site. The Dunes du Steir, in which the camp site was located, offered excellent birding potential including Turtle Dove...

Below: I knew there was a possible Bee-eater colony nearby and got views of up to 12 of them on most days - usually flying typically high. This was the only one that stopped long enough for even a record shot...

Below: Some waders were present on the Plage du Steir, including some lovely summer plumage Turnstone and Sanderling...

Below: The nearby Etang de St. Vio was a great spot for birds and insects, with access right along the reed beds and views through to open water. These Cirl Buntings were breeding in the area of the tower hide...

Cirl Bunting also bred in the Dunes du Steir next to our camp site. Below: A meadow adjacent to the track was full of flowers, mainly vetch-type legumes, which attracted many butterflies like this Clouded Yellow...

Below: I found this Jersey Tiger flying around the bottom of the tower hide...

Below: The Etang de Trunvel was a short drive away, where this Red-veined Darter allowed plenty of macro-lens shots...

And this Coypu swam the entire length of the lake (on the other side from the hide of course!)...

Below: This species is probably the hardest to photograph. In 6 trips to Brittany with my camera, this is the closest I have got to a photograph of Zitting Cisticola.

24-31 July 2010 - Loire-Atlantique - Based at Le Croisic

Above: Common Terns were a continuous sight at Le Croisic... Below: ...as were Sandwich Terns (upper - adult, lower - juvenile).

Below: A typical Le Croisic gull roost, with Common and Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean Gull and Black-headed Gulls.

The Pointe du Croisic was an excellent sea-watching spot. Late afternoon and evening gave a spectacular display of Shearwaters (including Sooty, Cory's and Balearic) as well as huge numbers of Gannets.

Below: Gulls feeding on crustaceans on the incoming tide - Mediterranean Gull (top 4), Black-headed Gull and a one-footed Common Gull.

Continued on Recent Wildlife page...Click here

About me...

I am a birdwatcher, biology teacher and father of two living in Ilfracombe, North Devon, United Kingdom.

I occasionally get the chance to go out with my camera to photograph local wildlife or stuff I see when I'm on holiday with the family. Some of the results of this are just about good enough to show other people, hence this website. In addition to the occasional good shot, I also aim to share as many wildlife experiences as possible. As such, I also post record shots and, to keep the site ticking over, photos which give a feel for the realities of wildlife watching.

Andrew Williams

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Local Wildlife Sites

The Torrs; Capstone and Ilfracombe Harbour; Hele Bay; Braunton Burrows and Sands; Heanton;

Isley Marsh RSPB ; Northam Burrows CP; Hillsborough LNR; Chapel Wood RSPB; Bradiford Water LNR

All Content provided by Andrew Williams