The Flickr Bridgwatertaunton Image Generatr

About

This page simply reformats the Flickr public Atom feed for purposes of finding inspiration through random exploration. These images are not being copied or stored in any way by this website, nor are any links to them or any metadata about them. All images are © their owners unless otherwise specified.

This site is a busybee project and is supported by the generosity of viewers like you.

Grey Heron with roach or rudd by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Grey Heron with roach or rudd

I think this must be the same youngster which has been living along our section of the canal since the winter. This is the first time I've actually caught it with a half decent fish!

We have both roach and rudd in the canal, and I'm not expert enough to tell the difference.

Emperor dragonfly m by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Emperor dragonfly m

My first Emperor of the year, over the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal. Not the best of shots as I couldn't get close enough, so I'm just posting them as a record.

Emperor dragonfly m by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Emperor dragonfly m

My first Emperor of the year, over the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal. Not the best of shots as I couldn't get close enough, so I'm just posting them as a record.

To be honest they must have been on the wing for a while to be back on breeding territory, but today was the first day I had personally seen them.

Marmalade fly f by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Marmalade fly f

Episyrphus balteatus beside the canal at Bathpool. I've been seeing these for a couple of weeks now, whenever there's some sunshine, but there were many more today.

Eristalis pertinax f by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Eristalis pertinax f

Drone flies are out in large numbers now.

Palomena prasina green shieldbug, Pardosa sp wolf spider, Altica sp leaf beetle by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Palomena prasina green shieldbug, Pardosa sp wolf spider, Altica sp leaf beetle

There was competition for the best sunny spots today, but these three decided to share.

Goldcrest with a tiny insect by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Goldcrest with a tiny insect

I watched a pair of Goldcrests high in a tree, constantly flitting about as they do, and used the time-honoured 'spray and pray' technique in the hope of catching something worthwhile. When I got the pictures home, there were several like this which showed the *tiny* insects and springtails they were finding. (You might need to zoom in to see it!) I wonder how many of those they have to catch every day just to survive?

Grey Squirrel sunbathing by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Grey Squirrel sunbathing

It's not uncommon to see birds spread out to catch the sun, and of course reptiles famously do it - but this is the first time I've seen a squirrel sunbathing. It stayed on this spot for several minutes.

Chiffchaff by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Chiffchaff

A Chiffchaff beside the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal.

Hairy-footed flower bee m by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Hairy-footed flower bee m

Taken with the very long lens setup I was carrying beside the canal at Bathpool, in the hope of spotting a kingfisher - instead I saw my first hairy-footed flower bees of the year. Not an ideal setup for macro but I got a record shot.

Kingfisher m by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Kingfisher m

I haven't been able to take any shots for the last few days, so here's one more from last week's kingfishers.

Kingfisher m by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Kingfisher m

Alcedo atthis above the canal near Bathpool moorings. My lunchtime walks haven't been too fruitful lately, until today when I had multiple sightings of at least two individuals and possibly three.

I was pleased to get this shot, as the iridescent feathers are pure blue instead of the more usual greenish. There's nothing the photographer can do to make this happen, it all depends on the angle of the light and today I got lucky.

Kingfisher m by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Kingfisher m

What a gorgeous bird, so lucky to have them on my doorstep.

Great spotted woodpecker with baby food by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Great spotted woodpecker with baby food

Beside the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal today.

Malachite beetle by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Malachite beetle

All the regulars are starting to appear.

Xysticus cristatus by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Xysticus cristatus

Pisaura mirabilis m by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Pisaura mirabilis m

The nursery web spider is known for its variable markings, but this is possibly the most colourful I've ever seen. These colours are not 'pumped' in Photoshop, this really is what he looked like.

Dock bugs by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Dock bugs

Lots of goings-on down at the docks.

Goldcrest by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Goldcrest

Couldn't get any closer, the canal was in the way!

Goldcrest by Steve Balcombe

© Steve Balcombe, all rights reserved.

Goldcrest

This is not quite such a clear shot as the other one I've posted - but it has a tongue! 😁