Cuck-ooooh!

The highlight of the weekend was this juvenile Cuckoo by Kelk Beck - but you'll have to trust me on this picture - actually you can just make out the white spot on the nape. The bird flew off seconds after this shot.




Ah, that's better, definitely a juvenile Cuckoo, looking very rusty brown. Hard to believe it's the same bird as the one above. Anyway, a very very good find and a special encounter.




Juvenile Pied Wagtail - this one landed a few feet away and stood motionless with its beak open and eyes closed for a while until its Mum's alarm calls persuaded it to fly back up to the rooftop.




Canadas and Greylags getting on like a house on fire - no one told them they're supposed to bicker! And what are they doing on the beck, they never do that??




A couple of Hares which had just scarpered across the field - could have had a nice close up but spooked them getting my camera out. Doh!




Comma near gardens in Great Kelk - a really lovely eye catching butterfly.




Meadow Brown - loads of these about at the moment esp along hedgerows, many in looking even more worn than this one.




After the invasion of Painted Ladies in May there are now fresh looking individuals. This one was pristine and so bright it hurts!




Speckled Wood at Barf Hill. Not a common butterfly but fairly widespread. Looking good, er, apart from missing part of the right forewing!