Barn Owls And The Eclipse

Last week-end produced the most superb eclipse of the moon you could ever wish to see. I was up for two hours to capture the event and coupled with two local Rochdale Barn Owls it created the perfect pictures. If you missed it then you only have another 18 years to the next one – can’t wait – I wonder what cameras we will be using then?

We have just had the finest spell of Autumn weather I can ever remember with sunshine and temperatures most days of 20 Centigrade or more. It has had a tremendous effect on butterflies with only my second ever Wall butterfly appearing on the 2nd October – a month later than expected. Seven Small Tortoiseshell were together on the 2nd Oct with 6 Speckled Woods on the 1st in Hopwood woods. Even a single Green Veined was in flight on the 1st October.

The exceptional warmth has also had an effect on the Pennine Adders with two females still basking in the sunshine on the 2nd October – my first ever October sighting of an Adder. Better still two young Adders were also present during the week, these being only the second ones I have ever seen.Click here for gallery photos