Mikepércs: Fly Agaric

This morning I've made a try at the pool, but not even a single bird landed. Perhaps they have been fed up with water which fell these days in form of rain.

However on my way home I found a few fly agaric mushrooms. Most of them were damaged, this one was an exception:

Fly Agaric

Mikepércs: Wren And Sparrow Hawk

I counted on the sparrow hawk again today, but I hoped by stealth that the flock of a long-tailed tits would visit the pool as well, for I was witness of their bath the other day.

The first visitor of today's cloudy morning is a jay landing on the side of the pool to have a few gulps of water.

Then a robin appears a few times in the bush nearby but doesn't land on the pool this time either.

Later I can hear the voice of a wren, which soon lands at the end of the pool:

Wren

Wren

Having had a look round it flies away.
Soon the sparrow hawk appears on the side of the pool, splashes into the water to have a bath.
Yet it's keeping an eye:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Then it leaves as suddenly as it has arrived.

Mikepércs: Bathing Sparrow Hawk

It's a long time I took a photo worth uploading here. My last time attempt was unsuccessful near Fancsika pond, not even a single bird appeared on the small pool. Then came the bad weather. Today I gave a try at my old bathing pool as at this time of the year I can count on "something" there.

I don't arrive too early, the sun already lights the end of the pool. Nothing is happening for half an hour then I can hear the voice of a robin from the bushes nearby. It even shows itself but it doesn't land in front of me. Then wing swish breaks the silence: a jay arrives on top of a bush nearby then lands at the end of the pool. Having made sure that the place is safe it drinks then it flies away. There's silence again. Suddenly a male sparrow hawk appears from nowhere on the side of the pool jumping into the water soon:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

It's drinking ...:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

... and turning about, perhaps searching the deeper water, as the pool isn't filled completely. No problem, yet it's having a good bath.
It's attention is caught for a moment by a small bird I suppose:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Suddenly it flies away to return after 10 minutes if it's the same bird, as this time it's got a crest on top of its head:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

It's contemplating and while looking down he might say to himself: "You are expecting me to dabble in such a little water?!":

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Then he brings himself to have a bath after all:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

It moves leisurely pausing now and then:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

And suddenly it starts gaping like a fish:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

It goes on gaping after each dip:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

After the long bath it flies away again.
A few minutes later a great tit arrives to have a bath too, but after that I decide to leave.

Fancsika Pond: Flycatchers

I planted a few plants near my small pool, mulberry among others, and I'm delighted to see them in good condition now. I hope they will make a good effect on the images.

We have had a lot of rain this week, so I've been sure a lot of water has gatherd in front of the pool, so the birds might not use the landing branch. Though I set the lying hide in the 10 cm deep water and get inside. I don't have to wait long, the birds are coming quite soon, having a look at the pool but mainly landing finally near the water around the hide. A beautiful male yellowhammer is having bath at about 1 m's distance from me, a green woodpecker as well. So, my time will come when the water will disappear from this place! Suddenly a spotted flycatcher appears on the branch, ...:

Spotted Flycatcher

... returning from time to time, once producing some kind of a seed from its pouch:

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

A hawfinch appears too, ...:

Hawfinch (female)

... but blackcaps are landing on it as well, however I'm unable to take a good shot of them.
The pied flycatcher doesn't stay away this time either, this branch seems to be the flycatchers' favourite observation spot:

Pied Flycatcher

A young great tit also lands:

Young Great Tit

Then it's the spotted flycatchers' turn again:

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Plumage shaking:

Young Great Tit

Mikepércs: Just a cross spider again

This afternoon I went for some flower shots, but I couldn't find a decent theme, but on my way home I shot this photo of a cross spider:

Cross Spider

Mikepércs: Butterflies

This afternoon I went for macro photography to the meadow nearby. This time the butterflies gave the theme:

Chalkhill Blue

Meadow Brown

Chalkhill Blue

Snapdragon

Mikepércs: Cross Spider

This morning I visited the meadow near the village, where I caught only this cross spider dealing with its prey:

Cross Spider

Fancsika Pond: Icterine Warbler

I've made another try at Fancsika pond this morning.

Having a drought the birds appear quite soon, they are eager to come to the water. Tits are the first to arrive, but the warblers are also coming soon, first a chiffchaff ...:

Chiffchaff

... then a willow warbler lands:

Willow Warbler

Then a blackcap and a robin comes to have a bath:

Robin

Another bird appears on the landing branch, it's like a willow warbler but a bit greater. Wow! I'm very pleased to see an icterine warbler for the first time!

Icterine Warbler

However it can't get to the water as something scares the birds so they fly away.
When they return, a pied flycatcher is also landing:

Pied Flycatcher (female)

Then as a surprise, cows appear behind me, so further photography attempts would make no sense.

Stâna de Vale (Romania)

Recently I made a trip to Stâna de Vale (Western Carpathians, Romania) together with my children, where I found some nice Spreading Bellflowers:

Spreading Bellflower

Landscape after rain (a dim rainbow is also visible):

The "Wonder Spring" at Stâna de Vale:

On the third day in the morning I went for bellflower photography again:

Spreading Bellflower

Spreading Bellflower