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

Fancsika Pond: Third Try

The third try has brought what I've been waiting for: The drought attracted lots of birds to the small drinking pool.

The tits are the most fearless, they are the first to come to the water. The other birds, as if they were waiting for this act, are landing after each other to the pool: a whole flock of hawfinches arrive soon, adults and youngs as well, so some conflict between them is inevitable:

Hawfinch (male)

Young hawfinch

Then a young middle spotted woodpecker lands:

Young Middle Spotted Woodpecker

A song thrush is also landing:

Song Thrush

After the bath the middle spotted woodpecker appears on the landing branch again:

Young Middle Spotted Woodpecker

A young great spotted woodpecker arrives too:

Young Great Spotted Woodpecker

Then other birds appear as well, like blackcaps, chaffinches, field sparrows, chiffchaffs, yellowhammer, however I'm unable to make decents shots of them, there's not enough light and I have to work on the landing place as well.

Mikepércs: Flowers

After the morning try at the pond I felt like doing some flower shots this afternoon:

Bird's-foot Trefoil

Bird's-foot Trefoil

Bird's-foot Trefoil

Mikepércs: Bearded Reedlings

Last time I placed my hide in a corner of the pond where the remainder water still attracts a few birds. Today I tried the new place.

The birds are really active already early in the morning at the edge of the reed: sedge warblers, great reed warbler, bearded reedlings, young wagtails and bluethroats are searching for food. On the chest of the young bluethroats the blue spot is visible already. I'm focusing on the bearded reedlings which use the reeds like good gymnasts:

Bearded Reedling (male)

Bearded Reedling (female)

Bearded Reedling (male)

A few young black-winged stilts, wood- and common sandpipers appear as well for a short time.
At last someone uses the new landing place:

Young Yellow Wagtail

Bearded Reedling (male)

Young White Wagtail

Even a red-backed shrike lands with muddy feet:

Red-backed Shrike (female)

Red-backed Shrike (female)

Later I notice a pond turtle walking out on the dried branch:

European Pond Turtle

It's having a short rest before it splashes back into the cool water.
Then a long pause comes, so I decide to leave.

Mikepércs: Macro Shots

This afternoon I did some macro shots near the village:

I found a Spurge Hawk-moth in the form of a colorful caterpillar:

Spurge Hawk-moth (caterpillar)

A feeding wasp spider:

Wasp Spider