the way to hardcastle craggs, oxenhope moor

went to hardcastle craggs today, to hopefully photograph some dippers, we went over oxenhope moor in the hope of spotting a short eared owl. unfortunately we didn't but we did spot some other nice things. as we drove over I spotted a red grouse pair. I asked my mum to pull over so I could try and photograph it. I took one or two snaps out of the window, (as an insurance in case they flew away when the car door opened). unfortunately the spotted me and ducked. I waited at the barbed wire fence and spotted a curlew some way away. I took some snaps of this but they are not very good. I was just about to wrap up when I spotted a small green butterfly on the other side of the fence. A green hairstreak I though and jumped over the fence to take some photos off it. It was a very obliging butterfly, it kept landing and had no objection to me being so close. I have only ever seen one of these butterflies once before so it was a real treat to be able to see another.

look at the lovely colour of this butterfly-a stunning insect

the curlew I talked about

red grouse taken from the car

on the way back my mum wanted me to take a photo off a Field full off Lady's smock (that's a pink flower to you and me) so we pulled over and I tried. It is quite hard to take landscape photos with my lens but I managed to snap a few, then, out of the blue, a lapwing came and landed really close to the car. I managed to get a few shots but the grass was long so it managed to keep hiding. it flew off eventually but not Before I managed to snap this shot which I am really proud off!