Grab 'em when you can

When I woke this morning I could not believe the light that was shining through my window. It was lush. So I decided that as I had to head into the forest for a doctors appointment I would combine it with a trip around the old usual haunts.

However before I had even left my house two amazing opportunities presented themselves. When I opened the back door to let my dog out I heard a cacophony of bird alarm calls coming from immediately behind my back garden. Blackbirds mostly.

A scout of the shrubs and trees with my telescope and I found the culprit. I took a couple of shots from the back door but they were obstructed by leaves and small branches. I quickly shot out of the front and around to the car park at the side of our block, hoping to get a better shot. As I positioned the camera a Green Woodpecker flew into a tree in front of me, could I afford to pass this up? I didn't dare so I quickly shot off a few snaps, then readjusted my position and managed to get a few of the main target before it was finally driven away by the smaller birds.

The Green Woody, so chuffed with these grab shots.

But then the star of the show, My first photographed Tawny Owl of the year. This first shot was from the back door.

Then this from the car park.

I was so chuffed. I have only seen one other this year and only a hand full in the last few years. So to get this one, purely by chance, was amazing.

My trip over to the forest was non-productive. I did get to bump into Bob Bushell who was photographing birds at New Fancy but the light disappeared whilst I was there so I went off to my Doctors appointment.

Back Home the weather is awful, cold, wet and increasingly windy. Glad I was up and ready this morning.

Click on the pics for larger versions.

The weather has certainly taken a turn for the worst hasn't it? I looked out of the window this morning and could not see 200 yards for the fog. The temperature had dropped a few degrees and everywhere was wet outside. Guess Autumn has moved into winter.

I had no intention of venturing out so instead I decided to set up the camera and monitor the new feeder station I've set up in the garden. I'm quite pleased with the feeder so far, I have had Coal, Blue and Great tits visiting, Robin, Dunnock, and Wood Pigeon in the garden and a Green Woodpecker out the back. As the weather worsens then I hope for more variety.

The light was poor so I didn't expect a lot but did manage to get these.

I wouldn't normally do feeder shots but there was nothing else so it was this or nothing. Weather is forecast as poor all week so may be a while till my next post.

Three became four

I have been to Slimbridge again today, I went with Andy Carey and once there we teamed up with Chris G and Mike Smith, both of whom were a tad put out by my comments in my last post regarding their poking fun at me. Ironically if the cap fits wear it.

That aside, it wasn't such a good day today. the weather wasn't brilliant and the birds were scattered all over the reserve. I did manage to get the following shots, I hope you enjoy them.

I want to add one thing, which may cause a few raised eyebrows, I cannot for the life of me understand why the powers that be at Slimbridge cannot accept that photography is becoming more and more popular at the reserve and speed up the changes that we keep being told are just around the corner. They have added to the number of viewing spaces to the feeder station at the rear of the Robbie Garnett, but despite repeated requests to the wardens to make the spaces wider this was not done. I do not blame the wardens, they do what they are told, but I would hope that they tell their bosses what we are asking.

Anyway back to the photography. Click on the pictures for larger versions.

I love the little Teals.






The Pochards are looking great.



The Pintails, minus the "pin".



Hundreds of Moorhens.

A stalking Heron kept a number of photographers happy for a while.

Finally this Buzzard was again the only raptor seen.

Back for a mere 5 days and already 2 visits, I love being there with the birds.

Three's not always a crowd.

I finally moved back to the area on saturday, its not the forest but nearby at Ross on Wye. Having hardly settled in I was asked by Chris Grady if I'd like to join him on a visit to Slimbridge on monday morning. How could I say no?

A quick telephone call to Mike Smith and he was joining us too. I arrived at Slimbridge just after 8.00am and the sun was shining and there was no wind. I was in the reserve as soon as the gates opened and very keen to get the gear out. A quick check of the Rushy pen confirmed that the Bewicks were back. Nine in total.



The next stop proved a little disappointing. Not much outside the Robbie Garnett hide although the light on the water, which was millpond still, was absolutely amazing. This pair of Shoveler ducks were feeding in the shallows.



A Wood Pigeon came down for a drink.



A pair of Jackdaws were strutting their stuff.



Thr Teal weren't in the best of condition but again the light made for great reflections.

The star of the show was definately this Water Rail which kept making fleeting appearences.

Not high numbers of anything just yet but with the weather promising some winds hopefully it won't be long before lots more stuff arrives.

A Sparrowhawk flew right across the front of the hide but too quickly for any shots. The only raptor to be photographed was this distant Buzzard.

It was so nice to be back at Slimbridge with some of my closest friends, even if they did seem to be more interested in poking fun at me. The place has a quality, although hopefully if any attention is paid to the survey proformas that were being handed out for completion, it may even be improved upon.

More Inner Marsh Farm

The weather has been so changeable this last few days hasn't it. I took advantage of breaks in the cloud this afternoon to go back to Inner Marsh Farm RSPB reserve. I wanted to look at it more objectively than I have on my last few visits.

Unfortunately as always seems to be the case the hide was obviously designed with bird watchers in mind, those with scopes. It is too high and too far away from the action for photographers, certainly too far away. The viewing openings are a little too narrow although one can get a 600mm lens through the openings, just.

All this said though I find myself loving the place. I have sat for hour after hour in the hide on three occasions and despite the fact that stuff is too far away I have seen so much. Today for example I saw: Little Egret, Redshank, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Black Tailed Godwit, Greylag, Canada Goose, Peregrine, Raven, Wood Pigeon, Water rail, Goldfinch, Coal tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Wren, Long Tailed tit, Buzzard, Rook, Magpie, Black Headed Gull, Teal, Snipe and, Mallard duck.

The place has meadow, marsh, water, and Wooded areas and must appeal to a very varied range of bird and wildlife.

Here are a few pics of what I saw today.

Greylag Geese.

Black Tailed Godwit.

Redshank, lots of little groups.

But also odd individuals.

Little Egret.

The most interesting were a pair of snipe, Unfortunately this is quite a heavy crop.

This not so much so, the pair were about one foot apart. You can see them both in this picture.

The weather really was hit and miss. I still enjoyed the afternoon though.