If at First.......

.....You dont succeed, etc.

Well i didnt give up, I kept trying. I promised Redstart and Flycatcher and I like to think of myself as a man of my word, so here they are.

Firstly however this pic of a willow warbler, which is about the only other thing I have worth mentioning this week.

I was saying to my friend Andy Carey that its been a pretty poor few weeks, I think I've put in a lot of effort but with very little reward. I have walked miles and yet have very little to show for it. However, I did get both of my target species so here they are. Firstly the Flycatcher.

A lovely little fellow this.

The Redstart meant a journey of 60 miles round trip, poor light and very biting wind. These are not great shots, they are both heavy crops, but I got them. Seven hours spent on a windy hillside and this is the best I got, If I had a day job I wouldnt be giving it up for photography this week.

Still I can only improve. What to do this next week? I'll take what I can get I think. As always click on pics for bigger images.

Not a redstart to be seen.

I said in my last post that I was after Flycatcher and Redstart this week, well I failed, not a picture of either to show you. Not for the want of trying though I assure you.

So what did I get? The Mute swans were still sitting on their nest.
















Until Saturday, at which point they hatched seven chicks.















Tell me they are not beautiful.

















This Garden Warbler was quite obliging.

as was this Fallow Deer.

The Bluebells are in full bloom.

A trip to Newport Wetlands RSPB reserve gave me views of a Heron.

But more pleasing were the glimpses of the Bearded Tits.

Can I get Redstart this week? Maybe not as I have to go to Chester for 2 days. We'll see.

Busy times

Its busy times in and around the forest. Lots of birds dashing around making nests or feeding young. Here are just a few birds I've photographed this last week.

I know she's just a little brown job but I quite liked this close up of the female Chaffinch.

This Great Tit is looking a little shabby, no doubt its well into the breeding season.

This Blue tit is really showing signs that it is neglecting itself to look after young.

This one doesnt look too bad. Oh, and yes before you ask it is the right way up.

This is the first Gosling I've seen its a Canada Goose chick and there's an interesting story linked to it. It was one of two chicks that were born on a pond just outside of Ross. The pond is a small fishery, I was worried that the chicks were vulnerable as the pond is neither deep or large, my concern was either predation or injury by kids. My fears proved to be well founded as within 48 hrs of leaving the nest there was only one chick left. I have no idea what happened but I do know that Mum and dad Canada Goose walked the remaining chick almost half a mile to another pond nearby. I know they walked because a) the chick is obviously too young to fly and b) they were seen by a nearby resident crossing the road approximately 300 yards from the initial pond, This is more amazing as on the opposite side of the road they crossed is another pond, also a fishery but they chose to ignore this pond and move to another which is more secure and less well known and not fished. Truly nature at its best and most amazing.

Chris Grady and I visited a favourite spot of ours for Wood Warbler and were rewarded with views of this beaut.

Most of the Warblers are rather dull little things, the Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, and Garden Warbler spring to mind immediately, but this little beaut is quite colourful with its yellow tinges and bright white chest.

I'm hoping for Redstart and Pied Flycatcher this next week, weather permitting, so keep your fingers crossed for me and pop back soon to see if I was successful.

Up Hill and.......Up more hill!

This last week was short on opportunities for photography. Tuesday I spent the day with Chris Grady, we decided to head up to north Herefordshire in search of some reported Dotterell. Thankfully I'm 24lbs lighter in weight nowadays and I was very pleased of the fact as we trudged up hill for what seemed miles.

Not a Dotterell in sight however we did see some great stuff. I saw my first ever Cuckoo up close, I say cuckoo but it was actually cuckoo's, 2 of them to be precise. It was a thrill to see what has become a rarer bird so close. We also saw, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Redstart, Red Kite, Yellowhammer, and Northern Wheatear. I managed a grab shot of the Northern Wheatear.

We also saw a lovely group of Ponies, one of which had a foal. I love these shots of them.

I enjoyed the day on the hills albeit that we didnt do much photography. We also shot off into Shropshire to the Longmynd Hills near Church Stretton after reports of Dotterell being seen and photographed there. We missed out again unfortunately. So my first attempts at Dotterell failed, Chris is getting used to it, he has failed on his last four attempts to get them. Unlucky son.

Hawfinches

I spent a great deal of time in the forest this last week, mostly after Hawfinch but also more Boar. Unfortunately I only got Grey Squirrel.

Now I know that they are vermin and that they cause damage to trees, but honestly they are cute aren't they.