Up and Running.

Finally I have my Broadband up and running. So, I can now post some of the shots I've got from Slimbridge on the last two visits. On both occasions the weather was not brilliant early on, but bright sunshine later on gave me some good chances.

Bewicks Swans were in abundance, it won't be long before they start their migratory journey away from Slimbridge once again.

There was one which I managed to catch in flight, it had a huge ring around its neck.

Now, I'm sorry but that's just totally unnecessary. I dont like ringing in any case but this, in my humble opinion, is worse. However, if we're going to talk about completely over the top marking of birds then cop a look at this.

That is just bizarre, how can this not be considered as intrusive? I think its appalling. Someone somewhere needs to address this issue. If I had the intelligence or the know how I would find out where this was done and by whom, and then ask them what the purpose and need for it were. Totally bizarre.

Away from that though it was nice to be up close and personal with some ducks.

Pochard.

Pintail.

The star of the two days, for me, was this female Lesser Scaup. I cant find any record of having a confirmed sighting of a Lesser Scaup in my files so this goes down as a lifetime first for me.

Only February and a lifetime first. Could this be another cracking year for me? I truly hope so and I hope that I can share the joys with some of my friends.

New home.

No pictures this week, I am in my new home and have managed one trip with Chris and Mike to Slimbridge WWT, but as yet I only have my orange dongle for internet connection and it is too slow to upload pictures.

I have already found one lovely walk nearby, and both me and Roxy (my dog) enjoy it immensely. Buzzard, Long tailed Tit, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and Nuthatch have been seen whilst out walking this week, thats in addition to all the usual woodland and garden birds I've seen, Blackbird, Robin, Blue and Great tits etc. I also saw a Sparrowhawk over the house today.

I think I have identified what I missed the most whilst I was in Yorkshire, woodland and woodland birds.  I have felt spiritually uplifted on the two occasions that I have walked the dog.

So hopefully after tomorrows planned second trip to Slimbridge I will be able to upload some pics.

Make sure you come back.

Image Error

The sharp eyed amongst you may have noticed that the image of the Coot in my last post was the same as the coot image in the previous post but I claimed they were from two different locations.

My bad, I uploaded the wrong image for the most recent post. It should have been this one.

not going to get chance to post for a few days now, what with packing, moving, and unpacking. Fortunately though it doesnt look as if the weather is going to be too good this week so I'm not going to miss much. See you in a couple of weeks time.

Pastures new.

Yet again I am on the move. I am moving back to Herefordshire as of the 1st Feb. I have missed being near the Forest of Dean and also missed a few of my friends. I have enjoyed my stay in Barnsley and am very grateful to my sister, Sue, for letting me stay with her these past 7 months.

I have found some lovely places during my stay in Yorkshire, Its a pity in some respects that I didn't get to explore more of it. I think that RSPB Fairburn Ings particularly had the potential to give me some great opportunities, but unfortunately it was a little too far to travel to on a daily basis. RSPB Blacktoft Sands was also very good. A little less than I had hoped for, but with some excellent birds to see and photograph.

The biggest disappointment has been RSPB Old Moor, when I arrived at the end of June there were lots of migrant birds around. I was repeatedly told that winter was the best time to visit.  I have not been that impressed with what I've seen there so far this winter, and indeed what I have seen has not been suitable for any decent photography. If I could spend a day with the management of the reserve I would try and show them how some alterations to the set up of the reserve could improve it, but lets be fair we could all think of ways to improve the reserves we visit.

Other places I have visited and enjoyed have been Anglers Country Park, Broomhill Flash and Worsborough Mill and country park, although the latter was merely for the enjoyment I got when walking my dog.

So a few last pictures from here before I go. All of the following came from Anglers Country Park in West Yorkshire.

Coot.

Cormorant.

Great Crested Grebe with a catch.

A stunning Goldfinch.

Star of the day, Female Goosander.

Heron.

Mallard in flight.

Mute Swan, very nearly in the valentine heart pose, I had a lovely time watching these two display. At one time there was a second female who kept trying to muscle in, but the male knew which of the two he wanted.

Talking of Swans in Valentine heart pose, check out Chris G's website for a recent posting of his showing two mute swans doing just that, cracking and the inspiration for my attempt. http://www.wildlife-imaging.co.uk/

Reed Bunting complete with bling. If I may just say one thing its that I hate seeing birds with rings on them. I understand that there are certain birds that organisations like BTO and RSPB need to learn more about but I can't see that there is much to be learned by ringing Reed Buntings in high numbers. At the feeder station at Anglers it seemed that almost every bird species that visited had high numbers of ringed birds, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Reed Buntings, Tree Sparrows, Goldfinch, and even Blue tits.

Tree Sparrow also complete with Bling.

and also lastly a Tufted Duck.

Anglers Country Park is a beautiful place, there are 3 hides overlooking differing habitats and the surrounding area offers beautiful walks. The lakes get a number of visiting birds and it was from there that I got my Great Northern Diver last year.

I will miss Yorkshire, I have enjoyed seeing a number of birds that I dont get to see down south as regularly as I have up here. However I am excited about my return to Herefordshire, especially as spring is just around the corner and we all know how exciting that is.

A belated start to 2011

So, over half way through January and I finally managed to get out and do some photography. Not for the want of trying, I've actually been out 3 days on the trot but failed to get the camera out on two of the occasions. I have seen lots of birds though and have made a good start to my 2011 list.

A very cold morning this morning at Broomhill Flash in the Dearne Valley produced just one or two opportunities for a few distant birds. Only the coot and Wigeon came close enough to get anywhere near full frame shots.

Wigeon.

The coot.

A Pied Wagtail came and landed infront of the hide, but typically with this bird he wasnt standing still for very long.

The stars of the day were a Green Sandpiper and three Goldeneye, the Sandpiper came the closest, but this is still a large crop.

The Goldeneye stayed well away from the hide and this is really nothing more than a record shot.

I sat in the hide, freezing me goolies off for over 2hrs hoping and praying that they would skirt the front of the hide like the Wigeon, Coots and Mallards were doing but it wasnt to be. Still I thoroughly enjoyed the time, they really are beautiful bird.

Not a bad start for the year.