Website Closure

Hi all, I have decided that I am going to close down my website. I think that I didnt acheive what I wanted with it. My original thoughts were that I would use it as a tool for showing only the best of the shots that I took, but in reality I feel that the pressure to constantly put something on there regularly, meant that I let the standards drop very quickly.

In addition to this I can't really justify the money to keep it to going. I have decided therefore to go back to the way that I originally had this blog set up. I have a Gallery page in my links, at the time that I started my blog it was just a way for me to put extra shots on here without all the narrative. I am going to go back to that set up, I just need to work out how I'm going to do it. I'm not sure that Picaso is the way that I want to go.

If any of you have any ideas then dont be shy in letting me know, I'm a bit of a numpty when it comes to technical stuff so I would appreciate the help.

In the meantime I will continue doing what I enjoy the most, posting on here and sharing the craic with you all.

A few shots I took at Highnam the other day for your perusal below. I was sitting watching for the Marsh tit on the one feeder post when I heard a kerfuffle to my left. I turned my head and saw a male Sparrowhawk on another post. before I had chance to lift my camera he was gone. A momentary glimpse but I loved it.

A punk rocker Blue tit, either that or he's got delusions of being a Crested tit.

Great tit.

A lovely Long tailed Tit.

and finally a Marsh tit.

or is it a willow? I'm going with Marsh.

More Slimbridge

Just a few more shots from Slimbridge.

The Jackdaw has such character, its a great bird to photograph if you can get it to stand still for a while.

When the sun came out the Bewicks Swans were looking great.

Even in the fog they look quite majestic.

Sunshine gives great opportunities for flight shots, this is just a plain Greylag Goose but I think it looks great.

I missed the RSPB garden watch weekend, mostly due to being busy packing but in honesty I didnt fancy looking at the back garden in Barnsley for an hour knowing that at best I was going to see House Sparrow, Collared Dove, maybe a Blackbird, and if I was really lucky a Starling.

However if I was to do it now I'd be happy with my lot. I've had all of the above plus, Great, Blue and Long tailed Tits, a Robin, and the star so far a female Blackcap. Although I'm on a housing estate here I'm close to woodland and a couple of large lakes.

I took a drive around the area yesterday and saw Fieldfare, Redwing, Buzzard, and Jay in fields nearby. I must say though that I have missed driving a few miles to Broomhill Flash and seeing ducks and waders including Green Sandpiper, Snipe and Redshank. Its horses for courses I guess.

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.