Around and about.

The last few weeks have been spent trying to make the most of what good weather there has been along with all the other things that need to be done.

A trip to the other side of Gloucester on a cold grey morning with Andy C and Chris G produced this Black Redstart Juv. He didn't show too well and it was blooming cold so we gave up after about two hours.


Also present at the same site were Goldfinch, Greenfinch and this Yellow hammer.





A trip to Ross on Wye to get my car fixed gave me chance to visit St Mary's Church, I know that there are a good number of Squirrels there, I was also hoping to see Green Woodpeckers, which I also know frequent the area of the Prospect. Unfortunately there is a lot of archeology being done so there were tents and scaffolding so no Woodies.





A trip to Slimbridge with Chris Grady was a wash out, we had to satisfy ourselves with Bunny shots, There were a few waders present but the y were too far away.


A trip the same day to Frampton allowed us to get some shots of the much publicised Black Necked Grebe. The light was not brilliant but I'm pleased with this record shot.


Also present were a number of Great Crested Grebe, but not in their best plumage.






Some time later a trip to the Elan Valley was planned, the weather was forecast as good, but yet again they got it wrong, It rained and blew a gale and was very cold but there were patches of sun. This was the only shot I got that I'm prepared to put on here.





A trip to Chester to visit my mum was reason to stop and see what was on a village pond that we fed the ducks at when I was a kid. Surprise, surprise nothing unusual was seen but this opportunity presented itself.


I have spent a few hours driving around the lanes near me looking for Red legged Partridge, I know they are there I've seen them. Imagine the surprise when I came across some of the many Pheasants and found four Turkeys wandering around a field with them. The field was open and insecure, I couldn't believe my eyes.






It's getting nearer to Winter isn't it? The leaves are falling and the temperature has dropped. Lots of migrants to be found and photographed.

Check out this website.

I've been surfing the Net quite a bit lately especially the UKNP website. One of the contributors to that site is Major Gilbert. He has his own site too. Check it out at http://www.majorwildlife.co.uk/. It is well worth a look.

"....called in saying she's heard that a hurricane............"

It could all be so different. Still the bad weather has given me the time to go through some shots.

First theres another of the Great crested Grebe from Old Moor, I quite like this shot.

Then there are a couple of the Ravens at Cyril Hart Arboretum

Then this Buzzard, one of many ground feeding amongst the swooping Kite at Gigrin.

A squirrel at the Arboretum too. Doesn't he look cute?

A Heron from the reserve at Forest Farm near Cardiff.

Back to the Arboretum and this Nuthatch.

Back to Gigrin and one of the aforementioned Kite.

Last, but but no means least, The Merlin from the Elan Valley. Still the highlight of the recent past.


Check the Gallery.

Gods Country.

Went to Welsh Wales today to the Elan Valley. It's a place you have to go to when you can. The weather was absolutely brilliant.

I drove along the roads looking for interesting birds on the verges. Low and behold the two most likely suspects showed themselves.

The Stonechat.

The Meadow Pipit, check out the hooked rear claw on this one.

I saw Kestrel, Kite and Buzzard but not close enough to photograph. The Highlight of the drive however was this fantastic Merlin. It was sitting on a post as i rounded a corner and didn't fly off when i drove past it. I turned a short way up the road and slowly returned. Thankfully the god of the bird watchers must have been smiling as i was able to get this shot. There are others but I have yet to go through them, check my galleries in a few days to see more.

The day was rounded off with a trip to Gigrin Farm, anyone who has been following my blog will know how much i enthused about it the first time I went, well this time was no different. A 4GB memory card can vouch for that. I have nearly 300 images to go through but here are two to be going on with.


I had a great day, truly enjoyable. Can there be anything better than a sunny day spent photographing some of the fantastic examples of Gods work. Okay yes there are but I ain't complaining.

Oop north, tha knows.

Slight improvement to the weather and a trip to Barnsley to see my sister meant there was an opportunity for some different areas to visit.

The first place we visited was Newmillerdam near Wakefield, It's basically a large lake with a dam at one end. A walk way allows access alaround the lake. The day was really grey and overcast so I didn't take my camera. What a shame, there were 3 Herons all almost within touching distance, a Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Ducks and the usual coots/moorhens and mallards.

We then went to Broomhill on the Barnsley to Rotherham road, There is a flash there which is managed by the Garganey trust, a group of local people who are well in to their birds. Again the weather was not great but I did get to see Lapwings, Mallard, Little Egrets, Canada Geese, Greylag, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Jackdaw, Black headed Gull, Hobbies, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Cormorant, Gadwall, coot, Moorhen, Garganey, and fantastically for me a Ruddy Duck, . A couple of shots below. The Ruddy Duck is quite a crop.

Lapwing:

Ruddy Duck:

The Highlight of the visit up north was a couple of trips to Old Moor RSPB reserve, not far from the Broomhill site and a fantastic venue. It is free to members and £2.50 for non member adults. It has half a dozen hides and is wheel chair friendly. There is a shop and canteen which have a good selection to offer. I was told it was a bit early for the high number of visiting birds but there were a good number of Geese and Ducks, there were Common sandpiper, Heron, Grebes both Little and Great crested, Little Egret, Bullfinch, Tree sparrows (yes Tree sparrows) and all the usual woodland birds. These are two of the Great crested grebe shots, it had two fish whilst i was watching it.

All in all it was a great trip oop north.