Was that summer?

We, in Cheshire, had one nice day this week. We have had the odd nice evening which I guess we should be happy with. I have been trying to do more rabbits this week. I made a bit of a project of it. However, speaking of projects you will recall that in my last post I was going to do a days project on Little Egret, unfortunately they disappeared never to return  the day after I did my last post. I'm not too disappointed.

Back to the Rabbits. I am sure that any of you who have tried to get shots of rabbits will know that it isnt that easy. They do not like to see you and will often leg it whilst you are still a way away. I obtained most of my shots this week from my car, they don't seem to be too fazed as long as you dont open the door and try and get out.

Those first two are obviously the same kitten. This third was taken on a less sunny day at a different spot.

and again this one taken at a different spot on a different day.

Last evening (sat) I decided to try a different tack. I decided to get to a local area where the rabbits come out in the evening. Its a narrow lane that leads down to the council depot adjacent to the A55/M53 converge.
I had been there earlier in the day to suss it out, and had been checked out by the local Police Officer who had seen my parked car and was worried I may be up to no good. Having assured him that my intentions were entirely above board he went away happy. I had looked for rabbit runs coming out of the hedge as an indication of the best spot to wait. I got there early and positioned my self in what I hoped was a good spot. I sat down with the tripod over my legs and waited. I was wearing a camo top and green cap but blue trousers. sure enough within thirty minutes rabbits were coming out further down the lane. I was still hopeful that I was in a good spot although a little concerned that the evening breeze had moved slightly and was blowing any scent of me towards the area I was hoping the rabbits would emerge. However a rabbit emerged slightly to my left and started to come towards me, stopping to feed every now and then.

Eventually the rabbit got to within 30 feet of me, I was convinced it must have seen me especially as I turned the lens to face it, but it did not seem fazed by me at all, infact it did something I'd never have believed, it not only sat down but it lay down stretched out it's back leg and sunbathed in the glorious evening sun. Initially I thought it must be a buck but having looked at the collection of photos I took, after the event, I think it was a heavily pregnant doe.

Either way we sat and looked at each other for 20 minutes or so, I took a couple of dozen shots and she never moved. I love the way the sun highlights the veins in its ear. Ok maybe not the best technical shots due to the backlight but a fantastic experience. I had a really sore bum by the time she eventually got up and hopped away. I have truly enjoyed messing around with rabbits this week.

Bad weather forecast for at least the next 48hrs in Cheshire, but I have hopes to get some photography done, There are Blackcaps in a hedgerow that runs alongside the primary school in the village, so on Monday I will go and see the head and let her know I'm going to be out with the camera trying to get shots of them. Don't want another visit from the law do I?

Enjoy your week, come back soon.

More of the same please.

On the odd occasion when the wind has been bearable and the sun shining I have been out with the camera, Its been a week of firsts. I saw my first ever Blue winged Teal, I saw my first Whitethroat of the year, first Grass Snake of the year, but its been a week where I have just enjoyed the proper start of spring. I have a few things to show you.

Burton Mere RSPB has a large number of Little Egrets on site, I believe they have nesting pairs there, its unusual for them to come anywhere near the hides.

Burton also has a large number of Avocets and again many pairs nest there, It was at Burton that I saw the Blue winged Teal.

Today I took a trip to Prees Heath, just outside Whitchurch, Shropshire. Later in the year it will be the place to go for Silver Studded Blue butterflies, along with many other species. It's great for birds too including Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, etc. I saw the first Brimstone of the year and the first Whitethroat of this year.

and a Meadow Pipit

I took my macro lens out in the village this week and got the following,

Bombylius Major (Bee fly)

Comma

Peacock.

I went out this evening with the sole intention of getting Rabbits. I know a couple of spots where there are good numbers but  getting close to them is not easy, well not until tonight, I didn't try to get them in the fields I sat in my car and waited for them to come nearer to me. I got two nice young ones, in two different areas.

In my personal life I had some great news this week too, There was a witness to my accident in January and his account of what he saw confirms my version of events so hopefully the details will be settled soon.

Lets hope the weather continues to improve and there is more to follow.

Waders

The sun and cold continued very much until yesterday (fri 12th), I managed to get a few trips in this week. One was up to the Dee estuary to do waders and I was quite happy with the result, Redshank, Knot, Dunlin and Turnstone were seen.

Redshank:

Turnstone:

Dunlin:
 

On the way back from there I called in at Thurstaston and the Wirral Country Park, here I saw my first Meadow Pipit of the year, not a great shot I know but first of the year.

My next trip was to Burton Mere RSPB reserve, not a lot here to photograph, the Rats of course, a Jackdaw or two but also seen were Avocets, there's 40 odd there at the moment and they are hoping to beat last years 32 breeding pairs. Too far away to shoot though.

It is definately spring though isn't it, I've seen Blackbirds with nest material in their mouths, I have Great tits nest building in my bird box up the garden, and I saw my first flying butterfly today, a Small Tortoiseshell. There are lambs in the fields around the area too and this morning I was up at 5.30 and listening to the dawn chorus. Not because I wanted to be up that early, but I was.

It is supposed to be wet and grey I think for the next few days, I am thinking of doing a one day project on Little Egrets. It will mean being on the ground before first light but I've seen 3 feeding along the river Gowy near home and using the shelter of a small copse of trees I think I can get really close with the hide, but like I said I need to get there very early and as sleep is not coming easy at the moment and the spirit may not be stronger than the body.

Just a quick word about two people that have submitted some fabulous shots to Birdguides this last week or so. Bob Jones and Lewis Thomson who are both in my links list have submitted some Hawfinch shots of which they should be very proud. Lewis submitted a shot of two touching bills which deservedly won Picture of the Week last week, check out their shots through the links or through Birdguides. Well done guys.

Come back soon.

Sun, Wind and Cold

I said in my last post or so that cold and bright I could handle and I can. Cold bright and extremely windy however is a different thing. Biting cold winds have made photography very hard this last week or so. I did try to use the wind to my advantage on one afternoon and spent an hour or so trying to get gulls in flight.

Lots of frames to produce these. I also snapped a couple being still.

I was also amazed to see the ducks misbehaving, I know it's nature and I know that nothing can change it but it looks horrific, You have to feel for the females.

A group of at least five males continually hounded this female for about 20 minutes, on the odd occasion she was able to get from under them they chased her around the lake. On some occasions she was under water for what seemed like minutes.

Still she gave me the odd opportunity to grab a shot of her in flight too.

The moorhen came on to the bank right near me, which was nice, I couldn't resist getting a shot of it.

The shot of the week for me this week however has been the first Chiffchaff of 2013, can I finally believe spring is here?

The evening light was just glorious.

I have also seen a Grey Wagtail in the village this week, on a tiny brook in the wood next to where I walk the dog, I can't recall ever having seen one in the village before so it was doubley nice. I am also up to 59 on the bird list.

I got my first bit of Macro/Close up shot recently, it was a Varied Carpet Beetle which as scary as it sounds wasn't cause for any panic.

I also got on my knees to get another shot of a Crocus in my mum's garden.

I hope that the Sun continues to shine and that the temp rises a fair few degrees.

Put a hold on spring will you.

The snow has materialised in some parts of the country, but as yet we've seen none in the village. However, grey skies have prevailed so photography has taken a back seat.

I have found the first nest of the year, a Blackbirds. Sitting on eggs too. I thought that it was early but a check of my books showed it isnt. I hope the weather improves before the eggs hatch. I'm surprised there is enough food around.

Right, photos, what have I got to show you? Not a great deal unfortunately. A couple of trips to the pit at Christleton have produced the usual suspects. Not very thrilling I know but here they are.

Cormorant:

I have to confess that the middle pic was taken by my brother, Alan, using my kit. I processed it along with mine hence the water mark.

Coots:

and Mallard:

There are a shed loads of Black Headed Gulls, so I spent a little while on them.

and finally a Dunnock searching through the undergrowth.

Lets hope for a better week ahead.