How many RSPB wardens does it take..........

Well that was a nice sociable afternoon in the Somerset sunshine at VP2 Ham Wall. Everyone nice and chatty. I plonked myself down and enjoyed the varied people and wildlife while the gradual changing of the sun made for a spectacular few hours. The Bitterns where out to play with at least 8 in flight. I managed to get my best pic so far of one in flight. I remember well occasions when I could have got fantastic pics in past years but that was before I invested in a camera. But now that I have invested in a new camera........... I need a better camera! Oh when will it end!!

Summers here - Yay!

Not a bad pic if you don't look too close!

Marsh Harriers where here and there with females being the most numerous.

Female Marsh Harrier

Speaking of Marsh Harriers. How many RSPB volunteers does it take to mistake a Buzzard for a Marsh Harrier? About 30 thats how many. OK so it was probably a combination of wishful thinking and over excitement on their part and we've all been there haven't we. A group of blue tee shirted volunteers where taken on a bit of a walk about. They were treated to a Bittern in flight. Suspiciously on cue I thought but is that just the cynic in me? Hee hee

There were quit a few Pochard

Later on a pair of Little Grebes popped out from the reeds and landed smack bang in the middle of the lake. They then sat there looking like they where not sure why they where there but where too embarrassed to move off.

Pair of Little Grebes

So nothing too spectacular or exciting. The day was just............ nice. Peaceful, calm, nothing to bother me. Nice chats about equipment, Bittern and Hobby populations, no wind, sunshine. Even a few helicopters. At one point I had a Hercules and a Hobby in my scope.

I did see one odd thing though. Way off in the distance I saw about half a dozen Crows acting like Hobbies. I have seen this a few years ago. Around the time that Hobbies appear I see these crows, in exactly the same place doing exactly the same thing! Flying up and looking like they are catching dragonflies with their claws. Odd.

On a wing and a prayer

I hated going to church on a Sunday.  My mum would often drag me along.  The long sermons and monotonous hymns would bore me rigid.  I reckon I stopped going, circa 1991.  I was 10.  At that point my head was filled with dinosaurs and Sonic the Hedgehog.  The church didn’t offer either of those (there wasn’t even a mention of hedgehogs in Noah’s ark).

Now 23 years later I am going to church on a Sunday.  Not for prayer but for a Peregrine. 

Strolling along the rather posh, tree lined streets of Bath I wondered how easy it would be too see an urban Peregrine.  Would they be as elusive and difficult as my rural ones?

I found the church without a problem.  Craning my neck upwards I could see a nesting ledge.  But no Peregrine.  I had a wander around the edge of the church just in case I missed anything.

A pair of far eastern ladies emerged and one of them eyed me up from behind her pink glasses.

“You are in the wrong place to take a good photo of the church” she said.  The stereotype of Japanese people carrying cameras immediately sprang to mind.  

I smiled knowingly and pointed to the nest ledge near the spire.  I very politely spoke about wanting to photograph Peregrine falcons rather than church spires (not that there is anything wrong with church spires).

She smiled and pretended to look interested before clambering into the car with her friend.

10 minutes had passed.  It was starting to feel like one of those sermons form 1991.  Even the church cat had fallen asleep...

Then I caught a glimpse of my quarry.  Fleeting and fast (no surprise there).  Within moments it had vanished... It wasn’t going well.  A photo opportunity seemed remote.  I waited on.  My head still pointed firmly on the spires.  People walked passed and politely ignored my obviously bizarre behaviour.

My stomach was growling, so like a hunting Peregrine I swept into KFC for my own spot of avian dinner.  I am glad I didn’t eat in...

Plonking myself down on a bench which faced the river rather than the spire (how inconsiderate) I awkwardly ate my burger, whilst twisting round to check if there was any movement from above.

Pigeons were everywhere as were herring gulls.  Both of these can do very good Peregrine impressions and fooled me a few times.  Then the real deal swooped over head.  My greasy hands gripped the camera.  The male Peregrine flew straight onto the ledge and out of sight...

I kept looking.  Confident he would amble out and give me a good view.  He didn’t amble and he didn’t give me a good view.  About 5 minutes later he shot out like a bullet.  Gone.

Slurping the last bits of coke and scratching for the last chips in the bottom of the bag I looked on forlornly.  It wasn’t going to happen today...

Then in a flash, adrenaline filled moment.  The Peregrine tore through the sky with something in its talons.  It landed on the spire and started its Sunday lunch.  There were feathers and entrails everywhere.  Fantastic!

Going to church isn’t boring in 2014.

Just before tucking in...

'A' Listers and their families

So Driving back from Hull I dropped into Slimbridge WWT since we had heard of Cranes and Avocets nesting. I wasnt disapointed! After paying my dues and walking through the main attractions and trying not to get too annoyed with the cages, pens, huts, clipped wings and netting I got to the real thing. So without further adue here is the crane.

Common Crane

Common Crane

Common Crane

I was very fortunate since it wandered from across the river bank all the way to the small pond in front of the Martin Smith Hide. There was a bit of excitement when a couple came in and the woman, after seeing the Crane, became very excited over what she thought was a Turtle Dove. Much waffling about has anyone got a book, look in the book, Oh my god etc etc. It was a Stock Dove!

So After all that I wandered down to the Holden Tower. What a beautiful structure it is to! This is where the Avocets where. Looking at them feeding I wondered where the young where. Well I noticed one Avocet crouching on the far bank of the small pond. Sure enough as it stood up four little chicks came running out. As they wandered feeding happily they where bothered by not only the noisy neighbours the Lapwings who also had four young ones to protect, and protect they did except when they just few off and left them! but also a rather grumpy and naggy Shelduck from down the road. Its like watching Corrie!! Heres the latest episode.................

Chicks under Parent Avocet

Avocet Pair Feeding

That was a good day

To Hull and back

I had a business trip up to Hull so I took the opportunity to pop into a local nature reserve. By chance I came across the Paull Holme Strays just past Hull. A few hours spent there was only a little rewarding. A very peaceful place indeed with only the cry of the Whimbrel, so synonymous with estuaries, and the thud and drone of the harbour on the opposite bank. There is something haunting about industrial areas within estuaries and wetlands. They have a beauty that offsets the different beauty of the natural environment

A bit of Industrial offset

My first spot was a Whimbrel wandering across the newly sown field on the land side. Only when it walked did I spot it

Good isn't it

So on I trudged to the hide and stood looking across the Humber Estuary in total bliss and only passing a couple of dog walkers and an elderly jogger. Bending down to open my backpack I was startled by the huffing and slobbering of a rather large but friendly Labrador. I turned and gave the owner 'The evils' and was then greeted by another slobbering labrador. Another shot of 'Evils' to the owner who informed me that 'Sorry mate you have to accept there are dogs around here. Now I'm not a dog lover but neither am I a dog hater. What I do hate is owners who don't train their dogs and think its funny or acceptable for their dogs to go running around sniffing into other peoples backs etc. Then declare the dog 'dont worry its only being friendly' With a stream of conversations with the dog about 'come here, don't go there' etc etc. Well train them then you wont have to constantly talk to them. I think they actually enjoy the hassle of having to call them constantly. Which is exactly what the owner did. She then proceeded to bellow at the top of her voice to the dogs to 'come here, we're not going down there'. Well Im sure you've been there.

Anyway, I set up and had a good look around. Avocets feeding, shelducks feeding and far off into the distance Plovers feeding. Oh and a pair of Oyster Catchers feeding.

Avocet

A bit more Industrial Offset

Oyster Catchers

Golden Plover (I told you they where a long way away)

My final sighting which I could get a shot off was on the way back. I finally saw for the first time in my life a Hare. I know, never before. One ran across the Whimbrel field. Oh and there was what now seems to be the obligatory Little Egret!

Beauty and the Beast

Well we were invited over to Mr Riley's new gaff today. Very nice it is to but needs a lick of paint here and there. There was another reason other than the cup of tea on offer though. He had informed me that his Honeysuckle covered apple tree had a resident Mistle Thrush on nest. So off we sped and over a cupper and up a step ladder I managed to get some nice shots.

Mistle Thrush on Nest

Mistle Thrush on Nest

Couldn't tell if it was a male or female since they are so similar but it's probably the female who tends to remain on the nest. I didn't try and see if there where eggs.

So with that over and done with we carried on with the cuppa's and chat when we spied a cheeky little chap flitting back and forth from the weeds to a chicken feeder. It was not one but two young Brown Rats popping out for a grain of corn and a sip from the feeder. Cute but who knows how many there are in the weeds or infact whether it was just the two or a different one each time!

One of the cheeky little Brown Rats

I will leave it up to you as to which of these two is the beast!

The early bird catches the worm

5:30 am.   Its not a time I see too often, which is fortunate. I found myself wide awake on Saturday morning.  To my surprise the sun was shining in and the birds were happily singing away.  A far cry from those dark and dank winter mornings.  An early morning visit to the levels was in order!

With surprising vigour I was up and ready to go.  I got to the reserve fulling expecting to be the only human about.  Except there were about 10 cars in the car-park already.  Surely the hides wouldn't be full?

I passed by a small house on the left on the way into the reserve.  Camera at the ready (more on this later) I crept closer to the feeders which the owner often puts out.  Half a dozen Goldfinches were munching away along with a much greater prize.  A woodpecker.  Unfortunately in my excitement I raised the camera to quickly.  The movement caught the bird's eye and in a flurry of pied feathers he was gone.

Into the reserve.  My senses were quite overwhelmed.  The birds act differently in the morning.  They seem happier!  A Chiff-Chaff boldly announced his presence on an overhead wire.  Goldfinches sang their twinkly song and Cettis were filling the air with that short, explosive tune.

Then something started up which I hadn't heard before.  Loud and proud and rather nice to listen to.

A lone, Lycra clad  cyclist looked slightly bemused as I stood staring at a hedge and stare I did.  For a good 5 minutes, trying to locate the owner of the powerful song.  Then without warning it jumped out right in front of me.  I took half a dozen shots, the camera whirring and complaining as I strained its (rather slow) auto focus.  Moments later the bird had returned back into the foliage.

As I took the photos I noted a ruddy coloured tail.  I fast becme aware that this was something a bit different from the norm... A Nightingale.

Flushed with pride I examined the photos.  That when an upwelling of dissapointment set in.  I had set the camera to a a shutter speed approaching that of a Cheetah on steroids.  Way too fast.  I eneded up with a black blob perched an a thin, dark twig.

The Nightingale continued its harmonious song from deep in the thicket.  I cursed.  Things went from bad to worse when a psychotic blackbird arrived on the scene.  It gazed down upon me all wide eyed and twitchy.  I knew what was going to happen... Sure enough it belted out an hysterical warning cry. 

The Nightingale fell silent.  Happy in the knowledge that it had ruined my morning the Blackbird flew off down the path. Cackling manically.

Dejected I stayed for a few more minutes.  It was no use.  The Nightgale had fallen silent.  I picked up my bag when suddenly he started up again.  Perhaps he had grown used to the Blackbirds frenzied chorus and had learned to ignore it!

Finally I located the songster amongst the leaves...

A first for me and the EFRS!

I stayed for about 5 minutes before he went to far in to the hedge to be seen any longer.

At the hide, there was plenty of heron activity.  Plus a Kingfisher landed on a distant reed with a hapless stickleback in his bill.  I did get a picture but was awful.

As I was the only one there the birds seemed a bit more bold with the Pochards and a Little grebe coming quite close.

The water was absolutely still and the light was quite unusual which allowed me to catch these shots of a Great crested grebe

Despite the tranquility, my mind was slightly occupied with thoughts about cameras.  This was going to be my Nikon's last outing before I bought an SLR.  I have had a slightly long and boring relationship with various cameras, SLR or otherwise and can never make up my mind.

Back home the winning buyer on ebay was emailing me enthusiastically about  when I was sending it and what condition it was in.  Meanwhile, the SLR I was bidding on seemed a bit less tempting (200mm lens doesn't get you all that far...)

In a fit of decisiveness I issued a full refund and the Nikon survived another day.  I'm glad I took it with me as its final early bird outing has proven to be one of its best.

Old Favourites Return

My Favourites are back! There is nothing more beautiful than that perfect black silhouette in a perfect blue sky. I love Swifts. They are the perfect bird. Sleek and elegant. So quintessentially Vaughan Williams English yet at the same time so foreign. They take me back to Laurie Lee days of hot and dusty Spanish Castille towns. That dry screech, the silent swoop. There is nothing like it. Tier upon tier as you crane your neck in dizzy, confusing searches. One look away and your eyes have to wait until they declare themselves again like summers day phantoms. Wonderful stuff.

The ones we see here are the lucky ones. The ones that made it through the hale of shot from the continent!

My vain attempt at photographing a Swift over Ham Wall

But to start at the beginning...........

As I rose the crest up to the old railway bridge at Aqueduct Crossing I was greeted with the sight of a Hobby being harassed by a group of House Martins. I swear they where doing to the Hobby what Crows do to Buzzards. They drove it off anyway. A good start. All day I was watching up to a dozen Hobbies at once. A week or so ago it was ring the church bells a Hobby. Now they are here and as I said in a previous post, its as if they always were.

The Enchanted Path leading up to Aqueduct Crossing Bridge

View from the Aqueduct Bridge

Not the best shot but its a Hobby. One of about two dozen I saw

A quick trip to the Reed Hide (I don't know if its called that but seems appropriate due to its location) revealed a family of Canada Geese just back from a swim. The young ones where still drying themselves off when I arrived and the parents where keeping watch. They then snuggled under mothers wing for an afternoon nap. Sweet.

The magnificent Male Marsh Harrier was patrolling 70 Acres as usual and three others where dancing in the sky close by. Couldn't get a good shot of them but this shows the effect.

Dancing Marsh Harriers over 70 Acres

Through Ham Wall and Shapwick, avoiding a vole running across my path, I took the road to our new route up to the Hawk and Owl Trust reserve. It was very peaceful for lunch. Nothing as yet to see since most of the raptors are sitting on eggs for now. We did see four Whimbrels earlier in the week.

View to the Tor from The H&O Reserve

The day was finished with not a breath of wind at Viewing point 2 of Ham Wall in glorious sunshine listening to the booms of Bitterns and frustrating Cuckoos in the distance. Two of the most elusive birds. I did see 3 bitterns and two Woodpeckers though. So not to bad.