Mid-summer Murders

Today the EFRS lived up to its name...

My bike was all patched up and we were all geared up and ready to roll.  What a day to choose!

The weather was perfect, filled with optimism we were off.  However the creatures of the moor were in an entirely different mood...

We sallied forth from Glastonbury and down to the enchanted wood where Andrew hoped to finally defeat his Nemesis (see previous entry).  Silence ensued as Andrew drew is camera.  Not much actually happened.  The Nemesis had long gone.  Despite this, it was good to spend some time in the enchanted wood.  There is an air of mystery and intrigue surrounding this place.  The tall trees are bound to hold the odd rare Warbler.  The EFRS will have to check this place out more thoroughly in the future.

Onwards to Ham Wall and we were serenaded by low flying Swallows slicing through the air looking resplendent in the sunshine.

Stopping at VP2 Andrew grabbed a shot of a female Blackcap.  I am a big fan of these birds.  Not really sure why!

Female Black Cap

A Great White Egret was fishing in the distance and a female Marsh Harrier was swooping low over the reeds (I am still waiting to see a Marsh harrier actually catch something).

Then there was some loud screeching from behind (always a disturbing experience).  Looking up we watched a Buzzard getting beaten up by a pair of over zealous Common Terns.  Buzzards are disappointing birds.  They are big and mean looking but they eat worms and get knocked about by Crows (and Terns evidently).  I bet this one had already been bullied half a dozen times and it was only 10.30...

Tern Pair Harrying a Buzzard

After discussing the Buzzard’s misfortune we headed down to VP1 and saw precisely nothing.  So we headed over to the viewing blinds where a number of baby Moorhens were milling around. Cute (but a bit manky looking up close!).

I was in a bit of a pickle with my camera (the seller had packed the wrong charger) meaning that I only had limited opportunity.  So I wasted it with some landscape shots.

Onto the big hide in the reeds.  Here Andrew flexed his photographic muscle with these absolute corkers.

Common Tern

Common Tern

Grey Heron

Mallard Chicks having a race

Mallard Chicks having a race

Great Crested Grebe Chick

After advertising the virtues of an SLR (I might get him a Canon T shirt).  Andrew and myself headed over to Shapwick.  The scrape had one bird on it.  A single Great White Egret (which can be affectionately abbreviated to GWE) and a hot crow who was wandering along the river bank.

He looks like he needs arms :-)

We tried Noah’s as we hadn't been there in ages.  It always looks a bit prehistoric with the old, dead trees sticking out of the water and Cormorants hanging out to dry.  A Kingfisher flashed by and a Reed warbler was skulking about nearby.

Reed Warbler

Reed Warbler

Blue Tit

Then a brutal scene unfurled.  A rather angry swan took great dislike to its younger kin.  A vicious assault ensued with the larger swan repeatedly dunking the young un.  Holding it down in an attempt to drown it.  The youngster weakened quite quickly and things looked grim.  This was going to be a CSI crime scene.  However just when all seemed lost the victim dived into some reeds, hopefully to safety...

Mute Swan attempted drowning

Mute Swan attempted drowning

A little shaken up by these events we went over to Eco Bites to gather our nerves. After a rest and some food.  We tried the Canada lake hide.  Except Andrew couldn't lift his bike over the gate because it was heavy and there was also considerable risk of damage to his (vast) array of equipment...

So we went to Westhay.  Then we saw this fella

Exmoor Pony

Exmoor Pony

You can take a horse to water...

It was a strange place to see a pony.

At the raised platform, Marsh Harriers were flying about albeit rather distantly.  We took the opportunity to try out the variety of optical and camera equipment that we have accrued of late.  All good, honest fun.

Little Egret

Little Egret

Female Marsh Harrier

Cycling back I stopped to see the second crime scene of the day.  A large (Emperor?) dragonfly was feasting on a smaller victim.  There was lots of angry buzzing.  These are serious beasts.  Unfortunately he was able to drag his victim into the sky and away from my equally hungry camera lens!

The day rounded off with a few relaxing pints at The Sheppey.  Except the EFRS is never off duty.  Andrew noted a Buzzard in the field as we were drinking our pints.  He disappeared and re appeared again brandishing his lens!  It did draw some attention from nearby punters.

“Its the paparazzi “ was whispered from a nearby table along with other things which are not suitable for a premium blog such as this.  Anyway here are some shots taken from the pub.

Buzzard

Buzzard / Magpie Face-off

The final murder happened.  The local cat caught and ate an unfortunate victim.  It was summer time but the animals had murder on their minds.

Cat and (dead) Mouse

Crackers for Carlisle

Funny things Gulls. The young can often look like completely, and wishfully rare and exotic, species. Herring Gull young in particular can get the heart racing. Thankfully there where non about when I visited Campfield Marsh  Well close to it anyway. This is up on the West Coast on the Solway Estuary just before Carlisle. I have a lot of favourite spots in the UK but this happens to be a particular favourite of mine. Morecambe Bay and the rest of Cumbria is so beautiful. Not just on a particularly sunny summers day as this but even in the depths of winter. You cant beat a bit of drama and this area has it in abundance. I always have the appreciation that this can be an unforgiving country.

But back to the birds. These where flying back and forth. It took me a while to work them out. Bearing in mind we are very much land-lubbers when it comes to birds so I was again out on a limb with ID's

Juvenile Black Headed Gull

Juvenile Great Black Back Gull

Adult Black Headed Gull

As always when I head to the coast the tide is about a mile out. Still it does make for a nice pic even if the birds are a dot on the horizon.

That dot isn't a bird its a big lump of something!

It could be the Sahara!

Those dots are birds. Not Ostriches but Oystercatchers

Some Oystercatchers a bit closer

I do like Oystercatchers. The have that striking red beak and when they fly the black and white is really shown off to full effect

Even a couple of Shelducks where around!

There is the remains of a man-made structure jutting out into the estuary with what looks like Roman pillars proudly standing in defiance of the sea. I walked over and clambered up. I always take a while to savour such edifices. The history for me is fascinating. Who walked on these stones just as I am doing. The workers who built it. The locals who looked on agast when it was being built declaring it to be a blot on the landscape having never seen such black filthy industry before amongst their familiar fields. Even the planning in the mahogany offices of the local business leaders.

Those Iron columns (With a GBB Gull eating something!)

On top

The Columns

While on top I overheard a conversation where a Mountaineer was explaining to a guy from Zimbabwe what the structure was. I listened with fascination. Apparently it was a jetty for the local Jacobs biscuit factory in Carlisle. They landed the flour there then transported it on the railway to the factory. I was aware of the Jacobs factory so that seemed plausible. So with this blog in mind I thought I'd google a few pics of this Jetty in action.

He was talking bollocks..........

This is what it actually was............ Solway Viaduct

An artistic picture

Another artistic picture

A few of these beauties were flying back and forth. Managed to get a few pics even if it was distant.

Whimbrels

Whimbrels I love the contrast in colours and textures on this one

Finally the local Haaf Net fishermen were out in the tide. Interesting to see this ancient fishing method.

Nemesis

A quick after work style one today. Gave James the buzz and we met up at, yes you guessed it, VP2 at Ham Wall. We promise we will go somewhere else soon! Anyway thats where we met. Unfortunately James is just a foot soldier at the moment. He needs to take is steed in to be shod. Yes well thats going to happen some time soon isn't it!

But before we get onto the actual viewing platform (So to speak) let me tell you about a certain nemesis we have. The route from Glastonbury to Ham Wall incorporated the (As we call it, we have no idea what its supposed to be called but it does follow the old railway line in a wiggly sort of way) Enchanted Wood. For quit a few trips through this wood we have been taking in the delights of enchantedment when the ass end of a Greater Spotted Woodpecker makes us jump. These buggers have an annoying habit of flitting to the next tree as soon as you get within even thinking about taking a shot. Ad infinitum! We then get a nasty dose of amnesia. (Must be the enchantedness) so that next time we repeat the exercise. Ad infinitum. But today I remembered. I crept through the wood looking out for the beast. Slowly I moved. Half way through I suddenly stopped. Eye contact was made. Like gunslingers we locked. It was fist full of dollars Somerset style. And off he slitted. Ad infinitum to the next tree. It was, of course, a perfect shot. Side on, on the side of a small tree with dappled light. Next time my friend, next time.

Viewing point 2 at Ham Wall never, and I mean NEVER lets you down. It was an odd evening. The light was bright but hazey. As though a storm was coming but no sign was in the air. A solitary Hobby we had seen for the last few weeks was tantalising in the distance. Only once did he come close enough for a good shot.

Hobby

Here he is nibbeling on a Dragonfly

Hobby

Hobby

Heres a bird both James and I appreciate a lot. If it where rare we would be drooling over it. Its got a beautiful name to.

A beautiful Magpie

Magpie

The next nemesis appeared at this point. Every hour or so a Sparrow Hawk serenely flies low past. Its so enigmatic we forget to grab the camera. One day my friend, one day. Ad infinitum.

So what else did we see? Well there was the Kingfisher, the flock of Lapwings (Right on cue when I commented that you just don't see Lapwings in the summer do you), a couple of female Marsh harriers, THREE Common Turns (We had only seen two previously).

Your waiting for the pictures aren't you! You dont want to see that lot. This is what you want to see. Another picture of a Juvenile Buzzard with a rat in its beak!

Juvenile Buzzard with Rat

There is a section of dead threes that I often take a look since they are prime woodpecker/Kingfisher/Cuckoo locations. I have never seen any there but wait, is that a Little Owl sitting on the top of a dead trunk!!!!!

Little Owl (That is always there)

It hasn't moved for months