Hiding behind a bush(nell)

News of an Osprey at Noahs got me a bit ruffled up.  So I headed out.

The hide was packed but thinned out pretty quickly allowing me a premium spot :-)

To my relief the Osprey has sat on his perch allowing some good views (if a bit distant).  Next to me was a nice gentleman with a small Bushnell scope.  I am in the market for something like this as I sold my 80mm scope as it was a bit heavy and cumbersome for me.  He was more tha happy for me to have a go.  The Osprey looked much better through this bit of kit.  The field of view was narrow but the detail was good.  i liked it... Might have to get on ebay later.

Anyway the Osprey didnt do a lot.  At one point it flew about 10 feet from one dead tree to another and then it sat there and sat there.  After about 40 minutes I admitted defeat but not before a Female Marsh Harrier flyby and a brief view of a Kingfisher.

Hopefully he will hang around for a bit and maybe think about coming a bit closer.

 The crow tried to stir him into action but it ultimately failed...

Well at least it was in sunlight.

3rd time lucky

I have been doing loads of cycling lately and thought that I would do some more!

Slowly peddling along the river at Fenny Castle I looked across at the Tor jutting up distinctively from the freshly mown fields all around.  Truly we are blessed around here and it is important to take it all in (before it starts raining like last year).  My revery was disturbed by the high pitched call of a Kingfisher.  A neon strip of blue contrasted against the dark water.  It flew in front for a couple of seconds before landing on an overhead perch.  My chance...

Because I am cunning I continued cycling.  That way the Kingfisher would think that I was in no way interested.  After 20 feet or so I stopped, fumbled around for my camera and slowly stalked back along the bank.  To cyclists went passed and did their very best to ignore my slightly odd behavior.

Anyway to cut a long story short the Kingfisher was half way to Burnham-on-Sea by the time I had got anywhere near it. 

Overhead  2 Little Egrets were engaged in an aerial dispute over something or other.  Again I do take these birds for granted despite the fact that they really ought to be living on the back of a Rhino.

I cycled through Westhay and went straight passed a very handsome looking Buzzard sat on a post.  It was time to use my cunning.  I cycled 20 or so feet ahead and fumbled about for my camera.  I was about to take the shot when he flew off.  He was well on the way to Weston by the time I had got him in focus...

Just before entering Shapwick I was in for a treat.  A female Peregrine flew across the road and scared the living daylights out of all the other little birds in trees and hedges far and wide.  Alarm calls where going off everywhere.  Must be nice to have such a killer rep.

I headed to Noah's hide for a rest and something to eat.  The wind was blowing up a gale and my tin foil slide across the hide restlessly. Once his was contained I was able to settle in.  Almost immediately I could see a tern flying around in the distance.  Bit darker than the Common ones I am used to.  A Black tern. A first for me.  He flew around quite happily in the wind for the whole time I was there.  Unfortunately he was quite a long way off.  Unlike this fellow who was doing a spot of fishing under the hide.

This chap was also somewhat closer.

Just before I left I noted 10 or so Swifts, quite late on for these masters of the sky.  Might be the last time I see them for a while.  I hope their journey is a safe one

 I headed over to Ham Wall where there were 3 Common terns flying about and making lots of noise.  Along with another Kingfisher who zipped under my nose.

Then I saw the EFRS mark 2.  An impressive array of bikes and equipment.  For a moment I thought it was Andrew himself who had parked up!!!

I headed back through Glastonbury and then I saw my first heron of the day.  He was sat very close and then I had a cunning plan.  I cycled about 20 meters in front of him and then fumbled for my camera.  I carefully stalked back along the bank and... he didn't fly off.  Slightly unnerved I took this picture which is actually alright!

Maybe third time is lucky after all.

Half Mast

There has not been an awful lot of EFRS activity of late.  Time to put a change to all that!

It was only a local trek to the hills around Wookey Hole but I often see something of interest.  My aim was to reach the mast on top of the mendips.  I often try this but normally get distracted and don't make it.  No doubt it would probably be the same today...

I set off after a rather rain filled morning.  I had walked about 50 meters before getting caught up by a family of Wrens.  They were flitting around the place but wouldn't hold still for a photo.  I got bored after a while and carried on.

To my delight a female Sparrowhawk flew low across the field before flying parallel to a small wood.  She put up half a dozen small birds but didn't seem intent on catching anything.  Then she was lost to view.

The foothills of the Mendips are smothered with bugs, flies and butterflies at the moment.  I whipped out my camera and took lots of pictures.  Some of them were alright.

 Hairstreak butterfly and a bee

 Corizus hyoscyami (bet your impressed!)

 Common Blue

errr.... Brown butterfly of some description?

Common blue I think

Sorry for the descriptions I'm not an expert although I am getting quite interested in Butterflies, its a natural extension on birds I suppose.

Flesh fly - A face only a mother could love

I had got half way up to the mast when this slightly goofy looking dragonfly let me get very close.

Common Darter

Then a thought it best to lie on the floor and take a picture of some spiders.  Luckily nobody saw me as I would have looked rather odd.

 

 

Yuck - Weird red things on it.  Like a scene from a sci fi film.

And finally, a bird!!!! From miles away.

2 Ravens were calling from a low perch.  I normally see them flying around these 'ere parts but haven't seen them perched.  I tried to get closer but it didn't happen.

By this point time was getting on and it looked like it was going to rain...

It makes a great sight, watching the rain sweeping across.  Unfortunately it was moving rather quickly.  I turned tail and fled down the hill.  A Green woodpecker shouted out his crazed alarm call as I clumsily made my way back home.  Not before getting a good drenching first.  A made it half way to the mast but still enjoyed myself!

Thats not fare...

Today found me on the mendips searching for, well anything really!

I cheated and drove up to Ubley Warren (cycling it has nearly caused me death... It is seriously steep!)

I brandished my camera at a variety of small birds which were extremely flighty and wouldnt give me a look in.

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING IMAGE IS RUBBISH.  PLEASE LOOK AWAY IF IT OFFENDS YOU

Linnet? No idea...

Then something bigger.

These were swines to get.  So nervous and flitting all over the place.  About 15 in all.  Fieldfare I believe.  Don't think I have seen them this early before.

UPDATE: They are juvenile Mistle thrushes.  Never seen loads of them together before. Thanks to Julian for the correction :-)

Aside from this there were plenty of Goldfinches sitting on teasles.  Unfortunately I was quite incapable of getting a picture of them.  I was getting a little irate and mumbling to myself t this point.

At the pond I noticed a Swallow stopping point and got a few pictures before the clouds came in.

After all the difficulty of little fast birds I decided to try and get a macro.  Bumble Bees are a favourite of mine and this one was alright.

Sometimes insects play fare!

If you can see this..

A meeting of minds was on the agenda today with Andrew and myself pedaling down to Shapwick to meet up with Mr Riley.  We arrived first, and calmly waited for the esteemed master to grace us with his presence.  Sure enough through the haze the familiar form of Mr Riley filled our vision.  His progress was slow (not due to increased years of course).   He had been distracted by the wildfowl out on the lake.

Soon he was with us, and immediately regaled us with stories of birding past.   

After a few minutes a Bittern which had been sitting under our noses made its presence felt and rose up and off over to Meare hide. 

Slightly annoyed that he had been so close the party moved back torward Noah/s hide.  Here Mr Riley was in his element, commenting (as he does) on the rich flora of the area.  It was Dog rose this and Carr fen that.   

Didn’t know any of it if I’m honest.  As we walked Mr Riley pointed out various songful melodies echoing from a variety of bird beaks.  This is something of a dying art, I feel, as newer birders are more accustomed to sight rather than sound.  It was a pleasure to have someone with knowledge of bird song.

In the hide Andrew picked out 2 Black swans, an unusual place to find them!

He also took pictures of Black headed gulls, see last entry and the entry before that and...

 

A kingfisher flashed past a few times and a Reed warbler was messing about in the reeds.  Meanwhile Mr Riley was soaking up the atmosphere, a true enthusiast!

After a good half and hour we exited.  But not before this Marsh harrier flew into Andrew's sites.

I then went for a quick wild wee and most of it landed on a small frogs head.  Most unpleasant (for the frog).

At this point Andrew thought it prudent to ask Mr Riley what he thought of the blog.   

There was some hesitation before it became apparent that Mr Riley was unaware of the web address.  Andrew let out a small sigh and rolled his eyes a bit (all behind Mr Riley – its all about respecting your elders).  This butterfly cheered him up a bit though.

 Andrew was wielding his 400mm like a macro lens... He'll get a proper one soon.  Even though he denies it

 

Anyway Mr Riley promised that he would have a look at the site (which he writes on!!!)...

After some more conversation we said our good byes to Mr Riley and had a quick stop at Ham Wall.

We were in luck with 4 Marsh harriers flying about together, a great sight.  I think the most I ever seen together.  Long may it continue!

I wonder if Mr Riley has read this...

Scarey Monsters

I had a chance to visit somewhere interesting around the York area last week so a quick Google came up with Wheldrake Ings. A nice little spot just South East of York. Unfortunately this reserve is best suited to winter migration and flooding when the Derwent breaches its banks. So in mid summer the main hide is looking over pasture fields full of crows. Oh well. I wandered along the very pleasant paths to another hide which overlooked a pond.

Very Pretty

On the far bank there where two Little Egrets, some lapwings and Canada Geese. But amongst these there was also two very interesting birds. These two....

RedShank??

(I reckon - James)

Water Rail (It was a big one!!)

And having a good swim in the water there was a family of Tufted Ducks

Tufted Duck Family

And finally a very handsome Shoveller in flight. Their beaks add to the effect when in flight.

Shoveller in flight

Then came the scary bit. On a beautiful summers day amongst the reeds I began to hear what I thought was a tractor in the distance. At the head of the path I found this beast. When the breeze blew it turned and made the most disturbing industrial nightmare of a grind. Even on a day like this it gave me the creeps. Imagine being there at midnight on a wet and windy winter.

Scary Monster

An artistic shot

On the way back I managed to get a few shots of one of the cutest birds around. The Long tailed Tit. They are flighty little buggers. Never staying still for a second and always amongst the leaves. Only when a gang of them decides to hop tree do you really get to see them. It was a welcome antidote to the scary monster.

Long Tailed Tit



These Pair of Greenshank where at another pond at the back of the Reserve

And a Sedge Warbler

If you knew these two you would recognise them. So how come I can get a pic like this of a plane hundreds of feet in the air but cant get a decent pic of a Marsh harrier that was flying about only 20 feet away!!!!!

Rail network

It was baking hot on Friday.  I bravely jumped onto my bike.  It was midday by the time I got to Westhay (mad dogs and Englishmen and all that...)

It gets especially oppressive amongst the Westhay reeds.  The dragonflies buzzed about angrily, beady eyes looking for their next fleshy morsel.  The dead remains of petrified trees jutted at awkward angles from the dark swamp water.  A truly prehistoric place.

The raised platform granted some respite, above the reeds the air flows a little more freely.

All around their were strange gurgles and quiet grunts.  Moorhens I assumed, hiding amongst the reeds.

One decided to make a brief appearance, rushing around and doing a very good Jesus impression (walking on water, not parting the Red sea).  It caught my attention enough to have a look through my binoculars.  To my surprise it was not a Moorhen but a Water Rail.

It paused long enough for this quick snap.

I quickly realised that the noise was coming from his bill not from a Moorhens.  In fact there were loads of calls all sounding very similar.  That's because their were loads of Water Rails!  Another one was skulking about nearby and a few minutes later I found these two critters about 20 feet from the first one.

Definitely "Network Rail!"