Otter S****

I hate waiting.  I do it all the time.  In the shops, on the road (not actually ON the road) and waiting for my mum to get herself ready.  I was keen as mustard to get out but often OAPs can be a bit slow.  Still eventually I bundled ger into the car and dropped her off in Glasto.

Now time was mine!

It was a bit grey and dull.  Now having heard tales of Bearded reedlings at Westhay I thought I would go and have a quick look.  I headed out to the hide at the end.  The reeds were swaying gently and looked like they would love to ghave a reedling perched on them.  Sadly these birds are not real and are simply the result of group hallucinations and plastic models stuck onto tall reeds with superglue.

Still should you choose to believe those who fan the propaganda flames I suggest you follow Martin M or Robin Morrison on twitter.  They have 'photographs' of these creatures... Pah! Next it will be alien abduction.

Suddenly a real bird flew over.

100% real swan (no artificial ingredients or preservatives)

To be honest I was struggling to see anything.  A heron was the best I could see!  In the distance a Mallard laughed at me with that insane cackle.  I broke out the Kit Kat and ham sandwich combo to quash my rising boredom.

Right on cue a Kingfisher zoomed by.  Sadly I was to busy with my kit kat to get him.

I decided to wander back along the track, the sun was trying to cut through the cloud.  I noticed a bit of a commotion on the pond next to me.  Ducks were flying all over the place.   a Marsh harrier swooped across (that will teach that cocky Mallard).

The quest for a decent Marsh harrier picture is definitely not complete

I glanced down and noticed a fairly large, well formed hole in the reeds.  Outside it was a slimy brown s****.  It had been utter s**** so far but was this Otter s****?

Bloody hell. Why am I taking pictures like this?

Still, it could be Otter poo.  

Sadly the owner couldnt be located (assuming it was an Otter).  Hopefully an expert in Otter excrement will know ( a dubious claim to fame).

I sighed and moaned a bit as I trudged back to the car.  Luckily a couple of birds did cheer me up a bit.  Nothing special but it was something.

Although there are plastic versions of these.  

I can assure you it is real (unlike those plastic reedlings)

Yes, its a GCG.  Its not that exciting but it wasn't a good day for it.

On the drive home I hoped for maybe a Buzzard slaughtering an earthworm but even that wasnt available.  To make matters worse it has become painfully apparent that:

a) The sky is filled with small, flying alien snakes

b) My lens has got some serious dust on it

C) There were thousands of those Caddis fly things flying about.
     It might be those clogging up the image.

I will let you decide.  After all, if you believe in Reedlings then anything is possible...

Andrew - Erm perhaps those Reedlings do exist after all James. As previously posted on the EFRS:

They have landed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

60 Minute Makeover

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Time is precious.  We never get enough of it...

With this in mind I thought I would squeeze in an hour between children's parties. Like Claire Sweeney in 60 Minute Makeover.   I was up against it, with only an hour to spare. I headed straight for Tealham as this meant that I could sit on my arse and take photos from my mobile hide (the car). On my way in I noted the small gathering of Starlings on the telegraph wires, reminding me that winter was just about to make itself known. My first target was a Little Egret.  I casually drove by.  If I were to stop it would fly off into the horizon before I could even raise the camera...

So I used my (supposedly) superior intelligence to the full and swept on passed before turning round.  This can actually be quite an interesting experience as the road is quite narrow and the drains are quite steep.  My little engine revved and chugged, soon I was heading back for the lighting strike, the killer photo... Except the little bugger had flown off... I turned round again (if anyone was watching they would probably think I had some sort of compulsive behavior). Then I spotted him again.  He had somehow flown over my car without me noticing.  Superior intelligence?  Obviously not.

This time however he seemed a bit distracted (juicy frog or some such delicacy).  I adopted the highly dangerous drive-by technique.  Leaning out gangsta style, camera hanging out whilst driving with my knees.

He was gone about 0.00001 seconds after this.

Pleased with myself I carried on.  This time a Buzzard was sitting on a post.  I adopted the same technique, but this fella was more canny, he had a poo and was off.  But only for a small flight. Carefully I turned round again.  This time some blighter in a black car had stopped and scared him off.  It was a familiar looking vehicle.  As I drew closer it was non other the Andrew!

Great minds think alike!

We pulled up and had a catch up (my phone face planted the kitchen tiles a while back leaving me phoneless).  As we spoke of manual lenses, photo exhibits and eBay purchases a Stonechat flew in.  I decided the best course of action was to walk up to it...

It didn't work.  this was the closest I got

After our brief catch up I drove on.  I was lucky to see a Kingfisher zip over the road plus a distant Kestrel. Time was running short, so I headed back.  As I drove through Westhay I noticed this fellow searching for worms (so undignified) .

These guys should be out eating cats or something.  Worms indeed...

Whilst I was taking these photos I received "the call".  Mission control needed me back ready for the party.  I put pedal to the metal and zipped home.  Stopping briefly to get this fellow.

Don't worry, he isn't being garroted.

Time was ticking and I was panicking.  Claire Sweeney always pulled through on 60 Minute Makeover.  Luckily I did to, arriving mere moments before the family.  A successful 60 minutes all round.

Meanwhile Andrew also had a story to tell...

I wandered first down to Westhay after Steart, not to get the Bearded Reedlings, but to see if I could get the Marsh Harrier that wanders near the road. He didn't appear but this noisy Buzzard did!

Buzzard at Westhay

It was quiet, too quiet again so off I shot to Greylake. Can you believe the hides are still closed after all this time. Those Wasps are having a great time!!

So it was off round the left side right up to the wicker screen. Can you believe I've never been there before. Nothing stirred for quite a while until I was ready to leave, as always.

If I stay still do you think they wont notice me.

If I stay still........

kestrel on a stump

This Male Marsh Harrier was getting nice and close until he popped over the trees behind me and into the fields.

Something very odd then happened. It had a bit of a change into a Female!!

He / she / it spooked this Heron that sat on the posts for a nice shot

The fun really kicked off when a crow and Magpie decided to crowd out a Kestrel in a tree. The Kestrel won.

Tempus Fugit and all that

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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. As the saying goes. A day with Mr Riley is always a plaintiff affair. He brings out the melancholy like no one else I know. This usually manifests in stuff like "Ah! your still young with your best years ahead and I'm an old fart who's ready for the scrap heap". So we headed out to Steart. I patiently listened to his rambling on about work and ex colleges and "I used to work for Phillips don't you know". When the hand break was pulled and the engine died at the main car park I called time. Time on wittering on about what we do all week. It's bloody Saturday and it's bloody lovely, Ok so it's a bit misty but I'm sure it will clear up in a bit. It's fun time David shut up and bloody enjoy the day. You haven't got many left.......

Factor 50 was not needed

UFO's often pop in for a visit

"The usual trim sir"?

"Anything for the weekend sir"?

We wandered along the path admiring the sheep when we heard a bicycle coming behind. It was non other than Joe Cockram on his way to the office. He's bagged a rather nice job working at Steart. The EFRS have admired this chap with his striking beard for a while. Dashing off all round the world birding and getting payed for it. It's a dirty job but someone has to do it. More to the point he knew who I was. I'm flattered. He even reads the blog!!!

We also met a personal friend of Davids, non other than Chris Sperring MBE. I've shaken hands with an MBE!!

Shelducks in the mist

Little Egret in the mud

Some more Little Egrets

After visiting the excellent exhibition held at the Provender Deli in South Petherton last Wednesday showing Robin Morisson, Francesca Mikola and Henrietta Van den Bergh's work I decided to try for a replication of Roberts amazing Dandelion clock and dew pic. Work in progress I think

Some Pintails going somewhere else

Then the sun came out

Stonechat

Lunch

After gorging on the last of the summer fruits we carried on a wandering around the estuary side of the crescent. There is one over powering aspect of the estuary by here. The pylons spanning the divide. There is no avoiding them. Best to just embrace them. Lets face it if it were a castle we would be gushing at its Majesty forgetting it's true meaning of suppression and tyranny. Time has strange effects on the human psyche.

A Kestrel catching dragonflies in mid flight

We settled down at a convenient spot to just take in the moment. These moments will never be repeated no matter how many times we come and sit here. Every moment is a one off no matter how many monkeys you pack into a bullet train with ipads.

It was at this point that a bit of a blast from the past wandered by with his wife! A chat ensued between Riley and non other than Malcom Muggeridge. Well a six foot six reincarnation of him.

The Kestrels are a bit tamer round these parts

Well I've consulted the karma Sutra and I can't find this one!

Pastoral Grey heron

Thats the one

Davros will be appearing as Widow Twanky in a Panto near you this Christmas

While Riley and Mugaridge where decrying the demise of western civilisation I risked life and limb at the waters mud's edge to bag some pics of grass and sticks.

Mr Riley was quit taken with the effect of the mud. There was a ripple all along the flats which gave the impression of a wave frozen in time. I agreed. It's quit impressive. 

"You see Andrew your still a young chap with all your life ahead blah blah blah"

As I've often said a day with Riley is a day well spent. It's sanguine and thoughtful. You put your camera down and look. He knows the sounds, he knows nature in all its elements. He knows more than I ever will. But time will tell.

A quick cuppa back at his country pile and I was off back. I pondered to pop into somewhere on the way. Westhey? Hmmm theres nothing there is there. I mean what could there possibly be to see there. I ended up at Catcott. I know its empty this time of year but I was in a solitary mood. I wasn't disappointed.

Solitary Buzzard

Solitary Heron

Another Solitary Heron

They've done a grand job with the new screen

Bit solitary init!

I didn't get a chance to write Saturdays escapade up so I'm doubling up with Sundays. Flying solo while James recovers from a bout of cold and broken phone! Usual haunt of Hamwall and Shapwick with lunch at Eco-friendly bits. It was just a quicky or that was the idea.

Solitary Heron oh! we've done that one haven't we.

Kestrel just before the entrance to Hamwall from the Glastonbury side

A bit deja vu from yesterday with foggy foggy dew. There were Marsh harriers showing well from VP1 and 2. At one point two were being mobbed by a crow

VP1 was rather disappointing from a birding point mainly because the local volunteers and wardens were busy doing a bit of scorched earth policy essential maintenance work on the reed beds. It could have been 1815 rather than 2015

Where I'um be to my gurt lush luvver? 'e be that there Lee Dutton 'e be

Phew!

So after a hard days work they popped into the local Sauna then a quick Skinny Latte in the Costa below.

Couple of Canadas

The only living thing viewable from the Tor Hide

 As I cycled back to VP2 for the last few hours I was just about to ring my bell to the two inconsiderate individuals blocking my way on the path when I realised it was Steve Balcombe and some yoof. They were bothering some young Grass Snake. I grabbed a few shots.

We met up again at VP2 and spent the next few hours talking lots of talk. The yoof in question was Max Thompson. A great guy with gear that a kid of his age shouldn't have. In other words better than me! Still it was great to meet them and the time flew as we chatted. The reason for VP2 was the Glossy Ibis. It never appeared but we weren't bothered in the least. It's about the day.

I borrowed Max's 500mm L to get these Gadwall I was very impressed

Macro using my 17mm Fisheye

Great weekend! Met quit a few names and faces and passed the time as you should, on your own when you want and in great company when you want. But remember time and tide waits for no man. Go out and enjoy it..............