Mist the Spoonbill

(CLICK ON A PIC AND IT WILL GO BIG)

So, the sightings of Short Eared owls has really ramped up recently.  I am a huge fan of these enigmatic characters (second only to a Peregrine, in my book at least!).

Sadly I completely missed them last time round at Steart, so I was keen to make amends.  A hurried message to Andrew and we were off.

Andrew was more interested in seeing the Spoonbill but it was all about the owls for me.

Strangely, the sun was blazing in Wells but when I got to Glastonbury everything was dull and shrouded in mist...

It was the same at Steart.  We cycled a bit and stopped at the Polden hide.

Thoughts of seeing absolutely bugger all crossed our minds...

Things were not looking great...

Then I noticed a Buzzard on a post, far off in the mist.

Not a Buzzard on a post. 

Nope - its not a Buzzard!!!

We cycled on.  Andrew grabbed me and I hit the breaks...

Steart was as wild as it got... Thick mist, stiff breeze and the wild calls of Redshanks and other waders.  Atmospheric indeed.  But taking photos... not so much.

Another Short Eared owl on a post

A couple of Owl fanciers had gathered to look at the owl on the post.  I did try and get a bit closer but it flew off...

Then we expended some energy helping a friendly fellow by giving his car a push.  Luckily we got it started.  The EFRS, the 5th emergency service...

Not a Spoonbill

Who is this person?  Its behind you Robin!!!!

Lots more owl pictures...

We did catch up with Robin, who was very appreciative of Andrew's photography.  Although it appears that he rated his wildlife photos a lot lower than the rest.  In Robin's mind it went something like this:

1.Landscape
2.Macro
.......
........
101. Wildlife

Oh well Robin.  Andrew has got broad shoulders and a decent macro lens.  He didn't mind... much :-)


Now, we saw at least 5 Owls.  A success?  Well, we struggled in the light and we couldn't see the Spoonbill.  Despite Andrews best efforts... He was desperate bless him.  The trouble is their are a lot of white birds at Steart and in the mist they all look like a Spoonbill.

Swans, Little Egrets, Great White egrets.  They teased Andrew relentlessly.  Sadly it wasn't to be.

We missed the Spoonbill and mist the Owls...