Wednesday, September 1, 2021

A real autumn morning...

The first thing I noticed when I headed for the North Wall this morning was the Substantial reduction of the water level in the Breech Pool...there were actually muddy edges for the first time for a very long time.

The first wader was a Greenshank but as I was on the lower path it was not easy to shoot through the reeds...

Second wader of note was this Spotted Redshank...

As I approached the Halsey fields a group of cows were accompanied by Cattle Egrets

Surrounded and avoiding being trod on!

In the Halsey stream a single Common Sandpiper was feeding

As I made my way towards Owl Point a coupler of Spotted Flycatchers were busy doing what they do best...catching flies.

A squirrel appeared on the scene.

Above the big pine Hirundines were gathering and Swallows were trying to alight on the top most branches.

Sand Martins

Swallows

A buzzard suddenly appeared overhead

As I headed towards Owl point I came across another herd of cows and this time a flock of about 30 Yellow Wagtails was in attendance.

...and then a Whinchat

...and finally the back view of a Wheatear on the North wall rocks on my return.

A great morning!!

Thursday, August 26, 2021

A garden surprise...

I had just set up a new arrangement for photographing birds on the garden pond when an immature Green Woodpecker alighted on a tree stump which I'd carefully arranged over the water. It posed beautifully for a few moments when suddenly to my surprise a Garden Warbler landed on a second stump inches away. It remained for about 10/15 seconds when I managed to get a couple of shots before it flew off and hasn't been seen since! What a surprise for a garden bird.