Bits and Pieces (again)

I have been somewhat remiss in not keeping up-to-date, but days pass and become weeks and I'm sure you don't want to be bored with the same old subject. Anyhoo here are a selection of images from recent weeks from me on me travels. A Linnet at Knott End is enclosed as I have seen several reports of Twite, yet I have seen non, but I have seen Linnets – but no sighting reports of Linnet and thought it odd. On 20 October over at Eagland HiIll I saw my first influx of Pink Footed Geese estimated at about 6,000 and the sky was full of skeins of about 150 dropping in, hence the photos, taken as always as the light was failing. A Sparrowhawk flew past hunting the hedgerows and about 2,000 Starling were flocking before moving on to roost in Blackpool no doubt.

On my local patch I came across a buzzard being harassed as they so often are, sadly I haven't seen it since and those wing tips are so distinctive. Autumn is the time for reaping the nut harvest and windfall, this Jay was reasonably obliging while a Great Spotted Woodpecker has set about stripping the bark off one of the trees.

The Pied Wagtail I caught just taking-off along the esplanade at Knott End (on a very miserable day, but the flat light produced an almost monochromatic Japanese print effect) and included the Chaffinch as the colours of the bird reflected the colours of autumn and the moss and lichen on the branch.

Photographic Competition – National Geographic

hello dear reader

i wondered if you might be interested in entering... if not still worth a look as some stunning photography

deadline for entries 30 November 2011

(i only just found out too)

see
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/photo-contest/

and some crackers at

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/11/national-geographic-photo-contest-2011/100187/

Gold and Gold

the heady day that was summer... 

golden prarie...?

misty mornings return

although you can't see too well when the Pink Footed Geese start arriving...
winter will be soon upon us

Preston City Centre... home of the Black Redstart and Peregrine falcons!

I awoke to a pretty chilly morning – a sign of things to come (winter).

All my attempts at capturing Goldfinch on camera, have on the whole failed miserably, normally the black eye disappearing into the black around it without any definition; however I recently concentrated on the subject and with the sun out and behind me for once I managed a few photos so bashed 'em out on here. The few 'action' images are a bit blurred, but I felt captured the movements sufficiently well to include them.

And for my antipodean chums and those from not around these 'ere parts a couple of images of the area where I do some of my birding... and a couple that remind me of that week that was summer... those golden ears of wheat.

I have often wondered about the bright colour on Goldfinch, but I think I commented on an early post, while watching Goldfinch feed on roadside dandelion, they soon disappear into the background. I also recall wandering around a certain capital town of a Mediterranean island and hearing Goldfinch sing... kept in cages outside people's apartment windows.

Sanderlings at Rossall

Back in September I spent a couple of hours on a high tide revisiting the waders at Rossall... here are some Sanderlings (don't you just lurv 'em).

I forgot why I took this, until I realised it is a double-take on the middle distance – Sanderlings alighting 

Flight photos are always a challenge and the practice is welcome – then again it's like a Chinese puzzle, how many Ringed Plover? How many Dunlin?

And sometimes you can just catch one or two in focus!

I had to add this for those flight feathers 

Capturing the scene...

I quite liked the 'froth'

more 'of the moment'

with a friend

 

flotsam watch

There may be more postings to follow when it's quiet...

(photos 29 September 2011)

A Day at Leighton Moss

The early light was not very good

Marsh Tit at the feeding station, but very dark underneath the tree canopy

...a splash of colour

a distant Kingfisher

Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank – elegant

Spotted Redshank with a Redshank for comparison

Rough justice

Snipe

11 Snipe were feeding at the margins

First decent views of Bearded Tit

View from the Public Hide

Distant deer

Dragonfly... anyone?

View from the Lower Hide

I am afraid many of my posts don't include fabulous photography and this is one of them – it is however a recollection of a day at RSPB Leighton Moss, anyone who has been will wonder why, but for those that have not been it may provide a personal view. I have to say I am not a great fan of sitting in hides to see wildlife.

As I hadn't slept well, I made an early start, thinking it didn't matter and there was plenty in the vicinity to see even if I didn't go on site. There was always the hope in an early start catching, deer otter and other movement as the sun rose... unfortunately not on this occasion. As day broke it didn't really get very light and was grey and overcast for a long time – so much so it was impossible to get any speed reading on the camera at low f-stops.

So early morning was spent in the Jackson Hide listening to deer grunting and the odd bellow but no sign of any deer who must have been reasonably close. A number of Teal and a few Wigeon were either sleeping or dappling around.

Back at the car park for breakfast and a brew and at the bird feeding station all the regulars were there and it was nice to see, Nuthatch, Bullfinch and a Marsh Tit. As the tide was supposed to be around lunchtime I then moved on to the Eric Morecambe Hide where a couple of chums might be in-situ. Sure enough Martin and Brian were in the hide when I arrived and had been watching and photographing the waders out in front. 

A number of Knot were out on the marsh but too far away as were a number of Redshank. Kingfisher appeared briefly while a Grey Heron hunted a quite piece of water. Four Crows set about having a real barney and Martin managed to capture the action (see this link). A Spotted Redshank decided to come within range and I managed a couple of photographs. (A first for me). I was surprised to see 11 Snipe feeding in the margins but they were just too far away and the light too poor for me to score anything other than record photos... nice to see though – it is quite a while since I have seen Snipe (I used to see them regularly when I was a kid [on what is now Bispham Marsh, when it was a marsh] – but that is a long time ago).

It was then decided to move on in the hope of seeing what else was on the main reserve. On the way to the Public Hide, small flocks of Fieldfare passed overhead, I think the three of us were taken aback to see two Bearded Tit on the grit trays as we walked up the the viewing point. (Another first for me... well apart from a brief fly-over in the past). We picked up a Peregrine an awful long way off perched on a dead tree before being moved on by two Crows. A Sparrowhawk flew across too fast for anyone to react other than watch and identify it.

As the Public Hide was quiet, on to the the Lower Hide; a number of Dragonflies were coursing the causeway in the shelter of the trees and reeds. and at the bottom of the causeway, a small flock of Siskins did a circuit before landing in the trees overhead before moving on. In the field at the back of the reserve we spotted two deer looking to enter the woodland where a fallen tree had landed on the fence. 

In the Lower Hide again we saw the Peregrine in the dead tree before it flew off north but no sign of otter and generally quiet. A male and female Gadwall fed in front of the hide. A Sparrowhawk flew past carrying food. And eventually a reversal, back to the Public Hide (where over 100 Coot suddenley left the reeds and passed by in front of the hide) and to the car park and Tim Jackson Hide with nothing to report that I haven't already stated. And so Zebedee said time for bed. Boiinng...

All the usual suspects were on show if not mentioned – Little Egret, Mute Swans, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Mallard, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Shelduck, and I may have missed a few. And a word of thanks to Martin and Brian for their generous, informative and enjoyable company. (14 October 2011)

AND FINALLY – Best Wishes to Pete Woodroof, thanks for sharing so much informtion – I have learned so much and best wishes for the future.