The Perfect Present

Having cleaned his boat for the Christmas break my son ask if i would like to have an hour out on the river. Well with reports of Divers and Auks recently being seen i jumped at the chance. And within a few minutes i was watching a pair of Great Northern Divers. And it didn't take long for the Red Throated Divers to show. Although its never easy on the water with all the movement i was pleased with these shots. So after 60 mins i was back on dry land and feeling very pleased with the results. And to be honest properly the best gift you could get me. 

Short moment

As my weekly visit to the Ranges was finishing and I was making notes of  the birds I had seen on the day. It dawned on me that I only had one more chance to get out here before New year. Could anything else turn up?.  I drove up the track and as i approached the last cattle grid. I could see a large bird perched on the side of some Brambles. I looked through the binoculars and was greeted with this stunning Short-eared Owl. Hooray another species for the yearly list. And being I had dipped out on them at the start of the year a very pleasing meeting and a species I always enjoy photographing.

Just Half a Dozen.

Just as i was driving off the ranges on Monday i noticed two Egrets fly in and land on an adjoining field. I wanted to get a closer look to confirm the I.D. So after a short stroll across the marsh i was standing by the boundary fence and as close as one could get.  But there was no sign of any Egrets. Another scan with the binoculars then revelled my first Cattle Egret of the year hidden by the a grass mound and a cow and then another one appeared from behind a bramble bush then another. I soon made myself comfy on the grass and waited hoping they may come closer or better still hitch a ride on the back of a cow. But they were sticking close to the small herd and following them further away.  A few photos were taken as they started to fly about following the herd as they grazed. And that was when with five in the air and one still feeding on the ground the total count of six was gained. The most that i have every recorded for my patch, after only getting my first record of this species only a year ago. What a great way to finish my weekly visit.

Tagged Predator

 A few unexpected and totally surprised encounters with Raptors on my weekly visits to the ranges over the last few weeks. The tagged Marsh harrier sighting was logged and the reply was this: 

One of a brood of three ringed and tagged at Wild Ken Hill on 14.06.2021. This bird was sexed as a female, and had two male siblings.This is the first sighting of her away from her natal area. One of her brothers was seen on Trimley Marshes, a Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve on 20.08.2021 

The Osprey was also tagged number 677 and part of the Tweed valley Osprey Project.

 

Best of the Kestrels

 Been a good summer for the Kestrels on the ranges with some great opportunities to capture some pleasing shots. These are few that I personally like.

Sandwich Break

 

Over the last few weeks Sandwich Tern numbers have been good in the Pyefleet channel. And although they could be seen and heard on my Monday visits to the ranges. I just hadn't got a chance to photograph them. So although the weather wasn't in my favour i decided to spend some time on the sea wall during high tide with my lunch in hope they may come closer. Which they did after a two hour wait! that ended with not the best of photos. But at least it's another new species for my blogsite.

Thanks for Terning up.

 

On Sunday evening whilst preparing my gear and making a plan for a visit to the ranges the following day. I noticed that the time off high tide would be good to try and photograph the Common Terns as they fished along the sea wall. This was also depending on the British weather of cause. Well the weather didn't let me down. Four appeared on cue and I was able to spend about 45mins watching them diving for breakfast. I was hoping that the Little Terns would appear as well, But no luck with them this visit. 

Mondays Fling.

My short visit to the ranges this week started with a 'fling' the collective noun for a group of Whimbrel feeding amongst the Dandelions and long grasses behind the target butts. On the point a Cuckoo was doing a recce for the next potential foster parents nest. But with the gusty wind blowing hard most of the birds such as this Sedge Warbler where keeping low in the reed bed. My migrant highlight of the day was a group of 5 Swifts hawking the marsh my first for the year.

 

Busy Marsh.

After signing the visitor log my first sighting of the day was a group of 18 Whimbrel feeding around the sand butts & pistol range. Being overcast getting any decent photos was out of the question so a few record shots were snapped. By the time I had made my way to the point the sun was just starting to show and the tide was rising fast. Next was a low fast flying Cuckoo my first sighting of the year. Unfortunately he didn't stop for a photo but a nice sighting never the less. The Marsh harriers were all busy around the reed beds giving me some nice photo opportunities. A couple of newly arrived Reed warblers could also be heard singing amongst the reeds. On my way back I decided to give the Little ringed Plovers another try as I hadn't been able to find them earlier in the morning. And how pleased I was to see them still in the same area as my previous visit. And with the sun now behind me it seamed a good time to try and get a few better photos without having to disturb them. So in all another pleasing visit to my patch. Roll on May and my next visit. Till then please stay safe peeps. 

Highlite in Yellow.

                              

I was rewarded with this newly arrived bright Yellow Wagtail during my weekly visit to the ranges. Along with 2 Little Ringed Plovers and a few Blackcap and Chiffchaff. He was the highlight of the day for me. Bearded Tits and Sedge Warblers could be heard calling amongst the numerous reedbeds. 

Hen drenaline moment.

The song of a newly arrived Sedge warbler stopped me in my tracks this morning whilst out on my patch. And then to my surprise this male Hen harrier shot through the reed bed. It all happen so quick leaving for little time to snap any photo's. These are the only images I was able to get before he was gone. But never the less a special moment of excitement that got my adrenaline pumping.