Bunting Valley

My friend Ali took me to a recently flooded valley while i was away. known as koy kent (yayla patlangic village).I couldnt prounce that so i called it Bunting valley hence the various Buntings seen there. This area looks really promising for future visits.

Singing Serin

The sound of Serin fill the air at most of the Turkish sites that i visit. I Just wish id got better pictures of the Red Fronted variety, still theres always next time. 

Trouble at Temel !!

After having 3 days of rain in Olu deniz, i decided that as soon as the sun appeared i would head for a new site i had discovered the last time i was here. The village of Temel is situated to the east of fetiyhe in the mountains.I pulled of the road by a stone bridge crossing the river and was soon watching this White throated robin. But it wasn't long before i was joined by the local jandama (Turkish police). After practising my Turkish language skills, i was soon accompanying them to the local police station. Then after a further 2 hour's and lots of phone calls to friends in Fethiye the jandama relized i wasn't James bond and i was released.

Colourful moment.

My first trip back to The ghost town of kaya koy in 18 months, started with the happy chuckling
 sound of the Bee-eaters filling the warm morning air.  

Dinner time.

Never have i seen a Marsh Harrier carrying a Black headed gull, that was until today. I decided on a quick walk round the ranges this afternoon.And as i sat on the sea wall in the sunshine watching one of the females (top pic). This youngster came over my head struggling to carry its dinner.

Heard before spotted.

The very distinctive call of this Spotted Redshank alearted me of its present at the pools on Saturday. The final tally was 4 Spotties in total on the ranges for the day a pleasing result.

Wondering Wheatear

This year has been good for passage Wheatears, this is yet another one we found, out on the ranges on saturday afternoon.

Grove Garganey.

The Local British trust of Ornithology Web counters discovered these four Garganey On the country park at East Mersea today, whislt carring out a wetland survey. Thanks to there quick actions and phone calls, i was able to gain some record shots.

Shrike at Turnpike

This Woodchat Shrike was reported at Rettendon turnpike today. Giving lots of Birders the chance to view yet another shrike in the area within a few weeks.  

Magical Marsh Moments.

Managed to get out friday afternoon while the sun was out. Although with the little time in hand. I was pleased that forward planning, had produced a great spot on my local patch to observe these Marsh Harriers in flight. Im looking forward to some long hours alone on the marsh trying to capture some more magical moments in the next few weeks .

Pose please

Went back to Stow maries first thing this morning and was pleased to see the Great Grey Shrike was a little bit more photogenic for me this time round.

Bonus Bramblings !!

Made a trip to Thriftwood today in hope of finding a lesser spotted woodpecker. Id spent 4 hours searching the woods with no luck. So decided to make my way back to the car when i came across a large flock of finches feeding on the local farmers field. So i set up my scope and had a scan through them and soon noticed about 7 Brambling feeding amongst the Chaffinches and Linnets. How pleased i was with myself and a day not wasted after all. Il be back there this weekend looking for the lesser spot once again.

March Migrant

Had permission to visit the M.o.D ranges on Friday afternoon, and how pleased i was to find a nice early Wheatear for my year list.

Operation Butcher Bird !!

Today's target was this Great Grey Shrike, that had been found on the Stow maries Aerodrome near Cold Norton. Known as the butcher bird because it strikes its prey, usually lizards or small mammals with its feet. Then it impales them on the spikes of a blackthorn bush or on the barb of a barbed wire fence. So at last another new species for my blog and my Essex tick for 2011. Mission complete.

Divers in the Deep.

Clear skies and a high tide, plus 4 Red-Throated Divers made my walk to Moon beach, East Mersea worthwhile yesterday. I watched them diving and fishing for about an hour then as the tide started to fall, i made my way further along the seawall to the pillbox at Coopers beach. From here i was able to walk out on to the sand spit to photograph them a little closer as they swam past heading towards Brightlingsea.