ONE FOR THE LIST.

Black Redstart.

Sandmartins.

wheatear.

This Black Redstart was the my first for the M.o.D Ranges. An area I have been watching for 10 years now followed with a few Wheatears and Sandmartins returning from Africa on my visits during April.

Kuş Cenneti (Bird Paradise)

Kuş Cenneti  translated into English means Bird Paradise. And this is another good bird watching site in Fetihye, SW Turkey. I've witnessed alot of changes to this section of tidal marsh on Calis beach over the years. But it has produced some of  my favourite Wader watching memories. My sightings have included Terek Sandpipers and Collard Pratincoles . And it has also been a great spot for various species of Egrets and Herons on many of my visits . But unfortunately new building construction is yet again destroying this area! And I wonder how long? can it survive as a Turkish Bird Paradise site.

Climb and Wine.

 

This Blue-Rock Thrush gave me the run around. And had me climbing up and down the rugged slopes and pathways of Kayakoy. Trying to get close enough for a photo was tiring. After capturing these images I retired to exploring the food and wine in the nearby Levissi Restaurant. http://levissi-garden-restaurant-wine-house.hikeast.com/

Amoungst the Ruins

Spent a very pleasant morning at one off my favourite sites in Turkey. Known locally as the ghost

town, Kayakoy near Olu Deniz is an abandoned village. The ruins around the site are a great area for Rock Nuthatch shown below and also the odd lizard basking in the warm Autumn sun.

 

 

 Starred Agama

 

        Anatolian Rock Lizard

 

August Highlights

With a trip to Scotland and then Turkey looming in the next few weeks. My chances off getting out on the M.o.D Firing ranges to do a bit of birdwatching will be limited. August is always my favourite month. And although water levels are very low on the ranges this year i still had a couple of good days birding. Here is a few photo's and record shoots of my months highlights.

A very gloomy day was brightened up when i found

five juvenile Spoonbill's  Feeding on the point. Trying to get a photo without 
disturbing them was very hard.

Below is some pictures of the two Little Stints that i found feeding with some Dunlin on the
 very dry flood water scape.

But the best sighting of the month was this Osprey flying over

 the Rifle butts heading for the river on my last visit.

Lazy Buzzard Day.

Decided to take a boat trip to the Islands around Fethiye bay during a holiday to Turkey. I was unprepaid with just my 300mm lens when at first the Honey Buzzard appeared followed shortly afterwards by the Long-legged Buzzard flying over. Being on a Boat didn't help the stability when trying to take a picture but a couple of pleasing Raptors whilst i laid on the deck in blazing sun.

May Magic

Kestrel feeding on a lizard.

Pair of Ruff  on the 22nd.

Record shots of one of the Spotted Redshank seen during the month.

May is a great month for birdwatching. With migration in full swing, one never knows what will turn up on the ranges. The highlights for Wildlife Artist Richard Hull and myself this month included. First ever Woodlark on the 20th. And on the last day of the month a cracking drake Garganey was on the Geedons scrape.

Spring has Sprung.

This was my first visit to the ranges for the month of April. The summer migrants have started arriving. Whitethroats, Wheatears, Sedge & Reed Warblers to name but a few were seen and heard during my walk. But my favorites of the day was The Cuckoo and Little-Ringed Plover. And how pleasing to see some Avocets.

Pleasing Memories

Green wood Hoopoe
&
White-billed Buffalo Weaver.

 Fork Tailed Drongo.

Piapiac

 White Faced Whistling Duck

Whilst clearing my memory cards in preparation for my trip to Lundy. I came across these pleasing images from a trip to Kotu bridge, Gambia that i hadn't seen before.