Category: Blog

I set off in the rain for a walk around Eastville Park as I just had to get out of the house. Fortunately the heavy showers relented and, when I reached the lake, the sun came out for a while.

I stood for some time at the lake as I had a glimpse of an otter beneath the water. No chance of a photo above water though, but I was rewarded when a Kingfisher flew over the lake and perched on the island in the middle. I also enjoyed watching the Grey Heron fishing with some success for him and me.

I saw lots of Great Tit and two Long-tailed Tit on the way back but too dark for photos.

It was good to get out this afternoon for a walk around Stoke Park, Eastville Park and Stapleton. Nothing very memorable except the Mallard in Stoke Park were very colourful as were the Woodpigeon and Stock Dove in Eastville Park.

Blackbirds were busy and Robins (I counted 8) were very noisy. There was a Grey Wagtail on the weir on the River Frome and lots of Black-headed Gull on Eastville Park lake (some have very black heads now). There was a solitary Mute Swan on the lake (hope it finds a partner) and a single Heron.

There was a Starling on our roof and a flock of 32 Goldfinch in the tree over the road.

With low cloud and drizzle at Chew Valley Lake this morning it was much more enjoyable in Stratford hide with 5 Common Snipe and 2 Jack Snipe (amazingly camouflaged) as well as Scaup and Tufted Duck out on the lake.

At Herriot’s the best was a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Pochard and a strange hybrid duck that clearly thought it was a Mallard from the company it kept.

Swans were showing off and chasing each other.

In fact lots of birds were getting stroppy.

The light was poor but I enjoyed the challenge of trying to photograph birds (mainly gulls)  in flight.

Some of the delights of Slimbridge. It even felt as though spring was just around the corner.

Glad to get out for half an hour this afternoon in Stoke Park having been cooped up at home all morning.

Mallards and Canada Geese in pairs but a Buzzard attracting unwanted attention. Lots of Goldfinch around at the moment but this one on its own. Interesting light after the rain.

A bitterly cold day – not the kind of day for hanging around. The most interesting birds were Scaup near the dam at Chew. I missed a real chance here as I saw later on the Avon Bird Blog that there was a Common Scoter amongst them – but not in my photo. I should have spent more time talking to the other birders at the lake. Black Redstart ? in the tree near the dam ( 2nd photo from the end) and Swans getting ready for St Valentine’s Day.

First photos for over 10 days due to feverish cold and chest infection. Well enough today to try to get some photos of the local Waxwing of which everyone seems to be getting great shots.

Very cold for standing around for too long and poor light but some success.

A few days on the La Torre golf resort in the Murcia region of Spain allowed a few chances for some bird photos. Most of them were taken on the lakes which consumed my golf balls.

Grebes, Pochard, House Martins, some sort of Warbler, Black Redstarts andWhite Wagtails.

A late morning walk around Minsmere: out along the North Wall to the East Hide and back via The Sluice before heading off for lunch at the Eel’s Foot Inn as the rain was setting in.

Good views of 2 Green Woodpeckers at the beginning of the North Wall but I was too slow to get a photo. Song Thrush in the same place. A lame Avocet was coping quite well on the scrape, along with a Great Black-backed Gull, some Dunlin and a few Redshank.  Widgeon from the South Hide and Greylag Geese flying over. A glimpse of a Marsh Harrier too. Not really much around – the birds must have seen the weather forcast.

This morning we walked from our very comfortable and marvellously appointed holiday bungalow in Walberswick down to the Dingle Marshes. We walked along the beach a little towards Dunwich but we were heading into the cold wind and so we turned around and walked back to Walberswick.

Birding highlights: Little Egret, Redshank, Kestrel and Stonechat.

Other highlights: an excellent lunch and a pint of Adlams bitter in the Anchor.

After a day of visiting churches and cathedrals in Suffolk (there’s only one cathedral in Suffolk) it was good to get back to some bird watching at RSPB Minsmere. Weren’t we lucky?  A mainly sunny day and not too cold. And loads to see…

A spectacular display of 8 Marsh Harriers (even though they were quite a long way away) and a Bittern at Island Mere. A quick stop at the Bittern Hide to see more Marsh Harriers (can’t believe they are quite a rare bird) before going along the North Wall (Bearded Tits but too quick for photos) and a good stop at a the East Hide where we saw the Minsmere flagship Avocet. Teal looked great in the sunshine and Redshank, Godwits, Shelduck, Shoveler, Dunlin and Lapwing all paraded in front of us.

A murky grey day but quite mild and dry.

Not a great day for photos but lots to see and we spent a good 5 hours wandering around RSPB Minsmere.

Highlights: Song Thrush, Marsh Harrier, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, huge number of Lapwing, Redshank, lots of Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck, Stonechat, Siskin (very poor photos), Great White and Little Egret.