Category: Blog

The day started well with a male Kingfisher on the way to Eastville Park. The highlight of the trip to Chew was the Black-tailed Godwit.

First visit to the Holden Tower. Good sightings of a Kingfisher fishing.

One of my favourite birds – Lapwing

And how can you not like these little ducklings?

Not much around at the RSPB centre. The best was a Little grebe and chick and a very close view of Mute Swan and cygnets. Not much either at the hides at near by  Goldcliff: a few Lapwing and Redshank.

Quite a challenge (failed) to focus on House Martin

 

Early walk around the park on a beautiful still sunny morning .

We saw a Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, a Buzzard being mobbed by a Crow, 2 Moorhen and 4 chicks, a Jay, a Wren and a  Grey Wagtail.

The Grey Herons kept taking to the wing to avoid the people walking around the lake.

Spotted the Buzzard a bit late to get a decent shot.

Sunny but windy afternoon – just a quick visit to Duchess Pond. Too many fishermen had frightened away other wildlife.   Sweet little Moorhen chick and a score of Mallard. Lilies looking pretty.

A windy and blustery day but no rain. We visited North Somerset Bird of Prey Centre at Congresbury – purchased as apart of a “Living Social” Birds of Prey Experience. Very enjoyable but I’m not sure the cream tea which was part of the package was the right thing at 1 pm!

We saw 5 birds of prey: European Little Owl, European Kestrel, Red-tailed Buzzard, Barn Owl and Eagle Owl and the Barn Owl in action

European Little Owl

European Kestrel

Red-tailed Buzzard

Barn Owl

Eagle Owl

Great fun.

We followed this up with a visit to the Butterfly World next door.

Butterflies in the car park:

Duchess Pond Stoke Park

With the threat of showers I made the short walk to Duchess Pond in Stoke Park and managed a few bird shots in between the showers.

A Moorhen with three chicks seemed busy making/repairing a nest next to the water lilies. 8 House Martin flitted around. I disturbed the 27 Mallard but managed not to disturb the Grey Heron as it grabbed a dragonfly before flying off to Eastville Park.

 

 

Stoke Park – Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oldbury-on-Severn

A pleasant day for a walk along the Severn Estuary from Oldbury-on-Severn. Very grey to start but brightened up and quite warm by the time we made our way back to The Anchor.

Coffee in the lovely Community Shop and Café before we started and a pint of Bass in the Anchor at the end – nice way to celebrate a birthday.

A Kestrel in the distance was the first sighting.

Then a Curlew and a few Oystercatchers on the Estuary.

And then we turned inland and did a circuit of the lagoons near to the Power Station where we saw a Tufted Duck and chicks, Moorhen and Coot on the small lagoon and a Little Egret fly over. A good number of butterflies too.

Back at The Anchor I was trying to capture Beautiful Demoiselle in flight (again) when a Grey Wagtail came and posed in the stream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastville Park

A feature of our short walks around Eastville Park at the moment is these Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies which are always seen in the same spots. Almost impossible to photograph in flight but quite pleased to get one with wings open.

We spotted five Grey Herons; their plumage always amazes me.

Tried birdwatching at New Passage but driven back by the rain. Only achieved one photo – a greenfinch (only 1.7 million breeding pairs in UK!)

There was plenty of drama though later in Eastville Park with Black-headed Gull trying to snatch Moorhen chick – the chick survived. The resident Grey Heron watched all the action placidly. Plenty of butterflies and damselflies too.

 

 

 

A week’s holiday in Bergerac in the Dordogne Valley in France gave little opportunity for nature photos, especially as I was restricted to a “tourist” camera and lenses. However; I wasn’t going to waste any opportunities and captured the Black Redstart in the garden, Pied Wagtails on the river and a few butterflies,damselflies and dragonflies.

Also saw Hoopoes, a Golden Oriole and Crag Martins on the Dordogne.