Dyrham Downs, Bristol
Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jackdaws and a Cormorant flying along the Avon.
Category: Blog
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12th April 2016
Eastville Park
Walks and bird watching opportunities have been very limited in recent weeks. Also struggling to get used to a new camera and lens but enjoying the challenge.
Grey Wagtails are looking quite bright now.
Took the easy option of photographing a Heron to get used to camera i.e. sitting on park bench and studying the menu options.
Long-tailed Tits, and Chiffchaffs nest building. No Kingfisher at all today!
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3rd April 2016
Eastville Park
First walk for a fortnight due to Wendy’s broken leg.
Not really concentrating but lots of sightings of Kingfisher and a good view of this Willow Warbler (or is it a Chiffchaff?) on the island in the lake; however, only a very poor photo .
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19th March 2016
Shapwick Heath
We found Shapwick Heath disappointing compared with Ham Wall: the distances between each hide were quite considerable.
The highlights were Bitterns booming, a Marsh Harrier and a Sparrow Hawk (no photo though).
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18th March 2016
Portland Bill and Weymouth
On a bitterly cold day and, for the most part, in poor light we spent the morning at Portland Bill and the afternoon and early evening at the two RSPB sites in Weymouth. We were treated to well over 50 different species. The highlights on land at Portland Bill were Wheatears and Meadow Pipits (even a ChiffChaff in the net at the Ornithological Centre) and a Short-eared Owl and at sea Guillemots and Razorbills. At Weymouth of special interest were Sand Martins, Spoonbills and a Marsh Harrier.
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17th March 2016
Portesham, Dorset
On our way to Portland with friends we stopped off at Portesham in Dorset to see if we could see a Pallas’s Warbler that we had been told about. We weren’t disappointed as, with the help of some obliging twitchers, we soon spotted the Pallas’s Warbler and got a reasonable shot.
Not much else of note – I was too embarrassed to be photographing the Chaffinches, Long-tailed Tits and Great Tits on view in the company of experienced twitchers with huge lenses!.
The last shot was of a very distant shot of a Kingfisher on a fence as we walked behind Chesil Beach towards the Abbotsbury Swannery.
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16th March 2016
Snuff Mills
Several sightings of male and female Kingfisher but only one poor photo. Wonderful display of pair of Dippers preparing a nest and feeding.
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15th March 2016
Eastville Park
Morning walk; spent ages looking for Firecrest but to no avail. Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wrens, even Sparrow Hawk, but only photos of Robins, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Heron and Grey Wagtail. Having difficulty getting used to new lens on Fuji camera – but good fun anyway.
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14th March 2016
Eastville Park
Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Wrens, Robins, Heron, Moorhen on its nest, male and female Muscovy Ducks and a female Kingfisher.
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10th March 2016
Eastville Park
A brief walk through Eastville Park (where the lake had clearly flooded the day before and was very muddy) with Grey Wagtail at Broom Hill, a Jay by the River Frome and a Goldcrest appearing where everyone was looking for a Firecrest. Also saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker and an overflying Swan. The Black-headed Gulls now have very black heads. Loads of Robins, Blue Tits and Great Tits. Didn’t see one Long-tailed Tit nor a Kingfisher.
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8th March 2016 – Slimbridge
Slimbridge
A fleeting visit to Slimbridge on a grimy day. Nothing terribly exciting except the behaviour of the Flamingos who went on a tour of their pond. Goldfinch – the best from the hides.
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