Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos

Tag: Nature

  • 18th September 2023 – Niebla, Spain

    18th September 2023 – Niebla, Spain

    Strictly speaking we are not on a birding holiday but it just so happens that the first two optional excursions we have opted for are bird watching trips!

    Today we were taken to the countryside in a small group of 6 to just north of Huelva in search of small birds and raptors.

    It was a very successful trip but I am finding it difficult to compile a blog as I don’t have as many decent photos as I had hoped for. Firstly, I have come equipped only with a bridge camera, and secondly, many of the birds we saw (and on many occasions we had very good views) were seen from inside the minibus which would have benefited from a good clean which I accept, with the shortage of water in this part of Spain, is not practical.

    En route we had good views of white storks which live all year round in this part of Spain.

    White stork

    White stork

    On our first stop near to Niebla we saw a black-winged kite (a first for me) which looked spectacular through the telescope.

    Black-winged kite

    Black-winged kite

    At this first stop we also saw lots of crested lark, spotless starlings, hoopoes, stonechats, a woodchat shrike, several kestrels and (as usual) heard Cetti’s warbler.

    Spotless starlings

    Stonechat

    Three hoopoes on a fence

    One hoopoe makes a break for it

    A woodchat shrike replaced the three hoopoes on the same fence

    There were more kestrels during the trip than you could throw a stick at.

    We then stopped at the Rio Tinto which should have been rust red but was completely dried up and quite verdant. Here, under a bridge we saw a couple of crag martins.

    We went into the town of Niebla and saw the spectacular castle from the outside in the hope of seeing lesser kestrels; but, as our guide could see none, we didn’t make a stop – hence no photos.

    Soon afterwards we had a sighting of our first short-toed eagle.

    Short toed eagle

    Around here we saw lots of small birds including common whitethroat, willow warbler, spotted flycatcher, stonechat, northern wheatear and two new birds to me a zitting cisticole and a melodious warbler.

    Spotted flycatcher

    There were also quite a few Iberian magpies which seemed very shy here compared to the picnic spots where we had seen them before.

    We also had good views of a booted eagle, another short-toed eagle and an osprey in flight.

    Short-toed eagle on the middle pylon.

    Just before the village of Trigueros we also saw red-rumped swallows and a male marsh harrier as well as a raven and another kestrel.

    Not a booted eagle but apparently an osprey

    Short-toed eagle

    Raven and a kestrel

    At this point the weather was deteriorating and, much to the thrill of our guide, looked like rain. However, none materialised and as we returned to Isla Cristina, where we are staying, the weather began to improve.

    As we crossed the salt pans we could see flamingos and Audouin gulls. But more of those tomorrow when we have the second of our morning bird watching trips.

    Audouin gulls

  • 17th September 2023 – Huelva, Spain

    17th September 2023 – Huelva, Spain

    Little egret and black-tailed godwit on the Rio Tinto

    The main focus of our holiday today was a morning visit to “The cradle of The Discovery”, to the Monastery of Santa Maria de la Rábida where Christopher Columbus lived whilst he was planning his voyage of discovery. Then we visited the Muelle de las Carabelas, a wharf where it is possible to see the Santa Maria, Pinta and Niña, replicas of the ships that set sail from this place on August 3, 1492.

    The Monastery of Santa Maria de la Rábida

    Columbus setting sail

    The Muelle de las Carabelas

    The Muelle de las Carabelas

    The wharf is on the estuary of the Rio Tinto and here I took the opportunity to photograph a few birds.

    Little egret

    Black-tailed godwits

    Common ringed plover

    Black-tailed godwits

    Grey heron

    Slideshow of photos from this morning (for a personal souvenir):

  • 16th September 2023 – Isla Cristina, Spain

    16th September 2023 – Isla Cristina, Spain

    The weather for the first few days of our holiday to Isla Cristina in the province of Huelva in Andalusia, Spain has been very disappointing but looking at the forecast, which is very good for the next two weeks , we may be grateful that we have had a gentle start.

    We did not expect to be birdwatching today but on the return from our walk around the town there was a low tide on the estuary and we were pleasantly surprised to be able to see a number of waders without binoculars even in the poor light.

    White storks

    Low tide at the mouth of the Guadiana River and Isla Cristina estuary

    In addition to the waders as we left the beach two Thekla larks (which we had only ever seen once before) flew in very close to us. Quite a promising start.

    The wooden bridge which leads to the best of the beaches near to where we saw the waders

    White storks

    The port of Isla Cristina

    Turnstone in the port

    Turnstones on a fishing vessel

    White stork and eurasian spoonbill

    Good numbers of spoonbills

    Grey plover

    Redshank

    White stork in flight

    Whimbrel

    Spoonbill in flight

    Thekla’s lark

    Slideshow of photos from this morning’s walk:

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  • 3rd September 2023 – The Veddw House Garden

    3rd September 2023 – The Veddw House Garden

    Not a bird in sight (well at least not in my sight) and only one butterfly captured by my camera. However, I have decided that gardens that we visit are well worth recording on my blog as they show nature as fashioned by man (and very often woman).

    The Veddw House Garden, the garden of Charles Hawes (prize winning garden photographer) and Anne Wareham (garden writer) on the Welsh borders near Devauden up above Tintern Abbey was quite a challenge to photograph with a high sun on a Sunday afternoon – but Sunday afternoon is the only time it is open to the public. How wise of them to keep it to themselves to savour and possibly photograph in the golden hours.

    The owners say it’s “all about patterns, shapes, colours, drama, sculptural hedges and views”. I hope you get a sense of all that from my photos.

    Red Admiral

  • 19th August 2023 – WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire

    19th August 2023 – WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire

    We have had limited opportunity for birdwatching recently and so when the chance came we thought it best to go for a banker like Slimbridge.

    I had heard reports of sightings of a pectoral sandpiper and spoonbills but I fear they were on the estuary and there were too many showers around to risk venturing that far. However, we weren’t disappointed with the pools near the hides on the north side of the reserve and we were able to dodge the showers which at times were quite heavy. Oh what a summer!

    Black-tailed godwit

    Black-tailed godwit

    Black-tailed godwit

    Common snipe

    Common snipe

    Ruff in the rain

    Redshank in the sun

    Green sandpiper

    Lapwing

    Lapwing

    Grey heron

    Little egret

    Little and large – ruff and greylag goose

    How come godwits spend so much time scratching?

    Slideshow of photos from this morning’s trip:

  • 1st August 2023 – The Newt in Somerset

    1st August 2023 – The Newt in Somerset

    I’m afraid my link to bird photography becomes rather tenuous at this time of the year. Many bird photographers often turn to butterflies at this stage but my focus turns to gardens. All the same, nature in all its glory is very evident in these wonderful tended gardens.

    Our trip to The Newt in Somerset was a birthday treat. In fact, due to the inclement weather my birthday treat turned out to be watching cricket on the television as England levelled the “Ashes” series with Australia. So, our trip to Somerset was delayed by a day and generally we had dry but very cloudy weather.

    Why The Newt? The name has been chosen because of amphibian friends that have been found on the estate. As The Newt’s own website says: ‘They also possess the incredible ability to regenerate, retaining their functional and structural properties. And so this resident was a perfect fit. ‘

    The Newt hotel in the background

    The Garden Café offers a perfect vantage point over the kitchen gardens and orchards below

    Lemons from Babylonstoren, their sister property in the Western Cape of South Africa, greet visitors to the gardens

    The gardener’s cottage (at one time!)

    Windows around the garden lead to one spectacular vista after another

    Perhaps an onion from this plot formed the main ingredient of one of my dishes at lunch?

    Can’t wait to go back and explore further afield and perhaps find some birds!

    I’ll let my slideshow of our trip to The Newt in Somerset do the rest:

  • 29th July 2023 – Chew Valley, North Somerset

    29th July 2023 – Chew Valley, North Somerset

    A grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), also known as the Congo grey parrot, Congo African grey parrot or African grey parrot, at Chew Valley Lake today.

    Is this another sign of global warning? I presume not. More likely it was the pet of the owners of a van parked adjacent to it.

    We made a brief stop at the lake before visiting Yeo Valley Organic Garden, one of my favourite gardens in the area.

    Yeo Valley Organic garden

    At this time of the year there is always a chance to see a variety of butterflies , bees and damselflies and yesterday did not disappoint.

    Here are some of the ones I managed to photograph whilst still taking in the full beauty of the garden and not ignoring our friends with whom we were visiting the garden.

    Speckled Wood butterfly

    Speckled Wood butterfly

    Red Admiral butterfly

    Common Blue Damselfly

    Comma butterfly

    Gatekeeper butterfly

    Buff-tailed bumblees on Echinacea

    Slideshow of my photos from my visit to Chew Valley:

  • 18th-20th July 2023 – The New Forest, Hampshire

    18th-20th July 2023 – The New Forest, Hampshire

    A few days away on the south coast of England around the New Forest doing touristy things gave me gave me the opportunity to take a few nature photos.

    The butterflies were taken at Exbury Gardens near Beaulieu and in the gardens at the National Trust property of Mottisfont near Romsey. The swallows were taken when I had a spare moment at Beaulieu.

    This section of the gardens at Exbury was great for butterflies and bees.

    Gatekeeper in the meadows at Exbury Gardens

    Large White butterfly at Exbury

    Peacock butterfly on Echinacea at Exbury Gardens

    Bee on Echinacea at Exbury

    A moth on thistles at Exbury

    Puffins at Keyhaven opposite the Isle of Wight – no, just wishful thinking

    The Needles off the Isle of Wight from Milford on Sea

    Ponies in The New Forest

    Ponies in The New Forest

    Ponies and cattle in The New Forest

    Swallow at Beaulieu

    Swallow performing acrobatics at Beaulieu

    Swallow hunting flies

    Mottisfont

    Brimstone butterflies on sweat peas in the wonderful walled gardens at Mottisfont

    Large skipper butterfly on verbena at Mottisfont

    Red Admiral butterfly at Mottisfont

    Slideshow of some of my photos from The New Forest:

  • 2nd July 2023 – Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire

    2nd July 2023 – Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire

    A tourist trip to Berkeley Castle, just 15 miles north from my home, gave me a surprise opportunity to get up close to some birds of prey. There was due to be a private falconry display at the castle later that day but we were able to see the birds waiting for their display before visiting the castle and grounds.

    Berkeley Castle

    Peregrine falcon

    Kestrel

    Berkeley Castle from the gardens

    Comma butterfly

    Meadow brown butterfly

    Berkeley Castle

    Berkeley Castle

    Kestrel

    The Great Hall – the magnificent centrepiece of the Castle where kings and queens throughout the centuries have been wined and dined. 
    Measuring 32 feet high and 62 feet long, this magnificent hall dates from the fourteenth century, built on the site of the original hall in the reign of King Edward III. The walls are hung with a fine series of Oudenarde tapestries illustrating the History of Queen Esther, and stained glass in the windows depicts the various alliances of the family.   
    The Great Hall

    It’s the first time for many years that we have visited the castle (the last time was for the wedding reception of a friend in this magnificent castle) and we would very much recommend a visit (with or without the falconry display) – Berkeley Castle website

  • 16th -23rd June 2023 – Devon

    16th -23rd June 2023 – Devon

    We have been on holiday in south Devon and, although not a birding holiday, there were a few opportunities to photograph some of the delights of nature at this time of the year.

    I suppose the most exciting moment was seeing a bird that I had never seen before – a cirl bunting.

    The cirl (pronounced sirl) bunting is a small finch-like bird which is a close relative of the yellowhammer.

    Cirl buntings were once widespread and common across much of southern England, but in recent years, they have become rare and only found in south Devon, mostly confined to coastal farmland between Plymouth and Exeter.

    We saw the cirl bunting on a visit to Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve and, although we saw three of them, it was such a fleeting moment which might explain why I have published an out-of-focus photo of the male as my headline photo.

    Cirl bunting

    The Dawlish Warren website has this to say about the reserve:

    “Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve is an area of grassland, sand dunes, mudflats and centres on a 1½ mile long sandspit/beach across the mouth of the Exe Estuary.  Dawlish Warren is an important holiday resort and is visited by thousands of people each year.

    As part of the Exe Estuary it is one of the most important places for wildfowl and wading birds in the whole of the South West.  Thousands of birds come to feed, on migration, or to spend the winter here.

    The dunes and grassland have a host of special plants. Over 600 different types of flowering plants have been recorded on the Warren. This varied Reserve has many different habitats including salt marsh, fresh water ponds, wet meadows and woodland.

    The Warren is so important that it is protected for its wildlife by both national and international law.”

    Dawlish Nature Reserve

    Kestrel
    Whitethroat
    Whitethroat
    Small copper butterfly
    Deadly nightshade
    Cirl buying
    Cirl bunting

    In Devon we were staying in a converted Wesleyan Chapel on the edge of Dartmoor which was well situated to visit Dartmoor, other nature reserves (Stover Country Park and Slapton Ley) and visit a few National Trust properties (Coleton Fishacre, Compton Castle and Castle Drago) with magnificent gardens which were at their very best at this time of the year.

    The Wesleyan Chapel with views across the rolling hills of Devon

    Great Crested Grebe surrounded by flies at Stover Country Park

    Common spotted orchid at Stover Country Park

    Purple loosestrife at Stover Country Park

    There was always a robin to greet us at every venue we visited but this one (at Stover Country Park) had its mind on other matters

    The squirrels at Stover Country Park were amazingly tame

    There was an interesting Ted Hughes (the poet) trail at Stover Country Park

    Driftwood sculpture at Stover Country Park

    A dull morning at Slapton Ley

    Tufted ducks at Slaton Ley

    We had really nice weather all week except one morning when we visited Slapton Ley. We did get good views of reed warblers, bullfinches and a few tufted ducks but it should have been a great place to see dragonflies and butterflies. However, it was too early on a grey day to have any joy.

    We were luckier with dragonflies and damselflies when visiting Two Bridges on Dartmoor.

    Beautiful demoiselle

    Golden-ringed dragonfly on Dartmoor

    Widecombe-in-the-Moor

    The birds were very elusive on Dartmoor although skylarks and meadow pipits were easy to hear.

    Speckled Wood butterfly at Coleton Fishacre (NT)

    Wild meadows at Coleton Fishacre encourage wildlife – the 1920s country retreat of the D’Oyly Carte family complete with tropical garden by the sea

    1920s country retreat of the D’Oyly Carte family. Arts and Crafts exterior, Art Deco interiors, servants quarters, sea views.

    Coleton Fishacre – RHS-accredited coastal valley garden. Exotic plants, herbaceous borders and sea views. Bordered by woodland and wildflowers.

    Lampranthus roseus have no problems with the mild south Devon climate at Coleton Fishacre

    The roses at Compton Castle were at their best

    Compton Castle

    The medieval barn at Compton Castle

    Castle Drogo – the last castle to be built in England in the 1920s

    Formal terraces at Castle Drogo

    The formal gardens at Castle Drogo

    The rhododendron gardens at Castle Drogo

    Fantastic views from every aspect at Castle Drogo

    We seemed to spend a lot of our holiday driving along the amazing high hedged Devon lanes with small birds constantly flying out in front of us

    The contenders for the most cheerful song birds of our holiday :

    Chaffinch

    Blackbird

    Some of the photos from our trip to south Devon:

  • 6th June 2023 – RSPB Ham Wall, Somerset

    6th June 2023 – RSPB Ham Wall, Somerset

    We have had wall to wall sunshine for the last few weeks and we are promised a “plume” of hot weather from Spain later this week. So, how did I manage to pick today to go birding on the Somerset Levels when it was so grey and cold?

    I started at Catcott but soon gave in as the hide was so draughty and there was very little to see (and what I could see was certainly impossible to photograph). I moved on to Ham Wall where at leat there was the relief of toilets.

    I was hoping to see hobbies but as it was too cold and dull to encourage the dragonflies to offer themselves up so I had no luck on that score. Great white egrets were my best bet as they were easy to see. There were lots of viewings of marsh harriers too but I must apologise for the heavily edited photos. The highlight of my day was a glimpse of a bittern in flight and some cute pochard chicks.

    My shot of a swift will give you an idea of the light conditions.

    Very white and very close was what I needed and this great white egret obliged

    I only managed 2 frames of this bittern before it disappeared into the reeds

    Male marsh harrier

    Female marsh harrier

    Cute pochard chicks

    Slideshow of today’s photos:

  • 12-15th May 2023 – Pembrokeshire

    12-15th May 2023 – Pembrokeshire

    We have had very limited opportunity to get out and about recently so it was a real treat to spend a few days last week at some friends who live in Pembrokeshire.

    Although not a birding visit our friends were sympathetic enough to afford me plenty of opportunity to get some nature photos.

    Our first evening we visited the Stack Rocks and The Green Bridge of Wales where we had great views of guillemots. There were also a few razorbills but they were mainly in the shade and difficult to photograph.

    The Green Bridge of Wales on the Pembrokeshire Coast

    The guillemot’s blue egg can just be seen

    There’s always a scramble to be top bird on the stack

    The sea was teeming with guillemots and razorbills

    Safety in numbers?

    Another day we visited The Gann near Dale and had more opportunity for sea birds.

    Whimbrel on the mudflates near Dale

    The Gann

    Sanderling below the rocks at The Gann

    A ruddy turnstone well camoflaged amongst the rocks

    Back in the countryside there were lots more opportunities:

    Thrush on the quay at Lawrenny

    Barn swallow on the wire – a recent arrival from South Africa

    Barn swallow in flight with fan tail

    Barn swallow in flight taking a direct line

    Great spotted woodpecker in the garden

    Nuthatch in the garden

    Chafffinch in the garden

    The fox was happy to share the spoils with the birds

    Grey wagtail at Stackpole

    The only dismal day we had we still got to the coast. At St Martin’s, where you take the short boat trip to Skomer, the highlight was a gannet but the spring flowers were still quite stunning in the rain.

    Gannet

    Skomer beyond the headland

    Colby Woodland Gardens NT looked beautiful in the sunshine

    The nearby hedgerows were full of cow parsley

    Slideshow of photos taken over our stay: