Farmoor Reservoir
Day out to Farmoor Reservoir with another local photographer Lee Gardiner for the Red-necked Grebe that had re-appereared and was now in its stunning Summer Plumage. The weather looked good for a few hours in the morning so we arrived on site at 7am. We walked left around the Reservoir and it wasn't until we were nearly already around that another birder on site said the Grebe was at the Sailing Club. If we would of gone right we would of found it within minutes!!!! The walk around was worth it as we saw a hunting Barn Owl and a Pair of Kestrels at the on site nest box. There was also a pair of Red-crested Pochard at the Sailing Club.
Sadly the Grebe didn't really perform for us spending most of its time in the middle of the reservoir. A few Sand Martins and Swallows dropped in and this NATO E-3 AWACS Airborne Early Warning and Control Force Aircraft was flying out of RAF Brize Norton.
The Grebe will have to wait for another day.
RSPB Darts Farm Devon
After seeing some awesome photos of the Pendueline Tits at Darts Farm i thought I would pay another visit. I hadn't been very successful on my list trip although I got to see the birds i didn't manage any decent photos. I arrived early (8am) at Darts Farm a small RSPB reserve near Topsham in Devon. Already on site was Vern Wright and Mark Chivers. I hadn't met Mark before so was good to put a name to the face. We had a few fly over curlews and Godwits and flyby Kingfishers. The highlight of the day for me was my first Swallow of the year and by far my earliest. It took till about 10am before the Tits arrived. Also on site now was Alan Chard another very good local photographer and Steve and Kim Hatch some more people i follow on Flickr but hadn't met before. Now the birds were showing hopefully all of us were going to go home happy. Across the course of the day Both birds but on a great show and by the time i left at 3.45pm they had both been on site for nearly 6 hours.
Below are a few of my best photos of the day
Another great day out in Devon
Tockington
A few hours locally it always a great way to spend an afternoon. I first thought i would check out the small stream that runs near Moor Lane for the Green Sandpiper that had wintered here. it was still i its usually area and this time i managed to get close enough to grab a few Pics
The Kingfishers were about but appear to have moved further up stream, I need to spend more time with these over the next few months. There were also a few calling Chiffchaffs in the nearby wooded areas
Forest of Dean
Had a great day in the forest of Dean. Started of slowly with a few hours at Parkend Cricket Club for a quick glimpse of a Hawfinch. Sadly no Pics. It started to get very busy so i decided to see if Parkend Church with a bit quieter for the Crossbills. There were a few around and about so i sat by their favourite puddle for an hour and got lucky when one came in for a quick drink
Common Crossbill at Parkend Church
Sadly i didn't get the best of Pics but will have to do for today. A Fly over Goshawk was a great addition to the list.
Next stop was Crabtree hill for the long staying Great Grey Shrike. It wasn't long before I spotted it close to one of his favourite trees so i thought i would stake out the area and wait for it to come to me. It took a few hours of waiting but it put on a good show.
Was great to meet Jeff Lack here today and also one of the local birder Vic Savery
Somerset
Early finish in work so I thought I would travel around Somerset and try tick a few local long stayers. First stop was Chew Valley Lake for the Great Northern Diver and hopefully the Great White Egret. Sadly neither were about so I headed onto Cheddar to see if the Dippers were about, Sadly these were also not around. A nice Grey Wagtail was a bonus. My final stop was Brean for the Male Black Redstart. Boom at last a target was achieved I spent about an hour with this showy bird and a pair of Stonechats also helped. A fly over Peregrine was also a nice sadly i only managed a few blurred photos
Male Stonechat
