Kingfisher

Enticed by reports of Otter showing well I donned my wellies and made a couple of visits to Leighton Moss last weekend, catching the last hour or so of light both Friday & Saturday.
I stopped in briefly at Lillians hide, grabbed a few shots of a young Little Grebe and some Coot before Paddling on down to Public Hide




I settled in to Public Hide hoping for the Otters that had been reported as showing well. Instead I got a pair of Mute Swans & a small group of Coot. Little Egrets started to drift in to roost in one of the trees at the back.




The light, which for the most part wasn't fantastic anyway due to the level of cloud cover, was starting to go when a Kingfisher flew by. Just too fast, I couldn't get on it, but at least it was nice to see & gave me incentive to hold out for a little while longer. And that turned out to be a good thing, because I was already watching the flight path from last time when it flew the same route again, this time I got a couple of shots away as it flew past. Not the most technically brilliant images I've ever taken I will admit, but hey flight shots of a kingfisher I was happy. A quick scan along the reed edges showed where it had perched. A good distance away, but I managed a couple of shots before it moved on again.




Having bagged a few shots it was time to go home, but next day the light was beautiful & golden, so I made a return visit. The Swans were again present, accompanied by a couple of Cormorant, with Mallard & Moorhen supporting. All looking magnificent in the late honeyed light.



Unfortunately I didn't see the Kingfishers on Saturday in that sweet light apart from one brief flight view right over the over the side of the water, and I never saw the Otters at all. There's always next time though.

Click on any of the photos above or here for more photos and larger versions

River Kent

Just a few more photos from the river Kent at the weekend.

Click on any of the photos below or here for more photos and larger versions.

Goosander

After a few weeks tied up with things at home and generally not too much good weather I finally got out with the camera to spend a few hours on the river at the weekend. A group of half a dozen Goosander were hanging around for a while.

Click on any of the photos below or here for more photos and larger versions.

Swallows over the Canal

Spent the last hour of sunlight yesterday at Crooklands by the Canal.
There don't seem to be as many Swallows there this year as there have been in the past ?

Click on any of the photos below or here for more photos and larger versions.

Bumble Bees

Just a couple of shots of (Red-tailed ?)Bumble Bees in the garden this afternoon.

Click on any of the photos below or here for larger versions.

Nuthatches on Helsington Barrows

Spent a couple of hours up on Helsington Barrows yesterday. It was nice to get out in the sun for a while, although the birding was quiet - as you might perhaps expect at this time of year.

Saw Great Spotted Woodpecker, a couple of Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Raven, Wren, Robin, but only got any shots of Nuthatch, a small group of which came out to play for a bit.



Click on any of the photos below or here for larger versions and more photos.

Marsh Harrier

Just a few photos of Marsh Harriers at Leighton Moss yesterday.

Click on any of the photos below or here for larger versions and more photos.

Helsington Barrows for a Redstart

Back up to Helsington Barrows yesterday morning, armed with the location a Redstart had been the previous day. Got up to the top and could hear it for sure, but it wasn't for showing itself. After a while some dog walkers came by and the bird went quiet.
Had a walk out onto Scout Scar, and got some photos of a Meadow Pipit, also had a probable Tree Pipit a little further away - it was getting a bit to hazy to be 100% sure though.
Walked back in to the reserve and after a little time watching the tree tops picked the Restart out, and got a rather dodgy photo, again affected by the heat haze.
Grabbed a shot of a rather confiding Crow on the way back down.
Was tempted to go looking for a Green Woodpecker that was calling, but the heat haze was getting too bad & I was already ate for a jubilee party...

Click on the photos for larger versions

Willow Warblers

Another visit to Helsington Barrows yesterday afternoon, which was quite frustrating until a very co-operative pair of Willow Warblers saved the day.

Down by the bottom entrance the Nuthatches had fledged and were visible, but would not sit and pose. I did manage to grab a couple of shots of a Song Thrush though. Working across the bottom of the reserve Great Spotted Woodpecker & Jay were also both seen but not photographable. Then a Kestrel did a very good impression of a Cuckoo flying away from me.
Spent a long time stood next to a Yew tree that clearly had Goldcrest in it, but it just wouldn't come out for me either. Plenty of newly fledged Tits in evidence. A couple of Spotted Flycatcher were seen at the top, but again no photo to be had. Then I found a pair of Willow Warbler that were practically oblivious to my presence, and finally got some photos before being further frustrated by Green Woodpecker calling all around me on the way back down.

Click on any of the photos below or here for larger versions and more photos.

Helsington Barrows

Spent a couple of hours exploring Helsington Barrows yesterday evening.
Nuthatch feeding young - when I realised I was near the nest site I grabbed a couple of shots of the parent & young and then left them to it, although given the location of the nest I don't think they are too bothered about disturbance.
Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker & Great-spotted Woodpecker calling, but none of these were seen.
Marsh Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Wren, Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush & Song Thrush all present.
No luck with Redstart as yet though.

Click on any of the photos below or here for larger versions and more photos.

Helsington Weir

Made a couple of visits with camera to Helsington Weir over the last couple of days, pretty much a selection of Hirundines, Swifts, Pied Wagtail and the occasional Grey Wagtail with one Dipper through.

Click on any of the photos below or here for larger versions and more photos.

An hour by the Canal

I spent a pleasant hour with the camera by the canal at Crooklands this evening. The usual mix of Swallows & the odd House Martin although numbers fairly low yet, Mute Swan, Mallard, Jackdaw, Chaffinch & House Sparrow all around and about.

Click on any of the photos below or here for larger versions and more photos.

Pied Wagtails

Made a brief visit to the River Kent after work today.
Pied Wagtail were the star turn showing really well at close range, with a supporting cast of 2x Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Swallow.

Click on any of the photos below or here for larger versions and more photos.

Common Sandpiper

Brief visit to the River Kent yesterday picked up a Common Sandpiper working the river edges. Grey & Pied Wagtail also present.

Click on any of the photos below or here for larger versions and more photos.

Grey Wagtails

I had an afternoon to myself today so I took the opportunity to get out with the camera, and headed for the river Kent to explore for good places to photograph Grey Wagtails. After half an hours walk I found a likely place and set up, struck lucky almost straight away, don't you love those days.
When I got home some of the photos show the bird with prey items in it's beak, any ideas what they are ?

Click on any of the photos below or here for larger versions and more photos.