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.

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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 ?

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Bumble Bees

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

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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.



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Marsh Harrier

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

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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...

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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.

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