Favourites of 2012

As is traditional at this time of year I have spent a little time looking back at the images of the last 12 months.

To be honest birding and photography took something of a back seat to family during large parts of 2012, as is evident by some large gaps in between blog postings. I apologise for the gaps in my blog, but not for prioritising my young family who are the most important thing in my life. That doesn't in any way mean I'm giving up my interest in wildlife, just that I need to work out better & smarter ways to combine these two aspects of my life.

Despite the limitations on my time, and for that matter those imposed by the weather, there have been some nice images through the year. Here, in no particular order are 12 of my favourite from 2012.



A group of Pink-footed Geese that were associating with some of the astonishing numbers of White-fronted Geese in the county in the early part of the year. While I did get some photographs of the White-fronts they weren't quite as co-operative somehow, and most of the images are what I consider record shots.



I also spent some time in the early part of the year photographing Hawfinch, along with a few of their woodland compatriots. The background is maybe not quite as clean as I'd like, but the interaction here gets me every time.



Again an image containing a slightly messy element - there are a couple of twigs that I might have preferred not to be there, but hey there's a bit of nature in the raw for you and I'm not going to change it.



One particular early June day provided me with what may just rank as my favourite Warbler encounter, simply a pair of Willow Warbler that paid me absolutely no heed as they went about their days work.



I also spent a fair bit of time on the River Kent this year, photographing Dippers, Sandpipers and Wagtails. This brace of Wagtails are my favourite from the time spent alongside the River Kent



Those who know me won't be surprised that I spent some quality time with the Swallows & Martins when they returned from their winter sojourn in climes somewhat warmer than ours.



Can't go wrong with a Marsh Harrier and a nice bit of habitat to boot.



Heron on a wall, a very nice wall it is too


And finally a Kingfisher, for once when I had my camera with me.

For a larger versions of any of the above, plus the rest of my top 40 of 2012 click here

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.

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River Kent

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

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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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