Redwing Flocks Arriving

Date: 15th Dec (10 days to go!)

Location:  Local Patch Walk (Newton Park Lake - Circular)

Observation:  Had a few hours to spare so a quick patch walk was in order, plenty of Redwing about and a singular Buzzard in woods. 2 lovely Goldcrest feeding in bushes (also had our first Goldcrest on the feeders today, spent a few minutes on the tree and flew off, species count is defiantly going up, Waxwing will be next hopefully! A large flock of Redwing in Newton St Loe by churchyard. A Grey Heron hunting in the field before the Lake, catching slugs! Just the normal residents at the Lake with 1 Little Owl, practicing his camo! Not a great walk for photographing but plenty of flocks about.

Weather:  Cloudy, Cold, Calm Winds

Other Species: 1 Buzzard, 1 Raven, 2 Goldcrest, 50+ Redwing, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Little Owl, 15 Teal, 1 Meadow Pipit - Of Note

Thanks For Looking !

Garden feeders - Slow Motion

Date: 11/12/2014

Location: My Garden feeders 

Observation: Arriving home at dinner time counted at least 50 birds on or leaving tree as I approached ! 

So in, kettle on.. then sat in front window. Camera on tripod as Tuesday dislocated 2 fingers, so at moment hard to hold camera !

Goldfinches making a right racket ! With 10 on tree at once, as soon as a car or person walks by goldies all disappear only to reappear 3 to 5 mins later ! While watching a Greater Spotted Woodpecker landed on Peanuts all but a brave Blue Tit stayed on feeders only to be pecked off by the Greater Spotted Woodpecker ! 

16 species in around 30 mins not bad did short video of the event !
Love the sound on slow motion bits sounds like monkeys !

Around 10 Redwing buzzing overhead too !

Buzzard flew straight over feeder tree looking down, all birds scattered !

Weather: Windy, Showers, Light rain

Other Species: Redwing, Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard, LBGull, Crow, Magpie,Blackbird, Robin - Of Note

Thanks For Reading !

A 7d mkii And Slimbridge

Date: 08/12/2014
Location: WWT Slimbridge 
Observation: Started for Slimbridge with new 7D mkii, sunshine and blue skies it looked good ! So many new setting on mkii to try out and try to master, focus seemed quicker with lots of flight shots in focus.

Greylag Geese A Good Start

It would be rude not to take some shots of the incoming Bewick's

Some shots manual some on AV or aperture mode

Head on and in focus !!

The Bewick's seem happy with it !

 With plenty more to see, count them if you want ! 

Around 1000+  flock of Lapwing

MMM... Worms

 Although not all in focus, I like this 

Maccoa Duck Female, Low level

 The Common Cranes putting on a good show, 7 Cranes here today 

 Then from the Willow Hide I spied a Water Rail a nice surprise to end the trip, alot more work to do with camera I think .Overall I think 7D mkii is better than 7D, focus is quicker, feels smoother when taking shots but AV mode not sure think manual is for me. 

Weather: Cold with blue skies and some cloud 

Other Species: Water Rail, Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk, Bewick Swan, Ruff, Plover, Lapwing - Plus Slimbridge Usuals.

Thanks for Looking !

No Egrets @ Chew Valley

Date: 02/12/2014

Location: Chew Valley Lake  

Observation: With the Great White Egret at Chew and showing well thought i'd pop down. When I arrived it was in Herrriot's Bridge channel side nice! Light was bad but he stayed for at least an hour catching Trout & Perch. He had a Kingfisher for company for a few minutes.

Video-Great White Egret

Moved round the Lake to Morton, Goldcrests in the trees and Greater Spotted Woodpecker then Herons Green not much here so went to Woodford Lodge for a look for Great Northern Diver, didn't see him.

There were 2 Little Egrets squabbling on Jettys and a great looking Little Grebe. Also about 60+ Cormorants fishing.

Weather: Grey Cloudy BLOODY cold ! 

Other Species: Great White Egret, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Little Grebe, Yellow Legged Gull, Buzzard, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker - Of Note

 Thanks For Looking !