Crossbills, Nuthatches + More !

Date: 2nd March - All Day

Location:  Forest of Dean - Gloucestershire

 Observation:  Day off with blue skies, so headed to Forest of Dean! We started at Crabtree Hill, to find the Great Grey Shrike, we looked with 5 or 6 other birders with no luck, but did find a pair of Crossbills (1st new tick for L), Redpoll and Siskins and a small group of Fallow Deer, we photographed them for 15 minutes or so, and walked back in the hope of seeing the Shrike, but again no luck, was quite a wind blowing so maybe put him off! But walking back we seen 3 Raven's circling over!

With still no sign we moved onto Cannop Ponds, and took a few shots of the resident Mandarin Ducks (2nd new tick for L), around 5 there, with more around the Lake, with also a Little Grebe of note. With alot of Thrushes feeding on the mud, we put some seed down and within seconds there were Great Tits and Blue Tits and then 3 Nuthatches, all taking it in turns to feed on this! They were coming within 5 foot of us at times! 

Over 200 shots later between us, we moved onto Parkend, in hope of some more Crossbills and Hawfinches. A few birders looking for these who had been there throughout the day, looks like it did show early morning, but once again we missed the Hawfinches (we will be back!), Crossbills also didn't show at Parkend, but we did see 4 Squirrels, 3 of which were Kits, come out the nest and playing and chasing each other around the tree, before it got too windy and 'Mum' followed them back in to warm up! Although we didn't see everything we didn't want to, we will be back to get the other ticks! 

Weather:  Blue Sky, Some Cloud, Cold Wind

Other Species: Buzzard, Crossbill, Redpoll, Siskin, Raven, Coal Tit, Mandarin Duck, Nuthatch, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush - Of Note

Thanks For Looking!

Westhay, Greylake + Ham Wall - Somerset Levels

Date: 17/02/2015

Location: Westhay, Greylake + Ham Wall - Somerset Levels 

Observation: Blue skies and new camera settings so headed for the Levels first off Westhay, car park almost full, half term I suppose. But as usual didn't see many people on reserve was hoping for a Firecrest but after walking London Drove a few times no sign, did see 3 Buzzard, Great White Egret, Goosander and a very obliging Chiffchaff and Long Tailed Tit though.

settings working well !

Next Greylake, again very busy with best spots for car park feeders taken :( . 

even the Reed Bunting was wondering who left the gate open !

So headed round to hides after squeezing into a space 

SNIPE 20 ft in front hide in beautiful light ! Nice .

Shoveller, Gadwall, Wigeon in numbers everywhere also Curlew and Lapwing.

Even two sticks is enough camouflage for this beautiful bird !

Kestrel hunting on way back to car park, on arriving back at van a space appeared by feeders so a quick bit of maneuvering kettle on and started to watch as Reed Bunting, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tits, Dunnocks, Chaffinch and the stars the Starlings. 
Having a right scrap over seed.

Dunnock death stare !

Waiting his turn

 Queue jumping not accepted !!

Come and have go ...!

After an hour or so headed round to Ham Wall on way home, parked in new car park, better than scrapping roof on old car park barrier ! Heard Cetti's Warbler, Just missed Bittern and Marsh Harrier not 5 mins ago. 

Always the way but a good day was had and happier with 7d mkii setting now i think .

Weather: Blue Skies temp around 5c 

Other Species: Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Curlew, Buzzard, Kestrel, Snipe, Shoveller, Wigeon, Starlings, Gadwall, Great White Egret, Goosander, Lapwing, Cetti's Warbler, Long Tailed Tit.

Thanks for Reading and looking! 

Better Pictures Here

Jay - Garrulus glandarius

Date: 15th Feb - 3PM

Location:  Bath Botanical Gardens

Observation:  A rather dull and overcast, but decided to pop up to the Botanical Gardens, in Bath. Alot of dog walkers and people about, so Squirrels, Jay's and other birds were quite jumpy, we did manage to attract in some Pigeons, Great Tits, Squirrels + Jay's with some Monkey Nuts and Peanuts, where they all seemed very hungry! After photographing them for about 10-15 minutes and get muddy from lying down, we walked around a few times to try and find the Brambling spotted yesterday, no luck with that, but alot of Chaffinches. No Kingfisher either on the bottom lake, but there were alot of Gull's which all flew off together so a possible Peregrine fly-over also. Got some nice pictures of the Jay which we don't really see by us, so almost a nice bird to spot!

Weather:  Cloudy and Overcast - Warm

Other Species: Blackbird, Magpie, Crow, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Jay, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch - Of Note

Thanks For Reading!

Our Resident Kingfisher

Date: 8th Feb - 2PM

Location:  Newton Park Lake - Patch Walk

Observation:  Within minutes of starting the walk, the resident Kingfisher was sat on the bridge, a few dog walkers flushed it but the flew the way we were walking so we got a few shots as it flew downstream, it let us get about 10 feet from it, sat in the sunlight in full view for most shots, which makes a change! Moving on, the builders still making a racket on the refurb so not much about walking through the campsite, 2 Roe Deer in the cluster of trees, and a fly-through Buzzard. From then on it was pretty sparce. The normal suspects of Crows, Rooks, Song Thrushes and Blackbird, showed. No Little Owls at the Lake, although there were ALOT of people there today. At Home Farm there were large groups of Chaffinches in nearby trees flying around the farm. A few Wagtails also.

Weather:  Blue Sky, Sunny, Cold

Other Species: Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Buzzard, Kingfisher, Crow, Rook, Chaffinch, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail

Thanks For Reading!