Gannets at Bempton

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Last week I undertook what is becoming a near-annual pilgrimage to the cliffs at Bempton to visit the seabird colony there. This year the wind was blowing stiffly off the land and pushing most of the smaller birds far out to sea - so we saw a mere handful of razorbills, guillemots and puffins. But the Gannets were out in force and the light was perfect.

The following is a close crop from one of my favourite shots of the day. I was rather pleased with this one.

Spring is springing

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I can't believe that it is nearly April and I have only posted three entries this year so far! Life is good, but busy for various reasons, and leaving little time to get out with my camera. To make matters worse my local park had a pollution event last year which has killed all the fish in the river and driven away a lot of the wildlife. No kingfishers this year I fear.

But things are looking up and spring has brought return visitors, including a welcome return for the grey wagtails. Low water levels are encouraging them to feed further upstream than normal giving me a great vantage from which to watch them. Hopefully will get some better shots than this soon - but here is one to keep me going.

In other news I have a rather exciting trip planned for later in the year. Watch this space!

Wordless Wednesday: Goldfinch

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Brent Geese at Titchwell

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The main reason for my recent Norfolk trip was to photograph Brent Geese at Titchwell. I saw a few in the distance on Monday at Snettisham, but on Tuesday there was not a single one to be seen at Titchwell. The light was not good either, so a return trip was called for. Two in fact. On Wednesday the geese were out in force - but so was the cloud (and the cold!). Thursday, however, dawned bright and clear. I spent most of the morning stood at the southern end of the west bank path with the sun behind me, as throughout the morning small groups of geese took off and flew across into the adjacent fields.

Sunshine at Titchwell

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Having had several days with fog, rain and poor visibility it was fantastic to get some early morning sunshine in Norfolk today. The weather seemed to inspire the birds too. I'd headed up to Norfolk primarily to photograph geese (of which more in a later post), but the unexpected highlight was definitely the Golden Plover at Titchwell. Present in large numbers and periodically taking to the wing to provide spectacular swirling displays. Add in a bit of sunlight and the odd lapwing and the spectacle was breath-taking. The photo really doesn't do it justice. This is just one segment of a much larger sky...

Wordless Wednesday: Heron

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The silver lining

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This weekend I was supposed to be meeting up with friends to walk in the colours of Forest of Dean, but my car had other ideas. So instead I walked my local patch, on what was a stunning autumn day. The kingfishers were out in force - but as ever too skittish for photos. I think I may have found the nest site though - so next spring with a hide, just maybe! A good day in all, with a sparrowhawk sighting, two pairs of goldcrests and loads of long-tailed tits.

Grey Heron (Fish Supper)

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Yesterday I took a walk through Home Park, and Bushy Park. Lots of fallow deer were in evidence, as well as the usual crowd of water-fowl. On one of the less-well trodden paths in the Woodland Gardens I came across this grey heron, struggling to down a rather sizable fish supper. I was impressed. It kept it up for a long time, finally managing to swallow the fish whole. I wonder if heron's suffer from indigestion?

Wordless Wednesday: Juvenile Stonechat

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Wordless Wednesday: Little Tern

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Male Mandarin Duck

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After Mary's comment about Mandarins looking similar to Carolina Wood Ducks I remembered this picture of a male Mandarin which I took back in April and had intended to use as a wordless Wednesday image - but somehow forgot about in the excitement of all the photos from the Farne Islands. It was one of those still, clear spring days where the sun is low and golden, and the ponds were mirror smooth. So thanks, Mary, and I hope you like the Mandarin!

Wordless Wednesday: Wheatear

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Mandarin Duckling

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After several weekends of rain, we finally had some sunshine this weekend. The local park was rather quiet - just a few blackcap and a family of herons that have taken up residence above the reed bed. No sign of my kingfisher this year - which is a shame.

Over the last few weeks there has been a female Mandarin with a small group of ducklings. I think as many as five originally. Last time I saw them she had only two. This weekend only one was in evidence.

Wordless Wednesday: Guillemot

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Wordless Wednesday: Shag

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Wordless Wednesday: Farne Island Puffin II

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Farne Island Terns

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The week before last I spent a couple of afternoons on Inner Farne being entertained by puffins, terns, guillemots, shags and eider. It was the first time I'd made it across to the Farnes - previous attempts having been stymied by bad weather. But what a fantastic place to be.

The main target of my day was to get shots of the sandwich terns. These graceful birds nest in some numbers on the Farnes and can be seen fishing off the Northumberland coast. Inner Farne is a good place to get up close and personal

Another highlight of the trip were the Arctic terns. Strong winds, good light and the need for the terns to run the gauntlet of scavenging black-headed gulls eager to relieve them of the fish all make for excellent photographic opportunities to capture these lovely birds in flight.

Wordless Wednesday: Farne Island Puffin

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Woodpecker

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It's always nice to see woodpeckers, although they are much easier to hear than to spot. Recently however, I have come across a couple which seem less cautious than normal. This one I heard clearly hammering on a dead tree in my local park. It saw me approach and flew to a higher branch - but when I stopped to to watch, it returned to its original location and continued to peck away.

Wordless Wednesday: Wren

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