Wonderful Waders

At last I have managed to get back in to the swing of things and spend time in Birdland. Over the last couple of weeks its been relatively quiet on the work front so I have grabbed the camera bag and visited Oare and  Sandwich (backsands) twice.  My target birds being waders as this time of year is really good to catch up with one or two as they head in their various directions  for the winter period.  My first visit to backsands started with me parking the car by the polly tunnels last Thursday 16th just before 7am. The air was full of expectancy and I was excited which put a spring in my step as I started the the route march to the scrape .The farmer was busy harvesting the crops, I was amazed at the size of the machinary that was being used towering me as I walked by.  Reaching the scrape I entered the tiny photographers hide, here I was to spend the next five hours in which the tide  peaked  and pushed the birds from the river banks etc,  inland to the scrape and hopefully  they would come in range of the camera. Slowly the first birds dropped in. Several Greenshank and Redshank, followed by Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpipers and a solitary Wood Sandpiper. There was one Black Tailed Godwit still in summer plumage and several coots and moorhens. Some of the Sandpipers came very close, I was pleased I was the only one in the hide as I am sure if there was more than one shutter firing off the birds would have spooked. Fantastic seeing the birds so close, there was a single Heron and Little Egret as well.  The time flew by and I was soon on my way home, pleased with my day. Friday the 17th I had arranged to meet Steve Ashton at Oare marshes in the afternoon. We meet in the car park at 2pm. It was a lovely summers afternoon with blue skies and a gentle breeze.We made our way along to the East flood, where  for the next four hours we rattled off the cameras, Mark Chiddwick joined in the fun for a while as he managed to finish work early,but time was of short supply for him and he soon had to go. We spent a a fair while being amused by a Wood Sandpiper and juvenile Ruff. There was lots on show, Black tailed Godwits, Curlew Sandpiper, Golden Plover Snipe to name but a few, however the best for me was was a Little Stint and a last knockings Temminicks Stint, birds that I had only ever seen from a distance. We were both parched by the end of the session so a welcome drink from the old artesian well went down a treat before we said our goodbyes.I visited briefly again after work on Monday but time was very limited seeing several Ringed Plover to add to the list and Yellow Wagtail.  Today still no work, (one of the joys of working in London around the Olympic area,) so another trip to backsands, this time it was a waste of time as you could count the birds on one hand, only a young Lapwing and Moorhen was to come in range of the camera  .So there we are a good few birds seen with a few photos to boot.

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Catching up with the camera.

The year is flying by and I have not been very active with the camera for the last month.  Lots going on ,  my daughters wedding and a trip away with the caravan taking up most of the time. Last weekend I found myself with some spare time so starting Friday after work I went to see a few butterflies, something that's new to me and it was nice to see my first Heath Fritillary which is very localised. Saturday morning I helped out with a Bittern survey at Stodmarsh arriving at the Marsh hide about 0600. Staying to midday I ticked off lots of the local resident birds but did not see any Bitterns. We were hoping to see a few feeding flights but was not very successful. Last year was a real success story for Bittern at Stodmarsh  with three youngster's showing well from the Marsh hide lets hope we have more of the same this year. Sunday together with Steve Ashton I went out watching Peregrines. Masters of the skies they are and we were pleased to contact them.  I also visited  yesterday dodging the showers and was rewarded with a few photos.  Other local birds seen were Corn Bunting, Skylark and Meadow Pipit. Very nice.

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Wales The last post.

Its strange how when you are enjoying yourself time races by. And its not often you get the chance to spend all day doing just what you want to do. This leads to the adage, there is not enough hours in the day. Time fast running out and we have still to see Wood Warbler and maybe obtain a Dipper photo. . The weather this trip has been superb, I have never been to Wales without it raining so everything spot on. I started the day again with an early visit to the river where I watched the Dippers at the nest site, the female coming of to feed enticed by the male every 30 minutes or so, however still not enough light for a photo.. The Dippers lead us a merry dance, over the rest of our stay we tried various sites where they were known to be and although we saw them for me a good picture was not to be . We had another visit to Gigrin again superb, I don't think I could come to this area with out calling in. We saw the tour out with Steve Ashton having a sighting of a Otter which he was thrilled with and locating a pair of Wood Warbler to which we ran out of time for a photo.  Ive cut this report a little short as the blogger seems to be playing up and I am struggling to upload my pictures. My thanks to all on the trip for their company, I enjoyed the banter and the moments that we were lucky enough to enjoy

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Wales day 3

After a hearty evening meal from the hotel we went out for a walk,  Redstarts were spotted flitting in and out of the hedgerows and a pair of Bullfinch displaying vivid colours were also seen. A cuckoo could be heard high in the hills, the sound travelling for miles. The light held on well in fact it stayed light almost till 10. We did not see or hear any Whitethroat which I thought we may do perhaps the habitat was not quite what they like  .Day 3 started the same, up and out early and down to the river, it was frustrating that there was not enough shutter speed for the Dippers which showed well,  easily spotted bobbing up and down, in fact we were to spend a lot of time chasing Dippers. Most of the shots I managed were either to far or high ISO. The Goosanders were interesting to watch they were regular with their early morning flight pattern,  I think they were roosting in the trees perhaps even nesting in them. I had heard Tawny Owls in the night so it was no surprise when we located a bird high in a tree its presence was exposed by lots of small birds. As I watched it hooted and moved to another tree with all its heckler's following it  .After breakfast it was back to Gilfach again, we all agreed another go for the Redstart, this time we were earlier and well rewarded with three or four visits to the meal worms we provided. We had a few Crossbill fly over, fleeting views were had and we saw what could have been a Goshawk. In the afternoon we went to a second Red Kite feeding station it was high in the hills, a lake surrounded by fir trees. The Kites were fed on the bank of the lake allowing them at times to pick up the meat from the water. The name of the centre was Bwlch Nant Yr Arian it was a forestry commission setting on the road to Aberystwyth. here there were Siskin in great number along with other finches but no Redpoll. The Red Kite show started at 3 and was a real spectacle. I think we all watched more than we photographed as the harsh afternoon light and water glare was a problem. After the Kites we saw a pair of Redstart and watched lots of birds on the feederes by the tea bar.This site is well worth a visit but does not have the appeal for photographing the Kites that Gigrin does, nor were there many Buzzards and I only saw one Raven. After a long tiring day it was back to the hotel for a steak and ale pie and a few ciders, very nice.

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Wales day 2

Fresh from a good nights sleep I set off from the hotel at 5 o'clock for a walk along the river. it was a beautiful morning, I had noted in the grounds of the hotel Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher and Redstart yesterday so there was an air of expectancy about today. You don't realise how much sound is polluted until you are in the country, here the only sound was plenty of bird song with Willow Warbler and Garden Warbler, Blackcap and a beautiful Song Thrush filling the still morning air.  I headed along the path towards a footbridge where I could gain access to the river a flash of Redstart was next, followed by a fleeting view of a Wood Warbler which was high in a Tree. There was lots of mature trees for the Wood Warblers, this one was singing well, obviously a few weeks behind in breeding this year.  A few of us had by now joined forces and as we walked along the river which was strewn with boulders and rocks typical of the location, we came a across a Goosander female, she took  flight and rewarded us with a fly about calling as she did so. Goosanders were spotted several times through our stay I think four in total and a few distant chicks. We heard a male Pied Flycatcher which showed well it had a couple of females in tow, there were a few young Grey Wagtails and a tatty parent happily playing in the river very nice. Although the sky was cloudless it was still early when we encountered our first Dipper, the camera was out and the first of many blurred photos was taken. I located the nest sight easily and we watched the male call the female off it to come out and feed. These are moments you just want to enjoy and this we did, however as the sun climed slowly up in to the sky so did the midges and it was not long before we all made a hasty retreat scratching and squashing the little blighters. breakfast was at 8 so after 3 hours in the field was most welcome. After breakfast we made our first visit to Gllfach nature Reserve. A place time forgot it is just north of Rhayader situated in the beautiful marteg valley.  As you drive along the narrow twisting road you drop steeply down to a little bridge over the river here there is a hide allowing stunning close views of Nuthatch, Pied Flycatcher Dippers, Blue and great Tits. The hide is called the otter hide. A steep climb up to the old farm house where we parked the car. The farm house dates back to the fifteenth century and is built around a wooden cruck framed medieval  frame as a welsh longhouse, the farmer lived in one end the animals in the other.. The farm yard has feeders allowing close views of Redpolls Siskins Pied Flycatchers and one that I had only seen on fleeting occasions, a beautiful male Redstart. here we stayed and whiled  several superb hours, time definitely well spent.

A few days in Wales.

Day 1..A few of the local photographers ( loosely speaking ) from my local patch each year join forces and have an annual trip somewhere within the country for a few days, this year I was fortunate to be able to join them. So with Steve Ashton, Steve Ray, Mike Gould, Alan Ashdown and Pete Hemmings we set off early last Sunday with our destination being Rhayader, mid Wales. We had a faultless journey to which I must thank Steve Ashton who drove us there. We stayed at the Elan valley hotel which could not have been better situated for us, it was opposite the river Elan  allowing us easy access to the river, and close to the Red Kite feeding station Gigrin farm. It was there we had our first action with the cameras on a bright day with blue skies. Feeding time for the kites is 3 o'clock  each summer day, the kites are joined by Buzzards and most of the crow family for the feast. There are several hides, some are high and we pre booked the tower hide which costs £20 but well worth it. The Kites seem to appear from nowhere and although we all thought numbers were not as big as previous visits there were lots of birds and the action was fast and furious as the first wave off  Kites started to circle and then plummet to the ground,  this is a real spectacle as they jostle for position, often crashing in to each other as they grabbed at the meat. There  were a few Buzzards trying to land and feed, they had to keep their heads down and a close eye on the kites at all times. As the food started to thin out the birds were easier to watch and calmer  with the Buzzards  occasionally settling in a tree close by.The feed lasted about 3 hours and afterwards it was back to the hotel for a welcome roast dinner.

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