"Local wanderings"........

Didn't venture far this weekend and stayed fairly local but still bagged some great birds and managed a few images that I was quite pleased with...........

Unfortunately the Firecrest didn't want to play ball and didn't come close and the Barn Owl pics were taken late in the day in fading light so stupid ISO.

"Gloucestershire day out"..........

Myself and fellow "togger" Richard Smith decided to "cross the bridge" last Sunday and pay a visit to Gloucestershire firstly trying for the long staying pair of male Penduline Tits on the east side of Gloucester and then spending some time at Parkend in the Forest of Dean hoping for Hawfinch which have been quite regular at the feeding area near the cricket field.
With Richard at the wheel we rocked up at Horsebere Pool mid-morning and were soon on to the birds which were feeding on reed mace surrounding the pool, I had hoped that they would again fly to the sallows at the edge of the feeder stream affording a closer opportunity as they had done on my previous visit but unfortunately this was not to be.
The birds stayed in the reeds for the time that we were at the site and all either of us could manage were a few "record" shots.........

As the birds did not look as if they were going to move from the reed bed we decided to push on and within half an hour were driving through the Forest of Dean, we arrived at Parkend and quite easily found the feeding area below the yew trees on the lane at the side of the cricket field.
Richard stayed in the driver's seat and I moved into the back and with the aid of a couple of bean bags resting on the window cills we were ready and waiting for Hawfinch.
We were pleasantly surprised that there were no other "toggers" present and we had the premier parking spot all to ourselves opposite the feeding area, we put down a liberal sprinkling of seed including some sunflower hearts and despite the best efforts of the local sheep trying to eat our offering birds quickly started to drop from the trees to feed.
These including Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Chaffinches, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Nuthatches and after about a 40 minute wait a gorgeous male Hawfinch dropped into view.
He would feed for a few minutes and then fly into other yew and pine trees about 70m away across the green.
He returned a further two times and on his last visit came close enough for both of us to get some images that we were both well pleased with..........

The weather had been dry and bright but in the shade of the trees we had been forced to crank the ISO up to around 2000 and as the light started to fade we decided to move on to the woodland surrounding Parkend church in the hope of a Lesser 'pecker but despite a good search we left empty handed and headed for home, what a cracking day out and probably both of us had our best ever views and photographs of a corking male Hawfinch, happy days !!

First visit of the winter.........

Considering Parc Slip NR is only a 10 minute drive for me this was my first visit of the winter having spent most of it birding around the Cardiff area and slightly further afield.
Not wishing to go too far last Saturday I paid a visit and "Pearl" my dog enjoyed the walk, I don't normally tend to photograph common garden/woodland birds preferring the slightly rarer stuff but I thought I'd post a few images.......

"A day out around Cardiff".......

After a day watching the Six Nations rugby last Saturday I decided to devote the Sunday to a day around the Cardiff area hoping to catch up with some nice birds in good light for a change.
I've paid a couple of visits lately to Cosmeston Lakes CP in the hope of the Lesser Scaup putting in a close appearance for me but on previous occasions it has always been on the far side of the East lake, this was to be my first port of call and an early start before the place gets overrun with MOPs found me scanning the far side of the lake to find the bird once again very distant in company with the usual Tufties.
Plan B it was to be then as I headed for Swanbridge just down the road hoping to catch up with the male Black Redstart that has been seen around the car park area for a week or two.
On arrival I found Geri Thomas and Kevin Hughes in attendance and Geri quickly spotted the bird feeding on the ground on the edge of the car park.
It was quite elusive and mobile and after the lads had moved on I hung about hoping to get a few photos, the bird reappeared and perched up on the precast concrete sea defence structure enabling me to get a few "record" shots, it would disappear for periods and was always too distant to get anything meaningful..............

With Plan B still in operation I doubled back to Cosmeston but once again the Lesser Scaup was still in residence on the far side of the East lake.
I got talking to a birder/togger visiting from Wiltshire and the bird had disappeared, neither of us could pick it up in the bins, I suggested that it may have flown and for us to check the boardwalk area to our left adjacent the cafe.
Lo and behold the bird had reappeared not 20m from the edge of the boardwalk and we "filled our boots" before it and it's Tuftie mates drifted back out towards the middle of the water.........

Next stop and for the remainder of the day was RGW hoping for a "perched on a post" shot of a Short-eared Owl, unfortunately none of the Shorties obliged and I left a little disappointed on what will probably be my final visit this winter, let's hope they return next year as I with lots of others have really enjoyed my time with them for the last few months, here's a few final shots......

Goosanders : Clydach Vale Lakes

This morning I thought I'd pop up to Clydach Vale lakes in the Rhondda valley for a couple of hours in an attempt to catch up with the wintering Goosanders that have been showing quite well and then get home to put my feet up and watch our first game of the Six Nations rugby championship against Ireland.

I was greeted on arrival at the bottom lake by an almighty hailstorm which confined me to the Jeep for ten minutes or so, this soon cleared over and the sun came through the clouds intermittently, I soon found the Goosanders and there was one male and three females present.

They are lovely birds to photograph especially the males but it is so easy to 'burn out' the cream/white of the breast whilst trying to obtain a glint of light in the dark eye against the bottle green head, it really is a good test of getting the exposure right.

The birds did not come as close as I would have really liked for some 'crippling' photos but I came away with some images that I was quite pleased with.......