Parc Slip NR + Mynydd ty Talwyn

Myself and Rob Mitchell met up at first light this morning at Heol Spencer on Coity Common where two Barn Owls had been seen hunting yesterday, Graham Powell also turned up shortly after I arrived but luck wasn't with us and the owls didn't oblige.
Graham went off to work and myself and Rob went on to Parc Slip where the wintering Water Rail put in a brief appearance on the pool behind the visitor centre,here's an image together with a few of the more common stuff that we came across........

I made my way back home "over the top" via Mynydd ty Talwyn and one of three Common Buzzards perched up for me although a little distant.

Black Redstart : Penarth Marina (yet again !!)

After a lay in yesterday I couldn't resist the temptation of another afternoon visit to Penarth Marina hoping to get the "one" shot I wanted of the male bird, it showed well but didn't come down from the rooftops very often and I nearly but not quite got the shot, oh well there's always next time........

On the way back to the car one of the fem/imm types showed fairly well in the low afternoon light, don't you just love the natural perches of hoop topped railings and satellite dishes !!

Short-eared Owls : Hawling, Gloucs

I made a visit to Hawling last Sunday 28.December 2014 in company with Richard Smith, Rob Mitchell and Phil Morgan on a "toggers" day out where between 4 and 6 Short-eared Owls have been hunting during the afternoons on a couple of rough pasture fields surrounded by drystone walls.
The first "shortie" appeared on one of the walls at about 2.00pm and soon there were as many as 6 in the air together hunting and engaging in aerial combat which was spectacular to say the least.
The light was superb but unfortunately the birds were always a little too distant to get the shots that we all wanted although we all came away with some nice images.........

Can't wait to go back again !!

Black Redstart : Penarth Marina (Again !!!)..........

I made another visit to Penarth Marina today with Nicki Sunter for company hoping to catch up again with the splendid male bird which duly obliged.........

Trying out the new gear................

Made a visit to Forest Farm today to test my new camera and lens in company with Richard "Smudger" Smith, light was awful as weather wasn't half as good as forecast but reasonably pleased with results......

Black Redstart : Penarth Marina............again

Made a return visit to Penarth Marina in company with Peter "Pedro" Morgan and the male bird showed reasonably well for us around Plas Taliesin enabling me to get a few more images that I was quite pleased with......

Black Redstart : Penarth Marina - Almost but not quite...............

I've paid a couple of visits to Penarth Marina in recent weeks the latest being this afternoon hoping to get a few images of the several Black Redstarts that have been frequenting the area and caught up with this stunning male today.
Unfortunately it rarely came down from the rooftops but gave me enough encouragement to have another go on the next fine weekend...........

Snow Bunting : Southerdown

Popped down to Southerndown yesterday morning hoping to catch up with the single male Snow Bunting that has been showing reasonably well and within a couple of minutes of getting to the location the bird performed well perching up on the stone walling, may have had something to do with the Wilkinsons special "Snow Bunting Seed Mixture" that a liberally sprinkled around..........