Reighton Ponds/Bempton

Skylark


Azure Damselfly


Kestrel












Please left click and press F11 for larger view, and F11 to get your tool bar back.

A first very pleasent visit to Reighton Ponds today with a small group from Scarborough Field Naturalists led by John Hulme to look for Dragonflies and Damselflies.

As we approached a Skylark landed on the grass path directly in front of us and I managed a quick record shot.

Around the ponds a few 'blue' Damselflies and a couple of Emperor Dragonflies were flying.

After lunch we moved on to Bempton RSPB where a Kestrel was flying opver head (took lots of shots but always too distant for more than record shots). It has to be an ambition to get close to get quality Kestrel shots. Yes, close I am developing a theme.

We then viewed the Gannets. I love the markings of the young birds (juveniles/first year?).

A pleasant day, thanks John, Brian,David.

Close to Home

Does my head look alright in this? (Sparrow Security System)












After a few weeks of no postings (due to DIY duties) Ithought I would show nshots of a member of a quite strong colony of House Sparrows at home.

For better view left click on picture and press F11.

The bird pictured emerged from its nest somewhere behind the mill stone over a garage door and then went into a nearby Buddleia bush swaying on the stems. It made for nice pictures in the bright light and I was fairly close to.

I am beginning to realise that I need to get closer to subjects, maybe a hide or camouflage suit is a good idea but seeing as nearly all my picture are taken on major reserves and walking with the wife not to practical. This is something I need to work on when you look at other sites and see the pictures are sometimes taken at full frame. How do they do that (I also been watching too much Peter Kaye)?

Hope you like the House Sparrow pictures, they look pretty sharp given the movement in the wind.

Turtle Doves

As relative birding newbise we had a detirmined look for Turtle Doves today.

Last year we went looking a few times to no avail despite hearing them several times.

Following excellent directions from Brian Walker of a location at Dalby Forest we immediately heard the Prrring of Turtle Doves stood at the side of the car. Walking on we heard the sound of the bird very loudly many times before locating them high up in some dead trees, not quite what I expected. The picture is purely a record shot, I hope to go back and get closer next time.

Another bird I photographed today was a Whitethroat.

Having seen a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, one with grubs in its mouth I found the birds nest hole complete with a youngster looking out.

ARNE RETURN

A second visit this week to Arne and we took the Coombe Hill walk in the hope of seeing the Dartford's but no sightingsaybe keeping down in the sunny but slightly breezy conditions.

Seems to be three Green Woodpeckers on the reserve and I managed one shot, fairly distant but my first picture of a Green Woodpecker.

There was six Spoonbills on the estuary feeding on the shore line at high tide but very distant, also several Little Egrets.

At the end of the walk I got pictures of what I am fairly sure is a male Large Red Damselfly.

RADIPOLE RSPB

A nice day visiting Radipole where there was a lot of Cygnets, young coot and Moorhen.


Sound of Cetti's Warblers all over the reserve but elusive.


I got pictures of a Reed Warbler, Great Tit & Mallard.


Later went to Portland Bill for the first time which seems a good place to picture gulls flying along level with the tops of the cliffs and I would recommend a visit for the scenery alone.

ARNE RSPB

A very pleasant visit to Arne today started with great views of a pair of Green Woodpecker 400 yards from the car park entrance. One of the birds flew onto a small tree 100 yards from the car.

A nice walk produced lots of small birds with many baby Great Tits and Wrens. Usual large herd of Sika Deer on the reserve.

This was about our sixth or seventh visit to Arne one of our favourite reserves but we had never seen its star bird the Dartford Warbler there until today. We took a second walk (Coombe Hill) and found a group of Dartford's some distance from the pathway, but at least managed pictures with the aid of some tight cropping.