Radipole & Lodmoor

20th January 2020.

A day out to Weymouth in Dorset mainly to try and photograph Bearded Tits, but also to see what else may be on show, a good day out  in good company and the sun shining on us. First stop Radipole Lake RSPB where the Bearded Tits did not disappoint with birds showing really well in front of us, the best views I've ever had of these quite exotic looking birds. At nearby Lodmoor some commoner species in lovely afternoon light to end the day.

Bearded Tit male

Bearded Tit male

Bearded Tit male

Bearded Tit male

Bearded Tit female

Bearded Tit female

Bearded Tit male

Bearded Tit male

Bearded Tit male

Bearded Tit male

Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck

Teal

Teal

Teal

Teal

Snipe

Snipe

Black Headed Gull

Black Headed Gulls

Med Gulls

Lapwing

Teal in the reeds

Lapwing

A few garden birds

15th January 2020.

Spent a little time at my feeding station to see what might put in an appearance, always blessed with Yellowhammers at this time of the year and Long Tailed Tits are a joy to watch.

Yellowhammer 

Yellowhammer

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Dunnock

Pheasant

Long Tailed Tit

A new Year.

3rd January 2020.

A day out around the Camel Estuary in Cornwall trying to get the new decade off to a good start, and some welcome sunshine for a change.

Mallards at Walmsley, not much showing in front of the hides but I don't photograph  Mallards often .

Mallard female at Walmsley.

A Whooper Swan has been hanging around with some of the local Mutes on the Camel estuary.

Whooper Swan.

Onto the coast where Fulmars are always a favourite of mine.

Would be a nice photo of a Fulmar in flight if I hadn't cut his wing off!

Try cropping in a bit.

Fulmar over rough sea.

Curlews at Chapel Amble

Lots of Chiffchaffs flitting about at Chapel Amble

Chiffchaff

At least three Water Pipits seen at Chapel Amble.

Pallas's Warbler

16th November 2019.

I drove down to West Cornwall ,firstly to try and see if the Paddyfield Pipit was still around ( although I didn't hold to much hope as it hadn't been seen the previous day) and hopefully see the Pallas's Warbler which has been around gardens at the top of Cot Valley. I called time on the Pipit after about an hour and a half of walking around the edge of a muddy field and getting cold and wet, this is where I tell myself  that  even if it does prove to be one of the rarest birds in the u.k for about a decade it was still a very drab little bird and would have been an anti - climax anyway- sadly it had probably succumbed to the cold or to one of the local cats. However that little jewel of a bird the Pallas's Warbler did show well, and though the light was awful I still  managed a few photos, made all the more difficult because it was constantly on the move ,buzzing and hovering as it chased after small insects, but a delightful bird, and  only the second I've seen ( the first just up the road in Sennen a few years ago).

Pallas's Warbler

Pallas's Warbler

Pallas's Warbler

Dorset Days

15t - 18th October 2019.

Joyce and I were set to have a full week in Dorset but owing to my ongoing back problems we decided to just have three days, getting around was not easy and Joyce had to do all the driving but we made the most of it and I managed to get a few photos.We visited Brownsea Island in the sunshine and Arne Nature Reserve in heavy showers. Fungi are putting on a particularly good showing this autumn.

Stinkhorn

Stinkhorn

Sweet Chestnut

Sweet Chestnut

Redshank

Redshank

Sika stag

Sika youngster

Sika 

Sika

Fly Agaric

Fly Agaric

FlyAgaric

Fly Agaric