Pond visitors

25th February 2019.

Its nice sometimes to just stay at home in the backyard and see what birds turn up at my small reflection pool. On this occasion one of the Long Tailed Tits that visit the feeders came down briefly for a drink, as well as the more usual Collared Dove, Goldfinch, House Sparrows, Great Tit and Wren.

Goldfinch

Collared Dove

Collared Dove

House Sparrow female

House Sparrow male

Great Tit

Wren

Long Tailed TIt

Lesser Yellowlegs and Ruff in Dorset.

22nd February 2019.

A trip with friends to Weymouth in Dorset, to visit Radipole Lake and Lodmoor RSPB reserves. the forecast was for warmth and sun but the sea mist didn't clear all day and it was pretty cold, but good birds were seen including the expected Bearded Tit  (though only the one male). Marsh Harrier ( I will get a decent photo one day) and Cetti's Warbler. But the stars of the day were a Lesser Yellowlegs which had been at Lodmoor for a while and a rather splendid Ruff, both were very obliging feeding at close range. Also caught up with a nice male Ring Necked Duck at Radipole but this one stayed just a little out of view for any decent photos.

Lesser Yellowlegs- A scarce visitor from N. America

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellolegs

Ruff-probably a non breeding adult male.

Ruff

Ruff

Ruff

Ruff

Barn Owl

22nd February 2019.

Thrilled to watch this beautiful Barn Owl hunting in the early evening light. North Cornwall.

Barn Owl hunting

Cattle Egrets

22n February 209.

A big influx of Cattle Egrets in Cornwall & Devon at the moment with birds turning up at various sites across the two counties, the largest flock had to be at Walmsley in Cornwall where probably seventy birds or more were busy gorging on Frogs. Quite a sight.

Cattle Egret preening

Just some of the Egrets

On the lookout for Ffogs

Take off

Lunch

Nice meal.

Cattle Egret

Another Egret with Frog

Cattle Egret landing

Short Eared Owl

14th February 2019.

Short Eared Owls are fairly thin on the ground down here in Cornwall/Devon,  with just very small numbers wintering on the moors in the far west and the odd one or two closer to my home on Bodmin moor, this year seems to have been a bit of an exception with more than usual turning up near the coast. At least two ,maybe three have found one particular Cornish headland to their liking and have showed well on many afternoons, seemingly unconcerned by the public sharing their patch. This was the third time I've visited, the two previous times the weather was dull, windy and cold, and although I had some nice views and managed a few o.k shots, today was bright and sunny and quite warm for February so resulting in great views and some better images. Beautiful birds.

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Yellow Browed Warbler

23rd January 2019.

Bowling Green Marsh, RSPB, Topsham, Devon.

Yellow Browed Warbler

Yellow Browed Warbler

The Yellow Browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) is a rare though annual visitor , with seemingly more turning up each year, this individual was easily my best views ever as it fluttered around the hedgerow and verges, always on the move and looking like it was finding plenty of food.

Dunnock

11th January 2019.

The Dunnock or Hedge Sparrow as we used to call it may be a common bird seen almost every day of the year, but getting a half decent photo of one isn't always so straightforward as they spend much of the time feeding on the ground or in among the hedgerow vegetation, so this one on a nice bracken perch in good light is one I am pleased with, taken at Pendower beach , Cornwall.

Dunnock.