Aylesbere Common and Stover Lake

28th April. A few pics from a recent visit to Aylesbere common in east Devon and onto Stover Lake.

Dartford Warbler at Aylesbere common

Another record shot of Dartford Warbler

One of Three Common Sandpipers in front of the hide at Stover Lake.

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Coot feeding its chick

Manderin drake

Terrapin at Stover

Chiffchaff

A pair of Chiffchaffs have been busy building a nest in a Bramble patch at my home, I have set up a hide and photographed the birds coming in with nest material, hopefully they will be feeding  young soon.

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Davidstow

21st April
First visit to Davidstow for a while, a few bits and pieces around, a small flock of twelve Ringed Plover, three Skylark, a pair of Stock Dove and lots of Wheatears, all just arrived I imagine, one or two came very close to my parked car allowing for some nice photos.

Skylark

Stock Doves

Female Wheatear preening

Female Wheatear

Male Wheatear preening

Male Wheatear feeding

Walmsley again again

Sat 9th April
Nice to see some spring migrants with lots of Sand Martins and quite a few Swallows, plus Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff. Not really a lot else , a flock of Black Tailed Godwits with a couple in summer plumage were joined by a few Redshank, one Grey Plover and a Ruff, a few photos taken on the day.

Adult Little Grebe with catch

Little Grebe

Grey Heron in flight

Fly by Canada Goose

Canada Goose bathing

Incoming Gadwalls

Cormorant-I know s--t photo

Tufted Duck pair

Teal

Goldfinch preening

Sand Martin

Willow Warbler

Swanpool & Stithians

20th March
Decided on day out so joined up with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust photo group at Swanpool in Falmouth, quite a trek but enjoyed the day. Swanpool was actually pretty quiet with just a few gulls bathing and generally loafing about, did see a Water Rail briefly but little else. On the way home I called into Stithians  reservoir, where I found the Slavonian Grebe and a few commoner birds at the feeders along with a Water Rail and a Stoat (which was to quick for my camera).

Black Headed Gull catching Insects

Young Herring Gull (or is it a Lesser Black Backed?) bathing

The same bird as above

his Cormorant was swimming along snapping insects ( I assume) from the air , behaviour I'd not seen before

Lesser Black Backed Gull bathing

Brown Rat, coming to the food put out for the Swans and Ducks

Slavonian Grebe at Stithians

Slavonian Grebe

Dunnock

Reed Bunting

Water Rail

Lesser Scaup

7th March.
The drake Lesser Scaup seems to have swapped locations with the Smew and is now at Siblyback . I located the bird near the hide and took some shots from there , before moving to the opposite bank,  each time it dived I got a little closer until I was at the waters edge where it took no notice of me at all, coming quite close.

Male Lesser Scaup

Diving Lesser Sacup

Lesser Scaup

Going under

Stover Park

4th March 2016.   Thought I would pop up to Stover to see if the Great Crested Grebes were performing their weed dance, always wanted to photograph this courtship ritual , but on arrival it was apparent that only one adult bird was present so not going to happen today , however, I did manage a few very close shots of the Grebe with a big fish, and after putting down seed I was able to photograph some of the commoner species along with those pesky Grey Squirrels.

Marsh Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Robin showing aggressive behaviour towards a rival, quite impressive to watch.

Nuthatch

Water Rail briefly in front of the hide

Great Crested Grebe with lunch

Great Crested Grebe

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrel