Tag Archives: photography

Early start today, target birds being Common Sandpiper, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Ring Ouzel and Redstart.

7:30am arrival at Langsett Barns Car Park (///bluff.track.neckline) to Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, moving on to the dam, after getting the gear together, a single Oystercatcher was soon picked out amongst the Mallards, two Common Sandpipers flew in and landed on the dam wall, I eventually managed to grap some photos of them in passing, shortly after a third joined them.

Down in the wood Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Curlew was heard, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen, Wrens’ were heard throughout the wood and then I picked up a Pied Flycatcher calling, but couldn’t pick it up, but further into the wood, I found another, but it was a wait of twenty minutes before it finally showed itself. After the Pied Flycatcher, I was put onto a location of Spotted Flycatcher, but I spent sometime with the Pied first, then I went to find Spotted Flycatcher. Once I was in the location, I had to use the Merlin app, due to the high pitch calling, it was here, now I had to find it, took a while but find it I did, high in the trees, I was really glad I found this one.

Back to the car and round to the other side of the reservoir where there were Swallows, Pied Wagtails, Sparrowhawk, Lapwing and Red Grouse.

I then went on to a place called Cut throat bridge for part two of the day, Willow Warblers were calling in the car park area, I made my way across to the other side of the road to the location. Took a while to find the next bird, Ring Ouzel, a single male bird and then eventually a couple of Whinchat, a single Snipe, Meadow Pipits, Red Grouse, nice end to the day.

Birds seen Langsett Area : Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collard Dove, Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Kestrel, Lapwing, Long tailed Tit, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Flycatcher, Pied Wagtail, Red Grouse, Robin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Spotted Flycatcher, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren (32)

Birds Seen Cut Throat Bridge : Lapwing, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel, Snipe, Whinchat (7) 174/200

Common Sandpiper

Meadow Pipit

Spotted Woodpecker

Pied Flycatcher

A call into North Cave Wetlands on the way back home from Bempton, always a good place to be, with of course a great Butty Van to boot.

Started off walking down Dryham Lane and to East Holm hide for the reported Black Tern, I found out later, when I couldn’t find it, that it was only a fly through. On the walk down were, Orange tip Butterflies, Peacock Butterflies, and a couple of Dark edged Bee Flies. At East Holm, the Little Owl was in its favourite tree, loads of Black headed Gulls, Wigeon, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, Shelduck, down here also I got talking to a fellow You Tuber, Stuart Abbott of Derbyshire Bird Tours, who put me onto the Mediterranean Gulls and I put him on to his first Common Tern of the year.

From the hide, itself, I managed to find a couple of Little Ringed Plovers, as well as closer views of the Common Terns, dinner was now calling, so I made a stop at the Butty Van, well eventually, I made a stop off first, on a footpath, one I hadn’t been on before, on here I found a Sedge Warbler, Linnets, Common Whitethroat, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, and a heard Garden Warbler.

After dinner, I came back to the footpath and took some photos, rather a few, really, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, and Linnets, the Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were a bit skulky, but I had a good time

Birds Seen : Avocet, Black headed Gull, Blackcap, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Gadwall, Garden Warbler, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Owl, Little Ringed Plover, Mallard, Mediterranean Gull, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied wagtail, Pochard, Red Kite, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Ringed Plover, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Whitethroat, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon (47) 167/200

Linnet

Common Whitethroat

Early start today due to the draw of Flycatchers in the area. I arrived in the Langsett barns Car park at about 8:20am, to a nearly empty car park, good timing on my part, got the gear together and off I went.

On route to the Flycatcher area I passed a singing Chiffchaff and a Goldfinch, I didn’t find anything on the reservoir or the dam wall. Eventually I got to the wood, starting here with the sound of Nuthatch, Blue Tits and Great Tits. I made my way slowly thru the wood, stopping occasionally, to look and listen, but no Flycatchers. A small group of people had started to follow me, presumably with the same goal in mind, one lady finally found our quarry, a single female Pied Flycatcher, going into a nest box, a distant one, well away from the path.

We watched for a while, people eventually started to drift away, leaving me to myself, so I settled in and continued to watch. I watched the female Pied Flycatcher come and go, with nest material, with the Male Pied Flycatcher popping in occasionally, due to the distance I couldn’t get any decent photos, the Nikon P950 is good for reach, but the AF is awful. Other bird highlights were Nuthatch and a Great spotted Woodpecker.

After dinner I went around to the other side of the reservoir, after parking up and getting out of the car I heard Raven, suddenly they were overhead, three birds in total, they stayed around for about fifteen minutes, flying around and calling, a great sight to watch, there were also in the area, Swallows, Red Grouse, Skylarks and Willow Warbler.

On then to Wombwell Ings, a friends birthday, we ended up at Adwick Washlands seeing, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Dunnock and Robin on our way into the reserve. At the first pool were plenty of Avocets, a few nice looking Black tailed Godwits, Redshank, a few Black headed Gulls, Teal, Gadwall, Lapwing, Moorhen and Coot.

On then to the lookout area, after watching a showy Cetti’s Warbler, to hopefully find our target birds Yellow Wagtails and Wheatear, we saw neither, we moved on further down the lane to another pool, this one was half dry, but Yellow Wagtails were eventually seen, at least three birds seem, maybe four.

After a tip off, we went back down to the lookout area, seeing a few Swallows overhead and a Little Egret dropping in. At the lookout area, back looking for the Wheatear, a no show, but a Sedge Warbler made a quick burst of song, just to say it was there, attention went back to the Wheatear, which eventually popped up into view

Birds at Langsett : Blackbird, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Curlew, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Kestrel, Mallard, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Flycatcher, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Red Grouse, Song Thrush, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon (23)

Birds at Adwick : Avocet, Black headed Gull, Black tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, lapwing, Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Long tailed Tit, Mallard, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Warbler, Robin, Shoveler, Skylark, Song Thrush, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Wren, Yellow Wagtail (42) 154/200

Another sunny day and another day at Old Moor, the draw today was a pair of Black necked Grebes, they would be a new species for me at Old Moor (121), for this location. It wasn’t long before stepping into the reserve, that I was distracted by the song of a Reed Warbler (149), near the crossroads, so I stop in the hope of seeing it, maybe a photo too, I saw it moving around in the reeds, then it flew out seeing off a Blue Tit.

I made my way down towards the wader scrape, stopping first at the lookout hide, in the hope of yesterday’s Mediterranean Gulls but no joy, after looking thru countless Black headed, Lesser Black backed and Herring Gulls, other birds were Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Teal, Moorhen, Coot, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, and Cormorants.

Moving on then to Wader Scrape via Green Lane, overlooking the mere as I went, Redshank, Oystercatcher, seen, then I saw the Black necked Grebes but try as I could I couldn’t get a photo, think it was low down and heat haze that was the problem, I also had the problem with a Little Egret in the same area. After the Grebes I decided on putting my concentration in to the insects, seeing, Common Wasps, Bees, Spiders, Gorse Shieldbugs, Butterflies around were Brimstone, Green veined White, Orange tip, Peacocks, and Speckled Woods and also a Willow Warbler.

After my time at Old Moor I called in at Wombwell Ings, to see the male Garganey, took some finding, it was at the far side of the lake, need help in doing so, also on show were Skylarks, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Greenshank (150), Redshanks, Canada and Egyptian Geese

Birds Seen : Black headed Gull, Black necked Grebe, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Garganey, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenshank, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Long tailed Tit, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pochard, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Robin, Ruff, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren (43) 150/200

Butterflies Seen : Brimstone, Green veined White, Orange tip, Peacock, Speckled Wood

Little Egret

Weevil Species

A day out with friends today, first port of call was Blacktoft Sands, taking in the farmland a around Blacktoft, finding Meadow Pipits, and a single Corn Bunting.

At Blacktoft, we ventured into the Marshland hide first, seeing our target bird here, the Garganey, male and female birds, sleeping most of the time, occasionally lifting there heads, other birds at Marshland were Avocet, Black tailed Godwit, Shoveler, Snipe, Teal and Sand Martins, with a Barn Owl in the nest box. We made our way thru the reserve to the sound of Cetti’s Warblers, Blue Tit and Chaffinch, we saw many Marsh Harriers at Blacktoft, from various hides. At the feeders were Tree Sparrow, Great Tit and Chaffinch.

Our next port of call was North Cave Wetlands, with the Turret Hide being our first port of call, hoping for a Bittern, this wasn’t to be, so we made our way back to the shelter where we got sight of a Little Ringed Plover along with Shelduck, Redshank, and Tufted Duck. At the feeders, further along Dryham Lane, Goldfinch, Linnet, Long tailed Tit, Wren, and Robin.

With Bittern being our main target, we decided on going around to Far Ings, back on the road and across the bridge. On arrival we went to the East Ness Hide, where eventually I had my best ever encounter with Bitterns, what and ending

Birds at Blacktoft : Avocet, Barn Owl, Black tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Corn Bunting, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Garganey, Great Tit, Greylag Goose, Lesser Black backed Gull, Linnet, Little Grebe, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Reed Bunting, Rook, Sand Martin, Shoveler, Skylark, Stock Dove, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren (36)

Birds at North Cave : Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Coot, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greylag Goose, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Linnet, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pochard, Redshank, Robin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wren (28) 145/200

Bittern

Black tailed Godwit

Little Egret

First port of call was to Bourne for the Dark Breasted Barn Owl. Arrived early to a few cars already parked along the road side, staying in the car, we eventually , were entertained to a great display by the Barn Owl . This bird originates in North East and Central Europe.

We then moved onto Deeping Lakes, a place run by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, a small reserve, but lots to see, large car park, but no amenities. Viewing from the car park, Sand Martin a plenty, coming and going to the Martin bank. Moving on from the car park and along the river, to place, where a viewing, where we could view the Glossy Ibis (2) and a single Cattle Egret along with Snipe, Egyptian Geese, the sound of Cetti’s Warbler and Chiffchaff. Further on we saw Little Egret, Little Owl and Green Woodpeckers. Further into the reserve we were showed where a roosting Long eared Owl, the Owl was partially obscured, but a nice sighting anyways. Other birds on sight were Black headed Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Goldeneye, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pochard, Teal, Red Kite, and Woodpigeon.

We then moved onto Eldernell, it was raining when we turned up, so we had dinner, watching Marsh Harrier, Spoonbill, Little and Great Egret from the car, we eventually moved off and we went down to the Tawny Owl roost site, it took some finding, but finding it we did.

Our last call of the day was to RSPB Frampton Marsh, and made our way down to the saltmarsh as soon as we arrived, as we made our way down, we saw the drake Scaup, Avocets, Black tailed Godwits, Sand Martins, the female Peregrine was on the barn, Spoonbill, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, always lots to see at Frampton.

At the saltmarsh, it was now very windy, a few Meadow Pipits, Brent Geese, a few Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine again, we were hoping for a Short eared Owl, to make it five Owls for the day, none showed up, but at 5:15pm however, a Ringtail Hen Harrier showed up

Birds at Deeping Lakes: Black headed Gull, Cattle Egret, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Glossy Ibis, Goldeneye, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Little Egret, Little Owl, Long eared Owl, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pochard, Red Kite, Red legged Partridge, Robin, Sand Martin, Snipe, Teal, Tufted Duck, Whooper Swan, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer (33)

Birds ar RSPB Nene Washes (Eldernell) : Great White Egret, Little Egret, Shelduck, Spoonbill, Tawny Owl (5)

Birds at Frampton Marsh : Avocet, Black headed Gull, Black tailed Godwit, Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Goldeneye, Greylag Goose, Hen Harrier, Lapwing, Linnet, Little Egret, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Peregrine, Pintail, Pochard, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Scaup, Shelduck, Shoveler, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Spoonbill, Starling, Teal, Wigeon, Woodpigeon (33) 142/200

Butterflies : Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell

A few of the birds can be seen on this Video, especially the Dark breasted Barn Owl HERE

Today I was out on a visit to a local site, Pugneys Country Park, about 20mins drive from home, why was I at Pugneys, I had come down to try and find an American bird the Green winged Teal.

The Green winged Teal was last seen on the nature reserve lake and not the main lake, so I headed out towards the nature reserve lake. Settling into the hide, it was a matter of scanning thru all the ducks on site, there were Tufted Ducks, Cormorants, Grey Herons which seemed to building a nest close to the hide location, one bird was actively flying too and fro with nesting material, mainly large sticks, still scanning, Gulls about were Lesser Black backed Gull, Herring Gull, and Black headed Gull, a few Great Crested Grebe were present along with Coots and Moorhens, but alas no Teal at all.

I then walked over to the other hide, which overlooks the main lake, adding Wigeon and Goldeneye to the day. I then went walking around to the flooded fields, in vain the hope, but only saw a few Blackbirds.

So as a last resort I went back to the Nature Reserve Hide, and once again settled in, with eventually a couple more birders joining me, so with further searching we managed to find some Common Teal, hiding amongst the reeds, and with close scrutiny, I finally managed to find the Green winged, it was really tucked away in the reeds. I kept an eye on it in the hope it was the one, it did eventually give itself up for a brief moment, but positive identification was certain, then it went even deeper into the reeds and not seen again, hence giving no photos’

Another visit on the 16th, didn’t bear fruit either at Pugneys, so I went onto Sands Lane (Mirfield) again in the hope of a Caspian Gull, see video HERE for the results

Birds Seen at Pugneys : Black headed Gull, Blackbird, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Green winged Teal, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pochard, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon (includes birds from the 16th visit) (23)

Birds Seen at Sands Lane : Black headed Gull, Canada Goose, Caspian Gull, Common Gull, Cormorant, Goosander, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Lesser Black backed Gull, Magpie, Mallard, Pied Wagtail (13) (112/200)

Herring Gull

Caspian Gull (First Winter)

Pied Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Never heard of the place, until this last week, when a Black Redstart and Twite had drawn my attention. I arrived at Knott End early, then took a look around the area where the birds had been last seen, no show, but there was plenty of other birds to look thru, out on the mudflats were Redshank, Oystercatchers, Dunlin, and Curlews. Out on the sea, I picked up plenty of Shelduck and also Eider.

Around 9:30am, an hour after I’d been there, other birders started to arrive, couple of guys pointed a Peregrine out on the mud flats, it had taken a seat on a tree branch, and during the morning sat there for a while, until a dog walker disturbed it and took flight, there was still no sign of the target birds. I got talking to another couple, local birders, after the chat, I decided on going around the back of the hotel, where the couple said, that that’s where the Black Redstart usually hangs out. Sure enough after about five minutes of looking I spotted it, a distance away, and I couldn’t get nearer due to railings, I put other birders on to it, then went taking video footage of other birds that were around, the Twite were a no show.

Then it was down to Southport for Snow Bunting and Twite, but on looking around Southport they were a no show here too, could have been down to the amount of dogs and walkers about, so I went to RSPB Marshside for the rest of the day. At Marshside were plenty of Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Moorhen, Canada Goose, last place to look around was across the road at the saltmarsh, here I saw Marsh Harrier, Grey Heron, plenty of Pink footed Geese, Canada Geese, Little Egret, and Great Egret to finish the day

Video of the Day can be seen HERE

Birds at Knott End: Black Redstart, Black headed Gull, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Curlew, Dunlin, Eider, Great Black backed Gull, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Magpie, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Redshank, Shelduck, Turnstone, Woodpigeon (18)

Birds at Marshside: Black headed Gull, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Coot, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Pink footed Goose, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, (16) 109/200

Carsington Water in Derbyshire was to be the place to be today, the attraction for me today was Red throated, and Great Northern Divers plus a female Ring necked Duck. I arrived at about 9:30am, on a cold but sunny day, plus a bit of wind.

I parked in the Carsington Water Visitor Centre car park which is just of the dam road at what3words (perfume,reclined,rotations), the car parking cost, as of date, free for 15mins, up to 1 hour £2, up to 2 hours £3.50, up to 4 hours £6, and over 4 hours £7 with pay on departure.

The visitor centre is right next to stones Island, where all three target birds were hanging out. I decided on looking for the female Ring necked Duck first, this was around by the sailing club area, which unfortunately you are not allowed to enter, but the bird was viewable from Sones Island, but distant. There were a couple of other birders there when I arrived, so got on to the bird fairly quickly, not good views however, to it snoozing, so I decided on looking for the divers, then come back for better views.

It only took five minutes to get around to where I could view a good area of water and was soon on to the Red throated Diver, due to a guy putting me on to it, this one was very distant, but alas no Great Northern, other birds seen here were Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Black headed Gull, Cormorant, Pochard, Great Crested Grebes, and Little Grebes.

After about 45 minutes here I moved on back to the sailing club area, the Ring necked Duck was now awake and giving better views, but still distant, other birds here were, Wigeon, Little Grebes, Great Crested Grebes, Pochard, Mallard, Tufted Duck and a couple of distant Red Kites, and a fly over Sparrowhawk, I spent a lot of time here, getting other birders and non-birders on to the bird, however when I got news of the Great Northern Diver having been found again, I was off, it was near to the spot where the Red throated Diver was, there was a guy still there watching it, and with his help I was on to it at last, and once again this bird was distant too.

I decided having seen all three target birds to visit the Sheepwash area, a lovely hide down here, whilst walking down to it I had a couple of fly over Ravens, there wasn’t nothing here that I hadn’t already seen, the last port of call was the Paul Stanley hide, and again all birds distant, none water birds of the day were Blackbirds, Blue Tit, Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow, Robin, Song Thrush, Wren, Long tailed Tit, all mainly around Stone Island

Video of the Day can be seen HERE

Bird List : Black headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Grey Heron, House Sparrow, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull. Little Grebe, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Red throated Diver, Redwing, Ring necked Duck, Robin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Wren (31) 103/200