Otters.

Desperate to get out with the camera while we were away in Pembrokeshire over the weekend, I decided on a trip to Cardigan to see a Ring billed Gull which had been around for over a week. Armed with Gull bait, (bread)  it didn`t take long for it to show, though it soon ignored the bread and returned to the mud of the river bank. I gave up and made my way to find the wife who had taken the dog for a walk. Remembering what a friend had told me 20 years ago, " if you want to see Otters the best place is Cardigan, under the bridge" so I  got into position and within a few minutes found a family of  four playing and fishing near the other side of the river.
After about an hour they swam in, climbed the bank, crossed the path and made their way presumably to their Holt.

Amazing and I hope to go back again soon!

Snow Bunting

Decided this morning to pop down to Newton for this Snow Bunting. They are always approachable and with good light you can`t go wrong.
As I arrived I recieved a text message of a Yellow-browed Warbler at Lavernock so found the Bunting and gave it 15 minutes too which it did very little but feed, so here are a few boring shots of it.

The YBW showed only briefly so very little chance of that this coming week!

Glossy Ibis at Watermill, Ogmore.

Dropped in to The Watermill this afternoon but the Ibis was too jumpy and when it flew closer I had the sun in my eyes, still great to see in Glamorgan.

Great Skua

Having spent the weekend in Pembs. I decided to call in to Swansea on the way home  in the hope of seeing this Cracker on the breakwater. With great late afternoon light and the bird as close as you would like, taking fish scraps from fishermen.  Never seen a Bonxie this close, it was even bigger than I thought!

Sabine`s Gull.

Saturday evening myself and Nigel Addicott decided on a last minute change, from going to Dale Airfield to photograph the 3 Buff-breasted Sandpipers we decided on the 3 Sabine`s Gulls at Exmouth seafront.

We arrived at 7.30 am.and it didn`t take long before we saw them flying up and down the estuary. They were too far at this time and we decided on a `full English `and let the weather improve! Eventually everything worked in our favour and they were located feeding along the shoreline. As the weather slowly brightened, as did our photos. When nearly everyone left we decided to get the sun behind us, and by rolling up our trousers, wading in a few yards, and getting behind the birds we had a little better light.

Pectoral Sandpiper.

A mid morning call from Rob Mitchell saying that while he was watching a Grey Phalarope this Pec Sand appeared and showing at point blank! With good light I decided to leave straight away.

I was in the middle of a job and on my way to a builders merchants, needed to go home get camera, then drive the 40 mimutes, rush the half hour walk, relocate the bird (which I almost stepped on) spend half hour with the Pec and Grey Phalarope, then quickly rush back to work. Phew!!!

Wryneck at Uskmouth.

There is something special about Wrynecks, with it`s crypic plumage and the ability to disappear into thin air!

Once pinned down it became very confiding, with the weather not helping and weeds being a problem I eventually managed some decent shots.