New Hide

A while ago we set up another hide, this time to see through the winter. Numbers are now building with a Jay at last!  Also now a male and female Greater Pecker.
With a little light between showers I made a start with the Peckers then the Jay came in!
Up in the hedgerow (next to the hide) were a few female Bullfinches and Yellowhammers.
A Wood pigeon and Pheasant are now on the seed ( premium seed) using a quality seed to lure in the Buntings!
With colder weather approaching this will get very interesting to see what comes in!

Cirl Buntings. Just for a change.

A trip to south Devon has been talked about for a while now, so, myself and Nigel Addecott decided on the last minute that we should give it a go with good light predicted in the morning.
As it turned out it wasn`t quite as easy as we had thought. The dreaded dog walkers were a problem, constantly parading dogs around the car park. Kiddies on motorised bikes and little old ladies who just walked between us and the hedgerow and not giving it a second thought untill a few sarcastic comments were thrown at them. That happened on 2 occasions!
The birds were nearly always about, but only when it was very quiet did they venture out to the edge of the hedgerow then on the seed!
Birds with seed in their bills never a good natural shot, a bit like a Pecker on a nut feeder!
So one day we will have another go during mid week when it would be quieter!

Few more recent shots

Light has been the problem!
Really needing to work when it has been dry, but still putting the time in when I can.
She isn`t as regular now as she was at first and the hide has taken a real battering, will replace it soon but need to sort out some poles.

A few friends have been invited but when there are 2 of you it`s hard not to talk and being so close it stops her from being so regular!

Kingfisher

This selection has been taken from this previous week.

I have set up a hide and added 2 perches. Earlier in the week she came in very often but  now not so frequent. Perhaps because I have been there a little too often! I was hoping that she would get used to the situation, There are now 2 birds, occasionally  chasing each other and calling a lot when both birds are near. Yesterday they had a quick scrap in the water unfortunately I wasn`t quick enough! Another female? not sure, as the bird using the perches I feel is the same bird.

A downpour just as I was about to leave for work gave me a couple of hours with the camera until it dried out!
As I approached the perch the female Kingfisher was on it and 2 Chiffchaffs on the other stick. Things were looking good!
2 hours later and she only came in for about a minute!
I moved up to another spot where she fishes and perches more often though a tiny bit too far too photograph without using a converter. After 15 mins she came in and shot off very quick.
There are now 2 birds using this area as they were chasing each other back and fore but not stopping
In the coming days i`ll set up a hide and place a perch or two closer. This I feel is the answer to some good shots, but only when there is no wind and good light!

Female Kingfisher

About 9 months ago I placed a perch in a lake hoping to attract a Kingfisher. I managed 2 photos and the bird wasn`t seen again. Probably gone to find a mate. Then a few weeks ago I saw it perched on the stick. After 4 attempts I finally have a few shots to start with, hoping she stays a while. This morning before work I only had to wait 20 minutes before she came to the stick. Unfortunately the light was poor. Within the next 40 mins she came in twice more but the light wasn`t that good. Another hour passed but no sign. Next week hopefully!

Lyme Bay: In search of the White-beaked Dolphins.

Saturday September 1st. saw a group of 8 of us charter the Huntress 11 in search of White-beaked Dolphins in Lyme Bay Dorset.
We steamed out for 2 hours to the 50mtr contour. After about an hour we picked up about ten individuals including 1 calf.
I was hoping that they would `Bow Ride` but no such luck they never interacted with the boat, they were intent on feeding.
No other  Cetaceans or Sunfish were seen but Bonxies in good numbers were around trawlers, a few Fulmars, Plenty of Gannets and an Arctic Tern came close enough for a few shots.