Male Common Redstarts

Here`s a selection of 2 different birds. From Gwent and Powys.
Since Redstarts arrived in the spring I had decided to spend some time trying to photograph them.
Found a few here and there but then knew this wasn`t going to be easy until a friend showed us a nesting pair.
Then over a few hours over a few days we observed and eventually acquired some lovely shots. The male wasn`t really bothered at all, the female on the other hand at first was a little nervous but accepted our presence and carried on taking food to the young.
We stood back and watched most of the time then when the light was good we got a little closer for a few shots.
Food has not been so plentiful this year with the cold weather so we helped out with their diet a little.

The Gwent bird was very easy and even came to the owner of the garden`s hand for mealworms.
Pied Fly, Siskin and Redpoll on offer there also.

Female Redstart.

Grasshopper Warbler.

This Bank Holiday I spent 5 days in the caravan in Pembs . After a very busy time in work and in that hot weather the chance of a `lie in` was welcome. Only on Wednesday morning did I find enough enthusiasm  to get out.
News of a Rose-coloured Starling at Martins Haven was a must and with some good light  I arrived at 6.15 and pleased with myself for not having to pay the car park attendant his £4.00 (the bastard gets me every time) 5 mins later he arrived... Yes!!..boats don`t leave till 10 o`clock!!
No sign of the Starling so I made my way up to the Coastguards hut, always a good vantage point to scan the Deer Park.
Watching a few Linnets I glimpsed movement in a Gorse bush just a few feet away. 2 Groppers  with bills of food were, I thought feeding young. I stared in disbelief then got the camera out, although they were still there the light was dull , a little too early for a shot, managed a few anyway. I then walked back a few yds and lost them.
15 mins later I found them again, this time they were in and out of a Gorse bush just 6 ft from the path which later became very busy with people killing time before they went to Skomer. By now the light was better though not sunshine. One of the birds almost always flew directly to the nest even when a few walkers passed by. The other bird always perched up about 10 yds away and then flew in. I moved closer for a few shots then moved back. I did this a few times then went looking for the Starling (which never showed) On my return the path was getting busy but the parents were still in with food and out with faecal sacks . A few more shots then moved away, happy with the shots and not wishing to disturb them.

Cream coloured Courser in Herefordshire.

It was the Isles of Scilly where I saw my first Cream-coloured Courser in 2004. So Just 2 hours away on a warm sunny evening was too tempting to ignore.
Finished work and Myself, Nige Addecott and Phil Bristow made our way up -to arrive about 6.00pm.
As we were within a few miles Mike Powell and Jake Gilmore told us that it was still present and feeding around their feet!! We now got really excited! Well that was very disappointing, they were having a sick joke. We learned that it hadn`t come closer than about 60 yds.
The bird flew from there eventually to another part of the golf course where it came a lot closer but not close enough.

A day out in mid Wales.

Had a fantastic day out in mid Wales with Nige Addecott and Cliff the taxi Woodhead. I phoned the day before to check if there would be any mealworms available and if it would be ok to go. The weather was the real bonus, not too bright! Hopefully in the next month we will try again, but with a 2 hour drive it will have to be a full day.

Pied Flycatcher

             Redstart

            Lesser Redpoll

Siskin