Welney Whooper and Pochard

The water was very high here at Welney, and these were the best pictures I obtained. we had distant views of ferruginous duck and cranes and they were the highlights.

Priory country park

A few pictures of the highlights of a visit to Priory Country park in Bedford to see the Slavonian grebe and a bonus of some grey wagtail shots. Amazing eyes on the grebe, and I quite liked the picture of the wagtail preening it's tail.

Frampton marsh

Just some pictures of Whooper swans and a peregrine hunting from a lovely sunny day out

A few days in Norfolk

The Gadwall were very busy courting in the top picture, with an early morning bittern preparing to fly out to hunt, third was the turnstone hunting the high tide line for morsels of food in the gently falling rain. Fourth is a black headed gull screaming at a neighbour, fifth the clockwork mouse that is the sanderling racing along the tide line, sixth was a great black backed gull with an unfortunate flatfish he had just caught and finally a barn owl taken in terrible light early on our last day

Sculthorpe moor

This was a new reserve for Ken and Tim, and both agreed it was a great place to visit. It is run by the Hawk and Owl trust and has many hides and lots to see, it is also a good place to go to get away from a strong wind and see some good birds. We had views of Marsh tits, a bank vole venturing out from it's hole to snaffle s grain of seed and scuttle back. The juvenile bullfinch above was the boss of the bird table and seemed quite unperturbable. The highlight here though was this early migrant from Scandinavia a superb Brambling. The resident Golden pheasants and Willow tits managed to avoid us.

Common Buzzards & Red at Abbey farm

Abbey farm at Flitcham is a cracking place to visit any day of the year and this was no exception, the Buzzards on top and the female Marsh harrier below were the highlights of our visit coming in quite close to the hide, the harrier made a pass at the large teal numbers on the river there sending them all into a panic.

Snettisham

 Tim joined Ken and myself for another foray into Norfolk, we had been told it would be a seven metre tide which should have covered all the mud and brought all the waders ashore. The tide was definitely high but not quite high enough but still gave us a spectacular show in the various lights as we watched

North Herts

After a long day yesterday we stayed close to home and started at the Sandon raptor area, we were not disappointed with a kettle of ten common buzzards haging in the wind and a further two on the ground together with a pair of red kites which they had skirmishes with when they took off.

We also had a party of six Jays give us a fly past.

Next stop was Fowlmere which was quite unremarkable except for two brief sightings, firstly a late Hobby and soon after an Adder crossing the path.

October at Holme

Ken &and I went up to Holme in the hope of finding some rarities, we had a great start with a distant Short eared owl but after that had to satisfy ourselves with the usual fare of birds for the time of year, picture one is Black tailed godwits, two is a Grey plover, three should need no introduction and the others were all pink footed geese in spectacular numbers.

Stone curlews

Two pictures of a flock of approximately sixty that Les & I saw in East Anglia on Saturday 22/9 2012. We went to precisely the same spot last year at about the same date and saw a slightly smaller flock take to the skies after a brief heavy shower. The birds are gathering now ready for migration and were a superb sight.

Mystery web

We found this strange web on Dunwich heath, it was so dense it held water as seen here. This was taken at ten to one on a really hot September day. I am going to have to try and find out what the insect engineer was of this amazing web. I could not see any signs of life in it and was not prepared to make a hole in it to find the 'owner'

Diamond back rattlesnake

Not one of my pictures but one taken in the Wasatch mountains in Utah by my uncle who lives over there. He enjoys long walks and came across this chap asleep by the drain which is a possible source of food.

Field grasshopper

Two views of field grasshoppers, very small hoppers that Les and I found on Dunwich heath

Tour of Britain cycle race visiting Westleton

Les & I were on our way to Minsmere, we reached Westleton and saw the crowds assembling and decided to wait and see the 'Tour' as it came through. I was lucky enough to get this picture of Bradley Wiggins with his trademark yellow rimmed sunglasses and Mark Cavendish in the World champions jersey. Having watched the Tour de France and the Olympics it was nice to see them in the flesh as they cycled past at an impressive rate.

Water rail

There were lots of rails showing on our visits to Minsmere, and they were fairly vocal too. I had seen about six but too distant or too misty to get a picture until I came across this one next to the path to the beach on my way back for breakfast. I was able to approach to within 25 feet before it seemed to notice me, most unusual for these skulkers. Luckily I had just dried my lens which had become misted up when I came out of the cool hide into the sunshine.

Grey heron

I went to the Minsmere Beach hide each morning before breakfast and the numbers of grey herons were impressive, the fishing was obviously good. Initially they were wreathed in mist but as the sun burnt it off there were some nice reflections.

Spotted redshanks

Feeding in the early morning mist at Minsmere from the beach hide. They were very wary but the camera did not disturb them in any way.