Three LESSER BLACKED GULLS were on the sheep pasture at Migrant Alley, and a flyover CORMORANT whilst there, were good additons for the day. A dozen SWIFTS were feeding quite high up, and a lone HOUSE MARTIN was with them, a bit lower down the local SWALLOWS were trying to find what few insects were available in the cool conditions.
The College Grounds provided me with good views of young families of both GOLDCRESTS, and ROBINS, plus MOORHENS on the ponds, a COAL TIT was calling from the fir trees that that line the main road through.
Over on the Lakes, it was all quiet, just a few MALLARD about, there was no sign of the Coots today, or any Geese. The adjacent Scrubby Woods held the expected summer birds, BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF, TURTLE DOVE, and the CUCKOO, which is still calling, quite late for it now.
TREECREEPER, NUTHATCH, and MISTLE THRUSH, all showed up today, they have been hard to find recently, but the KESTREL was as obliging as ever, it hunted over the Tree Nursery, where the WHITETHROAT was singing loudly, flitting from bush to bush.
Having not found any new breeding species for the year, or any new species for the month/year list, I headed off home, a little dispondent, but that soon changed, for as I walked past the Greenhouse Complex, just 100m from home, a RED KITE (64) came slowly flapping over, it followed the road and flew right over my house - now that was worth getting out for !!
With the light being not all that good, decent photo's were hard to obtain, but here's a few of the better ones!
Blogger seems to of put everything to the right of the page. So i'll list them. Top two are of the recently fledged Robing from the College Grounds.
The next two are of the Goldcrests, the second ones a fledgling.
Next is a CHAFFINCH, Moorhen young are below that.
Then the Red Kite, pity it was against the light, and I had only enough time to point and 'click' the camera.
Lastly is the young GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER form my garden.
12 comments:
Really nice close ups. How do you keep your hand so steady? I'll be heading off to Gamboa in Panama which is a birder's paradise(or so I've heard) and thinking about how you capture these birds in your shots. Hopefully I'll get some nice pics...but I don't think they'll ever match your quality. Those first two pics of the baby bird are really amazing! Hope you're having a good weekend. Chris
Hi, Chris.
I always try to lean my arm on something, and hold my breath!!
Hope you get some good photo's in Gamboa, i'll check them out on your blog :-)
Amazing shots Warren.
Great photos today Warren! I love that Robin and the chubby young GSW.
Well done on the Red Kite.
If there was a prize in the Garden Produce tent for Best Great Spotted Woodpecker I think you'd bag it with yours Warren!
And that young Robin has got attitude.
Warren ,
Do you know why the best opportunities are always into the light ?
I wish I had a pound for every time it has happened to me .
Still good to get on the Red Kite .
Hi Warren. Great shots I particularly like the fledgling robin. Awesome image. I'd love to know how you came to capture the shot.
Some nice shots, well done but another Red kite. You are taking the P*** now. I still can't get one.
Still waiting for our firs fylde/nature reserve/garden kite - be easier if the numpties up here stopped killed them!!!!
Cheers
Davo
Hi Warren, I am very envious of your Red Kite sightings they great birds :-)
The pictures are good to, I also like the Goldcrest and GS Wood fantastic!
Nice one on the Kite Warren. I'm still waiting to get one on the patch for my 2011 list.
The photos of the young birds are fantastic mate!
Hi Warren
The Red Kite came over here in the afternonn, around 2.30 pm. A first for me on the patch or the village.
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