Shadows, Leaves, Twigs…

…and even grass conspired to get in the way at Clara Vale on Friday.

This Sparrowhawk tried twice to catch a Magpie that was feeding in front of the hide and twice it failed.

It then tried its luck with a Woodpigeon and again failed

Kingfisher

Same bird but this time in shadow

This time with a fish in dappled light

I managed one shot when it was hovering but it’s hovering with its back to the camera

I don’t think I have ever seen this type of behaviour from Moorhen.

There seems to be some mutual grooming going on

Then they looked into each other’s eyes

Heron coming into land on the pond

Catching fish

There were a few Pheasants around. I just love the colours of these birds

Not sharp but I like the shape of the bird in flight

Jay hidden behind a twig

A young Woodpigeon trying to get food from one of the adult birds

Long-tailed Tit just hanging around

 

A Purple Bearded Day

I drove down to Leighton Moss last Friday for the Bearded Tits (Reedlings). About a dozen were darting in and out of the reeds dropping on to the grit trays. After taking loads of photos of these cracking little birds, I went in search of the Purple Heron. No luck at the first attempt but after a bite of bait I went straight to the Grisedale Hide where, someone told me, it had been seen the day before. I had been in the hide for about an hour again with no luck but just before I was about to leave someone shouted Bittern flying in from the left. We got our cameras onto it and fired off a few shots. One of the women in the hide was running about screaming excitedly “my first Bittern my first Bittern”. Someone else asked did we have the I.D right because it did not look like a Bittern but a Purple Heron. Imagine the screams from the woman when after checking a bird book it was indeed a Purple Heron. It landed in the reeds and I did not see it again because I had to leave for home however, it was still a cracking day out.

Not the best shot of a Purple Heron you will see but it is the only decent shot I got and it is a lifer to boot.

Male Bearded Tit

Female Bearded Tit

One of three Marsh Harriers I saw. Always distant but always nice to see

 

Red-necked Phalarope

A few record shots of the Red-necked Phalarope from Druridge Pools. It was always distant but was great to watch.

It followed the Shovelers around picking up titbits that they had disturber

Occasionally the Shovelers got a bit fed up with it following them around and would chase it off

 

More from Lettoch Beag

Here are a few more pictures from our week up in Scotland. All except the landscape were taken from outside Lettoch Beag cottage.

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

This Red Kite was checking me out

Kestrel

One of three or four Robins that were around the cottage

Mistle Thrush

Meadow Pipit

Red-legged Partridge

Pheasant

Having a bit a dispute

Female Blackbird

Male Blackbird

Peacock Butterfly

Harvest Moon

A visit to Killiecrankie for a walk thought I would try my hand at a bit of landscape photography. Note to self must try harder.