Little Grebe.

 Not a lot at Far Pastures the other day however there was a family of Little Grebe which kept me entertained.

What every Little Grebe should be wearing this season. I think this is one of the parent birds presumably the male because of what took place later.

And this is the other parent (female?).

The youngster.

A short sequence of what was a much longer fight between what I presume is the male and the youngster.

Little Grebe with a fish.

Which was abandoned while it had a scratch.

It picked it up again.

Then somehow the fishes head came off.

It probably meant it was easier to swallow.

The youngster was also catching fish.

A Chiffchaff popped out of the bushes.

As did a Wren.

There were still a couple of Migrant Hawkers hawking the pond.

A couple of Buzzards were above the fields along the lane.

This Robin was hopping about my feet.

Far Pastures

 Yesterday was the first time I have been out with the camera since my knee operation seven weeks ago. I chose Far Pastures because I wouldn’t have to walk far from the carpark to the hide and if I did fancy a short walk there was always the lane plus, I thought there would be something to take pictures of. Unfortunately, there wasn’t. There was a Heron sunning itself but it was hidden from my view by reeds. The only thing I managed to get shots of on the pond were dragonfly in particular Migrant Hawker. It wasn’t much better along the lane I only managed to get two images a Shieldbug and a fly. However, I’m not complaining it was still great to be out once more. All the images of the Migrant Hawker and Common Darter were taken with a Nikon Z9 and 500mm f4 + 2x convertor.

It may be hard to make out but this is a pair of Migrant Hawker.

There were a few Migrant Hawker around.

Common Darter.

Common Green Shieldbug instar.

Tachinid Fly.

There was slightly…

…more action along the lane at Far Pastures the other day than there was on the pond. Three Buzzards were flying above the fields and Swallows and Sand Martins were hawking across them. Dragonflies and Damselflies were skimming the pond and the resident Little Grebe showed well. I don’t know why but it is still canny to just sit for a couple of hours, at times just watching nothing but the pond. 

One of three Buzzards.

This is a biggish crop as it was too far away for anything decent.

As was this, what looks like, young one.

It was calling loudly.

And hovered a few times.

A rubbish picture of one of the Swallows hawking above the field. Not long now until they migrate to warmer climes.

A wasp enjoying the blackberries.

My first Migrant Hawker of the year. It hovered right in front of the hide and I managed to get onto it with the 500mm + 1.4 converter lens.

It then landed in front of the hide.

Little Grebe. I always take too many pictures of this bird.

One of a couple of Chiffchaff flitting around in the bushes next to the pond.

Emerald Damselfly, same lens.

Twizell Woods and Shibdon Ponds

 Over the last week or so, I’ve been to Twizell Woods and Shibdon Ponds for dragonflies and neither site disappointed. Southern, Migrant and Common Hawkers were found at Twizell and Shibdon, as it always does, delivered Migrant Hawker. The only disappointment at Twizell was I was unable to find any Black Darters which have recently been spotted there.

Southern Hawker

Common Hawker

First time in a long while that I have managed to get a Common Hawker to “pose” for me.

Female Migrant Hawker egg laying.

Southern Hawker

Common Darter

Southern Hawker

This time a Southern Hawker “posing”.

Mating Common Darter.

Southern Hawker

Migrant Hawker at Shibdon Ponds.

A young Newt near one of the ponds at Twizell.

It wasn’t only Dragonflies that I saw at Twizell here is a poor record shot of a Kingfisher perching over the stream that runs through the wood.

An even poorer shot of a Buzzard that was in one of the trees. I had to focus on its tail feathers to get the shot.

And a poorer still shot of a Great-spotted Woodpecker doing its best to hide.