The Graveyard

 A short but pleasant walk around our local graveyard the other day produced a few birds including a Kestrel which landed on a nearby fence post and a small flock of Redwing. I have concluded, the way my knees are, that short but pleasant walks are the way forward.

This female Kestrel, out hunting, landed on a nearby fence post.

However the male was a little further away.

A Redwing from a small flock that were feeding in the graveyard.

Mistle Thrush. This one was chasing everything away from the berries.

There were a couple of Wren flitting about the gravestones this is one of them.

This is the other one.

Spring is nearly here or so this singing Robin thinks.

Male Yellowhammer. There was a small flock of these bonny birds in the trees in a nearby field.

Target bird…

 …Kingfisher. This male turned up at 08.51 I managed to get just over a dozen shots then it was off. I was there for over two hours and it didn’t show again. While I was waiting, I took some shots of the other birds that were there.

Male Kingfisher.

Nuthatch.

Long-tailed Tit.

Singing Robin.

Female Mallard.

Male Mallard.

There were three male and three female Mallards on the pond and I thought they had all paired up until this happened. The three males all decide to go for one of the females.

She was having none of it and fought back.

It all got a bit much for the males, This one is trying to get away while another female looks on.

Woodpigeon having a drink.

I saw this Mistle Thrush in a field not far from home. 

Sedge Warbler

 18.05.22 There were a few Sedge Warbler at Burdon Moor and two of them were showing very well.

One of them was singing from the top of some Hawthorn trees.

The other from a fence post.

I tried a few flight shots.

At one point the breeze was so strong it was nearly blown of the post but it kept on singing.

Black-necked Grebe

 Last week I paid a visit to St Aidan’s RSPB in Leeds. What a great day, Bitterns were booming, Cetti’s, Reed and Sedge Warbler were calling from the reed beds, Swift and House Martin were hawking the sky and Wren and Linnet were singing from the top of Gorse bushes. And the bird I went to see did not disappoint the Black-necked Grebe put on a great show.

The very first bird I was put onto was a Little Owl and thanks go to the bloke who showed me where it was.

Black-necked Grebe with chicks on its back.

And if you want a rest from carrying them give your wings a shake…

…and they drop off 

Your partner then takes over

Both parents were on feeding duty

Coot feeding its chick

Reed Warbler (unfortunately I did not get a shot of the Cetti’s or Sedge Warbler)

Male Reed Bunting

Female Reed Bunting

Bar-tailed Godwit

Heron

Swift my first of the year

My first House Martin of the year

Wren

Linnet

After nearly five hours of walking around the reserve I got back to where the Little Owl was and it had not moved