Curlew Sandpiper

Having seen a small flock of curlew sandpipers at the Flashes, I was rather envious to see Max and Dave had managed to capture some terrific close up shots of a few over at Draycote, and I crossed everything that they'd stay around for the weekend.

Another early start and I was soon pulling up at the carpark at Draycote, and having the good fortune to bump into Max, on site for another go at the birds. Walking along the path, Max was concerned for his well-being, with cyclists whizzing by at speed, silently approaching. He has a point - the place can be dangerous, especially when windy as you can't hear anything.

However, the wind from the previous weekend had eased, the lake was calm and photographing the one remaining juvenile curlew sandpiper, were George and Dick. George is infamous for being the (motorbiker) dweller of the Carlton Hide at Brandon Marsh, for dropping his camera out of the window there, and being able to go collect it, with one of the kingfishers remaining on its perch, unconcerned at his daft antics!

I quickly set up and began taking shots, though getting any with a catchlight in the eye proved tricky, and I had to find a spot on the rocks to do so, which was rather uncomfortable, and prickly, as Max discovered when he sat on a bramble.


The bird seemed oblivious to us and carried on feeding, occasionally being chased by aggressive ringed plovers, also juveniles. After bagging a fair few shots, I heard a familiar voice behind me, and casting a glance up to the path, I spotted Steve Seal. He'd driven 85 miles to get some shots of a bird he'd never photographed here before.

It was quite a difference to the previous, lonely and horrid visit to Draycote, being surrounded by friends (old and new), all trying to get a shot of this rather rare bird. Eventually we managed some shots with that glint in the eye, and retreated to the path when the skies clouded over.

I eventually headed back to the Flashes for the juvenile ruff, but not before we had a good natter by the refreshments van. The ruff failed to deliver, as it stayed at a distance, but was good to see anyway. As I type this now, the skies are blackening again, so I think my birding for the weekend might be done. I'm not that disappointed, as Saturday has left a smile on my face.

Bank Holiday Bonus

September already - the summer (don't laugh) has flown by and autumn is approaching rapidly, though some would argue that the autumnal weather is well ahead of schedule. As such, the recent Bank Holiday weekend failed to offer any really promising weather, and ideas of going to bearded tit sites were blown away with the strong winds. Instead I'd have to make do locally, and after seeing a wryneck sighting at Clee Hill, that was my first target.

Arriving early on Saturday morning, I spotted Bob's car, but couldn't spot the man himself, and ended up climbing to the summit of the hill in search of both him and the bird. No sign, and with the lung capacity of a shrew following this cough (still hasn't gone) it was hard work. So you can imagine my annoyance to realise the bird and watchers were about 100 yards down the hill from my parked car. D'oh!

Still, I got to watch a dozen ravens swooping in the gales, a pair of sparrowhawks, buzzards and several kestrels, though none would allow me a shot where the light was any good.

Following instructions from a birder, I stumbled around a narrow path to discover I had accidentally wandered right on top of the bird, and I doubt upset some of the birders, though none had words later, other than asking if I'd seen it close up. I hadn't. In fact it took a good hour of looking before I did, and then commenced a few hours of creeping around in a very wet field, to try to get any sort of a shot.

I was in good company as it turned out, with several photographers there who I knew or read the blogs of, so despite the wind being so unseasonably cold, we amused each other waiting for the bird to show.

First one I've seen and rather reminiscent of a nuthatch, both in appearance and behaviour, though this favoured eating ants. Unlike the nuthatch, this was remarkably well camouflaged, like a leaf with legs and a beak.

With nowhere else to go, we spent hours stalking the wryneck, taking shots when possible. The light wasn't great and eventually, the biting cold got the better of me, and the shelter of my car won out. A great bird to see though and a good start to the Bank Holiday.

Sunday started with a walk around Whitacre Heath, where I saw nothing. Seriously, nothing. Just one gull flying overhead. Then I headed to Draycote Water, which was rather a stupid idea. The place is windy even on the calmest of days, so in gales it was obviously going to be unpleasant, though the shots Max had managed of the waders tempted me anyway.

I got some shots of the dunlins and ringed plovers, but crikey was it hard work. The gusts of wind blew me off my feet at times, and I had to catch the camera when one particularly strong gust knocked over the tripod.

Wisely I opted to head for somewhere with a hide and arrived at Upton Warren's Flashes to be asked by the sole birder in the hide, to bag some record shots of a flock of curlew sandpipers that had just landed. Didn't take long for the news to get out and soon the hide filled up with local birders, eager for a view.

One of which then provided me with a snippet of information about the whereabouts of a family of hobbies, which takes us to Monday...

An early start again, and soon Stuart and I were wandering across some fields in Worcestershire, to meet with the birder who informed us. Without realising, the hobbies were sat near us on the ground, and took off when we got too close.

I'd expected them to perch on posts or in trees, not just sit around on the ground, but as it turned out, the field was sheltered and they could sit in the warmth of the sunshine there. That said, they did also perch in trees, and we spotted 3 juveniles, all on one branch. A stealthy approach was needed, and with next to no cover, we crept alongside a hedge, taking shots as we got closer. It almost worked, though when one took flight, the others almost immediately copied and that was the end of that idea.

Even so, we'd got some pics of hobbies perched, which is what I'd wanted, and Stuart had also got some flight shots, which he was after.

Cold Comfort For Change

Right, where are we? August. I've not been anywhere far afield lately, due to a cough and cold, and also due to the amount of travelling I've already done this year. That said, it won't hold me back later in the year. Locally though, there have been some gems turning up.

First of all, Little Grump. Earlier this year I finally spotted a second little owl in the oak tree and since then have been hoping that the pair would produce some even littler owls for me to see. A little owl addict on Bird Guides advised me on how to listen out for the calls of the young, and so, whenever possible I've been parking up next to the tree and listening.

Nothing in general and I was beginning to lose hope, until one morning towards the end of July, I heard the hissing. Within moments, I'd spotted a ball of fluff, a little owlet.

I still grin even now thinking about it sat in the tree, glaring at me like the adults, but less camouflaged due to the downy feathers. It soon scurried off before I could get a shot, when a pair of joggers went by, but persistence paid off, and I bagged some shots.

Needless to say, I went back the next day too, and was rewarded with better views of the owlet and also realised that there were two of them! Amazingly, they could already fly a bit, and bounced around the tree like a fluffy monkey.

Amusing to watch and photograph. At one point, it pulled some strained yawning expression, which it held for several minutes. Too hot, perhaps?

Another treat I received was in the woods near Chaddesley, where I'd originally gone to see spotted flycatchers that had been reportedly seen there. I failed to see them, but did encounter a family of treecreepers, who had made a nest in the woodshed. This made it slightly easier to capture one, though they move so quickly, when trying to get a full-framed shot, you still needed to be lightning fast with the shot.

I was intrigued to see the amount and type of grubs being brought back each time. Looks like earwigs are popular!

Finally kingfishers. I've not really set out to get any shots of them since acquiring my 500mm lens, so when I saw Stuart's pics of one from Feckenham Wylde Moor (Worcs Trust) I thought it would be worth a go. I'd not been out at all since picking up the cough, so perhaps this would provide something of a welcome break from the misery of blowing my nose all the time and coughing.

The sun was out when I arrived at the hide and I settled down next to a pair of gentlemen already there. One soon left (perhaps concerned about Lurgy Boy's cough) to look around the rest of the reserve, leaving the pair of us on kingfisher watch. It hadn't been seen for about an hour. I took that as being a good sign, in that it ought to show up soon.

It did. And my word was it close! Had to turn the camera to portrait mode to get the bird in the frame. The bird being a juvenile female, and a prolific fisher too. Must have taken 5 fish on the first visit, and another 3 or 4 on subsequent appearances.

A lot of my previous kingfisher shots are cropped a fair bit, so it was superb to get some full frame shots, and in good light too. Even bagged some with a stickleback caught.

After about 90 mins, the phone rang and I was invited to the pub by some friends. Seeing as I'd taken a good few shots by then and the light was fading, I took them up on the offer. I think I've got my fill of kingfisher shots now, at least for the time being. I don't ever seem to get tired of getting my fill of real ale though!

Some Like It 'Ot

Getting used to normal bird photography after the trips to Scotland and Skomer has been quite a come down. There seems to be very little around at the moment, aside from gulls, which if you read this blog you know I'm not exactly one to get excited by such birds. Sure, I could go to Brandon Marsh and add to the numbers of 'togs getting shots of the kingfishers performing there (still might) but I wanted something a little different.

I'd been to RSPB Otmoor earlier in the year but there was little about that I could see (dipped on the garganeys), though the new hide looked promising, albeit unfinished back then. And I'd got drenched there too, when the heavens opened as I was at the furthest point away from shelter. However, at this time of year there should be hobbies present, so I set off with these wonderful agile birds in mind.

On reaching the reserve the sun was out and it was quite an effort to walk to the gate without sweating profusely. I walked along the bridle-way, towards the military range and chuckled at the warnings on the Gate. There was a warning about not picking up debris as it might kill you. Another than cows with calves can be aggressive and a third saying that there was a bull loose in the field. With this in mind, I turned back and returned to the main part of the path again!

Scanning the skies as I went, it became pretty clear that there were no hobbies present. Just a sole kestrel, hunting way out over the marshes. I was about to head along the path to see the hide and what it looked out on, when a bird shape caught my attention. It looked brown and pointy, and was sat on a bar of a fence of a cattle enclosure. Bins out in a flash and I had clocked a cuckoo. And a juvenile one at that. As with the adults though, as soon as I'd fired off a couple of shots, it flew off.

Unlike the adults, it stayed in the same sort of area, and I moved position to get a better view of the enclosure, from the gate on the reserve. I did expect it to take flight, but it was far more interested in the caterpillars around, and wasn't bothered by me at all. In fact, it flew a lot closer, and sat on a post, yards from me.


From here it would then swoop down into the undergrowth, and return with a caterpillar, knock the insides out of it, and consume. Then look for another. This took it to different perches, while I waited patiently, taking shots as it went about its business. What a cracking bird though.

Eventually, it was spooked by someone walking along the path, and took flight further into the reserve, but by then I had bagged a load of shots and had all but forgotten about the lack of hobbies. And with the light fading as dark clouds rolled in, I opted to head back home, as I had a flight for work in the morning, meaning a get-up at 4am.

While there is no hope of seeing eagles or puffins when out and about locally, the trip had proved that you can still dig up gems and had raised my spirits no end.

Skomer Island

After seeing my first puffins at Bempton Cliffs last year, I jumped at the chance of joining some friends on Skomer, off the coast of Pembrokeshire, famous for having a huge puffin colony. The trip was all arranged via a forum I use (Talk Photography), so all I had to do was pay and ensure I was prepared for the stay on the island. Fortunately, others had been before, so they knew what to take.

Before going to Skomer, we arranged to meet up at Gigrin, to hire out the new tower hide for the red kite feeding session. This also gave me the chance to mooch around the rest of the farm, and as usual it yielded some gems. After last year's find of the spotted flycatchers, I was pleased this time around to find common redstarts and also treecreepers.

The new hide is spacious, allows you to set up easily, and gives a fine view over the field. That said, trying to swing a lens on a tripod fast enough to track an incoming kite isn't simple, and a lot of shots resulted in blurred images of sky and grass! Still, I kept trying and managed a few keepers, including some better shots (than before) of the buzzards that also enjoy the free feast.


We'd opted to camp overnight before getting the boat to Skomer which was amusing, though sleep was at a premium given the snoring from neighbours! And then it was on to the boat in the morning, and tackling the baggage being taken. My goodness! It was like we were going for 6 months, not 3 nights! Ridiculous amount, but several chains were formed, and we carried the luggage on to and then off the boat, and up the steps of Skomer's harbour.

By this time I'd already seen hundreds of puffins though. They were everywhere! Fan-puffin-tastic! Ahem, sorry. After unpacking and waiting for the kind volunteers to bring up the luggage in their tractor, it was off to the cliffs to try for the puffins, in flight of course. The lads were right. They said it was hard to photo them, as they fly so fast and they certainly do just that! Like feathered missiles hurtling in from their trips, beaks filled with sand eels, being pursued by gulls, until the last seconds when they apply the air-brakes, and land near their burrows, ready to bolt down underground, to deposit the catch for the chick.


Then it's off out to sea again, a relentless quest for the next generation. Couldn't use the big lens, so my trusty old 100-400mm came into its own again.

Over at the Wick, I was amazed at how close the puffins were to us. Stood right at our feet, waddling past, grumbling and croaking, dashing to and from burrows. Such amusing little characters. I even glimpsed a chick!

Puffins aside, there are plenty of other attractions on the island. Little owls live in one of the old stone walls near the accommodation, and they proved to be a challenge to view and photo, as they hid on rocks, amongst ferns and in dips in the ground. They had a pair of chicks though, so I grabbed a few shots of them too.

Whilst photographing these, I was chuffed (sorry) when a family of choughs landed nearby, allowing me to get some images of these rare corvids into my collection. Similar size and behaviour to jackdaws, but the call is more of a whine, and the red on the legs and beaks is so vivid. Great to see them.

Another rarity I got to see, although generally in tragic circumstances, were Manx shearwaters. They appear to be top of the menu for gulls, as most of the time all we got to see was a trail of feathers ending with a pair of discarded wings and feet. We also saw a dead one that must have hit a wall when flying in at night. Did see a couple of live ones, as they landed in the dark, and hurried to their burrows. Not evolution's greatest achievement I think! And whilst waiting in pitch black for them to come back, we spied a glow-worm too.

Best of all though, and for me equalling seeing the puffins, were the short-eared owls. Not only did we see an almost fledged chick sat in amongst the ferns, but also a couple of fledged birds, trying to hunt, and landing really close by in doing so.

Looked quite sad as they bobbed their heads around in search of a meal, though as the parents weren't too far off (hunting) I doubt they'd have gone hungry.

Given the rabbit population on the island I was amazed to only see one pair of buzzards during the trip, though we did see several peregrines around, including youngsters which was encouraging. A safe haven away from pigeon-fanciers and their poisons.

Down at the shore again, I tried my hand at capturing razorbills and guillemots landing, and discovered I was as bad at them as I was at puffins, though being close to the sea allowed me some pics of them on the water, including some more puffins, of course; be rude not to!

When it came to leaving the island I was pretty tired. Had made the most of all the time on the island, including the hours of darkness, and had taken thousands more pics. It's definitely a very special place to visit, and more so to live upon it, albeit for only a few days. I just hope I get the chance to repeat the trip.

Bluethroat?

After seeing countless wonderful shots of the bluethroat at Welney, I decided it was high time I made the effort to see it for myself. Another early start and at just before opening time at the centre, I rolled up. Sun was shining and it looked to be a perfect day to be spotting rarities.

Paid my entry fee and hurried down to the hide where it was usually seen from, set up camp in one end of the hide (where swallows were nesting bizarrely) and scanned the area with my bins. I was soon joined by many more eager birders and togs alike, one allowing me to listen to the call, on his MP3 player.

So, on to my hatful of pics of this showy bird then. Hmm. Slight problem. In 4 hours of standing around, listening and scanning the area, I failed to see it. One birder and his son claimed to see it fly over, but I didn't and even my patience eventually ran out. All I'd seen that morning was a reed warbler, a pied wagtail and a pair of swallows going in and out of the hide. Typical. Ah well, I was in Norfolk and in no rush to head back. Hence I set SatNav to Cley and aimed for a favourite spot.

It didn't initially look great there either, when I arrived. The 3 main hides looked out on to rather barren lakes; sure there were avocets, but I can see those at the Flashes. Wandering back towards the centre, I was in half a mind to head home. Then someone I stopped to chat to mentioned that there was a spotted redshank over at the other hide.

Worth a bit more of a walk I thought, and sure enough, there it was pottering around in the shallows, although the light wasn't in the best direction. So I decided to stay a bit longer. It was a lovely afternoon afterall, and you never know at that place what might show up.

While nothing rare showed up, a most welcome sound caught my attention... a pinging sound, and soon I was trying to "spot the beardie" in amongst the reeds. Had to wait a few hours before any showed other than in flight, and even then they were distant, but I got some decent views of a male, then a female and finally a fledgling.



Cley had, as usual, cheered me up.

Cannock Redstarts

As usual I'm miles behind on this blog, so I'll try to be brief before my next main entry. After Scotland I had (still have) a huge pile of photos to process from the trip and this surely meant I'd stay in to sort them. Erm no. The middle of June is usually the best time to see common redstarts, especially at Cannock Chase, so this meant a trip out that way one Saturday.

Turning off the main path too early, I managed to end up about 2 miles from where I wanted to be, and on a hot day with a heavy camera, I wasn't best pleased, but the 2 hour walk around eventually yielded results when I heard the familiar call, and subsequently located the female returning to her nest in the base of a tree.

Moments later I clocked the male, and he was busy feeding fledglings that were hopping around below the ferns, calling for food, constantly.

The light wasn't great and as ever, midges fed on me, but I managed a few reasonable shots, including a couple of one of the juveniles.

Lovely birds and I always make time to see them.