tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78155456641039839562024-03-20T11:49:41.238+00:00L & R WildphotoPictures, stories, news & tips from my wildlife meanderings in Somerset & further afield.Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-83275428531324144992014-08-17T12:49:00.002+01:002014-08-17T13:00:16.812+01:00New imagesAfter a spring & summer of chasing butterflies around, I thought it about time that i uploaded my images onto the website. There are still some gaps that i may be able to fill next year when I will hopefully have a bit more time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pFJ9LL1ri8DenFBxBJbnGUEDJQanvFEqiHFypMdfHrPMh5gtgk4OCorP_Jym3ra1T9X0pmUQU6n6v_UqB0KpsnUYmeDkLqSuDTtcHWNslolBTuIm-mjPNPEXqVwnZiaH0j1S4x6RjUR7/s1600/Brown-Hairstreak1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pFJ9LL1ri8DenFBxBJbnGUEDJQanvFEqiHFypMdfHrPMh5gtgk4OCorP_Jym3ra1T9X0pmUQU6n6v_UqB0KpsnUYmeDkLqSuDTtcHWNslolBTuIm-mjPNPEXqVwnZiaH0j1S4x6RjUR7/s1600/Brown-Hairstreak1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Brown Hairstreak at Alners Gorse in Dorset.</div>
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I have also been to Yeovilton airshow again this year where it seemed that everything I was interested in was either cancelled or broken down which was both frustrating & dissapointing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-D2tkl4f4Oa-ew8C8JQtXaMn6T4yBwUGSyvWi4YCZYynEart4aYXI4OzGPRGPRxovO_GZE_hFcvZChqCuYFBPrM94h2KKQR4HVuUPai0D8CglFIkHwxTrJaZSAPWXRaNAKAuSYl1YPHo/s1600/Merlin-&-Griffon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-D2tkl4f4Oa-ew8C8JQtXaMn6T4yBwUGSyvWi4YCZYynEart4aYXI4OzGPRGPRxovO_GZE_hFcvZChqCuYFBPrM94h2KKQR4HVuUPai0D8CglFIkHwxTrJaZSAPWXRaNAKAuSYl1YPHo/s1600/Merlin-&-Griffon1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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BBMF Spitfires</div>
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I have also been on a AK wildlife cruise around the cornish coast, setting off from Falmouth. Despite covering over 70 miles, my hope of seeing & photographing Corys & great Shearwaters was dashed due to a complete lack of birds! Keith the captain & Sophie (his helper for the day) on the boat were both knowledgeable, polite & enthusiastic & managed to get us on to both Harbour porpoise & Risso`s dolphin, Barrel Jellyfish (enormous & a bit scary), Grey seals, Peregrine, Artic Skua & terns, Manx Shearwater & Fulmar. They have managed Minke & Fin whale, Basking & Blue sharks, Common & bottle-nosed dolphin, Common seal, Sooty shearwater & storm petrel on recent trips & just goes to show that on the right day with a bit of luck on your side you will have a storming day. </div>
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They operate all year round & I may be tempted to go back in the depths of winter with the promise of close ups of the 3 resident diver species!</div>
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More info & to book please visit <a href="http://www.akwildlifecruises.co.uk/" target="_blank">AK wildlife cruises</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSA6_ZBFUsJ6b8mRHIfgUUgzkKCH8p_WNabRJ0rInt7L_l3hPM_SpNnNH9fH4dm1TPU-f89F_mfHLBN6YYlIqZ_UN_4XFaNEEy_gorCXg-TusodV-S2pgNjgO7UWeqqmzDJBT40_vnuX2/s1600/Rissos-dolphin-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSA6_ZBFUsJ6b8mRHIfgUUgzkKCH8p_WNabRJ0rInt7L_l3hPM_SpNnNH9fH4dm1TPU-f89F_mfHLBN6YYlIqZ_UN_4XFaNEEy_gorCXg-TusodV-S2pgNjgO7UWeqqmzDJBT40_vnuX2/s1600/Rissos-dolphin-1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Record shot of Risso`s dolphin</div>
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As you may have noticed, I infrequently update the blog page now. This is because i also have a flickr page which is where i tend to put my newest work. Please click on the link on the R/H side panel to visit. There are wildlife, aviation & Astro images there to look at. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lnrwildphoto/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></div>
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Cheers for now........</div>
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<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-60992031552830904342013-07-08T17:18:00.000+01:002013-07-08T17:18:48.316+01:00Butterfly timeIts that quiet time of year for birds & birding when we go chasing after other winged creatures to satisfy our "collecting" urge (as in collecting species seen, not physically capturing them). This year I have managed to see a few species of butterfly that I have not seen or photographed before. These included the tiny Small pearl-bordered fritillary & Marsh fritillary. I have also had a massive influx of Meadow browns in my garden over the last week & a few Marbled whites, both of which i have not seen here before. What is missing this year so far is Holly blue which I can usually find in my front hedge. I may have had a fleeting glimpse the other day but it was too far away & too brief to be sure. Some of the following shots are recent & some are from previous years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVimF5FCbcol-4UASLbYb-XbE6OSgXigtQxaXHB6fPUoeoodVHQLcABfvltbFeT26xblN0Fu7idVdo_vxllASZBke4GS572nJ1xe4owoQ9Py_uVS7QahM0AN1cIJ7Aa1-1fowu7FIPorz/s1600/Large-skipper1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVimF5FCbcol-4UASLbYb-XbE6OSgXigtQxaXHB6fPUoeoodVHQLcABfvltbFeT26xblN0Fu7idVdo_vxllASZBke4GS572nJ1xe4owoQ9Py_uVS7QahM0AN1cIJ7Aa1-1fowu7FIPorz/s400/Large-skipper1.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large skipper<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcUDveMwaZ_piW5d2lPu_7dop6u8U9DrLuCi2FHf79WJxQdWQFtUdqSD3UlwdJtyRwPQvp8Ue3w6_E54gQLO2d1npo-xuAfJQb2IEyHG6DxgFJVCzbs4f-9W9LcPlv40X094plN9-kd5x/s1600/Large-skipper2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcUDveMwaZ_piW5d2lPu_7dop6u8U9DrLuCi2FHf79WJxQdWQFtUdqSD3UlwdJtyRwPQvp8Ue3w6_E54gQLO2d1npo-xuAfJQb2IEyHG6DxgFJVCzbs4f-9W9LcPlv40X094plN9-kd5x/s400/Large-skipper2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large skipper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9OkB6tJ1zJEMXPT93FTlXeVhiS4CFrIB7LV-6DkXXGIptLHUCoMU_fxK4nPKtNqg-nbzkKV44zo55rRvThD3_cXkwJkSqxLC_bEl6NAty5JZDZC9AZ0Qced6Sqp3e0-Tk094vrN7GEuD/s1600/Largeblue1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9OkB6tJ1zJEMXPT93FTlXeVhiS4CFrIB7LV-6DkXXGIptLHUCoMU_fxK4nPKtNqg-nbzkKV44zo55rRvThD3_cXkwJkSqxLC_bEl6NAty5JZDZC9AZ0Qced6Sqp3e0-Tk094vrN7GEuD/s400/Largeblue1.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large blue</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4txFWwhyzMWaFeDJJ4Jcj_7LI0btK0bet_OrqVont5D3UA9bjrpxw9hF6Sf396JAcJBxFQ1kPZVLnvIGBuhitMbqARjrjKBV5hXkfve_j7l08A3Fz8A2FlLXn5EPbDdmrxcAGOCRk6u3/s1600/Marbled-white1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4txFWwhyzMWaFeDJJ4Jcj_7LI0btK0bet_OrqVont5D3UA9bjrpxw9hF6Sf396JAcJBxFQ1kPZVLnvIGBuhitMbqARjrjKBV5hXkfve_j7l08A3Fz8A2FlLXn5EPbDdmrxcAGOCRk6u3/s400/Marbled-white1.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marbled white</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEC9IHSb3HcwWWcVVFQSeF_CtmoEXHcad5Mh8_DsKI3C9FXuh85fwOL_BmXtbgBtITlUepIO6xdaeeWMsMoAivQBxmgOMN7WkyBm0STuBiypqNdMj51Fu5u2iiFtntgBJO41zqqHS8mFE/s1600/Marsh-fritillary1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEC9IHSb3HcwWWcVVFQSeF_CtmoEXHcad5Mh8_DsKI3C9FXuh85fwOL_BmXtbgBtITlUepIO6xdaeeWMsMoAivQBxmgOMN7WkyBm0STuBiypqNdMj51Fu5u2iiFtntgBJO41zqqHS8mFE/s400/Marsh-fritillary1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsh Fritillary</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67o2AxtIadF4iDwTTHZBFSMLKigPPRYBwdMw4D8qB6je_JWSLWfUc9Vt96KvN8u8gM7dXaxTBmfRXqe-TDqNLgISe8ipg5DPBM21UZsjzQ_yZUrAPC-c7646a0qdtPouBQEyJ4ApwAPVX/s1600/Marsh-fritillary2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67o2AxtIadF4iDwTTHZBFSMLKigPPRYBwdMw4D8qB6je_JWSLWfUc9Vt96KvN8u8gM7dXaxTBmfRXqe-TDqNLgISe8ipg5DPBM21UZsjzQ_yZUrAPC-c7646a0qdtPouBQEyJ4ApwAPVX/s400/Marsh-fritillary2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsh Fritillary</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_7C8rT4B6UxhW_hAXNqs2iMQfTWUbU-02pnmmTlYUEhXQsNPRmBpBaHadbN2Mu8Q89VNLvWR5gg8PE6afuawF-0e4wfQLN610sh-iPkzr3fNfxP-_HOPicczvOsknUHy74vm1UY5rBoN/s1600/Meadow-brown1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_7C8rT4B6UxhW_hAXNqs2iMQfTWUbU-02pnmmTlYUEhXQsNPRmBpBaHadbN2Mu8Q89VNLvWR5gg8PE6afuawF-0e4wfQLN610sh-iPkzr3fNfxP-_HOPicczvOsknUHy74vm1UY5rBoN/s400/Meadow-brown1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadow brown</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA50Myb8BpmiiGywQl3t9p9qPRHDan48gj7W-athNGsJQMN2xfX2T0YITung6H5hfC_H4QO1lgI8ERvvgmgbxk4RNWdkD9BrNoLxieKdv40Y6UDSEsENxxDHe4sJurtly5M2b0WQDUMld/s1600/Purple-hairstreak1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA50Myb8BpmiiGywQl3t9p9qPRHDan48gj7W-athNGsJQMN2xfX2T0YITung6H5hfC_H4QO1lgI8ERvvgmgbxk4RNWdkD9BrNoLxieKdv40Y6UDSEsENxxDHe4sJurtly5M2b0WQDUMld/s400/Purple-hairstreak1.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple hairstreak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFxURnmqjolKHgOK4p8iYmKiZa4GgGBKFhZu_cBNQBLlMZ3e-MKC-s-61vVpyDG9u3sB9jkDercppfdsm4jvxm6ho2xcDbQafklAAQv85dZFc_hndsfXNdM4R120bcvFlWX8Q6k9G4w1m/s1600/Purple-hairstreak2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFxURnmqjolKHgOK4p8iYmKiZa4GgGBKFhZu_cBNQBLlMZ3e-MKC-s-61vVpyDG9u3sB9jkDercppfdsm4jvxm6ho2xcDbQafklAAQv85dZFc_hndsfXNdM4R120bcvFlWX8Q6k9G4w1m/s400/Purple-hairstreak2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple hairstreak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Q_p_KchK0WMNHwm9TfJvJEG14hk_K7S5Nsgb0zdRaQPaXuVu1KJVSJAa4vNqqkftHXFBEtUraNJR2jYVBl8Lhq7Ski2nq-hZ4p1YnprggWgAa_46nZg70lEKyajva4ldqLg0gBKx5pGN/s1600/Silver-washed-Fritillary2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Q_p_KchK0WMNHwm9TfJvJEG14hk_K7S5Nsgb0zdRaQPaXuVu1KJVSJAa4vNqqkftHXFBEtUraNJR2jYVBl8Lhq7Ski2nq-hZ4p1YnprggWgAa_46nZg70lEKyajva4ldqLg0gBKx5pGN/s400/Silver-washed-Fritillary2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver-washed fritillary</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjE9597Ip0SlDKGFiMFS1TDj3ZEfEl7lvI3TVJPEXeNVmLil8ZjZ8DKqUFbNHEt4P6wJpVv2duYqbOw_WXJZkYft-Ji39__wwWqy0E0-k50Sp4O00_jfVVZLj4lBRjIjyDiNhIXuT-YQsb/s1600/Silver-washed-Fritillary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjE9597Ip0SlDKGFiMFS1TDj3ZEfEl7lvI3TVJPEXeNVmLil8ZjZ8DKqUFbNHEt4P6wJpVv2duYqbOw_WXJZkYft-Ji39__wwWqy0E0-k50Sp4O00_jfVVZLj4lBRjIjyDiNhIXuT-YQsb/s400/Silver-washed-Fritillary.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver-washed fritillary</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrYEf62TL3fKeF3_fu_nMI7__2HF4oai9jPJKERgASzTTBX8J668OyiNFo12myBcf3Tn7Z_uluXz5H6LOYS2YBV-dirHGbYnqNdC5D3vT8PhzTXn2a86NbgdmbQ4HWRY3pVkMz2JSkH3w/s1600/Small-pearl-bordered-fritillary1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrYEf62TL3fKeF3_fu_nMI7__2HF4oai9jPJKERgASzTTBX8J668OyiNFo12myBcf3Tn7Z_uluXz5H6LOYS2YBV-dirHGbYnqNdC5D3vT8PhzTXn2a86NbgdmbQ4HWRY3pVkMz2JSkH3w/s400/Small-pearl-bordered-fritillary1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small pearl-bordered fritillary</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5XOi6fybM-GVJZDQgQ6rVcAmVz6hzh0p6XGEjrp1hnvQUnTQrryia2eSK64AEwVTYGo9iJPg3JQXLuvXqDJclu68farjOAwUzZgKwa3D05LHzu0MTiXumCEXXeK-yQlKxI8itktbGjlE/s1600/Small-pearl-bordered-fritillary2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5XOi6fybM-GVJZDQgQ6rVcAmVz6hzh0p6XGEjrp1hnvQUnTQrryia2eSK64AEwVTYGo9iJPg3JQXLuvXqDJclu68farjOAwUzZgKwa3D05LHzu0MTiXumCEXXeK-yQlKxI8itktbGjlE/s400/Small-pearl-bordered-fritillary2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small pearl-bordered fritillary</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small skipper</td></tr>
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-88010049480075665512013-06-12T12:33:00.000+01:002013-06-12T12:33:30.307+01:00Tamar Otter & wildlife centerWhilst spending a few days away in Cornwall with my family, I discovered this fantastic little place near Launceston. It is owned & run by Mandy & John Allen & funded totally by income received from visitors. British & Asian (Short toed) otters can be seen in several open enclosures with low fences affording great close up views when they come out to feed. They are fed twice during opening hours & the noise has to be heard to be believed especially from the Short-toed otters. Artificial holt's are built into the enclosures some with glass tops so you can also peer into the sleeping chambers where they retire after feeding.<br />
Its not just Otters though. They also have a woodland walk with Fallow & Muntjac deer, Wallaby's & Turkeys. Aviaries are dotted through the woods with raptors & Owls. Feed bags can be bought to hand feed the deer & numerous Peacock & chickens, great fun! Various talks are given throughout the day & are very informative. You also will get opportunities to handle owls & birds of prey.<br />
At the end of the woodland walk in a small disused quarry, is another enclosure that I was quite keen to see. This houses the centers Scottish wildcats but unfortunately they can be hard to see & I never got so much of a glimpse while I was there. This could be a great excuse to go back though!<br />
The center has a picnic site, award winning cafe & small shop for souvenir's. The terrain is easy going & gravel paths are throughout.<br />
The place has a friendly atmosphere & the keepers are always around to answer any questions.<br />
Please visit the website at <a href="http://www.tamarotters.co.uk/Welcome.html">http://www.tamarotters.co.uk/Welcome.html</a> for more information & if you are in the area or live close by, please pay a visit. You wont be disappointed.<br />
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<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-66123537254977614452013-05-17T18:06:00.000+01:002013-05-17T18:06:06.122+01:00A morning In the Quantock coombesI spent this morning wandering up through Hodders coombe on the Quantock hills, near to my home in Somerset. I was thinking on the way up that the leaf cover may be to much to see anything, how wrong I was. Due to the prolonged cold spell, spring has only just sprung up on the hills & many of the trees are only just starting to sprout fresh leaves.<br />
My targets for the trip were the 3 woodland specialities of Redstart, Pied flycatcher & Wood warbler, all summer migrants. Wood warbler was in the bag after only 5 minutes up the coombe, its trilling song giving its position away. Further up the footpath, Pied flycatchers started to be heard & seen. The female below posed beautifully. A couple of the males also allowed me to grab a bit of video footage as well. At this point I was starting to think that there were no Redstarts here yet when I heard a bird calling further along the path. <br />
I found a pair down in a gulley catching insects above the stream. A convenient fallen log was used to rest the lens on to get the shots below. Also seen in the coombes were Mistle thrush, Jay, Great spotted woodpecker, Goldcrest & various tits.<br />
I walked back along the high road across Higher Hares knapp & saw more Redstarts as well as Tree pipits, Meadow pipits & Whitethroat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Pied flycatcher</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood warbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KTZmpaa7UjWEb1x6VkMyM4i9plJRHUhaoaFqvzjzshm-Dk_4HwsLXpmuFy5Amn2FMFlu_CJ7lV-9HPpyzIgvZN7kJsOfaTgb-AwsN9xLLQdnNA1ePAZfzYVzKC-65yPBk9LyZdhujdKG/s1600/Wood-warbler1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KTZmpaa7UjWEb1x6VkMyM4i9plJRHUhaoaFqvzjzshm-Dk_4HwsLXpmuFy5Amn2FMFlu_CJ7lV-9HPpyzIgvZN7kJsOfaTgb-AwsN9xLLQdnNA1ePAZfzYVzKC-65yPBk9LyZdhujdKG/s400/Wood-warbler1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood warbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictWXq6cf9HA0CwWc5Koxs6EJMBgepS07CRef9ZsmIrSklM0u0N_IteSaN-L2U144i9Hh9GPO_mWkYK0GTqkW8Kz-p4bCbSlPFl3fqkNpz6LNfTbXE8DagkLoo0KL7e63_poHXcvbKRdU_/s1600/Redstart5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictWXq6cf9HA0CwWc5Koxs6EJMBgepS07CRef9ZsmIrSklM0u0N_IteSaN-L2U144i9Hh9GPO_mWkYK0GTqkW8Kz-p4bCbSlPFl3fqkNpz6LNfTbXE8DagkLoo0KL7e63_poHXcvbKRdU_/s400/Redstart5.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Redstart</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Redstart</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZkolQqxmx8L8U4gqLCYwhba8Gaaid5cJPqm3C9UIa8axLLwNXI4GlOA9ZPJDV1DU9g2McyN37sXajszHSxAomSkRfsxT_PLaebR7lnPZbs_zz9EYZQcGcUbTcMoXDppgTTdv73sllcSu/s1600/Redstart6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZkolQqxmx8L8U4gqLCYwhba8Gaaid5cJPqm3C9UIa8axLLwNXI4GlOA9ZPJDV1DU9g2McyN37sXajszHSxAomSkRfsxT_PLaebR7lnPZbs_zz9EYZQcGcUbTcMoXDppgTTdv73sllcSu/s400/Redstart6.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Redstart</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadow Pipit</td></tr>
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<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-82571325477130114322013-04-23T20:37:00.002+01:002013-04-23T21:12:23.697+01:00A place I have never heard of.Today I went to a place that I have never been before. I hadn't even heard of it until the 21st when news went out about a Woodchat shrike at North Widcombe. Where the hell is that I thought? Well it happens to be behind Herriots pool (Chew valley lake). Family commitments kept me away yesterday, so this morning I set off to have a look. I found a couple of people already there, which helps in locating a small bird in a big area. "Where is it?" I enquired<br />
"It will be back in a minute. It sits on top of the hedge."<br />
I looked over the hedge in front of me to the next hedge about 50m away.<br />
"What that hedge?"<br />
"No this one in front of you!" was the answer.<br />
Bearing in mind that we were only about 3-4m from this hedge, I found it hard to believe that any self respecting Woodchat would come anywhere near us. The ones that I had seen before were very flighty & you were lucky to get within 50m of them.<br />
"There it is look!"<br />
I spun around & there it was on a brier bough, initially looking a bit nervous, but soon settling & ogling any passing large insect. After firing a few "bankers" off, I looked at the distance on the lens & saw that it was only 10m from me. Over the next hour, it continuously came back to the hedge, sometimes carrying an insect. I saw it eat a very large furry Bumble bee, which someone likened to me swallowing a 1/2 pounder whole......Now theres a challenge.<br />
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-83770645848994406412013-03-24T15:56:00.000+00:002013-03-24T16:01:45.505+00:00Pyrenees long weekend.Some of you will already know about my recent trip to the Spanish pre-pyrenees with Heatherlea, through following my ramblings on twitter. Myself & 3 companions set of on the 21st of feb for Gatwick where we were to fly out on the morning of the 22nd after an overnight stay in a local hotel. We met with Kevin Shaw (owner of Heatherlea) & the 6 other members of the party & checked in. The short 2 hour flight to Barcelona was followed by a 4 hour minibus journey to the village of Loporzano, to the Boletas birdwatching center which was to be our base for the next 3 nights. The weather was unseasonably cold with a strong biting wind. The skys were clear & blue for the most part though & the following pics do not tell you how bloody cold it really was!<br />
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This is owned & run by Josele Saiz, a birder & guide with un-paralleled knowledge of birding in Aragon & exceptional determination to get you the birds that you have come to see. While Josele is guiding, The guest house is run by his partner Esther Diago. Local ingredients prepared by Esther into delicious local & mediteranean dishes are a welcome sight after a long days birding.<br />
Our birding started as soon as we got into the minibus at the airport with Spotless starlings & Yellow-legged gull. White stork, Red kite & Griffon vulture were all seen from the bus. A short stop at a ruined castle near Loporzano, failed to turn up a hoped for Black Wheatear though.<br />
Saturday was to be the start of our birding proper. A Black redstart was found outside the front door & Spotless starlings lined the rooftops. A pair of White stork roosted on the church tower all the time we were there.<br />
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We travelled to Riglos where the sandstone pillars tower above the small village.</div>
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We were looking for Wallcreeper one of the two target birds of the trip. Unfortunately, we didnt have any luck but Blue rock thrush & Alpine accentor were good consolation birds.</div>
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Griffon vultures were ever present & Red Kite were also seen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSDeYpgozjrlM2qRUU3xj8f22SM4XQxnoaJA1nQaaZIBPUI2qrm6YM7xfFMDEoYcE3jmaiOHcpy9uG13j71Y4fSrmE-lbuQmDum7rEwG1fBwxqlRzJ1_mqboybJqf8FUqJMA0glEKxzO-/s1600/Griffon-vulture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSDeYpgozjrlM2qRUU3xj8f22SM4XQxnoaJA1nQaaZIBPUI2qrm6YM7xfFMDEoYcE3jmaiOHcpy9uG13j71Y4fSrmE-lbuQmDum7rEwG1fBwxqlRzJ1_mqboybJqf8FUqJMA0glEKxzO-/s400/Griffon-vulture2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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From here we travelled to a dam (name eludes me) to again look for the elusive Wallcreeper. And elusive it stayed, but we did get distant views of a pair of Lammergeier, Golden eagle & closer views of Crag martin. A couple more places were checked on the way back including a small quarry along the road. </div>
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A walk around a steep sided valley near Loporzano showed evidence of Eagle owl, but due to the strong cold wind, no sightings were made.</div>
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The next morning was spent at a Lammergeier feeding station, higher up in the mountains where a dark juvenile was spotted on the ground with what looked like jackdaws. We then realized they were Raven! This is one huge bird. It was probably the best part of 500m away but looked good through the scope. A few minutes later an adult pair appeared from nowhere & gave the group a fantastic flypast, eventually joined by the juvenile. Rock bunting, Corn bunting & crested larks were all seen on the trip up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Cmse8f36WgBMRK35AHDQCGrb19uTa6RCouXN_7RDXHnyS4Z7Z2IfxzDlgPp4QVXeI4VeU8nx1BuHwb33w3b5DkR0gxUDLpUaR49YY0UT8Ody9VaJGVFgloR_-MOHrhXc91biKHFoTd1U/s1600/Lammergeier2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Cmse8f36WgBMRK35AHDQCGrb19uTa6RCouXN_7RDXHnyS4Z7Z2IfxzDlgPp4QVXeI4VeU8nx1BuHwb33w3b5DkR0gxUDLpUaR49YY0UT8Ody9VaJGVFgloR_-MOHrhXc91biKHFoTd1U/s400/Lammergeier2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2MvE8taMjVxHyg01cyojzBPRzaEgU_g7UpRV1-x5Ffllst_8LooD5FOsQHvJWy04ngAP1t-DoebKte47aQ0fS02z7AgI2Kl3qeEIcZkUlDKCMxVFwmgzDT7N-_aDgZuz7RR-Z2YKAXyk/s1600/Lammergeier3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2MvE8taMjVxHyg01cyojzBPRzaEgU_g7UpRV1-x5Ffllst_8LooD5FOsQHvJWy04ngAP1t-DoebKte47aQ0fS02z7AgI2Kl3qeEIcZkUlDKCMxVFwmgzDT7N-_aDgZuz7RR-Z2YKAXyk/s400/Lammergeier3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgji3EJ0ZGTm0NKJXS8lkgbWgooqyR6fxj6MkhY-86y1y6t3BV34-dMyEnrRr0llN3El96tt82tqbITj1DkQIT9sv-Mh0MG91eZICQp5_nVpEICcbirfAmDjoMBRRjpTv_qJhfeze1rpy4/s1600/Lammergeier4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgji3EJ0ZGTm0NKJXS8lkgbWgooqyR6fxj6MkhY-86y1y6t3BV34-dMyEnrRr0llN3El96tt82tqbITj1DkQIT9sv-Mh0MG91eZICQp5_nVpEICcbirfAmDjoMBRRjpTv_qJhfeze1rpy4/s400/Lammergeier4.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Next it was back to Riglos for a picnic lunch & more staring at rock! Josele had had a tip off that the Wallcreeper had been seen twice in the last week at the far end of the cliff face during the afternoon. With a growing sense of "here we go again" now in the group, we made our way around & got into position. After about half an hour, one of the group spotted something about 50m up the cliff. Then as it parachuted down to ground level, we all got a glimpse of a Wallcreeper. Josele then told me to go up to the base of the cliff, some 25m above us & get some pics. I didnt need telling twice & was off like a scared cat up the scree. A couple of bankers from about 30m away in the bag, I decided to try & get a little closer. As the bird flitted & fed around the cracks & crevices, it often disappeared from sight. I used these opportunities to creep closer & ended up around 15m from the bird still happily pulling many spiders from the cliff face.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksEk__M32pUV7_CQo-_hyphenhyphencuaLgXp-AVphSz4jxqQtlYcUd87vmNW52A2gPHkJbjT-zjM6vOIATZWNRbyfukpRaN9uEMe7157HHk_d_JJ3kjBsOy-n_01FZthnVjNmc9yY_vMQnpT-f3K6/s1600/wallcreeper4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksEk__M32pUV7_CQo-_hyphenhyphencuaLgXp-AVphSz4jxqQtlYcUd87vmNW52A2gPHkJbjT-zjM6vOIATZWNRbyfukpRaN9uEMe7157HHk_d_JJ3kjBsOy-n_01FZthnVjNmc9yY_vMQnpT-f3K6/s400/wallcreeper4.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Needless to say we were all very happy as well as relieved that we had finally finished staring at rocks & dams. Josele's persistance had payed off.</div>
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View from the base of the cliffs at Riglos.</div>
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The following morning found us again at the Eagle owl valley. This time scope views were gained of an owl on the nest, tucked into a alcove in the cliff face. Next was a Raptor viewpoint above a lake formed by yet another dam. The drive up along a twisty icy dirt track, with sheer drops to the side was an experience that a few did not want to repeat. The bird we were looking for here was Bonellies eagle. It is a very rare bird, but the Pyrenees is a strong hold for them in Europe. Scoping around, I found a small herd of Spanish Ibex on the opposite hill side. Black & red kite, Golden eagle, Griffon vulture & Goshawk were all spotted from here. Then Joselie hit the jackpot again & found a pair of Bonellies sat on top of an outcrop a few hundred meters away.</div>
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Too far away for my camera, I took this pic with my phone through one of the groups telescopes. A drive to a lower, wetter area found us looking at a flock of many hundred Common crane, just in from Africa.</div>
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From here we then travelled south for a couple of hours to the Belchite steppes & to a new hotel for the night. Golden eagles were spotted on the way down as well as 3 Black kites & numerous Red kite. Crested lark lined the roads & white stork were also spotted.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzASlL5N9jiVKI8A1kiJpPbDEqBn64c2O2PnfcNw1a_aeowzxIND5yw7-rr2PCKTaC9z0jdZyQBahWt8yhy6CMKcchXNkDVYI3uWgUwFIzHu_VsNp8ZrLxrhOpvKZnc7_M2VF6m7YTmDwY/s1600/White-stork2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzASlL5N9jiVKI8A1kiJpPbDEqBn64c2O2PnfcNw1a_aeowzxIND5yw7-rr2PCKTaC9z0jdZyQBahWt8yhy6CMKcchXNkDVYI3uWgUwFIzHu_VsNp8ZrLxrhOpvKZnc7_M2VF6m7YTmDwY/s400/White-stork2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Before breakfast the next morning, we travelled to<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">La planeron to search for Duponts lark. Luckily the wind had dropped & the sun was about to rise into a clear cold sky. Several birds were heard singing as the sun rose, but none were were seen. Lesser Short toed, Thekla & calandra lark were all spotted in this area as well as a huge murmuration of Starlings. Josele commented that he had never before seen this before in the area. Next was a walk up through a narrow vally in a restricted military training area. Black wheatear, Rock bunting, Sardinian warbler & Thekla lark were all seen up through here.</span></span></div>
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Great bustard was the next target & a large group of around 30 was found on farmland in an area used by them year on year. The rough tracks in the area also allowed us to look for Black-bellied Sandgrouse. after a little off roading in the hired minibus, we eventually seen a single bird in flight & a pair on the track. Alas only scope views were obtained, but what a stunning bird!</div>
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The last morning was spent at a wildfowl refuge where Red-crested pochard, a possible Feruginous duck & Penduline tits were added to the list. From here we travelled back to Barcalona to catch the flight back to a slightly warmer England!</div>
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Many thanks to Kevin, Joselie & Esther for an enjoyable if hectic trip.</div>
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Photography notes:</div>
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All bird photos were taken with with a Nikon D4 with Sigma 120-300mm OS lens with Sigma 2x teleconverter attached. All were taken hand held. Landscape & Bonellies eagle pics were taken with my phone!</div>
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Links:</div>
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<a href="http://www.birdingspain.com/welcome.htm" target="_blank">Boletas birdwatching center</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.heatherlea.co.uk/" target="_blank">Heatherlea</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.heatherlea.co.uk/birdwatching-holidays-pyrenees.asp" target="_blank">Pyrenees long weekend</a></div>
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<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-51512111174610855822013-02-19T18:14:00.002+00:002013-02-19T18:14:25.121+00:00Pied-billed again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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A few more of the Pied-billed grebe at Ham wall RSPB, from this afternoon in better light. The bottom one shows it feeding on a large beetle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVsNAQWVjb4wTf3pweKRQrPqJ9D30xw9qQWR4413hTBxT1cu-xeXu3y37pkS8pZOrbvhl_dq-PrgDzk5_WacSWfbWNQqlu-rOlV9UA8QUBv1WsIXlow5pNL0zPQwUILJfNMFRIymuwFY0/s1600/Pied-billed-grebe3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVsNAQWVjb4wTf3pweKRQrPqJ9D30xw9qQWR4413hTBxT1cu-xeXu3y37pkS8pZOrbvhl_dq-PrgDzk5_WacSWfbWNQqlu-rOlV9UA8QUBv1WsIXlow5pNL0zPQwUILJfNMFRIymuwFY0/s400/Pied-billed-grebe3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWKM-gLb0mt3IXKh6WXEFOJkOvS2aI0pJL3q60Ilu7MVUrt8ctr6gjejeikvmonFfZuCFlN-RDE6iZ7EPpFa6aCyzXoByl-E0aYfzlg-U1yT-V4rSRKvsMuYYMLQXoId4d_qsQHgxBTcj/s1600/Pied-billed-grebe4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWKM-gLb0mt3IXKh6WXEFOJkOvS2aI0pJL3q60Ilu7MVUrt8ctr6gjejeikvmonFfZuCFlN-RDE6iZ7EPpFa6aCyzXoByl-E0aYfzlg-U1yT-V4rSRKvsMuYYMLQXoId4d_qsQHgxBTcj/s400/Pied-billed-grebe4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6t1Zl316l1PCqZ1RC5fwVj6lK3NGeSrucc1OZ3WBjoX95YtJp26uESSdEqUQCZeAQX-fl05nrMDdCy3uz5Zleopyk1l2Ghmx3KipQratrY2ZSNIDpYZD3xa9PJtjT54H_Isikm60z6uB/s1600/Pied-billed-grebe5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6t1Zl316l1PCqZ1RC5fwVj6lK3NGeSrucc1OZ3WBjoX95YtJp26uESSdEqUQCZeAQX-fl05nrMDdCy3uz5Zleopyk1l2Ghmx3KipQratrY2ZSNIDpYZD3xa9PJtjT54H_Isikm60z6uB/s400/Pied-billed-grebe5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-55986161788568406032013-02-17T16:16:00.002+00:002013-02-17T16:16:54.145+00:00Life tick<br />
A Pied-billed Grebe (a vagrant from America) was found yesterday at Ham wall RSPB, part of the Avalon marshes, here in Somerset. I was on a 12hr day shift so had no chance of seeing what would be a life tick, as well as a county & UK tick for me. The summer bill pattern is starting to show now as it starts its moult into breeding plumage. I managed to catch up with it this morning when I joined the masses at Ham wall. As far as I am aware, this is a first for Somerset as it is now. Let me know if you know differently.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpzd2j-ZSzNxX8qiYOOAp5N1hJv7Zk4MAuq1tUKcnneBw7_2jgGMGO7zQ9BqCjgwjmn-fp2VCo0drcTWK-rCG39z4CFNUpKlnxeXbl_sknlCfDSGjssk65lhnYLuWfNmZ8ptVVFW7ghOm/s1600/Pied-billed-grebe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpzd2j-ZSzNxX8qiYOOAp5N1hJv7Zk4MAuq1tUKcnneBw7_2jgGMGO7zQ9BqCjgwjmn-fp2VCo0drcTWK-rCG39z4CFNUpKlnxeXbl_sknlCfDSGjssk65lhnYLuWfNmZ8ptVVFW7ghOm/s400/Pied-billed-grebe2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The above shots are really only record shots as it spent a lot of time at long distance & even with a 600mm & 2x teleconverter, it still needed a massive crop.</div>
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I must say that since I have updated the firmware on my D4 to 1.04 & 1.02, the af performance at f8 when using a 2x TC is now a lot more accurate & to my mind a bit quicker. All in all, worth the effort in doing.</div>
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On leaving Ham wall, I paid a quick visit to a local heronry, where the breeding season is already underway.</div>
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-60948217143350166332013-02-04T19:01:00.001+00:002013-02-04T19:01:53.458+00:00Catch up time.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today I decided at last to travel over to Norton sub Hamdon near Yeovil. There have been sightings of Hawfinch reported there for a couple of weeks now & with reasonable weather,today seemed as good a day as any to visit.</div>
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Hawfinch is a fairly scarce bird in the county & I have only ever seen one before at Bruton a couple of years ago. On pulling up in Rectory lane, I saw a couple of other birders present so decided to ask where to go. I was then informed that if I look to my right, about 10m away, I would see one (thanks Brian). Over the next couple of hours staking out the Yew tree in the corner of the rectory garden, I saw & photographed these chunky finches with the 600mm on a car door mount. They were by no means easy, & spent long periods of time deep in the undergrowth. They did however venture out into the open a few times, on occasion hovering to pick a berry from above them (missed that shot a few times). I left after the entire avian contents of this tree were flushed by a male Sparrowhawk.</div>
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There was a few shots already on my hard drive that were not enough for a blog post on there own,so they have been festering there waiting for a few more to bulk out a post here they are.</div>
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The Great white Egret that has been hanging around on Catcott lows.</div>
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The juvenile Rosy Starling at Exminster in Devon</div>
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<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-56670893167033913652013-01-04T19:55:00.000+00:002013-01-04T19:56:48.139+00:00New year BarnieFirst of all can I wish all the readers of my blog a happy new year & lets hope 2013 is a bit drier than 2012.<br />
Today was to be my first session of the new year, bad weather, crap light whatever, I was still going out! I decided the "newt ponds" on the road to Steart would be a good area to try due to the Barn Owl that has been seen regularly hunting over the rough banks there. Twitter had reported no sign in the morning apart from a brief spell at around 8AM over towards Stockland. Having parked up in a gateway & set up my 600mm lens on my window mount, I settled down for what could be a long wait. As it happens the Owl appeared after about an hour or so. The light was appalling but it was great to see & the shots below are the best of the bunch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht14Rx0GSgeZVxVXVzapyzzIJRUUEgMOmbvBR9hzwgYIAFjGri9JtpUmiDIWMf7n9PnUEDSU1gVaBHijkIxIxF6888JQAcvoaviVFgLwyR6CAdSjIU4yQvcUsObVAiAQfsFimOrchaa5XE/s1600/Barn-owl23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht14Rx0GSgeZVxVXVzapyzzIJRUUEgMOmbvBR9hzwgYIAFjGri9JtpUmiDIWMf7n9PnUEDSU1gVaBHijkIxIxF6888JQAcvoaviVFgLwyR6CAdSjIU4yQvcUsObVAiAQfsFimOrchaa5XE/s400/Barn-owl23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjy044RWRsr1SaiwL00uagKDdJvbreJLgzml8ufpreKOoFBKYEiSWyG8Th6B0xNDxgGoMsyMbv8oi103woeHEJnO97o3R0_q0X5_f-e4X6GtnFTKJrLs020VW3BAt2FUbKtTQ5iSs58XE/s1600/Barn-owl24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjy044RWRsr1SaiwL00uagKDdJvbreJLgzml8ufpreKOoFBKYEiSWyG8Th6B0xNDxgGoMsyMbv8oi103woeHEJnO97o3R0_q0X5_f-e4X6GtnFTKJrLs020VW3BAt2FUbKtTQ5iSs58XE/s400/Barn-owl24.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH5_GoqVSC0yiEpk7jNxya8ryNAriKiZrEj9bPvTIhMyehLTzwP7NdEy2NsE8fVlE0Np8tOXKUfGxTTIa5gERFVqT09PUX7hZzB_0Ps0EClKL6Pr8YokFNGDXhchqqstngWGcMM53uUH_/s1600/Barn-owl25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH5_GoqVSC0yiEpk7jNxya8ryNAriKiZrEj9bPvTIhMyehLTzwP7NdEy2NsE8fVlE0Np8tOXKUfGxTTIa5gERFVqT09PUX7hZzB_0Ps0EClKL6Pr8YokFNGDXhchqqstngWGcMM53uUH_/s400/Barn-owl25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtHDv6VTTwdvkOQ6u1klKuUToaDE8PLtzGoM_CT3xVYLx3HoN0mDVFO5gxZue9QgPfmckvurBEKQMTbF9njH2Z-H6yIOISF46l0HDnEdJJJhRoqJadysmv5ydk_5M7uieCfpXg2B4uOw6/s1600/Barn-owl22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtHDv6VTTwdvkOQ6u1klKuUToaDE8PLtzGoM_CT3xVYLx3HoN0mDVFO5gxZue9QgPfmckvurBEKQMTbF9njH2Z-H6yIOISF46l0HDnEdJJJhRoqJadysmv5ydk_5M7uieCfpXg2B4uOw6/s400/Barn-owl22.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Below are a few from my first session a week or so ago.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtkZmpUr3F2THiQhqxHPNsv6yAE-ut8ADLseMWS5K1o88CGPH-SpEG7B5oSmGrVitilq8XwoizYWuJr2Qy4ZhJUwGak-oLcjI_GCXMAkLIfewjGq5WPAhGajiAwIGJzQKffmAELwIKgRL/s1600/Barn-owl20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtkZmpUr3F2THiQhqxHPNsv6yAE-ut8ADLseMWS5K1o88CGPH-SpEG7B5oSmGrVitilq8XwoizYWuJr2Qy4ZhJUwGak-oLcjI_GCXMAkLIfewjGq5WPAhGajiAwIGJzQKffmAELwIKgRL/s400/Barn-owl20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIC4HGB2K7TVaAdPa0Zl5ppTpvOHv09CHiaj76SLbSDNgyX6vI2epILj8twMM7KJJuIzA7GToY_KWmSey_ZlyqAmXiYYAXdQOqoAswrJkD5yR0mfGodbv4Z5-jXpL6UsuwK49WsUjRAro/s1600/Barn-owl19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIC4HGB2K7TVaAdPa0Zl5ppTpvOHv09CHiaj76SLbSDNgyX6vI2epILj8twMM7KJJuIzA7GToY_KWmSey_ZlyqAmXiYYAXdQOqoAswrJkD5yR0mfGodbv4Z5-jXpL6UsuwK49WsUjRAro/s400/Barn-owl19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfjA4-kK5asX4yxTZDYfv_QfYEceEbTrH1AaPjYoBRQdudS_6dqQx6zFL6eGJ3anMCTXaSjMP4WN_s9mlKNmvniLWDqmoEH2WS6GbwVsVGrWEHZ1pqkrmUCnGe52vL3RkCiFIrYDOA7b2/s1600/Barn-owl21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfjA4-kK5asX4yxTZDYfv_QfYEceEbTrH1AaPjYoBRQdudS_6dqQx6zFL6eGJ3anMCTXaSjMP4WN_s9mlKNmvniLWDqmoEH2WS6GbwVsVGrWEHZ1pqkrmUCnGe52vL3RkCiFIrYDOA7b2/s400/Barn-owl21.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Barn owls can be seen hunting during the day at any time of year, but especially in the winter months. Settled periods after heavy rain or strong wind are usually quite good as they are unable to hunt in stormy weather & have a bit of catching up to do. This of course means that they should not be disturbed when hunting & anyone who fancies a go at photographing them should bear this in mind & put the birds welfare first & foremost. Give them space!</div>
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*Barn owls are schedule 1 birds & should not be disturbed (including photographing them) at or near the nest site during the breeding season without a licence from Natural England. </div>
Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-17876639820007591022012-12-18T19:52:00.000+00:002012-12-18T19:52:00.318+00:00Public voteI have had the honour of one of my entries into the Somerset wildlife trusts photographic competition short listed into the final 10. The final 10 entries are now open to a public vote to find the winner of the peoples choice award. Please take a couple of minutes to visit the <a href="http://www.somersetwildlife.org/peopleschoice12.html" target="_blank">voting page here</a> & pick your favourite. The winners of the peoples choice & judges choice will be announced in february.<br />
<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-89531840111619260232012-12-11T21:45:00.001+00:002012-12-11T21:46:54.428+00:00Waxwings at last!Waxwings have invaded the country. Some huge flocks have been seen stripping berries in Scotland & the far north. Birdguides birdmap has been "pebble dashed" with markers denoting where they have been spotted, everywhere it would seem but down here in Somerset. Over the last fortnight, small numbers have been spotted in Weston-super-mare, Avonmouth & Bristol. This week they have been turning up locally at Shapwick NNR (18), around Taunton & Westonzoyland. The latter is where I ended up this morning after a post on Twitter from Roger Musgrove (thanks mate!) where he had spotted 3 in a small suburban street. By the time I had got there the total was now 6. They were favouring a Rowan tree with its ample supply of pink berries.<br />
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<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-49655065394498068092012-12-04T16:02:00.000+00:002012-12-04T16:02:06.253+00:00Stint at Steart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A Small flooded field at Stockland reach near Steart in Somerset has turned up another quality wader, this time in the form of a Temmincks stint. An arctic breeder, this bird should now be wintering in Africa. Much less common than the Little Stint but as likely to occur in spring & autumn on passage. I have seen them before at Meare heath & at Titchwell in Norfolk but both those birds were a long way off & still dots even with a scope. This one was only 35m away & came as close as 20m on occasion. The sun even came out briefly!</div>
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-32412340689136556462012-11-01T19:52:00.000+00:002012-11-01T21:24:50.543+00:00Colourful day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This morning started with a trip up the M5 to Sand bay near Weston-super-mare, to try & catch up with the Hoopoe that has been there for nearly a week. The rain clouds cleared just as we approached the beach & the sun shone down. After a short 10 minute wait, in it flew & landed in front of the few waiting birders & photographers. We all then spent the next half an hour or so snapping away & most of the dog walkers steered there charges away from the small happy crowd. What happened next I could not believe. A lone woman walked towards the group, staying behind the forest of tripods only to then walk across the grass towards the bird & flushed it! She then after walking on for a few metres walked back from where she came from! Most of the crowd then disappeared off home or followed the bird up the beach, leaving me alone & dumbfounded wondering what had happened to common sense. I must point out that she was neither a birder or photographer & did walk behind the group. But surely she must have clocked all the optics pointing in the direction of her travel after she had passed the group? If she had stayed on the path, all would have been ok.</div>
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Earwigs seem to have been its favourite nosh today!</div>
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This afternoon I visited Noahs lake hide at Shapwick heath NNR. After a couple of fruitless freezing hours a Bittern dropped into the small reed bed in front of the hide, too quickly for me to get on it & a Kingfisher fished from a reed stem.</div>
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-59220849961587507562012-10-26T20:40:00.000+01:002012-10-26T20:43:59.225+01:00Carrying a big lensOne thing that I have hated about my 600mm lens since I have had it is the really annoying carrying strap. For those that do not know, the strap is attached to the tripod foot & to a fixed loop on the lens body near the camera mount. Now the trouble is that I hate to have dangling straps when the lens is fixed to the tripod. They are either flapping around in the wind or getting in the way. Also because of the way the strap is attached, one end swivelling & one end fixed, it always manages to get twisted up beyond belief.<br />
There are alternatives of course. I used to use an Op-tech strap on my old Sigma 500 that had quick release clips, the type that you squeeze the sides together to release them. This was ok until I accidentally grabbed hold of the clip when loading the car & the clip released allowing the lens to hit the deck. Fortunately the lens hood took the brunt of it & the lens was undamaged (the hood regained its shape after a bit of fettling). After this, I no longer trusted the Op-tech strap.<br />
Other alternatives include offerings from Kirk & Black rapid. These both appealed as they have a single mount that screws into the tripod foot. That is ok until you want to fit the lens to your tripod. You need to unscrew the strap.<br />
A variation on the same theme had a small Arca-swiss type clamp attached to the screw on the end of the strap, giving a secure quick release system. Just what I needed! These type of straps are around 80 quid.<br />
While searching the old faithful ebay, I came across a small clamp with eyebolt screwed in for £25 delivered. Hunting through my camera gear, I found a thick padded strap that came with my Lowepro lens bag complete with the type of clips used on dog leads. More than strong enough for the job. Delivery of the clamp was fast & tonight I attached it to my strap & then to the lens. To say I am pleased is an understatement. Comfortable, secure & true quick release. Perfect!<br />
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Link to the clamp on <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320992657694?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649" target="_blank">ebay</a><br />
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Please note that I have in no way any connection either personal or financial to the seller on ebay. I am purely a satisfied customer.<br />
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<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-15415761799475949792012-10-20T17:07:00.002+01:002012-10-20T17:07:50.383+01:00Brean down WryneckA couple of shots of the Wryneck that has been at the walled garden at Brean Down for a few days now, much to the delight of many birders both local & visitors. A Ring Ouzel was also present although when i seen it last, it was being harrased by a Sparrowhawk. Pretty sure it got away.<br />
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A member of the woodpecker family, it is usually hard to see due to its cryptic plumage. This one however frequently fed on ants out on the open grass & allowed these long range record shots to be taken with the 600 & 2x converter.Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-6213555078200947572012-10-16T20:48:00.000+01:002012-10-16T20:48:07.231+01:00Sunny ExmoorToday I spent a enjoyable morning with Tim Taylor down in the coombes of Exmoor. The target was a bird was a first for me in Somerset. It is a bird with a name that raises eyebrows with non birders. It is of course the Ring Ouzel (stop tittering at the back......).<br />
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After a 10 minute walk down through Chetsford water to where Ember coombe meets it, We found the Rowan trees laden with bright red berries. Alas no Ouzels were present at this time.After a wait of approx 30 mins a pair appeared from nowhere & gave brief views before disappearing again. After a short walk along Nutscale water we returned back to where the streams meet & again found a male & female further back along Chetsford water. A fellow birder also pointed out a female on a bush up on the hillside & said he had seen at least 5 others that had flown off. So that made at least 6 individuals present & judging by the amount of berries, they could well stay a little longer before migrating to Africa for the winter.</div>
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The record shots below show a male with his large white gorget.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgD9zSgQmS242RCQM0GfmbTvQ5bvRn4XZfZpgDtPJT0-yM8MoY_ygKR1OP9LeyUKxtScpt4dd3D7eSKJWFG9O5rFf-UCKW_QPxDfzAMHo-cF-nbyd-joXsc2xKukuQNZ1mnUZnfuc1d5v/s1600/Ring-Ouzel3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgD9zSgQmS242RCQM0GfmbTvQ5bvRn4XZfZpgDtPJT0-yM8MoY_ygKR1OP9LeyUKxtScpt4dd3D7eSKJWFG9O5rFf-UCKW_QPxDfzAMHo-cF-nbyd-joXsc2xKukuQNZ1mnUZnfuc1d5v/s400/Ring-Ouzel3.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJStGUvXXJ_FoOWXDA7Bhyn6VoTBczY1nSD4oknKeEXA2cTWaUO6gkLPM2rhIK_P55-Yo6aFK51GJSfLVer32UAmrYN9vZ9DdUIbdaq4A5vb9ryonR_FzSGQEJkanu5U7d513XxxCgbU1_/s1600/Ring-Ouzel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJStGUvXXJ_FoOWXDA7Bhyn6VoTBczY1nSD4oknKeEXA2cTWaUO6gkLPM2rhIK_P55-Yo6aFK51GJSfLVer32UAmrYN9vZ9DdUIbdaq4A5vb9ryonR_FzSGQEJkanu5U7d513XxxCgbU1_/s400/Ring-Ouzel1.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI05Ktxv5fWf03hAhmZvwIUZ6eRx6jwP2OdnYbdEEziw1DQVTL45bFoqsCoUodaq3rwVNYE7Fcpjw1sGl2BxYeTK6IEU9TIXfghboBnci1xvwj1XTT11zABE4dcxSNpWKQyHlMeEua3-D-/s1600/Ring-Ouzel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI05Ktxv5fWf03hAhmZvwIUZ6eRx6jwP2OdnYbdEEziw1DQVTL45bFoqsCoUodaq3rwVNYE7Fcpjw1sGl2BxYeTK6IEU9TIXfghboBnci1xvwj1XTT11zABE4dcxSNpWKQyHlMeEua3-D-/s400/Ring-Ouzel2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-12668967780205980642012-10-01T22:27:00.000+01:002012-10-01T22:27:18.826+01:00Osprey leg rings.<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SCBkUePbUACtTuU7JKcxekFN8OLhJ5VnL9Ma9vRL0LYpfpgjpfb4YtFPXx_Y1TXAxQ2J50vSRfuv5dVXRRCu9aPP7neETDaHTGgoz_CPIIvduCm_DQalrNG4CV_JnyAWFPFVzCGAX8lP/s1600/Osprey-ring-number.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SCBkUePbUACtTuU7JKcxekFN8OLhJ5VnL9Ma9vRL0LYpfpgjpfb4YtFPXx_Y1TXAxQ2J50vSRfuv5dVXRRCu9aPP7neETDaHTGgoz_CPIIvduCm_DQalrNG4CV_JnyAWFPFVzCGAX8lP/s400/Osprey-ring-number.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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The recent Immature osprey that has been frequenting a couple of local reservoir for the past 3 weeks has been fitted with some bling. On the right leg is the normal metal ring that is inscribed with an unique code & on the left is a larger colour ring with a letter code in white. As you can see on the above enormous crop, the code is ND (not NB as it looks on the photo-thats just shine on the ring). The record has been sent to those in the know & we are currently waiting on a reply. From this we will then know the birds history up until now. I find this fascinating & cannot wait to find out. Watch this space......</div>
Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-80924921452734397282012-09-29T18:25:00.002+01:002012-09-29T18:25:42.372+01:00Another yank & more odds & sods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I went down to Dorset on a recent trip with Tim Taylor to see the immature Short-billed Dowitcher that has been present for a couple of weeks now. I wasnt that worried about going for it, although it was a british tick for me, until i realised this is only the second british record! We didnt have to wait too long for it to show itself on the western scrape.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuUTcs1hhjEzD7-Mmj-KdyBtcFGp5hZ6yAvRnWLmD-ejuzjx0PZA-7JYRL7AlcIR2WLzYzI_AdqRlyXvbs7QeLaUIuRnDXe_8T3PwUY57WcHr7yZHMxtxSoRXD5796oCvvuPwbjjPAy8z/s1600/Short-billed-dowitcher1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" kea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuUTcs1hhjEzD7-Mmj-KdyBtcFGp5hZ6yAvRnWLmD-ejuzjx0PZA-7JYRL7AlcIR2WLzYzI_AdqRlyXvbs7QeLaUIuRnDXe_8T3PwUY57WcHr7yZHMxtxSoRXD5796oCvvuPwbjjPAy8z/s400/Short-billed-dowitcher1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1W2XrZ_vcvxAI3eixgdMAtnRV4l-tDEXQ96ssv9AXTbugl1sKF8HegV_yVJmyn0YHOW9zAKtS2RKr57mM31bH_JT4UDvWVfwwTBit1omuA_6h_YOziMb64B8FzUufjjEP2wTPv0rUzsM/s1600/Short-billed-dowitcher2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1W2XrZ_vcvxAI3eixgdMAtnRV4l-tDEXQ96ssv9AXTbugl1sKF8HegV_yVJmyn0YHOW9zAKtS2RKr57mM31bH_JT4UDvWVfwwTBit1omuA_6h_YOziMb64B8FzUufjjEP2wTPv0rUzsM/s400/Short-billed-dowitcher2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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This immature Osprey has been commuting between Hawkridge reservoir & Ashford reservoir for a while now. I had previously got some flight shots with a lovely blue sky for a background at Hawkridge, but desperatley wanted some fishing shots. This is about the best so far. I will hopefully get to go back before it decides its too cold & heads south & try my luck again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrvil7YOINnaxLaGn4H-kwiIAVGc_fpXAJhg8EfkcmthWYgUTQZ5cfAJEzU7DX43NFyGln_UDyaZAEvECVJWHShHcqJd-3XaBAHYwOwHE4LdHzrzXGMlli9ZsYzJrA-RAqJbJpl2eFHjo/s1600/Osprey-with-pike-Rob-Chace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" kea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrvil7YOINnaxLaGn4H-kwiIAVGc_fpXAJhg8EfkcmthWYgUTQZ5cfAJEzU7DX43NFyGln_UDyaZAEvECVJWHShHcqJd-3XaBAHYwOwHE4LdHzrzXGMlli9ZsYzJrA-RAqJbJpl2eFHjo/s400/Osprey-with-pike-Rob-Chace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And finally for now, I found the pics below skulking on my hard drive & decided to process them. They were taken back in 2006 at Shapwick nature reserve with my first DSLR, a Nikon D70.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8-z0LZF-SXWsG4FOFO3VCc944zu5hQ98fB5cn3EtNLfCqWU4J0s6yXkak_rSspQM4xOyRpJsVvdc2m0SgwrFALMXU69srdlzzV2yIGp_lHYJ1UcUI1__iDptEiS-sJ2gjzl-UffEtOtD/s1600/Wild-boar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8-z0LZF-SXWsG4FOFO3VCc944zu5hQ98fB5cn3EtNLfCqWU4J0s6yXkak_rSspQM4xOyRpJsVvdc2m0SgwrFALMXU69srdlzzV2yIGp_lHYJ1UcUI1__iDptEiS-sJ2gjzl-UffEtOtD/s400/Wild-boar.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-88114188185712032652012-09-20T16:54:00.003+01:002012-09-20T16:54:54.679+01:00Items for saleI have recently added a couple of items to the other items for sale section of my main website. Please go <a href="http://www.lnrwildphoto.co.uk/otheritems.html" target="_blank">here</a> to view my D2x & 70-200mm f2.8 vr lens.Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-55984244283477952442012-09-13T23:32:00.001+01:002012-09-13T23:39:46.996+01:00Revelations.....to me anywayI have recently pulled the trigger & upgraded my venerable old Nikon D2x to a D4. Over the last 4-5 years, since the D3 came out, I have been secretly yearning for the fantastic high iso performance of the fore mentioned model. Tied to ISO 400 or lower in order to keep the noise under control, I was struggling to get a decent shutter speed to freeze the action, especially during the frequent dull , rainy days of this summer.<br />
The auto focus system of the D2x also is slow & clunky & dare I say unreliable against todays bottom of the range DSLR's.<br />
Despite all these short comings, I feel I have found work arounds to most of these issues & got results the hard way. Having used it for so long, I know its moods & can second guess how its going to react when I press the shutter button. If I end up with a crap result, its because I have caused it. <br />
The D4 came out of the box & superficially it looks the same as the D2x. A few buttons have moved & some have been added, but it still feels the same. Thats about where the similarities end! Now I have only had the chance to use it a couple of times so far, so this is really just my first impressions. After spending a couple of hours with a manual the size of a phone book, I had got it to a stage where I felt I had it set to my liking. By now the batteries were also fully charged & off I went to give it a go.<br />
All I can say is WOW!<br />
The first thing that struck me like a hammer blow to the head was the autofocus. It locked on straight away & stayed locked. Revelation 1- The AF works straight away even with a 2x teleconverter attached (giving an aperture of F8).<br />
Because I was using a 2x TC, & the light was crap, I had bumped the ISO up to 1600. Revelation 2- The high ISO image quality is fantastic. At 1600 the D4 images are as clean or more probably cleaner than my D2x on ISO 400.<br />
The 3rd thing that I noted was the lack of blown highlights. Revelation 3- The D4 sees much more like we humans do. Dynamic range is far better than the D2x.<br />
Now, some of you guys that have kept pace with the constant upgrades over the last few years, probably wont find these revelations a very big deal, but I had high expectations of this new camera & so far they have been blown clear out of the water.<br />
Even so, I am finding it very hard to part company with the old girl. I think I will end up trying to sell her, but if I don't get what I want, she can sit on the shelf in the cupboard. I have a job in mind for her that she excels at & can come out of retirement a few times a year. What is that you may ask? Just keep an eye on the bug galleries!<br />
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Heres a few shots taken with the D4 (all IIRC at ISO 1000 & above). Please click on the images below to see a slightly larger version.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Osprey at Hawkridge reservoir</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Swallow at Huntspill river </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz8BWxbXTCfTpxlpIgksk2xi3uth0-z61kwi0_sVRtNjvESodBLvI-0O622RG6YIg8Aa0nll5zwvZlU3DZu_S_YSdf-K0H9UiICqxL3bG53p8IiTzltFBTrn39s61VKKHXbsSpyX3V891/s1600/_DSC0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz8BWxbXTCfTpxlpIgksk2xi3uth0-z61kwi0_sVRtNjvESodBLvI-0O622RG6YIg8Aa0nll5zwvZlU3DZu_S_YSdf-K0H9UiICqxL3bG53p8IiTzltFBTrn39s61VKKHXbsSpyX3V891/s400/_DSC0145.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spotted Crake at Greylake</div><br />
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-42930188732542446152012-06-11T21:22:00.000+01:002012-06-11T21:22:19.766+01:00TwitterLnRWildphoto is now on twitter! find us @lnrwildphotoRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-26171948357203758732012-05-17T19:04:00.000+01:002012-05-17T19:04:00.628+01:00Discover Skylark meadowI will be leading groups to photograph wildflowers, insects & whatever else may turn up at the event below on saturday 26th may. If you want to learn how to take better pics, then this may be for you. It will be a completely informal meeting & will be aimed at beginners & novices. The more advanced are of course also welcome & can contribute to the images that will be displayed in the village hall. The event is taking place in the village of Bawdrip from 1pm until around 4. Walks will be started from the village hall, so please drop in & say hello & maybe take part. Just bring your camera (<u>any</u> camera is fine) & your wellies & raincoat. Best of all its free!!!!!!!<br />
<a href="http://www.plantlife.org.uk/nature_reserves/skylark_meadows">Directions to Skylark meadows can be found here</a><br />
<a href="http://www.plantlife.org.uk/things_to_do/activities/somerset_-_guided_walks_and_open_afternoon-1/">And for more information, click here</a>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-27221091749974276862012-05-15T16:30:00.000+01:002012-05-15T16:30:27.667+01:00Blagdon SquaccoThis showy Squacco heron has been at Blagdon lake for just over a week now & favourite areas are the Top end & Burmah road.When i visited on sunday, it spent most of its time in the flooded long grass in the Burmah road area giving views down to 30m, feeding quite happily on invertibrates & small fish in the shallows & ignoring the admiring birders & photographers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjRBd3OWOOOBUuH3UDPeeStYKrYb0d2_Cf5iXr6YXoqYfwQM94ZXIub9i2leSqwfvLife6hZu1AMMxIsPmvapnxBVnOM6nE1lEUU2mA_eWHYc1faBNH0JpS082IUdvX0LvWENNOyxl3vI/s1600/Squacco-heron1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjRBd3OWOOOBUuH3UDPeeStYKrYb0d2_Cf5iXr6YXoqYfwQM94ZXIub9i2leSqwfvLife6hZu1AMMxIsPmvapnxBVnOM6nE1lEUU2mA_eWHYc1faBNH0JpS082IUdvX0LvWENNOyxl3vI/s400/Squacco-heron1.jpg" width="266px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXz5_1olvyExH8H830SoRRAi81kb5DOQrkEOdpghfEcomFVsIxoo_1TIK9u-NPMeQEF6EngH0URlQehOkLR_JXzyuugZxoAa0W8LSIkiJZigY9LA0kvYV9erKg1u_Tkbcb00wvG2k6uja/s1600/Squacco-heron2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXz5_1olvyExH8H830SoRRAi81kb5DOQrkEOdpghfEcomFVsIxoo_1TIK9u-NPMeQEF6EngH0URlQehOkLR_JXzyuugZxoAa0W8LSIkiJZigY9LA0kvYV9erKg1u_Tkbcb00wvG2k6uja/s400/Squacco-heron2.jpg" width="266px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A rear view showing the beautiful plumes on the back of the head.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO3cA-XHGjSCscvbB2JRyScEoPMde0t_YHou6iTyJWx3WTRTb9UNeQF7Qbb0W1Uz2KTsE3F9v14gTaXyAydBA1WcqaialbRB9bPYqB5nXH22v754-DUbIrTCg8FYCtYsE4g3q6m2Pz1T_/s1600/Squacco-heron3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO3cA-XHGjSCscvbB2JRyScEoPMde0t_YHou6iTyJWx3WTRTb9UNeQF7Qbb0W1Uz2KTsE3F9v14gTaXyAydBA1WcqaialbRB9bPYqB5nXH22v754-DUbIrTCg8FYCtYsE4g3q6m2Pz1T_/s400/Squacco-heron3.jpg" width="266px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please note that entrance to Blagdon lake is by pemit only & visitors to should first aquire a permit from Bristol water to enter the reservoir enclosure. These are availaible from the tea rooms or Woodford lodge at nearby Chew valley lake.</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7815545664103983956.post-43556904042914990702012-05-08T17:02:00.000+01:002012-05-08T17:02:58.397+01:00Migrants & hangers on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Despite the appalling april/may weather, many summer migrants have once again graced our shores. Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs,& Willow warblers sing all over the Avalon marshes & the Bitterns have been booming since February.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A recent drive down onto Tealham moor revealed a water scape not a landscape! A look for Yellow wagtails drew a blank but Wheatears were everywhere. At least a dozen were seen at the cattle pen along with a pair of Whinchat & hundreds of Hirundines & swift swooped low across the waterlogged grass. In another field at least 500 gulls bathed. Sedge warbler & Reed bunting also frequented the area as Skylarks filled the air with there beautiful song.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDk8NwZu6MpnEjc1zdqjwGqyaBnGY3rAV8IFoz1zM9lERM7EvPnIh-tQ49Kf9Xy0-SpzmHtHNKraxC2o3iAL-x97TYqzdsE5c9Kz5ru3_SMMYqE2tFcgf6QXcR2POo27FlYZQPscei2YZ/s1600/blackcap1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDk8NwZu6MpnEjc1zdqjwGqyaBnGY3rAV8IFoz1zM9lERM7EvPnIh-tQ49Kf9Xy0-SpzmHtHNKraxC2o3iAL-x97TYqzdsE5c9Kz5ru3_SMMYqE2tFcgf6QXcR2POo27FlYZQPscei2YZ/s400/blackcap1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Singing male Blackcap</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOynyHnm0qIPa6L0skSw4p__LSkT2fna2c-OromO1xQszdyKhxStI7EWd5JnLISgeGpr9wUoF72qXcic57-X8guFfPN0OPE-J-DaNzA9DGcEa_wyAhew5UxR3flZG1b-rk38a29fLodSn/s1600/Wheatear5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOynyHnm0qIPa6L0skSw4p__LSkT2fna2c-OromO1xQszdyKhxStI7EWd5JnLISgeGpr9wUoF72qXcic57-X8guFfPN0OPE-J-DaNzA9DGcEa_wyAhew5UxR3flZG1b-rk38a29fLodSn/s400/Wheatear5.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Northern Wheatear</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WWX0-jxSQrSen-FMlx7yt6G2S3bPH5TEn1lbuJ8YEvXDIW3UtcZMh7km_GtJauq1dKV-mKfpDXR5uwQao1UaCbQo3NsPVzM3_fT7VFpkG4OnXyttSlRvWz7vW9zXqULMzYBsHYfY_ot-/s1600/Wheatear6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WWX0-jxSQrSen-FMlx7yt6G2S3bPH5TEn1lbuJ8YEvXDIW3UtcZMh7km_GtJauq1dKV-mKfpDXR5uwQao1UaCbQo3NsPVzM3_fT7VFpkG4OnXyttSlRvWz7vW9zXqULMzYBsHYfY_ot-/s400/Wheatear6.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wheatear & Whinchat</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3682ZbocSYmlrIE7kAiWFCi0PJSuTd4HkmfBpz8_ttq8WKgjxyPLFpiWDyxyUfsoyu0ZH0b9E-syY6x6omFEvCAa8ayRnkFvTXOqmFbDKP4O0LQJYojbgVrHhUcdxyVK6ySFRS9dbB5Z/s1600/Wheatear7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3682ZbocSYmlrIE7kAiWFCi0PJSuTd4HkmfBpz8_ttq8WKgjxyPLFpiWDyxyUfsoyu0ZH0b9E-syY6x6omFEvCAa8ayRnkFvTXOqmFbDKP4O0LQJYojbgVrHhUcdxyVK6ySFRS9dbB5Z/s400/Wheatear7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Diving Wheatear</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxchoh1R2KYJR3iT2B5etmx5Qb03z9X0AJ_8YwufKYIdHn3giCT3MY1A5UTHnTyW0DpFMeNOHuLs7KH6V84W7nBHJuHcyA9Nltb6A92bOtgczyAWs9PTkBfA0YaDKoX4KW9kjwjdendSf/s1600/whinchat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxchoh1R2KYJR3iT2B5etmx5Qb03z9X0AJ_8YwufKYIdHn3giCT3MY1A5UTHnTyW0DpFMeNOHuLs7KH6V84W7nBHJuHcyA9Nltb6A92bOtgczyAWs9PTkBfA0YaDKoX4KW9kjwjdendSf/s400/whinchat1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whinchat</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwT1-o1zD88WE4BaJm7MTEecfsMI_xroIQct6_6jrD3IFPLwZS85kjAmvgNZtZqd12HYemPO_QlU6s7uLDzLUpdOl_g0iFFT0j0fCLXQxWvxxayiGnhsuCVXFcPpN11FpgscKxNLxzX50/s1600/whinchat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwT1-o1zD88WE4BaJm7MTEecfsMI_xroIQct6_6jrD3IFPLwZS85kjAmvgNZtZqd12HYemPO_QlU6s7uLDzLUpdOl_g0iFFT0j0fCLXQxWvxxayiGnhsuCVXFcPpN11FpgscKxNLxzX50/s400/whinchat2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Close by on Chilton moor, a Short-eared owl was for once posing nicely on a gate post & allowed a close approach in the car to around 30m (Many thanks Tim for the heads up!). I blocked the road for a good 30mins while snapping away & luckily, no one came along. Up to 4 have been seen over the winter in this area & you must presume that this one wont be around much longer.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhls13MVFuNagGCjCmUZMZliTnrqg0o2vUiBmojQy8ZqVp1-0Ls5y5AwRcZo0MpSkhqvKRUj009wxT1LunGOWwUdHOQGSDZMckHbFyXYYgT2RChWSpXfMyAzNaiWYVBcpadT-W_p6kNXJAB/s1600/Short-eared-owl28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhls13MVFuNagGCjCmUZMZliTnrqg0o2vUiBmojQy8ZqVp1-0Ls5y5AwRcZo0MpSkhqvKRUj009wxT1LunGOWwUdHOQGSDZMckHbFyXYYgT2RChWSpXfMyAzNaiWYVBcpadT-W_p6kNXJAB/s400/Short-eared-owl28.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtTfbmXpQDlbfYfYrDT7WZ7OTJyk8rqiQDAPB9jAn3sqh052RZsAffdS1_CEKaZ229ljxgDD88VOuk91pX20Tdi3HMmQPZdyNrSg9VIbExw8LgQgwqisXXUXt9c3OVUIVTgKOjfKhgn6z/s1600/Short-eared-owl29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtTfbmXpQDlbfYfYrDT7WZ7OTJyk8rqiQDAPB9jAn3sqh052RZsAffdS1_CEKaZ229ljxgDD88VOuk91pX20Tdi3HMmQPZdyNrSg9VIbExw8LgQgwqisXXUXt9c3OVUIVTgKOjfKhgn6z/s400/Short-eared-owl29.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whilst watching the owl, a fox trotted through the gate, next to the owl who just glanced in its direction. It had a mouth full of something which i thought at the time was a Moorhen. It was only when i processed this image that i realised it had a mouth full of moles! At least 4 can be seen. I was always under the impression that they were unpalatable. Obviously not to foxes.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gJ0zguYx2yWI33UYgOFNVmHRX1M4ceWyt2qARSADG9yISJ3hyphenhyphenJAZCCD9q-3fnI85F6rUNAY8D4vIdUJ14sAHTukkbiedaFYlreoycYdapaHNXRekmfZBR2e-n4nY1GwZ9674RoKZ6uDj/s1600/fox1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gJ0zguYx2yWI33UYgOFNVmHRX1M4ceWyt2qARSADG9yISJ3hyphenhyphenJAZCCD9q-3fnI85F6rUNAY8D4vIdUJ14sAHTukkbiedaFYlreoycYdapaHNXRekmfZBR2e-n4nY1GwZ9674RoKZ6uDj/s400/fox1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fox with a mouth full of moles!</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01467461733490722090noreply@blogger.com1