New Forest

Whilst driving through the forest we came across a heard of Deer which turned out to be Red which are quite unusual in the Forest but then an even more unusual sight was a huge buck which I haven't seen in the New Forest yet so I was quite pleased.






Red Deer buck with his Females.

Click for larger image.

Black Gutter/Pitt's Wood

Today my Dad and I went down to Black Gutter in search of the recent Great Grey Shrike and despite dreadful weather we managed to see fairly well along the path to Pitt's Wood. Also we saw lots of Thrushes like Redwing, Song, Mistle and a few Fieldfares but the most unexpected bird came in the form of a Woodpecker. Yep you got it a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker that was feeding quietly underneath a tree trunk. We then returned home in the increasingly poor conditions.

Isles Of Scilly

Yesterday my Dad and I went to the Isles of Scilly for a couple of things, these were Wilson's Snipe and Blackpoll Warbler. We arrived at Sennen village at 7.30am for a brief search for the Blyth's Pipit before we had to depart from Penzance on the Scillonian 111 and as expected we didn't see the Pipit. After a dreaded two and half hour crossing we finally arrived on the St Mary's but on the crossing we had the following birds lots of Gannets, 2 Bonxies, 4+ Arctic Skua, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Puffin and 2 shearwater sp.

Once on the Islands we headed straight for Lower Moors where a Wilson's Snipe had been Present but hadn't been seen since the day before. On arrival there was plenty of Snipe one of which was showing very well but no Wilson's until a Snipe sp flew in and landed in front of the hide and there it was. A very distinctive bird by it's plumage as it was so much greyer than the supporting cast of Snipe. There was also a very confiding Greenshank present.

Next stop was the Blackpoll Warbler which in previous years had eluded us but would he make it a second time running? Well we looked for the Higher Moors trail but instead ended up in the Carreg Dhu Gardens looking at a stunning 1w Red Breasted Flycatcher which showed extremely well at times.

Then we finally found where the Blackpoll Warbler had been present and the news from people staying on the Island/Locals was that it hadn't been showing since morning and wasn't showing well but this wasn't the case. We arrived to be greeted by stunning views and towards the end it came right out in the open and down low allowing some photo oppotunitys.

We then headed back to the Carreg Dhu Gardens for some lunch and as soon as we put down our bags a superb Song Thrush flew and fed out of our hands. A few more great views were obtained of the R B Fly before we headed back to Lower Moors to try and get another view of the Wilson's Snipe however just as we entered the hide we heard news of a Pallas's Warbler just opposite to where we were. We ran over but there was no sign however we did have a cracking Siskin which showed to 10ft.

Then we returned home on the boat after a cracking day out on the Scilly's, the only thing I regret is not staying over there because the birds were extremely tame and it was a shame about the light. Therefore I was shooting all of the pics at a shutter speed of 160 or less which means it is crap for action shots which gives blurry shots.

To see my pics from the Scilly's click on the link below.

http://pic6.piczo.com/leefullers-birdphotography/?g=47474109

Norfolk

On Saturday 20th October my Dad and I went for two birds. Humes Yellow Browed Warbler and Little Bittern, we left with neither but I wasn't too disappointed because there will be others and I also got some nice pictures of the following species Oystercatcher, Knot, Sanderling, Long Tailed Tit, Pink Footed Geese and Waxwing including a self-found bird.

Click the link below for Pictures from Norfolk.

http://pic6.piczo.com/leefullers-birdphotography/?g=47573307

My Garden

This morning I spent an hour or so looking at my garden feeders hoping to try and get some nice shots of some of the commoner birds such as House Sparrows etc. I did manage to get some pleasing shots of House Sparrow but an unexpected bird was a Goldcrest which showed really well for around 30 secs which allowed some nice shots of this hard species to photograph.

Here are my Results:

Female House Sparrow taken in my Garden.

The unexpected vistor. Goldcrest.

Goldcrest taken in my garden.

Today's Goldcrest looking at me.

Click them for the all important detail.

Keyhaven Marshes

After my Brothers football match my family and I went down to Keyhaven Marshes to see if we could find the Little Stints that were Present. As we arrived all of the waders were put up and we thought that that was it but luckily all of the waders returned with the Little Stints present.

During our stay we counted at Least 8 juvs present but they were always spread out in one's or two's which made it difficult, we were also lucky to see them at close range which was nice. Other birds seen were 100+ Black Tailed Godwits, 30+ Redshanks, 1 Greenshank, 10+ Dunlin, Gadwall, Teal, Snipe and a superb male Pintail.




1 of the 8 juv Little Stints present on Fishtail Lagoon



Juvenile Little Stint present on Fishtail Lagoon.

Click Them for Larger Images

Selsey Bill and Pagham Harbour

Today my Dad and I travelled down to Selsey Bill in search of the Adult summer White Billed Diver that had been present all week. We arrived just before 11.0oam to find that it hadn't been seen since a possible sighting at 8.00am therefore we spent little time searching and instead went to Pagham Harbour to have a look for Pectoral Sandpipier.

Common Gull in flight taken at Selsey Bill, West Sussex

Common Gull in flight again of Selsey Bill, West Sussex

Mediterranean Gull taken at Selsey Bill, West Sussex

Mediterranean Gull in flight taken at Selsey Bill, West Sussex

After some lunch we arrived at White's Creek to find two other birders who were watching the Sandpiper feeding on the shore but instead of being confiding it was quite wary due to the Redshanks that kept flying up and flushing the bird. However half an hour later it flew round the corner so I ran round to the gate and sat on the shore waiting for the Pec sand to walk by (hopefully).

As I sat down I couldn't see the Sanpipier but a Redshank which allowed a photo oppotunity but when I looked closer there it was the Pec Sand about 30ft away feeding on the muddy areas. (others have had it to 3ft!!)

Consequently I got some good shots but the light wasn't that good therefore a slow shutter speed was used. News then broke of the White Billed Diver back at Selsey, so we then drove back to the bill hopefully to get a view of this cracking Adult bird.

Confiding Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper taken at Pagham Harbour,

West Sussex

Pec Sand taken at Pagham Harbour, West Sussex

Pec Sand taken at Pagham Harbour, West Sussex

Pec Sand taken at Pagham Harbour, West Sussex

Pec Sand taken at Pagham Harbour, West Sussex

Click Them for larger Pics

On arrival it was again not showing but a short walk up the beach led us to some birders who were on it. Although distant the views were good enough to identify the white bill, white neck patch, white blotches on the back and the black colour. This indeed would be a bird which I might not see again in British waters in this plumage and Im glad that I had the chance to see it. (this is my second White Billed Diver in a year following the Hayle bird this year)

I also hope the Pectoral Sandpiper stays until next weekend so I can try and get some even better pics.

Farmoor Reservoir

Early this morning my Dad and I travelled up to Farmoor Reservoir following the news last night that there was an American Buff Bellied Pipit present at dusk. We left at 6.20am and arrived at 7.30am to find 50 or so other birders present. Then at 8.00am we got told that it was still present on the causeway so we all rushed up the bank to be told that we could drive round to stop us from getting wet.

When we arrived at the causeway only a few people had seen it due to the dreadful conditions but after about 20 minutes the rain eased off and it then began to approach us from below the wave wall. Id features noticed was the buff flanks/belly, dark legs, pale fringes to wings and the diffusely streaked breast. It continued to come our way allowing to get some poor record shots in the heavy rain and around 9.00am it flew off with to Rock Pipits but was still there 1 hour and 45 minutes later.




American Buff Bellied Pipit taken at Farmoor Reservoir in poor
Weather conditions.



American Buff Bellied Pipit taken at Farmoor Reservoir,
Oxfordshire

Click them for larger pics.

Needs Ore NR

On Saturday 6th October my Dad and I went down to Needs Ore NR as we had just renewed our permit. First stop was the Blackwater Hide but before you get there you have to walk across a field with lots of bushes and a few pools. The bushes held no more then a few robins and Finches but the fences held lots and lots of stonechats. As we aprroached the hide we flushed a Green Sandpiper from the pool and a wheatear flew up from the grass, in the hide there was plenty of birds especially wildfowl. Birds of note were 7+ Pintail, Tufted Duck, lots of Teal, Mallards, 2-3 Little Grebes and a few shoveler mixed in with hundreds of Wigeon.

Pintail taken from the Blackwater Hide

Next we went to the Estuaire de L'Orne Hide which is normally the best as it is looking out over the estuary along with the pool itself. Here we had 2 Greenshanks which briefly landed really close to the hide, a couple of Black-Tailed Godwits flew up from behind the Island along with a Green Sandpiper and a few Redshank. Also there was lots of Lapwings which got flushed by a Merlin which darted through and headed of towards the point, a Kestrel hunted and 2 Little egrets flew around continuously.

Greenshank that showed well from the Estuaire de L'Orne Hide

Greenshank taken at Needs Ore NR

Greenshank taken at Needs Ore NR

Pheasant taken from the Estuaire de L'Orne Hide

After this we decided to take a walk back to the car and then drive up to the point in search of the Merlin went that way. On the way back we had nothing more than we did the first time until we found a Whinchat along the fence with some Stonechats.

When we arrived at the point there was nothing to see until we found a Buzzard sat on the shingle, a closer inspection then revealed the Merlin distantly sat on a Post. After having a drink we walked to the end of the point and again we found the Merlin but this time sat on top of the hide which was soon spooked by a person fixing a boat and the a second Merlin joined the other one and we lost them to view. The only other things of note at the point were some Greenshank, Curlews and 2 Wheatears.

Pheasant taken in flight from the Point

Wheatear taken at Needs Ore NR at the Point

Click Them for larger Images

Norfolk and Kent

On the 29th of September my family and I went up to Norfolk for the day starting at Cley Coastguards. We arrived at Cley Coastguards at roughly 6.40am where we got out and down a short sewatch which was about an hour or so long. Birds of note were 2 Bonxies flew east, Puffin sat close inshore along with Razorbill and Guillemot, 4 Red-Throated-Divers 3 flew east and 1 west and lots of Gannets mostly flew east.

Then we started to walk up Blakeney Point until the news broke of a juvenile Sabine's Gull back at the Coastguards, as we were walking back we spotted the Gulls diagnostic wing pattern and it landed on the pool nearest to us so we went closer. After about half an hour the Gull showed superbly well down to 30ft.

Juvenile Sabine's Gull which was showing very well on a pool near

cley Coastguards.

Juv Sabine's Gull taken at Cley

Juv Sabine's Gull taken at Cley

Juv Sabine's Gull taken at Cley

Juv Sabine's Gull taken at Cley

Juv Sabine's Gull taken at Cley

After some pleasing photos of the Gull we continued our walk along Blakeney Point and straight away found 3 Snow Buntings feeding on the beach which were unusually hard to approach. Other birds encountered were lots of Redwings, 1 moribund Puffin, 1 Ring Ouzel, Chaffinch, 2 Golden Plovers, Lots of sanderling and hundreds of Meadow Pipits. We then returned to the Car park because we was torn between going for the Paddyfield Warbler or staying in Norfolk.

1 Snow Bunting of the 3 birds that were unusually hard to

approach at Blakeney

After a 10 minute wait we decided to go for the Paddyfield Warbler in Kent and 4 and a half hours later we were watching the Warbler at close range. (down to 3ft)

The light wasn't that good but the pictures came out fairly good. We left the site at around half five but before going we managed to see the long staying Red-Backed Shrike and a couple of Ring Ouzels, we arrived home at about 8.30pm.

A very confiding Paddyfield Warbler that was showing to 3ft at

St Margarets at Cliffe.

A very showy Paddyfield Warbler taken in Kent

A very showy paddyfield Warbler taken in Kent



A very showy Paddfield Warbler taken in Kent

Click them for larger Images.