Wednesday, 15 April 2015

15-April-2015

It's been a productive week at the farm. Frankie bumping into a couple of Ring Ouzels which quickly turned into three. Alfredo discovering a cracking male Redstart up on 100 acre. The first mallard chicks. Lrp's and Redshank currently displaying and hopefully finding somewhere they like to breed. The ringing has produced two birds ( a Whitethroat and a Blackcap ) that have returned to the farm after over wintering in distant lands - the Whitethroat was first ringed in 2014 on the 13th of April and returned on the 14th April, which incidentally was the first Whitethroat in both years. The Blackcap returned on the 15th after first being ringed on the 15th April 2014!! Mind blowing. And all capped with some jaw dropping sunrises.








Wednesday, 18 March 2015

18-March-2015

At last a bird i can call a true migrant. Found by Frankie on top of the mound earlier today. Out of the wind today and you could almost imagine it was spring, but wow that wind certainly had a chill to it.




Wednesday, 11 February 2015

An alternative view

Ok so the birding hasn't been the best over the last week or so. Looks like the winter movement we waited for just passed us by. Has taken me over a month to get a fieldfare at the farm!! and a walk round today with frankie revealed an empty farm. So what do you photograph during these times? Well I've decided to try and photograph the gulls.





As you can see there is still some work to go on this idea. But i like the initial look. Just got to try and refine the colours etc, oh and don't forget my remote release next time..

Thursday, 5 February 2015

White winger

Seems we have a strange gull at the farm these last few days. By all intents and purposes it looks from a distance like a good candidate for Iceland gull. Then as you study it more you kinda get the impression that its a tad ' dirty ' for Iceland. So naturally you will start thinking Kumliens gull, but even then its not all present and correct.







Have a look at Rotherhithe and beyonds blog 

http://rothandb.blogspot.co.uk

They have had what i think is the same bird. Thanks Dave for highlighting this. So what to make of it. Will it just become an Iceland x Herring Gull cross? 


Wednesday, 21 January 2015

21-January-2015

The teal are starting to strut their stuff on the northern lake. It's all posing with the odd stand off. Thought the fem teals don't seem to give a toss either way.. Such is life








Is Pete trying to start a new political party? If so, not sure about the salute - seen it somewhere else before!!