Weekends are not the best time to see foxes with the flying club in full swing and lots of birders around. Graham and I were surprised to see the foxes out in full view.

We positioned ourselves on the river embankment trying not to give our position away and were treated to over an hour of Fox activity.

The Foxes seemed nervous of our presence at first

 A smart looking male Fox showing off this bushy tail

To see more foxes look in the fox folder.

Last Wednesday I decided to visit 3 sites in one day starting at Conwy Reserve, South Stack and Cemlyn Bay for the Terns. The weather forecast was not great, but in true form I decided it could be wrong and I would be able to squeeze out the odd photo (some of mine are). Sometimes you only need a short window on opportunity to get your shots.

I arrived at Conwy Reserve at 9.30am; the plan is to start at the benarth hide and finishing up at the cafe for a cup of tea before departing for South Stack.

Checking the hides and open areas proved uneventful, I had a brief sighting of a Blackcap but didn’t manage a photograph however a Sedge Warbler was more obliging.

A Spotted Flycatcher was reported but I failed to see it, after a chat with the wardens and a cup of tea in the cafe I set off to South Stack a bit disappointed.

Info on the Reserve

Situated on the banks of the Conwy estuary, with magnificent views of Snowdonia and Conwy Castle, this reserve is delightful at any time of year.

Conwy's a great place to get close to wildlife, to spend time with family and friends, or just take time out in fantastic scenery that embraces 4,000 years of human history. There’s a network of pushchair-friendly trails with viewpoints and hides to make the most of your visit and plenty if information to explain what you're watching. Perhaps you’ll meet one of our friendly volunteer wildlife guides who can help you discover just a little bit more?

In our Visitor Centre, our warm welcome will ensure you have exactly what you need for your visit. We have events to suit everyone from keen birdwatchers to beginners or young families, whether your interest is wildlife, history, art or any number of other subjects.

We love our food at Conwy so why not visit our monthly Farmers' Market or call in at the Waterside Coffee Shop, overlooking the lagoon, and enjoy a drink, a snack or light lunch using delicious local produce. We have a well-stocked shop, too, with good advice on everything from feeding birds to new binoculars.

We welcome group visits, but please book these with us in advance so that we can give you the best possible service. Entry rates are listed below, but we can also organise guided walks for a flat-fee of £30 for a group of up to 15 people, £50 for a group of 15 to 30 people. Please ring the reserve at least six weeks before your proposed visit to arrange a group visit.

Opening times

The shop and visitor centre is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 9.30 am-5 pm. The coffee shop is open from 10 am-4.30 pm (to 4 pm from November to March).

Entrance charges

Members free. Non-members: adults £2.50, concessions £1.50, children £1. Family ticket £5.

If you are new to birdwatching...

Why not join a guided walk with our volunteers every Saturday at 11 am? They will help you spot and identify the birds. You can hire a pair of binoculars from us (£3 a visit). Just ask at reception.

Information for families

From our Visitor Centre, you can collect one of our Bingo cards, encouraging you all to take a closer look at the reserve. Bingo cards change according to season and are available in Welsh or English. Bring it back and children receive a goody bag. There's a self-guided Discovery Trail, and all the tracks are pushchair-friendly. The Waterside Coffee Shop has a popular toybox to occupy little hands while you're enjoying a cuppa.

Information for dog owners

Sorry, we don't allow dogs, except registered assistance dogs, because there are breeding birds and, in winter, roosting birds on the reserve. There’s a popular dog walk along the estuary, running north from the reserve.

When I arrived at South Stack I was greeted with banks of fog covering the site and light rain (Great).

I headed for the cafe for another cup of tea, and think about my options, stay, Cemlyn or home

I decided to stay and hope the weather would improve sufficiently enough to be able to get some shots of Stonechat, Raven and chough.

By the time I had finished my cup of tea the fog had lifted, it stopped raining and the sun came out. I set off to find the Stonechats thinking how lucky I was with the weather turning in my favour.

 Stonechat

Raven

Chough

 With all three species photographed it was off to Cemlyn Bay to try and get some better shots of the Terns.

When I arrived at the noisy Tern colony it was 5.00pm equipped with a 500f4 lens, not what you need to photograph birds in flight.

With it being late in the season most of the birds had already gone, the rest would be gone in days.

Armed with my unsuitable lens I set off down the shingle beech to see what I could photograph. Using the tripod was not practical so I had to handhold the lens.

With the light being poor my shots were no better than my last visit here, I took a few shot and left for home.

Male Kingfisher

I was hoping the Kingfisher would land closer, but noise from the hide prevents this.

Juvenile Green Woodpecker, part of a family group feeding on ants

They can be difficult to get close to as they always seem to have a lookout ready to sound an alarm.

Adult feeding on ants

Didn’t manage to get close to the adults as the habitat lacked the necessary cover

 I set out to photograph Corn Bunting and Yellow Wagtail at a location not far from my home.

After some searching I first found the Yellow Wagtail collecting insects. I am fortunate to have found the bird, however the photographs are disappointing.

Yellow Wagtail

The same goes for the Corn Bunting on a wire.

I would have preferred the Corn Bunting on a fence or in a bush; they would have made for better photographs.

I will have to settle for the shots I have, as they are the only ones I have.

I picked up my Mk4 from Lehmanns at 8.30 this morning, handed over £440.00 and set off home.

I hope that will be my last visit for some time.........................

On my way home I called in at the reserve just to try it out and say hello to Graham who had called in for a short visit too.

After a few trial shots all seems ok so I set off back to the car, I put my camera in the boot, sat in the front seat and looked up at a young Fox walking towards the car. Quick as a flash I returned to the boot grabbed my camera in a frantic effort to get some shots as it passed by.

However the Fox seemed in no rush and just looked at me expectantly............................................

I returned to the boot and retrieved some dog biscuits, scattering them in the direction of the Fox.

It came within six feet of me.

 I had to back off to get some shots.

Not what you call a apprehensive fox

More shots in the Fox folder.

At times the 7d can be a great camera, if the light is good that is. Today it came into its own, producing very nice shots.

I sat in the hide for over two hours waiting for the Kingfisher to put in an appearance but it didn't turn up.

I was contemplating a move when this Heron landed and started to hunt in the reed beds.

With its superb eyesight Herons are normally difficult birds to get close to, being shy birds most of the time.

I was surprised when this one decided to put on a show just feet away from the hide.

What’s on the menu? Think I’ll have a starter.

That was lovely what can I eat next

Think I’ve got a fish bone stuck in my throat.

Just been sick on my feet

And all down by chest

I am so annoyed

Get me the manager

It’s so embarrassing

Get my coat I’m leaving

I parked the car and scattered some dog biscuits, now I just have to wait. It's 7.45pm and the car park is quiet with just two cars here. I did start to feed the foxes some weeks ago but gave up when it became obvious my spot had been discovered and I found it difficult to keep up the feeding regime.

It's my second visit of the day; I was here at 9.00am struggling to get some shots in difficult light using the 7D.

The Mk4 will be ready in 7 to 10 days when I will be £440 pounds lighter, (Isn't life great).

The morning visit did not go well; I was waiting for a chance to photograph a Kingfisher and Little Grebe... The light has to be just right and with no ripples on the water. That didn’t happen.

The end result, poor shots of the Little Grebe; the Kingfisher was just too far away to get any detail. After spending most of the morning in the hide I decided to move on.

Little Grebe

Later in the day at one of the other hides a pair of Black Swans turned up and a family of Little Grebes with chicks.  I was not happy with the shots so I deleted them.

8.25pm and already the good light has gone off the car park, rabbits have started to venture out to feed things starting to look good...........

By 9.00 I was on my way home empty handed.

On Wednesday I dropped off my camera at Lehmanns for the repair to be done, don’t know the cost yet, but in the end it costs what it costs.

The dreaded error message comes up every time I press the shutter and nothing happens

As it was a nice day I decided to visit the Grasshopper Warbler again but it wasn’t playing ball and I ended up at Moore again. By the end of the day I had nothing to show for my efforts, didn’t really press the shutter. That’s how it goes sometimes.

On a recent Visit to Gilfach Farm in Wales my camera and lens came crashing down to the ground.

S---, that is going to cost I thought. After inspecting the damage the 500m f4 seemed ok and the mk4 just seemed to have some minor scuffs on it. I carried on thinking how lucky I had just been.

As the day progressed I became aware that the sound of the shutter had changed, (S--- I didn’t get away with it).  My camera was now living on borrowed time, at some point I would pay the price for my lack of attention.

That was on 28^th May this year and today it bit the dust, but not before I was able to get some more shots of the Grasshopper Warbler.

I returned home remove the Mk4 from the lens and replaced it with my backup, the 7D.

I checked the guarantee, that’s out of date, and anyway it was my fault, I phoned Lehmann’s to explain the problem.    It sounds like you have damage the mirror box they said.

I put the phone down and returned with the 7D to the site of the Grasshopper Warblers putting thoughts of the cost behind me.

When I arrived back on site the Grasshopper Warbler was having a preening session. It’s not often you get a chance to observe this behaviour. You’re lucky if you just see the bird.

More shots in the Grasshopper Warbler file

Rain, rain, rain and more rain. Like everyone else I am getting a bit sick of it. The season will soon be gone along with the birds.

We are also coming up to the point when having raised their young birds start to look a bit tatty. At that point they will be difficult to find.  

You don’t often get a second bite of the cherry, (but I just have). A break in the weather and  I was off to a little known reserve close to where I live, I have been here several times before.

It’s good for warblers in spring, whilst winter time provides plenty of interest. The site covers an area of just under 6 hectares.

I thought I had missed my chance of getting any more shots of Grasshopper Warbler this year.

The ones I did get could be better, a lot better, so I have been looking to improve them, making regular visits to Moore Nature Reserve in the hope of finding them again but with not much luck.

Grasshopper Warbler

I was surprised to come across a family of them on my visit to this little reserve. The area is very wet with all the rain we have had, so wellingtons are needed, the site also has a pond surrounded with tall reeds, home for Reed Buntings, Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers.

Its song sounds like an insect or anglers reel.

Juvenile Grasshopper Warbler

Male Reed Bunting

This selection of images have been taken at Moore Nature Reserve on the 27^h & 28^th.

Black Swan

Male Blackcap

Coot.

Grey Heron

Little Grebe

Reed Bunting

Reed Warbler

Whitethroat.

Yellowhammer

Crow

I arrived at the Cemlyn Nature Reserve at 11.30am. The optimist in me decided it would be ok to ignore the weather report, as they don’t always get it right anyway.

With the rain getting heavier, do I wait it out or try to get some shots or just go home.

I decided to get some shots in-between the fine rain. Not what I wanted as I was supposed to be testing the 400mn for flight shots.

It’s going to be difficult focusing on the birds through the fine rain and lack of light, but I will give it a go before going for lunch.

Sandwich Tern returning with a fish to feed its young.

Some Terns have to get passed the Black-headed Gulls first with their catch.

A return trip is planned on a sunny day before the Terns move from their breeding grounds.

Common Tern.

Arctic Tern.