I returned to Burton Marsh on the 18^th to photograph the Hobby again and try to get some better shots

Flight shots proved a bit difficult

A distant shot

Eventually the Hobby landed on a fence and I was able photograph it again

The shots are not as good as the first session

With the session finished I headed for home, I will be back again tomorrow

What a surprise, my second attempt at photographing a Hobby. My first attempt ending in failure due to the fact I didn’t even see one.

However this time lady luck smiled on me. I spotted the Hobby feeding on Dragonflies and went to investigate.

 After and short time trying  to get into the right position the Hobby landed just feet away from me  and seemed happy to let me photograph it.

Later on in the day some light rain appeared putting an end to the Hobby, or so I thought.

Suddenly it appeared again but at a greater distance, but I still managed some shots.

The Hobby just sat on the fence in the light rain looking a bit sorry

The images were taken over three days with the first starting on the 17^th

More in the folder

I arrived at Leighton Moss at 8.00am and made my way to the public hide, it was still dark due to the low cloud so photographing anything was going to be problematic. As I waited for the promised sun to arrive a kingfisher passed in front of the hide and disappeared into the reedbed to my right.

In the distance out of the gloom two Marsh Harriers appeared on the left hand side of the hide heading for the main reserve. As they passed I took some record shots.

The shots are very grainy

Suddenly two Otters appeared in the middle of the lake on the far side of the small island

I have tried several times to photograph Otters at Leighton Moss and never been successful, nothing has changed really.

They are too far away, grainy and have no detail to be anything else but record shots, (bad ones that is).

I watched the two Otters rolling and slashing around before climbing out onto the bank and play fighting before disappearing into the reedbeds.

 By now it was 9.30am time for the Beaded Tits.

It’s always a challenge due to the suns position and the back drop of the reedbeds being too close to the subject.

After a few shots I left for the Allen and Eric Morecambe hides on the salt marsh, hopefully my luck will change and I will get some shots.

However by this time the wind, as per weather forecast was very strong making taking any good photographs impossible so it’s back to main reserve and try the feeding station for the Marsh Tits.

Plenty of coal Tits around the feeding station providing some good images

Eventually the Marsh Tits turned up and I was able to get some shots.

Sometimes thing go Tits up in a good way.

RSPB Leighton Moss Info:

Leighton Moss is the largest reedbed in north-west England, and home to some really special birds such as breeding bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers. You might see deer too, not to mention butterflies aplenty!

Choose from a selection of trails and hides, most of which are suitable for wheelchairs, and get right to the heart of the reedbed. Or take the nature trail alongside two coastal lagoons to see lots of wading and water birds (ask in the visitor centre for more details).

Children will love finding out more about the reserve from the displays in the visitor centre and you can also enjoy a home-made meal and a drink in the tea room.

Opening Times

The reserve and visitor centre are open daily all year round (except 25 December). The reserve is open from dawn to dusk and the visitor centre from 9.30 am to 5 pm (to 4.30 pm during December and January)

Entrance Charges

Free to the visitor centre and cafe. Admission to hides and nature trails: £5 adults, £3 concessions, £1 children, £10 family. Free to RSPB members and those who come by public transport or on bike!

After my last attempt to photograph a Sparrowhawk from the garden shed ended in failure I decided to try from the house.

First I gave my windows a good clean on the off chance I would be successful.

That proved to be a good decision. Not long after the Sparrowhawk turned up and just sat in the tree waiting for a meal to arrive.

But as before the light is always in the wrong direction and the view is hazy, its back to the shed I think.  

It’s been a bad year locally for acorns with many trees being barren.

Luckily Jays are able to find enough to collect and store for the forth coming winter.

I came across this family of Jays feeding after some searching at my local reserve

I could have done with better light as the photographs are a bit off.

I always keep a safe distance or have a bolt hole if needed when photographing Red deer in the rutting season.

Big stags can get very aggressive and may decide to charge.

This big Stag is not really pulling tongues at me; it could be a lot more serious if I get too close.

In between chasing off smaller males he tests the air to see if any hinds in his collection are receptive to his advances

His bellowing not only attracts more hinds it also announces his dominance over others.

In the early morning when temperatures are low his hot breath can clearly be seen making  him look more majestic and imposing as the roars, at the same time displaying his massive set of antlers.

More images of stags in the folder

Double trouble but they are not a real challenge to any dominant stags

More in the folder

 Roaring stag, soon he will be locking antlers

I spotted this Kestrel hunting at Tatton whilst I was taking photographs of the Red deer

It could have been a small Mammal that caught the Kestrels attention but it escaped this time

 The Red Deer Stags are getting ready for the Rut; big males are sporting some impressive head gear and look magnificent as they strut around.

More from the day’s session

Time to sharpen up

Tatton Park estate provides 1,000 acres of parkland for the Red deer to roam

For more info visit................www.tattonpark.org.uk

As I looked out of the window to check the number of birds on my feeders all seemed quiet, it’s that bloody white cat again after an easy meal I thought to myself. After a quick check around the garden to see in which direction I needed to throw a brick it soon became apparent the cat was not the reason for the lack of activity on my feeders. Sat next to one of my bird feeders was the culprit a Sparrowhawk. I grabbed my camera and took some shots through the window just for a record.

At 1/80 sec not a good shot, but it’s a start.

Early on in the year a Sparrowhawk spent many hours just sat in the pear tree waiting for a meal to arrive, I tried on numerous occasions to get a good photograph of it with mixed results, as the light was either not good enough or in the wrong direction or it was taken through the window.

Since then some trees have been removed and others pruned which overlook the bottom of my garden to let in some more light, which should help improve any photographs. I did some pruning myself and the local Council did some; however my request to leave the Hawthorns fell on deaf ears.

The small woodland strip at the bottom of my garden which formed a natural wildlife corridor has been left in a sorry state with trees remove and a drastic reduction in the undergrowth. This has not affected the number of birds overall but it has affected the diversity.

 Hoping for a better photograph this time around I retreated to the garden shed and set up my camera behind a camouflage screen. This will be a long wait but I can amuse myself with some shots of the more frequent visitors.

However events soon transpired against me as the next door neighbour decided to do some work in his garden shed, which involved some banging and then it started to rain heavily. At 12.45 I decided it was time for a cup of tea and went back into the house. Returning a short time later I found a few birds nervously feeding and keeping an ever watchful eye out for their nemesis.

Grey Squirrels are an unwelcome guest in the garden, emptying the bird feeders on a regular basis

That’s the price you have to pay for putting up feeders in the first place.

By 2 o’clock our next door neighbour must have finished his work in the shed as the noise stopped, at the same time it stopped raining.

Things are looking up and I expect a lot more birds in the garden now, followed (I hope) with a visit from the Sparrowhawk.

By 4 o’clock the light was rubbish, it started raining and I called it a day.

The red mist will be coming soon to the Red deer as rutting season gets underway.

I took the opportunity to get up close, while the Red deer are in a good mood.

It may not be a good idea to get so close to them in the coming weeks

The Red Deer Stag can be very menacing if it stops and gives you long stare

I took a few shots and decided to retreat to a safe distance.

 I will be back when the rutting starts.

I could have been on a boat in Liverpool bay today but had to turn it down. I was appreciative for the offer of a place, maybe next time I will be able to go.

I planned to go to Leighton Moss today, but after checking the weather forecast last night ditched that idea. 

Burton Mere Wetlands was the location I decided to visit again. The Marsh Harrier being the target. I arrived to find the footpath down to the lower hide flooded.

 Managing to get to the hide without getting my feet wet proved a challenge, but I made it.

It wasn’t long before the Harrier turned up, as usual my shots of the bird proved to be lacking.

They are just a collection of pixels and not what you would call a good picture; however that’s all I have, so I will keep them until better shots appear on my screen.

Realising my dilemma I decided to pack up and go to RSPB reserve at Conwy.

After a cup of tea and some food I was off checking out the reserve. I was still blighted with crap weather, but I persevered.

 I eventually found a Little Stint but at distance.........I collected some more pixels before setting off for home.