I had a trip out to photograph Buzzard and ended up with a Woodpecker. Not the species I wanted but that's how it goes sometimes.

Have to try again

The weather forecast was for a mixture of cloud and rain, accompanied with strong winds, so I decided to stay at home and catch up with some image processing. Not a task I get great pleasure in. As I ploughed through my images I set up the camera on the tripod and pointed it towards the feeding station through the window (I never get good images through glass).

 I do feel as if I have been tricked, as the weather turned out quite good in the morning but by the time I realised it would have been ok to venture out it was too late in the day.

At 9.00am a Sparrowhawk arrived scattering all the birds from the pear tree and then sat in the lower branches enabling me to get some very grainy shots.

 After it left a Jay turned up and I got some more grainy shots of that

Tricked again, If only I could have taken them from outside I think they would have been ok

I decided to move into the garden to try and improve on my shots

The photographs of the Jays are better but could be sharper

Goldfinch

This Greenfinch doesn’t look too well

If the Sparrowhawk returns it could be in for a treat

The Greenfinch managed to survive the day

 Stonechat

This time of year I always make frequent visits to the coast. One of my favourite places being the Wirral and the Dee Estuary from Leasowe to Burton Marsh.

I started at Leasowe on the horse fields to see what migrants if any had arrived. As I walk down the path I came across a small flock of Fieldfare nervously feeding in one of the fields, I took a few shots and then tried to get a bit nearer but as I approached they all scattered as a Sparrowhawk swooped in.

I searched the other fields to see if they had landed with no luck. After checking the shoreline for waders I left.

My next stop was Meols, as the tide goes out the waders move in. You can get some interesting shots.

 I spotted this Little Egret feeding on small fish in the remaining pools

More in the folder

Noisy Oystercatchers are regular visitors to the remaining pools probing the sand for any morsels of food

On the shoreline Knot can be found feeding with the Turnstone.

Probing deep into the mud, Curlew are another Species the frequent the area

On to Burton Marsh my last port of call, to see the pair of Ruddy Shelduck  feeding with a flock of Canada Geese.

I took a record shot of the distant birds and left for home

This will be my last chance to photograph the Hobby as the weather is set to change and I think the bird will move on to a warmer climate.

I have been very lucky to have been able to photograph this Hobby over the past three days

It’s very doubtful I will ever get the opportunity to get this close to a Hobby again this year.

After pressing the shutter for the last time on this bird I made my way home.

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