Wildlife in a Suburban Garden

Barn Owls

This is quite a photograph for me, not my best by any means but, apart from my Kingfisher photos, one of the most exciting. The time I spent with this bird was truly one of those "remember for the rest of my life" moments. 

I have been aware that a barn, near to my home, has been used by Barn Owls, off and on, for several years (to  my knowledge). I checked last year and found evidence that owls had used it as a roost, the floor was at the time, littered with pellets, but no owls in residence. The pellets appeared to be old, but very numerous.  I had been meaning to check again this year and on the spur of the moment yesterday, I went to have a look. I asked the owners of the barn, which adjoins their house, if they knew that their barn was an attractive building for owls.  They were surprised but assured me that, "no they hadn't seen any signs of Barn Owls nor, to their knowledge were there any in residence this year". Never the less, I asked him if I could have a look and we went quietly, and very carefully in to the barn, a building with milking stalls and then a further, more derelict area behind. As we crept in to the more derelict area.......... wow, there was a Barn Owl staring back at me from the beams at the far end and it was quickly joined by another which flew from above our heads. We immediately got out, as quick and quietly as we could. Wow again, what a great surprise. When we were clear of the building I carried on whispering, can't think why, my heart was racing and as usual when I am exited and thrilled with something I was even almost tearful. I cant help this physical reaction which affects me when I see or hear something which moves me, I well up! Not a particularly manly thing so I quickly explained to my new friend that I was a beer drinking man and not a raving poof! He seemed to understand, and my reaction made the point to him that this was an extremely exciting (and lucky) find. We came to an agreement that I could return to watch (from a distance of course), whenever I wanted.  I suspected that they were breeding and as a schedule 1 bird it would be against the law to disturb them in any way.

I returned at 8 o'clock, sat myself 50 meters away up the side of the hedge line with a great view of what I suspected to be  the entrance and exit they would use. I was dressed in my full camo stuff leaving nothing to chance, including full Gillie suit and cam netting etc. It was still bright and I waited patiently and waited paitiently and then even more patiently. Time went on and on, and on some more. My stomach was turning with excitement as I imagined where one would suddenly appear. It was almost dark at 9.25 when there it was! It had come through an exit somewhere else, so I had only half got it right. I took many photos, most were awful in the almost darkness which was rapidly darkening. Then, the other bird flew out to join the first, there was some interaction between them and the first seemed to be begging for food, was this an adult and fully fledged baby? I love these pics, they really show what it was like as I peered through the darkness to try and get something to post for you.  It gives a real flavour of the occasion.

When I had been there in daylight I imagined an owl on this beam which was left over from another part of the collapsed barn and I knew that it was a great place for a bird to perch before it went off to hunt, and that's exactly what happened.  I make no apology for not lightening the picture artificially because this is the way it was, and the way I was seeing it.

Finally, thank you all for your birthday wishes..... very kind of you.

Buntings in Devon

Having seen and photographed five species of Buntings in Devon this year, I thought it would be good to add some photos here so that comparisons can be made. Two species that are  seen in Devon but rarely are  the Ortalon and Corn Bunting, both yet to be photographed. 

Here are photographs of the five Buntings most commonly encountered in Devon. 

Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus

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Yellowhammer- Emberiza citrinella

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Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis

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Cirl Buntings - Emberiza cirlus

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Lapland Bunting - Calcarius lapponicus

 

Swallow in flight

These birds are so hard to catch "in-flight", but I keep trying! Every time I sit in the tiny hide by the pool they come in to drink on the wing, sometimes they bathe and at other times they are grabbing the surface flies.  Even though the pool is very small, it's incredibly hard to predict exactly where they are when you press the shutter which is essential if you are going to get your picture in focus, and also freeze the action with a fast enough shutter speed ........... in short, it's hit and miss.  Today I almost did it but it's noticeable that the tiny fly in the shot is more in focus than the bird!

Latest from the pool.

Glad to tell you that there was just birds at my pool hide today, (see yesterday's Blog). I spent 3 lovely hours sat waiting for Linnets and still no success with this species....... cant think why they are so hard to photograph compared to other species.  As you can see I had another superb day with visits from a pair of Yellowhammer, stunning birds, especially the males. I also had a close encounter with a gorgeous Redpoll. These have bred very well this year as far as I can tell because I see them on every visit now.

On the way to the moor and at the tiny hamlet of Docombe, I chatted to John who farms the land nearby. I asked him about Barn Owls and he said that as far as he knew they hadn't bred on his farm for a few years now.  However, he told me about a really isolated barn on his land which he said I could go and have a look at...... what a special place this was. He was right, no owls but it is the place that they would choose if they should return.

Stonechat

As many of my followers will know, I have been watching "my" Dartmoor pool for the last month.  I have a little hide tucked away between a couple of gorse bushes and covered with bracken.  This gives me a clear view of the small pool in front of me.  It is a very picturesque place and a magnet to birds. Yesterday was a bit of an embarrassment though.   Like I said, it's a beautiful spot but I have only once seen anyone else there...... that was until yesterday.  My hide is very well hidden and I suppose the couple now lying only 15 feet from my and about to make love al-fresco were extremely surprised when I emerged from the hide to tell them that they were not alone.   They quickly jumped to their feet and the man hopped around on one foot (very funny) as he struggled to put his trousers back on.  The women........ 25 years younger than the grey haired man (I wonder if his wife knew),  thanked me profusely for interrupting them before the action began and before she had joined him by removing clothes as well.  They quickly left with their tails between their legs and I was left to myself, laughing.  Can you imagine how the story will be repeated over and over again when the couple tell their friends. But back to birds, a Stonechat came in to drink which is the first time of many sessions that one has come down,  the light was perfect and it was a great opportunity.

As I walked back to the car with perfect light, I got a great photo of a female Reed Bunting.

European Stonechat pair.

As soon as I had the opportunity today, I was off to the moor again and back to me my pool.  I still need to photograph a nice male Linnet and so far, I haven't been successful. It had been a week or more since I last had a session there and I was hoping that everything was going to be untouched and in tact. I had been last Thursday with my granddaughter (age 2) and her mum and dad (my son Tom), just to show them and also to inspire. We had seen a few species so it was well worth it.  Today, as I walked down the stream towards the pool a pair of Stonechat were showing themselves really well.  I have seen this behaviour numerous times, I knew for certain that they must have a nest, or probably more likely, newly fledged babies somewhere near by.  This behaviour is a distraction strategy employed by the adults to try and lure predators from their young. I always move away as soon as I can and leave them in peace very quickly. The male is above and this one is the female.

  Later, at the pool,  I sat inside, very cramped and restricted because it was starting to collapse a little. But it was fabulous when the stonkingly attractive male Yellowhammer came in to drink. I got some photos but with really bright weather, it's hard to get a good photo so there is still much more work to do. Do you agree that Yellowhammer take some beating in the looks department.  They are such a lovely bird and  very exotic.

Glaucous Gull, Budleigh Salterton

The bird pictured above is a Glaucous Gull, (not the one on the right which is a Greater Black-backed Gull).  I thought the photo was interesting because it shows the comparative size.  You can see that it is easily as big as a the Black-backed which is a very large bird and Britain's biggest breeding gull. Glaucous Gulls are scarce visitors to Devon beaches and this one has been with us for several weeks. There is a small fishing fleet that works out of Budleigh Salterton and gulls are attracted to the fish waste scattered on the beach.  I haven't had a lot of opportunity for photography this last few days, it's my 40th Wedding Anniversary today,  (from time to time I need to do the right thing. However, it seemed like a good idea to take my family visitors to the seaside and I "just happened to have my camera with me".  The Glaucous Gull was easily found amongst the darker young Herring Gulls, and also noticeably larger, they have a very fierce expression. They breed in the Arctic and the Atlantic Coasts of Northern Europe and then are said to winter south down to Great Britain and the Great Lakes in the USA. 

Also photographed were a few very accommodating Great Blacked Gull.  It isn't usual to be able to get close to  this species, but at this site they are used to a human presence and you can get as close as 6 feet. The  eyes of gulls are quite often much more attractive than you would imagine and in the head studies here,you can see the full effect.

Mediterranean Gull

Exmouth Beach was  enjoyable this afternoon, although we are still suffering weather wise it was reasonably bright.  I went to try and photograph the gulls, in particular Mediterranean Gulls that have been around for a few weeks now.  It turned in to quite a session but not without the  usual dramas that you would probably expect on a public beach.  As I photographed a nice young bird on the rocks near to the Lifeboat station, I was joined by a school party of 10 or 11 year olds ( at least 50 kids)......... needless to say the birds scarpered pretty smartish! Disappointingly the teachers, supposedly looking after them, couldn't have cared less. But not too much damage done as the birds just moved up the beach out of harms way, and as I said, the kids had as much right to be there as me and if your teacher tells you to go and play on the rocks, then of course, thats what you do. Then I had another rock throwing incident, this time a young man who didn't seem to understand that he was n the wrong to throw stones towards the Mediterranean Gull that I was photographing. Then the mother of his "toddler" daughter showed her ignorance by commenting that they are only gulls and I must be weird taking photos of them.........! In the end, the young bloke apologised which I think was a pretty manly thing for a young bloke to do. So we shook hands and parted friends.

 This is the young bird, only one there this afternoon with two adults.

One of the Adult birds was posing really well. I find them very attractive, I am sure most bird watchers would agree. This one has started to moult out of breeding plumage and already whit is replacing black on the head, eventually the head will be almost completely white.

Water Vole - Arvicola amphibius

It's July, but would you believe it? Dismal weather this week and that makes it hard to get out and about and consequently that has been reflected on the lack of anything worthwhile to Blog about. This afternoon though, it looked like it may brighten up just a bit so I made the decision to travel over to Seaton and specifically Black Hole Marsh to see if I could photograph the Water Voles that have been reintroduced there.  They are showing very well and I it's a species that I haven't seen for 30 years or so. Until this introduction they were thought to have become absent from both Devon and Cornwall. They are doing well by all accounts. I walked up the track towards the Tower Hide and there, "low and behold" was a Water Vole. It was feeding on grass, sat half in the water, very cute and reminiscent of a pet Guinea Pig and about the same size.

I guess if you are from the USA or even other parts of Europe you my not immediately grasp the importance of these pictures.  They show a rodent which is of course related to the Brown Rat that we all loath (even myself).  But this  animal, once so familiar to us all in the UK, is now struggling to hold on to it's existence. Several factors are in play, the release of the North American Mink by animal activists caused havoc in our countryside and the Water Vole was particularly affected.  In fact it was  wiped out wherever the Mink held territories. Fortunately Otters are now doing much better than they were and Otters are thought not to tolerate mink,  in comparison, a smaller member of the weasel family.

But back to this afternoon because in the end quite a story developed. It was fun to do a bit of people watching.  To be frank I dislike public hides and wildlife reserves, usually there are too many people and quite a lot are not there for the same reasons as me.  I just dont get it,  because people come dressed as though they are out for a day at the races or something  similar. Now that is their choice but it usually impacts on other people around them.  This afternoon for example, the Water Voles could only take so much and when another lady in a bright blue jumper arrived, then enough was enough.  There was even one duo of quite serious birders equipped with state of the art gear, yet one of the two, in spite of green trousers and green hat, had a BRIGHT red jumper. Why do that, surely they must realise that wildlife and particularly birds can definitely be approached much easier if you are wearing subdued clothing. This is illustrated by the following.

After an hour of waiting for more Water Vole to show, and now on my own, a young Water Vole eventually came out to feed. This was a very pretty animal and half the size of the adult seen earlier.

 After starting to feed, something spooked it and it darted away. A few seconds later a Stoat came out of the brambles and slid in to the water, obviously looking for Voles.  It was a very young stoat with a diagnostic black tipped tail. I couldn't believe what i had seen and when it  it reappeared out of the ditch again, I tried to get a picture.  Then I saw it again a few feet further  away, now there was a splash and  It had a vole in it's mouth I am sorry to say!  It all happened so quickly I didn't get a photo which was the only disappointment of the day.

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

I might be thought of as a little bit crazy by some, and when I was sat yet again this morning, in my tiny little hide out on the moor, an hour had gone by and I hadn't even seen a bird, let alone taken any photos, I was beginning to agree. I had made the assumption that birdlife is more active in the morning and I expected that my early start would be well rewarded, but it simply didn't work out like that.  Yes, there were birds, at one time what can only be described as a flock, landed in the gorse bush right next to the hide, but I couldn't see them. Birds flew over and I heard Redpoll repeatedly, but they didn't come down in front of me nor did they come to the seed that I had put down. Two hours with nothing happening is enough for even the most patient, so at just gone 1115, I gave up.  What added insult to injury was the immediate sight of a Redpoll on nearby bushes and then a Yellowhammer in a nearby tree. With the threat of rain forecast and the appearance of thick, moisture laden clouds, I reluctantly made my way back to the car, honestly disappointed. So whats the Sparrow all about?  Well, as I walked through the bracken and  heather back to the road, I bumped in to a nice couple, Tom and Mary, a photographer and birdwatcher, in that order. Tom reads the Blog.....hello Tom....... and we swapped stories of Grasshopper Warbler, Jays with crossbills and Crossbills. we both agreed that we like even the humble House Sparrow so when I  sat in my Kingfisher hide this evening, I thought of our conversation when a really colourful, well marked House Sparrow landed just opposite me. He needed his photograph taken, and here it is. You may notice that he has a Mayfly sp. in his beak.  Sparrows, as we all know by now, are in serious decline all over Europe apparently.  Various theories  have been put forward as to the reason, the most likely is the absence of insects which are fed exclusively to chicks in the nest.  it therefore stands to reason that a good supply of insects are required. But as a counter argument, why aren't all insect eaters in decline, and they are not.

Whitethroat and more Redpolls

You may remember that I had hardly seen a bird at my pool hide these last two days. It was unbelievably quiet. I proved something to myself though this morning. The forenoon is by far the best time for bird activity at this particular site.  As I walked towards the pool under cloudless blue sky, I immediately noticed the presence of birds, and lots of them.  I got myself sorted as soon as I could because as soon as I got under cover, a Pipit was in front of me.  Even as I struggled to erect the tripod the bird started to bathe.  Eventually........, (more haste, less speed)........ I was snapping away. There are real contradictions when the sky is bright and sunny, more birds, as I have said, but the harsh shadows cast by the intense light makes good bird photography a real challenge.  You have a nice subject there in front of you and it looks good through the viewfinder but the end result is usually really lacking in detail.  You have to be very careful to try and get the bird in a pose that reflects the light to your advantage.  But what a session and what great birds. At one point I didn't know where to look because there was a young  Bunting on the rocks while a couple of Redpolls bathed beneath me.  The Bunting was replaced in the next minute by  this little immature Whitethroat. It perched on the rock and seemed to be watching the adult male Grey Wagtail bathing below. 

I have only seen Redpoll a few times before, and once.......that was  last week,at the pool, so when I caught sight of two, seemingly a pair I was very pleased to say the least.  I think this is a female but to be honest, I am not certain if it's male or female.

Here is the Bunting which has fleshy gapes at the corners of the beak which is an indication that it is  a young bird fledged this year. In another photograph there is an indication of yellow on the bird and when I have seen very young Reed Buntings they have quite a different pattern on the head. Therefore i am identifying this as a young Yellowhammer.

I really do enjoy seeing Meadow Pipits and they seem to enjoy a bath more than other species, nothing scientific here, just an observation, but they do come down to bathe very regularly and provide some good photo opportunities.

Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus

I have been really excited to receive a couple of emails from the BTO (The British Trust for Ornithology), this last couple of days.  The first was  requesting to use one of my Cuckoo pictures in the Trust's membership magazine which of course I have agreed to.  Cuckoos are a fascinating bird, which as most people know, have an interesting lifestyle, laying their eggs in the nests of much smaller species who then treat the single chick as their own.  The foster parents can be tiny in comparison to their massive chick yet they still continue to care for it. More interesting though is migratory behaviour of these birds.  It has long been known that they travel back and forward to Africa, the males first followed then by females later in the summer and finally the youngsters, all alone to a place they obviously have never been to before....... how do they do that?

The BTO have fitted satelite tracking devices to five cuckoos to discover when they depart, the route they take and where they end up. One has already arrived in Africa and yet it wasn't thought they left the UK until later this month so this is ground breaking news.  The cuckoo that I had been watching disappeared from the area at least a month ago so one would suspect that he has also started his migration. How fascinating, I wonder where he is?

You can follow the 5 cuckoos progress here and read all about them. It is very interesting and I will be checking in regularly.

Cuckoo Tracking

 

Whinchat picture.

I sat for ages trying to get a picture of flying Swallows this evening but I didn't manage to get even a half decent photo of them. In the end I gave up and decided to come home.  As I walked back to the car the light was so amazing, the sun was low and lit up the bank opposite with glorious  golden light. Apart from the Swallows,   I hadn't seen one bird at the pool, a few near misses though, for example I heard Redpolls singing very nearby and I was hoping they would come down but unfortunately, not on this occasion. I was really surprised when I came out of the now dull valley in to the light, to see how many  Stonechat and Whinchat there were. I couldn't get close but I did get a couple of nice "pictures" and even though this one above is cropped it works quite well.  I have told you before about the Highland Cattle that are roaming this year, very picturesque and they looked great in the low sun.

Daily update

A dull day yesterday, Tuesday July 12th.  Late afternoon and early evening I spent a couple of hours at the pool.  It was incredibly quiet with hardly a bird let alone a photograph of one. I have noticed this before, when the weather is sunny the birds are active and when it's dull, hardly a bird to be seen. Where do they go, what do they do and why aren't they feeding and drinking when it's dull?  In a addition, the earlier part of the day seems to be better for birds too. However, I did have a brand new bird for the pool, a Goldfinch came down to drink but the movement of the camera as I panned to it, caused too much disturbance and off it went. What was interesting though was the sound of Siskins amongst the group that were perched in a nearby tree. That seems to be normal behaviour, they sit in the tree and when the coast is clear they come down. 

After Dartmoor, I visited my Kingfisher hide for an hour at dusk. I need  to keep an eye on the potential Kingfisher hide.  It was this week last year when I first caught sight of the young  Kingfisher, having spent hours waiting without one, suddenly the female arrived, I am hopeful that this is going to happen this year......... why not?

Anyway here is the perch and great scene........ without a Kingfisher...... but I wanted you to see how inviting it looks!

............and a Kingfisher from last July to whet your appetite.

The Dartmoor Pool and a Stoat visits

This is the pool that I have been watching for the last couple of weeks, to the wildlife it is like a "cafe". The centre of their activities. Birds come and go, stopping to drink and bathe and to feed on the insects that are attracted to the dampness around the edges. I love it......... it's a very picturesque spot and in it's own right, nice to sit next to. Lists are boring but you ought to know what I have seen by this pool, I hope it will encourage you to find your own secluded pool that you could sit by, it's really worthwhile. So here is the list (so far).

Birds:

Whinchat                        Adult and juvenile

Stonechat                       Adult and Juvenile

Meadow Pipit                  Adult and juvenile

Tree Pipit                       Adult

Lesser Redpoll                Adult male

Grey Wagtail                  Adult male and juvenile

Linnet                            Males Females and young

Whitethroat                   Juvenile

Yellowhammer               Breeding pair

Reed Bunting                  Both sexes

Carrion Crow                  Two regularly seen

Buzzard                            Fly over

Magpie                            Fly over

Skylark

Willow Warbler                Breeding in the bushes nearby

Mammals:

Water Shrew                Swam across the pool 2010

Stoat                           Crossed the stepping stones 10 feet from me.

More about the stoat. I was sat in the tiny hide waiting to see what turned up.  I had been inside for around two hours and there had been a lot of activity with birds coming and going regularly.  From the hide I have a clear view down stream past the pool for about 40 metres. suddenly there was a splash down stream and then I saw a small brown animal. I thought at first that it was a small terrier dog, it could have been walking with it's owner and it's the  sort of thing a dog would do. I wasn't sure though because I had only seen it for just a split second. Then my mind turned to 'Otter", so I quickly focused my camera down to the rocks that I had seen the animal on just seconds before. This was a big mistake because a Stoat suddenly appeared just in front of me and crossed the pool having come down the path that you can see in the picture. If you can imagine how small the pool is you can see how close I was. It moved very  quickly like Stoat always do. It used the stepping stones to cross, deftly stepping on them as it crossed.  It was the biggest Stoat that I have ever seen. I clearly saw the black tip to the tail as I tried to focus my camera on it. No chance though, it disappeared to my right as quick as it had appeared. I was hoping it would come back to the pool but unfortunately it didn't. It was great sighting, it hadn't seen me, that in it's self is always exciting to know that you are invisible to a clever animal like a Stoat.

Sightings from my pool.

It's been a great day today, sunny bright and beautiful.  Not only a nice day, but more birds than ever before out at my Dartmoor pool. I have  built a little hide between two gorse bushes and right on the edge of the tiny pool.I have been watching the pool this July,  the same weeks as 2010.  It's been quite remarkable  because I have seen pretty much the same birds this year as last. The hide is very well concealed and if the birds (and mammals....... more info later) were aware of it they have certainly, now accepted it as part of the terrain. It is very well concealed because I dont want it to be vandalised.   Birds have included a pair of Yellowhammer.  The bird above is a female, I didn't manage to photograph the male today, but saw him very quickly as he came in for a drink with his mate. Again I was trying to photograph Linnets and today I almost got something special but it just wouldn't turn around to face the camera! Never the less, with even more patience I will get some good photos of this species.

So, Linnets and Yellowhammers.......... it was turning in to a good day. But I haven't told you about the bathing Meadow Pipit yet. It has been odd because last year Meadow Pipits were very regular visitors but this year I hadn't  seen them, until today when I had a lovely young bird came down.

Then there was the Grey Wagtail.  I see grey wags in all the places that I watch, down on the brook, on the River Teign and also out on the high moor so they are a bird that I seem to see so often, almost on every outing so I guess you could call them common. This one is a male but it's already losing it's breeding plumage. 

Stonechats are still common on the moor but around the pool, even though I can hear them, they never ever come down to drink.  I expect that this is probably because, being insects eaters they may get enough moisture from their prey?  Linnets on the other hand being one of the two British species that feed entirely on seed obviously need to drink regularly, so the pool is a good place to observe them.  Anyway, a male Stonechat did perch close by and a cracked off quite a nice  shot.

Thursday ramblings

We always have Blackbirds in the garden, in fact they are the iconic bird of any suburban garden. In April a pair nested very close to the house but unfortunately Magpies predated the nest which, at the time, was very upsetting and annoying. Obviously, looking at the photo  of this newly fledged bird, which is still being fed by it's parents, they were eventually successful. Life is quite dangerous for suburban Blackbirds, cats take the youngsters and as I have already alluded to, Magpies are a constant threat to nesting birds. They usually manage to rear a few every year though. I haven't seen this baby yet today but it seems to have managed to escape the neighbourhood cats thankfully.  

Common Starlings are just as described, common........ but in this part of the world, definitely not as numerous as they used to be. We now rarely have them feeding in the garden but I notice, in the north of England where my son lives, they are almost constantly feeding in his garden. There has been some mention of their declining numbers but I am sure they will join the humble House Sparrow as a bird of concern.  There has got to be a reason why birds that used to exist in almost plague proportions are now in such decline.Having said all that, yesterday and this morning we have had a juvenile bird and a single adult both feeding on my bird table. If you are reading this from somewhere north of Devon, you may be surprised to know that this is only the second time in four years that I have had Starlings in my garden.  This, although not a startling revelation, is certainly of real scientific interest and is a good illustration of how blogs such as mine, that record observations of wildlife in English gardens, can really add to science. 

Starling - Sturnus vulgaris

Out at the Dartmoor pool, I put up a little hide to give me a clear view. I am trying to photograph male Linnet, another bird that is in decline.  They are very attractive with a red head and red diffused breast, a little bit like the Redpoll that I posted on Monday. Linnets are 25 times more common than Redpolls so it surely wont be long before I manage a half decent photo of one, but so far I seem to be finding it hard. For some reason, females seem to be a little easier to approach, might be just a coincidence but that's the way it seems to be. Any way, yesterday thats the way it happened again with a nice female showing really well on the boulders opposite the hide.

Linnet - Carduelis cannabina (female)

As on previous occasions, yesterday as I sat in the hide, suddenly there was a splash as a Swallow flew in to the pool (literally). They seem to be flying in to bathe and deliberately dunking themselves completely.  I have been trying to capture this and it's not going too badly.  I have a  plan  to get a perfect shot but only time will tell if I get it right or not.

  

A Swallow dive.

This picture shows the Dartmoor pool that I have been watching for the last few days. As I said in a previous post, I watched this pool regularly last July, it's a beautiful spot and although the birds are not particularly prolific, it's quality not quantity. Take yesterday for example. I got myself concealed in a ditch right next to the water, only a few inches deep, the water comes in from a stream and opens out to the pool, (about the size of an average garden pond), and then tumbles over some attractive boulders that look as though they have been placed by a garden designer.

Young Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea on the boulders at the end of the pool.

This is why this little pool is such a good place for photography, any birds that perch on the boulders are reflected in the water and I have got to the stage in my photography where I am looking for something a bit special, rather than a the same 'tired portrait". So after lying in wait for much more than an hour, and nothing to show for it, I was pleased when suddenly a Swallow splashed in to the pool just 3 feet in front of me. When the excitement had subsided, I planned how I could get some shots when they came back. I adjusted the camera for the fastest shutter speed possible, given the light, and then I adjusted the zoom lens so that I could capture more of the pool.  When they flew in again, they reminded me of fighter planes on a mission, I tried to capture the moment they splashed in........ or just before, by predicting where they would be. It was hard to predict, but eventually I managed just one, almost successful shot. Anyway, it was almost good enough to inspire me to try for more. So I returned this morning to try again, the weather forecast talked of a wet afternoon so by mid morning I was back again, in the ditch and waiting!  The first thing that happened was the reason I was there in the first place, a spanking, pristine male linnet landed feet away but not in front of the camera.  Just the slightest movement of the camera towards it was enough to "spook" it and off he flew..... I had been sussed! 

Baby Grey Wagtail

A Grey Wagtail from yesterday's session at the Dartmoor pool. You can clearly see the yellow fleshy gape at the corners of the beak indicating that this is a recently fledged bird, just a couple of months old.

Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis cabaret)

I thought long and hard before I started today's blog. How was I going to put it in to words and convey the magic, and the thrill? It's going to be hard but, here goes! Last July I had a lot of success by sitting camouflaged next to a small pool on Dartmoor. When the weather is dry, and at the moment it is, the pool is an attraction to the moorland birds who need to drink and bathe, so it's a good place to get close to some nice birds. Linnets, Yellow Hammers and Whinchat for example. Iv'e been waiting for an opportunity to repeat last years success and today I returned, confident of success. My target species was Linnet, an attractive bird, especially the males and I find them very hard to get close to, they are usually very nervy and easily spooked, a real challenge. So there I was, tucked nicely in a little ditch right next to the pool with a combination of cam netting, gillie suite and natural vegetation completely covering me. The first thing that arrived, and literally within minutes, was a Grey Wagtail who arrived on the boulders at the end of the pool and hung around, totally oblivious to my presence...... now I knew that my cam was working. Then, scarily one of the highland cows came for a drink and couldn't see me either but it was close enough to be a bit worrying.
I lay for ages, but very comfortably without any other birds showing, then suddenly, I heard bird song that I hadn't heard before, and before I had chance to think about it, there it was. Immediately I thought it was a Linnet especially when I caught sight of the red cap, but then almost as instantly, I realised it was a gorgeous Redpoll. I have seen Redpoll a few times, once even in the garden, but they are not a bird I see often and certainly not as close as this. It had come to bathe, I took loads of pictures and I was thrilled to see it before a very short time, off it flew.

Black Headed Gulls

Jenny and I got up relatively early this morning and took breakfast with us to Exmouth beach on a glorious July morning.  I wanted to photograph Mediterranean Gulls in the early light, and before it got too busy. Most things were in place, sun, sea and sand but unfortunately, no Mediterranean Gulls. Still, never mind because It was lovely, and there were numerous Black headed Gulls in the surf, all sporting breeding colours with chocolate heads. I took photos, I like gulls, especially adults and these were looking very nice. This was about the best.

There is a massive amount of sea weed dumped on the surf line by the incoming tide and this is an attraction to  flying insects and, in turn, Pied Wagtails and Swallows. Pied Wagtails are not a particular favourite of mine but I never let an opportunity pass me by.  When I looked at this one I was impressed by the flying sand which really gives the picture something a bit different and a sense of movement.

Mediterranean Gull

The Mediterranean Gulls is a really attractive species of Gull that is now established as a breeding bird in the South of England, but a comparatively rare sight. I had got wind that there were a few amongst Black Headed Gulls on the beach at Exmouth. To be honest though, I thought they would be hard to find, but when I went last night, late in the evening, I found them relatively easily on the beach. The light, albeit only for a short while, was almost exotic and I took photos which was an improvement on my previous Mediterranean Gull photos. The beach was quite busy so they were disturbed easily and it was hard to get as close as I would have liked. This juvenile Black headed Gull was quite a picture and I haven't realised that they were so attractive.

Grey Wagtail

I went back to the river again today because there is a family of Grey Wagtails, at least 4 youngsters and their parents. This is a great opportunity to get some good shots. The juveniles are feeding themselves and also accepting food from the parents if offered. I sat hidden by the river with my camera focused on rocks in mid-stream. The first bird to arrive; one of the juveniles, was to my left but only 24 inches away! I couldn't photograph it but just watched and waited and enjoyed. Realising that the birds were more likely to feeding on the rocks on the edge of the river, I adjusted myself for a better angle. It wasn't long before another bird (or the same one) came back, this time not so close and I watched it catch a wasp or hoverfly, I can't really tell from the photograph. It certainly makes a nice shot though. That was about it as far as Grey Wagtails were concerned but then a Kingfisher did a fly by and an adult Dipper perched on the rocks down stream which was good to see. On my walk back to the car I saw the young Dipper fishing..... yes fishing.... it actually came up with a tiny fish. It's nice to see that this juvenile Dipper is doing well and has even now got the ability to catch tiny fish. As it searched under the water I quickly took the opportunity to rush towards it, freezing as soon as it popped up. Then repeating the process. In that way I got within 15 feet as it now bathed, preened and then rested. I laid myself down on the ground with a clear view and the camera resting solidly on a boulder and took a few nice shots, the first I have taken of this youngster for a couple of weeks.