Wildlife in a Suburban Garden

Kingfisher nest in the evening

Back at the nest site this evening there was quite a change in behaviour and now I am not really sure what  is happening. Firstly, for the first hour of my observations I didn't see any activity  at the nest burrow at all. From time to time I heard a bird but there was quite a lot of activity from people walking on the bank enjoying the warm early summer sunshine and it meant that the birds were keeping away until the coast was clear. Thats the way it proved because within a few minutes of quiet resuming I heard, then saw a bird which flew in to the willow trees next to the hide. This time it was perched on a better perch and I managed to improve on the photograph taken this morning.

The male became very active and was flying up and down the river.  Every few minutes he would be back again and I assumed he was calling to the female who I was sure was in the nest burrow,   At one point the male flew up in to the burrow and then I saw a bird fly up stream but I hadn't seen one leave the nest.  The activity continued with much calling and  "tooing and frowing" Every time I had the chance to check which bird it was, it was always the male.  I was just about to leave for home and had started to pack up the kit but I was still inside the hide when the male landed on the same perch as before but this time with a small wriggling fish in it's beak. He left the perch and flew to the left but I could still hear him, now even more noisy and excited and I heard a different call which was more intense and had an element of a throaty chirp along with the usual high pitch one.  I managed to catch sight of him and then to my surprise, there was the female as well. They were both tucked under cover and I couldn't see for certain but I am quite sure that the male fed the fish to the female. I don't know if the female had been there all along or if she had just flown over to interact with the male.   I suspect that if there was a problem and they had decided that the burrow was no longer suitable then they would have left the area.  I think the fact that I saw a bird enter the burrow and then saw both birds opposite the nest means that this nest burrow is in use. I am not sure if eggs have been laid yet though.

Kingfisher comes close.

My first close up look of the male.

I had a strange premonition this morning as I walked towards the Kingfisher nest site, the thought struck me that it was about time one of them came close enough to get a good photograph.  I had been inside the hide, which is opposite the nest burrow for just 6 minutes when I heard a Kingfisher approaching from my right and then he landed in the willow tree in front of me and to my left and at last, very close.  I worked out that I have been watching for a total of 16 hours so far and I have seen both birds almost constantly from the opposite bank and now here he was, right in front of me.  !  As you can see, I had some obstructions to deal with, branches and the like  and the light was not ideal, it was  from behind the bird and almost in my face, fortunately the sun went behind a cloud for a few moments and I had the opportunity to get some half decent pictures. I needed to use all my experience to make the best of the opportunity. This is the male bird, you can tell by his solid black beak, the female has an orange lower mandible. He remained on the perch here for almost ten minutes before moving off to join his mate who had flown from the nest burrow.  I couldn't see him now, nor the female but from the amount of calling I imagined that they were mating.  I didn't manage to see what hapened next but I think he flew in to the nest burrow. I was slightly concerned though because I hadn't seen either bird enter the burrow yesterday or today but then  I caught sight of one disappearing inside, confirming that breeding activity is taking place.  It seems that the female is spending most of the time in the nest.  I have no evidence that proves the male has done any incubating as yet but thats not to say he hasn't.  The male is far noisier than the female, he always calls to announce his presence whereas the female is more furtive.  However, she does call as well.  I am not certain but there seems to be two differing calls, without any scientific evidence to prove it but it seems to me that the female seems to have a two sylable call, differing to the male's single sylable.  I actually stayed at the hide for 3 hours this morning and during that time the male came to the same close perch on  three different occasions. On the last visit he first flew to the nest burrow calling loudly all the time, he didn't land but circled around and then came over to my side, landing in that very same spot and this time with a very big fat minnow in his beak, held tail first.  This was without doubt an offering to the female. He reamained  on the perch with it, calling  constantly, for a minute or so.  I was praying for the female to join him, hoping to see a common breeding interaction called the "fish-pass" but she didn't, much to my disappointment. Eventually he gave up and flew up stream with it.  I was keen to see if any of my pictures were aceptable and I left for home just as the clock struck noon.

In this photograph you can see how hard it was to deal with the bright light. Light is the photographers friend but if it's in the wrong direction can be your worse enemy.

 

Breeding Blue Tits

 

My breeding Blue Tit nest box has been interesting today and yesterday with the youngsters about to fledge.  The parents are visiting the nest every minute or so with beaks full of food.  I dont know how many youngsters they have but there were 7 eggs so there may be 7 hungry mouths to fill.

 

Blue Tit and Blue Bottle

Blue Bottle delivered and out he comes.

Who knows what it is trying to do.

Both parents come and go constantly.

Faecal sacks are removed and dropped well away from the nest to keep the nest clean.

One bird was surprised to discover its partner already in the nest box.

 

Related articles

Nesting Blue Tits

Blue Tit

Breeding Kingfishers.

After a few days away in Yorkshire over the weekend I eventually returned to Devon and I was keen to continue my observations at the Kingfisher nest site yesterday. From a hide opposite the nest I sat and waited for any signs of activity and it was 1 and half hours before I eventually saw a bird although from time to time I could hear one up river. It arrived calling loudly as it flew past both me and the nest, then minutes later it was back to take up a position close to the burrow where I could see it was the male and he continued to call.   I guessed he had come to take over his sitting duties.  This was confirmed when after a minute or so the female emerged from the nest and he then flew up and in to the burrow.  The female came over to my side of the river although I couldn't see her but she was calling loudly then off she flew up river in front of me and away from the area. At that point I decided to leave the hide, the female was away from the nest and the male was inside incubating so it was safe to emerge and slip away without causing any disturbance.  This behaviour would seem to indicate the presence of a clutch of eggs now.  Incubation is 19 to 21 days, I estimate that incubation commenced 27 May (its difficult to say with certainty), chicks fledge the nest at around 25 days old.  I estimate that chicks are due to fledge on, or around  the 9th July. This stage of breeding with incubation taking place and the none sitting bird away from the territory, is the quietest time of the breeding cycle so apart from checking that everything is progressing well, then there is not a lot to see.

This morn was much of the same with the male flying low over the water in front of the hide and then moving away down river.

Related articles

Kingfishers nesting on a nearby river.

Breeding Kingfishers.

Kingfisher in front of the nest.

Kingfishers at the nest May 23rd

The Kingfisher nest, my observations continue.

The male Kingfisher at the nest catches a big minnow.

Lesser Redpoll near Huddersfield.

I am away in Yorkshire this weekend and I  had the opportunity at the end of the day to go out on to Saddleworth Moor where I had seen Short Eared Owl in previous years.  No sign of them today but it was a good, if short outing.  It's always nice to be in new areas where you may see something that you don't normally see.  I was photographing willow Warblers, a common bird in Devon at the moment of course when suddenly a bird flew in to perch at the top of a nearby tree. I thought it was a Chaffinch at first because all I saw innitially was a hint of red. When I trained the camera on it I was thrilled to see a Lesser Redpoll!  This is a bird that I dont get to photograph very often and I was very happy to see and photograph it.  They appear to be just a little more common in this part of the world although there are parts of Devon where you can see them easily. As a bird that I dont see often I grasped the opportunity with both hands.

The Kingfisher nest, my observations continue.

When I arrived this morning it was quiet and there was no sign or sight of a Kingfisher Concealing myself quickly I then  checked my watch. It was exactly 12 minutes before I heard a Kingfisher and then saw one. Firstly a bird left the burrow and then 2 birds entered one after the other.  Minutes later I heard constant calling and I could see who was responsible, it was the male who was sitting on what I already know is  his usual place beneath the nest on the muddy boulders. Even though he was a accross the river from me I managed to get a nice cropped image of him.  I only stayed in the hide for 35 minutes today but I just needed to reassure myself that everything is safe and well.

 

Kingfishers at the nest May 23rd

I was excited when I returned to the river today, I am always expectant and hoping that I would see something special. Even before I had got myself properly concealed and settled I heard a Kingfisher and saw one disappearing in to the nest burrow. This was good to see as it is immediate confirmed that everything was OK. Just like yesterday there was a lot of activity with repeated calling and much chasing around with first a Kingfisher calling to my left and then to my right. Then there was  one  calling from the mud in front of the burrow and I could see it looking up to the nest where the female had just entered.  After a minute or so it flew in to the nest to join her and then moments later it tumbled out tail first, I assume that he couldn't turn around inside the nest because the female was in there and had to come back out in reverse. The male would leave the nest every few minutes and then return back inside immediately, this was repeated over and over.  I had witnessed this behaviour yesterday as well. Today the birds excitement didn't seem to be so intense and after an hour or so it was almost calm with just the odd call as the male came in to check up on the female who  appeared to be spending more time in the nest again now.  Its hard to assess at what stage they are at but I would assume that yesterdays activity and to an extent todays, was all about mating and breeding behaviour. I had presumed that eggs had already been laid but I am not so sure of this no. It is going to be hard to guess when eggs have been laid.

Its almost impossible from the distance to get really 1st class photographs but its better to have slightly inferior pictures that show interesting behaviour rather than close ups that may have an affect on the birds breeding.

Breeding Kingfishers.

I arrived at the river and in front of the Kingfisher nest burrow at a little after 9 this morning.  The Kingfisher activity was just wonderful.  This was one of those really special days that I will never forget.  The activity started almost immediately with constant calling from the male who seemed to be in and out of the nest burrow repeatedly.  It was as though he was inviting her to come and join him.   He was displaying to the female who was coming and going as well and at one time she was on the mud below the nest watching him as he flew around the nest entrance.  There was almost constant noisy calling and much flying up and down the river.  From time to time they were in the willow tree that my hide is tucked in to proving that they are totally accepting of the structure. I was hoping to see some mating activity and though it probably happened, unfortunately I didn't see it.  The male at one point started to re-excavate the burrow which was a first for me as I haven't seen this kind of activity before. Interestingly, the female investigated another hole just a few feet away from the original one but after a flew visits up to it she changed her mind again and returned to the original hole. I tried very hard to get some interesting photos but I am a bit too distant for brilliant shots but never the less, its very interesting to watch them, a real privilege.

I am licensed by Natural England to photograph Kingfishers (a Schedule 1. bird). It  is an offence that could lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £5000 to photograph or knowingly disturb a Schdule 1. bird at the nest site without a license.

Here is a link to my Kingfisher Galleries

Kingfishers.

 

Well before 7 this morning I returned to the hide that I have hastily erected in front of the Kingfisher nest on a river near to my home.  Because of the need to keep disturbance down to a minimum I needed to be hasty and consequently it is a flimsy affair made from 5 "scrim face-veils" slung around stout willow sticks pushed in to the mud. It is camouflaged even further by willow pushed in to the ground around the edges.  This morning  it was 20 minutes before I heard the first Kingfisher of the day, a bird calling from up river to my right. Then I located it on the bank  just to the right of the nest.  It appeared to be looking for prey in the fast flowing water beneath, I had seen it catch a minnow from this very same spot yesterday. It was the adult male and he continued to call almost constantly, a way of letting his female know that he was there.  After a short while his attentions were drawn  to something on my side of the river and he launched his  attack on another Kingfisher that I hadn't been aware of.  It was one of the juveniles from the first round.  The young bird flew back up river calling as it went with the male in hot pursuit. He is not tolerant of any of his youngsters on the patch now.  This is unfortunate for me because  it means that I have missed the opportunity to photograph them being tended to and fed as they would have been for the first few days out of the nest.  Minutes passed and then with more calling he was back.  This time I saw a flash of colour as the female emerged from the burrow but that was all I saw of her, it was  just a  fleeting glimps as both birds flew down river to my left.

 

 

 

The male Kingfisher at the nest catches a big minnow.

Out at the Kingfisher nest site this evening it appeared to me  that the youngsters that I had seen only a couple of days ago have now been driven from the territory. I had only been in the hide for a matter of minutes when I heard my first Kingfisher of the session. I heard a Kingfisher before I  saw it, right opposite and just feet from the nest hole. It was the male and he was perched on the mud "boulders" that had tumbled in to the water.  From time to time he called, I took  this to be  a call to let the female, perhaps sitting on eggs in the burrow, know that he was there.   I had it in focus through my camera and after a second or two it flew up on to the the top of the bank.  It made a dive but it wasn't  successful the first time but on the next dive he was and the catch was a large juicy minnow.

I wondered what was going to happen, was the fish going to be fed to youngsters, taken in to the nest or fed to a female somewhere close by?   It was a slightly disappointing outcome because he simple ate it!  

As it happened I didn't see any comings and goings from the nest tonight, I am assuming that the female stayed in the nest  for the entire 2 hours that I watched.

Kingfisher in front of the nest.

I returned to the Kingfisher site at 7 this morning.  I have a busy day ahead with music but  I was keen to try and see and hopefully photograph some interaction between the adult Kingfishers and their recently fledged youngsters. 

I managed to get  myself sat and concealed opposite the nest and so far I hadn't seen or heard a bird which was good because it meant that I  hadn't caused any disturbancewhen I got there.   Arriving and leaving are the two most dangerous times and you need to make sure that no disturbance is caused.  

It was a good 30 minutes before I saw and heard the first bird of the day.  A kingfisher seemed to be flying up and down the river in front of the nest burrow.  I could hear it calling for several minutes both to my left and right but I couldn't seem to see it.  Then I realised that it was perched at water level just beneath the nest and it continued to call.   I assumed it was one of the youngsters and it wasn't until I fixed the lens on it that I could see that it was the adult male.  I realised what was going on when after 10 minutes I caught sight of a Kingfisher disappearing in to the nest burrow. Then another bird, obviously the female who had apparently been relieved of duties in the nest flew away up river.   The calling male was letting the female know that he was there and ready to take over.  What is going on? There are two possibilities. The first could be that there are still almost fully grown chicks in the nest still waiting to fledge?  Or more likely,  the female has already started on a second clutch of eggs and has begun incubation.  I am going with the second theory because if there were near fully grown chicks in the nest, food would be delivered almost constantly and this is not the case.  It is odd though that the youngsters from the previous round are being allowed to remain in the territory.  Later on before I came away I saw two other Kingfishers, obviously youngsters.

Nesting Kingfishers

Before you read this you need to know that.......

 It is against the law to photograph a Kingfisher at the nest or in the  nesting territory without a license. I am a schedule 1. license holder for Kingfisher at  this nest site.

 In February I had started my observations  where Kingfishers had bred on two previous years (to my knowledge). Unfortunately last years nest bank had collapsed and it was obvious that they were not going to breed there this year.  I had searched for a potential new site and not seen anywhere nearby that I considered to be suitable nor had I even seen a Kingfisher there this year so I gave up to be honest.  Today as I walked along  I reached the area where they had bred last year.  I heard and then saw a Kingfisher immediately, then another and possibly even another, obviously young  birds recently fledged the nest and this was confirmed when I saw yet another with a fish in its beak.  This would be an adult flying in to feed the youngsters.  I couldn't wait for the early evening to arrive, I planned to return when the light was better and when the time came I returned  and tucked myself in a bag hide in the general area that I had seen them in the morning.  Almost immediately I started to see Kingfishers and it wasn't long before one  flew across the river and landed just in front of me.  Unfortunately this young female, even though she was only 10 feet in front of me was just obscured by branches and leaves.

The young Kingfisher landed in front of me but unfortunately it was mostly hidden by foliage and branches.

 

 

She was eventually  flew off without being aware of me.  I sat waiting and an hour or so later I heard a bird on the opposite bank and then suddenly there it was just to my right, now only 6 feet away from me but not in front of the camera and any movement would have disturbed it for sure.  Eventually off it went and then moments later it returned and spent 10 minutes or so preening.  Its been 10 months since I last saw a Kingfisher very close and it was absolutely thrilling to see one again, so beautiful, bright turquoise and iridescent.  Its easy to forget how stunning Kingfishers are.

Eventually this bird moved away, calling as it left the perch and when it was quiet I decided to position  myself with a clear shot of this perch, still concealed inside the bag hide of course.  It is imperative that you create absolutely no disturbance whatsoever and make sure that the birds have no idea that you are there observing them. Stealth, absolute quiet and secrecy is essential.   Moments later another Kingfisher called, again from the opposite bank and I watched it settle in clear view, then it disappeared in to a hole in the bank...... I had found the nest!    Moments later as I continued to watch another bird arrived and joined the first one in the nest.  I took a photo or two and as quietly as I could I left the area and I could still hear young Kingfishers calling in the distance. All in all a great result.

Earlier on in the day I went over to the Caravan hide and when I checked the Blue Tit nest box I was pleased to see that 3 eggs had hatched. You can check the photo of the original clutch by clicking on the "Related article" link below.

Blue Tit nest, 4 newly hatched babies, 3 eggs to go.  We are going to follow the progress of these chicks.

 

 

Related articles

Nesting Blue Tits

Nesting Blue Tits

A clutch of Blue Tit eggs

We put a couple of nests boxes in the wood last Autumn and as spring arrived I kept my eyes on them in the hope that Blue Tits would use at least one.   I knew that one of the boxes had been used for roosting over the winter and I kept a close watch on it to see if any nest building took place.  It all started in April when at first, a few bits of  moss were seen in the box and this was gradually added to over the course of the next week or so.  It was obvious that a nest was being built. Things progressed really well and eventually it was almost full of moss and a large amount of downy feathers and animal hair.  The eggs when they arrived were laid in a cup in the corner of the box and 7 were laid on consecutive days.  Incubation has begun and I could see when I checked today that at least 6 of the 7 look fertile. I can tell this because they look darker and heavier.  When they are first laid you can see, just by looking in the nest, that the eggs  are translucent at first, once the embryo begins to develop the eggs look darker and heavier. As a way of explanation it is similar to porcelain and pottery, one is almost see through and the other appears solid. 

It's going to be interesting to watch the egss hatch and then their development  I will keep you informed.  

House Sparrow and a Goldcrest

A new species at the Caravan Hide

I include these two pictures out of interest really. It depicts a pair of Canada Geese that were oddly sat in the middle of the tilled field in front of the caravan this afternoon. Another species photographed at the caravan hide now 22 in total.

One of them has an unusually marked head.

I tried a new approach to in-flight photos today but it wasn't successful unfortunately. I used a smaller lens and positioned the camera on a tripod at the opposite end of the drinking platform. The birds took a while to get used to it and when they did start to arrive I snapped away with a remote shutter release. I was extremely disappointed with the results the only picture worth hanging on to was this one.

Song Thrush - Turdus philomelos

The Song Thrush is a species in decline in the UK, formally one of our most familiar birds, it is now a treat to  see one..... especially in the garden. At the Caravan Hide (thats Trailer Hide if you are from the US),  I can hear hear one singing constantly and there is obviously a nest somewhere very close by because I have seen them carrying moss and grasses.  The British Trust for Ornithology describes how they are more common in decidious woodland so it is not surprising that they are in the woodland behind my hide but I rarely if ever see them in my garden whereas 50 years ago you could guarantee to have one.  As a boy in around 1955 I well remember that my father taught me the difference between a Blackbirds nest and a Song Thrush.  This implies that both nests were easy to find.  At the time every young boy, and probably girl would know that the bowl of a Song Thrush nest is  lined with mud whereas a Blackbird's has no mud. The eggs are very similar, the same shade of blue  but Song Thrush eggs are more heavily spotted than the Blackbirds.  Song Thrush eggs are a real thing of beauty.

On the gate in front of the hide.

Collecting nesting material.

It's worth mentioning that a Song Thrush is related to the American Robin (turdus migratorious)  which is also a true Thrush. The common American species of large warbler  the Water Thrush ((Parkesia sp.)  looks very similar and when you compare the two species it's not hard to understand why the first settlers to the Americas , familiar with the Song  Thrush from home, gave it that name.  

Have a look at the links below which shows some other interesting information about other true Thrush species. Turdus falklandii is a species that I am familiar with from my vists to the Falkland Islands.

 

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Turdus poliocephalus

Turdus migratorius

Turdus falcklandii

Its been a shocking day here in Devon today and as well as that, I didn't have  a car until late afternoon.  I went out to caravan hide for some fresh air as much as anything.  I am trying to tempt the small birds to food in the middle of the raised pool which we built especially to photograph the reflections.   It was a lot of effort but the results are good and will only get better the more patience I show.  I just love the smooth background that the water gives.

A Pheasant and his two mates have been regular visitors to the spilt food just lately.  

From the caravan hide.

I dont like Squirrels! But I can't beat them so I have decided to photograph them.  They are a nuisance and continually damage my photographic set-ups. The reason that Woodpeckers dont visit my hide is because as soon as my back is turned the squirrels eat every peanut they can find!  

Today I could see a great  photo opportunity.  I wanted to photograph the birds flying in and out of the pool, it almost worked but it was hard to convince the small birds that it was safe, Jays were the only birds that didn't seem to worry, but the small birds were very reluctant.  

A great Tit leaves the rock.

Great Tits

Great Tits are a common British bird, related of course to the Chickadees of North America. This is Britain's largest "Tit" species and one of 59 worldwide.  Males are more brightly coloured and they have a thick black band which goes from the throat and down between the legs.  Female birds are not as brightly coloured and the breast band is narrower and doesn't extend all the way between the legs but this is variable.  At my feeding station the resident Great Tits are one of the most regular visitors and usually the first birds to find the food.

Jays are another species that I see at my hide on most visits. Normally this species is very wary and will never put itself in danger. I am flattered that the Jays that come to my hide almost certainly associate me with food and will come to eat the peanuts that I leave out for them.    I am almost certain that they know I am watching them. This intelligent bird is a colourful member of the crow family. They are very good imitators and I get to know of there imminent arrival by the calls that they make just before they arrive on the food.  I can recognise individuals by the calls they make.  This bird calls like a jackdaw in the distance and its mate imitates a distant calling Buzzard.

I can hear Song Thrush constantly at my Caravan hide, sometimes very close by but I don't see them close enough for a photograph very often. Today one popped down on to the lawn in front of me and I managed a few photographs.  This was pleasing for me as it's another species to add to the list of birds photographed from the wood.  Song Thrush is not a rare bird in the least but they are not as common as they were.  I remember as a boy, 55byears ago they were as constantly seen in the garden in the way that we see Blackbirds now. 

As someone who has taken thousands and thousands of photos of a "bird on a perch" recently I have been trying to concentrate more on in-flight shots.  However, I have no control over the weather and light and yesterday  just wasn't right for that.  The camera was set up to achieve fast shutter speeds and I didn't have success.  

 

Woodland Birds in flight.

Having spent most of yesterday and today nursing damaged knee ligaments after I slipped and fell on Bluebell leaves in the wood yesterday afternoon, I was somewhat incapcitated.  I decided that  I could sit in the caravan and photograph the birds coming in to feed without too much  discomfort once I had limped there.  I had a really nice afternoon with the Nuthatch pair who came in repeatedly as well as Coal, Blue and Great Tits.  The Jays put in an appearance as well and all around me birds were singing constantly.  I could hear two Green Woodpeckers very close at times for most of the afternoon as well as a Song Thrush, Blackcap and a Stock Dove off and on.

 

I have said several times before  that photographing these small woodland birds is a real challenge. If there is not enough brightness then forget it.

 

Today was one of my best for inflight shots but it's always very hard to adjust the camera correctly.  You are looking for a shutter speed of at least 1/4000 of a second..... and reflexes that a fighter pilot would be proud of. 

 

You need to use a high ISO to achieve the shutter speed. Nuthatch do fly slower, just a fraction and consequently are slightly easier to get shots of than Coal Tits for example.

I cant begin to tell you how pleased I am with this picture.  Coal Tits fly incredibly quickly and this is where your reflexes really come in to play.  You need to spot the incomming bird in the branches above  and then the moment the bird makes it's move, press the shutter and fire off a few shots. One in 30 photos will hopefully be the lucky one.

Great Tits fly slightly slower and you will consequently have a little more success with this species.

Jays being bigger always fly more slowly and consequently are easier to freeze in flight but because they are massively bigger in comparison then you need to be set up for this species or you will only capture half of the bird in the frame.

My first Cuckoo of the year.

I went out to Challacombe Farm on Dartmoor today.  This is usually a good place for several interesting species of birds and insects as well. Today however was relatively quiet but it would have been much better for me  if I had remembered my binoculars. After walking up towards the out buildings and farm my attenton was diverted by the Swallows that were collecting mud for their nests from the edge of the farm pond.  I lingered for far too long trying to get good pictures. This meant that I didn't go on the long walk that I had planned.  However it was at the start of my journey home that I had my best moment of the day. Not far from Challacombe as I drove along the narrow moorland lane, just in front of me and to my left I saw a Cuckoo perched on the dry stone wall.  I just love Cuckoos and for the previous two years I have had great close views of Cuckoos but  It's not that often that you accidentaly get a close encounter like this.  I quickly stopped the car and grabbed the camera but the bird flew up and followed the line of the road to land in a tree next to the road.  I followed it all the way and then stopped the car again, and from the window snapped off just three pictures of the bird now gloriously sat in full view as you can see above. It was a special encounter and really enjoyable.

Great Tit in flight.

A Great Tit from my caravan hide late this afternoon..... still trying to get a special image, it's hard work!

Goldcrest - Regulus regulus

I had my best opportunity ever  to get decent photos of a Goldcrest late this afternoon.  Goldcrest are, along with Firecrest, our smallest breeding bird and its quite hard to get them to stay still long enough to get a photograph but today my luck changed.  I was in the wood behind my caravan hide looking for evidence of nesting Woodpeckers when I heard a Goldcrest singing. I sat on a log beneath the tree with the bird above me and then, after a moment or two it came down to a low bush in front of me, the background was perfect and as you can see, I managed a nice picture before it quickly disappeared again!

A few more from yesterday's outing to North Cornwall.

Kestrel

Shag

Razorbills on the North Cornwall Coast

Jenny and I had planned a trip to North Cornwall yesterday to try and photograph Gannets.  I had been told by Liz and Chris Foster about  Rumps Point which is just up the coast from the Camel Estuary and Padstow.  We had been waiting for the weather forcast to be favourable and yesterday looked like a sunny one with a north wind which is needed because this  drives the Gannets nearer to the shorline and in to photographic range. This is was a new thing for us and reminded us of how great it is to live in the West Country and have this kind of opportunity within driving distance of home. We arrived at the farm car park as directed by Liz and then walked the track to the coastal path. A Skylark was singing above the fields, and Swallows were everywhere.  When we got to the Coasal Path, we were'nt prepared for the peace, tranquiity and beauty that greeted us, what a view.    A Kestrel was hovering just above the track very low and then zoomed away on the wind. We followed the  path to the point, a walk of about a mile, disturbing numerous Rock Pipits on the way.  We found a spot out of the very strong cool wind to survey the Mouls, a small steep island just offshore,  Through my new spotting scope I could see Kittiwakes on their nests as well as Herring Gulls, Lesser Black backed Gulls and Shag but sadly no Puffins which are known to breed on the island in small numbers.  In total we spent  a pleasant 5 hours over-looking the water.  I did manage that photo of a Gannet, frustratingly I could see them further out in the bay for most of the day and just 4 times one flew past close enough for me to get a picture. The highlight of the day was a small group of Razorbill that were feeding very close in to the rocks. I decided to clamber down to the waterline, I am sure that most people would have thought this a bit extreme. It didn't seem particularly dangerous at the time but I suppose there was a risk. Once I was down there I felt as safe as houses and it was worth it. The Razorbills were feeding in the waves and in the clear water I could see them swimming like penguins beneath the surface. From this vantage point I had some great close views and I laughed at one point because I said to myself, "All I could do with now is a Guilimot" and then suddenly just seconds later there was one drifting by!

A wonderful piece of history has come to my attention. One of the most well known poems "Ode to the Fallen"  was writton by Laurence Binyon as he sat on Rumps Point.  This poem contains  the "We will remember them" that we are all so utterly familiar with. I am incredibly moved by this and am shamed for not knowing this before.  The last line of the poem is "They sleep beyond Englands foam" ............ the very foam that the Razorbills and Guilimots were fishing in and I enjoyed watching,  had  inspired Binyon to think of the fallen in World War 1 as he sat there, just as I did in 1914.

Rumps Point and the Plaque commemorating Binyons poem.

The day finished with a trip in to Padstow for a pint and a bar meal.  Padstow has a reputation for cuisine which proved to be unfounded as I endured the worse bar meal I have had for quite a while! 

 

The Gannet flew close to shore and I took my best ever image of a Gannet

A Razorbill flies in.

These are tiny little birds,  thoroughly at home bobbing around in the surf and then diving to catch fish.

At this time of the year they are in breeding condition.

This pair seemed to stay together most of the time.

This is a "first-summer`' bird unlike the one below which shows a breeding adult with a solid black head.

 

 

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Herring Gulls feeding on cockles.

Lest we forget: Binyon's Ode of Remembrance