December 2014 Stonechat

Sometimes you don't always get what you go out for.  After waiting for a very rare (in our area) Dartford Warbler in the local park,

I got this shot whilst walking back to the car.  The light was very low!

Stonechat

December 2014 A couple from around my Small holding! Roe Deer and Grey Wagtail.

Went out early to catch up with some Roe Deer that are always around.  Managed to get quite close without disturbing them!  Also a lovely Yellow Wagtail.  These birds are found on clear streams usually, but in winter search around the mud for pickings.

Roe Deer

Grey Wagtail

December 2014 A Field Voles last view!

Keep down!

December 2014 Red Kite

Whilst waiting for a Short Eared Owl to appear: A Red Kite not a bad substitute! Hawling in the Cotswolds.

Red Kite

December 2014 No excuses more Shorties

 Intensely quartering the meadow 

Short Eared Owl

November 2014 More Shorties

Searching for voles

Gliding over the grass land

November 2014 Great Short Eared Owls are back in the Cotswolds!

Feeling so lucky to have these beauties not far from home. Hope they stay around for the Winter! Short Eared Owls I love them!

Short Eared Owl

November 2014 Great Grey Shrike a real birders bird!

Early morning start in the Forest of Dean.  Really great to spend time watching this bird.  Charismatic Grey Grey Shrike!

Great Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike

October 2013 Cattle Egret

Took these pictures on my holiday in St Lucia.  I am really glad that we are starting to get these birds more regularly in the UK.

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

October 2014 Cormorant fighting loosing battle for breakfast!

This cormorant caught a fish but spent too long trying to get it swallowed.  There's always a hungry mouth around in nature with eyes on your meal.

Cormorant with fish 

Black Headed Gull attacks

Taking too long to get it down!

Neither the Cormorant or Gull got their meal!

October 2014 Some shots from my Holiday in St Lucia

Had a great week in St Lucia and managed to get the camera out some times.

American Kestrel on the hotel roof

Antillean Crested Humming Bird

Banana Quit (Great name!)

Purple Throated Caribbean Humming Bird 

Sept 2014 Black Tailed Godwit

These Waders breed in Iceland and spend the winter in the UK.  They are so great to see around our wetlands.

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit 

Sept 2014 Yellow Wagtail first for me!

Really pleased to get my first picture of a Yellow Wagtail.  This is a summer visitor to the UK. I have seem then from a distance before but never managed to get this close!

Yellow Wagtail Juvenile

August 2014 Migrant Waders Greenshank and Greensandpiper

A great time for returning migrant waders at Slimbridge Gloucestershire

Green Sandpiper

Greenshank Beautiful Wader 

August 2014 Enjoyed the company of this Pied Wagtail

Spent a lovely few minutes in the company of this Pied Wagtail.

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

August 2014 Kestrel hunting

Love to see this falcon hovering in the wind.

Beautiful Kestrel

July 2014 Migrants and Juveniles

I seem to think that this has been a good year for breeding birds, there seems to be lots of new fledglings around.  Also the migrants are much in evidence.

Adult Avocet still watching over the young

Juvenile Avocet's now fully grown

Green Sandpiper return migration

Fully grown Juvenile Lapwing

Reed Warbler doing well

June 2014 Great Crested Grebe great parents!

Got a shot I have always wanted today.  I have always admired these and it's great to get my own for my collection!

Great Crested Grebe with young on back

June 2014 Spoonbill so exotic!

I remember in my old bird book years ago there was a picture of a Spoonbill.  It seemed so unreal and like one of those things that almost didn't really exist.  It was so great to have one land right near to the hide where I was waiting. Real excitement tin getting these shots. 

Spoonbill feeding

Spoonbill scratching

Spoonbill

Strike a pose

June 2014 Male Bullfinch

Found this beautiful Bullfinch this morning. Feel really privileged to get this shot!

May 2014 Common Crane chicks in the west of England!

After an absence of 400 years Common Crane chicks have been born in the wild in the west of England at Slimbridge WWT.

Keeping a careful watch!

Congratulations "Monty & Chris"

May 2014 Will the Crane's hatch this weekend?

I was told that the Crane's at Slimbridge were due to hatch their eggs on Wednesday 14th May.  Went down there on Friday but still no sign.  Will it happen this weekend?

"Chris" getting up off the nest for a stretch .

May 2014 Spring has truly Sprung!

Lovely Spring sunshine in early May. Great to get out there!

Lovely to see Cowslips at the local lane

Reed Warbler gathering nest material

Male Orange Tip

April 2014 Ruff migrating through

I felt really lucky to get quite close to a Ruff at Slimbridge Gloucestershire as it was migrating through to its northerly breeding site. Moulting into breeding plumage it adopted this Redshank as an extra pair of eyes, and seem to follow it everywhere. It's amazing what partnerships can be temporarily formed when there is a mutual benefit.

Ruff Moulting into breeding plumage

Partners Ruff & Redshank

Oyster Catcher decided to get in close too

April 2014 Great Crested Grebes

Its great to see these Great Crested Grebes nesting in the local park.  I am hopeful of getting a shot with the young on the parents back as I have always loved these shots.  I guess it's a matter of luck and being able to be there at the right time. Not always easy when you work full time!

Pair at nest

Incubating

On Nest

Trying to be patient but this grass is irritating

Both birds attentive