A day out

Sunday morning I took a trip to Summer Leys, in Northamptonshire. A dull, cloudy morning, but the first time for a while I’ve been able to get out somewhere, and not worry about the car breaking down. I’ve got a new one. Big smile!

Anyway, as I got half way there, the heavens opened. The clouds were moving across the sky faster than I was travelling down the road, and throwing some fierce rain my way. Undeterred, I carried on, and as I neared my turning, the rain slowed to a light drizzle. The old saying, ‘rain before seven, fine by eleven’ was going to be put to the test here.
I parked up, grabbed my camera, and stood in an empty car park. The rain stopped, and I listened to a few birds singing in the trees. I could hear the gulls screeching from the lake, but the sound of a Song Thrush, singing his lovely repetitious song held my attention.
I wandered over to the tree, to try and find him. Usually perched high; but nothing. I stood, listening as he sang his notes for all he was worth. Finally I spotted him. Not at the top, but somewhere down amongst the few leaves left, and hidden by branches.


A well-hidden singer, and difficult to capture, but I was determined to find him. Not the best shot I know, but I was pleased to finally locate him. The day could only get better. I wandered down to the first hide, and began ticking off the birds I could see.
Cormorant, Mute Swan, Coots, Moorhen. A couple of Snipe probing the mud, but not cooperating very much for pictures, Tufted Duck, and then……..
Another Scaup? I took a few shots, so I could have a better look when I got home.

Nah! I decided my ‘Scaup’, was a female Tufted, after seeing the ‘tufts’ on the head. Never mind. I strolled along to the next hide, and sat down.

Lapwing, Shoveler, Teal; and in the distance, Pintail.

Just making it as a record shot. A heavy crop, in lousy weather, but recognisable. I was hoping this wasn’t going to be a day of dodgy record shots.

An enormous flock of birds suddenly took to the air. A lot of Lapwings, but, steadily rising up, and turning like a flock of Starlings going to roost, were Golden Plover! Hundreds!

I saw some of these a few weeks ago at Tring, and it was reported there were in excess of 160. Now I’m no good at counting large flocks of birds, and I sometimes wonder how some people confidently state, ‘367 ‘whatevers’ flying over……’

I just know there were probably 5 times as many, if not more, than I saw at Tring.

Hundreds of the buggers!

Now, you’re probably expecting pictures. Good pictures. Hmmmm, so was I.

More record shots I’m afraid.

Heavily cropped too. But one day……..

I sauntered off down the footpath that circles the lake. Trees either side, and bushes. Maybe better luck with the songbirds. Smaller, but a little more approachable.

Up ahead, Teasels were standing proud, growing at the side of the path. I could hear birds. Goldfinches. I stopped, and waited. Pretty soon, a dozen or more descended upon them, searching out the seed from within.

That’s better, I thought, as I took a ridiculous amount of shots.

And a Great Tit, in the distant shrubs.

Not a grand close up, all feather detail and stuff. I fancied a shot showing his environment, for a change.

I carried on to where the bird feeders are. Some closer shots should present itself here. They’re far too busy feeding, than to worry about some old bloke with a camera.

Reed Bunting, waiting his turn for the seed table.

Blue Tit, doing the same.

His bigger cousin, the Great Tit, doing his impression of a Woodpecker,

and a male Chaffinch, patiently waiting for his spot at the table.


I had a really good day, despite the efforts of the weather, clocking up 40 different bird species. Summer Leys usually turns out to be a good visit, and I even managed to find a friendly birder to talk to, later in the day.

One last shot of a Great Tit, before I go.

Grey Heron

Sometimes difficult to get close to, but a great sight when they flap those massive wings, and take to the air.





On occasions I have managed to get reasonably close, and get some pictures.

He was just having a lazy moment, and was quite happy to just sit and pose for a while.

Not much chance against that massive bill, if you’re a fish, or passing frog. They’ll even take small birds and young rabbits if they can catch them.

But the usual view for me is when they’ve spotted you with those sharp eyes, and suddenly take to the air.

They can get a hard time from some other birds too. This one was quietly minding his own business, looking for some breakfast. But a couple of Black-headed Gulls had other ideas. They dive-bombed him relentlessly, until he decided enough was enough; and took off for somewhere quieter.

All he wanted was a snack.

Gull watch

The last few weeks I’ve been doing some gull watching. Plenty of Black-headed Gulls around at the local lakes, and perfect for practicing flight shots. They’re a bit like buses; miss one, and there’s sure to be more along soon.

They seem to favour certain spots of the lake for their aerial displays, so it’s just a matter of watch and wait.



Here’s one that glided past, after he had just dived into the water.

A quick twist of the body, shake off the water, and ready to go diving again.

Different techniques are used for fishing. Either hover, over the water,

or circle round, followed by a manic dive.

I’m not too sure what happened with this next couple. I think he may have dropped whatever he had, judging by the splash, but didn’t waste much time searching for it again.

And I love the way they seemingly effortlessly rise from the water, after being submerged.

They need to keep their wits about them though. This next one had dived for a fish, and a second gull sensed an easy meal.

He made quite a viscous attack, causing the other unfortunate gull to scream out.

He made his escape eventually, but neither had anything to show for their efforts.

Fascinating to watch.

Goodbye October, hello November.

November came in wet and breezy here, so back to the closing days of October, where the weather was more favourable, allowing some trips out.

A female Blackbird helping herself to some berries.

A little Wren searching the reeds for insects, in the late sun,

and deciding none to be had, so making a quick exit; and a Shoveler, just enjoying the day.

A visit to Tring Reservoirs on the closing days though, produced a couple of excellent results for me personally.

A Pied Wagtail, strutting his stuff along the shore,

a Wigeon swimming with all the other ducks,

and amongst them all, my first Scaup.

That pushed my yearly total to 119. And then it got better. Total 120 quickly followed, with this fellow.

A Meadow Pipit. I counted half a dozen, but apparently up to 40 have been seen there recently.

I wonder what November will blow my way?

For the weekend

Why not get up close to someone you love this weekend?

Have a great weekend!

At last

Anyone who has been following this blog for a while, will know there has been a bird that has eluded me most of this year. He calls when I walk past, then hides. I wait……..he hides. I walk away, he reappears, calling again. My tormentor. Fleeting glimpses as he ducks down amongst the bushes, ready to ambush me again and again.
The Cetti’s Warbler!

This morning I paid a visit to his lair; Willen Lake. A dull, cloudy morning. Not ideal lighting for pictures, but this was a day off work, so it beat sitting indoors. I walked a different direction for a change, hoping to see some Redwing if they’ve got here yet. They haven’t, or at least I didn’t see any. But I heard my tormentor.

I stopped and listened. Somewhere in the tree in front of me. I strained my eyes, searching the branches. Nothing. He called again. I searched again. A small flock of Long Tailed Tits swooped into the tree, searching for breakfast. They noisily chased each other through the branches, and then left, as quickly as they came. All except one.

I watched as he moved up the branches. This wasn’t a Long Tailed Tit. I slowly lifted my camera, not daring to breath. This was my tormentor.




The Cetti finally revealed himself; although somewhat masked by the branches. I rattled off shot after shot, not daring to stop and check if they were ok. They weren’t that good, but at least I had finally captured him on camera.

This is about as far as I could push this with the editing software, after cropping in.

The day could only get better after this. I’d finally got my bird.

Oh I know they are not good, but indulge me in my moment of triumph.

A few more pictures

Another mix of some recent pictures.



Wood Pigeon, giving me the eye.



This young Cygnet happily stopped for a picture



unlike this Canada Goose, who couldn’t wait to get going.



A bashful looking Blue Tit, from last month.




The next four are of a Snipe, that I spent some time watching at the weekend. It’s not often I manage to get reasonably close to these, before they decide to leave.

The first one is the only half decent one that came out whilst he was splashing around, taking a bath.

Not much splash in this shot. But what happened next, really surprised me.



He jumped up backwards, out of the water, shaking his wings. I presume to dry them? Never seen anything like that before.



Now all my bird books say the Snipe has a long straight bill. The next two pictures, show its open bill, and......





it’s curved!



I’m confused. Glad I got it on camera though.