A Glossy end to the day!

Yesterday, we decided to go on a big journey today with my new lens. It is a 70-200mm with a 1.7 converter. We started at Thornley Woods where there wasn’t much at all except stock doves, squirrels, coal tits and nuthatches! I was a bit disappointed with the outcome of Thornley. Next we went to Big Waters. We got there and went straight to the main hide. It was very busy so I just got a spot at the feeders although I still had a view of the main pond. After watching the goldfinches, blue tits, great tits and greenfinches for a while, I saw 3 snipe out of the window. They were a bit far off for photos but within 10 minutes they were right underneath the window. I got some great photos of birds that I have never seen that close before! We left soon after that to go to Cresswell to see the Glossy Ibis via St. Mary’s. We arrived at St. Mary’s and sat in the North Bay for half an hour on the rocks. It was fantastic sitting watching the waders feed around us, the dunlin came especially close. They we within 7 feet of us producing great views and photos. There was a curlew that came very close as well and I got a photo of that too. After sitting for 30 minutes we went to Cresswell. When we got there, there were loads of people in the car park but they told us that we had just missed the ibis my 15 minutes. After a while, someone got a call to say it was near Bell’s Pool. The car park cleared within 2 minutes. Everyone went to Bell’s Pool. We followed everyone and when we got there, we immediately saw mine and my dad’s first Glossy Ibis. It was in the field just beyond the pool but it soon flew onto the pool giving us great views. A glossy end to the day!!

Snipe

Goldfinch Redshank Curlew Dunlin

Glossy Ibis

A great end to a great day! 23/7/09

Been out and about today. First, we went to Big Waters then St. Mary's. We actually started at St. Mary's but the tide was too far out to see any waders. We decided to come back after Big Waters to see if the tide had come in any more. So we went to Big Waters. When we arrived, we went to the main hide to see what there was on the feeders. There was a lot more than I expected. When we first had look there wasn't much but it got better. Soon a male bullfinch showed up closely followed by the female 5 minutes later. We watched them for 10 minutes before they left the feeders again. We sat for another 15 minutes without seeing much on the pond or the feeders. There was 6 ducklings and 7 cygnets in front of the hide and 2 little grebes further across. Not much more on the pond however. But soon after, a yellowhammer showed up on the feeders with 3 stock doves. A juvenile GS Woodpecker made an appearance as well. There was also baby great, blue and coal tits as well as a wren. Plenty of chaffinches and greenfinches too. At 2pm, we went to St. Mary's. The tide had come in, so we went to the North bay to see the waders. We noticed the sand martin colony too on the way round. Unfortunately, there wasn't many waders even at low tide so we called it a day. However, on the way back to the car, we did see 2 waders fly in towards the shore, so I went down to see them and got some photos. I think they are curlew sandpiper, what does everyone think? Bullfinch

Tree Sparrow Wren

Pair of Bullfinches Yellowhammer Stock Dove

Goldfinches Dunlin

Saltholme RSPB 14/4/09

Yesterday, me and my dad decided to go and try out the new reserve - Saltholme. When we got there we found out that there were 3 hides so we went to the first one which had a feeding station. On the feeders there were loads of goldfinches and 3 reed buntings but not much else so we went to the next hide. Unfortunately there wasn't much except a great-crested grebe so we went to the last hide which was the very best. When we went in we noticed a black-tailed godwit next to 4 wigeon. We weren't sure what type it was until it turned it's tail and we saw it was black. Then someone pointed out a wader on the far side which was a ruff. I tried to digiscope it but it didn't turn out very well. Just as we were about to leave the hide, a white-fronted goose flew over too fast for me to get the camera out. Unlucky!

After Saltholme we went to Greatham Creek to see the avocets. We got to the first little bit of metal which was the hide that the avocets were in and sure enough there were 8 avocets - 1 of which was sitting on eggs. We went to the hide that overlooked the sea and we saw 2 seals. Not much else though so we went back to the avocets. My dad noticed a little wader to the right of the avocet nest and after looking hard at it we decided it was a little ringed plover. A lovely end to the day!

Avocet Pair Avocet Nest Little Ringed Plover

Digiscoped Ruff Goldfinch