Thursday 30 May 2013

loafing and moulting

This seems to be the week when the drake Shovelers that have been loafing about start their moult.  So here's a shot at capturing a full plumage drake from last week, doing his harlequin hippo thing and maybe pondering the spring that has passed.

Wednesday 22 May 2013

shrikefest

Such a fine shrike day at  Lowestoft last Sunday.  Absolute pearler of an R-b Shrike, with a scimitar shadow cast on its breast by its bill.  Plus as bonus feature the Woodchat, bouncing around on a bramble bush.


Friday 10 May 2013

trying too hard?

Time to accept that in terms of my patch
1 I have missed Willow Warbler for the year and
2 I am not competent to find my own Garden Warbler by song.
So scraping the barrel for patch ticks (see http://patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk for why) had a wee scan for Black Brant.  No joy, but here's what I take to be a Pale-bellied Brent Goose from amongst the circa 400 Bark-bellied Brents hoovering up my brother's barley crop.




Tuesday 7 May 2013

Happy day

First Hobby of the spring at about 8:30PM against the setting sun.   Strange to reflect that it will be four long months before hopefully there are juveniles bouncing about the old dead oak..  

Wednesday 1 May 2013

too much time on my hands

Happy day- I retired from the London commute yesterday and on my first morning of freedom had the pleasure of 2 Wood Sandpipers at Cattawade, long range digipic of one of them here captures the moment.