A Collection of Birds

Its that time of year again when we start to photograph Robins.



The Jay starts to bury acorns.



The female Green Woodpecker having completed bringing up her young now has a chance for some quality time.




The Greylag Goose flies about in the bright autumn sunlight looking for fields of nice green grass.


This immature Cock Pheasant is looking forward to the time that his fine coloured plumage appears.

My Competition Entry

This was my entry for the BBC Countryfile Calendar Photographic Competition 2009, the proceeds of which go to "Children in Need". The subject was "Wild and wonderful".

It didn't get anywhere apart from the shredder, but there were lots of superb photographs entered from what I observed of the entries on the Countryfile Programme on TV.

So now I can post it on my blog.

A Rare Visitor

Scaup Duck (female) ID shots only.

The lakes that I regularly walk around often provide something different to observe. Its about this time of year and on through the winter that I get occasionally to observe a Scaup on those lakes. The Scaup is a winter visitor from the tundra of Scandinavia and Iceland from September through to April.

The species is a sea duck found mainly around the estuaries, but the odd one or two do visit inland during the winter. They can normally be found along with a flock of Tufted Duck so you need to survey the flock closely to pick them out, especially a female. The significant marking that helps to identify a female is the white blaze on the head around the edge of the beak.

Goose Landing

"Turning finals, three greens"





"Nicely on glide path and central line"



"Flaring"



"Oops!, why is that idiot still on the runway."

Reflections

All these images were taken in the previous two weeks.

Woodpigeon


Immature Great Crested Grebe


Green Sandpiper


Grey Heron


Greylag Geese

The Blackberry Run

Not my normal scenes from a cycle ride this time although I was cycling and I did take some scenes.

My ride out today was to complete a Mission.
"The Blackberry Run".

I was set an objective (by higher authority at Mission Control {:)) to pick and return home with some wild Blackberries.

I knew of several locations where they grow in some considerable number. Below is a photograph of one such location and the bramble bushes grow along this hedgerow on the left.


On arrival I received several offers of help to pick the blackberries, but politely declined their kind offer.


Here is the result of my efforts, two containers full to the brim. Suitably stowed in the rucksack I continued with the rest of the ride.


The potato crop in this field looks about ready for lifting.


That is one big pile of sugar. It seems quite early to lift the Sugar Beet crop.


Common Gulls follow the plough and a Grey Heron further up the bank on the right looks on.


On the way home an unusual cloud formation to look at and photograph.

The Expert Fisherman

Normally Cormorant tend to fly off as soon as they see you approaching from quite some distance especially if they are on a river. I observed this one from the edge of woodland and near a bridge. He definitely was aware of my presence, but I think the fishing was so good that he had far more important things on his mind. I watched him dive under water time after time for about 10 minutes.

'Expert' is definitely a good adjective to describe the Cormorant's fishing abilities. I estimated that he had caught a fish at least every second dive. Judging by the amount of river weed he surfaced with he was searching down on the bottom of the river bed amongst the weeds.








Present throughout the year, the Cormorant produces one brood of 3/4 eggs form April to May. Nests are twigs high up in a tree or if by the sea high on a cliff. They have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years which is no surprise as they eat well and are very resourceful.

Little Grebe

The Little Grebe
(Or the "Dabchick" as it is commonly known in the part of England where I originated.)

This is an immature Dabchick which I was able to photograph from a hide. Normally a very difficult bird to get a reasonable shot of as they dive and swim for cover at the water's edge if they observe the slightest movement.


The Dabchick has virtually no tail and is very small. On larger lakes and rivers it is barely visible at a distance sometimes, especially if larger waterfowl and duck are in abundance. If it goes into cover it tends to move away under water and may only pop its head above the surface within vegetation to observe for danger.


A resident species it produces one brood of 4 to 6 eggs from April to June. Mainly a freshwater inhabitant, it can be seen on the sea in secluded coves/bays.

Scenes from a Cycle Ride (Part 2)

The second post of this two part scenes from a cycle ride.

The river shown in the first two photos is a good place to visit in winter as we get a variety of different Duck and Geese species using it as winter quarters.



Another unkempt wooden style. Behind it you can see how high the road is in relation to the river and land the other side. This is typical of roadways on the fenland.


Unattached and immature Mute Swans congregate on the fenland rivers throughout the year.


Sensible sheep avoiding the mid day sun


Oak tree acorns are now turning brown which is another sign of autumn.


This iron bridge is actually a regional railway line.


The sheeps path.


Every time I pass this way I observe a Green Woodpecker amongst the trees somewhere, but never long enough to photgraph it. Today was no exception.


This picturesque narrow bridge in a village that I cycled through is only wide enough for one car to pass over.


This disused farm building was probably a small dairy unit once upon a time.


Hips from the Dog Rose are abundant now in hedgerows.


Soil dust coming up from the disc harrows means we haven't had rain for a few days.


I have ended this two part post with more blue sky and why not.