A few days rest at home last week, mainly catching up on the odd chore, but we were able to get out for a couple of walks at the end of the week.
A coastal visit to Cuckmere Haven in Sussex. Clear sky but quite windy with lots of school parties walking the meanders to the beach. Not a great dearth of sightings but plenty of Little Egrets flying around.
At the beach I caught up with Fulmars floating high above the cliffs and 12 Whimbrel briefly on the muddy river margin before being spooked by other walkers. A few Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Cetti's Warbler (heard) and Skylarks singing everywhere. Not sure what happened to this guys other horn but he seemed happy enough!
On the recommendation of a friend we also paid a midday visit to Old Lodge Nature Reserve in Ashdown Forest. Another chilly day and unfortunately not very many avian sightings but the walk was very pleasant.
A group of horses appeared from nowhere and offered a photo opportunity as they partook of the fresh green growth..JPG)
We heard and saw Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Whitethroat, Dunnock, Kestrel, but the star was a displaying Tree Pipit and I just managed one half decent in flight shot.
On one of the tiny pools I took this photo and didn't realise until it was 'cropped' that there was some 'hanky panky' going on!
Finally, I managed to capture this female Broad Bodied libellula when it finally perched.
Sounds as though you enjoyed your break. And a Chaser already! Excellent picture of it - well captured Frank.
ReplyDeleteThere was some duck "hanky panky" going on in the little pond right under my kitchen window this afternoon! Spring is in the air!
ReplyDeleteTricia. Thanks, not bad for a 1st try but would have liked to have captured the wing colours better.
ReplyDeleteLynne. Careful, don't get carried away!
LOL at your naughty bugs! Loved the one horned cow! Very diverse and beautiful photo selection today!
ReplyDeleteI love these photos!! Love horses and cows.. And that ain't no bull!! Ha!
ReplyDeleteGod capture of the Tree Pipit Frank, a bird I've still to see.
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful Broad Bodied Chaser, lovely golden colour. I've seen a few males before, but never a female. Not seen any Dragons here yet, but must be soon.
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Love the last photo!
ReplyDeleteLeedra’s Photos For FunLeedra’s Greeting CardsPhotography By Leedra
...love that cow! I need to find a pasture with a cow in it. I've never photographed one, but I enjoy looking at their photos. I really know nothing about insects, but the last photo is very pretty. He looks like he's been touched by Midas!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos Frank. I love the inscet photo and the flying egret.
ReplyDeleteI think some hanky panky is going on everywhere with the birds and bees right now!!! That pipit pic is very nice and I love the pic of the mute swan in your side bar..beautiful colors..stunning!!
ReplyDeleteI especially like the photo of the Little Egret in flight. Most of the whimbrels from around here have migrated a while ago so its nice to know that they are being watched in the northern hemisphere. (Yours of course would winter in a different area of the southern hemisphere from here.)
ReplyDeleteHi "Early Birders". Thanks for leaving your appreciative comments on this diverse mix of pics. When the birding is less intense there is more opportunity for me to photograph other subjects. The BB Chaser was a 1st with the DSLR (and no macro) so quite pleased but not up to the standerd of some of my watchers (ie Leedra)but hopefully I'll improve with practice. Not sure why everyone drools over Cows (Shelly, Ginnymo & Kelly) but you may get a few more from time to time. Flying targets (Keith, Kim & Mick) are a challenge but good when it works out ok. So as Tina says keep an eye out for all the 'hanky panky' & tell me about it. Cheers FAB
ReplyDeleteHi Frank,
ReplyDeleteSometime it is worth waiting a bit, then you enjoy more the next walk. Looks like you enjoyed this one very much and you got nice shot and saw nice species, even a strange species of cow ;-)
A very worthy subject for the great new header Frank.
ReplyDeleteI have to ask, are the horse's wild?
ReplyDeleteTo me the Egrets are such a beautiful bird, like Swans. Their grace and beauty leave me in awe.
That is quite the Dragonfly!
All that can do is smile when I look at this post. The phots are great.
ReplyDeleteChris. You are quite right.
ReplyDeleteRoy. Thanks, I thought it was time for a change & the photo seemed appropriate.
Hi Sharon. Presume wild, never been ridden but they are used to managed the landscape.
Steve B. Thanks, I'm glad you are smiling.
Hi Frank, how is the digiscoping going? I have just started a blog carnival for people to link in their digiscoping photos or videos (from a blog, flickr, youtube, etc.) to one place.
ReplyDeleteIt would be really cool if you also joined in the fun!
Happy birding
Dale
http://alpinebirds.blogspot.com
Hi Dale, birding with bins & new DSLR so very little digi-scoping at the moment. I'll see what I can do once I work out the technicalities of all this linking etc. Somebody might have to hold my hand!!
ReplyDeleteHave fun on the forthcoming trip.
a selection of lovely pictures
ReplyDeleteVery interesting pictures, Great work! Thank you for sharing. I love the cow shot!
ReplyDelete:))
The last photo in this series is terrific. It looks like his bottom has been dipped in gold! Nice series as always.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a superb spot. Great to see Dragonflies on the wing again and a superb image of the Broad Bodied Chaser - not seen one yet this year.
ReplyDeletePhil & Mandy, hillbillyfarmgirl, Montanagirl & Matt. Thanks again for all your appreciative comments.
ReplyDelete