Monday 18 January 2010

A snow free day out.

Desperate to go out birding now the snow had gone I decided on Monday morning to go to Draycote Water.My cunning plan was also to call in at the Granborough Valley to see if the Great Grey Shrike was still about.

It was dull and misty when I walked along the muddy path to the GG Shrike area but with help from another birder I located it on some wires.Unfortunately it was along way off and it didn't hang around for long before it flew a long way off westwards.Here are a couple of the worst GG Shrike shots ever taken but at least I saw it.





I then took the short trip to Draycote Water where I decided to walk to the inlet.Didn't see much except for 6 Goosanders and a Kestrel in the top of a tree.





Back at the centre I was told the Great Northern Divers were near Toft in the morning so I thought I'd have a quick look before heading home.I soon found them but they were right across the other side but for once I was patient and after half an hour they came in fairly close to the Pectoral Sandpiper beach.Here are a few shots.





After the GND's had moved on a Kestrel appeared not too far above my head.Unfortunately when I was taking shots of the GND's I was using a teleconverter that was still attached to my lens and you lose autofocus so lots of crappographs taken.Here a some of the better shots.

4 comments:

Mark Phillips said...

I'm liking the last pic of the kestrel Max. Good work!! Nice to see you about again too.

Mark

Kevin Groocock said...

At least you got the Shrike, Max - you do not get very good images when the camera is left in the car!!

As Mark says, nice Kestrel shots.

Pete Walkden said...

Love the shot of the kestrel looking at you, Max. I wonder if he recognises you now? ;-)

Max Silverman said...

Pete I think he does recognise me and is obviously not pleased to see me.