AN EARLY VISIT TO THE LOCAL PATCH.

Went to Marsh Lane early this morning getting there at 7.15 AM.It was a little overcast but still and quite warm.

Soon ended up in the RW hide because I could find nothing new from the other hides.The pair of Lesser Whitethroats were very active but were harder than ever to get shots of.

There were quite a few young birds about.Did manage a few shots but nothing came into range other than a pair of very young Long Tailed Tits.

ANOTHER BATTLE WITH THE LESSER WHITETHROATS.

Went to my local patch Marsh Lane again this morning getting there at 8.00 AM.The early morning sun had gone and it was a bit gloomy.

There were 4 Med Gulls on the RW pool seen from the oak hide.Two Adults,  One 1st and one 2nd Summer birds.All too distant for my lens but nice to see.

Soon ended up in the RW hide where for the first time in a while the Lesser Whitethroats were showing.When I say showing I really mean giving a brief glimpse every 20 minutes and always at a distance.One was ringed.

Luckily the well known wildlife photographer John Hunt was in the hide and he was a great help in spotting when they showed in the brambles.Even so I failed again to get any keeper shots but great fun trying.In a stay of nearly 2 hours these are the best I managed.

A FRUSTRATING DAY WITH THE CAMERA.

Early on Sunday morning I went to a local churchyard where last year I found a pair of my favourite summer visitors Spotted Flycatchers nesting.After an hour's patient wait I had no luck.Looks like they are not coming back this year.Oh Dear !!!

The visit was not a total failure.A Nuthatch showed very briefly high up on the church roof.

Also a Treecreeper landed on a nearby tree but annoyingly stayed on the gloomy side of the tree.

Early afternoon I went over to Marsh Lane.The two Med Gulls  (a 1st and 2nd Summer I believe) were showing but a long way off. 

The good news was that the pair of Garganeys reported in the morning were still on the RW pool.The bad news was that despite waiting patiently for ages they stayed in the channel in front of Tern island. This is a long way off and is mostly hidden from view from the oak hide.Could not get even a half decent shot.

A MORNING IN THE CHILTERNS.

As I was not doing too well locally with the camera I thought I'd better make the effort and head off somewhere that would guarantee seeing some good birds. Hadn't yet made my annual trip into the Chiltern Hills for the Red Kites so I headed off to Watlington early yesterday morning down the M40.

Pulled into the free car park in Watlington at just after 9.00 AM and noticed straightaway that the Red Kites taking advantage of the warm weather were cruising high in the sky.Had to be more patient than usual but eventually some came down a bit lower so I could grab a few shots.Cracking birds.   

Very pleased a bit later on when on a bit of a walk round I spotted one perched in a tree.Not got any decent shots of one perched in a tree.

The first Rook I've photographed for quite a while perched in a tree along one of the roads at the back of the car park.

Back in the car park I could hear a Red Kite calling close by but I'm blowed if I could see it.It was in a tree right behind me.More perched shots.

A FEW RECENT SHOTS FROM MY LOCAL PATCH.

Been down to Marsh Lane again yesterday and this morning.The first in pouring rain and the latter in bright early morning sunshine.I failed to find anything new but here are a few of the shots I was able to manage.