FUN AND GAMES WITH A CETTI'S WARBLER.

Yesterday morning the sun was shining so off I went to my local patch Marsh Lane.Got there at 9.30 AM and the sun was shining but my God was it cold my thermals were penetrated by the cold within a few minutes.

On the Oak trees by the crop field I soon spotted a couple of Bramblings and a lone Yellowhammer but as usual they were perched right at the top of the trees so no decent shots this time. 

On the RW pool there was an Egret showing but unfortunately not the Great White but a Little Egret.

I then headed to the N Causeway hide to try yet again for some decent shots of a Cetti's Warbler but I had no luck.I passed the time getting shots of a Gadwall and a Little Grebe. 

I was thinking about leaving the hide and heading home for a warm drink when a movement in the reeds caught my eye.It was a Cetti's Warbler and for once it was not skulking down in the reeds.Rattled off a quick shot.

Instead of going home I stayed for nearly an hour as my little friend hopped around in the reeds mostly out of site but sometimes showing well and sometimes very close.

This bird did not call or sing whilst I was watching it but a second bird well to the right of the hide was singing.Here are a few shots when my bird came close which strangely makes it harder to focus on.

AN OLD FRIEND PAYS A VISIT.

Early this morning when I was upstairs on the laptop I stood up to stretch an aching back just as a Sparrowhawk flashed past the window and landed on the birdbath  in my back garden.

I grabbed the camera that luckily wasn't too far away and rattled off a few shots before my friend flew off next door.I hadn't seen my friend for a few months so I was pretty pleased with the results considering it was still gloomy outside and the shots were taken through a double glazed window.

A VERY GOOD MORNING AT THE LOCAL PATCH.

Sunny weather was forecast for the morning so off I went to Marsh Lane getting there not long after 9.00 AM.

Didn't do too well with the camera for the first hour but when I was walking back to the N Causeway hide and had just crossed the steam I met two friends.While we were chatting a dozen Chaffinches landed in a nearby tree and when I was checking them out I spotted at least 3 Bramblings among them.Chuffed to bits that I was at last able to get some decent shots. 

A Great White Egret had visited Marsh Lane twice recently but I had missed it so I was very pleased from the N Causeway hide when I spotted it way over on the western bank of the CP pool.

I raced over to the River hide hoping I could get a bit closer but when I got there straightaway something disturbed the bird. 

It was a Grey Heron.

It flew past the side of the hide and way off to a distant part of the RW pool so no decent shots but great to see.

HARD WORK AT THE LOCAL PATCH.

Sunshine was forecast yesterday morning so off I popped again to my local patch Marsh Lane getting there at 9.30 AM.It took a while but the sun did come out eventually but as often happens when it's bright you struggle to find any birds to point the camera at.

The day before the local Pond Hopper flew in and landed on a neighbour's roof It seemed to be deciding whether to go for some Goldfish or some Koi Carp in the nearby ponds.

Back to Marsh Lane. On the CP pool the best birds were the regular GBB Gull and a Herring Gull.Also a lone Shellduck was cruising around

From the N Causeway hide the Cetti's Warbler was about but as usual it was in full skulking mode and hard to spot.To make it worse a couple of Wren were also present.Finally got a few shots no keepers but nice to get some shots.

Before I left I had another go at getting some Brambling shots.Had no luck by the oak trees in the crop field but did spot one at the CP feeders.Trouble was it came into the open under the feeders for 2 seconds every 15 minutes before flying off.On one occasion when it flew off it landed in a tree right by me but it was too close to focus on properly and I ended up with only a crappygraph.

NOT MUCH LUCK AT THE LOCAL PATCH.

Been down to the local patch Marsh Lane a few times since my last post but have had no luck in the cold and gloomy weather.

Last Saturday I had not intended going out as it was very cold but near lunchtime when I got the message that a Great White Egret had just dropped in on the RW pool I grabbed the camera and shot over there.Although I got there only 20 minutes after getting the message I was greeted in the car park by smiling friends "It's flown"  "You have missed it "  " I've got some great pics"  I hate that when it happens.

I stayed for an hour but it didn't come back but here is a shot of one that I did see at Marsh Lane a year or two ago.

The only shot I took that morning was of a very large Cormorant that was on the CP pool.

It was sunny yesterday morning so I went there again.It was very cold and there was ice on the pools.It was very quiet and I struggled to get some shots.Here is a shot of some of the 25 Common Snipe that were at the far end of the marsh.

A Kestrel was perched in the Oak trees near the car park but the light was not helpful.

Spent nearly an hour then trying for shots of a Brambling in the same Oak trees.There was one that fleetingly perched in the trees but it was always at the top of the tree and always in the twiggiest part Managed a few shots but no keepers I'm afraid.

FUN AND GAMES WITH A GOLDCREST AT MY LOCAL PATCH.

The sun was out on Wednesday so I shot over to Marsh Lane getting there at 9.30 AM.

After trying again for a Brambling shot for half an hour and not even seeing one I ended up in the N causeway hide waiting patiently for the Cetti's Warbler to show.I was only getting distant glimpses but I was kept interested when a Song Thrush landed in a nearby bush.

Shortly after the Song Thrush flew off a Goldcrest landed in the gorse close to the hide.I love Goldcrests to bits but my god they are a devil to get a decent shot of as they never stay still.Another problem with them is that twigs are often in the way.

Luckily I did manage a few clearer shots before my little friend flew off.

I then had a very enjoyable 30 minutes along the causeway trying to get some more shots as it pinged about in the bushes.At one time it was so close I could have touched it but I didn't have much success it was far too quick for me.This is my best shot along the causeway.