LONG TAILED TITS.

Been to the local patch in Temple Balsall a couple of times this week and managed a few shots although it was hard work.

Spotted this young Blackcap in a tree waiting patiently for its father to find it and give it a meal

Was having a quiet time there yesterday when a mixed flock of birds suddenly flew through the trees near where I was standing.Most of the birds just stopped for only a few seconds but some Long Tailed Tits hung around a little longer.

The only other bird I got any shots of was this Song Thrush feeding on the ground.

A BIT QUIET OUT THERE.

Been out with the camera a few times since my last post but have found it a struggle to find anything interesting to point the camera at.

Went to the NT property at Baddesley Clinton again to see if the Spotted Flycatchers were still showing but again I fell foul with the need to pre book my visit.The day I chose turned out to be cool, breezy and dull so the birds did not show. I did find a  Chiffchaff catching flies from some fencing not far from the church.

Another visit to Temple Fields on Sunday got me shots of a Red Admiral, a pair of Linnets, a Common Whitethroat,and a Treecreeper

On another visit to Temple fields on Monday I found another Common Whitethroat that was very relaxed and I was able to get pretty close.Also I came across a group of 4 Chiffchaffs hopping around the same tree but I only got one shot.Too quick for me.

Wasn't going to go out birding on Wednesday morning as the forecast was not good but I had to pick up a prescription so I went to Temple Fields again.

There was good and bad news. The good was the forecast was wrong and it was a warm and sunny morning.The bad was that it was a day of missing out badly with the camera.

As I walked down the stream path I heard a C Buzzard calling from a tree just across the stream but although I was in stealth mode it flew off as I raised the camera. Then not much further along the path I came face to face with a rather fine looking Fox but it shot off before I even touched the camera.Ten minutes later whilst trying to spot a calling Blackcap a small raptor landed in a nearby tree.It was a Merlin.This time I got the camera upto shoulder height before it shot off. Later on a Sparrowhawk came out from over the woods into view but just as I was focussing on it it went back over the woods out of view.Just before the CP 2 birds landed on the top of a nearby tree one was a Goldfinch but the other was a Spotted Flycatcher.Of course they both flew off before I could get the camera on them.Oh Dear !!!!!

COMMON WHITETHROATS.

After the excitement of finding the Tawny Owl in the sewage works a few days ago things down the local patch in the Temple Balsall countryside have been a bit quiet but yesterday I came across a family of Common Whitethoats.

In a hedge I heard the calls of at least three young birds and when one made an appearance I saw that they were Common Whitethroats.I was able to take a few shots before it disappeared.

Both parents then showed up and were trying to find their offspring.

Things went a bit quiet which enabled me to change position and hide a bit closer behind a large gatepost.One showed again this time a bit deeper in the hedge

Another then showed and posed for shots on some fencing.

AN EXCITING MORNING.

Yesterday morning I headed over to Temple Balsall again but this time I went to the pond near the main car park rather than Temple Fields.

Had no luck at the pond but in the trees around the car park the Chiffchaff that I've heard many times lately singing away but which remained well hidden in the leaves actually showed itself.Managed a few decent shots for a change.

There was rain in the air so I decided to head home for a coffee but when I stopped at the road junction by the school and looked across the road into the small sewage works I was sure I could see a large bird inside the equipment protection cage.

I drove over and parked in the layby and was amazed when I looked through the site security fence and through the sewage equipment mesh cage I saw a Tawny Owl.It must have got in through a gap and could not get out.It was very distressed and was doing a lot of wing flapping.

I put it out on Twitter and contacted Severn Trent straightaway. Calls to the RSPB and the RSPCA were a waste of time. The bird was released later that day by Severn Trent and taken into care. 

Took a few shots when the Owl calmed down and perched on a low wall. Almost impossible to get any shots in focus because of the security fence and the mesh cage

DIDN'T THINK I'D FIND ONE THIS YEAR.

This morning I went to the NT property at Baddesley Clinton for the first time since they re-opened. I would have gone earlier but you have to book up at least a week in advance which I don't like as you don't know what the weather is going to be. It was windy and dull this morning.

Had to go through two check points just to go into the grounds. I had less trouble going through Check Point Charley in Berlin in the cold war. When I started to walk round everything of interest for birds was roped off. Brilliant !!!!!

Did get a shot of a Goldcrest in the gloom and of what I think is a young Song Thrush.

I left pretty soon and luckily decided to walk upto the church first rather than go home for a coffee straightaway. Lucky because look what I spotted right at the start of the path. A Spotted Flycatcher. One of my favourite among the Summer visitors. Didn't think I'd catch up with one this year. It flew off so only one shot and didn't return.

However my luck continued when I entered the churchyard.Look what was waiting for me.It seemed to be saying " Where the f*** have you been. We've been here for weeks and you only turn up now"

I think this is a juvenile high up in a tree.If they have fledged it'll be hard to get any more pics.