LOVE IN THE MORNING SUN.

Love in the morning sun I hasten to add does not involve me but a pair of Common Buzzards. As I drove to Balsall Common early this morning there was good and bad news. 

The bad was the farm shop I was visiting was closed as some bloody awful people had broken in and raided the place.The good news was as I left I spotted a Common Buzzard at the back of the fields so I quickly parked up and grabbed the camera.

As luck would have it there were a pair of them and they were in the mood for some loving. Never seen let alone got any shots of some of them together before. Here are some shots of the nervous female awaiting the arrival of the male.

Here is a shot of the male a bit nervous in a nearby field.He eventually bucked up courage and went for it.

Some shots of his arrival at the meeting point. He went in a bit heavy handed.Nervous I suppose.

Some shots of the main action.

Things got broken up by a Peeping Tom in the form of a Jackdaw.

SHOTS FROM THE PAST - 4

One morning in May 2014 I had a call from John Oates saying that he had found a Bonaparte's Gull on the railway pool at Marsh Lane.I confess to never even heard about one before so I shot over there and managed a few shots and a life tick to boot

Early in February 2017 an Iceland Gull had been reported amongst the other Gulls using a large pond in a Birmingham park (I think it was Small Heath park but I might be wrong). I eventually went for it but it took me 3 visits before I caught up with it. I remember it being very cold and after scanning round the pond on my third visit and not seeing it I was about to give up when it appeared right in front of me.

One of my bogy birds is a Hen Harrier. I've only ever seen one and that was a long way off in October 2008 way to the west of the main path at Titchwell.Despite watching it for an hour it would not come close. Only managed one crappograph.

I've seen Marsh Harriers in many places not only in Norfolk but also at Marsh Lane and Brandon Marsh.These shots were taken at these locations. 

I love Sparrowhawks and used to see them regularly in the garden. The second shot here was taken in the garden in March 2010.

In the good old days I used to have birding holidays in Norfolk several times a year and each visit I would visit a layby on the road between  Burnham Market and North Creake where you could overlook fields were Montague's Harriers would nest each year.You had to be very patient to catch a glimpse so no great shots but great to see.

We've  been lucky round here over the years with Bitterns being regular Winter visitors at Marsh Lane and Brandon Marsh.

Another bogy bird of mine is a Cattle Egret. I've only ever seen one and that was near the main building at Middleton Hall with the highland cattle in April 2009. Both Little and Great White Egrets have been very easy to see locally.Both the shots below were taken at Marsh Lane in July 2018 

FIRST CHIFFCHAFF OF THE YEAR.

Last Wednesday on the way back from getting some food shopping from a farm shop in Balsall Common I stopped at one of my regular spots hoping to get some shots of a Common Buzzard that sometimes can be seen there.

As soon as I got out the car I heard a Chiffchaff calling close by. Just hearing it cheered me up a lot but 45 minutes later I only saw it once for 5 seconds and once for 10 seconds so no great shots but wonderful to get the first shots of the year.

Saw at least 3 Common Buzzards but they were so high I could not get a decent shot.Pretty pleased with this shot as it was a long way off.These micro 4/3 cameras are very good.

THE MALE BLACKCAP PAYS A VISIT

Getting less and less visitors to the back garden feeders now the weather is getting better.The good news was that the female Blackcap which has been a regular visitor this winter was joined at long last by the male.

I've been out a few times to some very local viewing spots but birds have been very thin on the ground. Only a few years ago these same spots gave great opportunities to use the camera. All I've managed is a distant shot of a Mistle Thrush alongside a Redwing and a shot of a Common Gull.

BIRDS FROM THE PAST - 3

Had to wait ages at Shustoke Reservoir in October 2016 for a distant Red -breasted Merganser to come close and when it suddenly appeared very close it took us all by surprise. The other shot was taken in January 2014 but I am not sure where.

I'd had to travel a long way to see a Hawfinch  before and then had only a glimpse so very poor pics. I'd also seen one many years ago in the old car park area at Draycote Water but then had not got a camera. So when a few had been spotted in the churchyard grounds at Berkswell in December 2017 I raced over there. I went several times as it's pretty close and I remember it being very cold and you had to wait ages before they showed after the berries in their favourite tree.

I had seen many Black-necked Grebes at local sites over the years but had never seen one in Summer plumage so when one was found on the Engine pool at Earlswood lakes in June 2016 I went over there as soon as I could. I managed some decent shots of one in Summer plumage at long last.

One of my very favourite birds of the Summer visitors are Spotted Flycatchers.I've been lucky enough to find them every year locally for many years now often in churchyards where they use the gravestones as perches. I've taken so many shots of them I've lost count of where I've seen them.I'm pretty sure these shots taken in July 2016 were in the churchyard at Baddesley Clinton 

I've only ever seen a Crossbill once in all the times I've been birding and I was lucky to see that. A friend and I were at Marsh Lane when we bumped into another friend who volunteered to take us to see some. It was March 2012 and they were at to me an obscure part of Cannock Chase. Only managed a few shots as they were very flighty.

Another favourite bird is the Firecrest. Don't see them very often as they are pretty scarce.These shots were taken both in February and one in 2008 and the other in 2009. One at Alvecote Pools and one at Hams Hall.

I've never seen a Pied Flycatcher locally and have had to travel miles to go and seen one. Back in May 2014 I headed to a little reserve called Gilfach NR not far from Rhayader in Wales to break my duck.It was quite a drive but out in the wilds I saw the reserve sign and turned down a steep narrow road.At the bottom of theroad I saw a hide so I parked in a gateway and entered the hide opened the flap and just a few feet away I saw a male Pied Flycatcher enter a bird box loaded with flies in his beak.After that excitement I drove the rest of the way up to the reserve centre and was greeted there by some Common Redstarts. What a place.

Took me ages to catch up with a Turtle Dove. I finally did in June 2014 at Titchwell in a tree just off from the main path.

In January 2008 among the many Lesser Redpolls that were feeding most days along the reserve road at Marsh Lane was this bird that caused much discussion and quite a crowd on some occasions.The ID discussions were way above my head but seemed to between an Arctic Redpoll or a Mealy Redpoll.

  During a lot of the Winter 2008/2009 a Red-necked Grebe was at Draycote Water .It often showed very well and it was nice to see it's plumage changing.                                          

A Slavonian Grebe was reported to be on a fishing lake in March 2010 at Grimley in Worcestershire. I went over one morning and found the lake eventually.As I walked round a gruff voice said "You are not going to get any shots wandering round dressed like an idiot" . There was a photographer lying down at the edge of the lake covered from head to foot in camoflage including hands and face.

I headed off to the other side of the lake whereupon the bird slowly headed my way and started fishing only a few feet away.I of course gave the other birder a wave or two.