Mad as March one

Went out very early this morning for my first attempt at brown hare given that this is the time to try and photograph them. I was please with the results for a first try but will have to have another go at them to see if I can get some shots of them boxing.

Couple of back lit early first light shots to start

The Mere

I called into Martin Mere recently on a grey misty day with poor light. It has been while since I visited and I was surprised to see the Whooper Swan still on the main lake.

In amongst them was a black swan which I assume had some how made it there from the waterfowl collection on the other side of the fence.

I was hoping to see some Ruff close in to the hide but they not were present but a Pintail did leave the water and I think the first time I have seen one on dry land.

The reed bunting always look good in the spring and several males were visiting the feeders near one of the hides.

Passing Marshside RSPB on the way home, I stopped for a short while, but it was generally quiet in front of the hides except for a lone shoveler.

Lunchtime Dipper

There is a small stream very close to my office so I thought I would spend my lunch hour trying to get a shot of a dipper. Ate my sandwich, took some shots and then back to work. A rewarding way to spend the 60 minutes.

New birds arriving

Some new birds are starting to arrive at the woodland feeding station on the private site but as yet I have not managed to capture them, with both siskin appearing and the first sight of a brambling. Managed to get 3 shots in the during the very brief glimpse of the Brambling but none of them turned out. This is a shame as I have only ever managed to photograph one Brambling before, that unusually turned up in the back garden just over a year ago of which here are a couple of shots taken then...

and against the orange paint!!! of the garden wall

Hopefully I will have some new shots to show soon.

The woodpecker were busy and seem to be chasing each other around no doubt as a prelude to breeding and at one point there were four birds in on the feeders.

Apart from that just the usual birds coming in amongst which were...

Blue tit

Long tailed tit

and Goldfinch

Captive tropicals

As the light has been poor this morning I thought I would take some time sorting through and backing-up some shots from last year. As I was working through my huge collection of zoo shots I came across some photos from Chester Zoo and thought they might go together to form a nice colourful post. Thought this would bring a change from the wild birds. I enjoy visits to the zoo as it makes for some more relaxing photography than stalking wild birds and is also good for practicing technique. The majority of these shots were taken in the tropical realm within the zoo where all the birds are free flying and light generally limted. Hopefully I have got the names right!!

Amethyst Starling

Orange headed thrush

Peking Robin

Red whiskered Bulbul

Superb Spreo Starling

Royal starling

Asian Glossy Starling

Not sure of the names of the next two!!!

and to finish off a Taveta Golden Weaver and Lillac Breasted Roller

Hopefully the light and conditions will be better tomorrow.....

Disturbance free bird photography

It is great getting photographic access to private sites as it is grood to have freedom without disturbance. Thought I would post some recent birds from private sites that I have access to . The first set is from a private woodland where I set up a feeding station earlier this year.

The ever present chaffinch

Difficult to resist a Robin

I am not sure why but I really like Dunnock and despite their lack of colour, they hold a lot of interest to me.

Moving on to another site, this time a private farm that I recently visited for a session with a friend. For those interested these shots were taken with the 100-400mm zoom lens.

Goldfinch

I seem to have an attraction to pheasant at the moment, as they keeping turning up everywhere I go!!!!

Bullfinch

and to finish off a new species for me, the unfortuately rapidly declining Tree sparrow

Incoming

Spotted my first migrant arrival of the year in the shape of a male Wheatear in the full glory of its spring plummage. The bird was very nervous but managed to get a couple shots by using the 1.4 teleconvertor on the 500mm lens and a stealthy approach.

Dark Morph

Popped out for the regular early Sunday morning session but the light was dire. In fact I had given up hope of getting any shots and was just on my way home when a dark morph pheasant appeared at the side of the small road I was heading down. I have never managed to get a photograph of one of these birds before so obviously took the opportunity. A beautifully subtle coloured bird which would have been nice to shoot in some better light.

Why did the pheasant cross the road....

More Larks

Thought I would have another go this morning at the Skylarks on North Wirral Country Park . Got out early to try and avoid the dogwalkers but was still hassled by unleased dogs. Managed to get a few more shots during my brief visit including my first flight shot of one.

Its not often you get to see those long hind claws


and my first attempt at a flight shot which I will hopefull try and improve on over the next couple of weeks.

Larking about

The other day I noticed the first lark of the year rising vertically in song and made a mental note to return there with the camera. A brief visit in some poor light and my open stalking of skylarks was somewhat disrupted by dogwalkers but at least managed a couple of shots.

They are so well camouflaged that unless in flight or song they are very difficult to spot.

I was getting closer and closer to this bird by slowly moving foward and just got to where I wanted to be when I heard a loud bark of a black labrador from behind and the bird was gone.