Sunday 9 October 2011

AFTER THE HEATWAVE - PART 2





      BIRDS....




As I mentioned in my previous post once the saga of the shed was solved I managed to get out for a spot of bird watching.

I'd been reading on the local bird reports that a few migrants had turned up around Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire so decided to take a look.

 It was chilly and rather blustery  (as it invariably is around the beacon) with  some long sunny periods between the rather dark and threatening clouds. I soon located the birds exactly where they had been reported to be, unfortunately I came upon them rather abruptly and they took flight and went into hiding in the nearby bushes. I thought if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me and concealed myself as best I could with a good view over the area where the birds had been. I didn't have to wait long before they returned affording good if a little distant views.



Male Stonechat

Female Stonechat

Juvenile Stonechat

Stonechat Female or Juvenile?




Wheatear

And finally.... a lifer for me, a Female Whinchat
Amongst some of the more common birds I saw where a large charm of Goldfinch feeding on thistle heads, a large flock of Meadow Pipits feeding in a recently tilled field, a Green Woodpecker and a hunting Kestrel. Also on the wing were Speckled Wood, Red Admiral and Small Heath butterflies.
All in all an enjoyable, if rather blustery, few hours birding.

7 comments:

ADRIAN said...

Beautiful shots.......the Whinchat is wel up to my standard.........You must have been excited.
I'm glad you got a good day.

Bob Bushell said...

Good for you Trevor, I seem to have had the bad weather, it hasn't been raining, but it is dull and overcast.
You have all these birds, Whinchats, Stonechats and Wheatears...........I love them all.

The Herald said...

Thanks Adrian. Yeah,it was nice to see the Whinchat, even if it was some distance away, as you can probably tell by the massively cropped image! I was also battling against the blustery wind to hold the camera still (no tripod, travelling light!) I did get one of those 'record shot' things, if nothing else!...[;o)

Bob, I think I got a lucky break with the Whinchat and a decent weather window, although it was very windy.

It's very windy here again this morning, although with some sunny spells, maybe I'll go out in search of some fungi later...[;o)

Roy said...

Camouflage and concealment, thats the way to catch them Trevor. You got some really nice images through it as well.

The Herald said...

Thanks Roy, I'm quite pleased with the images that I managed to get.

But I have to say I'm not 100% at ease lurking in the bushes and I try very hard not to make a habit of it!....Really, I do!!.....lol......[;o)

grammie g said...

Hi Trevor...Hiding in the bushes..hmmm..conjures up some strange thoughts...best be careful there!!
It worked out well for you have some great photo's!
Congrat' on the lifer : }}}

Grace

The Herald said...

Grace, thank you. hmmmm...hiding in bushes, crawling around in the undergrowth and the leaf litter (for fungi), even I'm getting worried about me now!....[;o)