Lapwing Lane

It had been a while since I'd got out for a meaningful birdwatch, but I went to one of my favourite local haunts last weekend and had a really good couple of hours. The sun was out and it was a nice mild day. I didn't find anything unusual but there were plenty of the usual woodland suspects on show. 

A Kestrel was hovering over the lakeside vegetation for a good 10 minutes, and made a couple of unsuccessful swoops, but it allowed me to stand and admire the beauty of this majestic bird. Never underestimated by me, it's a really special bird.

Kestrel

The bridal path was packed full of birds and the constant calling of Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch and Treecreepers. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called, but soon took off once it saw me.

Long-tailed Tit

Nuthatch

Treecreeper

Signs of Spring

There's lots of activity at the moment as things slowly drift towards warmer times. When we the sun has come out it has brought the birds to life and they're pairing up and territory setting. I've had some local Bullfinch brightening up my lunchtime walks and there always seems to be Goldcrest and Treecreeper singing. Neither of these are that easy to spot and require some patience, but I have that in abundance when it comes to birds, and sadly not much else.

We're now midway through March and I'm seeing reports of returning summer migrants already, so hopefully soon I'll have some pictures of these to bring you. It will certainly encourage me to get out and look more, if I actually needed any more encouragement. I'm always looking and listening. Even better is that the sun is rising much earlier and I can get out before most people have even put their kettle on or thought of leaving the house. I love this time of year, when I can reclaim nature for myself on a cold bright morning. 

Female Bullfinch eating her breakfast.

Treecreeper doing some creeping.

Looking for some old friends.

The weather is improving, the temperature is warming up. The blossom is on the trees, and some of our Summer migrants are starting to return. Things are looking good again, and the air is filled with bird song that I've not heard for a long time. Chiffchaffs in particular are now here in abundance, and they aren't wasting any time in letting people know that they are here. Other than the Wrens, Tits and other garden birds, they are a real noticeable call to hear, and it makes me smile. They will soon be joined by Willow Warblers, Whitethroats and some other more exotic looking birds, but right now I'm loving hearing them call incessantly. It adds a little extra joy to my walks.

Chiffchaff

Grey Wagtail

Treecreeper

Danes Moss, Gawsworth Cheshire

I recently visited one of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust sties that I had not previously been too. This is situated in the Gawsworth area of Macclesfield and is a lowland raised bog. I went hoping to find or hear a Cuckoo. I had no such luck on this morning, but I thoroughly enjoyed walking around the area and familiarising myself it. There was a really nice circular boardwalk route, which took you through woodland, and across the more marshy areas.

There was plenty of birdsong, with Whitethroats, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and the odd Reed Bunting battling it out. The site information board shows that it is very good habitat for dragonflies and butterflies. I hope to head back here soon to see what I can photograph when the birds go quiet, which won't be too long now. In the meantime, here are just a few of the birds that I did see.

Reed Bunting

The Treecreepers were very busy collecting insects for their young.

This Common Whitethroat had some nesting material in its beak.

Garden Goings On

Still in lockdown, still not going out with the camera. So I have resorted to poking the camera lens out of the lounge window on my lunch breaks, as I am working from home. Thankfully there is a lot of activity out there at the moment, and the cold weather is helping to keep the birds very interested around the feeders. Coal Tits and Long-tailed Tits are busy on the fat blocks, but far too quick to capture as I stand at the window. Blue and Great Tits are always around and the odd Redwing pays me a visit.

I tried to pick out the easy targets, and some of those happened to be the ground feeding birds.

Dunnocks are looking good at the moment.

Female Blackbird.

Not exactly a bird, but I couldn't resist this little guy.

Robin

A distant Treecreeper has been a nice surprise visitor on a few occasions. Tends to move around with the Long-tailed Tit flock. 

Long-tailed Tit. Apologies for the blur. I am hand holding without a rest or monopod.

Redesmere Lake

 I had a day off this week and it also just so happened to be a sunny but cold day. It was a sad day as it was the funeral of a good friend of mine. To take my mind off things I headed over to Redesmere in the morning to see if I could make use of the good sunlight. There was plenty around, both on the water and in the trees. Plenty of gulls, Tufted Duck, and Great Crested Grebe, with the odd Kingfisher and Redwing.

Great Crested Grebe in its winter plumage

This Treecreeper was busy picking away underneath the bark

The Tufted Ducks were looking particularly fine in the sun

There are only ever one or two Lesser Black-backed Gulls in amongst the Black headed Gulls. A good size comparison here with the Lesser on the right.

A very good looking Lesser Black-backed Gull

Sculthorpe Moor

One of the sites that I've grown very fond of in Norfolk is Sculthorpe Moor, run by the Hawk and Owl Trust. It's usually quiet, but it has good boardwalk paths through the woodland and along to reed beds and marsh. There are hides and viewing screens along the way and the feeders are always well stocked.
And where there are feeders, you will get plenty of birds. Such a good variety too, with the usual woodland mix and some raptors too.

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker

Long tailed Tit at a feeding table.

Marsh Tit. A Sculthorpe favourite of mine.

A Treecreeper at a feeder.

RSPB Otmoor

RSPB Otmoor is one of the best bird reserves I've been to for some time. It could well have been the time of year that I went, but the place was oozing with birds and bird song. I parked the car and grabbed my camera and binoculars and was soon greeted by the purring song of a Turtle Dove, followed by a Cuckoo. I could have got back in the car and gone home right then. I wasn't expecting Turtle Dove here, but was delighted to add it to my ever growing year list. Further encounters were had with them around the reserve, with at least three or four different birds around.
Cuckoos were playing hard to get but soon showed themselves along a tree line.
A pair of Hobbys were hunting dragonflies at the furthest viewing screen and put on a nice show for me. Drumming and roding Common Snipe were a new sight and sound for me. I'd never heard them drumming before. What a great sound.

Hobby on the hunt in gloomy light. 

Every time I looked up, there seemed to be a bird of prey up in the vast sky. Red Kites seemed to be everywhere, and it was great to watch them hunt and then be hassled by numerous birds like Lapwings and crows.

Red Kite.

 

There was an abundance of Reed Buntings on site. These were busy feeding, from what I could see. 

Treecreeper looking for food for its young in the nest. Nicely camouflaged.

The Turtle Dove. Only the second time I've seen one in the wild. The thrill was quite exhilarating.