The Sensible Couple

I really like Red Legged Partridge but they are so skittish I never get close.

At Dunwich Heath one of our early morning walks set a pair of RL Partridge off in flight up the path ahead (see header). What great colours these birds have the deep russet colours on their backs as they fly was very much in keeping with the autumnal colours.

Sensible why? Because this pair live on National Trust land where at least they are safe.

On the morning we left as we were packing the car the pair were near the car park and I could use a gate post to stabilise the camera.

Suffolk Red Deer

We love going to Dunwhich Heath in October when the deer rut is going on. Early mornings out before breakfast a walk across the heath, you can hear the stags bellowing and sometimes the crash of antlers. Females can be seen in the clearings and you might get a glimpse of a stag coming in to view. It is so evocative, a great atmosphere often (not this year) with hard frosts and then a full english breakfast to set you up for the day (I love cooked breakfasts).

Then another walk across the heath or through Minsmere. Very difficult to beat.

This year the weather was great, the deers bellowing, we saw females dashing in an opening. One afternoon we saw this fine fellow and his ladies relaxing close to Minsmere. The second shot was my SLR handheld, the first image my second ever digi shot, compact just held to scope. And the winner is _ _ _ not sure! I cannot admit its the first one!

Th RSPB do some great stuff, watch points for the rut, land rover safaris led by fellow blogger, one day perhaps I will attend.

Laying in the meadow its not quite Monarch of the Glen stuff but how many without an interest in wildlife know what goes on in darkest Suffolk, etc?

1. Digiscoped

2. SLR  500mm lens

A great looking stag with fine multi point antlers.

A Glossy Ibis and a new approach!

We have just returned from a week in Suffolk at Dunwhich Heath, next door to Minsmere RSPB.

A first for us was not one but two Gloss Ibis on 9 October on the scrape from West Hide, always distant but very much a first. My shots are purely for the record, I want to record my photographic highs and lows and show my birding highlights on this blog. I am sorry you only get an idea of this bird in the location.

I have never (sorry to you digiscopers) thought of digiscoping but as the Ibis was so distant and looked good through the scope I hand held a compact to the scope, did'nt really work but that was due to me. The third image is my first digiscoped effort!