The Darkest Months

When I took these images earlier in the year I was a bit disappointed with them. The light was not great, but it was better than these images portray. Having said that, and now that we have returned to deepest darkest winter, I now like the look of them. This is how things look a lot of the time at the moment in the early morning gloom. The cloud is thick and the sun struggles to penetrate, meaning that a lot of the birds appear to be colourless or varying shades of grey. I'm happy with these now and they look quite atmospheric.

Great White Egret

Marsh Harrier

Mute Swan

Not so Early Birder

With Autumn now in full swing, early morning birding doesn't really happen. Sunrise is nearer to 7:30am and it's a bonus if there is no cloud cover. When it is clear though, the sun can give off some really nice light. I took a walk around some local areas recently and there was a good mix of things about. Chiffchaffs are still here, and I'm wondering if these will now stay over the winter, as many now seem to do. I look forward to their song in the Springtime, so to still hear them singing in mid Autumn is strange, but nice all the same.

Chiffchaff

Formation flying by these Mallards

Robins are setting up their winter territories and are very vocal at the moment.

This pair of Stonechats used to only overwinter on this particular site, but they actually stayed the summer and successfully bred this year. They are still here now and they looked great in the morning sunshine.

Mute Swan

Pennington Flash

A cold frosty morning at Pennington Flash is perfect for me. As long as you wrap up warm, it's ideal for lots of activity and a good variety to be seen more easily than normal.
I spotted a Kingfisher sitting in the red Dogwood. Too distant for the camera but great to watch through the binoculars. Plenty of gulls on the water and Cormorants at the end of the spit.
A pair of Mute Swans swam close to the shore line near to the car park and allowed me to get this nice close up .

Mute Swan

One of many Stock Dove seen from the Bunting hide.

Willow Tit on a frosty branch.

There once was an angry Mute Swan

Never exactly elegant, but always captivating to watch a Swan in flight. Even better when you can watch them taking to the air or coming into land. Here at Titchwell there were several pairs on the water.

 

From the pictures above, all looks peaceful. That is until the neighbourhood bully turns up. Yep, this guy was seeing off all and sundry, and he wasn't happy.

 

 

 Have that, and don't come back! Yes, this is the first Swan (on the left) pictured above that was minding it's own business, being harassed by the angry bully.

Look how big he's grown.

You may remember some weeks back, I wrote about a line cygnet. It was very cute looking, but was the only one with it's parents. Well, I returned last week and am quite sure I found the little fellow. Although he is not so little any more. It looked to be doing very well and in good shape.

How I found the cygnet a month or so ago.

And how I found him just last week.

It managed to give me a very similar pose.

Growing into quite a handsome beast.

There once was an ugly duckling....

I came across a family of Swans recently. One parent and four almost fully grown juveniles. It was a calm morning as they drifted over the still water. A touch of mist had suspended itself over the lake and I felt as though I had my own private viewing of these birds. I try to get out before the dog walkers. It's always a lot easier to see things at first light and before they've been scared into the centre of the lake.

Mute Swan Cygnet

I was at Redesmere a few weeks ago. There are always plenty of ducks and wildfowl, usually the common stuff, but every now again something good turns up. On this occasion I spent my time watching a young cygnet with it's parents. There was just the one, but it was an incredibly cute one. I'll say no more and let you decide how cute it was.

Pennington Flash

The forecast for this morning (for once) was for sunshine and no rain. So, I decided to get myself over to Pennington Flash in Leigh to try and catch up with the Scaup that had been reported recently. When I arrived at 8.30, there it was, close to the car park where previously reported. Doing what most other sane people do at that hour. Sleeping.
Light wasn't great, and then as the sun came up it didn't make it any easier really. But there is one picture below, more for record purposes. The Scaup is quite a bit bigger than the Tufted Duck although very simiar in looks. Rather than a black back, it has a greyish look, and no tuft.
There were lots of Widgeon, Goldeneye, Shoveler and Tufted Ducks. A couple of Kingfishers gave good views, proving that patience pays dividends. As usual from the Bunting Hide there were plenty of finches and a couple of Willow Tits too.
The Flash never dissapoints, and I managed to see 31 different species today.

Scaup, with Tufted Duck behind.

Mute Swan, giving me evils.

Bullfinch (regularly found from the Bunting Hide)

Canada Geese