Dippers

I spent some time recently looking for and checking out the local Dippers. I've not been to see them since before Christmas, but I knew that at this time of year, they should be pairing up and looking for nest sites. Always a good bird to see, but not always the easiest, as they are spooked easily and they only need sight of you before they're off. So it was no surprise that on my first visit I didn't find one. I went back the next morning and I found a pair, and even better, I was able to watch as one was plucking moss from the rocks and taking it away to a potential nest site, which was great news. I then had the pleasure of watching and listening to one sing as it stood on a rock in the brook. Truly magical, and I look forward to following their progress in the coming weeks and months.

You can see my Dipper adventures here on my YouTube video:

Dipper

This male Pheasant kept me company 

A pair of Red Kites flew over, but the light was poor for good shots.

Red Kite - Cheshire

In recent weeks there have been numerous sightings and reports of Red Kites in my area, which is not entirely unusual at this time of year. But the reports usually dry up as the birds move through. This year there seem to be quite a few reports still which I'm hoping means that some may have set up home in the area. Fingers crossed if that is the case.

I wasn't actually out looking for them on this occasion, and I had packed the camera and binoculars into the car, when I could see this particularly large raptor heading towards me. Views through the bins immediately had me onto this stunning Red Kite. A quick grab of the camera as it approached and then flew straight past me. Superb views of a bird I often only see from the car. What a smashing looking bird.

Taken by surprise as I hid behind the open boot of my car.

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.



Gauntelt Bird of Prey Centre Part 1

Now, I know some birders and photographers will not like what I am about to do, and that is to share some pictures that I took at the weekend at a bird of prey centre. Yes, captive birds. My excuse though is a real one. I'd not picked up the camera in over seven months and I needed some easy practise. So I spent half an hour watching a display put on at Gauntlet Bird of Prey Centre near Tatton Park in Cheshire. Some fantastic birds were flown, including a White-tailed sea eagle, a Bald eagle, Kites and the enormous Marabou stork.
I'll say no more but allow you to see the results of my practise session.

The White-tailed sea eagle. Absolutely massive.

 

 

A rather ugly looking vulture

The stunning Red Kite

 

Black Kite

A Marabou Stork from Africa. A truly enormous bird to see in flight.