Showing posts with label Spotted Redshank. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spotted Redshank. Show all posts

All Work and No Play....


"Causeway"


Well first of all I think that I should introduce myself, just in case you have forgotten about me, it's been almost a month since I last posted... so I think I owe you an apology, don't worry I've not given up on it, I've just been swamped with university work and working, I've not had a minuet spare but that changed this Friday and I made a break for it and sprinted up to Leighton moss, soon to be stopped by the massive quantities of water, turning my thoughts to the tragedy up in Cockermouth, I hadn't crossed my mind that I was headed towards Cumbria, on arrival things look ok appart from a few flooded fields but once I stared to walk around I came across a few Problems...




"footpath to Grisdale and Tim Jacksons"


They tried to pass the two above pictures off as footpaths but I weren't to sure, not to be put off, I splashed on and things just got worst, what can only be described as wading through 5" of water in low cut boots wasn't the driest idea but different creatures started to show them selves, just walking back from Grizdale hide a toad just decided to swim across my path as if to say "morning" it really made me laugh;


"Toad"

But it paid off in the long run, spending a bit of time down by the grit, I didn't have to wait long before the cetti's warbler showed its self no more than 2 metres away from me before flying off not to be seen again but occasionally giving a small burst of song, having a quick look around I spooked a Waterail which nearly gave me a heart attach after returning to the trays, I waited for around 20 minuets when 2 male Bearded Tits dropped onto the trays showing for around for a little while then disappearing, the best view of these little beauties that I've had for years.

"Bearded Tits, they aren't the best pictures but it's my first shot at photographing them"

After this delight, I headed around the rest of the reserve with much to show for it although meeting a very friendly Robin made my day coming to within inch's of my hands singing it's song and bobbing around I sat watching it for half an hour before moving on, such a simple bird but such an amazing one in my eyes;

"Robin, by far one of my favourites birds, I really do love them"

after spend a bit of time in Grizdale Hide, I headed out to Eric Morecambe's hide, really I was hoping for another stab at the Great White Egret but strangely there were only 4 Little Egrets around today and on others, after scanning around, all I found a single Spotted Redshank and a lone Black Tailed Godwit in with the Redshank, 2 pair of Red Breasted Mergansers diving around and a female Goldeneye were the only different thing I could scope out, a Peregrine kept causing mayhem over head scaring all the lapwing but very little else was around...

"Red Breasted Mergansers"


"Spotted Redshank,

Hope you can spot it..."Anyway, I hope that you like the blog, sorry about the long break but hopefully this will change, I have a lot of work to be handed in but I'll try and nip out from time to time if I can,

Thanks always Lee Harrison.

The Scotch Argus...

Well... eventually a plan that actually worked, I have been on so many adventures this year that come to no avail but not this one. I decided to have a day trip up Arnside in search of the elusive Scotch Argus, as I recently found out that one of the very few colonies in Britain is up there, as we set off the sun was shining and everything was coming to life, foot to the floor we bombed up the motorway for an hour before arriving to a fine drizzle but we didn't let this get us down, we soldiered on with my presumably damp quarry in mind. we eventually arrived at the spot that I had been directed to and the drizzle persisted, we sat there having a quick snack for about 20 minuets when eventually the rain stopped and it brightened up, within 20 seconds a dark butterfly flapped across the bottom of a near slope and there it was a beautiful Scotch Argus. As I watched and photographed this one I became aware or 1...2...3...4...5...6...7... loads of others hiding in the undergrowth, with one particular one catching my attention as it was stuck under a low bramble leaf once I had got it out I think it became grateful and took a shine to us both as you'll see in the pics below...
Anyway I hope that you like them:-

Last but not least, this experimental picture
from below the butterfly, a
weird shot...
Anyway I hope that you like these,
Thanks always Lee Harrison, I will leave you with 2 pics of a Spotted Redshank that I stopped off to see a Leighton Moss whilst I was in the area...
hope you visit again soon, Thanks Lee Harrison.