Lee Harrison's Nature Photography.

Easter Monday Magic, It Truly Was Eggselent...

Right, that's enough of double entendre, down to the serious stuff, I headed up to Leighton moss on Monday, hoping to have a bit of luck and we did, as we approached a fabulous female Marsh Harrier rose up along side of our car giving great views, we pulled up and had dinner, no more than two minuets had pass when a Peregrine came soring across closely followed by a buzzard and then a marsh tit appeared singing in a near by tree... An amazing start, putting us in a good mood for the rest of the day, as we checked the sighting book we heard news that a Gargany was showing well at Grizdale hide, so in hope of a new tick we headed down, 1 hour past but nothing, it felt like we were the only ones not to see it but as we left the hide, we were treated to some beautiful views of both male and female Marsh Harrier cruising over the read beds, the first of many.

Marsh Harrier

We decided to have a stroll down to Public hide but nothing really showing except both Marsh Harriers again and a gorgeous Willow Warbler singing high in a tree top...

Willow Warbler

As we headed back, we heard new that a Spoonbill had dropped in at the back of the moss, so we went on mission to find it, which turned out to be the easiest mission of the day, we walked the public footpath across the back of the moss and the first field we came to, there it was showing beautifully at the back of the reeds, to far to get any good pics but here's a record pic. just for the sake of it:-

Trust me it's a Spoonbill

After this beautiful and unexpected surprise we decided to see if we can finish off the day off with some views of the Peregrines at Warton Crag and we weren't disapointed, one sat on the nest and one sat there eating what we think was a Pigeon and Ravens feeding chicks on the nest, in the second and third pics you can see the chicks heads popping over the edge and then the Male Peregrine deciding to to take flight and going for a cruise... Here are a few pics that made me happy so I hope that you like them as well:-

Raven

Peregrine Falcon

Anyway thankyou for visiting my blog, I hope that you like what you see and that you will visit again.

Thanks always Lee Harrison.

Not Quite The Easter Bunny...

I headed to Mere Sands Wood last night, trying to catch the last few hours of light in such a beautiful place, it was truly peaceful, I got there for about 6 o'clock and was the only one there, just how I like it, as I walk through the reserve it was like heaven, the sun was shining through the trees, the birds were singing, I could have been anywhere in the world,

As I came to the fields at the end of the wood, I found 3 Brown Hare chasing each other round and round but I managed to get a few decent pics as they stops for a breather:-

Brown Hare

I also caught up with this beautiful pair of Goosander a bit further on but unfortunately the light had decided to leave us for the night:-

Goosander

Anyway Easter Sunday and I decided to have a walk down Marine Drive with the family, it was a gorgeous night with evening sun and birds galore, nothing unusual around, we were treated to a beautiful sight as a Barn owl cruised up out of the grass, along side of us and across the road, I didn't managed to get any pics, as i was mesmerised by such an amazing and gracious bird, but I managed to get a few nice of the Blackwits and Avocets getting a bit "jiggy"

Black Tailed Godwit

As I was scanning through the Avocets, I spotted this one below that was sporting a gold and red ring on the left leg and a orange and red ring on the right leg, I know the shots ain't the best but I would like to know if anyone has any information on this bird please let my know either over comment or at leeharrison2@msn.com , I know that the pics ain't that good but you can defiantly make out the rings on the legs of the right hand bird as we look at it :-

Avocet

Anyway thankyou for visiting my blog and I hope that you will vistit again,

Thank always Lee Harrison

Happy Easter Everyone...

Easter bank holiday and the motorways were at a stand still, so we ditched our plans to go to Leighton Moss and headed down to the local turf instead so we spent a day down at Marshside and Mere Sands Wood. It was a fantastic day in between all the rain showers, all the usual birds knocking around and a few new ones, Willow Warblers singing all the way down Marine Drive, Blackcaps singing at Mere Sands and Redpoll flitting around, 5 House Martin over Nell's hide and numerous Swallows, no sign of the little stint but a single 2nd winter Med. Gull made up for the loss and a number of Ruff feeding close to the road.

Thanks to George Griffith AKA Grandad for this beautiful picture shown above, such a fantastic shot.

Here are a few pictures that I managed to get on my way around: -

Marshside

Ruff

Snipe

Black Tailed Godwit

Swallow (About 100mph)

Redshank

Mere Sand Wood

Siskin

Tree Sparrow

Wren

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Red Legged Partridge

Thanks for looking at my blog, I hope that you liked it and that you will visit again,

Thanks alway Lee Harrison

Toad In The Hole...

First thing first, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM, I hope that you had a fantastic day.

Well yeah, it was my Mum's birthday today, so we had a family day out to Dunsop Bridge, lots of different birds knocking around, Stonechats, Curlew, Oystercatchers, kestrel, plenty of Peregrines, Common Buzzard and a single female Hen Harrier witch was lovely to watch cruising around above our heads, although I was unable to get any pictures.

After tea I headed down to a local patch to see if anything was around, lots of birds singing in the tops of trees, Chaffinch, Blue Tit Great Tit, ChiffChaff and many more including my first Yellow Hammer of 2009, here are a few pics i managed to take whilst walking around:-

ChiffChaff

Yellowhammer

Robin

As I strolled back to the car, I came across a toad, hiding in the leaf litter by a small wall, here are a few picture that the co-operative toad let me take:-

Thankyou for reading my blog and I hope that you visit again,

thanks always Lee Harrison.

70 in a day, we'll settle for that...

Had a day out with my Dad on Wednesday for four hours, started off at Marshide and then headed down to Mere Sands Wood; it turned out to be a fantastic day where we encountered 70 different species including male and female Brambling, 2 female crossbills, a willow tit our first White Wagtail, male and female Wheatear and 4 swallows. If anyone wants to see the list list, drop me a comment or and emale at leeharrison2@msn.com and I'll post it up for you.

here's a few pics i managed to take on my way around: -