Where did February go??

I assume that as it is now March, that February must have been and gone at sometime or other. And as such I missed it, with so much happening recently it was all I could do to get to Priorslee at times.

But a few trips to the Old Ancestral's, gave me opportunity to explore my old haunts around Exmoor and the Taw and Torridge estuaries, places that never cease to amaze, with the bio-diversity that exists in the ever, twice daily, changing environment.

So after a couple of weeks , where the whole setup was re-located and revamped, including a visit from an engineer to get things really rocking, I get back on line, at last!

The Stonechat was a right poser with a return to the same perch time after time. Whilst there were four Spoonbills on the salt marsh they stayed a good distance away, good scoping but a little to distant for anything other than a record shot or two.

Well with March already almost half way through and a day of not a great deal going on for a change, I decided to check out the local arables for the Hares, as luck would have it there they were after what seemed an age of absence.

A quick slap on the chops for even thinking about it!!

OK I;m ready, but be quick!!

Celebrating after a successful union!

I think a look at the moss might be in order, after a check on the Lesser spot in Apley wood, if it still around?

Paul

There are only really one pair of Paps in this island of ours, located in the far north ,the Paps of Duras, not the Duras sisters as portrayed in Startrek, nice though they were for Klingons!!!

So the rise of a serious contender for Paps of the land, can be seen below, and for some strange reason do not look as good when naked!!

Or could they be the lost pyramids of Shropshire??

The Partridge at Painsbrook

This one got a little brave!!

Then did a runner
I know not a lot but there was to be shots of the Lesser Woodpecker but it refused to sign the model release forms so no pictures in fact they refused to appear, damn glad I went yesterday and got on the list for the year.

Thanks for looking

Paul

The answer to the world, universe and that gull

The strange looking gull put in another appearance today after a lot of looking by several people it eventually turned up whilst the 1st winter Glaucouse gull was being checked out, but no sooner was it seen than it was of, not to return.

So what on earth was this strange but interesting bird? well as per Andy's E-Mail it was eventually tracked down to it being a Herring / Glauc cross. So jobs a goodun.

A couple of photos of the Glauc from today

Neither of them any good but a record shot for me.

The Bittern at VP as it skulks of back into the reeds.

Only to re-appear on the tops before descending for a deeper skulk, eventually showing well for the visitors in the public hide.

Thanks for looking.

Paul

PS late edit added from Wednesday:

Speak of the Devil

Or in this case the Bittern at Venus pools, it was Friday and I had just come of off the phone discussing the ability of good views of the bird at VP, when I receive a text letting me know it was sitting out in the open, and had been for some time. And to boot hunting mice, I was out of the house like a rat up a drain pipe and at VP in the normal amount of time it would normally take!! if you drive a Porsche!! I then ran ? (liar) round to the Fenn hide to find my tipster sporting some really good shots of the bird which had just moved back into the reeds,,,, Bugger.

But then a Grey Heron on its final approach in to the reeds sent the Bittern up and into the open.

There are other shots but why bore you all to tears, and the light was right in your face.

thanks for looking

Paul

Snowed in for two days, Whooohooo!!

Unfortunately it was not an at home snowed in but a visit to the ancestorals in Devon
but never mind did manage to get out for a few hours on a couple of days, so did the Taw and Torridge Estuaries for some much needed new species, like Grey Plovers, Sanderling, Spot Shanks etc.

Smart birds the Grey Plover

The start of the snow storms was just a few flakes!!.

The odd Rock Pipit proved nice.

So having got back I spent some time at Priorslee having heard that the Glaucous Gull was seen on the Wednesday, so there early, it was quite, then after about an hour in drop's this white winged gull , the initial reaction was the Glaucous, then small things did not stack up.

The overall size was to small! the beak pattern was not the two tone (pink and black) the primaries were not white they were brown edged in white, all very reminicent of a Glaucous winged gull, barring the beak having a offf colour base!!! so you make up your own mind.

More tomorrow!!!

Cheers

Paul