A foggy day at the seaside and Brrr!

An American visitor, an Owl with long ears! Snow Buntings on holiday? and a Purple Sandpiper, sporting not a lot of purple!.
With the weather starting with thick fog set to lift around 09:00 it was a start at Burton Mere Cheshire arriving at just before reserve opening, to avoid the crowds and noisy birders!! for the first Bird of the day, the Long eared Owl.

A real corker but so difficult to photograph as it sat in the middle of a Hawthorn bush, in the shadows and blending in so beautifully these shots were not easy to get at all.

 

It was not possible to get physically closer so the Tele-convertor was fitted to the 600mm , which made things a wee bit more difficult to work with.

And so it was onwards to New Brighton for some Laughing Gull Shots,  it was a real pea souper here with visibility down to maybe thirty feet at times and with no prospect of it lifting.

But the Gull was pleasing the crowds not just having a kip. The last one I had managed to catch was some years ago at Porthmadog.

 

With the tide raising the

Turnstones had moved on to the pontoons and were enjoying the bread thrown for the Gulls.

 

And the Purple Sandpiper.

 

A good day out with some nice Birds had,

It was cold but nothing too bad if you could stay out of the wind.

Oh! Snow Buntings? well yes seen but this time no photographs were taken.

 

So with more from the other day to process, thanks for dropping in and we hope to see you again soon.

Paul

The start of the year!

January, is as a month, a bit bleh! with post xmas bills blasted Turkey still finding its way into curries and the ever rogue bauble found behind the curtain or under the over worked sofa.

But as it was the first of the year some fresh air and hopefully some fine birds to be found in the county,  list!!! yes I know bit old hat but hey! was chased.. and one or two snaps to occupy the quiet moments taken, I am sure they are there just hiding!!!

Not a lot, but then again the county has been a bit slow for the time being. So hoping for some snow!!  I shall leave you with it for now out tomorrow so who knows what might find on a water near you..
Paul

December already unbelievable

A few sorties out and about has not brought a lot in the way of Birds or anything else to that matter, so I shall just drop a few of what has been achieved over the last month..

 

 

 So there you go a little of the November outings not a lot but some nice photos.
I am hoping to have a few more for you during December. from some exotic places !!
Cheers
Paul

At Last.

One of the highlights of Autumn is the appearance of Fungi, and the warmer weather and dampness has really helped them sprout up all over the place, from gardens to paths and of course the rotting stumps of old trees.
Probably the most famous of the fungi has got to be the old dwarf seat, or umbrella. Instantly identifiable by it white spotted red cap and white stalk the Fly Agaric, it attracts a lot of photographers fly's, slugs and a few other things..

So not to be left out! here are a few of the weekend captures.

The Fly agaric early capture

 

Allo! he lost he's spots

 

A little close up/

 

Another duo.

 

"Crumbs" theirs loads of them.

A spotless Agaric?
Its a bit of a guess but, I think that as the sheath breaks so as the fruit can grow to its full size the detached sheath shrinks to form the well known white clusters on the agarics red top. I wondered if as they were pushing up through the strands of grass these white clusters are rubbed of  or pushed to the bottom leaving this under ring of clusters. as per the shot above?

 

Flattening.

 

 

Slugged.



Breakfast!

 

Of the fungi found most were or had gone over. or passed their best So with this being the possible last decent fungi foraging weekend. Goodness knows what will be found but I am sure the warm moist conditions will be just right and of course those lovely Autumn colours are in full movement.

 

Cheers

 

Paul

 

 

 

 

 

Moments of Mammilian delight

The annual Deer Rut is one of the amazing spectacles available to the general public in woodlands and parks throughout the United Kingdom. Occurring from mid Oct to Mid November and later.
 The barking of the Fallow deer and the roaring of the Red deer are sounds of the ancient woodlands and is a spectacle not to be missed.

So a day out in, for example, Richmond park, Exmoor, and a other sites around the country is certainly worth the effort to see these magnificent beasts showing their metal for the hinds.

  
So with bags packed cameras cleaned and checked and the most important, flasks of hot water for coffee, it was off for an early arrival. The Fallow were barking and one or two red deer stags were roaring and or wallowing and parading festooned with odd bits of vegetation. A few photos from the day follow.


After a full on wallow

As much as he roared the hinds seemed to be ignoring him.



But still he kept up his patrolling.

A face mask of mud and weeds.



And now he looks so much more butch.

Bit of a parade.

Looking his best.

So he is off for the girls.

A little cool down for this fallow deer.

There are a number of pale examples .

The normal form.





Of this guy.

There are many other shots, but think that's enough for today, the place will get another visit very soon as I am sure the Red Deer Rut will be in full swing, I hope!

 

So why not get out and about? Cannock chase, Powis castle, Lym country park or even Attingham although not so easy at times, or Tatton park all have deer of both species and see what you can achieve. just don't approach to close and do not get between a Stag and his hinds.

 

Catch you later..

Paul