Marsh Harrier

I set out yesterday with the intention of photographing water voles, and unfortunately they did not really play ball and I only had a very brief view of one as he swam across a channel between reed beds.

It is fair to say that I didn't really go at the best time so I shouldn't be too surprised at the result.

I did however get a very fine compensation in the form of this magnificent marsh harrier.

Initially it dropped on to a bank about 70m away but then flew much closer and landed about 30m away.

The autofocus was struggling a little with the varied background but it came around 3 times at varying distances so in the end I was more than happy with the afternoon's work.

Springtime in Lincolnshire

I set of this morning with some doubts about how the weather would fare, it was cloudy then very foggy on the way, but as I arrived at my destination in deepest Lincolnshire the sun began to poke its head from behind the clouds.
For the first couple of hours it was a bit of a struggle to see my intended quarry, however there was adequate compensation from the supporting cast of whitethroats, garden warblers and blackcaps.
Eventually there was a particularly confiding pair singing and nest building in a quite open area and it was here that I got my best photos.
I stayed for the best part of the day and the nightingales kept on singing and showing fairly well.
There was also a few orange tips and brimstones around plus a rather confiding bank vole feasting on rose bush shoots.
Also good company (nice to meet you Paul) made for a most pleasant day in a fantastic reserve packed full of wildlife with the nightingales being the undoubted stars of the show.

Nightingale in song

Northern Wheatear

I had a trip to Spurn yesterday in the hope of some Spring migrants.I started at The Warren in the hope of a redstart that had been seen earlier, however it had been trapped and ringed so I thought this would certainly send it into cover and even if it did come out it would now be bearing a rather unsightly piece of ironmongery.
So I headed to Sammy's Point, first pass of the paddocks didn't yield much neither did the bushes at the south end but a single whitethroat was the first of the year.
On the way back I did see a very brief black redstart, couple of wheatears and a yellow wagtail.
I headed back to the Crown Car Park as rain broke out and there was quite a few common migrants in the bushes the best being a pair of blackcaps.
After the shower I went back to Sammy's and here the black redstart re-appeared and showed quite well albeit distantly, the wheatears however posed beautifully, they are a certainty at Spurn at this time of year and are just passing through-the males are always more immaculate in Spring than in Autumn.
The sun was diffused by low cloud and actually helped-these shots being taken around mid-day.