A Spring Visit to Amwell

31st March 2025

My first visit to Amwell this year to see what was about. The ducks were now in their breeeding pllumage like these male Teal and Shoveler.

A pair of Oystercatchers were on their usual island in front of the White Hide, but were not quite ready to nest just yet as they left the site after an hour.

What was a surprise today was to see a pair of Goldeneye from the Gladwin Hide. I had assumed that any Goldeneye would be long gone.

But the stars of the show today were the Snipe feeding in the dead vegetation on the scrape in front of the viewpoint. At first they were all buried in the vegetation and were therefore hard to count, but eventually all came out on to the muddy puddles and showed well allowing an accurate count to be made.

There were 16 birds present, a good count for this time of the year, but despite some concentrated scanning of the flock I can assure you without fear of contradiction there was not a single Jack Snipe amongst them.

Also good to meet Mike from Ware and have a catch-up with my old mate Ron Cousins.

One Less Feral Pigeon in our Garden This Morning

22nd March 2025

As I glanced out of the bedroom window this morning I could see some action on the grass, but partially obscured by some garden furniture. Lots of jumping up and down and feathers flying and when I moved to another room I could see it was a female Sparrowhawk trying to "subdue" one of our Feral Pigeons.

I rushed to get the camera but the angle was very tight, still some decking in the way and through glass, so after I took some record shots I went downstairs to execute Plan B. I quietly slipped into the garden and moved round close to the house to achieve an angle where the Sparrowhawk was in full view. I really needed a bit more height so I stepped onto a low wall and moved around the pond to get into a perfect position.

By then the Sparrowhawk knew I was there but didn't regard me as a risk as I was still 20 yards away with a pond in between us,so was more interested in finishing its meal, so I started clicking away.

Better get some more film in my camera as there are still 20 pigeons left and am sure it will be back!!!!!

The Next Day

Just as I had expected she was back the next day for another helping, another pigeon. Sparrowhawks are loathe to abandon their prey so I went out into garden and moved quietly and slowly into position. This was taken at a range of just 10 yards with an ISO of 8000 due to the bird being in deep shade on a dull day. No cropping here!!!!!!

No more visits since then so perhaps she didn't like having her photo taken???

An Hour at Lackford Lakes

19th March 2025

My main objective today was to find some Wood Larks. I visited four normally reliable sites and only found one rather distant male singing, so decided to pop in to Lackford Lakes for a quick visit. I made my way down to the Double-decker Hide and sat there for a while watching the dabbling Teal. At that point a female Marsh Harrier appeared and started circling over The Slough.

Well, that was a result. But even better, the male appeared and joined in the display but came much closer to the hide.

But the main attraction today was the Great White Egret that was fishing just 10 yards outside the hide. 

Such elegant birds.

But with that size body it needs to catch bigger fish than that.

Here is a closer view.

And with a bit more enlargement you can see that the fish is a Three-spined Stickleback.

Amazing to think that just 15 years ago they were a rare bird in the UK.

A March Visit to Elmley Marshes Part 2 - Car Park and School House Track

16th March 2025

After a most successful morning at the entrance track and the hides, time for a walk down the track to the school house to try our luck with the owls. I used to photograph the Little Owl that lives in the old school house every visit, but over the last couple of years it has been more difficult as it frequently disappears into the cavity wall. However today I was lucky and it was on show for just 20 seconds before disappearing.

Now time to get into position for the Short-eared Owls as they leave their roost in the plantation, and what better way to be entertained by a Brown Hare feeding right in front of you

On my last visit on the 1st February there were 25 owls present and gave a reasonable flying display. Now they are down to 10-12 birds and tonight only six birds emerged, one flying straight down to the saltmarsh and the other five flying straight over the track and woodland and out on to the grazing land by the entrance track, never to be seen again.

Luckily I was in the right position and managed to get some shots as they came past.

But the star of the show today was the Long-eared Owl by the car park, the first I have managed to photograph for a few years now. It was about 10 yards away and well hidden behind a forest of twigs and branches, but I did manage to find a small tunnel through the clutter for a shot. That will do nicely.

Also nice to meet up with Roy Balne after four years.