A few bits and bobs from over the last few weeks.

Since the World cup started I have not had a chance to get much photography done. I've been out a couple of times but have not really been out for long. I have managed a few new species however and am getting toward my target slowly. I honestly didn't think I'd manage a Short Toed Eagle before House Martin but the Ashdown Forest Eagle provided fairly good views enabling me to get a shot. Also saw my first ever Turtle Dove today :)
The following shots were taken at varying locations over the last month or so at various locations.

114. Great Crested Grebe

115. Little Tern

116. Stonechat

117. Short Toed Eagle

118. Turtle Dove

Around Kent and Sussex

Since getting back from the Peak District I have had a few days out around Sussex and Kent. I figured I would make the most of the fact I have slightly more free time now the football season has finished (and with the world cup starting soon my free time will disappear as I do intend to watch every game!!). I managed a few new species and improved on shots of a few others.

First stop was Arundel where I managed to add Pheasant to my list (to be honest I have seen loads and only just realised I hadn't inclded it yet!). Was also nice to get a better shot of a common tern.

109. Pheasant

Common Tern:

Oare Marshes was the next place I went and managed to add Black Tailed Godwit to the list.

110: Black Tailed Godwits

Saw a bearded tit but failed to get a shot as it flew too quick and didn't reappear. Next stop was Shellness where I was hoping to see Little Tern but sadly none about. I did manage to add one species to the list however:

111. Ringed Plover

Was also nice to see a summer plumage dunlin:

I went to Elmley marshes next and although no new species was pleased with a couple of shots:

Redshank:

Yellow Wagtail:

Also managed to photograph a hare while I was there:

The next place I visited was Loder Valley at Wakehurst Place. I managed to see and photograph one of my favourite birds. I'll definitely be going back there again as I love kingfishers and have been trying to get a shot of one for over a year!

112: Kingfisher

Also nice to see Grey Wagtails around:

And finally a shot I forgot to add to my Peak District post!

113: Whinchat

Short trip to the Peak District

Over the school half term my sons both went to Barcelona (lucky gits!) on a school trip. My wife and I thought we would take advantage of having some time to ourselves to visit the Peak District - a place neither of us had been before.
We went on various walks and when it rained visited some lovely national trust buildings. I also managed a few shots toward my target including a couple of birds I have never seen before :)
The best place for photographs was at Stanage Edge - it was a nice day and crowded with tourists but there was one small area with few people in where I managed a few shots:
106: Red Grouse

107. Ring Ouzel

Wheatear: 

Not a bird but I was pleased with this shot of a stoat:

108: Pied Wagtail

Curlew:

Went to Dove Stone Reservoir RSPB reserve and saw pretty much nothing! However we did meet a guy who told us of a good spot to see Dippers. Sadly I knocked my camera and ended up shooting with all the wrong settings!! Did get 1 or 2 half decent shots though.

Dipper:

Overall a lovely few days away and a much needed break :)

A few from the last 10 days

Have been rather busy over the last few days so not had a chance to do as much photography as I would have liked. I did however manage to head down to Dungeness about 10 days ago to try and see the Black-Winged Stilt that had been reported. The weather was awful - very windy and not really conducive to photography. Did manage to get a couple of shots I was pleased with though - despite the fact it was a little way away. Also managed a couple of swift photos but would like to tey this again when less windy and I can hold the camera stiller!
101. Black Winged Stilt

102. Swift

I then managed a couple of short trips to Old Lodge. Probably the closest reserve to me so ideal for quick trips. I will spend a bit more time there soon but I was pleased to get a few shots to be getting on with.

103. Tree Pipit

104. Cuckoo

105. Redstart

100 up!!

A trip to Dungeness last weekend provided me the opportunity to get the 3 birds I needed to get to 100 species. There were whitethroats everywhere although very flighty but I eventually managed to snap one! The Common terns have returned and I saw and photographed a distant hobby - however it was rather too distant so will try again for a hobby another day. Unlike the whitethroats the sedge warblers were very obliging and sat up nicely allowing me to get a shot of my 100th species.
Later at Rye I saw some lovely sandwich terns fishing and a few little terns as well (although sadly the little tern pictures are rubbish!)

98. Whitethroat

99. Common Tern

100. Sedge Warbler

Sandwich Terns

Pulborough Brooks

A morning visit to Pulborough Brooks last week was rewarded with some lovely views of Nightingales. Whilst often hidden by branches etc there was one that was very obliging and came out in the open regularly to sing. I also saw some ;ovely bullfinches whilst there but they didn't ever stay still enough to photograph. I did manage a (rather distant) Wren shot and was pleased to see a drake Garganey. I should have managed a photo of a garden warbler but messed up the settings!!
95: Nightingale

96. Wren

97. Garganey

Wales - Continued

The next day in Wales began as previous days had began - looking for dippers! By this stage we had worked out that a pair were flying up and down the stream where our cottage was on a regular basis. Thee was a rock with bird's mess on which we figured must be the spot the Dippers used. So we waited...and waited..until at last one of the dippers landed right in front of us on the rock. Cue excitement as we all raised our cameras up - and scared the little sod away!!! So yet again no dipper pictures!

We then headed off to Ynis Hir. Had a great day and although we didn't see many species of birds I did manage to see a Pied Flycatcher for the first time ever. Such a lovely bird. Also managed a couple of others toward my total.
88. Pied Flycatcher

89. Willow Warbler

90. Whooper Swan

The next day in Wales was our last and began as usual - looking for dippers. Yet again we failed to see any that weren't flying at such a speed we couldn't capture them. We were off to the Dyfi Osprey project but on the way decided to stop in at Gilfach NNR for one last look around. Eventually we managed to see and photograph a Dipper!!

91. Dipper

The Osprey project was great but the Ospreys were a long away away so my pics aren't very good. Nice to watch them though. Managed a siskin picture from the hide.

The next day we visited Slimbridge. A bank Holiday Weekend wasn't necessarily the best time to try and photograph birds but it was lovely to see the nesting cranes in front of one of the hides.

92. Crane

93. Herring Gull

94. Jackdaw

So overall a very nice few days away. Saw some great birds and the weather was great. Just as we were leaving Slimbridge we saw this little fellow that made the week even better:

Water Vole: