Clayhithe - Collecting nesting material

Posting something so soon after the walk will at least stop me falling even further behind with this blog!

I think the bird collecting nesting material is a Meadow Pipit, but if anyone reading this posting can advise me otherwise, I would be grateful.

A family of Mute Swans has already lost one cygnet while the Mallard family, bathed in early morning sunshine, seems to be doing particularly well, with 9 ducklings of a respectable size, still in tow.

An obliging Collared Dove!

I have enjoyed this rugosa rose for a couple of years now but still not been able to identify it from books.   Perhaps now I have a photograph I can take it to a garden centre for identification.

Birds on Wicken Fen - 3 June

This was one of the most exciting days of bird photography I had had for several months - and so close to home too.   I saw additional birds to the ones appearing below but their photographs are not good enough for viewing!   What were particularly exciting were the opportunities to see the courtship display of Great Crested Grebes from West Mere Hide, followed very shortly by the first juvenile Bearded  Reedling I had ever seen, in the reeds just outside the Hide.

One of the Marsh Harriers in the first picture appears to be carrying food, so presumably feeding young somewhere.   The lapwing spent quite a bit of time flying with one leg dangling - not sure why though.   I had only seen others' photographs of Great Crested Grebes displaying before, so it was magical to see the behaviour and capture it.  There had been a lot of head bobbing before I thought they were going their separate ways, only to find within moments they each had vegetation they had dived for, and then faced up to one another with head swinging movements for a short while.   The only time I had previously photographed Bearded Reedlings was at Pensthorpe - and that hadn't included a juvenile.

Konik Ponies on Wicken Fen - 3 June

Although I haven't been posting images onto this blog, I have been taking quite a number of photographs when walking the dogs around home, and will start to sort out the backlog!   Every journey starts with one step - and here is this first step.

The colouring of these Konik Ponies is very attractive and I could enjoy them for hours.   This was an opportunity to get quite close to them and capture these two playfighting.

Newts and Toads at Worts Meadow

The Friends of Worts Meadow arranged a walk after dark to see Newts and Toads in the ponds and moat.   Apparently there had been more newts in particular a week or so earlier, but we did manage to see some, although these photographs are for record purposes rather than being of photographic value!   There were two people amongst us who had licenses to allow us to view and photograph using torches.

Misty Morning Walk alongside The Cam

Another lovely early morning walk with mist hanging over the water.   Once the sun broke through, it shone for the rest of the day.

Chiffchaffs have arrived - Milton Country Park

It feels like Spring once the sound of migrants can be heard again.   Not only was this the first Chiffchaff I had heard, I saw it on blossom branches, and feeding!    These 'little brown jobs' don't always perch where their image is free of twigs - and I don't make the time to clone out all the extraneous twigs either.

Reed Buntings

Before the cold wind blew and rain fell this morning, it was lovely to see these Reed Buntings alongside The Cam.   What amazing camouflage they have, particularly the lower image, and what beautiful markings.   Always a delight to see.

I am continuing to use the same lens (100mm-400mm) with x 1.4 convertor, and hand-holding it with automatic focus.

Cat after a Collared Dove

Robin made this bird table to prevent squirrels from stealing food put out for the birds - only partially successful though.   Squirrels have found a way of climbing the wobbly bird table and helping themselves.

Yesterday I noticed one of our cats sitting below the bird table as she had obviously seen there was a bird feeding on the table.   Then she started to crouch down as though she was going to attempt the overhang to get herself onto the table.   Again her endeavours were only partially successful - thankfully.

More Birds

On a recent trip to Wicken Fen it was lovely to see a Marsh Harrier and a Hobby even though they were so far away.   Nearer home, and with the auto-focus wheeze of a 100-400mm lens and x 1.4 convertor, the magnification has made it easier to get 'better' images of a Blue Tit and a Moorhen flying above The Cam.

Bit of a surprise to see this Grey Heron so troubled by a couple of Black-headed Gulls!

Great Crested Grebe Feeding

It has been a very long time since I posted something onto the blog, but here is a break in that pattern!   I have been to Iceland recently and plan to complete a book of images, some of which I hope will appear here in due course.

The wind was 'up' this morning at Clayhithe and The Cam was 'rough'.   I know Great Crested Grebes are pairing up at present and I was hoping to have seen a courtship dance.   Instead I saw a Grebe struggle to swallow what I think is a Rudd fish.   On occasion it had to drop the fish back into the water to re-orientate it for swallowing purposes.    All the time the Grebe was struggling, its mate was nearby with its beak wide open.   I couldn't hear over the wind whether the mate was calling.   Would welcome any explanation on this behaviour.

One of the images captures a Mallard flying past, but I wasn't expecting that and didn't have the focal length to get that sharp!

An exciting development when using a 100mm-400mm lens is to use it with a x 1.4 convertor and get automatic focusing!   Yes, automatic focusing with a convertor, but only the x 1.4 convertor, and not the x 2 convertor in my experience!   This 'wheeze' was shared with me on the Iceland trip and I used it today for the first time at home.   Brilliant.