Return Visit

Last week I made a return visit to a local nature reserve where I had previously had good sightings of the kingfisher.At the first hide I visited there was no sign of the kingfisher but the great crested grebe came close and then much further away caught a carp and gave me a few opportunities to capture the action.I later returned to the hide where most of the kingfisher sightings are.It was busy as it was the beginning of the school holidays and families came and went and a kingfisher did a fly by on a couple of occassions.We were kept busy however with a common tern fishing and a super little wren which arrived in front of the hide with a large green caterpiller for it's young brood.Eventually the kingfisher was spotted sunning itself nearby and Sharon was delighted as this was her first sighting of this stunning bird.After Sharon and Gary had left the kingfisher landed on the perch directly in front of the hide and gave more super views and photographic opportunities to those present.It had been a great afternoon with good weather,excellent birds and very enjoyable company. Hope you enjoy my efforts below at capturing some of the action. Thanks for looking in and I will be back with more in due course.

Kingfishers Return

This week I made a couple of visits to a local nature reserve.This reserve used to be a favourite location to see and photograph kingfishers.The birds were however affected by previous severe winter weather and the very heavy rain and floods this year have also been against survival of this beautiful bird.I was very pleased to hear therefore that they were being seen regularly at a nature reserve not far from home. On my first visit the weather was doing what it has done all summer and was pouring down.I did however have a brief view of a kingfisher as it sped past the hide.I returned the following day to find calm and warm conditions ideal fishing weather.The kingfishers were in evidence at two of the hides I visited and gave some super views. I was even able to capture a few flight shots,not brilliant, but the best I have managed so far.I have shown below a selection of my better images from the day and hope you enjoy them and thanks for looking in. Summer has finally returned so hope you enjoy the weekend.

Preston's Peregrines

For a number of years now peregrine falcons have bred on St Walburg's church in Preston.On my doorstep but I have neglected going to photograph them. I put this to rights this week with a few visits and along with other photographers I was treated to some exciting action as the adult birds returned with food for their now fully fledged young.I managed to capture a food pass as an adult dropped fresh prey,a starling, to one of the young falcons.The adult had enticed it's young one off the church steeple and passed the food in mid air.This is all part of the learning process teaching the falcons how to hunt and capture their own prey.I have shown below some of the images I managed to capture of these fabulous birds.I have also included one of the church and one of three of my photographer friends,Susan,Peter and Martin.Thanks for looking in and enjoy the better weather that has finally arrived.

Hinds and Harriers

It has been another week of unseasonable weather with many parts of the country suffering further flooding from the heavy rain that doesn't know when to stop. I did manage a couple of outings to Leighton Moss where I hadn't been for some time.It was very quiet birdwise but the resident marsh harriers gave some opportunities for the camera as they flew past and hovered over the reedbeds.Also present in the reedbeds were a group of red deer hinds which were very inactive but from time to time stood up and had a browse before settling down again. I visited the Lower Hide when reports came through of a hobby in the vicinity. It didn't return but I managed a few shots of a great crested grebe with a fish which looked like a tench or carp.A young reed warbler also posed in front of the hide for his portrait.All in all an enjoyable visit to Leighton Moss and next time the red deer stags may be on view as the rutting season fast approaches. Hope you enjoy the images and thanks for looking in.

Time For A Chat

The very poor weather continues and July looks like being just as wet as June. It is once again a very wet day as I write my blog.I am posting a few more images from last week when I managed a couple of trips into Bowland looking for chats.I did get some nice images of the whinchats but the stonechat which was present never came within range of the camera.The stonechat suffered in previous severe winter weather and has been noticeable by it's absence from previous haunts in Bowland.The stonechat images that head this post were taken in a previous summer when numbers of birds present were much higher.They were however taken in the same part of Bowland I visited last week and the male birds shown are a welcome sight and will brighten any day spent in the wilds of Bowland.Thanks for looking in and hope you enjoy my selection.