May 2012 - Lakeside & other Birds

Tuesday 29th: After finishing at work, a short drive down the road to Lakeside to put my camera through some more tests. Yes, another lovely warm evening. People around, enjoying the late afternoon sun.

This is a photo of contemplation. The Sikh is sat on the pebble beach communing with nature.

A Coot on her nest, resting in the warm sunshine.

A Black-headed Gull, unusually resting and quiet!

Great-crested Grebes often take to Donny Lakeside.

Suspect that this is a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

We get our far share of Herring Gulls too.

Close by, a clutch of Mallard duckings explored a sheltered cove under the watchful eyes of the parent Mallards.

Getting home I took advantage of the sunny and warm evening by sitting in the garden. In the conifers a few feet away was perched one of the Blackbird fledglings that had hatched a couple of weeks earlier. It was waiting to be fed by the male and in between feeds would close its eyes for a moments rest.

Sunday 27th: An early morning midday to Hatfield Moor (North) to test my new camera. Warm day with clear blue sky - great to be out in the countryside! While driving down the narrow country lane, between farms, several Turkeys jumped out in front of the car forcing me to slam on the anchors! Curious, a couple wandered straight towards the car, peering at me all the while! Then joined by others, they wandered into the adjacent ploughed field. This is the first encounter with wild Turkeys that I have experienced. Usually they are on my plate!

Friday 25th: The female Blackbird is not at all worried by the presence of us in the kitchen - she is too trusting! Both Mel and I can get to almost touching distance of her! In fact she tends to stand around if the bowl is empty and flick her wings in order to get our attention.

There's all sorts of wildlife in the garden. This green Weevil with orange legs provided a test of close (macro) photography by Mel.

Wednesday 23rd: Occasionally, a passing Greenfinch will stop off in our garden - probably on it's way to Sandra's!!

Tuesday 22nd: The Blackbirds and House Sparrows are regularly coming into the kitchen for live mealworms throughout the day. The male Blackbird predominately collects a beak full and feeds the fledling Blackbirds,while the female mainly feeds herself! The birds have young to feed and are not at all shy about dashing in to get a beak full of mealworms.

 

 There are still plenty of Frogs in the garden. Most are in and around the pond as is the one below.

Saturday 12th: Mel and I went over to Elizabeth's house to do some gardening and all the time in the front, this cheeky Robin would nip in between Mel and her trowel to grab a tasty morsel. A very confident Robin, it wasn't put off by the constant movement of us and noise!

 

April 2012 - Lakeside & Hatfield Moors (south)

Sunday 15th: Woke up this morning to bright sunshine so decided to get a few hours, first at Hatfield Moor and then down at Lakeside.

Male Chaffinch under feeders at Hatfield Moor.

Female Greenfinch.

Male Greenfinch.

This Linnet was one of a small group of 6 that flew from the adjacent field to perch on nearby saplings.

Quite a few Oystercatchers around the Moor today.

Above: two photos of a female Reed Bunting. Unusual as females don't normally develop the back cheek banding as the males.

As ever, the Reed Bunting was at the feeders.

This Chiffchaff was very obliging!

Greylag Geese and Goslings.

Above: Can you spot the Little Ringed Plover amongst the Shelducks and Tufted Ducks?

Above: Two pairs of Teal.

Lakeside: After a couple of hours at Hatfield Moor, I drove down to the Lakeside to see if anything new has turned-up.

This Common Coot pair were into nesting.

 Above: two photos of Mallard ducklings. I counted 14 in all. Wonder how many will make it to adulthood.

This Great Crested Grebe pair were clearly in the mood!

 Mallards.

 House Sparrow.

Tufted Ducks.

March 2010 - Lakeside

Tuesday 30th : It's been a lousy week so far, cold and rain....so much for Spring! So on the way to our local Supermarket, I made detour over to the lake to check on the wild life. I had heard that a Mediterranean Gull had been seen a few days earlier. Maybe a faint hope that it is still in residence amongst any Black-headed Gulls there. Well I didn't find it but I did come across 4 Meadow Pipits that were most obliging. They were perched in saplings on the edge of the lake and let me get a few images but then I pushed my luck too far and tried to get closer. Off they went! but a very good showing using bins!


The air seemed filled with some kind of small flying insects. The rain had stopped and the familiar buzz of those Summer visitors, House Martins, was everywhere in the sky. There must've been circa 50-60 House Martins all over the sky! I took a load of photos, but trying to capture these fast flying, quick turning and diving ariel acrobats was frustrating! The above image is the only one worthwhile showing!.


A couple of Pied Wagtail were close and seemed to be a pair as they always flew in tandem. No pics unfortunately. Some Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Canada Geese, Coots and a lone Greylag Goose but unusually not too many waterfowl about...very quiet just like our garden at the moment.