April 2017 A walk around Slimbridge WWT UK

There was lots of activity around the reserve today, with many of the birds in breeding mode.  The Cranes from the Great Crane re-introduction project have a nest with one egg.  They were busy fending off the Avocets.  The Avocets have also not got used to these very large birds being around.  This beautiful male lapwing came close to the Hogarth Hide.  He had one of the largest crests I have seen and looked very proud of it.

Avocets nest prospecting

Breeding attempt

Constant battling going on

Keeping guard

Male lapwing with a fine crest

Beautiful colours

April 2017 Mistle Thrush young well advanced.

The pair of Mistle Thrush in the local park were busy this morning, fending off Magpies and feeding their young on large worms.  The young seem well grown and look like they could fledge in the next week.  The nest is high up in the fork of a tree and all the food seems to come from the parks well cut grass. Lovely to be able to observe the nest as this pair seem so used to all the people going about their normal days in the park.

Attending the nest

Patiently waiting

Feeding on large worms

April 2017 The beauty and Elegance of the Black Winged Stilt. Slimbridge WWT UK

It was really great to catch up with the Black Winged Stilts that had been reported at Slimbridge WWT.  This is only the second group of these ever reported in Gloucestershire so I had to make the trip.  They are definitely in my top five birds ever as they are just so beautiful.  We are on the north of their range and it has always been suggested that with global warming these may well end up being seen more often in the UK.  What ever the reason they are a welcome addition!

Beautiful Black Winged Stilt

Just so elegant!

April 2017 A Walk around my smallholding in the Cotswolds UK in the early morning.

It was a change to do my wildlife early morning excursion on my own smallholding. To have a look at what's around at dawn.  Quite often it is easy to go off every where, and not spend time on your own door step!  I am quite happy with the selection of images that I got within an hour.

Fox concentrating

Muntjac Stag

Raven

Rabbit always alert for danger

Roe Deer hinds

April 2017 Avocets once so rare, now colonising Gloucestershire, UK

When I as young in my old bird books I used to read how a few Avocets had turned up in 1947 and started to breed on Havergate Island, that was flooded as part of the war defences.  They seemed so exotic and rare and I only dreamed of ever seeing them.  Later I travelled to RSPB Minsmere to see them.  Now I still find it amazing that they are now seen regularly and breed at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire.  I will never ever take them for granted and they are so welcome.

Beautiful Avocet

March 2017 Roe Deer in the early morning. Cotswold Hills UK

Went out for an early morning drive before breakfast this morning.  It was great to see two Roe Deer grazing peacefully.

Roe Deer

Roe Deer

April 2017 Whislt waiting for Short Eared Owls - Mistle Thrush

Sometimes it is good to take advantage of other opportunities whilst waiting for one particular species.  I was waiting at a Short Eared Owl site for them to appear, and a pair of Mistle Thrush came flying into the top of a Hawthorne bush. This gave me an alternative opportunity for a few different images.

Mistle Thrush

April 2017 Nuthatch busy bringing in nest material. Cheltenham UK.

The Nuthatch's are really busy in my local park repairing the nest hole with mud.  The fill in a larger hole with mud that dries, and reduces the entrance to just the right size for them to pass through.  Here they are bringing in some leaves to line the inside.

A beak full of wet mud

Coming in fast

Lining the nest

April 2017 Beautiful Great Crested Grebe pair starting to do their dance. UK

These are really beautiful birds and to me they seem to know they are.  I am thinking that there is no room for anything but the most perfect looks, for the male in trying to attract a mate.  They will soon have finished building their nest and be sitting tight.  So glad we have these on our local park lake, as they always enhance the scenery.

Beautiful Pair of Great Crested Grebes