March 2018 Now a female Goosander on my local Pittville Lake

We have now had both sexes of Goosander appear on the local lake at Pittville Park Cheltenham.  They have both been present but at different times.  I wonder if they will ever meet up.  They are elegant birds and this addition of the female makes up a little set for me.

Female Goosander

They are both beautiful birds but quite different in appearance.
The male was here in December very handsome too

Male Goosander

March 2018 Not much time left to watch the charasmatic Short Eared Owls

These must be one of the most charismatic birds to watch as they hunt over the grasslands.  They spend the winter with us in the Cotswold Hills and depart in the coming weeks.  There is not much time left.  I really miss them when they are gone as it is such an adrenalin filled experience.  I feel compelled to go and catch up with them whenever the light is good in the late afternoon and evenings.  Them seem gone for a long time once they leave.

Keeping a watch out

In the last few weeks after the cold snow they seem to have taken to using the thorn bushes.  I can't remember them doing this so often in previous years.  To me they always seemed previously to roost in the grass.

Quartering the grassland 

What a bird they are!

March 2018 Great Crested Grebes in full displaying and breeding mode

I love Great Crested Grebes and to me they seem to know that they are handsome birds with their gorgeous head plumes.  On our local lake they are displaying and calling to each other.  It's a great way to spend an early morning watching this ritual.

The iconic weed dance

Offering weedy gifts

To enable time for these rituals, they obviously have to feed well and efficiently

A large meal!

That was a great morning that I can recommend for anyone to enjoy the experience.  Get out there!

March 2018 Short Eared Owl and Brown Hare from the Cotswold Hills

It was a really cold afternoon in the Cotswolds but still some really exciting wildlife around.  The Short Eared owls seem to have taken to roosting in the thorn bushes rather than in the grass.  I am not sure if this is to avoid the extreme cold or just to feel more camouflaged.

Short Eared owl in the bushes

They are quite difficult to spot for such a large bird.
The Brown hares were also very active despite the chill.  I caught this one lolloping along.

Brown Hare

I love the way they are evolved for high speed with their long back legs going right past their front legs when they run.  Reminiscent of the cheetah.

March 2018 Close view of Dunnock. I'm getting quite abstract for once!

This Dunnock came in very close. With a bit of cropping got a different image.  I think I would still recognise it as a Dunnock though.

They have very peculiar brown eyes.

March 2018 Wren in full spring mode

This Wren broke out into full Spring Mode this afternoon.  It was in the deep undergrowth searching for insects, then in suddenly flew up onto this bramble, cocked its tail up and sang for all its might.  With the sun out it definitely seemed to think that Spring is here.  I think we all will be glad when spring takes hold after such a long winter.  I for one am looking forward to the arrival of the Chiffchaffs they really mark the new season for me.

Confidently heralding the Spring

March 2018 Over the years nature really changes. Red Kites now on my local patch

It is amazing how over the years nature really changes.  I always remember in my old bird book the Encyclopaedia of British Birds the quote "Buzzards are found throughout the Grampian Mountains and so is the rare Red Kite."  I could never imagine seeing one, but they looked so amazing, and there were only about a dozen in remote Mid Wales.  Now I see them quite regularly on my local patch at Winchcombe. Even more significant is that this is the breeding season.  What an exciting thought.

Awesome Red Kite

Love these birds

Here is hoping they breed on my local patch at Winchcombe this year.

March 2018 A bird I have really overlooked - The Stock Dove

This is a bird that has definitely been off my radar and I have really over looked.  I managed to get some images.  Looking at them during processing I am really impressed with their looks and beautiful plumage.  This is really a beautiful bird that I shall notice from now on.

Beautiful Stock Dove

I think this is one of the major plusses to taking photographic images, you often get to have a second and more careful look.  This quite often means that you discover new beauty.