May 2017 Greatt Spotted Woodpecker busy feeding young in local park.

A nice off chance to be stood in the right place and spot this woodpecker coming out of the tree.  A few minutes wait and I could soon see they were feeding young regularly.  A few images then away to leave them to their day.

Bringing in some spiders!

May 2017 Muntjac Deer in the woods today

It was really thrilling to sit quietly and watch these two beautiful Muntjac Deer peacefully going through the wood in the middle of the day.  In the early morning or at duck they tend to be out on the grassland, but in the bright midday they tend to hide away under cover in secluded places.

Two friends

So vulnerable!

May 2017 Checking on the new Trail Cam, Gloucestershire UK.

I retired from my job a few weeks ago.  For my retirement present my colleagues bought me a Trail Cam.  That was a great surprise as it was something I had always considered buying, and that it could be really interesting to see what was around on my smallholding in the secret hours.  Here are some of the initial results:

Rabbit

Muntjac

Muntjac

Muntjac

Muntjac

Roe Deer Buck

May 2017 A Cattle Egret comes in for a bath at Slimbridge WWT, UK.

These are rare birds in the UK, and it was a great surprise to have one drop in for a bath in front of the hide.  It stayed for quite a while taking time for a real wash and brush up.  Will this be the next Egret to colonise the UK?

Cattle Egret

Time for a wash

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!