April 2013 gone warmer and birds really nesting

After a really bad winter it has finally gone warmer and there is lots of nesting activity going on.

Blue Tit already feeding young

Jackdaw adding nesting Material to nest hole

Pair of Jackdaws at nest hole. Balcony with a lovely view!

Found this beautiful Long Tailed Tits nest in a thorny shrub near to where I work and quickly took this picture.  Its made of 6000 different pieces of Moss Lichen, Spider egg cocoons, and feathers 

Its tough out there.  This duckling was left unattended for a few seconds and becomes a meal for this Herring Gull

April 2013 Water Rail

Really exciting after waiting a considerable while to have one of these shy birds come out of the cover of the reeds. A great time at Slimbridge Gloucestershire UK.  Wildlife photography: wait, wait and then adrenalin.

In the excitement remember to include the reflection in the composition!

Water Rail relaxed and coming closer

Is it going to break cover or disappear back into the reeds?

Attitude

April 2013 Common Cranes Slimbridge

The Great Crane Project is aiming to re-introduce Cranes across Britain where they have been absent for 400 years.  Eggs are taken from Brandenburg Germany and brought to Slimbridge in Gloucestershire where they are hatched and reared.  They are then released onto the Somerset Levels wetland.  Some of the cranes released have miraculously flown back to Slimbridge and giving us great views of these iconic birds. Very best wishes to this fantastic project.

Common Crane The Tack Piece Slimbridge

Common Crane

Common Crane

Common Crane Group The Tack Piece Slimbridge

March 2013 Barn Owl

Really pleased to find a Barn Owl on my Local Patch.  There seem to be quite a few sightings around Gloucestershire this year but its great to have one within a few miles of my home.  Always very welcome and been missed for a few years now.

Barn Owl Winchcombe Gloucestershire

Barn Owl

March 2013 Adder

Took this picture of an Adder basking in the sunshine a few years back on March 15th.  Too wet cold and lack of sun light to even go and look this weekend Ugh!

Adder Forest of Dean

February 2013 Great Northern Diver

Great to be able to watch a bird that breeds in Iceland and Greenland in the local park lake only 10 minutes from where I work.  Lots of birders around also taking advantage of this exotic visitor to Pittville lake Cheltenham.

Great Northern Diver 

Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver

February 2013 Slimbridge

A Trip to Slimbridge in Gloucestershire during the winter time is a wonderful experience with thousands of wildfowl and waders present.

Bewicks Swans

Northern Pintail

Bewicks Swans