September 2018 Coming from inland in my youth has left me with a deep fascination for waders.

Caught up with this beautiful Common Redshank today.  These are birds I never came across at all in my early years.  I guess this was coming from inland and not really travelling too much.  This has however left a deep fascination with this beautiful group of birds the "Waders".

Common Redshank put your tongue away!

A thrilling encounter today!

September 2018 The beautiful avocets will soon be leaving for the southern estuaries

These Avocets have only breed in Gloucestershire in the last few years.  They are such great  feisty birds that are always up for a quarrel with their neighbours.  They appeared to me to have a successful breeding season as there were quite a few juveniles around at the end of the breeding season.  They tend to depart from us during the winter months and end up on estuaries on the south coast.  I am always pleased when they return in numbers during the spring and they see to be colonising well.

Elegant footsteps

Swishing feeding action

A new welcome at enjoyable addition to Gloucestershire wildlife!

September 2018 I don't think I seem to see these so often these days - Greenfinch

I am sure I used to see these birds a lot more often and they were quite common.  With the changing dynamic of nature its amazing how some old favourites have become quite exciting.  A lovely bird the Green finch.

Beautiful male Greenfinch

 When you look they are really beautiful.

August 2018 Time with the smart wader the Spotted Redshank at Slimbridge WWT

This really is a nice looking wader.  It spends much of the time vigorously feeding with its bill in the water.  The light was initially poor this morning and it stayed at quite a distance.  The sun came out eventually and it also moved nearer and even began to stretch and preen in front of me.  Happy days!

Being careful with a wasp

Time for a stretch

What a beautiful bird!

August 2018 Welcome return of a Brown Hare to my local patch

I have not seen a Brown Hare on my local patch for more than ten years.  I went for an early morning drive and was really pleased to see this one grazing away in the grass.  I think they are great animals and I always love to see them.

Sitting up keeping an eye out

Looking out for a tasty morsel

Alert for any danger

They are always welcome and I hope this one stays around.

August 2018 A good time for waders at Slimbridge WWT

As we get well into August it is a great time for waders at Slimbridge WWT.  Those that have breed have juveniles around and also the migrants are present in increasing numbers.  It can be quite quiet for birds during the summer period after birds have gone past their breeding season and spread out in the countryside.  A visit to Slimbridge always give me a great bird therapy session!

Migrant Black Tailed Godwit

Juvenile Avocet

Lapwing

Ah that's better!  Great bird session at Slimbridge WWT certainly brings my connection to nature back to the fore.

August 2018 Red Kite finds sheep carcass in the Cotswold Hills

Driving through the hills in the Landrover is always great because you get a higher view over the hedges and can often get a different perspective.  Seeing these Red Kites on a sheep carcass reminded me  of how Kites managed to just hold on in Mid Wales during my younger days.  There were only a few pairs and it was probably the remoteness and also that this was a big hill sheep farming area.

Red Kite on Sheep carcass

They are always great to see.