Coombe Abbey

The sun was shining this morning so I decided to visit the bird hide at Coombe Abbey and continue my battle getting to grips with my 30D settings. I did not do very well (again). I had not visited Coombe for over six months and arriving in the car park, I soon noted the increase in parking fees, now standing at £3.20. Walking to the hide, I realised that the sun would be shining directly at the hide, resulting in most shots being over exposed and when the sun eventually hid behind the building clouds, I was having to increase the ISO. The bird table has gone with seed and suet now being placed in and on the trees and fallen branches making images a little more natural. I had the luxury of the hide to myself. The brightness and glare made the waterfowl difficult to observe.

To end my morning, I walked around the back route to the old toilet area and around the ponds in the hope of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Imagine my dismay, when nearly home, a text message from RBA informs me that a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker had been seen in this area at 1030.

I am not sure what happened, but when I got home and downloaded my images onto the computer, I had lost some. Missing were those of Dunnock, Blackbird and Coal Tit to name a few. Ahhh well - who said photography was easy???

Black Headed Gulls

Nuthatch

Blue Tit

Chaffinch

Bank Vole

Great Tit

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit

Nuthatch

(More boring images on my website - see link opposite)

Today's Sightings:

Gt Cr Grebe; Dabchick; Cormorant; Grey Heron; Mute Swan; Canada Goose; Grey Lag Goose; Wigeon; Mallard; Gadwall; Teal; Pochard; Tufted Duck; Kestrel; Buzzard; Pheasant; Water Rail (Heard); Coot; Moorhen; BH Gull; Stock Dove; Wood Pigeon; Kingfisher; Green Woodpecker; Gt Sp Woodpecker; Grey Wagtail; Dunnock; Wren; Robin; Blackbird; Redwing; Fieldfare; Mistle Thrush; Cettis Warbler; Blackcap (f); LT Tit; Marsh Tit / Willow Tit; Coal Tit; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Treecreeper; Nuthatch; Starling; Jay; Magpie; Jackdaw; Rook; Carrion Crow; Chaffinch; Siskin; Bullfinch; Lesser Redpoll; Minke Whale.

Testing! Testing! Testing!

At last, after the morning's heavy rain, the sun finally showed itself and I was able to grab a couple of hours at Draycote this afternoon. The sole aim was to test my 30D recently purchased from Max and to prove that the "blue images" I was getting was all down to the incompetent operator setting the wrong white balance! I just wanted to take some images and I did not care what of! Below are my results with more on my website (see link opposite).

Unsociable Robin

Comparing Reds

In a previous life, I was a Ruddy Duck

Now I know why the water level is so low!

Come on guys, siesta is over

I'm supposed to be hidden

What did you say?

Thank goodness he's gone

Do you come here often?

Well, I had my chance!

Where's that flea powder?

Grass again!

What, me?

Daventry Country Park

A very short visit this morning and needing to get to the other side of the dam so that I was not looking into the (very unusual) sun! it was a bit of a dash. The parking fee has also gone up! now standing at £1.00 for an hour or £2.00 for the day.

Not a bad morning, birdwise with 47 species seen in the ninety minutes that I could allow. No pics today. Somehow, my camera white balance was changed, resulting in "blue" images (see image in post Swift Valley below). Hopefully, this is now rectified and normal service will be resumed when work and the weather allow!

Goosander numbers were up with 12m and 15f around the concrete outflow. A Kingfisher fly past was my first here for a while. The water levels are higher than on previous visits and the reducing mud held three Green Sandpiper's and a solitary Golden Plover. A Buzzard overhead sent up most of the Lapwing and Gulls (usually achieved by wayward dogs). The Gull numbers were lower with a single Yellow Legged Gull and a solitary juvenile Shelduck dabbled in the shallows. The hedgerows held a number of Tit / Finch flocks and also contained Treecreeper and Goldcrest. Sadly, I was short of time so it was a sprint back to the car.

Todays Sightings:

Gt Cr Grebe; Cormorant; Grey Heron; Mute Swan; Canada Goose; Shelduck; Wigeon; Mallard; Shoveler; Teal; Pochard; Tufted Duck; Goosander; Buzzard; Coot; Moorhen; Green Sandpiper; Golden Plover; Lapwing; B H Gull; Common Gull; Yellow Legged Gull; Herring Gull; LBB Gull; Wood Pigeon; Kingfisher; Pied Wagtail; Dunnock; Robin; Wren; Blackbird; Redwing; Goldcrest; L T Tit; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Treecreeper; Starling; Magpie; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Rook; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Siskin; Bullfinch; Goldfinch; Harbour Porpoise.

WWT Swift Valley - Rugby

Well, today was my day off and I was looking forward to getting out and using my newly acquired 30D camera. Days off are a premium so you can imagine my despair when the day dawned with heavy rain. I had thought I would go to Coombe Abbey, sit in the hide and fire away. Wrong! A phone call from school requested that I pick up my daughter who was not feeling well. The weather was slow to "improve?" until some brightness appeared at lunchtime. So where do I go? It was obvious that the light would remain poor and dusk would arrive early so I went down to the Swift Valley. This was my first visit despite my work base being only 400 yards away! Glad I had my wellies in the car as the mud was horrendous. I suppose I was hoping for the Great White Egret to appear!

Bird wise, the best were five Buzzard, two Kestrel, hundreds of Redwing and Fieldfare and a few mixed Tit / Finch flocks. The light was apalling so the camera had little use. Desperate to point it at something, the best I could do was the distant Highland Cattle! (Blue with cold?). Guess who did not read the manual properly?

I think I will hibernate! Bet tomorrow is sunny!

New to me Camera

Male Blackcap (like me - always kept in the dark!)

Today, I struck a deal with Max (S) to purchase his Canon 30D camera to replace my 400D. A few test shots in his garden resulted in the capture of this male Blackcap. Unfortunately, not yet being familiar with the 30D the image is not as good as I would have liked! So, despite being male, it is now my intention to sit down and READ THE MANUAL! Hopefully, things may improve! Watch this space but don't hold your breath!

Daventry Country Park

Full Steam Ahead - Mute Swan

Bombs Away Coot - Black Headed Gull

Coot AGM

Black Headed Gull

Mind out Coot I'm Coming In - Black Headed Gull

Black Headed Gull

Black Headed Gull

Black Headed Gull

Black Headed Gull

(More boring images on my website - link opposite)

On a very blustery morning with the threat of heavy rain, I popped into Daventry Country Park while Abigail was at her music classes.

If I am honest, I hate Country Parks, more so those in close proximity to Towns. Most of the people using them have no interest in the wildlife around them. They are glorified dog walks, with owners allowing their beasts free range and no consideration for others. Dogs running off leads, in and out of the water fetching sticks and frisbies thrown by their owners, sending up all the wildfowl in the process, messing and not being cleaned up, running towards you and jumping up, much to the joy of the owner. If you do not have a dog with you, you are regarded as strange. Add to this uncontrolled offspring and fast moving cyclists and you have Daventry! Oh, and what about the local ASBO sorry community pay back teams? One circuit of the perimeter with litter picking sticks in hand but not being observed as to using them, and tea & coffee at the start and finish? punishment indeed! Todays rant over!

 Of interest were two Shelduck; two Ruddy Duck; a drake Goosander; one Green Sandpiper; one Yellow Legged Gull and a low flying Buzzard that kept putting everything up!

I just made it back to the car before the heavy rain descended, thankful that I did not choose to walk the perimeter.

Todays Sightings:

Robin; Goldfinch; Wren; Wood Pigeon; Carrion Crow; Chaffinch; Blue Tit; Great Tit; BH Gull; Blackbird; Mallard; Canada Goose; Shoveler; Wigeon; Coot; Tufted Duck; Mute Swan; Gt Cr Grebe; Cormorant; Lapwing; Green Woodpecker; Grey Heron; Moorhen; Pochard; LBB Gull; Herring Gull; Teal; Pied Wagtail; Common Gull; Shelduck; Yellow Legged Gull; Dabchick; Ruddy Duck; Treecreeper; Green Sandpiper; Gadwall; Goosander (Drake); Gt Sp Woodpecker; Buzzard; Magpie; Dunnock; Jackdaw.

Draycote Water

Let Sleeping Goosanders Lie

Dabchick - Lunch

Dabchick - Lunch

Goldeneye

(More boring images on my website - link opposite)

I was in bed after a very busy night shift when I became aware of my mobile vibrating away. The messages from RBA and John J alerted me to a Green Winged Teal at Draycote in Toft. Unfortunately, I was not able to get out until late afternoon when the weather was threatening rain and the light was fading quickly. A brisk walk to Toft soon had me looking at the GWT, distant and in scope view. No chance of a photo here! With rain threatening, I set off back towards the visitor centre taking a high ISO pic of the dozing Goosanders (3m 1f) and observing the Great Northern Diver off Farborough Bank. 

I must admit that because time was short, I did not really search the water, and with the light fading fast, I gave up and headed home.

Snow Bunting - Foxhill Farm Daventry

(More Images on Website -see link opposite)

Having picked up Abigail, and knowing that a female Snow Bunting was nearby at Foxhill Farm, just off the A361, Daventry, I was keen to see the bird before heading home. So, a McDonalds to eat in the car while I walked up the farm track was the order of the day.

The Snow Bunting was very obliging (mind you don't step on it!) but was being harrassed by a Robin, both keen to make the most of scattered seed. Nice to meet Gareth B again after many months.

(Mental note - check the camera ISO regulary. Unfortunately I keep inadvertantly changing this when walking with camera on shoulder and then getting grainy pics!)

Daventry Country Park - Flight

My daughter, Abigail, attends a Saturday morning music class in Daventry which, when not working, gives me the chance of a wander either at Borough Hill or in the Country Park. Today I chose the latter. Most of the birds were too far away for any chance of a photo so I had a go at capturing Black Headed Gulls in flight.

I started my walk near the old Carvell Hide and had good views of the "probable" Baltic Gull. I have to say that the jury will remain out for a good while on this bird, and for me it will remain a "probable". All the usual wildfowl were soon located - not difficult with very low water levels! Two Shelduck were about the best on the west shore, so I walked the perimeter, eventually meeting up with two local birders on the east shore. They had been watching the "probable" Baltic Gull and had picked up a small Grebe which initially they thought may be Black Necked. However, this Grebe had a flattish crown, pale tip to the bill and lacked the steep slope to the crown. A difficult bird to observe with constant diving and remaining distant. It was a Slavonian Grebe and a year tick for me. While watching the Slavonian, a dozen Golden Plover flew over.

Time soon ran out, and it was back into Daventry to pick up Abigail. However, a cunning plot was being hatched - all will be revealed in the post above!

Todays sightings:

Blackbird; Robin; Wood Pigeon; Chaffinch; LT Tit; Blue Tit; Jackdaw; Cormorant; Wren; Great Tit; Gt Cr Grebe; Mute Swan; Tufted Duck; Shoveler; Shelduck; Pochard; Wigeon; Gadwall; Carrion Crow; LBB Gull; Herring Gull; Teal; Coot; Common Gull; Goldfinch; Lapwing; Siskin; Magpie; Redwing; Mallard; Moorhen; Pheasant; Grey Heron; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Pied Wagtail; Slavonian Grebe; Golden Plover; Canada Goose; Probable Baltic Gull.

Draycote Water - Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper with entourage of Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper with entourage of Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper with Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper with Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper with Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper with Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper with Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper with Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper with Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

(More pics on my website - see link opposite)

I had just arrived at Bramcote to winterise my caravan, when a phone call from Max and a text from John J (many thanks both) alerted me to the presence of a Purple Sandpiper at the Outlet at Draycote. Now, I had duties to perform which were perhaps a little rushed, as a Purple Sandpiper was a lifer and it was at Draycote! I made all haste to Draycote, not really dressed for the occasion, meeting Max, Bob and Francoise on my way to the Outlet. They confirmed the bird was still present, and indeed it was, meeting Bob D and later Dave H and "Dog". A few times the Purple Sandpiper and its entourage of 4 Dunlin took to flight over the reservoir but soon returned. The light was not at all good needing a high ISO but I was pleased with my amateur efforts.

Also seen, but at a distance was my first of the autumn, Great Northern Diver off Farborough Bank.

My purpose was to see the Purple Sandpiper so little notice was taken of the other birds present.