Monday, April 23, 2007

Expect the unexpected!

Male Mandarin (with Mallard), Farcet Fen, 23 April 2007

One of the most bizarre additions to the house list (no. 123) is this male Mandarin found this morning feeding with Mallards in a crop field just down from the house. Although distant, it was just snap-able!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Grey Partridges

Male (foreground) and female Grey Partridges, Blackbush
Farcet and Blackbush fens remain one of the best places in our area for this fantastic farmland species which has sadly disappeared from many areas.

Bingo! More Ringos!

Male Ring Ouzel, Eight Roods Land, Farcet
I couldn't resist a quick dash out at lunch to see if I could better this mornings efforts. Light still harsh but this image is classic Ringo. The tall stance, the scooped 'banana' back and dropped wings.
I found a male Ringo last week but I didn't have the scope and camera with me (nothing new there these days). But this morning I threw them in the back of the car and began my chugg across to Blackbush with a hope of a few Wheats and Grey Parts. And bingo! Or should that be Ringo! Two male Ringos feeding in the almost Breck heath-like fields of the archery club behind the Plough Inn. Despite appallingly harsh light I managed a couple of record shots.

With already eight birds recorded locally within the last week, this could prove to be our best spring ever for this cracking alpine specialist.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Little gem

Little Owl, Farcet Fen, 11 April 2007

Farcet Fen is a magnet for owls (all five British breeding species seen annually here) and Little Owl is by far the commonest. This is one of a pair by the house.