Active Skylarks and Rock Pipits

A walk in the sunshine around the Portland Bill area Dorset revealed plenty of bird activity at last.

After all of the cold wet weather we have experienced in this area it was really nice to hear the Skylarks starting to sing. It also means that Skylarks will be having disputes over a patch of grassland. 

I was able to capture one such dispute of two birds.

This Skylark below has already chosen his patch.

Another bird that is active all the year around at Portland is the Rock Pipit.

Something Portland is quite famous for is Sheep Breeding some of which were enjoying the better weather.

A typical view along the East cliffs at Portland Bill.

Spoonbill Pair

Another dull day at Lodmoor Reserve Weymouth.

Overcast and very cold with awful light for photography.

I spent quite a while there walking around the Reserve and didn't see much different than the norm. Mostly ducks of various species including Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and of course Mallard. Plenty of Lapwing and the major flock of Golden Plover were still hanging around. I walked down the Western side path and onto the reedbed area. I then turned around and retraced my steps along the same path. It was then I noticed a Spoonbill in the distance searching for food in its usual slewing of its big beak from side to side in the water. Then beyond that there was another. They remained at quite a distance from me, but I was able to get some shots with a 600 lens plus 1.4 converter. Both birds were certainly feeding well, as from what I could make out had found plenty of fish and some other aquatics that I could not be sure of from that distance. However, it was great to see them and be able to at least take some recognisable images. I pray for decent light one day.😎

 

Active Local Birdlife

At last the nature on my local walk is slowly coming into life with small birds becoming more active again. Blue Tits, as with other species, were observed chasing each other around the branches for obvious reasons.

Some were frantically eating all the fresh small buds emerging from tree branches.

Lesser Celandines providing some colour, are one of the first wild flowers to open up.

This Blue Tit below thought he was a Treecreeper.

A rare sight now, it was pleasing to see this Song Thrush moving around the undergrowth.

The unmistakable song of the Great Tit was heard in several areas.

Blackbirds also were adding to the local bird song.

I think this Long-tailed Tit was surveying a large Bramble Bush as a possible nesting site.

I have observed this pair of Collared Doves in a small Nature reserve on several occasions now. 

Maybe they are on the look out for a site or have already chosen one