Haw Berry Breakfast

The first thing I observed on my walk was this Grey Squirrel eating a breakfast of Haw Berries.

Single Image Post - Male Stonechat

One of our old favourites amongst the local Birders. 

This male Stonechat has returned hopefully to reside over winter in the Parkland.

Red-necked Grebe

A welcome winter visitor to the local Parkland lakes this week.

The Red-necked Grebe breeds in eastern Europe during the Summer (Denmark and eastwards). It may visit the eastern coast of England during winter, but a more scarce visitor to eastern inland lakes. 

The Parkland lakes are approximately 45 kilometres from the Wash.

This bird had been observed for a few days on one of the Parkland lakes. (which measures approximately 300 metres wide by 500 metres long) When I first observed it, typically it was way out in the middle of the lake at telescope range. I watched from the south side of the lake and moved to the east side as I guessed it was a little closer to shoot. When I arrived there it had drifted to the west side of the lake. (Obviously a bird with a wicked sense of humour I thought)

Anyway fortunately when I arrived at the west side it took pity on me and came within 600mm lens range.

Below shows a comparison with the Great-crested Grebe which are common and plentiful in the area. 

Both of course are in winter plumage.

The detail in the below images is not of the same standard as above.

A Sequential Strike

I stood watching this Grey Heron for a while as he moved in 'Stealth Mode' slowly around a shallow part of a lake in the Parkland. His head movements showed that he was obviously tracking a fish and was waiting for the right moment to strike.

The sequence of images below are not the full amount that I shot during the strike, which were taken at 15 frames a second. 

These can be viewed on my Flickr site.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/roylogbook/albums/72157699902987472

The fish caught was a Perch which can be identified by the spiny front dorsal fin. If you are feeling sorry for the Perch, consider that they are in turn carnivorous and will feed on smaller fish. 

 

I have not shown the 'swallow'. 

I didn't want to put you off your breakfast.

Missed It - Single Image Post

Don't you just hate it when you are walking along with your camera set on a slow shutter speed for shots of stationary birds and suddenly a blue flash flies by you at a rate of knots.

A Winter Bird

Even though the sun was shining and the sky was almost cloudless, it was much colder as I started out on my Parkland Walk yesterday. There was a fairly strong North Easterly wind blowing. My first thoughts were that perhaps it had blown in some winter birds like the Redwing or Fieldfare.

I searched around a small copse which consisted of mainly hawthorn and bramble bushes with numerous berries ready for eating by winter species.  Having counted four Redwing which were moving around the area I waited in one position out of the sunlight for a chance of a shot.

Initially at this time the Redwing are quite wary of movement and will fly off at the sight of humans. I noticed in previous years that they become more tolerant as the winter progresses.

I managed only two birds at separate times.