Birds on the Somerset Levels 12th April 2019

Great White Egret

We had a good day in fabulous sunshine on the Levels at Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath reserves on Friday.

It was cold but a little warmth coming from the bright sun kept us going all day.

The Great White Egrets were very active and Bitterns were "booming" in the reed beds all day, sadly none ventured out of their hideaways.

Great crested Grebes were paired up and courtship was evident.
One pair was already on a nest.

Great crested Grebes

Great crested Grebes

 

 

 

Great crested Grebe

Also found a Great Spotted Woodpecker sat outside of a newly excavated nesthole but before I could get a photo she flew off, only to return later and we watched her peer out from inside the tree.

Great spotted Woodpecker

Great White Egret

Great White Egret

Great White Egret

Great White Egret

A few birds from over the border in Devon today.... Friday 12th May 2017

Male Bullfinch

We had a day out today up to Yarner Wood on the eastern edge of Dartmoor.

Caught up on a few more species for my #my200Birdyear !

The Pied Flycatchers were nesting so quite quiet and we heard a few Wood Warblers but didn't get close with the camera.

Found the Male Redstart back at Challacombe and the Stock Dove at Dunsford.

Male Pied Flycatcher

Female Pied Flycatcher

Female Great spotted Woodpecker

Male Great spotted Woodpecker

Nuthatch

Male Siskin

Male Siskin

Songthrush

Stock Dove

Male Redstart

Great Tit

Woodland birds at feeding station

Nuthatch

 

A few shots from our woodland feeding station that is beginning to attract a lot of birds.

All we need to do now is to get them to pose in the right places!

Nuthatch

 

Great spotted Woodpecker

Blue Tit

More Woodpeckers

Male Great spotted Woodpecker at nest

This is as close as I reckon I'll get to the image that I've wanted for many years of a Great spotted Woodpecker at the nest with the chick with its head out of the nest hole and the adult sharp. I've got so many pictures where the chick is a blur as it is always in a frenzy to be fed that it never keeps still.

I had to push the ISO up to 1600 to get it but with the full frame Nikon D600 the file size was huge and I'm pleased with the results. Ultimately some sunshine and a lower ISO would give better quality but this is Cornwall and we all know there are no 2 days alike where weather in concerned!

Female Great spotted Woodpecker at nest

 

Great spotted Woodpecker chick awaiting a feed