Tuesday 28 February 2023

Away Day Part II - Out of Town - Max Bygraves

 After a sumptuous lunch and equally welcome conversation with other patrons within and a

lingering look around the equally enjoyable
ARCHITECTURE
and other
MUSEUM
An indication of the 'peat' soil beneth our feet were the recently excavated and very dark

MOLE HILLs
but far more imprtantly the first base notes of a
BOOMING
BITTERN
while this land-bound male
SHOVELER
but not a 'sniff' of the
PENDULINE TIT
despite the 'legions' looking for it - "you never get them all".
saw the last of the action here before leaving for probably our favourite view-point passing the
CHURCH on the KNOLL
in search of Yellow-billed Swans and Cattle Egret
with strange looking
Power Cable Carriers
along with a most eye-catching
Milk Churn Table
while the stop / go drive to the
View Point
produced, unusually, not a single
Bewick's or Whooper Swan but to make up the
WITHEY BEDs
were in fine colour before taking up station at the highpoint where Egrets were also out of view.
Fear not with sharp eyed Dave in gear spotting a distant cluster taking to the wing
and amounting to a count of
30 and maybe a + along with dozens of
GOLDEN PLOVER
and a number of
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
Not alone as darkness crept in and a large muster
for the finale of the day here
the
STARLING MURMURATION
the spectacle of many, many thousands of birds
fly in from the feeding grounds to roost,
and then time to head for home but not the end of the day for us as during the drive we recorded c5
BARN OWLs,
all in similar stance to this individual, while on leaving as having dropped me at home Dave clocked a
TAWNEY OWL
before shapeing up for Weymouth - Yet Another Great Day!

Monday 27 February 2023

Away Day - Part 1 Out of Town - Max Bygraves

 With

"white fluffy clouds in a cluster hanging on the breeze to dry"

it was certainly an option to get Out of Town and target a couple of Rare / Scarce Birds

with some beautiful scenary across Somerset and a few interesting birds en-route including
RED KITE
Farm-Steads
CORN BUNTING

in spring-like weather  it had to be a drive to the

SOMERSET LEVELs

via a mist shrouded

GLASTONBURY TOR

and the 'Welcome Notice' with more common fare being first in line such as
REED BUNTING
IRRIGATION DITCHES
GREAT CRESTED GREBE
Trees bowing under the weight of clusters of
IVY BERRYs
much to the likeing of the local
WOOD PIGEONs
before being directed to the exact spot where dabbled the first of the
Objects of Desire
a trans-Atlantic female
LESSER SCAUP
a common waterfowl in North America
along with a male for comparison but not in attendance on the day
and half decent still and video of one of the numerous
GREAT WHITE EGRET
in flight.
ASPEN
overborne with
CATKINs
but not known if of any neutricanal value?

Sunday 26 February 2023

All Around the World - Oasis Part II

 Still restricted in our ability to manoeuvre we again reach for the archive to bring you the outstanding 3 Continents.

NORTH AMERICA

GRAND CANYON
BLACK-TROATED GREEN WARBLER
THE STRIP, LAS VEGUS

ANTARCTICA

ERNEST SHACKLETON'S GRAVE
GENTOO PENGUIN
GRYTVIKEN WHALING STATION
EUROPE
LEANING TOWER of PISA
CYPRUS WARBLER
LITTLE MERMAID
Copenhagen, Denmark