Success on the doorstep..

Yearlisting isnt easy when you cant tell one Gull from another, but luckily I know a Short Eared Owl when I see one - even though I never had..

Spent yesterday afternoon walking around the Downs of West Ilsley, looking for a Great Grey Shrike that had been reported for the last 2 days..

2 hours and no sign.. plenty of Fieldfare and Corn Bunting, but no Shrike.

A couple I met at the Car Park had just seen it, but everyone else on the Downs hadnt.. Wasnt looking good.

Had kinda thrown in the towel and was just about to part company with a few people I was with, when I noticed something large and brown flying behind us in the field..

Hello Short Eared Owl!! The aimless meandering around the Gallops had now become worth it..

It spent 30 minutes flying around, hunting.. A great sight!

2 hours on a windswept Gallop was just about enough for me and I started to head back.

Submitted the Owl on http://www.berksbirds.co.uk/ and checked to see what was going on in the world of Facebook and Twitter on the long walk back to the car.. Just happened to look up and saw this long tailed bird in a Hawthorn Bush.. Result!! Hello Great Grey Shrike.. Just goes to show that you shouldnt give up.. :o)

Autumn Sunset

This Autumn has provided some cracking sunsets.. I took this pic as a favour for my Landlady who was making a photobook for her hubby who is in the Navy and away at the moment, chasing Pirates in the Gulf.

She wanted a 'walking away' pic for the rear of the book and knowing how good the sunsets have been recently I suggested we headed down the road and try and catch one of these.

We didnt get a great sunset, but the sky turned a fantastic colour once the sun had set..

I was happy with the results.