WAXWING! Just one... but... finally!!

I have to say a big thank you to Tim, as it was his spot, and he drove,

but we finally got us some Waxwing action..

Only one, in the trees next to the road in Turners Drive, Thatcham - but its a much needed Yeartick and really.. its a pride thing too.. as every other fecker seems to have them in their gardens etc.

Happy Days... except that I didnt take my big lens,

so these are cropped, resulting in a loss of quality.

Hey ho.. we still got us a Waxwing :o)

More old shots.. The Rooksbury Kingfishers.

With no adventures recently, I thought I'd add a few old shots.

This Kingfisher was often present at Rooksbury LNR in the winter months.

Most days you would see at least one around the former Trout Stew Ponds.

There was usually a branch or two in the way, so clear shots were difficult, but here you can see a fish about to be consumed.

An adventure locally...

With rain forecast for mudday, I thought id go off and take a few more Autumn pics..

I remembered one place that looked amazing from the past.. A track down to a farm lined with Sycamore Trees. Too Late!!!! Most leaves off trees.. D'oh!

So carried on to Lambourn to catch up with people at my old work, when I remembered this old Watering Hole that is left when the River Lambourn dries out. Plenty of Finches and Pipits bathing..

Plus half a dozen Yellowhammers, that I needed for my Facebook A-Z of Birds Album..

So I went away happy.

After a quick nip to my old work, it was still sunny so I thought Id head out to Raptor Alley..

A long road that has farm land and telegraph poles on each side for 4 miles (near Woolley and Chaddleworth)...

From my days of cycling around there, I knew this area was a hotbed for Raptors...

Buzzards, Kestrels and Kites have made this home and I doubt you would never see at least 1 of each, anytime of the year..

And happily snapped this Red Kite.. One of 3 that were circling there.. and one of a dozen I saw in the space of a few miles..

I recognise Lucky when I see it.. ;o)

After Raptor Alley, I headed to Dinton Pastures near Winnersh..

A Bittern had been repeatedly reported at Lavills Lake LNR on http://www.berksbirds.co.uk and I need this for my YEARLIST.

I sat there for 2 hours or more.. Local knowledge folks. You cant beat it and it saves you from freezing you 'arris' off!!!

No Bittern, but I have a better idea of when to go now.

Whilst there I snapped a very brave Little Grebe.. Normally a shy bird, but someone forgot to tell this one!! And of course.. you cant go anywhere near water without seeing Cormorants these days..

A cold, but goooood day..

Everybodies favourite Season?

A day off so hit the local pathes for a bit of Birding.. all quiet, apart from some Grey Partridge at Bucklebury, and a Year tick.. so I was happy in the end.

Then drove back towards the Discovery Centre and had a quick walk in an Autumnal wood.

Stumbled across these monster toadstools. . .

These Deer live in Englefield Park..

Owned by a certain MP for West Berkshire...

I used to go there as a kid and walk around the Park.. might have to apply for permission and get a few Deer shots.

The sunbathing Fox...

Headed to Hengistbury Head near Christchurch after Brownsea, hoping to find some passing Migrants... (not the Polish type).. It was dissapointing... a few Stonechat, but the North wind had probably helped them well on their way all week.. Anyhoo. A quick check over a Gorse bush found this stunner.. bathing in the Sunshine.

Beautiful Brownsea..

Managed a quick trip to a few places today..

First stop was Brownsea for Spoonbill and Avocet for the year list..

Ticks achieved.. and the real attraction of Brownsea is the Red Squirrels.. .

plus took some pics of the graveyard..

A walk around Greenham on the last day of Summer.

Cormorant on the Tern Raft at Lower Farm Gravel Pits.

(Great Crested Grebe in front and Shoveler behind)

Common Sandpiper

Green Woody with Meadow Pipit in front at Greenham Common.

Wheatear.

Stonechat.

Some old shots, rediscovered.

Rooksbury Lakes

Sunflowers in Boxford

A penny for your thoughts?

Morning mist.

No Owls, but some random shots.

Went for a walk.. saw some cows and cars.

not much more to say.. except that I went looking for Tawny Owls.

Hello Deer.

A few pics from a 'works trip' with some kids to Bucklebury Park Farm near Newbury..

The 'top dog' on the right, a 9 year old and the 2 year old contender to the throne on the left.

Down by the river.

Again on holiday, I heard that there was a Dipper on the river that runs through the village I was staying in..

Thinking, hmmm, thats more of a shallow stream than a river, I followed it towards the coast and as it grew in size, so did my expectations..

and then success.. bad pictures, but thats me! But deffo a Dipper sighting..

And in the afternoon, I headed to the village of Beer, well you would, wouldnt you...

Unfortunately no 'Welcome to Beer' signs, but on the Axmouth Estuary were plenty of Curlew.

Apparently the village of Beer is twinned with 'Hangover'.

Portland Bill.

My first ever trip to Portland provided a few new year ticks, Guillemots, Fulmar, Stonechat, Common Scoter and a Rock Pipit, but my favourite shot was this one below.

A female Kestrel that just hung in the sea breeze, looking for rodents on the slopping cliff faces.

What do Guillemots and Cormorants talk about? The price of fish?