Garth Peacock
May Summarised

Archive

Friday 4th October - North Norfolk

Monday 7th October 2024

Tanzania Day 8 - The Serengeti

Saturday 5th October 2024

Two trips out with little to show.

Wednesday 25th September 2024

Tanzania Day 7 - The Serengeti

Monday 23rd September 2024

Abberton Reservoir - again

Thursday 19th September 2024

Abberton Essex

Wednesday 11th September 2024

A morning at Grafham Water

Thursday 29th August 2024

After holiday blues

Thursday 22nd August 2024

Trying out a new lens

Monday 5th August 2024

Tanzania Day 5 - Ngorogoro Crater

Saturday 27th July 2024

Kevin Robson's Tawny Owl hide

Thursday 25th July 2024

Local stuff

Saturday 20th July 2024

More local stuff

Saturday 29th June 2024

Catching up with a local rarity

Friday 14th June 2024

Tanzania - Day 1 - Arusha

Monday 13th May 2024

View Blog Archive >>
Wednesday 31st May 2017

This is my second attempt at writing this blog. My last one appears to have been hacked into rubbish and a few entries added to the photo section that were also rubbish. All now deleted but it makes one think what mind set these people have. Can't have much of a brain beyond computing if hacking into an innoccuous wildlife website gives them pleasure!!!

Anyway, rant over so here goes with the second write up.

At the beginning of the month, a friend and I went to Woodwalton Fen in Cambridgeshire as Bitterns had been reported as 'showing well'. We arrived at the first hide with nothing of interest although a drake Garganey flew in with a flock of Teal but too distant for effective photography. After chatting to a couple that arrived later, and with nothing of interest, we moved to the second hide where we were treated to a couple of Hobby's hawking over the mere. Light nothing special so only so-so images.

After lunch, we moved back to the first hide. Shortly after arriving, a pair of Common Terns flew in and occupied the tern raft. Their behaviour indicated that they has just arrived on migration, especially when a mating attempt was made, although unsuccessful.

The north hide produced the usual Marsh Harriers, although distant and with deteriorating light, we called an end to the day.

Getting home, I received an e-mail from the couple we saw in the first hide. Just after we had left, a Bittern flew across the mere, landing in front of the hide, and proceeding to feed for a while. An excellent photo opportunity missed as his own photos proved. B***** it!!!

In the middle of the month, my wife and I enjoyed a 10 day holiday in Cyprus, an island that we know well. Not a birding holiday so I took my 7DMK2 attached to the 100-400 lens (just in case) and the 24-105 for landscapes. I have no ability with landscapes - just cannot see the potential for a decent shots but I wanted to practice in readiness for my forthcoming photo trip to Iceland. Few birds around anyway except for Crested Lark that were very common, especially at our favourite walking place, Cape Drepano.

After returning, I managed an afternoon at nearby Haddenham where, eventually, the Corn Buntings showed well.

One even landed in front of my camera requiring a quick removal of the teleconverter to get it in the frame.

Not a particularly eventful month but the forthcomimg trip to Iceland should be more fruitful.