Venus Pool - The Osprey

The main reason for my visit to Venus

was to see the Osprey and hopefully

get a few photograph's.

I didn't have to wait too long for this

years visitor to drop in, just out the

corner of eye I could see him gliding

towards the pool. As he made his way

over the pool the Gull's and Crow's made

to the air doing their best to try and

warn him off.

Little seemed to bother him as he

continued to scour the water in search of

his next meal.

Shaking with nerves as he drew closer, I

could hardly believe my eye's when he

stopped and hovered in front of me.

Hovering just as if he were a Kestrel
over a meadow, slowly moving towards

the water before Splash!!....He was

down.

Sucess!

He made three visit's in all throughout

the day, giving me enough chances to

get a few decent shot's.

As I watched over the pool out the corner

of my eye I could see a large dark bird

moving from left to right, I instantly

thought the Osprey was trying to come

in low.

I couldn't believe it when I finally realised

it was a Marsh Harrier (quite a rarity

in these parts) It made a few passes

over the reeds before hovering and finally

dropping down. It stayed down for at least

five minutes before flying up and out of

sight.

What a day!...

Venus Pool - The New Hide

I settled down into the new hide and

straight away spotted an Oystercatcher

sitting on the island to my left, a quick

photograph confirmed she was sitting

on two eggs, just hope they sit them

the full term.

All the Oystercatchers in my experience

tend to move off eggs quite often, not sure

if it's because there young inexperienced

birds or they just get easily disturbed.

In this case the only thing I could see

that may put them off was the occasional

visit from another Oystercatcher, mind

you he /she was soon seen off.

Throughout the rest of the day the

Oystercatchers made regular changeovers

for sitting giving me the perfect opportunity

for a few flight shot's.

Straight out in front of the hide is another

island which gave more opportunities

throughout the course of day for Little

Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and Yellow

Wagtail.

Venus Pool - The Start

This session was from about two weeks
ago, bit late I know but I just can't seem to
find 5 minutes to write them up lately.

Anyway!.. Venus Pool. A popular wetland
reserve that occassionaly has an attractive
vistor.

An Osprey!

I first come here at the back end of

last year trying to photograph them.

I'd only just started my photography

then and the shot's I did manage wasn't

the really the best, mainly record shot's.

This year I'd hoped it would be a little

different, having a little knowledge from

last year I opted to try the causeway

between the two pool's. This is where

last years bird seemed to like catching it's

fish.

I waited patiently for a couple of hours

but nothing showed up.

Next I moved up to the hides on Venus

just in case it decided to drop in there. I

arrived to find Snipe and Lapwing close by

probing the mud in search of thier breakfast.

As the light wasn't the best I decided to move

down to the new hide.

Worcestershire Hoopoe

I'd already planned a family day out for

kid's last Saturday... A Day in Brean. It

was forecast to be a nice day so I thought

we'd make the most of it.

Before we were about to set off I checked the

local birding news (usually do in the morning

you never know what's gonna turn up) I couldn't

believe it when I see the Hoopoe reported over

at Lower Moor in Pershore, hoping it would stay

(as it was to be a first for me) I planned a

trip over when I got back.

I arrived back about 05.30pm and with the light

fading fast I grabbed my gear and made my way

over to Pershore.

I eventually found the pathway through to

where it had first been reported and began my

search. I wasn't the only one there a few more

birders started to appear after a while and with all

the searching none of us could find it.

Time was pressing on an the light was fading, I

decided to take a quick look in the actual

caravan park as it had been reported in there

quite often.

I walked through to what looked like building

site and stood by the gate, not really sure

whether or not to enter.

Everywhere I looked said Private Property.

I eventually plucked up the courage and

wandered through, I'm glad I did as I found

the Hoopoe quietly probing in the grass.

I took several shots none of which were really

any good however I did manage a few half decent

record shots.

Good end to a nice day!

The Malverns

I'd decided the Easter weekend would be

spent locally, namely the Malvern Hill's.

Ring Ouzel and Wheatear would be the main

target and possibly Redstart, Report's

during the the week included a single

Wheatear and a single Ring Ouzel, hoping

that they stay for the weekend I made

my why up to Britishcamp first thing

Sunday morning.

A quick scout around revealed a few Meadow

Pipit.

I then started to work my way around to

the S/E side of the hill where the Ring Ouzel

had previously been reported. I stopped to

have a quick look and before I could get my

hand on my bins a Ring Ouzel flew by!.. landing

100yrds away, I was just about to reach for

the camera but before I could it was off again

and with a small flap of it's wings into the wind

it made some 250yrds back to where I just

came from....Bugger!!

I made my back to where I see it land to find it

calling in the brambles near the path.

I slowly moved forward and as I did it started

to move further and further up the hill

eventually coming to a stop on the hillside.

I spent a good while after getting the Ring Ouzel

searching around but I couldn't locate the

Wheatear however I did manage a Redstart

and a Mistle thrush.

Not a bad day at all.

South Gloucestershire!

Firstly I tried Ashleworth Ham to see

if I could locate the Great White Egret

that had been reported earlier in the week.

I arrived at 6.30am and scoured the Ham

vigorously for a good hour with no joy. I did

see plenty of other stuff though!... Teal, Canada

Geese and Heron defiantly worth another visit

I think. I will say though for anyone considering

photography at the Ham is that everything is

a fair way off.

Next I made my way to Sharpness Docks

where a Female Black Redstart had now been

for at least three months. I've seen it before but

my last trip was a waste of time really, for

photo's anyway. One of those dark days not

really getting light at all.

It was a different story this time though good

sunshine and an approachable bird makes

good for some nice photo's, well a bit of

chasing around as well.

I sat and watched the Black Redstart hopping

from the Ned West Building onto the floor and

then the trees to finally the roof of the end

house, it seemed to be it's usual route.

There was a point though that I followed it

from garden to garden trying to get a decent

shot, It was one of those times that I didn't really

pay any attention to what I was actually doing

and before I knew it I'd covered about 500yrds

basically going from one end of the street to

the other in hot pursuit....what we do for a

shot!

Next it was onto Aust!...

I arrived to find good numbers of Skylark and

Meadow Pipit although not much else, think I

may have been a bit early another week or two

maybe.

I went onto Northwick Warth where I met

up with Paul Bowerman, after a brief chat with

Paul he showed me a little spot where I could

get a few nice shot's of Turnstone and possibly

a Dunlin.

Cheers Paul!..Until next time.