Since my last post I have seen and photographed a beautiful Snow Bunting, my first ever Hawfinch, my first ever daytime Tawny Owl and some elusive Bramblings!
I also managed my first photo's of Goosander and shots of a variety of commoner birds.
The Snow Bunting was at Steart Marshes this morning and posed beautifully. These are rare but tame birds, and this was only the second time I'd seen one, my only other time was 11 years ago at the top of Glastonbury Tor unexpectadly when I didn't have a decent camera with me!
The Hawfinch was at Fyne Court on the Quantock Hills in Somerset. These are very rare and elusive birds, but there has been an unusual influx of them from Europe into the UK this Autumn, so now is the best time to see them!
There were some familiar faces waiting to see the Hawfinch, including Penny and Ann, Glyn and June, Chris Hooper and Mark Stone. Always a pleasure to meet like-minded nature lovers when I'm out and about. :)
I stumbled upon a flock of 50+ Bramblings on the Blackdown Hills in Somerset as I drove down a quiet country lane lined by Beech trees in wonderful Autumn colour. The weather wasn't great but I stopped my van and managed to photograph some of the birds before they all moved on. It was the most Bramblings I'd ever seen together, and my first sighting of the species this year!
The day time Tawny Owl was on the outskirts of Bridgwater in Somerset. It was on a private building away from public view, but the house owner very kindly allowed me to visit and take some photos. It was wonderful to see. I'd been searching for a daytime Tawny all my life with no luck!
All in all, as local sightings go, this week has been fantastic!
Below are some photos of all mentioned above, plus Grey Wagtail, Treecreeper, Nuthatch and much more. Hope you enjoy! :)
^Above^ - The stunning Snow Bunting at Steart Marshes in Somerset.
^Above^ - Hawfinch at Fyne Court in Somerset!
^Above^ - Bramblings near Churchstanton on the Blackdown Hills in Somerset.
^Above^ - Tawny owl at a private location in Bridgwater, Somerset.
^Above^ - Fieldfare near Greylake in Somerset.
^Above^ - Grey Wagtail near Churchstanton.
^Above^ - Treecreeper near Churchstanton.
^Above^ - Nuthatch near Churchstanton.
^Above^ - Female Pheasant near Churchstanton.
^Above^ - Robin near Churchstanton.
^Above^ - Long Tailed Tits near Churchstanton.
^Above^ - Great Tits near Churchstanton.
^Above^ - Flock of Starlings near Churchstanton.
^Above^ - Goosanders at Chew Valley Lake in North Somerset.
^Above^ - Great White Egret and Goosander at Chew Valley Lake.
^Above^ - Great White Egrets at Chew Valley Lake (With some Goosander and a Heron in the bottom pic)
^Above^ - Grey Herons at Chew Valley Lake (with Canada Goose, bottom pic)
^Above^ - Mute Swans at Chew Valley Lake.
^Above^ - Wigeon at Chew Valley Lake.
^Above^ - Black Tailed Godwits at Chew Valley Lake.
^Above^ - Female Goldeneyes at Chew Valley Lake.
^Above^ - Carrion Crows at Chew Valley Lake.
^Above^ - Blue Tits at Chew Valley Lake.
^Above^ - Little Egret at Chew Valley Lake.
^Above^ - A very tired Meadow Pipit at Chew Valley Lake. ;)
^Above^ - Female Teal at Chew Valley Lake.
^Above^ - Starlings at Chew Valley Lake.
^Above^ - Goosanders and Coots fleeing a corner of Chew Valley Lake.
^Above^ - Male Chaffinch at Steart Marshes.
^Above^ - Great Tit at Steart Marshes.
^Above^ - Buzzards on the Mendip Hills in Somerset.
^Above^ - Robins at Fyne Court.
^Above^ - Mistle Thrushes at Fyne Court.
^Above^ - Blackbirds at Fyne Court.
^Above^ - Sparrowhawk at Fyne Court.
^Above^ - Redwing at Fyne Court.
^Above^ - Greenfinch at Fyne Court.
^Above^ - Red Admiral butterfly at Fyne Court.
^Above^ - Kestrel near Radstock in North Somerset.
^Above^ - Mute Swan and Wigeon at Greylake.
^Above^ - Blue Tit at RSPB Greylake.
^Above^ - Great Tit at Greylake.
^Above^ - Robin at Greylake.
^Above^ - Chaffinches at Greylake (Very low light...ISO 5000!)
^Above^ - Redwing at West Monkton in Somerset.
^Above^ - Starling at Greylake.
^Above^ - Goldfinch in my Somerset garden.
^Above^ - Blue Tit in my garden.
^Above^ - Male and female Blackbird in my garden.
^Above^ - Long Tailed Tit in my garden.
^Above^ - Robin in my garden....was constantly chasing away Chaffinches!
^Above^ - Chaffinches in my garden, one with a rough head in the bottom pic!
^Above^ - Starling in my garden.
^Above^ - Woodpigeon in my garden.
^Above^ - Autumn leaves in my garden.
^Above^ - These Horses were mutually massaging each other with their teeth! It went on for ages, very touching behaviour! Taken near Churchstanton.
^Above^ - Inquisitive cows near Greylake.
^Above^ - Misty sunrise shots on the Somerset Levels near Greylake, with Starlings in the tree and Lapwings flying past.
^Above^ - Atumnal tree at Chew Valley Lake.