Muntjac

Thursday 28th Feb
Dull grey start which turned to light rain by lunchtime.
Had a wander around but was very quiet so afraid not much to report at all today.
I can report though that I am now doing some bailiff work for the fishing club that runs Captain's Pool and in return I have a non fishing membership, so I have had a good wander round the side and back of the pool this afternoon, hopefully a few photographic opportunities will come my way, time will tell.
The male GC Grebe is still trying to get close to the female, but same as the last few days, she is having none of it.
Otherwise just the usual subjects on the pool.

So Dull

Wednesday Feb 27th

Another wonderful warm and sunny day but a bit cold early on.

Managed a couple of walkabouts and covered most of the patch, but must admit most of the time was by Captains.

Lots of Goldfinch feeding on the ground by the Three Pools.

Few Treecreepers active down by Amada.

Couple buzzards by Captain's again and also by the Dead Man's Allotment, but nothing much of note down that area, Stanklyn Lane seems very quiet at the moment.

Few small birds messing in the carrot field but not much by Edna's Tomb.

Saw a Muntjac deer around lunchtime.

The reserves again are the best for bird action, but nothing rare, GS Woodpecker very active but couldn't spot him, treecreepers, nuthatch wren, robin, magpies and chaffinch were the most prolific.

The GC Grebe was still travelling round the pool trying to attract a mate but the female was having none of it.

Only a couple of gulls and Canadian Geese about today.
Comma butterfly at front of Captain's Pool.

Lots of small birds in Pirates wood but couldn't quite make some of them out.

Sparrowhawk was in there a couple of times.

School run day so knocked it on the head just after 1.

3 Pics of the Great Crested Grebe

Poor distant record shot of a Muntac in the midday sun.

Fox, Grebes and lots of photos

Tuesday 26th Feb

Official, the hottest day ever recorded in February.

Popped up the pool early on to see what was there, saw the two Grebes, also quite a few Canadian Geese and the usuals, not many gulls about though.

Had a walk round by the reserves, heard the GS Woodpecker in Captain's reserve and also one by Pirates Wood, took the wide angle lens with me to get some frosty shots.

Had to pop out for a bit after breakfast and then the rest of the day was spent out and about round Spennells with the camera, oh what a life!

Had a walk up as far as the Railway field but hardly saw any bird life.

Main interest was to see if I could get photos of the Grebes doing their courting dance, but it didn't happen, not even certain that they are male and female, one keeps hiding in the shade and the other keeps going all round the pool calling, sounds almost like it's crying, they did get quite close to each other at one point, they had both dived and they came up within a couple of feet of each other and then all hell broke loose, can see pics below, shame they were so far out when it happened.

Got one sighting of the kingfisher and also a couple of visits from the Cormorant.

Saw couple buzzards over Captains late afternoon, also a Brimstone butterfly again in the reserve.

No sign of the frogs by the three pools, along the streams at the front I saw treecreepers, Nuthatches and Jays.

Great Tits were inspecting the Nuthatch nest, I didn't see the Nuthatches in that location this morning.

Saw the fox again, it was really spread out in the sunshine, so much that I thought it was dead and then it popped it's head up, must say it looks in very fine condition.

Few Long tail tits up by Captain's along with a few Chaffinches, robins and some Jays late on.

Forecast nice again tomorrow so hoping to be back out in morning.

Three from the Three pools area.

These two were from very early on, shame about the light

Four of the Grebes, they got a bit close to each other, shame they were just a little too far out, but I'm happy enough.

The Captain's Robin

Bit of squawking and off they went.

In hiding

The Spennells Fox

Long Tailed Tit

Jay (a long way off)

Carp jumping 

Love the crest

Cormorant

Buzzard

Two Great Crested Grebes and Nuthatch at the nest

Monday 25th Feb

And what a beautiful day it was on Spennells, full sunshine all day long and it reached 18 celcius, oh how I do love being retired.
Spent most of my time looking round the reserves by Captain's and the 3 pools reserves a trip up over the fields and of course Captain's Pool
On the pool we saw another GC Grebe arrive, not sure if it is a female or not but hoping so, the other which was cruising round the pool kept calling out, after a few hours they eventually got quite near to each other, but then all hell broke loose the new arrival certainly saw the other on off, bit too quick for me to get a photo.
And it's always a pleasure to spend an hour or so having a rattle with my friend Mike.
The Nuthatch along with it's mate look to have found somewhere to nest, so shall be keeping my eye on this.
Managed a photo of the hybrid goose today and he/she was seeing off any other goose that got near it.
Still a few frogs about but only saw two myself, think the heron has eaten some of them.
Lots of squirrels in the reserve, saw at least half a dozen buzzards and pretty sure I saw a red kite fly over around lunch time.
Lots of bees about also.
Treecreepers and nuthatches and all the usuals in the reserves.
Three jays landed close to the pool late in the afternoon, there were at least 3 herons around today, I saw one on the pool, one in the reserve and then one leaving the three pools, the first two were still in the same place when I walked back.
I left the pool late afternoon and the new arrival Grebe had disappeared, hope it comes back.
All in all a very pleasant seven hours or so today, hoping for more of the same tomorrow.

Nuthatch

Canadian Geese taking off

Hybrid

Grey Squirrel

Grey Heron

Frogs eye-balling

Robin

GC Grebe

GC Grebe preparing to attack

Mallard

Blue skies at Captain's

Sunday 24th February

Foggy start, but undeterred off I went again.
Could hear the GS Woodpecker very clearly but couldn't see the tops of the trees let alone a bird!
Heard a couple of Canadian Geese land on the pool but couldn't see them, a coot was quite near to the side and that was it, spookily quiet.
That was between 7 and 8am, by 10.00 am it was even denser.
Went back out at 11 and was still quiet, but this time I saw a lone swan which took off and returned a couple of minutes later also a GC Grebe.
The hybrid Canada Goose was there but too far out for a photo, the sawn had left the vicinity.
Really brightened up later so popped up the pool again with the family.
Met Dave A up there just before 4 and we had 3 clear sightings of a kingfisher, have yet to see one perched up yet though, but I shall keep trying.

7.30 am

7.35 am

Swan in the fog

11.00 am
Can just about make out a lonely swan.

Close up

Moorhen

The Grebe is back again

Saturday 23rd Feb
We had a tree fall over a couple of months ago, very rotten so wasn't surprised, it's been a dead un for ages, but have cut it into two and bedded into the garden, they look quite good actually and is handy to place a cup of tea whilst working.
Started off with my work in the garden, got to keep the wife happy
Few walkabouts today, mainly the reserves areas and Captain's, one walk over the fields didn't reveal much at all.
There was a Great Crested Grebe again and a cormorant along with a couple of Mute Swans and all the usual subjects.
Saw one wren, treecreepers, starlings, chaffinches, blackbirds, pigeons and nuthatches, plus there seemed to be a lot more magpies about than usual.
The usual robins of course.
Spotted my first butterfly of the year by Captain's, a Brimstone, is spring coming, I doubt it yet, a few bumble bees around.
Nice to see lots of families walking around the fields today.
Hoping the warm weather may continue for a few more days, but it has clouded up this evening.

Blue Tit

Great Crested Grebe washing.

Mute Swan

Mute Swan

Cormorant

Great Crested Grebe

Don't think I need to say what this is!

Black Headed Gull

Bit of experimentation!