This Week and Last

This morning I realised that I hadn't done any birding for a whole week.... ( It's probably down to a touch of the winter blues, this winter seems to be going on forever!) I decided to remedy this and go and try for a few additions to my patch photo yearlist. I'd seen that there were a few possibilities from reading a couple of local birders blogs, Tim had seen Dipper on Sunday and Sue had had some excellent views of Water Rail yesterday, I think. So these were my target species this morning and I'm pleased to say I managed to catch up with both of them and a couple of other additions to the list too...

But first, back to last Tuesday when I accompanied Ian M and his friend Alan to The Somerset Levels where we were hoping to see the Pied-Billed Grebe and possibly the drake Smew. We thought it would be nice and quiet after the first wave of twitchers at the weekend but it wasn't, there was still quite a crowd! The Pied-billed Grebe was playing very hard to get but we did manage to see it briefly, photos however were out of the question. I wasn't too concerned as I'd seen and photographed the one somewhere near Manchester in 2010. We saw a total of three Smew from the Decoy Hide, the gorgeous drake and a couple of redheads but they were a bit on the elusive side too. We did have good views as they flew in but then they disappeared into the reeds only giving the odd brief glimpse thereafter. Great birds to see, so I can't really complain, photos would just have been a bonus. I did get a few shots of one of the Great White Egrets and a nice male Marsh Harrier although both were rather distant.

Great White Egret

 Swooping down on a rather worried looking Gadwall!

Great White Egret and Marsh Harrier in this shot.

Male Marsh Harrier being watched by a Buzzard.

Back to today then. First I when along to Seaton Marshes where I didn't even have to leave the car park before I had good views of a Water Rail. It was concealed amongst brambles at the water's edge for a lot of the time so I waited for it to venture out far enough for a photo opportunity. Whilst I was waiting a second Water Rail arrived and the first one told it where to go in no uncertain terms! ... like so...

No. 49 Water Rail

The victor!

No.50  Moorhen

Then onto the River Coly where I soon found a Dipper in the 'usual spot' although it was difficult to creep up on with the sparse winter vegetation not providing me with much cover. I also added Grey Wagtail here.

 No.51 Grey Wagtail.

 Not looking at his best moulting into summer plumage.

No. 52 Dipper.

Already on the list... but it's

not often you see a Treecreeper perching, not tree-creeping.