Moths - December Moth

It's that season where the Moths get less and less :(  Me and Dave had a nice trip to the woods on November 28th with the torches looking for Winter Moth and we were in luck there was quite a few about and so much fun looking on the tree trunks for them much better than a night out in the pub lol
We potted a couple and photographed them in the morning my first photos of Winter Moth there so small and dainty I love them :)
The big surprise came on the night of the 7th of December with mild temps all night we decided to give the trap a go in Dave's garden I kept checking and nothing then just before half ten I glanced and saw something in the trap I knew right away what it was but lifted the glass up to look and there he was a beautiful December Moth the one I had been waiting and hoping for felt so lucky just couldn't believe it then I had a half an hour wait before Dave got home from work felt like forever I was so excited to show him when he got in I made him a coffee and took it in and said coffee and a moth his eyes just lit up and a massive smile on his face he knew it would be December Moth he was over the moon we were both like kids :) lol Such a stunning moth a lot smaller than I expected had made my December christmas had come early a lifer for me and a first for Dave's garden :)
I love my moths so much and can't wait for the warmer weather for some moths and Butterflies and Dragonflies and insects :)
I have definitely found my niche with my Moths and Insects my passion makes my heart beat with excitement when I get a new moth love the feeling :)

Winter Moth 

Winter Moth

December Moth

December Moth

Lesser Yellowlegs - Cheddar Reservoir, Somerset

A lovely Morning at Cheddar Reservoir very cold but over the moon to get Lesser Yellowlegs such an amazing bird and a lifer for me, and showed so well, I just love it when birds come close like this and watching him fed and bathe it just amazes me, loved him just wish I hadn't been so cold and needed the toilet so we could of spent longer with him but just happy to of seen him :) and we were very lucky as the next day he had gone.  

Trittiford Mill Pool Update - Mandarin Duck

A lovely Surprise at the start of November was a Mandarin Duck on Trittiford a beautiful female I was over the moon felt like a kid at xmas a Trittiford tick for me.
Managed to get a few photos but the sun was very bright, also there was a Wigeon another Trittiford Tick :)
The Mandarin stayed about a week which was nice also the Little Egrets are back at Old Mill pond and different locations up the River Cole :) Such stunning birds I just love them.
Also some very showy Tufted Ducks on Old Mill Pond love these too :)

Isabelline Wheatear - Burnham Overy, Norfolk

Headed to Norfolk today for the Isabelline Wheatear and Desert Wheatear, We started of at Burnham Overy for the Isabelline, had a nice walk down and soon located as it flew and landed quite near had nice views but then it flew off and was very flighty but it soon landed again but very distant had nice bin views and a man let me look through his scope giving really nice views.
Just a shame it wasn't as close as it had been over the past week, I'm sure it would of let us get closer but was full of numpties standing far far back :( Still was lovely to see it, and it really is pale.
We also had cracking close up views of what we think was a Greenland Wheatear, love Wheatears he came so close he was too close for Dave's camera at one point lol
I was over the moon and also had great views of Stonechat also stunning birds :)
Unfortunately the Desert Wheatear had done a runner :( I really wanted to see him I was gutted but hopefully there will be another if not this year then next year :)

Isabelline Wheatear (Very distant Record shot)  

Greenland Wheatear

Greenland Wheatear

Greenland Wheatear

Greenland Wheatear

Stonechat 

Stonechat

Stonechat

Pensthorpe Nature Reserve

Dave took me to Pensthorpe Nature Reserve in Norfolk today best day out ever so much fun being able to see so many birds up close, all of them so beautiful, and was a great chance to practice with my photography using my new camera, I loved every second of it :)
Loved all of the birds but think my highlight has to be the White Stork such a stunning, elegant beautiful bird.
My biggest highlight was the Red Squirrels had always wanted to see them, I felt like crying as we walked up and there they were just so bright and beautiful and cute wanted to take them home just love them :)
Being able to see Bearded Tits up close was amazing too and Corncrake I had looked at photos of Corncrake and thought they were quite plain but seeing one there stunning.
Such a fun day I know there captive but to be honest I got just as much enjoyment if not more I love birds and being so close and getting brilliant views of them all was just out of this world :)
Also had lovely views of Rook which was wild, beautiful birds.
Took over a thousand photos so will just pick a few for to put on here lol
Big thank you to Dave for an amazing day out :)  ( Red Squirrels in the wild next !!!! ;) lmao

Red Squirrel 

White Stork

White Stork

White Stork

Hawaiian Goose

Red-crested Pochard

Black Stork

Rook

White-naped Crane

Black-winged Stilt

Bearded Tit - Female

Bearded Tit - Male 

Ruff

Corncrake

Corncrake 

Grey Phalarope - Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon

Headed to Farmoor Reservoir today for the showy Grey Phalarope, and he was very showy for us, such a beautiful bird and my second one at Farmoor but this being my best views was able to get down the bank he was bothered at all and he even came out of the water, amazing watching him prune I loved him put a massive smile on my face I love moments like these :) The best part of birding for me such an enjoyable few hours :)
Was a great chance for me to try out my camera weather was very dull, and I really did struggle as he was constantly moving but tried out all different settings so at least i'm getting use to the camera and my first proper photos as last year it was high winds and only got a record shot lol

Spurn Trip

We decided on another Spurn trip today with there being quite a few birds reported, but unfortunalty it didn't go to plan all the birds had gone away lol
But there was still one that stayed for us a Siberian Stonechat possible Stejneger's Stonechat a beautiful little bird much paler than are Stonechat, this little fella decided to pick the most hardest place on Spurn Point as if not hard enough walking all the way to the point we then had to clamer through all the bramble like thorn stuff, and I lost my lens cap and kept falling over really was horrid lol but looking back it was funny I kept saying get me out of here lol but i'm so glad I saw the bird :)
and also had a very showy Goldcrest on the way down to the point he just flew out straight to us I loved him love moments like this also had some nice Brent Geese :)

Goldcrest

Siberian Stonechat- (Possible Stejneger's)

Brent Geese

Brent Geese

Red-breasted Mergansers- Shustoke Reservoir

Headed to Shustoke Reservoir for the two Red-breasted Merganser, a lovely Warwickshire tick for me had lovely views and they came close after waiting awhile but hard work with photos as the sun being bright and in the wrong direction a lot of the time but still lovely seeing them and being able to use my camera :)
We went back the next day too but they were further out not as showy and lighting was so dull :(
but got a few record shots from the day before and some photos of  Pied Wagtail a little distant but haven't got many of Pied so I was happy :)