Friday 28 June 2019

Bittern

One of the highlights from a couple of visits to Minsmere in June was this female Bittern.






Thursday 20 June 2019

The Peregrines of Norwich Cathedral 2019

The Peregrines Falcons (Falco peregrinus) at Norwich Cathedral have fledged three young.

To order ‘The Peregrines of Norwich Cathedral’ book at the sale price of £3.95 (including p&p) scroll down under 'Bird & Wildlife Photographs' at http://robinchittenden.co.uk
I still have a few copies left that are taking up too much space.

The adult female comes in to tempt the first juvenile to fledge into another flight with a light snack. Photograph taken 7th June 2019
The adult female Peregrine Falcon at Norwich Cathedral flies in front of the Bell Tower with some prey, which was used, unsuccessfully, to entice the first fledged juvenile into flight. Photograph taken 7th June 2019
The third juvenile to fledge from Norwich Cathedral made it to this first floor window sill on a house in The Close, before she decided, a few hours later, to hop down to the ground. She was then returned to the Bell Tower. Photograph taken 7th June 2019

The first juvenile to fledge from Norwich Cathedral roosted on this wall by the Dean's House and then spent the next day, in a nearby tree, followed by a quick visit to the Cloisters before settling for the roof of the Dean's house. See below. Photograph taken 9th June 2019


The first juvenile to fledge strengthening her wings. She spent most of the afternoon on the roof of the Dean's house, before returning to the Cathedral. Taken 9th June 2019






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Tuesday 11 June 2019

Common Cuckoo

Common Cuckoo at Buckenham Marshes in Norfolk May 2019

The first photograph shows the fairly tame bird, which was often chased off by the more dominant, but much more nervous male (the lower photograph). They were both tempted by the larder of Brown-tailed Moth caterpillars there. The tame bird's visits were erratic and sometimes not for long, and annoyingly it would often feed obscured within the vegetation. I visited the site six times, for a total of about 22 hours. In that time the tame bird was present for an accumulative total of about half an hour, during most of which it was partially or mostly out of view. Occasionally it would pop up and allow itself to be photographed. I came away feeling I still had not quite got THE photograph. Thanks to Murray Smith for letting us know about the bird.




Monday 10 June 2019

Short wildlife tour to Dorset May 2019

One of the highlights of a recent wildlife tour to Dorset was the image that appeared in front of my eyes as I scanned the heath in front of me. I'm sure I must have let out an audible gasp as my eyes clocked on, (and my inner voice was rambing on, ' It couldn't be, could it? Yes it is'.) a roosting Nightjar. Luckily it allowed a fairly close approach but shame about the pale grass stem though.

Nightjar (Caprimulgus eurpaeus)


 Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)