Monday 25 January 2021

Wantage & surroundings in the snow - 24 January

Snow always adds interest to photos but sadly in southern England opportunities are very limited. So when there was a snow fall in the morning yesterday, I was keen to get out and find something to photograph. 

First up, walking to Letcombe Regis, I thought there was a fair chance that the Great Bustard would still be in the usual field to the east of the village. Indeed it was and I managed to get a low angle photo that at least showed some snow had fallen.

As usual, click on the captions for larger images

Great Bustard in the snow!

Later, I had amazing luck at the top of Chain Hill, just outside Wantage, with an apparent road-kill (a hare?) in the snow close to the road but not on it. There were a few raptors in attendance when I drove past, and this one stayed put when I came back even at point-blank range!

Buzzard on kill in the snow!

This was very close, as shown by the crop below!

Saturday 23 January 2021

Letcombe Regis - 21 January


A return to nearby Letcombe Regis today in search of the Cattle Egret. This took some time to pin down, but eventually I got some photos of it on the lake off Warborough Road - through a very convenient hole in the large and mostly very solid hedge. It was with at least 2 Little Egrets. Previously, and later, it was in the nearby sheep field by the allotments but it never came close.

As usual, click on the captions to enlarge

Cattle Egret by the lake
Looking right!

In between looking for the egret, I came across these charming Stonechats on the nearby Downs:

Stonechat female or immature?
Crop of the photo above
The male Stonechat very close

Thursday 7 January 2021

Letcombe Brook - 2 January

Back for another extended and chilly session! Although I only captured one visit of the bird, at least it was for longer this time and I was able to get photos of the bird in a variety of poses. Conditions were however duller than my last session, when the bird appeared.

The last photos from this site for some time to come, given Lockdown 3...  

Once again click on the captions for larger images. 

Also go to this gallery for more Kingfisher photos. 

One of the first photos of the visit
Looking left
Looking right and upwards
Looking right and down

Friday 1 January 2021

Letcombe Brook - 29 December

 

A couple photos from a cramped 4 hr session in which the bird showed for about 30 sec! 

As usual, click on the captions for larger images.

Sideways on - looking out over the water
More head on having just flown in