January 26
WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS
January can be a difficult month for many people. I don't usually suffer from the January Blues, but I did notice this year I felt a certain flatness. I think it was largely because there were days when Bob and I would go out for a walk and hardly see anything at all. Well, that is, anything out of the ordinary. There's no doubting it - I get a real lift when nature reveals its beauty to me in its many wonderful and surprising ways. But, it's been a good reminder that even the simple things can give great pleasure if we take the time to appreciate them. Sometimes, it's worth looking with more careful eyes and appreciating even the ordinary.
The year actually was off to a great start, when the snow fell early on in the month. I love the snow! I'll leap at any opportunity I have to walk in it! Living close to the coast meant we didn't have any on our doorstep, but Ashdown Forest had a good covering and it wasn't too far away to visit. Even the car park looked lovely, with the sun shining through the wintry trees on this gorgeous sunny day. It might have been crisp and cold, but we were dressed for it and of course had some welcome hot drinks after our walk. The highlight of the day, aside from the snow, was having some brief glimpses of a couple of Crossbills at the top of the fir trees, though not as good as we'd had in December.
We then headed back to the lake to watch the starling murmuration near the Sussex border. It wasn't the most spectacular murmuration I've ever seen - the birds were flying fairly low it seemed and went to roost very quickly. But, even so, I was happy to have a nice photo of the masses of them just moments before they disappeared into the reedbed, which isn't something I've photographed before.
We returned to the Cuckmere River a few more times to photograph the Rock Pipits again. There was one walking around the muddy grassy bank, picking out insects to eat. But, what I really hoped for, was for it to walk on the ice. I didn't think it would, as there wasn't likely to be any insects on it. But, I was wrong!
On another occasion, when it was sunnier, we found one on a particularly lush bit of grass and it gradually walked closer and closer. It stopped beside the riverbank for a moment and I was able to grab this shot just before it flew off.
On most of the occasions we ventured down to the river, we went looking for the Water Pipit. There were a few in the area, but for me, I was seeing mainly the one in one specific area of the river. It seemed to stay quite loyal to that spot. But, it was very flighty. No sooner did we spot it, when it flew over to the other side of the bank. My first photos were record shots taken from very far away. But with perseverance, we both gradually managed to take some better photos.
You can see it wasn't always with the best weather. On this day, we had rain and even a small fluttering of snow (that didn't settle). This is my best photo of the lot and I love it because not only is its beak open, but you can see the water droplets resting on its back. It has a more prominent eye stripe than the Rock Pipit and less markings on the chest, though you can't easily see this in my photo. Bob has some better photos, which you can see if you click here.
My other highlight from our days on the river, was when this Green Sandpiper was wading along the water's edge. I was able to stay down low on the opposite side of the bank as it gradually started working its way closer towards me. I love the reflections of it in the water. The Common Sandpiper is the one we usually see around here, and I've only seen the Green Sandpiper once before. This is my first set of photos of this species, so I was pretty chuffed.
If you look carefully, you'll see this Green Sandpiper has something in its beak, which its about to eat.
I admit, ducks and geese don't get me quite as excited as other bird species, unless they're chicks - I'm a sucker for goslings and ducklings. So, when Bob mentioned there were some Russian White-fronted Geese in the Cuckmere Valley, I wasn't too worried if I didn't see them. But, I was happy to go for another walk along the river regardless. When we were coming down the hill towards the water we didn't see them at first through our bins. There were mostly Canada Geese in the fields and waterways on the other side of the Cuckmere River. We started walking along the riverside and every now and then we'd stop to survey our surroundings with our bins, seeing if we could identify the birds we were seeing. Eventually, Bob spotted a few of the White-fronted Geese some distance away, and then a few more. It was interesting to see how noticeably smaller they were standing alongisde the Canada Geese. I took a few record shots, but they were too far away really. Then, all of a sudden, a small group of them that I was photographing suddenly took flight.
Feeling a little more excited, I kept snapping away as they flew slightly towards us. It was lovely having a closer view of their pink bill and undersides just as they veered off in another direction. I was able to appreciate this even more so when I was back home later looking at the photos in more detail. Apparently, there's usually always a few Greenland White-fronted Geese that make it to the south of England - they have an orange bill - but it's less common to see the Russian subspecies and in such high number.
Earlier in the month, Bob and I had a lovely few days away at Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey. The safari drive was the quietest I'd ever seen it, with very little water and consequently very few wading birds. There was more activity once we parked the car, as some Redwing and Fieldfare were feeding on the berries in the trees nearby. However, I struggled to get any decent shots as they were good at hiding amongst the twigs and branches.
We followed one of the walking paths away from the car park and towards the reedbeds - a particular stretch we usually cover more than few times with each visit. We've often seen a Little Owl perched on the bricks of the old building along the track, but this time we were treated to a view of the pair together. I gather it's the female that is usually a little more wary (the one of the left and slightly behind the male). Whilst we were standing there, she retreated in to a hole in the wall more than a few times. But, with a little patience, she usually reappeared.
There was also a lovely little Goldcrest busily looking for food on one of the big oak trees. It often moves about quickly, seldom staying still for long, so most of my photos were out of focus. But, when it dropped down to the base of the tree, I got lucky. I love it's yellow and black stripes on the top of its head.
At the end of our first day, as we were driving out along the track again, we spotted this Heron near to the road in the late afternoon light. It may be a common species for us to see, but it was great having such a close view. The colouration and markings of its feathers are intriguing. I love the grey streaks you can see descending below the head and bill. It's almost like a funky tie dangling down.
On our second day, we went for a longer walk in the other direction from the car park to one of the further hides. For me, the highlight of the day, and the whole weekend, was seeing a Brown Hare suddenly emerge from the reedbed onto the frozen water and attempt to cross it. There wasn't much time to grab a few photos, and sadly it was moving away from us, so its head was in shadow. But, it was a special rare moment to witness.
It slipped around a few times, as it struggled to navigate the slippery surface whilst trying to move across the ice swiftly. I love this next photo, with its hind legs in front of its forelegs and about to bound forward again. It's an unusual photo, capturing that moment between leaps. I also like how you can easily appreciate how much longer and more powerful the hindlegs are.
It took several leaps into the air before it was hidden amongst the reeds again.
It was a truly memorable moment, which was over in a matter of seconds. I was just lucky that I happened to glance over in its direction at the time it made its dash across the frozen pool.
Towards the end of the month was the Big Garden Birdwatch. I was keen to do it despite the poor weather, as we've had a good number of birds visiting the feeders of late. We had a reasonable turnout of the usual garden birds, though the Goldfinches were being evasive suddenly. Then, we had a great surprise visitor, when a lovely Green Woodpecker showed up and perched in the tree overlooking the garden. It stayed for a while, so I was able to go upstairs and take a photo from one of the bedroom windows. For a while, this was the highlight of the hour, but it was trumped by something far more impressive...
...a Sparrowhawk!
I couldn't believe it! This magnificent bird of prey swooped in and took out a poor Dunnock, sending all the other birds away in a flash. I'm glad I didn't see it. It was Bob that noticed it fly in and then perch on the post at the back of the garden with its quarry. Whilst I appreciate it's the cycle of life, I couldn't help feeling a little bit sorry for the unsuspecting Dunnock that had made it onto our count before then. But, equally, I was thrilled to see the Sparrowhawk up close, because this was the first time I was able to photograph it in close proximity. They're either usually far away or I don't have my camera when I see it closer. Ironically, just that afternoon we'd been for a stroll around the fields behind the house in the hopes of seeing one, but to no avail. I lugged my camera and long lens all the way around for nothing. I needn't have bothered, since it came to us in the garden!
Unfortunately, the foliage in the garden prevented clear views of it. I tried photographing it from the kitchen window as well as the bedroom upstairs. The light was very poor! But, I'm thrilled to finally have some nice photos of a Sparrowhawk and very grateful.
It remained in place for quite some time as it plucked the feathers of the Dunnock. In this next photo, if you look closely, you can see a few feathers in its beak.
This is my favourite one of the set.
What a stunning bird of prey it is. Wintertime can be a great time for seeing these creatures. I've had more views this past month out around the fields where we live than before, so it really has been quite a treat to witness.
Bob and I managed to spend the last weekend of the month in West Sussex. We visited some of the heathlands I've only been to a couple of times previously (for walks rather than for photography). We saw Roe Deer on both occasions, though sadly one was being pursued by two dogs off the lead. Whilst it might have been under stress being pursued quite relentlessly, it was light of foot and evaded the noisy dogs that were barking their way around the common.
On both days we saw some Crossbills, but they were high up in the trees and didn't afford us great views compared to our amazing encounter last month in Ashdown Forest. We were also treated to the sound of the Woodlark singing whilst hovering high above us. It's not a species I've come across many times before, so when we were lucky enough to have a very close view of one perched in a tree not far from us, I was very pleased.
The highlight of the weekend and probably the month, despite being thrilled to see the Sparrowhawk, was finally having some wonderful moments photographing some Dartford Warblers. It's a species I've only previously had fleeting views of. I've never managed to get great shots as they're so often hiding or only partially in view. I've ventured over to Ashdown Forest several times without any sightings, or brief glimpses. But this time, we got so lucky. There were good numbers at the heaths we visited, which was really encouraging.
This photo is my favourite one. It was taken on the first day of the weekend. There were two Dartford Warblers in one area that were quite often seen on top of the vegetation, which surprised me. This one popped up quite close in front of me and stayed where it was for a few minutes. I couldn't believe my luck. It was gorgeous! The colours are not so vibrant at this time of year, but I still think its a very attractive little bird.
On both days, we saw Dartford Warblers flying around with some Stonechats. The latter often perch on the tops of trees, so I wondered if this gave the Dartford Warblers some confidence to do the same. At one point, there was a male and female Stonechat at the top of two trees close together and the Dartford Warbler was on the top of third tree between them, slightly lower, sandwiched between the two sentinels.
This one has a far more striking red eye ring, which might suggest that it is a male. I do love the way this one has its legs spread apart holding onto the heather. It's a very striking bird, as it poses beautifully in this side profile.
The light was fading fast, but we couldn't tear ourselves away. This was one of my last photos, nicely backlit, clasping the twig. You can even see its long talons comparative to its size. What a way to end the month.
