Great Northern Diver

David and myself went to look at the GND at Ladywood Fishing Lake in Mirfield today, just a couple from there.

gwh

Exotic Mirfield!

Did my bit for the Meet the Birds day! Not the best turnout - But I knew about this beauty & was "Proper Itching" for a go! Nipped over to Ladywood lakes & watched it for a bit.
Managed a few half decent shots of this Great Northern Diver in the gloom.

What cracking feet they have!

Hopefully it's still there tomorrow in some sunshine.

Managed to get down again today - this cheeky G.C.Grebe tried sneaking past whilst watching the Diver.

Back to the main subject:

It took this pose whenever a B.H.Gull got within 6-8ft of it.

Light was a little better today.

Finally at the end of the day - A bit of good light!
Hope you can get down & see it - Once a year chance usually in West Yorkshire, & this one should be in winter plumage, as you can see it's heading that way now.

I have a couple of other shots as well on bird guides - Profile found here:
http://www.birdguides.com/iris/profile.asp?u=73202
In case you are interested!
Also other pictures from others too + different W.Yorks sites:
http://www.birdguides.com/sites/area.asp?a=121

Australia

Spent most of the time up to press in the outskirts at my daughters location or in Melbourne. The temp varies from 16C to 35C during the day. Sorry Barry no crocs down south but plenty Cockatoos etc and plenty of water birds such as Egrets, Ibis, Storks and Herons. No facility to download pics so it looks like will have to wait until I return in 2014, and we hope to get out into the country in the near future.Good to see the tree planting ongoing and seeing children involved and excellent news with the grant monies,good for the future of the group. Will keep looking on the blog when possible as wee are all sharing one laptop. All the best for now Mike.

Mid Wales Break!

Had a few days in Wales staying in Borth, near Aberystwyth.

On the way down stopped at Llyn Coed Y Dinas as there was reports of Great White Egrets:

Long way off - not my best quality but there one is - Great White Egret!

 

Bit of a Dull murky day - A Green Sandpiper cheered it up some: 

Checked out the Ynslas Peninsula & found some wheatears in the Beach Car Park, about 6 or so heading south Probably? - One or two were quite accommodating!

As the more local Forestry Commission Kite feeding station had a tree fungus problem, all paths were closed around the Kites area so ........ Had to go to Gigrin Farm.

Just get my big Wooden Spoon out (Allan)

 

Couple of Red Kites, but the sharp eyed (which isn't easy watching 300+ kites) person - looks out for opportunities of other Bird shots.

Ravens are bobbing about with 100's of Rooks:

Then there's a few more Kites:

& the Tourist Eagles! Well most Tourists think they are Eagles - The Buzzard!

 

& just for Allan - Even more Kites:

 

Anyone not been to a Kite Feeding Station - You are missing a great sight there can be up to 500 in the air around Gigrin, & if you fancy your skills - Just try Photographing them!

Butterflies of Lake Garda

Swallowtaill

Swallowtail

Scarce Swallowtail

Swallowtail

                                                                           Swallowtail

                                                                     Scarce Swallowtail

                                                                       Red Admiral

                                                       Queen of Spain Fratilery

                                                                        Swallowtail

                                                                                 Swallowtail

Kestrel in flight

                                        Kestrel on take off at Claremount, Halifax

Female Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) in my Brighouse garden.

Fairburn

Quite a nice day sun sneaking out on & off, too much duckweed at the Kingfisher screen for decent snaps of one. Ridiculous amounts of Tree Sparrows around this year, its like watching a starling roost when they hit the feeders, Greenfinches in large numbers too.

Greenfinches:

 

A nice Willow Tit about but way too quick for snapping:

 

Chaffinch very close:

 

If you look carefully in the eye the reflection of Pickup Hide is visible!

 

 

A few visits by L.T.Tits:

Lots of Sparra's:

 

& Chiffchaff lurking in the scrub:

Lots of other stuff around - Common & Green Sandpipers, Green Peckers, Greater Peckers, Goldfinch, Little Stint & Dunlin on Lin Dyke, Herons everywhere!

Plenty to see waiting for Siskin & Redpolls to turn up at Cromwell.