Venus Pool - Little Egret entertainment

A Little Egret was present for the second day running and seems to be at home with the seemingly endless supply of fish in front of the main hide. Ample opportunity for action shots and reflections..... The enegetic bouts of feeding (fish disappear down that throat in the blink of an eye!) were interspersed with spells on one leg, either in the grass to the left or on the main island. Time to relax and contemplate the world whilst catching the odd fly! At one stage he (or should I say maybe, she?) scratched out a hollow scrape and proceeded to 'sit'. A Kingfisher was still giving good views too, actively catching fish too but there was little else of note.

Venus Pool - Young Green Pecker

After a brief flurry of activity in the first two weeks of August, very little to report on the wader front at VP. The only excuse I had to get the camera out of the bag was a juvenile Green Woodpecker digging for ants and a Chiffchaff outside the main hide. The Kingfishers are also keeping a low profile now but an additional pic from the previous week shows how to deal with a larger fish....

Allscot - Knot a surprise

I didn't need this for my 2007 County list but this juvenile Knot found by Andy Latham at Allscot was just too good to resist! Very flighty (he said) so I resigned myself to the record shot (pic 1) and then crouched with minimal cover waiting...... Initially moving away (well at least it didn't fly off), I couldn't believe it when the bird turned and flew my way and then proceeded to feed as it approached me. Many pics were taken in the space of 15 minutes or so and these are a good representation of the 'moment' - one of my best Shropshire birds of the year!

Venus Pool - Gone fishing again

No waders this evening but the usual suspects went fishing this evening - with some success! The juvenile Great crested Grebe was pretty adept but I was concentrating on the kingfisher in flight, like trying to catch the wind......

Chelmarsh - not more Green Sandpiper pics!

Well, they are a bit better - what a difference a bit of good light makes. The mud at Chelmarsh looks perfect for waders but all I had on show were (the same?) five Green Sandpipers as Friday - a bit flighty but with patience, coming right up to the hide...

Then, a dash to Whixall - the floods and the Wood Sandpiper, Ringed Plovers (amongst others) as predicted/found by Andy (nice one!), no pics - strictly scope job......

Chelmarsh - Mud glorious mud and Green Sandpipers

The scrape at Chelmarsh is one of the best locations in Shropshire for mud at present so is well worth keeping an eye on. This afternoon there were five Green Sandpipers within 40m of the main hide. Not the best light and I was shooting into it, but best so far achieved for this nervous species.......

Venus Pool - Ruff end to a Roller Coaster day!

This space was reserved for the Gower Roller which after several days of performing decided to depart overnight. Having driven, dipped and knowing at least a Ruff (Shropshire year bird no 144!) awaited at VP on return, I feared the worst. Luckily, it was still there in the company of a Black-tailed Godwit. Strictly distant record shots.......

Venus Pool - Gone fishing

One of the hottest days of the year, nothing unusual on the pool but a Black headed Gull catching fry, a Cormorant drying out after fishing and a welcome return from a Kingfisher kept me amused.