On Safari with Dave

The rain lashed down making the motorway driving most uncomfortable as we sped southwards with CR to rendezvous with AK at Pennington Flash, a site we've not visited for a week short of a year. To our surprise AK was already there donnning her waterproofs - that doesn't happen often - - no, not donning the wet weather gear, the arriving first; in fact this could be the first time it's happened in 40 years!!! We went straight to the Bunting hide feeding station with a very brief stop at the little hide on the way. We were relieved to see plenty of food at the feeding station as last time we were here it had all been eaten by the time we arrived making for little activity to watch and photograph. Today however there was still a fair amount left although it looked like the choicest morsels had already been eaten. There were far fewer Grey Squirrels this time, their place as 'eaters of the most grub' being taken by at least a dozen Magpies . Fortunately there was enou...

I was hoping to get out n about much sooner than this but a horrendous bad back that appeared out of nowhere put paid to that.  At the end of last week I drove CR to  Leightom Moss RSPB reserve where I managed a slow and delicate trundle round with the gang. Waiting in Lillian's Hide for the other half of the gang to arrive all was quiet and the light was simply awful. Best on offer was this Shoveler not too far from the window. A Great White Egret flew past which didn't give us time to change the camera settings so it's horribly over-exposed.  With the others phoning to say they were going to be a bit late we set off to have a look for the Bearded Tits down at the grit trays along the path to the Grisedale Hide. The Bearded Tits had been seen earlier but not for some time so we stood and waited, behind us on the opposite side of the track to the grit trays Bearded Tits could be heard 'pinging' but they weren't for showing themselves. AK and AB duly arrived ...