3 August 2014: Afternoon at Coombe Hill Meadows, my local patch.

I took a late afternoon stroll around the local patch, with the hope of finding the Redstart that others have seen. I started out by heading towards one of the popular Kingfisher haunts, with the intention of waiting for one to arrive. Unfortunately there was already one there and it saw me first(-:). Plenty of Swallow, adults and juveniles, feeding over the meadows.

Several Linnet about in the hedgerow too.

More Swallow

After checking out the Kinfidsher pool and the meadow, I set off along the canal bank in puruit of the Redstart and I espied this Little Egret at the top of one of the highest trees around.

This should have been my best ever Little Egret shot, for bothe detail and exposure, but unfortunately I clipped the wing left wing(-:).

A Kestrel, flew over but was mobbed by Crows so didn't hang around.

At last I found the Redstart, exactly in the area I had been told about.

On the way back toward the carpark there was a family of Bullfinch cruising the hedgerow - at least two juveniles.

Coomon Whitethroat skulking in the bushes

and a troop of tits flew through - a Blue Tit

and a Long Tailed Tit

Called back at the Kingfisher pool for a second shot and again spooked one. I did manage to catch this Chiffchaff on the opposite bank.

Lats of the day was this Great Spotted Woodpecker as it flew off down the reserve.

3 August 2014: Morning at Christ Church, Cheltenham.

While my good lady wife was at Mass, I spent the hour at the other side of Cheltenham, looking to see whether there was any Peregrine action. Recent reports have suggested that 3 of the juveiles have left home, with just one of the females staying around and still begging the parents for food and generally making a noise. I found the male sitting on his usual pinnacle, the female sitting on the tracery of the window on the Nort side of the tower and one juvenile, beginning to call  from one of the other pinnacles. Suddenly, from almost nowhwere another juvenile apopeared and made for the other, which immediately took flight and then the two seemed to play tag for a while, constantly screeching.
The newcomer - note the missing, displace primaries.

 The first contact - note that the other juvenile is missing some tail feathers, so it becomes easy to tell them apart in the duel.

 Eventually they both settled on the tower and began calling. Mum was still in her usual place looking totally unruffled by all the fuss.

By the time I had walked back to the car to go and seek the good lady, mum had obviously had enough of the nagging.

2 August 2014: Hawling, Gloucestershire.

Took an evening trip up to Hawling to see if the heavy rain overnight and during the morning had left the Barn Owls hungry and ready to come out early - lately they hadn't been coming out until after 9:00pm so a bit too dark for decent photographs. 
First bird of the evening was this Red Kite, which had just taken off from one of the fields and appears to be eating a worm in the first picture, and then cruised off.

 Plenty of Swallows about, both adults and young, fattening themselves up for the journey south no doubt.

 A meadow pipit basking in the evening sunlight.

 One of the many local Rooks.

 A nice flyby by one of the Kestrels.

 and a fabulous Common Buzzard, which flew by really close and directly into the setting sunlight, giving a great photo opportuniy.

 Sadly, there were no Barn Owls on show while I was there. Talking to one of the locals, it seems that the chicks may now have left home and the adults only have themselves to look after so don't need as much food, so can come out much later. On the way back to the car, another Kestrel  in glorious setting sunlight, just before it started tio dip below the horizon.

 Something put the Jackdaws and Rooks up, but I couldn't see what, though it may just have been thefarmer feeding some stock.