28 October 2014: Ashton Court, Bristol.

Took a sunny morning trip to Ashton Court again to check on the Red and Fallow deer along with my wife. On arrival, we saw only one Red Deer stag at anything like a reasonable distance.

Tye rest were tucked away in an inaccessible area. We were then treated to an overflight by a Common Buzzard and it was great to have some blue sky to snap it against.

 Not everyone was pleased to see it though(-:).

We then made our way round to the Fallow Deer park. They were nearer than our last visit and were busy feeding with several of the bigger  bucks strutting about but no standoffs or anything similar.

 Plenty of Magpies grooming the deer.

 This young buck wasn't tolerated though

THe other spot for the day were sevral Jay, who were busy stockpiling acorns for the winter.

 On our way back to the car park we noticed dozens of Ladybirds out in the sunshine.

26 October 2014: Coombe Hill Meadows Reserve, Gloucestershire - my local patch.

A grey couple of hours but the thought of possibly seeing the Ring Tailed Hen Harrier that has been seen recently took me there(-:). Unfortunately it didn't appear. In fact it was unusually quiet on the scrapes.
There was a Little Egret which kept doing the rounds of both pools an dthe drainage ditch.

 

There was also a grey Heron patrolling the main pool

The large flock of Wigeon stayed in the Long Pool out of sight, apart from evry time dog walker spassed by and put them up. Note the Leuchistic Wigeon amongst them in the first couple of pictures.

 

A squadron of Cormorants flew over

 and a flock of Canada Geese flew in

 As I left the reserve, this Mistle Thrush seemed to be making sure I went.

22 October 2014: A grey and rainy afternoon at Upton Warren Nature Reserve, Worcestershire.

After a very disappointing visit from British Gas (don't ask) I had the afternoon at Upton Warren. It was grey and rained several times but I planned to visit the flashes as I hadn't been there on my last couple of visits. I had just loaded up with gear and set off to be told that the flashes were closed due to tree surgery work. So back in the car and along to the other side of the reserve. I opted for the East hide as I had been on the other side of the pools on previous visits. I was a bit worried that it would be too quiet as I met several groups of people who had just left the hide and indeed I wa sthe only person there when I arrived. At least I had best choice of seats(-:)

First bird to appear was the Magpie.

 

A little Egret spent the whole afternoon circling the lagoons, so coming into close view every half hour or so.

 Two Little Grebes on the shore, one swimming

 and a Shoveler getting in on the act

 A Common Snipe flew in

 and the Little Egret flew off for a while

 A drake Teal floating by

 as a Little Grebe swam under

 

Then the second visit by the female Kingfisher  - I missed the first visit while setting up, such is life.

 

 then off again

 onto one of the islands.

 

In flew a solitary Curlew

 

 and a Stock Dove popped in for a drink.

 The Little Egret popped by again, this time for a few greens t go with the Sushi he had on his first visit.

 The Kingfisher appeared outside the Water Rail hide opposite.

 Two Grey Wagtails on one of the islands.

 Anothe rvisit by the Little Egret

 Then there was the unmistakeable chatter of a Wren, just outside in the Brambles

 followed immediately by my final visit by the female Kingfisher, using a different perch this time

 and flying off to a different island.