It's Grebe Time !

April 2021 - "Op Norf"

Over the last three weeks I've concentrating on following the antics of Black-necked Grebes and better still the weather has been superb al be it a little harsh by mid-morning but being up since 4.0am a good time to head back home.

Black-necked Grebe's in the UK are designated as a Schedule 1 protected bird as such I'm not going into much detail other than to post some images, some good, some not so good, but it was good to see the other wise rare grebes close up.

Black-necked Grebe

This young individual fell off the back of the parent grebe and was scuttling after the parent trying to jump back on, I literally had a five second opportunity to get this image.

Day In The Sunshine

Tenby - 17.4.2021

The walrus has now been on holiday in Tenby for well over a month and with the current sunny weather attracting quite a crowd, whilst I alway enjoy a trip out the large number of people is detracting from the experience, but hey, everyone entitled to a day out right !

Here's a few more images on the day but the walrus for me not prepared to haul out to get some images to appreciate it size. Other sightings of note include, Sandwich Tern, Turnstone, Chough, Guillemot and scoped by others a summer plumage Red-throated Diver...Stay safe

Atlantic Walrus

Rock Pipit

Back On My Holidays !

Tenby, Pembrokeshire - 06.4.2021

Over the last couple of weeks I've been looking with envy at images of an Atlantic Walrus that's turned up in one of my favourite towns in west Wales a place I've both worked and had many a family holiday in the past, now that the "lock down" in Wales is over I'm off to see if I can get some images of this arctic marine animal I'm never likely to see ever again in Wales !

The Atlantic Walrus as its name suggested is found in Greenland first picked up on the south west coat of Ireland just over a month ago, I remember seeing reports in the press and thinking...wow that would be a sight to see, well I now have the chance, as it turned up on the coast of west Wales. 

An extremely rare occurrence in the UK with odd individuals only ever seen in the very north of Scotland, seeing one so far south and so accessible, well as they say a Welsh once in a life time occurrence. 

The map below shows the epic journey this believed second year male Walrus has made.

Tenby - 11.04.2021

It was only a couple of summers ago that the family were all enjoying a heat wave holiday in Tenby, now I'm back for a quick visit the weather a little different it's cold with the odd rain shower even some snow ! but still great to be back in one of my favourite Welsh towns to see and photograph this rare visitor from the arctic.

Here's a shot taken on the iPhone of that iconic view you always see on postcards, the two life boat buildings in the distant left is where the walrus hauls itself out life boat building slip to enjoy a sunny 5 degrees !

The view of the boat slip the Walrus likes to haul out on, unfortunately on the day of the visit the Walrus had disappeared a day earlier. 

So did I see the walrus...No....it was last seen yesterday at 7.0am leaving the slip and wasn't seen again !

Atlantic Walrus - 11.04.2021

After Tuesday's no show the Walrus disappearing for four days up pops on the Twitter feed on Saturday morning.....Wally as it's now known is back ! a quick text to a contact in south Wales asking "has it returned"...the replay came back....yes...I'm there now ! Two hours later I'm on the road back down the M6.

After a stop over at my parents home it's early start down to Tenby arriving at 7.0am heading straight down to the harbour, already there are three observers there watching the Walrus actively feeding just off the boat station, and there it remained for the remainder of the day only briefly on one occasion coming to the slip for a scratch and these are the images, not like those seen last week of the Walrus basking on the slip, but I happy with my efforts and there's always another day...next Saturday !

Walrus Watchers

Atlantic Walrus

A New Site Op Norff !

9.4.2021 - "Op Norff"

I've seen some cracking images of BNG over the last few weeks many from locations in the north of England which seems to now be a strong hold for this rare grebe. One location a former opencast mining area that flooded a vast area in 1968 when the river bank collapsed that eventually opened to the public as a nature park. 

Now home up to thirty BNG's I'm told holding around a quarter of the UK's breeding population it's become an important location helping spread these grebes around northern part of the country and probably why they are seen more often over wintering in the local area. So now that the breeding season in full swing what better time to check out the location and see what images are on offer.

Believe it or not, it's short drive from my home and a location I've never previously visited, so for the next few weeks I'm intending spending most days following the grebes as they go through the display, pairing and hopefully seeing the young as they ride on the parents back.

Here's the first few initial images taken more often on sunny days, not the best for photography but at least it's early 4.30am start but I do get an early mid-day finish !

Black-necked Grebe