Crosby Deep Sea Diver !

Crosby Marine Lake - 19.12.2023

Over the last few days images have started to appear on the interweb of a Black-throated Diver that's turned up a few days back on Crosby Marine Lake, some of the images looking rather good so my thinking is I must make the trip.

The marine lake being rather large is generally not suited to photograph especially if the diver remains somewhere out in the middle, if that's the case there's no chance getting an image, but wait, the diver has a preference to fish no more than twenty meters out along the carpark side of the lake, sounds like I have a plan !

The weather currently can only be described as grim and no chance of getting out so I'm keeping an eye on a suitable opportunity to make a trip worth while, and today seems like the day. Arriving around 9.30am it's raining, grey the light poor so I forget getting the camera gear out and just grab the bins to try and locate the diver. After some searching I've worked my way round the other side of the boat house and meet a birder scanning the lake with a scope, alway stand next to a bird, they are great "spotters" ! he's located the diver and as we chat the diver pops up in front of us no more than twenty meters out, time to grab the camera gear and get to work.

Over the next few hours the diver seems to circulate along the lake edge, then out then out into the middle and back again, It's just a case of waiting for the diver to return to my location. With improving light and occasional appearance of that big red ball in the sky the conditions improve managing some images, the light is still challenging with plenty of white or grey water, the choice of either not so appealing to make a decent image.

Glad to have made the trip not having not been out for a few weeks seeing also several familiar faces that's a feature of this small photo community. The diver now back in the middle of the lake and the light poor it's time to call time and head home, but I am looking forward to getting my shirt off and some warm Spanish sun in the next few weeks to offset what seems like weeks of "bad" weather.

Until the next time, have a good Xmas. 

Black-throated Diver

Finally waxwings !

Burnley - 03.12.2023

It's been some five years since I last photographed Waxwings a winter visitor to the UK, so when reports of a big influx of these colourful birds had arrived in the UK it was a case of waiting for them to push further west in to the region.

Waxwing breed in Scandinavia and Russia moving west to avoid the harsh winter, arriving first in the north and east of the UK they soon disperse through out the country taking advantaged and feeding on the many berry landed trees especially found around the carparks of "out of town" shopping centres.

The first birds to the region was a brief visit only staying a couple of hours before moving on, unfortunately at the time I’m travelling back up on the M6 and a lost opportunity to get some images locally.

Wind on a few weeks and I’m again travelling up the M6 and it’s a great day with plenty of sunshine and blue sky’s, you guessed it Waxwings have again appeared again locally but little chance of making it that day so a trip is on the cards for tomorrow.

Now Sunday it’s a change of plan as the Waxwings at the original location are proving difficult to locate but I have another option with twenty birds located in the Burnley area. It’s a grey old day with even fog as I travel over across the moors, disappointing really as yesterday was a great day.

Arriving at the carpark flanked on one side with berry laden trees, the Waxwings have been and gone so no panic getting the gear out, then someone mentioned they were re-located in the next street so quick change of location and hey-presto....Waxwings !

Sat at the top of a tall trees the Waxings are as usual nervous only flying down to feed on red berries when they feel secure. The shooting location's not the best always cluttered with branches spoiling the shot, not the classic shot of a bunches of berries on the branch end with a blue sky background, that’s the way it goes sometimes, still here’s a few images on the day.

Waxwing

I Finally Make It - The End

El Taray - The Film

If you ever make the trip down to Castilla la Mancha to visit El Taray you'll likely meet Francesco who is one of the guides that take you to the various locations on the estate. I came across this film in Spanish, which gives a flavour of what to expect on a trip. The arial work shows the vast the area the estate covers.

Francesco doesn't speak English but the group had many funny moment using Google Translate to muddle our way through conversations.....oh and he drives fast !

Anyway here's the film featuring Francesco......"click" to open page full screen

I Finally Make it - 8

Day 8, AM - La Vega

Our last day of the trip and another 5.0am start, but it's only a morning session before we return to the hotel for a quick wash and brush up and head to Madrid for the flight home.

Being the last session of the trip it's always good to go out on a high, and we're in luck as we're heading back to La Vega one of the two premier El Taray locations for raptors, as mentioned in a previous post harrier's, kite's, eagles and buzzards are the most likely targets.

First up and quick as a rat up a drain pipe is the resident Red Fox, grabbing all the food it can stash before the big eagles appear, I just hope there’s some offerings left for the BOP’s.

The Bonelli’s Eagle has arrived from it’s usual vantage point on a pylon way off in the distance, usually it sits in a tree close by surveying the area before deciding all safe and come to ground.

Marsh Harries are literally everywhere, maybe up to twenty individuals, acrobatic jostling trying to rob each other of food, the interaction is spectacular just make sure you are using a zoom so you can back off the lens and get all the action. Most if not all the raptors seen were as seen on previous visits but surprisingly no Black Kite's. 

Just a quick reference to gear generally used on the trip, although I brought along a 500mm f4 prime I found the flexibility and quality of Canon RF100-500mm to just about be match of the EF prime, the bokeh produced by the lens with an the uncluttered background is spot on, just look at the images.

Until the next trip...

El Taray Map

Marsh Harrier

By far the most common harrier are juveniles along with females, not only seen over the seedbeds but also common over farm land.

Marsh Harrier - adult

This is an adult female clearly showing the yellow iris, juvenile's are dark brown.

Marsh Harrier - male

Adult male easily identified in flight with its grey wing but not so obvious when sitting.

Bonelli's Eagle

Bonelli's Eagle bathed in yellow early morning sun light.

I Finally Make it - 7

Day 7, AM - Vega Mazon.

It's still dark and the midges swarming in thousands above my head, I have a fantastic hat with a midge net especially for this situation the only issue it's in a case back in the UK...plan B...keep moving !

Driving along rutted dirt tracks in the dark with just headlamps that have seen better days with all the expensive gear jumping up and down in the back of a pick-up is not the best experience, I've started carrying my tri-pod to save it getting knocked around whilst other peoples Gitzo's are clanking around in the back of the truck.....tip !

It's just getting light and we are at Vega Mazon a large expanse of flatness and the furthest point on the estate. This is the second visit to this location so I have a good idea what to expect, first up is always the... Big Red Fox !

El Taray Map

Hides - Vega Mazon

Later morning morning but now in full Spanish sun. 

View From The Hide

View from the hide showing the vast openness of the generally area and only attracting raptors, I guess the openness gives sight security.

Red Fox

The sun yet appeared it's still low light stuff but that doesn't stop the fox from getting its morning meal grabbing all it can manage and trotting off to stash the food. This morning its brought a young cub with it but its staying well away.

As the sun starts to appear the first few images are all shade and yellow light but getting better as time passes, at this time of the day it's always yellow light which I not sure I like the best, I suppose it all different.

Bonelli's Eagle & Friends

Bonelli's Eagle and a Marsh Harrier which is about a third the size of the eagle, they are both eyeing each other...fight ?...not really 

Bonelli"s Eagle & Red Fox

Bonelli's this time with the the Red Fox, the eagle keeping an eye on what the fox is up to or maybe even a threat.

Bonelli's Eagle

Marsh Harrier - female

Day 6, PM - Masiega

This is now the sixth day getting up at 5.0am and flagging with the eighteen hours days so after a mid-day rest for a few hours it's back to the floating hide of Masiega for harriers. Here's another tip if your visiting in mid-summer get yourself a small portable fan, it's not going to be full blown cooling but it defiantly helps.

For some unknown reason there are two Hydro Hide being used nearby and probably why the harries are keeping their distance, after a wait one takes an interest and the others follow. The images are generally more of the same but I do like this image with the harrier stood in water, also the quizzical look of the harrier in the second image.

Floating Hide - Masiega

The boat ride with the floating hide in the distance

Marsh Harrier - male

I Finally Make It - 6

Day 6, AM -  Lesser Kestrels 2

This morning is a repeat of a session I did a few days ago aborted after only a few minuets as result of a bird ringers group meeting, cars arriving, talking, the disruption was such that all the birds promptly departed off into the countryside not to return.

In a different location this morning from my previous visit facing a tiled roof on the other side of the building, there's no sight of the adult Kestrels just a few newly fledged birds sitting around the roof, some poking heads out from under the roof tiles. 

I'm hoping for more of the same activity as seen yesterday with the adults bring food for the juveniles, or hovering in the wind..but no luck again. The Jackdaws are still present waiting to rob any kestrel that aren't alert but little else, just an odd Hoopoe. 

The action's slow so I'm afraid it's just static shots for the session of these summer migrants to the region.

El Taray Map

Lesser Kestrel

Lesser Kestrel - fledgling

Day 6, PM - Hydro Hide 2.

On the first hydro hide visit I really didn't know what to expect as a result it was a bit hit and miss aimlessly paddling around the lake, today is different as I have a plan all worked out, well I think I have !

I'm heading up to where the breeding Black-head Gulls colony is located where also the Black-necked Grebe's nest on the fringes of the colony for security. The noise is constant especially when a Marsh Harrier zooms in to try and grab an egg or fledgling then the gulls take to the air on mass to chase off the harrier, whilst the gulls are all frantic the grebes seem to calmly cover the eggs before they leave the nest.

Even thou it's still full sun under under the shade of some tall reeds there's no harsh light, and surprisingly the grebes are very approachable, even when there's some human paddling round a floating tent.

Black-necked Grebe

Squacco Heron

Squacco Herons can be seen sat on reed clumps....slow and steady to approach thou !

Glossy Ibis

Like the Squacco's the "glossy's" use the reed clumps to rest up, a real stunner in the sun light.

White-headed Duck

A real difficult subject to get near. I was lucky with this individual as I spotted the duck cruising towards me, getting into position some distance in front I waited for it to approach, You only get a few shots before it steams passed as they are fast movers when they know your there, try to catch up and it movers faster, faster than even I can paddle. 

Exposure, trying not blowing out the whites on the ducks head is paramount.