Memory Card Full!

After a couple of days clutching at straws for photographs yesterday was amazing. It more or less started straight away as I was putting my boots on in the little parking area on Salt Marsh Lane (yes there is one in spite of the rumours!) when I noticed a Swallow roosting in one of the first trees, so I quickly took a shot and thought it would probably fly off by the time I had sorted my self out but it didn't move. I got closer, still no movement, closer still and plenty of time to focus and experiment with ISO settings etc. I quickly realised it was a juvenile and it's parents were in attendance in a nearby tree, so they occasionally flew back and fussed over it. That wasn't all as there were another couple of similar families as I moved down the lane, so took lots of shots.

Juvenile Swallow at rest.

Watchful adults.

I was amazed to see that the adult feeds the juvenile on the wing. This may be well-known amongst experienced birders but was a revelation to me!

A tasty mouthful for junior!

This female Reed Bunting was in the same tree so couldn't resist a few shots.

Later I saw a female Thick Legged Flower Beetle on a thistle and took a few more photos.

Rounding a bend in the lane that goes from the end of Salt Marsh Lane to the Visitors' centre I saw the Little Owl on a dead tree in a field - well who could resist taking a few shots of that?

A nice Wren, Meadow Brown Butterfly, Chiffchaff, Damselfly (not identified yet) and then I was up by the pontoon bridge when I saw a familiar figure - our very own Barman 58 with Scope, Binoculars and camera hoping for a good sighting of that elusive Beardie (and I don't mean me!)

We were around the bridge and screens for about an hour and I had a chance to try out Nigel's new binoculars - excellent quality and a really good price! when I had to head back and Nigel said he was going back to the visitors' centre for refreshments. I told him I was going to do a little diversion over the smaller pontoon bridge leading to the screen just past the lighthouse on the way. Well there was a Reed Warbler showing really well down there and I blasted away

.

Then it really was time to go. On the way back across the bridge two Bearded Tits flew into plain view at the tops of the reeds between me and the lighthouse - I almost dropped the camera but got some shots (unfortunately not that good)

The male flew off and the female flew over the bridge and sat posing on the top of a reed about 15' away. (Actually thanks to Barman 58's post I now know that this isn't a female it's a juvenile male!)  Magic. I lined the camera up. Got perfect focus and went to take the shot......Nothing .....Memory Card Full!!!!  I quickly deleted some files and she (he) obligingly hung around for me to take three more shots then the card was full again and she (he)  was off. Isn't that just typical? opportunity of a lifetime and no chance of a few bracketing shots! although I think one was half-decent.

That's all folks! Thanks for your patience!  The quality might not be there, particularly in the Swallows in flight shots, as I was experimenting with a low ISO setting,  but I'm happy that I managed to capture the moment in some form.

  • Think they're all superb photos and so pleased that the young beardie did hang about for you to clear a few images!!

  • Thanks Ant and Marjus, glad you liked them!

    Ant it's true what you said about the burned reed beds - they're practically back to their previous height which is quite amazing! I did capture a Reed Warbler down there this week and I'm sure I heard a Beardie - although to be fair I didn't actually see  one.

  • Very Very Nice John, a cracking set M8

  • Thanks Al! It was great to see all that wildlife after days and days of rain, when the birds and insects just wouldn't fly and it's even better to be able to share it with you guys!

  • Great shots John, well worth the wait :))

    As for ID, I would say that this is definitely a Juvenile, rather than a female, the females do not have the dark eye-patch, in any photos I've seen,

    As for the sex of the Juvenile, it could be male or female as all the juvenile images I've seen, do show the Dark Eye.

  • Thanks Nigel for the comment :)) and the very useful information. This means we're both still searching for some proper shots of adults so that challenge is still there to motivate us! That's another target for this year, together with the almost impossible Cetti's, although my next realistic target would be to catch a nice male Linnet close enough to get really good detail, I've got some from distance but they're not very sharp - I think I know where to look - in the hedgerows opposite the (formerly) burned reed bed, but they are very flighty subjects and of course not really displaying at this point of the season.

  • Super report John, backed up with lovely photos. I like them all, but some of those swallow shots are really great, and well done with the beardies. Green with envy!

    A well deserved Good Egg thread.

  • Lovely pics and report John. I visited Newport Wetlands for the 1st time 2 weeks ago when  back home in Wales. Unfortunately, it rained but I saw a lot of greenfinch on the feeders and heron. I lived in Rogerstone for years before moving to Cornwall 5 yrs ago, and I could kick myself now that I never visited such a lovely reserve on my doorstep!!  Hopefully next time I'll get better weather to get around properly - I would just love to see a bearded tit - are they resident all year at the reserve?

    Best wishes, Jayne

  • The beardies are resident on the reserve, but are easiest to see at this time of year, when the juveniles are about, as they seem to be less aware of what is considered "normal" bearded tit behaviour.

    Best time to see them at other times of the year is early morning, on calm days, (although the reserve Centre and car park is not open till 9am the reserve is accessible 24 hours).

    Midweek visits are normally more productive as the "general" visitor numbers are lower than at the weekends.

    best method for sightings is to go to the correct area, (reedbeds around the pontoon bridge leading to the lighthouse), and simply wait for an hour or so scanning the reedbeds.

    The downside of this is of course the risk of disturbance from other people, as this is one af the busiest parts of the site, the viewing screens directly to the west of the bridge (turn right at the lighthouse then first right along the estuary path), or the viewing platform  to the east of the pontoon bridge, can be quieter locations, at busier times