Brandon Marsh 15th March

A last minute decision, the weather looked good, before the showers due to hit Wed 16th, Mrs PR at work, and I to play....

An unexpected sunrise over the empty car park, amid the clouds....

A muntjac (f) enjoying breakie

In to the first hide of the day (it was planned to be a morning only visit), and the mist on the water.

A song came to mind watching the mist, Smoke On The Water, Deep Purple 1972...

Mr Tuftie with the wet look, probably trying to look dapper for Mrs Tuftie....

Mr M looking all cool in the morning sunlight....

Air On A Cormorants Wing......

Mr Shoveler looking cool...

Mr & Mrs Tuftie reflecting on life, before things start to get hectic

Come on guys, referee, right in front of my innocent eyes!  Scream


"What do you mean dear, you're getting that sinking feeling again?"

Not sure whether its Cyril, or Cyriless, gathering reeds for the home

A lonely Mr T!

A very happy and chirpy robin

It was nice to see the snipe back right in front of the hide, after being evicted by the recent floods. Though this time, only three pairs, and that is a definite count, as they flew off in three individual pairs.

From what I understand, this isn't a common sighting at Brandon, but certainly my first, a juvenile glaucous gull. Any corrections gratefully received.

A lonely greylag, the others were paired up...

This pair need no introduction, the heavy bombers.....

Mr Muntie

Mr G

Mr RB having a bath before lunch...

He was not happy with the camera pointing his way!

A blue tit enjoying a splash about...

A very cautions jay, so I didn't hang around, but it was nice and close for a couple of quick piccies

A crow enjoying a black headed gull for lunch

A carrot bill...

A red fox, definitely a vixen, sauntering along, very relaxed, though she was constantly scent marking as she wandered the bank

She had spotted something

And pounced.....

And  the final sighting for the day, a redshank

  • Hi Mike,
    Great collection of photos from another productive day out, I particularly liked the Jay and Fox, still not had a really good close view of a Fox.
    Thanks for sharing,
    Trevor
  • Another lovely outing Mike...retirement is suiting you well ;-)
    A gotta go for the Jay and Fox like Trevor...foxy looks in fab condition and the Jay...ah well I live in hope of seeing one, one day...soon..I hope ...
    The weekend is looksing no too bad up here on the forecast so hopefully a shall get out somewhere!...a might even get to see a Jay lol

    (Pardon the Scottish Accent)

  • TJS said:
    Hi Mike,


    Great collection of photos from another productive day out, I particularly liked the Jay and Fox, still not had a really good close view of a Fox.
    Thanks for sharing,
    Trevor

    Thank you Trevor.

    Mrs Foxy certainly gave a good view, likewise the jay. The jay required very little cropping.

    I did take a short video of the fox, which came out better that I anticipated, so I'll share that later, once I've trimmed the rough edges at the start and finish, you know the old camera shake when you start and stop a video....

  • Linda257 said:
    Another lovely outing Mike...retirement is suiting you well ;-)


    A gotta go for the Jay and Fox like Trevor...foxy looks in fab condition and the Jay...ah well I live in hope of seeing one, one day...soon..I hope ...
    The weekend is looksing no too bad up here on the forecast so hopefully a shall get out somewhere!...a might even get to see a Jay lol

    Thank you Linda.

    Yes, after just short of 45 years years slaving away, life is now for living, that is assuming fuel and utility costs don't become too much of a burden...

    Mrs Foxy was looking good, likewise was the jay. I've a short video of Mrs Foxy, once I've trimmed the rough edges from camera shake when starting and stopping the video, I'll share it.

    She was very chilled, it was a shame I never had it set up when she pounced on some poor little creature, it was fascinating watching the calculated pounce after such a relaxed saunter.

  • Incredibly kind of the drake Tuftie to rescue his mrs from potential drowning Slight smile

  • Nice area to walk around Mike, plenty of birds and a few animals too, can't be bad. Great to see the Snipe and also the Jay, and Mrs Fox was looking really good.

    Lot to learn

  • Bobs_Retired said:

    Incredibly kind of the drake Tuftie to rescue his mrs from potential drowning

    Or....    Flushed   Grinning  

  • gaynorsl said:
    Nice area to walk around Mike, plenty of birds and a few animals too, can't be bad. Great to see the Snipe and also the Jay, and Mrs Fox was looking really good.

    It is a nice reserve, though I've been neglecting the woodland part lately, something to address on my next visit me thinks.

  • A late addition taken on the Canon 5D4. 

    A vixen wandering the bank by East Marsh Pool, viewed from John Walton Hide, Brandon Marsh

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51951545641/