On Friday I had the pleasure of Mick Page, a regular at the wood who came over to me rather excited whilst I was having a quick cuppa in the outdoor kitchen area and told me he had just taken a photo of a Crossbill.
He showed me the photo on the back of the screen and yes indeed he had, a beautiful male, minutes later he came back again with a big grin and shots of the female.
They came back as a pair a further 4 times at least and Mick managed to get some fantastic shots.
I have Crossbill fly over the wood most days and I have seen they fly out off the reflection pool and the pond but never has anyone so far got a shot, well done Mick.
So…. Saturday had me tucked up in the hide waiting to see if they would come back and yes they had a brief visit and I managed these shots before they flew off.
Mick had a least 5 return visits I wasn’t so lucky with only one but I was in and out the hide setting up another area whilst waiting for them, I know there call so if I heard them I would shoot back in the hide and get ready but maybe they where close by and I unintentionally spooked there arrival, should have concentrated on the Crossbill in hind site and kept in the hide but I am restless so no one else to blame.
I managed these from the same hide whilst waiting so not a wasted day as you can see.
On Sunday I rented the Crossbill hide to Lenslab whilst I was in the other hides with Andy and Tanya from Kent.
I went to see how they where getting on and upon arrival I instantly heard there call and the pair landed on the small reflection pool, I quicky got them onto the pair at least 3 of them managed shots before they disappeared so it seems for now its a daily occurrence, hope they stay and breed locally and tell there friends to pop in too.
Anyway its been a busy week with me finishing the new Vole set which can now take 2 people and is adjustable with no reflections anywhere, still to try it out yet so maybe you might see more vole shots this week.
Also of note 2 Red kites flew low over the wood, the first I have seen in the area, hopefully expanding there territory.
Thanks for reading and see you soon.
John
3 Comments
A stunning bird one I would love to photograph.
Regards
Sue North
Hi Sue, all i can say is get back quick, Mick page got them on Friday and they may have been coming to drink for a while but because i have been busy elsewhere haven’t noticed.
I got them Saturday and they came in today so i cannot see no reason why they are not in most days but time will tell.
I well see what I can do to get there soon.
Regards
sue