A Textbook Gem
In 1975 I filmed my first pair of Sparrowhawks at the nest. It was a wonderful experience and I have watched dozens more since then but none have compared to the male that visited our garden last week. To quote a phrase he was an absolute textbook gem – in other words he was feather perfect with no white feathers showing on his back and a superb orange breast. Ironically on the same day a first year male also visited the garden and this weeks gallery photos illustrate the vast differences in plumage. www.facebook.com/gordon
Where else would you wish to watch Kingfishers and Kites than from a Hot-tub on the River Dee in Wales. A break at Rivercatcher has this to offer and does it really matter that it rained during most of our recent week-end stay!! photos taken earlier see: www.facebook.com/gordon
I have never classed myself as a twitcher but I was recently drawn to Yorkshire to see a bird called a White Tailed Lapwing – and yes I had never heard of it either!! It breeds in the Middle East and normally migrates further east for Winter. It was only the tenth ever recorded in Britain and a first for Yorkshire. I spent two hours in the public hide and really enjoyed filming an unusual subject in perfect conditions. See photos in Gallery.
This is now the time of year when there is an abundance of Autumn fruits.
There are days in the hills when all you see are a couple of Meadow Pipits. Then there are other days when it all comes good and the 12th September was one such day.
This weeks blog photo is of the many House Sparrows that have fledged around the garden this year. In fact we had one count of more than thirty in August. However, gone are the glory days of mid-summer and from now on they cannot relax for at any moment a Sparrowhawk might strike. One such time was last week when, sadly, we had one less to feed in the future. gallery www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife