A rather grey morning in Blanford today - was hoping for Otters. As usual, there was loads of action yesterday (apparently), but nothing while I was there today. However, lots of Kingfishers about.
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Tried to photograph a Nuthatch using a wide angle lens this morning. Throught it might make things look more dramatic. Not convinced it's any better than the photos I've taken from a distance with a telephoto lens.
Then, this afternoon, I spent a coupe of hours this afternoon trying to find otters in Blandford. 2 adults and 3 youngsters around apparently, but not while I was there.
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Spent today in the New Forest. Hoping for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but no luck. One was spotted in the car park at 08:00 apparently, but I didn't get there until 10:00. Didn't even hear any drumming. Will have to try again another weeked, but get there earlier. However, in the morning at Mark Ash Wood, I got Tawny Owl and Treecreeper - both shots I'm quite happy with. Shame about the twigs in front of the owl. In the afternoon I drive down to Blackwater Aboretum hoping for Hawfinches. Only saw 1, briefly, into the sun, so not a good photo. But saw 10 Bullfinch in a little flock, so tried some low down, lying on the grass, narrow depth of field shots.
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Back to Bransbury Common today, but this time not for the Barn Owls. Thought I'd try for the Great Grey Shrike instead. Reasonable luck - he was visible for quite some time flying from bush to bush, then once did a circuit around me quite close. So a few photos below with varying lighting as he circled around. Just before I left he caught a vole, speared it on a spike and the started eating away, tugging at the vole. Far too distant for a decent photo, but good views through the scope.
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