More Birds, 31.8.2018.

The start of this week (Sunday) saw Pepe and I at Reddish Vale again, where we were lucky to see a Kingfisher again, there was a young fisherman with his tent at the end of the lake where the Kingfishers usually flit about so that might have made them hide more.

Still managed to snap this little beauty.

Again at the limit of my zoom on the other side of the lake, so not as sharp as I would like.

Met a Lady called Sheila who had been on the Reddish Vale Photographers website and she had said she wanted too snap a Kingfisher so it made her day seeing this one and christening her new camera!.

Its nice putting a face to a name on the website isn't it!. 

Mum Grebe is still fishing well for her youngster.

Ahh Mum can't I stay up a bit longer?.

Just a bit longer then!

A look across the lake.

There was one of the terror- pins.

Who has the biggest beak?, just watch it or it will have your leg off!

The nesting box under the viaduct doesn't seem to have been used much this year?.

On the way home from Daisy Nook on Monday called at the small lake behind the Tram station at the Snipe to see how the Swan family there were getting on, there were only eight babies now but saying that they aren't babies anymore but quite grown up.

You can just see the blue sign at the tram station behind the trees.

One of the proud parents.

All the family, as I was passing a couple of days previously was surprised to see the whole family walking along the pavement and for all the world looked like they were walking to the tram stop, would have made a good picture but at the time there was a lot of traffic  about and couldn't stop but that's what photography is all about isn't it being at the right place at the right time!.

Ah well perhaps next time!.

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Kingfishers galore!, 27.8.2018.

After only seeing Kingfishers flitting about in the past down at Reddish Vale Country park, this past week snapped my first one!.

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That was on the Tuesday, then on the Saturday I was lucky enough to see a family of Five!.

Mum and Dad were busy diving into the water and feeding the three babies all sat in a row patiently waiting for dinner.

A chap on the Reddish Vale photographers website snapped a beautiful picture and informed us that  the collective noun for kingfishers are A Crown and thought they could have picked a better word, but as I said they are quite regal aren't they , then a lady came up with A Rainbow which describes them a bit better hey!  

My phone appt reckons that the babies have darker wings, as you can see on these below.

So there you are, plenty of Kings and though some of them aren't too clear they were at the far side of the lakes, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!.

Mum Grebe was still pulling big fish out of the lake, but still mostly too big for the baby to swallow.

Baby dropped it and a Black headed Gull nipped down and pinched it!.

Don't think baby has got the idea of diving for food, he's gone over to see that guy in the hat feeding the ducks, don't think he's going to like seeds!.

Elsewhere on the lake it was bath time 

Big Daddy still there lazing on the bank.

Can hardly keep my eyes open!.

The tiddlers, 

A nice Chaffinch having a snack.

My mate Bob brought up details of a Blue Heron on the internet which it seems are resident in South America, there were plenty of pictures of them catching stuff to eat and one even had a terrapin!.

Chap at Reddish Vale had said he'd seen one there but looking at Bob's picture they don't seem much different than our Grey ones!,

Well that's it for now, ready for another trip down the Vale tomorrow.

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Tuesday at the Vale, 21st August 2018.

Down at the Vale on Tuesday it seemed to be Terror- Pin Day.

Gives you some idea of the size of them against the Moorhen.

Follow my leader!.

A bit closer!

Thought these were big look at this monster!, what was that film called

 "It came from 20,000 leagues?" Makes one wonder!.

Plenty of new Moorhens about this year.


Quite colourful close up.


A little black number.

The Great Crested Grebes were a bit harder to see, can't blame them really as the 5 babies are down to one!.

Just stay here whilst I get your dinner.

Wandering round on its own.

Dinner is served!

Too big for the baby to swallow again and dropped it, before mum could get it a Black headed Gull whipped in and got it, no problem that swallowing it.

Ahh well plenty more fish in the lake.

Can see baby getting the shape now, just the colour to change now.

Birthday in the park, that's the way to do it, no mess on the carpets.

The riding school pupils enjoying the ride , don't seem to get many boys doing it do you!.

A new fence down to the river, not sure if they are going to cut steps in, watch this space.

Plenty of Dog walkers in the park, but this family taking it a bit further hey, luckily you don't need poo bags for this or it would have to be a big one!.

The ever present Heron looking for a meal.

The swans look happy enough but sadly no surviving babies this year. 

The Muscovite duck was very friendly today and was eating out of my hand and even going in my pocket when I wasn't feeding it fast enough!.

A young Chaffinch.

Being on the Manchester Airport flight path is a bonus too if you are into Plane Spotting.

Met a chap a few weeks ago and he said I'm not here for the wildlife only the planes!.

It takes all kinds, what a crazy world it would be if we were all the same.

Well that's it for today folks, call in again soon.

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