Yesterday was far better than today

Yesterday I'd arranged to meet Phil at Painshill Park to show him the good spots for birds. It was dull with sunny intervals and we started by looking for the Kingfisher - dipped on that one!

But we did find this Terrapin before too long. I'd been told last year to look out for it and this was the first time I'd seen it. Nice one!

A little later on whilst waiting for the Great Crested Grebes to do their weed dance - which they didn't - HE just wasn't interested! - a couple of mute swans were ensuring the continuation of the race!

The poor female was totally submerged initially..

before having her neck grabbed in her partner's beak

and then finally indulging in the neck stretching!

We walked further around to see if the Grebes had moved any closer - they hadn't but, after a while we discovered a pair of Nutchatches. They were disappearing inside a hole in this tree and we concluded they were nesting there. I shall be back and will keep an eye on this tree!

The Grebes just wouldn't play ball and come any closer for me so this is the best I could manage!

We had a cuppa and a bit to eat and then, as the rain clouds gathered, we went back to look for the Kingfisher. We didn't see it perched but suddenly it appeared from the direction of the lake and flew at great speed down the river - a wonderful flash of turquoise blue. :D

We'd also seen a Treecreeper whilst waiting for the Kingfisher to appear. Heard wrens and robins singing. And all the usual water fowl were about on the lake.

As the rain started we headed back for the car and home. Thanks for your company Phil - a very enjoyable day :D

Today I headed off for the London Wetland Centre at Barnes. I met up with Brian, Jenny and Jai - great company - thanks guys! Haven't laughed so much for a while now...

The weather and light weren't that brilliant. It was lovely to see the buds beginning to open and many bushes had the first signs of leaf growth.

The cranes (collection birds) were in posing mood.

Around on the Wildside, two Great Crested Grebes sparked our interest but nothing much was happening. The other bird is, we think, a cross between a Canada and Greylag goose - odd looking bird indeed!

A couple of Egyptian Geese flew overhead.

We moved on to the Wildside hide when - DISASTER!!!!

I took a picture and heard the shutter open - it sound very odd and then I got the dreaded "Error 99" code on the preview screen. I switched on and off; removed and replaced the battery and removed and replaced the CF card. And then took a picture

This is the result!!! I was taking a "normal" picture in daylight.

However, as an experiment I tried a picture in the hide where a much longer exposure was needed. This was OK. So I'm sure the problem lies with the shutter.


I shall be off to a company I've used before, up in Vauxhall, on Monday. I've been advised that this is not an unusual problem with the 50D in that the shutter is liable to failure after about a year or so. I've had mine since December 2008.

I had my Canon 20D with me so at least I was able to continue taking pictures. However, it was nearly time for me to leave and the light was getting worse.

Stretching Greylag.

And bovine lawn mowers...

Finally I attempted without much success to get a picture of yet another wren... it only came out of the wood pile very briefly...

and then I headed off for home! Not the best of days and I think, watch this space.....