My blog is mostly about wildlife, particularly birds, walking, days out, all growing things and anything else that comes to mind.
To view pictures in larger format, just click on any picture for the picture gallery....

Saturday 21 May 2011

Long Tailed Tits and a Tawny

Yesterday evening as I sat at the PC, I was aware of the songs of Long-tailed Tits - all nine of them it turned out to be.. a family of very young ones with Mum and Dad.

They landed briefly on the telephone wires running to the house; so I dashed outside with the camera and looked high up..

(If you're reading this Di.... then sorry ;) )


dreadful picture but the one that, almost, got away..




Today it was beautiful and warm - I headed over to the London Wetland Centre

Generally it was quiet and these two Mallards sat basking in the morning sun.

A family of two adult and two young Little Grebes were in their usual place..





and another pair, this time Mute Swans, gave a fly past.

I saw four Redshanks out on the scrape

and a Mute Swan was preening

Damsels flew about settling occasionally



and the water lilies are now fully flowering

their leaves giving a platform to the Marsh frogs.

John then offered me a seat in his car to go and see the reported Tawny Owl at the Leg of Mutton Nature Reserve....

We scanned the trees where we thought it should be to no avail... but, having decided to walk back a bit and have another look, John then spotted, very high up, a sight of a very sleepy Tawny Owl. I'm amazed I managed a shot at all given it was very high up and so well camouflaged.


A quiet day but a rewarding one... and thanks John and Mary Anne for the lift and company.

10 comments:

The Quacks of Life said...

ooh lucky you!

Tricia Ryder said...

Wasn't I just! They must have been nesting close by but I don't know where!

Billy Dykes said...

Those Long tails are lovely, and well done with the Tawny Owl. I finally got my first views of aTawny Owl flying over the garden back on Thursday, after years of searching for them in Bushy Park!

It might be heading your way! ;-)

Tricia Ryder said...

Thanks Bill and great to have a Tawny over your garden!! I'll watch out for it. :)

holdingmoments said...

Great set of pictures Tricia; and the header!
A cracking find, and shot, of the Tawny.

Roy said...

Another great set of images Tricia, getting the Dabchicks with young on their back that was really special and something I haven't seen.

Ragged Robin said...

Lovely photos, Tricia and the long tailed tit and little grebe youngsters are exceedingly cute. Well done on the Tawny Owl.

Glo said...

Super photos ~ and a lovely day with blue sky background! Little grebes are sweet and terrific shot of the tawny owl! What camouflage!

oldcrow61 said...

I really like the photo of the two mallards. And, who can't just love that frog, lol.

Eagleseagles said...

Finally a Tawny Owl for you!

Love the LTT! a delight
C

Related Posts with Thumbnails