Dads Great spotted Woodpeckers

 While over in Wales its great to take time on Dads feeders to watch the birds ,you can grab a cup of tea , turn on the TV and watch the world cup while viewing Great spotted Woodpeckers

Marsh Tit and a post in the woods

 I was in Wales on family matters, not birding as such.

I asked my father Paul Copner that if we got an hour or so early morning what were the chances of finding a Marsh Tit? I aint seen one since I was about 12 years of ago

I know of a place just on the Gower within 5 miles he says confidently.

By 8am we had rambled our way into a quiet damp feeling woodland till we came to some empty feeders by a logging shed, We sat , and yes I left the bird feed in the car. Dad put his apple core on a post .

A Coal Tit appeared, then within minutes a Marsh Tit.

Nuthatch, Blue Tits and Great Tit also came to the Apple core on the post

Common Rosefinch - Lampėdžio-Nemuno

 The !st Common Rosefinch I picked up in Lampėdžio-Nemuno pralaida was a singing female to my surprise but along the track a stand out male in full Rose colours was out singing away. "Pleased to meet you"...... nice song and a cracking species to have caught up with

Little Bittern -Lampedis lake Kaunas day 5

 Last evening I dropped my binoculars snatching for the camera to photo a Redstart, game over I felt blind.

It was our final morning in Lithuania and I decided instead of heading off I would sit at the lake with my son..6:16am on a peaceful warm morning listening to my Great Reed Warbler.

Just sitting......this Little Bittern started climbing the reeds just to my left...

I felt touched by nature. Once again I had made my own opportunity. Nature has a way of wanting me, eyes open wide...

Thrush Nightingale

 Before I came to Lithuania Thrush Nightingale was one of my target birds.

Its a song that catches you....but from where? it seems to throw. Is it up, down or over there...then movement deep in the cover of the shrubs ,I waited, I was`nt giving up this one. Then for a quick moment it showed..just......enough time to get 3 shots off the camera

Birding Kaunas. Lampedis lake . The full loop walk day 4

 This morning I set out early with intention to walk from my apartment around the full loop of Lampedis lake, approx 8km and about 4 hours through Lampėdžio-with stops for reeds , meadows, rivers, ponds and forest...it offers so much . Weather was amazing.

As I came into the nature reserve  Nemuno pralaida birds were singing, Great Reed Warblers, Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Skylarks, Yellowhammer, Whinchat and male Rosefinch was well out in the open and was very Pleased to meet you.

I carried on through  the meadows , A Grey Partridge scuttled off the path, as a White Stork crossed the rive and a Corncrake was calling.....I carried on to a well overgrown piece of scrub near the lake edge here I got Icterine Warbler, Blackcap and a cracking Thrush Nightingale which took a little time and another male Rosefinch.....

I carried on and entered the forest, here I saw Icterine Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, Wood Warblers, Stock dove and a Great spotted Woodpecker.. Nesting Fieldfares were going mad attacking Crows....I passed through the forest and got a Black Redstart before I got back.

Overall a really good days birding

Common Rosefinch

Grey Partridge

Thrush Nightingale

Goldeneye with ducklings

 The female Goldeneye that I  came across yesterday at the fish ponds today has 11 ducklings with her.

I sight I never expected and one to be enjoyed

Birding Kaunas Romainių Ąžuolynas -day 3

 Up early and started a walk in the forest Romainių Ąžuolynas up behind where I was staying. A beautiful woodland with exceptional walks

Pied Flycatcher was my 1st bird entering the woodland, Wood Warbler calls, Icterine Warbler, Great Tits ,Blackbirds and Great spotted Woodpeckers and a fly away Lesser spotted Woodpecker. Photography can be quite difficult in dark woods.

Out of the woods and down to the nature reserve I visited Yesterday .Lampėdžio-Nemuno pralaida

A few Lesser Whitethroats were to be had along with Yellowhammer, Whinchat, Buzzard, White winged Black Tern, Great Reed Warblers......and the female Goldeneye that was at the fishponds now has chicks