Winter birds have arrived

 

(Short eared Owl - Carmarthenshire, 2020)

I took a break from all the gloss painting and other stuff form the last few weeks, and went to Llanrhidian yesterday to see what was there. I was hoping to catch a Short eared owl, as someone reported one a couple of weeks ago, but no show while I was there.

My other main target birds were Hen Harrier, and both a male and a female were present - a long way out though. With the very soft mud following big tides plus the heavy rain recently, I decided to sit tight by the car and see if anything would come close. Not my day, however plenty of birds out there including large numbers of Geese, Goldfinch bouncing around the marsh, Great white egret, Red Kite, Stonechat, etc.

Back on my local estuary i`ve had Merlin around and again good numbers of Canada and Greylag Geese, but no sign of a local Hen Harrier yet this year on the limited time I can be there. (The roaming horses restrict where I can view from now). Hoping that one day I will catch a Short eared owl locally, perfect habitat with the rough fields adjacent to the marsh. My gut feeling is that they have passed through at some stage over the years, but haven`t seen this yet.

I saw my first two Redwing of the winter on Llangennech marsh this week, so hope they will be in in good numbers soon.

Yesterday`s walk

Another good showing for `Walk with the warden` yesterday at WWT Llanelli, and thanks to everyone that came along.

Earlier in the morning I had a good sighting, although brief, of a female Marsh Harrier flying over the Reserve and in to the Deep water lake area, and naturally I was hoping we might have been fortunate to have seen in again. Well it didn`t happen, but we had a good walk anyway.

 This time we went via the Southern loop and down to the reed beds, stopping every now and then to look at different habitats and suggest areas to watch out for different species at different times of the year. The weather was kind to us (for once), so we took advantage and had a bit longer together on the Reserve than initially planned.

The next `Walk with a warden` is planned for Saturday 18th November *, so why not de-stress from pre-Christmas shopping and come along? The walk is more of a gentle amble rather than anything strenuous. Meet in the inside reception area for 11.30am, with good footwear and suitable clothing for the weather advisable.

(* Check the WWT Llanelli website nearer the planned date)

Back from the Framers

 

Just back from the framers with my latest 'pride and joy', signatures from the Don Powell Band, Bev Bevan (ex-ELO, The Move, Black Sabbath), and one of Don Powell's reinforced sticks, given to me by Don himself.

Thanks to Sharon at Named and Framed in Llanelli for a job well done.

This will be hanging in the Study!

Walk with a warden (October)

 

On Saturday 21st October 2023 I will be taking part with the `Walk with the Warden` again at WWT Llanelli, Penclacwydd, from 11.30am to 1pm.

Come prepared for bad weather, just in case!

North Gower marshes

 

Had a couple of hours on the marshes of North Gower yesterday, and a few occasional long-distance sightings of Hen Harrier - indicating that winter is not far away.

These stunning birds come down in the autumn from the higher moorland where they have spent the spring and summer, and use the coastal marshes in particular for the winter. They normally hunt low over the ground, tilting their shallow V-shaped wings until they then twist and turn down onto an unsuspecting prey.

I always have a `hit list` of birds to photograph in the winter, the male Hen Harrier being one of them. With completely different plumage to the female in this long-distance shot, the male is a stunning and rare bird to see, pale grey with black tips to the wings, as if dipped in ink.

Others on my list again this year (hopefully!) are of course Short Eared Owl, Merlin, Bittern, and Rough-Legged Buzzard. However, there are lots of other great species to photograph which should be more easily to see, so fingers crossed.

New cards delivered

 

They`ve arrived, and on the back we have the correct current details.

Very pleased with the final version.

those new cards

 

They should be with me today ......

I`m talking about the new cards i`ve designed to move forward from my previous `russartworx` business cards, which encompassed my work both as a photographer and as an artist. 

Previous cards had my past web address plus a domain-based mailbox for email on the reverse side, so a revamp with up to date information was required. The information this time includes this blog address, social media I use (facebook and twitter / X), a gmail address, contact number, plus an up to date QR code with the main contact details.

The big question for me was ..... what should I use for a front image? 

With literally thousands of images to choose from, I opted to use one particular Kingfisher image from last year. The image is simple, balancing detail with soft depth of field, with colours that punch through. I could have chosen a dramatic shot of one with a fish, or some other completely different subject matter, but I like the balance of this image which, to me, is artistically dynamic.

Because I am no longer officially self employed as a photographer and artist, I needed to simply show that I could be contacted for photography on a casual basis, rather than under my past `russartworx` business. 

So, awaiting delivery today!