February 4th-5th 2019
Beware the Mexican Bandidos!!
Bandits a little later.
On February 4th Sheila and I headed to Swillington Ings [or St. Aidan's RSPB as we're now supposed to call it] to try out the new zoom lens on Sheila's camera. We had no particular target bird in mind although a kingfisher would have been nice. Our best encounter was with a pair of displaying kestrels. My camera refused to lock on to anything in the air but Sheila took these...
I was lucky to seize the moment when the female landed on a post in front of me. She didn't stay long - I think she heard the camera shutter.
It was very muddy and so when the following day we went back to a different part of the reserve I wore more suitable wellingtons. We'd heard there were some co-operative bearded tits about so we went to the centre to ask for directions.
'Follow me,' said a volunteer. Out on the decking of the centre he pointed down the hill to a group of birders about 300m away. My second close encounter of the year after the treecreepers at Lockwood Beck. Here goes! Bandits in the reedbed!
You've probably seen enough but I was very pleased with Sheila's photos too as it wasn't easy to follow the bird as it moved rapidly in the reeds...
