Monday 27 February 2017

JEWEL in the VALLEY NBC car trip

Every now and again you find a place that just feels like you want to immerse yourself into. A place of big sky and at the same time secret little places offering exploration.
Nestling in a valley near the quaint village of Noke and accessed via a narrow track lies a gem of a reserve, Otmoor RSPB.



Greeting our arrival in the car park was the sweet songs of Robin and Hedge Sparrow


Taking our time we gradually made our way toward the wetland watch lookout hide.
On route we looked for any raptors as Merlin, Peregrine, Marsh and Hen Harrier had all been seen recently. Distant Marsh Harrier and Red Kites were available.
The wetland held almost invisible Brown Hares hiding then chasing across the vista, a prelude to a little bit of boxing.




Red Kites investigated us coming very close at times.



A welcome sit down in the hide provided views of numerous Reed Buntings and others hungrily feeding on the grain put out for them.







Our ever vigilant spotter Mark found a distant perched Buzzard later put to flight by the local crow.


Moving on a Marsh Harrier quartered the wetland





putting rise to large flocks of wintering Lapwings and Golden Plover.


Moving ever on toward the screen hides.

Roy and the Stig
To be fair we didn't see an awful lot more but expectancy was always in the air.


Ever quarrelsome Coots

That expectancy paid dividends with a sturdy Peregrine  located again by Mark (I knew there was a reason we took him along).

Peregrine and Marsh Harrier

I was first introduced to this reserve by my good friend Graham and will be ever grateful, it's a beautiful place, tranquil and exciting, I only wish he could still be here to enjoy it.

Cheerz Rob.

Shots courtesy of Dave J and Robin (RDG Wild Images)

Saturday 25 February 2017

Bird Club hide at Titchmarsh destroyed by Storm Doris

The Bird Club Hide at Titchmarsh Nature Reserve was blown off its base during last Thursday's high winds. At the work party today we found it lying in the field. It had apparently been vandalised earlier in the week, with some panels kicked out. This may have allowed the wind to get in and lift it off its base.


The Peter Scott Hide has also been vandalised again. Another panel was kicked out earlier this week. If anyone sees anyone acting suspiciously please inform the police.

Saturday 18 February 2017

NBC PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION



LANDSCAPE and HABITAT,  final category.

JEFF BLINCOW.

OLD TIMERS (aren't we all)

VARANGER Norway


BARRY BOSWELL.

BARRACO Spain

EXTREMADURA Spain


WATERWAY Danube delta




BOB BULLOCK.

HUBBARD GLACIER Alaska

FALLEN BEECH New Forest.


GULFLOSS Iceland

PETE GILBERT.

ANGLE TARN Lake District

BERCHESGARDEN Bavaria
BORROWDALE Lake District


BOB GILL

THURSLEY COMMON
ROBIN GOSSAGE


HARRINGTON AIRFIELD N'ton

RAINHAM MARSH



COASTLINE from TITCHWELL

DAVE JACKSON.

PORTO SANTO Madiera
JOHN SHOWERS.

CUILLINS  Skye

MOUNTAIN STREAM

UPPER SWALEDALE  North Yorks






MARTIN SWANNELL

GREYLAGS under STORMY SKY   Summer Leys


DAVE THOMAS.

LAKE PEYTO Canadian Rockies



LOON LAKE Canadian Rockies






MILKY WAY over QUIVER TREES  Augrabies Park  S Africa




WOW!  Well that's it for another year, what a fantastic set of entries. I cannot wait for next 

years competion,    BRILLIANT!!

I do hope you enjoy looking at all the categories as I have putting them on.
To view press, older posts,  at the bottom right of each blog.

REMEMBER THE CATEGORY WINNERS WILL BE POSTED UNDER THE PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION TAB (under the header.)



Friday 17 February 2017

AGM

The Bird Club AGM will be held at the usual place and time on 1st March. This will be followed by an illustrated talk on Israel by Mike Alibone.

If anyone wishes to stand for the committee then please let a committee member know before the start of the AGM. Sue Prouse is standing down as a committee member and Treasurer, otherwise the existing committee is standing for re-election.

Hope to see you there.

Thursday 16 February 2017

NBC PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION continued

PLANTS and FUNGI.

JEFF BLINCOW.

DRAGON ARUM Crete

GOLDEN WAXCAP Norway






BOB BULLOCK

FUNGI Sp Cuba

FRUITING LICHEN Dorset

FUNGI Sp Northants









PETE GILBERT

FLOWER Sp France

FLOWER Sp France


ROBIN GOSSAGE

MARSH HELLIBORINE

DEVILS BIT SCABIUS

THISTLE Sp

DAVE JACKSON

SILVER BIRCH

TEASEL
JOHN SHOWERS

SPRING GENTIAN

YELLOW STAGSHORN

PUFFBALL

MARTIN SWANNELL

JAPANESE WILD IRIS

BEE ORCHID

WILD ROCK ROSE