Easter at Croxall Lakes, Staffs Wildlife Trust

Was a lovely Easter weekend at Croxall Lakes with large turnouts of people eager to capture the wildlife.

There were great sightings of the Willow and Sedge Warbler and most people had gathered at a spot where a Grasshopper Warbler had been seen.

The Sedge Warbler was spotted across the river but the Willow Warbler let me get quite close and I managed to get the image below.

Unfortunately I didn't see the Grasshopper Warbler or the Ring Ouzel which apparently was also in evidence.

Having then spotted a Kingfisher by the river I mananged to get a shot of a cuckoo flying between the trees.

The weekend was finished off quite nicely with a great view of a Little Egret in flight!

See you soon!!

In Search of the Kingfisher

Having just created my first blog I'd like to tell you about my first sightings of the wonderful Kingfisher.

I was visiting the home of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust at  the Wolseley Centre one Saturday afternoon in May 2010. I had reserched the subject and heard that the Kingfisher was a regular sighting there.

I soon got chatting to a fellow photographer. Her telephoto zoom lens was the give away that she was on the look out. The time was 2.00pm and she had been there since 7.00am such was her enthusiasm for this wonderful bird.

We had only chatted for a few minutes before the Kingfisher made it's first appearance. It landed on some twigs in the river, fish in mouth, before flying into the nest. I had a few seconds to land my fist shots and was deligted with the result.

Having taken the fish into the nest to feed it's young, it then emerged from the nest, took a quick drink and landed on the same twig as shown!!

I returned on many occasions after and had regular sightings until I discovered a viewing point down the river where there was a perch that The Kingfisher regularly landed on.

I returned one Sunday morning and set up my camera opposite this perch. After nearly 3 hours I was about to give up when the Kingfisher headed up river and landed just where I had been hoping it would.

I had a few seconds to get the shot but again was delighted with the result.

This concudes my first blog.

See you all soon.