Third Bird Photography

Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Bridgend

Back to Bridgend after a bit of heavy rain. It was still drizzling when we got to the car park, so we had no choice but to go to the local brewery and buy lots of beer.

Bridgend route

Back and ready for some Bluebells and Dippers, with hides and lots of time. We soon found the fledgling Dipper and got lots of time to photograph it on the shaded river. The adults weren't so cooperative, zipping up and down the river but not settling for long. We also saw Grey Wagtails again similarly uncooperative, and a Mistle Thrush which had a nest somewhere in the trees nearby.

Being by the river meant we were also prime targets for the midges. We were feeding the midges, which were then feeding the Dippers.

Dipper

Grey Wagtail

Juvenile Grey Wagtail

Gill

Dipper

The only colourful part of a juvenile Dipper

Dipper

Bluebells

Adult Dipper

Spotted Flycatcher

Mistle Thrush

Mallard duckling

Dipper

How do we steer this thing?!

Mysterious lump

Robin

Song Thrush

Bluebells and fungus

Eventually the light started to fail and the midges had been biting us to death for long enough, so we hurried back home. When you end up having to do this to keep them off you, it's time to leave:

Gill with a terrible Father Christmas impression

Monday, 16 May 2016

Mull of Oa and Bridgend

Although we visited the Mull of Oa on the first day we didn't get very far. So we went back to the full walk around the Mull and the Monument. The day started off extremely dull with thick, heavy cloud. At lunchtime this all disappeared very quickly, changing to sunny skies again.

We had finished the Mull by late lunchtime so had a walk around the woods at Bridgend. Great carpets of Bluebells, as well as brief glimpses of Dipper and Grey Wagtail. We vowed to return when we had more time.