April 2021

9th. Around Pensford: wild daffodils (Lords Wood) and little owl.

7th. Roe deer, Compton Dando.

6th. Back for more of the osprey, though no fishing in choppy conditions in the evening. I used the 500mm prime lens with converter mounted on a gimbal head. The hit rate with animal eye focus was better, and the images marginally better in quality. The bird appears to have some fishing line in its claws in the second image.

5th. Chew Valley Lake: stunning views of the osprey at Herriot's Pool. Photos with the 100-500mm plus 1.4x extender. Two garganey at the back of the pool.

4th. Levels - ca.30 cattle egret near Sand, S of Wedmore; reed warbler heard Ham wall, red kite over car park, ca. 6 marsh harriers and only 3-4 bitterns heard on Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath. Orange tips and brimstones flying.

3rd. Chew Valley Lake: sand martins, female scaup and an osprey fishing on Herriot's Pool.

2nd. A circular walk from Chewton Keynsham to Compton Dando via the Wansdyke and Burnett. Male redstart in woodland near the Wansdyke, and willow warbler singing.