Monday and Tuesday on the patch

I had a day off work yesterday so spent the morning on the patch. The sky was overcast and rain threatened all morning. I had a bit of a play around with the new dSLR but the light was awful, so didn't do much.

male scorpion fly Panorpa communis

Through the reeds. singing male reed  bunting   

juvenile stonechat

Highlights of the morning where barn and long-eared owl and a female marsh harrier.

I would love to take the credit for this excellent long-eared owl shot, but I can't, it's one of Alan Gilbertson's.

hunting long eared owl (c) Alan Gilbertson

This morning, I had a quick pre-work look around the patch , in the fog. A great-spotted woodpecker was unusual for this time of year. They are normally an autumn passage bird at Druridge.