Moor Fun. Part One; Fieldcraft Vs ...Ring Ouzels?!?

It is, you may recall, the time of year when I am oft to wander up on t'Moor to test my fieldcraft [or lack of it] against winter thrushes. Usually these are Fieldfares and Redwings, freshly in from parts northerly, with a Ring Ouzel as a rare treat. But well, times and opportunities do change. More recently, I've been frequently out with the Folks for afternoon ambles. Why not do both?

Sunday!

Rejoicing in the effects of prescription drugs*, I went tarting about after birdies on the Moor, then went for another fungus hunt with the Folks. There was also coffee and ginger nuts and it was Good.

Enough spoilers?

No? Ok, how's this;

Mr. Ring Ouzel

This was up the Avon by the dam, where 15+ had been previously reported. I reckon I had 12+ on the day; 11+ up Zeal Gulley and another down by the bridge early on. Also Mistle Thrush [plus 3 more by Black Tor] and Song Thrush with the Ouzels, a Dipper lower down the valley, and a late Golden-ringed Dragonfly.

More Ouzel fun!

Looking very pale in the sun

Basking in the sunshine

"Vun! Two! Tree! Tree Ring Ouzels, ah-ha-ha-haa!"

Ouzelicious

I had successfully applied a little fieldcraft and got quite a bit closer than the road-bound twitch [and my effort only meant one bog and one stream crossed; such wimps!]. As you can see from the pics, the Ouzels were utterly unbothered by me. 

"Oooh, yeah, that's the spot!"

Of course, I wasn't really that close;

Looking over Zeal Gulley to Avon Dam

[no zoom, no crop]

Right, from further away;

Looking from the road;

How many Ouzels can you see?

Also of note;

Butter Waxcap

This Mipit struck such a pose...

:)

Aside from the odd bout of antisocial behaviour in the car park [or indeed from a clueless tog with a lens the size of my leg {no joke} but no idea about birds] it was all very lovely. Even with the odd bout of rain. :D

Coming up, Part Two; in which we do the same thing a different way.

Woo.

Be Seeing You...

[[*The sorts that are entirely safe to drive or operate heavy machinery** with; ie. not the really fun ones. Only slightly disappointed with that.. ;) ]]

[[**Technically this is the same thing, of course.]]