Short-eared Owl

Well its been a while, but worth the Wait with 2 new additions to the patch list, and a year lister.
      There hasn't been a great deal about, combined with a prolonged spell of bad weather, and a severe bout of lethargy. Luckily John-the-birder has been keeping a constant vigil and has had some exiting patch sightings. Red kite a few weeks back, Osprey, also the first to find the Otter, and has had sightings of Red Deer.
        And then early Thursday morning I get a text from him --- seo-tbr. by the time I had shaken myself out of my lethargy and got my backside on sight there was no sign of said bird. A visit in the evening gave only brief sightings, and it wasn't until Friday morning that I finally got good views as it spent the early morning hunting over the reserve.

Short-eared Owl

Its studying the ground for prey.

fantastic eyes and markings

And just as I was leaving the reserve I saw a slight movement in the tall grass by the pond and turned just in time to see this----

Roe Deer just before it

 melted away into the undergrowth, leaving me with just a couple of lucky photos.

A Stock Dove, one of a few that has been around the reserve.

And I couldn't resist this Blackbird in the early morning sun.

And while all this was going on at ground level, this was floating overhead-----

Good morning for ballooning

Also Thursday evening Roy found a Whinchat, another first for the reserve, unfortunately it was too far away for pics and even my record shots ain't worth posting.