A month of firsts.

The biggest first achieved this month is one that I do not want to experience again, namely 16 consecutive days with complete cloud cover. Steel grey skies for that amount of time is obviously not conducive to wildlife photography, but they did push me to scout out some new locations.

Visiting the Ben Rhydding Nature Reserve the lack of light caused me to have an ISO of 25600 for my first picture of an otter on land, but quite frankly I did not mind.

My first visit of the month to the High Batts Nature Reserve also coincided with our first view on the sun for said 16 days. I was very fortunate to photograph my first "perched" buzzard and my first Jay.

My various "grey days" were taken up exploring the Nosterfield Nature Reserve which is only a few miles from High Batts. It does have an extended layout, which coupled with some incomplete signposting exposed my extreme level of unfitness! However it is a wonderful refuge for wildlife and the subject of a lot of hard work from its volunteers.

When staggering back to the car, knackered and covered in sweat, my first barn owl deposited themselves on the fence line 10 yards in front of me.