Last Updated on December 20, 2021 by Kevin Agar
A real mixed week. Went to Littondale for the weekend. Sandra walked to Malham and I walked as far as the waterfall behind the caravan park in the hopes of getting some decent Kestrel shots. Sat for over an hour near to the waterfall but only saw the Kestrel in the distance. On the return walk I disturbed a Roe Deer and got a few shots of it’s bum before it decided to stop and look at me
![7D2_9255.jpg 7D2_9255.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10942.jpg?ver=563)
Roe Deer
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1000 s. f/6.3 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM
I heard a familiar sound as I was walking back and when I looked up I saw the source of the noise, a Spitfire. Not my usual photographic subject but an opportunity too good to miss
![7D2_9265.jpg 7D2_9265.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10943.jpg?ver=563)
Spitfire
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/6400 s. f/8 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM
It was a quick grab shot and I wish I’d used a slower shutter speed to give the propeller a bit of motion blur, but it’s better than nothing
There were plenty of Meadow Pipits on the way down the hillside but all too far away to photograph. Going through the farmyard at the bottom of the hill there was a Spotted Flycatcher. I’d seen one in the same place in previous years so they obviously like the area
![7D2_9288.jpg 7D2_9288.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10944.jpg?ver=563)
Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/4 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Back at the caravan I managed to get a few shots on my perch setup of Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Wood Pigeon, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Blue Tit
![7D2_9314.jpg 7D2_9314.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10945.jpg?ver=563)
Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1250 s. f/8 iso800 EF500mm f/4L IS USM
![7D2_9319.jpg 7D2_9319.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10946.jpg?ver=563)
Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/7.1 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM
![7D2_9333.jpg 7D2_9333.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10947.jpg?ver=563)
Siskin, Carduelis spinus
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/7.1 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM
![7D2_9352.jpg 7D2_9352.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10948.jpg?ver=563)
Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1600 s. f/6.3 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM
![7D2_9380.jpg 7D2_9380.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10949.jpg?ver=563)
Lesser Redpoll, Carduelis cabaret
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/2500 s. f/6.3 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM
On Monday morning I had an early start and went to Adel Dam for 05:15. Things were very quiet at the march hide as the Sparrow Hawk went through so I proceeded to the lake hide. Again it was very quiet so resorted to photographing the flowers until a fox came to the waters edge and the ducks started quacking to let it know they’d seen it.
![7D2_9470.jpg 7D2_9470.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10956.jpg?ver=563)
Honeysuckle
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/60 s. f/8 iso800 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
![7D2_9472.jpg 7D2_9472.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10955.jpg?ver=563)
Fox
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/400 s. f/5.6 iso800 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Nothing else at the lake other than a lot of Mallard with ducklings and a few Mandarin ducks, so returned to the marsh hide and met up with Clive. Light was very poor as it was a clear blue sky and the sun was directly in front but did manage a few shots of the Great Spotted Woodpecker.
![7D2_9490.jpg 7D2_9490.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10957.jpg?ver=563)
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/320 s. f/5.6 iso800 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Decided to return to the lake hide and now there was a Heron fishing on the far side of the lake. Watched it fishing and catching a few sticklebacks before it flew to the island in the middle and caught a duckling. It happened so quickly the duckling didn’t stand a chance. Mother nature is very cruel but it’s all part of the food chain.
The regal
![7D2_9657.jpg 7D2_9657.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10952.jpg?ver=563)
Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1250 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
The innocent
![7D2_9593.jpg 7D2_9593.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10951.jpg?ver=563)
Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1250 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
The cute
![7D2_9681.jpg 7D2_9681.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10953.jpg?ver=563)
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1600 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
The killer
![7D2_9581.jpg 7D2_9581.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10950.jpg?ver=563)
Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
![7D2_9581b.jpg 7D2_9581b.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10967.jpg?ver=563)
Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/800 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Also got more Grey Heron shots as well as Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, female Mandarin Duck and Tufted Duck
![7D2_9633.jpg 7D2_9633.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10962.jpg?ver=563)
Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1600 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
![7D2_9574.jpg 7D2_9574.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10960.jpg?ver=563)
Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/2000 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
![7D2_9664.jpg 7D2_9664.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10963.jpg?ver=563)
Mandarin Duck, Aix galericulata
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/2500 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
![7D2_9684.jpg 7D2_9684.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10964.jpg?ver=563)
Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1250 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
![7D2_9688.jpg 7D2_9688.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10965.jpg?ver=563)
Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/1250 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
![7D2_9698.jpg 7D2_9698.jpg](https://kevinagar.uk/wp-content/uploads/wppa/10966.jpg?ver=563)
Mandarin Duck, Aix galericulata
Canon EOS 7D Mark II 1/2500 s. f/5.6 iso400 EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
Having had all of that we also went for a day out at Newby Hall which I will post later