BLOG
My blog will predominantly feature a selection of photographs and reports of recent wildlife photographic trips, mainly in the UK
|
The local SE Herts RSPB Group were having their monthly Wednesday walk at Fishers Green and it coincided with the recent arrival of a Drake Smew on Seventy Acres Lake. There has also been at least one Redhead Smew there as well. Things started well with distant sightings of a female Goosander on the flood relief channel. One of the usual suspects was soon spotted.  Walking down towards Fishers Green Lane the light was good for both Black-headed Gulls and a pair of Great Crested Grebes that were already starting to pair up.      Half way round the lake we had our first view of Smew. This was a Redhead and fairly distant, and also looking into the light. Just a record shot of this one.  However not much further on we saw the drake Smew out in the open and in much better light. Photographing a black and white bird against a dark background is tricky and I had to underexpose to retain highlight detail. Difficult, but I think the shots have come out quite well.              What an amazing and beautiful bird!
0 Comments
A beautiful but cold day called for a trip to Welney in Norfolk for wintering Swans and wildfowl. Great to have the company of Rick Stead and Mike O'Hanlon for the day. After a quick stop off for Hawfinch at Bramfield we arrived at Welney and the first photo opportunity were the Tree Sparrows at the Visitor Centre. Always a joy to see this sadly declining species.    It was then across the bridge to view the masses of birds including a large flock of Black-tailed Godwit and Lapwing.  A few distant Pintail were visible (but too far for pictures) together with some Shelduck.  The most Common duck close in were Pochard.       And the slightly less colourful female.  Sadly we did not manage to pick out any Bewick Swans, but there were some Whoopers, with the majority out feeding on the surrounding fields.       A few younger birds, lacking the distinctive yellow on the bill were also present.  The stars of the day for me were eight Tundra Bean Geese which were initially sleeping and one would occasionally look up.   Suddenly, they all took off allowing the chance of some flight shots.      A few Marsh Harriers were showing, but again distantly.   It was then back to the cafe for coffee and hopefully Short Eared Owls from the viewing area. However there were other distractions including Great Egret.  Reed Buntings were also present and feeding.   As the light faded a flock of Linnets came in to roost.  And 2 or possibly 3 Short Eared Owls showed, but fairly distantly so just a couple of record shots here, but always a joy to watch them.   A wonderful day, great company and a big thanks to Rick and Mike!
I make no apologies for this post as my previous visits had been dogged by poor weather and limited views of Hawfinch. However, a bright sunny day with blue skies and the church bell tolling seemed like a perfect combination for an attempt as some better shots. As always, the Redwing provided a strong supporting cast.     Initially, the Hawfinch were perching on the large Ash tree behind the church and there were certainly three, if not four birds present.    One even undertook some preening.  They were dropping down to the Yew trees to feed and with a bit of patience I managed some shots.   One bird came out a little bit more into the open.       Great to see them closer and in much better light. Hopefully another good crop of Yew berries, next year.
A sunny day and a chance to add a few birds to the year list and hopefully get some good pictures. An unexpected bonus was this female Goosander on the river, just behind the WDC. It was early, so undisturbed and I managed to get some shots before it moved round to the relief channel.      And a bit of video of her. A walk down to Hall Marsh scrape yielded three very dark plumaged female Pheasants. There seems to be quite a few of them in this part of the Lee Valley.  The long staying Cattle Egret also obliged, and while initially distant, it flew in closer for some shots.    A welcome surprise was a male Bullfinch just off the path by the hide. It was present for quite a while, quietly feeding, but often obscured. Thankfully I managed to get two decent images of this stunning bird.   I next headed back up to the WDC and one of the resident Great Crested Grebes was on the river.    Adding up the miles I decided to head up to the farms to see if the Brambling flock was still present. As usual, there were a number of Egyptian Geese at the Dairy farm.  The Brambling were located fairly easily and were part of a mixed flock with some Chaffinches. Difficult to estimate numbers but certainly into double figures. Fortunately, a couple showed quite well just as it started to cloud over.       Always a good day out at Fishers Green.
Back to Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire after my failed attempt to see and photograph Great Northern Diver. This time there was an added incentive as a Snow Bunting had been reported on the dam. The day started bright and sunny but I knew it would cloud over by lunchtime so I was in position just before 9am. Walking to the dam a few Goldeneye were offshore with some Tufted Ducks.   The Snow Bunting had been reported further round the dam the previous day, but I spotted it much nearer the car park on the sloping side of the dam and had it all to myself for some close up shots. It was feeding quickly, looking for seeds and difficult at times as it came right underneath the dam wall.          Quite unusual to have one so far inland as in Winter they are more of a coastal bird on the East coast. I did manage to take a bit of video as well. Now to try and find a Diver! The tower area is a favoured spot so I staked that area out and had distant views of a juvenile Great Northern Diver, but wat too far for a shot. The Black-headed Gulls kept me amused while waiting.    As did a Common Gull.  Eventually, the adult Great Northern Diver appeared and while not exactly close, I did manage some reasonable shots in the changing light. An amazing bird, as it can stay under water for a very long time and reappear a long way off!       Not a bad way to start 2022.
My traditional couple of hours birding on New Years Day, and this time a quick visit to Amwell on a beautiful sunny morning. A distant drake Goosander was a good start to the year, but way too far for a picture. A walk back through the woods revealed a quite large flock of Siskin that eventually came down low enough for some shots.          Always a delight to see and hear these tiny finches!
A Hawfinch had been reported at Bramfield so I popped up there on the 22nd December but had no joy. However, there were a few Redwing feeding in the Yew trees and I managed some shots. As it was still early in the day there was still frost on the branches.       Return visits were required and on the 31st December, four birds were present but giving limited views in poor light.    In order to get an early year tick I paid another visit on the 2nd January when there were some breaks in the really dull weather we have had for the past couple of weeks. A walk around the very muddy fields by the church only yielded a few Redwing and Skylark.   Back in the churchyard there were a few familiar birders all trying for Hawfinch and one or two birds did show, usually at the top of the Ash tree behind the church. Not great shots but great to see them back after none the previous Winter.   A couple of recent visits to King's Meads revealed some great birds, including on the 17th December a stunning male Bearded Tit. A prior visit with slightly better weather allowed close sightings of a pair of Stonechat on Little Mead.     The female was not quite as obliging.  On Stockade Mead I managed to get a bit closer to one of the resident Green Woodpeckers, happily feeding away.   The start of the New River held a surprise with a surprisingly confiding male Wigeon.     And as it's the run up to Christmas, a few Robin shots!     The male Bearded Tit had been spotted by Barry Reed a few days before and I had already been down and failed to see it. When I went down today the early sunshine had disappeared and it was quite foggy. However from the causeway I heard it calling and it flitted past about 15 metres out and I managed to get a few shots before it disappeared. It did show again later on the West Pool but further away and often low down.         Not the best light, but what a stunning bird!
It was a beautiful sunny day with blue skies so I decided to head down to the Lee Valley to try and get some better shots of both Brambling and Goosander. It was a frosty start and I captured this Muntjac walking to the WDC.  From the viewing platform overlooking 70 Acres Lakes 3 Rose-ringed Parakeets called and flew over with one landing close by.   Next stop was Ashley Pit for the Goosanders, and six birds were present, four of which were males. They can be very skittish, so it was a case of waiting quietly until they came in closer. Shooting from the Southern and Eastern side of the pit ensured the best light.    One of the females.  And the males.     A good start to the morning, so a walk back via the Wildlife Discovery Centre. No sign of the Bittern from the tower, however one of the Water Rails walked out in front of the new Kingfisher nest bank.   Heading up towards the farms, a Red Kite gave a close fly past.  Further up the cycle track I located a large finch flock feeding in some set aside and then diving into the hedge. They were mainly Chaffinch, while a handful of Redwing skulked in the hedgerow.  Male ChaffinchHowever there were some Brambling mixed in with the flock and almost impossible to say how many, but certainly at least 3 or 4, but probably more. A bit of waiting and careful positioning got me some shots in the hedgerow.        All of the above are males, but here is one of a female.  I always seem to forget, but remembered this time and took a short video clip. Making my way back, the flock had moved with me and by chance one Brambling perched briefly out in the open and lower down.   A very successful trip!
It has been at least 2 years since I have seen a Smew at Amwell, and certainly as a whole we seem to be getting a lot less, probably with warmer weather, less birds coming across from the continent. This bird was initially on Tumbling Bay, but since has been more mobile, ending up on the main pit.   Females and 1st Winter birds are very difficult to sex, but this could be a 1st Winter male.     It was sadly a dark and gloomy day, but still quite pleased with the results. A visit later in the week drew a blank, but the much better weather allowed some of the regular birds to shine, including the local Kestrels.     Always a joy to photograph a Wren as well.   Walking up to the woods behind Amwell, I couldn't resist a shot of this cheeky chap!  The local Grey Heron was by the River Ash before flying off.   But the highlight was a small bunch of rather skittish Redwing on Widbury Hill, feeding in a Holly tree. Fortunately the light was behind me and I managed a few shots.    |
RSS Feed