Drake Smew at Amwell, 7th March 2024

A drier, sunny day so a short trip to Amwell to try and get some images of the drake Smew that has been there for a few weeks, together with a female bird. It has quite often been distant, so would today bring it a bit closer? Luckily for me I bumped into Alan Reynolds and used his decades of experience and fieldcraft to full advantage! The Smew was swimming down to the south of the pit so a brisk walk down there saw us ready and in position for some reasonably close shots.

It seems to prefer the company of a female Goldeneye rather than the female Smew, so it was good to get some shots of them together.

They really are cracking birds and always a treat to see. And to round off an enjoyable couple of hours, a visit from a confiding male Muntjac.