Slimbridge

Mute Swan

December 2018.

A pre Christmas visit to relatives who live close to Slimbridge WWT in Gloucestershire meant that I could spend another day leisurely wandering around the grounds, and watching and photographing some of the wild birds from the hides overlooking the wetlands. A good number of  Bewicks Swans had arrived to join the other wildfowl on show. There had been a Jack Snipe showing quite well but unfortunately not when I was looking !, but a good day nonetheless.

Bewicks Swan

Bewicks Swan

Bewicks Swan preening

Bewicks Swan bathing

Bewicks Swan bathing

Bewicks Swans flypast

Bewicks Swan in flight

Greylag landing

Greylags head on

Shelduck

Pintail male

Water Rail 

Lapwing feeding on a worm

Woodpigeon

Carrion Crow feeding

Cormorants roosting

December 2018.

The large Willow trees at Stover Lake are very often the resting place for one or more Cormorants, I am always drawn to the shape and outline of the hanging branches, and although I've taken similar photos, thought another wouldn't hurt.

Cormorants in Willow.

Mandarin

December 2018

An introduced species and what a show off. The male Mandarin Duck has the most stunning plumage and I cant just walk past them without stopping and staring in admiration, the female in her own way is a beauty as well. I like them.

Male Mandarin

Male Mandarin

Female Mandarin

Stover lake waiting for a bite.

December 2018.

Spent much of the day at Stover lake near Bovey Tracey in Devon, in a day of sunshine and showers, nothing unusual here, the ever present Coot , Tufted Ducks, Cormorants and Gulls etc and always nice to see Goosanders which have started to take up their winter residency. I got some o.k photos of these species, but am always on the lookout for something a bit different than a record shot, so near the end of the day one small corner of the lake was beautifully lit by the late sun , so I just sat and waited to see if any birds would swim into the golden reflections, I likened this to fishing ( though I don't actually go fishing), waiting for a bite, and sure enough my patience was rewarded with female Tufted Duck and a Coot swimming into the right spot.

Female Tufted Duck

Female Tufted Duck

Coot

Coot

Hornets

I spent some of my spare time this summer watching and trying to photograph the comings and goings of a Hornets nest in a hole in our garden bank. I was very close to them , they were completely non aggressive. I love being this close to nature.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

2nd August 2018

The Hummingbird Hawk Moth is a summer visitor to the U.K, being a migrant from Southern Europe, I usually catch up with one or two during the warmer months, this one putting in a brief appearance feeding  on our Geraniums, luckily I had my camera to hand and managed a few quick shots .

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

One good Tern.

5th July 2018

We had a good day out on Brownsea Island in Poole harbour , Dorset, where Terns were the main attraction, good numbers of Sandwich Terns and a few Common Terns nest on the islands here and great views can be had from the hides as they bring fish to the youngsters.

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich ( with Squid)

 deserves another...

Common Tern

Common Tern

Common Tern

Common Tern

 And a couple of others taken on the day

Black Headed Gull chicks

Shelduck family

Oystercatcher and chick

Oystercatcher chick