Swanpool & Stithians

20th March
Decided on day out so joined up with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust photo group at Swanpool in Falmouth, quite a trek but enjoyed the day. Swanpool was actually pretty quiet with just a few gulls bathing and generally loafing about, did see a Water Rail briefly but little else. On the way home I called into Stithians  reservoir, where I found the Slavonian Grebe and a few commoner birds at the feeders along with a Water Rail and a Stoat (which was to quick for my camera).

Black Headed Gull catching Insects

Young Herring Gull (or is it a Lesser Black Backed?) bathing

The same bird as above

his Cormorant was swimming along snapping insects ( I assume) from the air , behaviour I'd not seen before

Lesser Black Backed Gull bathing

Brown Rat, coming to the food put out for the Swans and Ducks

Slavonian Grebe at Stithians

Slavonian Grebe

Dunnock

Reed Bunting

Water Rail

Lesser Scaup

7th March.
The drake Lesser Scaup seems to have swapped locations with the Smew and is now at Siblyback . I located the bird near the hide and took some shots from there , before moving to the opposite bank,  each time it dived I got a little closer until I was at the waters edge where it took no notice of me at all, coming quite close.

Male Lesser Scaup

Diving Lesser Sacup

Lesser Scaup

Going under

Stover Park

4th March 2016.   Thought I would pop up to Stover to see if the Great Crested Grebes were performing their weed dance, always wanted to photograph this courtship ritual , but on arrival it was apparent that only one adult bird was present so not going to happen today , however, I did manage a few very close shots of the Grebe with a big fish, and after putting down seed I was able to photograph some of the commoner species along with those pesky Grey Squirrels.

Marsh Tit

Long Tailed Tit

Robin showing aggressive behaviour towards a rival, quite impressive to watch.

Nuthatch

Water Rail briefly in front of the hide

Great Crested Grebe with lunch

Great Crested Grebe

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrel

Walmsley (again)

15th Febuary.
I spent a nice sunny afternoon at Walmsley CBWPS reserve watching the birdlife come and go and meeting one or two other people while I was there, nice to see the Spoonbill still here, although still fairly distant.

Spoonbill flying in

Spoonbill landing

Preening Spoonbill

Black Tailed Godwits

Greylag

Grey Heron on the lookout

 Grumpy Canada's

Mute Swans coming together

Introduction

Feeling a little frisky

Feeling a little bit more frisky

Getting excited

No stopping him now

Swan sex

A good wash to finish

The resident Mute Swan pair were getting rather frisky and I got a few nice shots of them courting and mating.

Roadford Lake

12th Febuary.
Roadford resevior is only a mile from home but can be very frustrating for seeing and photographing birds, as usually there just arn't to many present and the ones that are stay fairly distant or I,ve photographed them many times and I have to wait and watch for some kind of behaviour or interaction to get something a little different, but occasionally a scarce or rare bird does turn up so just have to keep hoping, this day was again quiet with just a couple of distant Great Crested Grebes and a close in Little Grebe  and a few of the usual Duck, and this Cormorant which was diving in front of the hide ( and just caught a stick)

Cormorant

Cormorant with stick!

Cormorant

He's off

Little Grebe

A Pochard swims by

Starlings

10th Febuary. The Starling roost at Roughtor is always a good way to round off a day, no dancing but still a treat to witness . ( And no one else there today-just me and Joyce)

Starlings coming in to roost

Sky full of Starlings

Lower Tamar Lake

4th Febuary
A very foggy three hours sat in the hide at Lower Tamar Lake on the Cornwall/Devon border, no one else about, a few birds to see including eight pairs of Goosander ( this is always a reliable site for these) but all a bit distant for photography , which was a shame as two males were fighting over a big  fish which would have made for some good shots, but there were some close Common Snipe and a Water Rail came very close as well as a Kingfisher putting in an appearance.

Common Snipe-not sure if its swimming or paddling

Common Snipe

Common Snipe preening

Common Snipe bathing

Common Snipe-Many birds take a little jump out of the water after bathing to dry off, I try to be ready for this.

Goosander in the mist

Kingfisher

Water Rail