Marsh Harrier flypast just as I got into the hide, fired off shots , but got exposure totally wrong!
Little Egret
Green Sandpiper
Little Egret - You put your right leg in...................................!!!
Distant Osprey
More pics on website http://kevin632.fotopic.net/
Popped over to the Rutland Water Reserves at Lyndon and Egleton today in the hope of something special. I was disappointed!! Well not really, it was a nice day and some good exercise - I had forgotten how big the reserve was and how far it is between some hides. It was also very difficult to get close to the birds as some of my (poor quality) pics show, and why most of them are of Little Egret.
Started off at Lyndon and was surprised that the permit fee was still good value at only £4.00, covering both reserves. Walked to the furthest point, Shallow Water Hide which had most usual species plus Osprey, Ruff, Common Sandpiper and Egyptian Goose. Then a short drive to the Egleton Reserve. This is massive with hides spaced at quite considerable distances. It is possible to walk a long way and see very little! I walked north to the new Lagoon 4 which is producing waders but perhaps needs to mature further. Here, another Osprey, Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Ruff and Common Gull were of note. Lagoon 2 held Pochard and Wigeon in small numbers, Little Egret (the only bird I managed to get close enough to photograph well), and Green Sandpiper. Entering a hide, I was in time to see a Marsh Harrier fly past. Managed to fire off a few pics, but soon realised my speed failed to ensure correct exposure!
Arriving back at the carpark, I decided to change into shorts for the drive home. As I stood next to the car in my underpants, I noticed the nearby CCTV camera and chuckled as to who may be watching a desirable hunk!!! (Well I can dream.........!)
This is also the nearest I will get to the Bird Fair! Sad, I know!!!
Sightings:
Wood Pigeon; Blackbird;Chaffinch; Carrion Crow; Swallow; Rook; House Martin; Blue Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Mute Swan; Great Tit; Greenfinch; Common Tern; Tufted Duck; Lapwing; Great Crested Grebe; Wren; Magpie; BH Gull; Jay; Reed Warbler; Starling; Coot; Mallard; Pied Wagtail; Ruff; Heron; Egyptian Goose; Curlew; Grey Lag Goose; Sand Martin; Canada Goose; Linnet; Common Sandpiper; Jackdaw; Dunnock; Osprey; Green Woodpecker; Moorhen; Chiffchaff; LBB GUll; Cormorant; Yellowhammer; Bullfinch; Swift; Collared Dove; Goldfinch; Shelduck; LBB Gull; Redshank; Little Ringed Plover; Pochard; Green Sandpiper; Little Egret; Reed Bunting; Gadwall; Sedge Warbler; Stock Dove; Dunlin; Common Gull; Wigeon; Marsh Harrier; Teal.
You are right Kevin you can walk a long way to the next hide and see buggerall.I am reluctant to go again unless something spectacular was reported.
ReplyDeleteThe new wader scrapes on Lagoon 4 look promising and given time to mature a little, should produce the goods. A lot of good birds are located off the reserves and locating them on such a vast expanse is nearly impossible.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed your blog - like you I am relativly new to photography but I am an even newer bird watcher. I saw a blog on seeswood pool which inspired me to get my camera and binoculars. That was a few weeks ago, now I am down there whenever I can. I had saved for the new canon 50X but after getting some blurred foto's on my canon 300 I decided to get a new lens (canon prime 400 f5.6) instead. Love it. Hoping to make a visit to brandon soon. Problem is I have to try and get a pic of all the birds so I can go home and ID them lol. I have also started a blog If you would like to take a peak http://colwise.blogspot.com/ most of the birds on here have been taken at seeswood.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the comment. Really glad you are enjoying birding and I am sure your id skills will improve over time and with experience. Remember, we are all still learning and will never stop.
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