First outing

Today was my first outing of 2011 and although dull we had a pretty good afternoon.

The only down side was that the lakes where frozen over, the 1st picture is one of the lakes from the Marshall Hide, the smallish birds dotted around where Teal, we also spotted along the patches of land Wigeon, Goosander, Heron, Shoveller and Mallard.

The next couple of shots where taken from the hide behind the reserve shop, it is a Reed Bunting, just as I got to the small viewing holes I spotted this bird away from the feeding station and sat on a small twig so I grabbed a few shots before it flew off.

And finally this Robin appeared to be following us around the reserve so I just couldn't leave without a shot, I was actually surprised by the amount of Robins that we saw, they where everywhere.

All photos taken with a Nikon D70 + Sigma 170-500mm

Other birds we saw, but where too far away for a photo where: Buzzard, Brambling, Siskin, Blue, Long tailed & Great Tits, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Wood Pigeon, Bull Finch.

So all in all for a dullish afternoon it was pretty good going.

Hope you liked the shots.

Mike.

Weekend Outings

Our first outing of the long weekend took us to Bolton Abbey, located towards the Yorkshire Dales, its a really nice place to take a walk. We had initially gone there in the hope to catch a Dipper along the river, but never saw it, the only birds we saw where Mallards and some Goldcrest.

I tried to photograph the Goldcrest, but they where just too fast and the photos have been deleted they where that bad.

Here's a couple of shots showing the abbey and the river.

Then it was back to my local patch / Martin Mere to see what was going on there.

Whooper swans are still there in thousands.

I sat in the Janet Kier hide for a while watching the Reed Buntings and Long Tailed Tits, they are such acrobatic birds the LTT as you can see in my photo, holding on to the twig with one leg whilst holding a seed in the other and trying to eat it. 2nd shot is a female Reed Bunting.

Wigeon are another favourite of mine and are in good numbers over the reserve.

Photos taken 21/03 and 22/03.

Mere Sands

Mere Sands Wood is a great reserve not too far from Martin Mere, it has 5 hides and 3 large lakes and a woodland path which takes you right around the reserve.

I decided to go this afternoon following reports of sightings of a Night Heron, which was there today, unfortunately I could only see the back of it mixed amongst thick branches, but the place was busier than I had ever seen, the Heron had caused quite a stir.

Whilst sat in the hide near where the Heron was, I was watching a pair of Great Crested Grebes a stunning bird, here are the shots I got.

I was lucky enough whilst sat there to see both male & female come together and start displaying, nodding and shaking their heads at the same time like the perfect mirror image.
Here they are..You can see more photos of the Grebes HERE.

After sitting in this same hide for over an hour I moved around to another hide behind the reserve centre, I was told when I got there that a Water Rail had been seen, this was a first for me I had never seen one before and managed to photograph it ..

Another couple of birds seen near the centre was a female Reed Bunting and finally a Nuthatch (one of my favourite birds). I am still hoping the Nuthatch will visit my garden again for some better closeup shots.
All photos taken 19/03/2008.

Afternoon at the Mere

Martin Mere is my local WWT and as a member I can visit as much as I like and I tend to go there as much as possible, however I haven't been to Martin Mere for a few weeks now, mainly due to the cold wet weather which always seems to be 10x colder there.

So this afternoon armed with woolly hat and camera decided to go.

1st birds we saw from the Swanlink hide where the Whooper swans, there must hundreds if not thousands, Shellducks and Greylag Geese which where constantly taking off from the water.

Here are a couple of shots of the Geese and a Shellduck.


After staying in the Swanlink hide for a while we moved down to the Janet Kear hide where there are a few feeders and mainly garden birds visit.

I was really pleased when we got there, not only was it a bit warmer in this hide but the tree in front of the hide had Reed Buntings in it, here are a couple of shots of the male and female, the male has the dark head, the female is a beautiful golden brown.


And whilst where on the male and female theme, I got a couple of shots of chaffinches which I don't have many of, the male looks quite pink, here they are.

And my post wouldn't be the same without a photo from my Garden so here's a Coal Tit from this morning when the sun was out.
All photos taken 01/03/2008.