Marazion

Today I went out to Sennen Cove for the Longtail Duck then on to Marazion looking for Reed Buntings. We found the LT Duck in its usual place off shore opposite the beach restaurant but too far for a reasonable image I also had a cracking adult Med Gull with hood, kittiwake and Razorbill. Marazion gave up five Reed Buntings along with the usual such as a Cetti' Warbler, Long Tail tits, Snipe, Teal, Mallard, Yellowhammer, Three Grey Heron Nest sites etc but no Bittern although they were seen by Bob (The Bittern) Sharples.

Desperate Measures

Desperate measures because I've been suffering with man flu the last couple of days, so with no new images to post I have trawled up a couple of Lisa's images, the Redwing and field fare Heads from the snowy weather.

The Glaucous Gull is of interest as you can see that it was roaming the fields savaging for dead thrushes.

Squirrels And Otter

Here are a couple of shots of the wild squirrels at Slimbridge, the Otter is acaptive American Otter. As Steve Rogers is currently posting on his blog the photographic opportunities at Slimbridge are infinite.

Drift to Marazion

A sunny afternoon and another trip to Drift and then on to Marazion. The Grebe image is from the previous day. At the Skimmel Bridge end of the Reservoir we spotted a Fire crest in the wooded area and it was a challenge to photograph. Hitlers bomb craters made life difficult keeping up with the firecrest for the image. We missed the Bittern at Marazion but Lisa took a couple of shots of a Little Egret,
Not the best shot Of a Firecrest, but the distance and terrain was horrendous with the bird constantly on the move and in the shade. Ideally a Firecrest should have its orange crest on show in the image.

A Few more from Drift Res

Black Neck Grebe

The early worm catches the bird. This compliant Black Neck Grebe allowed me some nice shots this morning at Drift. This bird is probably the one first photographed at Longrock Pool by Monts and then by Rachel at Drift earlier this week. As Rachel said it usually feeds around the area after the board walk. After my photographic session with Grebe I proceeded out to the hide only to be followed by the bird who then swam in front of the hide then out across the Dam and resided at the Skimmel Bridge end of Drift.

Bits and Pieces

I just had to revisit the Whooper with the D300 so apologies for the repeat. The Carrion Crow was taken at Trewey whilst out looking for Short Eared Owl and Hen Harrier and the Bewick and Tufty was taken at Slimbridge

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Drift Barnacles Revisted

Fine weather and a closer view = better images.

Bittern

I caught up with the Bittern late afternoon at Marazion on Saturday and it gave me only one opportunity for a photograph. I have seen them a few times but only fleetingly, or on a lunchtime session during the working day minus my camera.

There are so many superb images of the Marazion Bittern out there and mine are of the soft focus catagory that I considered not posting any of them, but then I thought that variety is the spice of life so here we go .

End of the Saga

These are the last few images from Slimbridge . We have got to get on with our West Cornwall Images. There is a bit of Teal love and a Mallard gut barging competition.

Hundreds and Thousands

The awesome sight of countless duck, Geese and Swan and all wild. Please click on the images to enlarge

Wigeon Fest

Teal away

Late afternoon shot.

This flock arrived in one hit and landed in the pool they then proceeded to all walk out onto the grass and feed. It is mostly made up of wigeon with some shovler and Pintail.

Pintail and Pochard

These images are of overwintering pintail and Pochard at Slimbridge. An interesting fact about the Pochard migration is a Pochard ringed at Slimbridge was found on the Russia /Chinese border a distance of approximately 8500 miles.