Come rain, come shine

The images in this posting are a collection from two days on the Somerset Levels.  On each day, rain and sunshine were due at some time.  My aim was to be there whlst it was still raining and be waiting for the sunshine to arrive!  The plan worked – more or less.

These are the young Mute Swans that I posted recently with their mother.  Numbers are down by one.  Otters are the prime suspect.

... and here's a parent nearby.

Then the rain became quite heavy.

Reed Mace

Thistle

There was a report on TV last week about how well flowers like this thistle were doing in the weather we've been having.

I was alone in the hide.  Suddenly, something flashed past my nose and ear.  I was joined in the hide by a Wren.

Giving me 'the eye'?

The rain eased and I moved on from Greylake to a site called Canada Lake.  Access here involved a long(ish) walk through woodland.  (I haven't looked at the species of trees closely, but the woodland could perhaps be technically carr.  There is certainly a very, very high water-table and some of the necessary species.)

The rain stopped and the wind blew.

This male Kingfisher must have been feeding a family.  Each fish he caught from this perch was taken off out of my sight.

A Cormorant sat in a dead tree.

Over at Ham Wall ...

A Mute Swan gliding along the Glastonbury Canal

Little Grebe

Any Great White Egret?

"I spy ..."

The best I got that day (see Blog dated 18.7.12)

How about this then?

It's a Bittern.  It was preening and I took lots of images.  In some it was unrecognisable in its contortions and this is the best I could manage.  It's got its beak pressed down against the front of its neck.  Now, if only it would have stretched up in that classic pose ...


Just to prove that the sun was shining ...

Peacock Butterfly

The Somerset Levels and Langford Lakes

On this visit to the Somerset Levels recurring very fine drizzle rather dampened proceedings.  There was very little movement to be seen.

I was sitting in Noah's Hide on Shapwick Heath when this Marsh Harrier put in an appearance.  I've tried to remove as much drizzle-noise as possible, but you can judge the result for yourself.

There was a glimpse of two Great White Egret, but they were at the far side of that section and probably almost a kilometre away.

When I started to get numb from sitting without any action to record, I left the hide to head back to the car park.  I stopped near the end of the trail from the hide because I could hear a Reed Warbler singing.  I looked around and saw that he was quite near the path.

The light did not allow a fast shutter-speed and I'm not posting the images in which the lower mandible is a wobbly ♫ blur.

At the main east-west track I saw that one of the Great White Egret chicks was out in the open.  It was sitting on top of the willow that is next to the nest-site.  It was scanning the heath and was possibly looking for a returning parent.  I suspect it waited a long time.  I wondered which part of "Go and find it yourself!" it didn't understand.

This really called for a seriously big lens.  I could only muster 420mm.  Sorry, but I was travelling light.  It's a long walk from the car park.

When I reached the car park, I continued eastwards and into the RSPB Ham Wall reserve.

Great White Egret

This one looks like an adult.

I was starting to feel the need for refreshment, so I went back to the car and drove round the heath to Eco-Friendly Bites at Shapwick for a bite and a chat before heading for home.  I had been on the Levels since 07h00.

Another day. another trip – Langford Lakes.

It was also another quiet day.  A Mallard drake in eclipse was showing nicely and the young Great Crested Grebe were (almost) separated from the parents.

First then, the Mallard:

Over-enlarged  to show the more familiar green starting to grow through

Great Crested Grebe (juvenile)

How's that for waterproofing?

Exit

Parent with more time to spare

Tufted Duck

Coot