Martin Mere Part 2 (the collections)

After lunch, showers were starting to develop, light at first, but becoming gradually heavier.  Fortunately they were genuine showers with totally dry gaps in which to work.  Off I went round the collections.

Eider

Flamingo

Moorhen

Goldeneye ♀

Goldeneye ♂

Tufted Duck

Common Crane

American Wood Duck (Carolina Duck)

Smew ♀

Ross's Goose

Buffelhead

Bahama Pintail

Trumpeter Swan

White-headed Duck

Before I left the collections, these Pink-footed Geese flew over.

It was now 2.50pm and I decided to return to the 'wild side'.  More birds tend to come in from the surrounding countryside around 3 o'clock in anticipation of being fed.  The showers were very heavy and were of hail or sleet.  The 'dry' intervals were never more than 10 minutes in duration.  The wind was driving.  It was becoming quite dark.  I 'dug in' in the Swanlink Hide.  (An acquaintance commented recently that, in that hide with the windows open on a day like it was, "the wind will take the skin off your face."  He believes that the only cure is the hot soup served by the restaurant on the reserve.)

Mallard

Pink-footed Geese

(The 'official' count for this day was c10,000)

Shelduck

These were flying quite close to the hide and, although the very strong headwind helped, their speed relative to me was still quite high.  I was using a slightly smaller lens to have extra agility as I panned.

Whooper Swan with Shelduck  –  the weather's worsening

Whooper Swan juveniles

Look at that sky!  It's 3 o'clock!

A family group

Braveheart?

(The 'official' count of Whoopers for this day was 1000+)

This last image was taken at 3.18pm and I think you can see why I decided enough was enough.

As I drove away, I couldn't hear the satnav because of the hailstones on the car roof.  Fortunately, I didn't have to rely on it completely.