Usual suspects

My first two images were taken from the recently constructed hide at RSPB Ham Wall, Somerset.  It's situated in the middle of a reed bed and has a double aspect.  (The weather was cold and occasionally drizzling.)

Grey Heron

Several pairs are nesting in the reeds. They all seemed to have eschewed the local trees.

The remaining images were all taken on my 'local patch' at the Stourhead Estate(NT), Wiltshire.

Mallard  ♀

Mallard  ♂

I took advantage of the topography here to get this lovely, low point-of-view (PoV) without any kneeling or lying down.  (I must point out that I have little difficulty in getting down.  Now, getting up again ... ...)


Now for the Robin that I've been grooming.  Skills are not advancing for the moment because nest-building takes priority.

Marsh Tit (at the post where visitors put food)

Chaffinch

(Looks like a bad case of bumblefoot.  It's clearly bothering him and he's avoiding weight on his left foot.)

Great Tit

Coal Tit

Blue Tit

Grebe Special

This week's images are the product of two photo-sessions at Langford Lakes, Steeple Langford, Wiltshire.  A pair of Great Crested Grebe brought their courtship behaviour to the corner of a lake that was near enough to take these images.  It's a large lake and they cover it all.  A 2-hour wait might just present 10 minutes shooting time  -  if you're lucky.

 

 

Checking out a possible nest-site (they nested hereabouts last year)

Footnote:
The Great Crested Grebe was once used for making fashionable ladies hats.  By 1860 it was almost extinct in Great Britain and Ireland.  Protests against this trade led to the creation of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and legislation.