Shapwick and Greylake

Another day on the Somerset Levels.

Shapwick Heath:

Goosander

Bittern

These were the only two images I got of this often elusive bird.  It didn't settle.  I formed the impression that it was unable to establish a sufficiently stable foothold and so moved on.

Tufted Duck

Dive, dive, dive!

Cormorant

Haughty?

Dignified exit

Grey Heron

Kingfisher

After lunch I went to ...

Greylake:

The scene that met me was a blanket of snoozing birds.  It was siesta time and I have to guess that the local Peregrine were themselves snoozing elsewhere.

Snoozing shoveler (m)

Snoozing Shoveler (f)

Teal

Wigeon

On the Feast of Stephen ♫

I was up before light on Boxing Day and, after breakfast, headed for Blashford Lakes near the edge of the New Forest.  Most of the usual suspects were there and a Great Egret came much closer to the hide than of late.

Here's what I got.

Moorhen

Gadwall

Mallard

Great Egret

Black-headed Gull

Coot

Pied Wagtail

Other people were there by now and the wildlife moved further away.  So did I  –  I went home.  Job done!