Avalon Marshes and Greylake 22nd March 2012

It seemed to have been a while since I'd visited the Somerset Levels, so off I went, bright and early.  I realised that, although I had been on the Levels this year, I'd hadn't been to Shapwick Heath since 2011.

I parked the car at Ashcott Crossing and set off on foot to Noah's Hide.

Before I reached my destination, I spotted this Great White Egret on the Mere Heath side of the track.

Although its legs are hidden in the water and any colour-rings are hidden (plus it was a bit far anyway), I suspect that it was probably the French-hatched bird that's made this area home for a little while now.

At last I reached Noah's Hide and settled in to see what came my way.

Cormorant on a mission

Mute Swan - just cruising

Great Crested Grebe out fishing ...

... and what the menu had to offer

The water was like this as far as the eye could see (into the water) and Pike were having a whale of a time (accidental pun) coming to the surface and hoovering them up.  Some of the Pike were quite large and, when they leapt out, the return to the water sounded as if someone had thrown a fridge in!

Greylag were swimming around in the same part of the lake as the Mute Swan.  I can see that there will be some sorting out to be done there when nest-building starts.

After my early, chilly start, I was beginning to feel hungry.  It was time to start back towards the car and drive round to Shapwick for some lunch at Eco-Friendly Bites - a facility that is not only eco-friendly, but also people-friendly ☺.

I was delayed on my way to the car by a rare sight.

L-R: Grey Heron, Little Egret, Great White Egret

I don't know how often you get to see this line-up, but a crowd of birders had gathered and passers-by were being lured into gazing through digiscopes.  There were some valiant attempts at photography, too.  The distance was at least 300m and I 'fastened together' all I'd got with me to achieve this mediocre shot with a focal-length of 840mm.

I have my own fantasy about the gap between the Grey Heron and the Little Egret.  I like to imagine it was reserved for the local Bittern that was busy booming further away in the reed-beds and so missed this photo-call.

Eventually, I did reach the car park, but not before almost tripping over this pair on their way to the water.

Toads

Lunch-break was a welcome respite.

Then down to the RSPB reserve at Greylake:

It was quiet there, but it always is in the middle of the day.  Early morning is far busier.

Wigeon in flight

A lonesome female Teal

The rest of my images are of a Little Grebe busy fishing.  It spent more time underwater than on the surface.

 

My favourite from the set (enlarged a little)

Some bits and pieces

The images in this blog are taken from several sessions rather than being any sort of record of a particular trip.

Let's start off with some from the RSPB reserve at Arne, Dorset.  This remains one of my favourite locations because of it wide range of habitats.

Stonechat

Wren giving its all

Meadow Pipit (characteristic rear claw nicely visible)

Sika deer ♂

Sika deer ♀

Another, nearby reserve is that owned and run by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust at Steeple Langford, Wiltshire (Langford Lakes).

Treecreeper

That was taken using a very large lens mounted on a tripod gimbal.  However, the bird was darting here, there and everywhere in the small clump of trees.  Gymnastics was the word that came to mind when getting the shots.  I had to change to a smaller lens that could be hand-held easily and allow me the necessary contortions.  The next three images were taken with the smaller lens.

'Into the abyss'

The rest of the images were taken on the National Trust Stourhead estate - almost my own 'back yard'.

Several of the Robins at Stourhead are on my payroll so I spend a lot of time with them.  I lost one in the coldest part of the winter, but it had a tick and was probably not in the best of health.

The next six images were taken on a very foggy morning.  The only real possibilities were for close-ups.

The fog is very noticeable here.  I was poised to take a photograph of a Wren that alighted on this post, but one of 'my' Robins ousted it.  I shudder to think what it's saying!

Canada Goose

'Waiting for the fog to lift'

The same bird (trust me) in better conditions.

'A clean pair of heels'

... and some more woodland birds

Blackbird ♀

Chaffinch ♂

Chaffinch ♀

This little lady initiated some interaction in almost the same way that a Robin does.  She was very attentive and posed like a true professional.

I talked to her and made a few hand gestures as I moved about to get the angle.  She kept striking great super-model poses, but always with a twig in front of her face.  After a bit of 'discussion', we finally cooperated enough to get this:

"I'm pretty, yes?"

When she moved to the place where she knew she would be given a reward, I obliged and the session ended.

"A reward?"

(More from) Slimbridge 25th February 2012

As promised, here are the rest of my images from the trip to Slimbridge last month.

Two Avocet enjoying the sunshine:

A Redshank making the most of what looks like a rather muddy patch of water:

A Grey Heron was enjoying the amenities of the Flamingo pool.

(I wonder what the Black-headed Gull's thinking.)

... and, as for the Flamigo themselves:

I met this charming Barnacle Goose:

A Smew was strutting his stuff:

A ♀ Hooded Merganser was getting around quite a bit.  I never did spot the ♂ although I am assured that he's there somewhere.

A Rook was having a paddle on the off-chance of a bite to eat.

... and two American Wood Duck were posing for the crowds.

On my way out a Black-headed Gull obliged with some classic bird-on-a-fence close-ups.

It seems that I'd picked one of the few sun-spots in the south-west that day.

The one that got away?  A delightful, low-level display by a passing Buzzard.  I fluffed the camera settings!