It was a bit crowded at the quarry today, but at least I was out in the first sun of the week.
Things started well with this great close up of a Blackbird.
Then first Shelduck of the year, and first ever at Amwell:
Goldfinch;
And Red Crested Pochard at last.
Not bad for a 1.5 hour session!
My first real close up to a Bittern!
It stayed frozen in the reed beds (as indeed did I) for at least an hour. Then it moved slightly to its left to show off its bulging eye:
Then turned a bit more to its side (Oh it was a looong hour)
And my first Water Rail:
And first close up view of a Male Smew too. Quite a trip!
And Water Rail too. Great result!
I've been so ill that I haven't been out for a week, so it was a real treat to take UniM to Amwell today for the first time. We only had half an hour but that was long enough to see lovely birds on the feeders from the hide whist having our coffee.
Not bad for 1600 ISO!
Then this Kestrel on the way back to the car:
More birds in the sunshine! A really successful trip too. Blackbirds eating berries:
The Bittern again
And the best close up shots of a Goosander I'm ever likely to get:
I love the crescent shadow outlining the shape of its eye:
This is a real find; a fantastic birding spot hidden away just off the A414 to St Albans.
We went to look for Tree Sparrow, and managed to get just this one at a great distance in poor light:
And this Yellowhammer too:
Saw a Red-legged Partridge but didn't get a photo this time.
