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:
My first trip to Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire.
What a fantastic site and a what a great end to the year! It was freezing cold, grey and there was an icy wind. Down by the shore it felt like I was by the sea.
My favourite hide is tucked away in the corner of the reservoir. The late afternoon sun actually came out for a while and gave everything a warm orange glow:
And I was so pleased to catch this Green Sandpiper as it was getting dark. I was only able to identify it when I got home and had a chance to crop and enhance the original.
Then got shot of a Redshank on the way back to the car:
It's 44 miles away but straight up the A1 so only takes 50 minutes. I'm hoping this could turn into a regular site.
Dad and I had a wonderful walk round Draycote Water on Boxing Day. It was actually quite warm and very sunny. This shot of a Blue Tit was from the Hide:
And this one too:
My first shot of a Bullfinch:
And this very lucky one of a Kestrel:
Not bad for an impromptu trip!
