Perfect Trio of Subjects at Paxton

 I spent about an hour yesterday afternoon photographing life on South Heronry Lakes and was well entertained by a close Heron, an even closer Egret and a family of Great Created Grebes,. The heron  spent a while looking into the water and eventually struck out and caught a fish. The tongue is obviously important with its barb in forcing the fish down the throat and need a good clean afterwards. The Egret was too close to frame well but a great pleasure to observe. The GCG hatched a few days ago and the two chicks are happily riding around on the adult's back, hopping off occasionally into the water and then returning to safety. So hope that they do not fall victim (as the last brood) to the Cormorants when they are in the water. Distant shots so no great quality.

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve

Another 30 degrees plus day for a visit to Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve which was the first example of a gravel pit site being developed for the purpose of nature conservation. This former quarry is owned by Tarmac and leased to Kent Wildlife Trust under a long term agreement for the benefit of wildlife and enjoyment of all. As well as birds, dragonflies and damselflies there is also a diverse community of plants, fungi and other wildlife. The nature reserve covers 73 hectares and comprises five lakes surrounded by woodland, with ponds, seasonally flooded pools as well as grassland and small areas of reedbed, while the river Darent flows through the northern part of the reserve and supports a reasonable population of invertebrates and fish. There is a very impressive recently rennovated Visitor Centre. Dragonflies everywhere including in the beaks of all the water birds. The Egrets and the young Moorhen kept us entertained along with Great Crested grebes, a Heron family, Lapwing etc

Rutland Water Visit

Chilly day yesterday for an RPSNature visit to Rutland Water where Hobbies were definitely the stars of the day with several hawking in the sky from lunchtime onwards and one sitting on a post for a long wile before exiting front giving a disappointing shot for all the wait!! Lots of singing small birds including Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler.

Barnwell Park Birds

Some of the birds that we photographed on Sunday at Barnwell Park. The Goldcrest was very confiding and occasionally hopped into a sunny patch for a portrait or two. The Mandarin male and female were obviously paired up and spent some time up a tree presumably nest site hunting. Heron nest and Egret at a distance and good to photograph a Carrion crow. 

Marsh Harriers and Cuckoo at Lackford

Ellie chose to visit Lackford with me today on her day off, hoping to see a Kingfisher - no luck with that wish but we did have great views of Marsh Harriers, Heron, Egret, Lapwing in the Irises etc and, best of all, a really good view of a male Cuckoo, who conveniently then landed in a tree and proceeded to call just to confirm the ID. A lot of Common Blue Damselflies and a quite late Orange-tailed Mining bee