Welney Ducks

After the wonderful sunrise, the rest of the day was fairly dull weatherwise but there was plenty of duck activity to keep us amused. Here Pochards, Tufted ducks and Mallard competing for space especially at the feed times and, far in the distance, my favourite ducks, the Pintails

Common Birds in Good Light

I borrowed Ian's lens and converter to compare with my lens which maybe needs a service as it has had hard use over the years I have had it. First a visit to a local pond to field test the lenses. Plenty of activity with Dabchicks diving for fish, Mallard, moorhens, gulls and rooks. No discernible difference in performance - first 7 images with 1.4 converter, last three without. 

Marsh Harrier Display at RSPB Fowlmere

We spent around an hour watching a pair of Marsh Harriers displaying at Fowlmere. A Fallow Deer also came out to drink while a Mallard dropped in to have a wash.

Ducks at Welney

A lot of the Mallards were paired up but there were quite a few threesomes and also one female that was constantly pursued by up to a dozen males. Welney host hundreds of male Pochard in the winter but only a few females (the rest spending the winter in Spain).

Grebes and Ducks

These Great Crested Grebes were a bit too distant for good photographs but could enjoy the antics of the three youngsters as they climbed on and off the parent.

The Mallards were less shy - loved this flotilla with the odd one out leading the way