Welney Swans and Ducks

As we had a couple of hours before meeting the rest of the group, we drove back along the road towards  Little Downham stopping for any close views of feeding swans such as this adult feeding on sugar beet and the juvenile getting any crops remaining in the black fenland soil. After meeting the rest of the group for coffee, we spent time in the main hides (the only part of the reserve that isn't flooded) or walked along the bank photographing any interesting flight patterns and portraits of Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall etc,.

Welney Swans and Sparrows

The cloudy conditions at Welney on Monday were ideal for photographing the Whooper Swans close up from the basement hide. I had in mind a set of almost abstract images so went for low key processing to try and emphasize their softness. It was also possible to shoot the sparrows coming to the feeders directly into the light. Only one Tree Sparrow recorded in my photos but there were a few more among the dozens of House Sparrows.

Welney WWT on a Grey Day

Some images taken at Welney on a very grey misty day on Saturday. I enjoyed trying to portray the flooded Ouse Washes with ducks (Pochard, Mallard), Geese, Lapwings and Whooper Swans.

Swans Awake at Welney WWT

We were very fortunate to have a beautiful sunrise for our early visit to Welney Wildfowl Trust reserve at Welney. We arrived just as the sky was lightening with a beautiful pink glow. As the sun came up the colours changed from pink to orange to blue. It was wonderful to see and hear the Bewick Swans as these are so much shyer than the larger noisier Whooper Swans (the two in the foreground of the second image)

Welney Visit for Meredith

Yesterday we visited Welney for the midday swan ('duck') feed with Meredith. The water levels have been very high and are still too much for many swans to come in for the feeds but the Pochard and Mallards gaive a good show for her and there were enough Swans and Waders for her to brush up on ID skills