Lady Fen Welney Sightings

A very enjoyable day at Welney yesterday in the company of RPS Nature group members and volunteers from Paxton Pits. The dull light all day did not lend itself to distant photography but I enjoyed the challenge of finding and capturing the variety of wildlife on Lady Fen in the fenland landscape. The first Short-eared Owl took us by surprise as it flew close and over the bank. Other views were more distant. In the afternoon Steve located a Hare in its 'form' - amazingly camouflaged - just the eye giving it away. Good to get some closer photography of the Tree and House sparrows and Stonechat. Three species of Egret (Cattle, Great and Little), two deer species (Roe and Chinese Water), Heron and Kestrel completed the roll call

Birds at Summer Leys Northamptonshire

Great to see a large number and variety of water birds at Summer Leys Reserve today including several Great White Egrets, four Snipe, Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, large flocks of Lapwing as well as hundreds of ducks, and  lots of Heron, Grebes, Little Egrets etc.

Carlton Marshes

 Despite getting very wet in the morning with a sudden heavy shower, we thoroughly enjoyed our day at Suffolk Wildlife Trust's reserve at Carlton Marshes with Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Linnets, Reed Bunting, Marsh Harriers, Heron's fishing and Dragonflies keeping our cameras busy.

St Albans Herons

I have visited St Albans most years from 2012 to watch the Herons and friends busy courting, mating and building nests around the second week in March. After a very sparse year in 2023, this year is encouraging as we located 5 nests and maybe a couple of unpaired youngsters. The early light with low sunshine was ideal but it clouded over later so a different approach in processing at the end. My favourite is the second image - sheer 'Joie de Vivre' which is how they made me feel. The grumpy one giving the evil eye to the Coot is probably more representative of their behaviour.