Titchwell RSPB Reserve Before the Rain

 Yesterday the RPS Nature Group managed a shortish morning's bird photography before the rain set in which was fine as most people were journeying considerable distances back home. There were very large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover settling on the scrapes in beautiful light showing off their colourful but very good camouflage plumage in with Teal, Dunlin, Wigeon etc. Down on the beach there weren't the expected numbers of waders, certainly compared with the huge flocks at Hunstanton, but most of the species were there in small numbers. Here a couple of Bar-Tailed Godwits and an Oystercatcher with mussel. A lone Black-winged Stilt with a ring (?escapee) posed beautifully. 

Hoylake 12th February: Wader Flocks in Slow Motion

Bright sunshine and clear skies greeted us on arrival at Hoylake on Monday so, just to be contrary, I chose a slower shutterspeed (1/125th and 1/50th) to try panning the large groups of waders. Because they move at different speeds and directions, the results are very random but I did achieve one or two that I like. I got a bit finger happy with manipulation for the second photo creating a wonderful flight of Kingfishers! Some straighter shots plus a panorama to show the huge extent of the wader flocks.

Hide Tide at Hoylake

 Our first stop yesterday morning was at Hoylake to watch the wader flocks as the tide drove the birds towards us. Here just a sample - maybe others to come when processed. I was attracted by the light and dark as the birds changed aspect.

Flight Shots at Hunstanton

 I spent some time on Saturday at Hunstanton trying to get flight shots of the various birds there especially the Fulmars. The light level was low with the cloudy conditions so high ISO and difficult to get high enough shutterspeeds  but it did allow detail in the whites and certainl;y gave the camera a task to pick up the birds against backgrounds

Bird Species at Hunstanton

Hunstanton certainly produced the full range of species so some 'record' shots from the day - some from a bit of a distance but good to see the here, anyway, the ecosystem if in balance with plenty of food for them all. Species Brent geese, Oystercatcher,Redshank, Sanderling, Starling, Turnstone,Curlew, Knot, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed gull, Herring Gull. Little Egret, Fulmar and Grey Plover.