Paxton Kingfishers etc

I spent an hour at Paxton Pits today after a morning work party and was rewarded with views of at least two Kingfishers - neither of them the same as last weeks which was a female. Lovely light and reflections for the water birds - Coot, Dabchick, Shoveller, GC Grebe, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Raven and Heron

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. 

A Few More Birds from Slimbridge

A few more birds seen on our RPS trip to Slimbridge. The light was very dull so not a great deal of 'life' in the photos but great to see up to 10 Cranes all together down on the banks of the Severn and flying. They have had a very successful year breeding-wise here. Lots of passage migrants on South Lake including Black-tailed Godwits and also parties of Avocets and Lapwings stirring up the mud. The ducks are in eclipse still but recognisable Shovellers looking as grumpy as usual and Teal.

 

Very Wet Morning at Wicken

Definitely weather for ducks yesterday morning. This teal took flight during one of the lighter showers but the Mallards did not look happy when the rain was at its heaviest. The Coots are already paired off and showing territorial behaviour. The hundreds of Widgeon on the pools were fairly restless giving lovely atmospheric flight images along with Mallards, Mute Swans and Geese.