Hoverfly Interlude

Busy with Camera Club and domestic tasks at the moment so a few hoverfly images from recent weeks, especially as my valued flash gun friend is having to go back for inspection.  - I have set myself to learn to identify British species but I also enjoy the amazing variety of these flies from Hornet mimics to solitary wasp mimics

Flight of the Spoonbills and Kestrel at Titchwell RSPB

The spoonbills had short periods of activity on both our recent visits to Titchwell so a couple of shots of this bird - a great subject for flight photography. 

There was a pair of Kestrels very active catching voles along the Meadow trail to the East Bank. I watched this one hover, swoop and then carry away vole to an adjacent tree.

What a Privilege - Close Up with a Bittern at Lakenheath RSPB

Yesterday was one of those moments - a Bittern came out of the reeds close to us at Lakenheath and proceeded to catch tiny fish for almost half an hour. There were close reeds that blocked the view but these parted in the wind and gave lots of opportunities for close-up views as it fished to right and left. Even caught a fish going down the enormous gape and the unexpectedly mobile tongue

Wader Spectacular at Snettisham RSPB

In contrast to Wednesday, yesterday was a beautiful day on the North Norfolk coast. We started the day with the Wader Spectacular at Snettisham. As it was a high Spring tide, the waders get forced of the mud in twirling clouds. The bands of different waders are intriguing as are the shapes that the masses of Knot, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwits etc made  - it appeared at one stage as a huge bird that gracefully took to the sky. Eventually when the mud is submerged they travel over the heads of watching birdwatchers and land on small islands in the gravel pits behind the sea wall. The light was too contrasty in that direction for much photography so we returned along the shore viewing various waders en route (another entry!)

Frampton Marshes RSPB Reserve on a Wet Windy Day

The forecast promised dry weather by mid-day in the Boston area so we headed north. Instead it got steadily wetter and windier during the day. However, the bird life made up for it. Shown here are a cold Goldfinch, Egret, juvenile Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Ruff, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Blacktailed Godwit in flight and Dunlin

Great Crested Grebe Feeding Young at Frampton Marsh RSPB

This Great Crested Grebe valiantly struggled against the very choppy water and rain to catch several  fish to feed its two chicks. One chick worryingly disappeared but was probably sheltering exhausted in the reeds.