Grey after the heat - 28 June 2011

Well after the heat of earlier in the week, today was quite grey and when we arrived by the worcester avenue entrance to the lake, there were few birds in sight.

I decided to sit at the moorhen marsh and wait, it was quiet and warm with a slight breeze, quite a pleasant place to sit. I could see a grebe in the distance, he was swimming across and back at a safe distance. A family of mute swans swam out at a similar distance and while I was distracted with a heron, flying into the reeds at the other end of the lake the grebe came closer. I watched him grooming for a while then shaking himself.

As he came closer he continued grooming so I got the camera ready and before long he obliged :

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1328 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 350mm

It was worth waiting for and you can see his crest hanging down like a black head scarf.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1328 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 350mm

Then the area started to live up to it's name and, between the coots, several moorhens started to appear.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ 5.6, iso 1600, 350mm

As I was leaving, a miniature frog showed itself, briefly, then disappeared into the undergrowth before I could take its picture.

Kelham Bridge - 22 June 2011

A short walk at Kelham Bridge, in bright sunshine and there was plenty to be seen. Almost as soon as we were out of the car we started seeing butterflies and hoverflies. We also saw a Kestrel, but although I got a photo of it, it was too far away and the image wasn't good enough to reproduce here.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/640 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

I saw this hoverfly flitting from flower to flower until it finally settled and I was able to take this photo.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/1328 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/1328 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/400 @ 5.6,  iso 800, 400mm

The Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were keen to catch the rays of the warming sun and easy to get pictures of. Although I had just achieved focus on one, which had settled on the path in front of me, when Skipper rushed back to see why I'd stopped and very nearly trampled it.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/800 @ 6-3,  iso 400, 400mm

In one of the hides, there was the usual friendly greeting from the locals and a chat about what had been happening. Then as we were watching a Buzzard in the distance, this Heron decided it would be a good idea to balance on a post. It didn't look comfortable and had to keep flapping to maintain it's balance. After a while it flew to the next post, but suffering the same problems there, it disappeared while the Buzzard was holding our attention.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm
1/2656 @ 6.3,  iso 400, 400mm

Although this picture isn't perfect, it is as close as the Buzzard came to the hide, I intend to go back and try to get closer to it's hunting area.

A dull day at Watermead - 19 June 2011

We had walked most of the way round the lakes before Anything presented itself for my camera. Skipper and I had stopped at the picnic table at the south end of the Worcester Crescent lake, when this Coot family started to feed in front of us.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/4000 @ 6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1600 @ 6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

And when Mother Coot ran out of food, down she went again, diving to bring up more.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2656 @ 6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

I dont think her chick was too keen on his mother diving over him/her.

More wet days - 17 June 2011

With the rain coming down, a quick dash round Watermead was all we managed and even then there wasn't much wildlife showing.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

A female mallard brought her two offspring over towards us, obviously trying to teach them how to beg for food.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

This Green teasel looked different, I usually don't see them until they've gone brown.

Here's hoping things will improve soon and the wildlife will come out again.

A surprise at Thornton - 16 June 2011

A trip to Thornton Reservoir started out fairly boring, there was very little wildlife even the squirrel wasn't there to rob the bird feeder. I was about halfway along the west side before I saw this Ringlet butterfly, it was accompanied by another brown butterfly but I haven't been able to identify that one.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ 6.3, iso 800, 400mm

I watched a pair of grebe necking for a while, but they were too far away for decent pictures, martins were skimming the fields and water but too quick for me to get focus on them. I'd resigned myself to look for butterflies and was some way back towards the car park, before I saw a black and white shape on the shore.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2656 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

It wasn't until it turned round that I realised I was looking at an Oyster Catcher, a rarity for us, being so far inland.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/4000 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/4000 @ 5.6, iso 800, 400mm

After a few minutes it took off and flew along the reservoir and I didn't see it again - maybe it went to look for the sea. Anyway what looked like an unpromising outing suddenly became very interesting and I entered the Oyster catcher on the record of unusual sightings in the local garden centre.

A note on equipment; I wear a Tilley Hat (you can see it on the photo of me in the right hand column). It is a well made Canadian hat, made of cotton. The brim, when it gets wet, goes stiff so it guides the rain away from your face. The reason I'm telling you this is, mine recently developed a small hole so I emailed them and a replacement will be posted to me first thing tomorrow. Tilley have a Life time guarantee - not the life time of the owner, but the life time of the hat. You can Will them on to your beneficiaries when you pop your clogs. I think I might take mine with me when I go :o)

A wet afternoon at Watremead - 15 June 2011

It was very much a dash out, with skipper, between showers. It seemed to be clearing and I put my coat on, but by the time I got to the door it was raining again.

I had to visit Paul on the side of the river and decided to go in to Watermead from Mill lane rather than battle with the rush hour traffic and I'm glad I did.

The weather seemed to have improved and I was standing next to the first lake after the bridge when I heard a bird singing, camera at the ready I scanned the bushes next to me. I couldn't see any sign of the songster until I looked up and realised he was sitting on a prominent branch in full view and still singing his heart out.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

He is a Reed Bunting and stayed there singing for about five minutes before moving to another branch and repeating his song, his next move put him out of sight on the other side of the bush.

Then the light started to change and the bird life seemed to mostly disappear.  I carried on round the lakes then this happened.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2656 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 100mm

And the heavens opened, I followed a thine of over-hanging trees to the hole in the wall hide then round the to the main path and back to the car. I did try some pics of a Little grebe, but it was too far away and the the darkness of the clouds meant they didn't work out, so I deleted them.

Watermead Park - 14 June 2011

After a battle through the undergrowth I was able to get a bit closer to the Grebe nest and without disturbing them get some better pictures.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Again there wasn't a lot of bird activity, but this teasel looked interesting in the sunshine.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

One one of the lakes that are only separated by the footpath, these Canada Geese were out in force, but paddling along slowly enough for the goslings to keep up.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2656 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Then on the path back to the car park, these cygnets were taking an afternoon siesta while the parents stood watch.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

I had some problems getting skipper past them, but fortunately he is well behaved around wildlife and walked slowly until he was level with them, then with a few hisses from the adults he rushed away along the path and waited while I took some photos.

Kelham Bridge - 13 June 2011

At Kelham Bridge there were a few people in one of the hides and there was a friendly atmosphere.  Unfortunately it wasn't very busy with birds this afternoon. There was a mute swan family right next to the hide and a few coots. A pair Little Grebe were on the far side of the pool but slowly came closer and I was able to get a couple of photos.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/5312 @ f6.3, iso 800, 380mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/4000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 390mm

I took a couple of shots of bees on the way out and although there was plenty of birdsong I didn't see anything else.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

Morning at Watermead - 13 June 2011

A morning visit to Watermead Park and the birds were a bit more active than they have been in the afternoons.

Beside one of the picnic areas on the lake near Worcester crescent, a Coot was chastising her fledgling.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/3200 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

 I don't know what it had done, maybe become a rebellious teenager (a Kevin for those who follow Harry Enfield).

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/3200 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

I know it looks like she's drowning it, but the young one was happily feeding a few moments later.

Then I was distracted by a disturbance at the far end of the lake, near Moorhen Marsh. A dog had run down to the water for a swim and scared a whole lot of Canada Geese into the water. Unfortunately for them, a belligerent swan then attacked them and put them into the air.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1328 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

I could only get a few of them in the lens, but that one swan harassed all of them until they flew into another lake.

I was nearly back at the car-park when I spotted a pair of Great Crested Grebe making a nest. I looked away for a few seconds as a Heron flew over and when I looked back, the grebe had laid an egg.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/320 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

I'll have to watch them for a few weeks see if they manage to hatch it, I think they are inexperienced parents because they left the egg several times for several minutes at a time.

When I returned to the car, this squirrel was sitting on a nearby fence post.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

It ignored Skipper and didn't move until I clicked the remote and all the doors unlocked, then it scampered up a nearby tree.

In the Afternoon I went to Kelham Bridge but I haven't processed the pictures yet so will post that tomorrow.

The Young Ones - 10 June 2011

Watermead Park seems to be full of chicks at the moment, they're everywhere. These Mallard Chicks where in the corner of the lake next to the car park.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ f 6.3,  iso 800, 400mm

And a little further round on the lake lake near Worcester Crescent, this Coot was feeding her brood.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ f 6.3,  iso 800, 400mm

By way of a change there was a lot of bee and wasp activity and I caught this bee hopping between meals of pollen.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ f 6.3,  iso 800, 400mm

I have added some more photos to my Flikr site (see the link at the right of the screen) some from here and some previously unpublished. I will be updating that regularly so keep looking. Also if you haven't seen them all ready don't forget that clicking on  "Older Posts" at the bottom of the page will take you to more pictures.

Thornton Reservoir 7 June 2011

The Reservoir is very low at the moment, we really need some rain. I heard that Thornton is no longer being topped up, it will have to wait for rain to fill it - going to be a lot of rain.

The wildlife is still there though and this Speckled Wood butterfly was basking in the sunshine.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2656 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

Down on the exposed mud a Pied Wagtail was taking advantage of a place he can't normally see and seemed to be finding plenty to eat.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/3200 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

A Robin flew across the path in front of me and settled in a tree, he seemed to be posing and showing off his collection of food.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

Close to the fishing lodge a squirrel was taking advantage of the bird feeder and his comic antics kept us amused for a while, they are incredible acrobats.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ f5.6, iso 1600, 400mm

 

A quiet day at Watermead park - 4 June 2011

There wasn't a lot of wildlife in evidence at Watermead today,  a couple of nests were a bit confusing though.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/640 @ f10, iso 800, 275mm

Like this one they were both coots nest last week, but they're now occupied by mallards with well grown fledgelings.

No such problems with swans though, this sleepy group took their rest on the water.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/1000 @ f10, iso 800, 400mm

There where quite a few of these butterflies at one point, I thought they were moths at first, but a look at my books showed they were butterflies.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/2000 @ f8, iso 800, 400mm

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/1328 @ f8, iso 800, 400mm

Here there be monsters - 1 June 2011

Bug Alert, if you're screamish about Bees, Bugs and moths, I suggest you give this entry a miss.

We went to Castlehill park, between Anstey, and Beaumont Leys. entering from the Anstey Lane end, we heard a lot of bird song but few were evident. About halfway round and as we turned back in the direction of the gate, the footpath passed between waist high cow-parsley and hogweed. both sides there were a variety of insects etc. collecting pollen.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ f9.0, iso 400, 400mm

This one was doing particularly well, as the pollen sacks show (the thick creamy yellow round the back legs).

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/400 @ f9.0, iso 400, 400mm

The next one had obviously just started, there's very little pollen in evidence, but he's busy collecting .

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/250 @ f9.0, iso 400, 400mm

This flew across the path and first I thought it was a butterfly, but I soon realised it was a moth, I had to look it up in my books because although it is apparently quite common, I'd never seen one before. It goes by the strange name of a Silver-Ground Carpet moth and should make people re-think their ideas about what a moth should look like - this one was very pretty to look at.


Now for the nasty bug - just kidding - although it looks like the stuff of nightmares, but it probably has a nice personality.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ f9.0, iso 400, 400mm

 I think it's a beetle of sorts but have yet to identify it.

My thanks to Paul ( http://alulawildlifephotos.yolasite.com) for suggesting it might belong to the Soldier Beetle family. They look very similar but they seem to have a black tip to their bodies, maybe it's a variant.