A wet day yesterday and we set off for Swithland woods, on the way while driving across the Cropston reservoir dam I saw a twitcher looking intently through his scope at the waters edge.
We stopped and asked if there was anything interesting, he pointed down and said "there's a Sanderling!"
When I looked over the camouflage of the Sanderling was so well matched to the rocks of the dam that the first thing I saw was a Pied Wagtail with a beak full of nesting material.
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| 1/200 @ f10, iso 800, 400mm |
Then the Sanderling moved and I saw it, this is a rare bird so far inland, Leicestershire is in the middle of England and many miles from the nearest sea, where Sanderlings are normally found.
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| 1/320 @ f10, iso 800, 400mm |
He seemed quite happy hopping along the waterline collecting insects. But I suppose it was the recent strong winds that brought him here.
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| 1/320 @ f10, iso 800, 400mm |
We drove on to the woods but it was so dark we decided to go to Swithland reservoir instead.
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| 1/100 @ f10, iso 800, 370mm |
The first thing we saw over the fence was the cygnets (below) and a family of mallard chicks. The Mallard mother didn't trust us though and took her babies away into the reeds.
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| 1/160 @ f10, iso 800, 100mm |
The Mute Swans weren't concerned about us and continued to snooze.
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| 1/250 @ f10, iso 800, 330mm |
The Cob did see off some mallards that got too close to his babies though, so he was observant even while resting.
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| 1/80 @ f10, iso 800, 200mm |
The Pen didn't raise her head though, she must have been tired from looking after her babies.
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| 1/200 @ f10, iso 800, 200mm |
All taken on a
Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm 'L' series lens.
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