Birds at Watermead Park

We went for a trip round Watermead on thursday and found I could get the Trike through all the gates I was worried about. It attracted a lot of attention as well, luckily it has the website for them written on the frame. I don't mind the free advertising, they are a good company to deal with.

There were a number of young waterbirds about, some playing, others demanding food, all being closely watched by the parent birds. Like this cygnet. Its mother was just out of shot and the father was with its siblings.

1/2000 @ f6.3, iso 200, 400mm

No young here, just a Great Crested Grebe performing its ablutions, it's hard to tell which way is up with this one.

1/2656 @ f6.3, iso 200, 400mm

Another male Mute Swan was keeping a close eye on Skipper as he went past. No need to worry though, Skipper kept as far away from him and his young as was possible without falling into the lake on the other side of the path.

1/2656 @ f6.3, iso 200, 400mm

A fly past from a group of Mallards was a distraction for a while. They went round skimming the water surface three times.

1/4000 @ f6.3, iso 400, 180mm

The star of the afternoon was this young Heron. He was fishing on a small weir where the river Soar leaves the canal and turns towards Wanlip. He was no more than eight feet from me and in full view, as was I, but he made no move to leave. The camera didn't bother him, he just carried on fishing.

1/800 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

1/500 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

1/1328 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

We were returning to the car park when this Mallard chick came towards us obviously expecting to be fed, and when we didn't feed her she started rolling and washing herself. 

1/500 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Seeing the Mallard chick, these two Canada Goslings dragged their parent across for a free feed only to be disappointed.

1/1328 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Then it was like rush hour, the Coot chick tried his luck.

1/800 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

As did another Gosling.

1/1600 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

It was good to be photographing birds again, I thought they had all left Leicestershire.

All taken on a Canon EOS 7d, and EF 100 - 400mm L series Lens

Watermead South - goslings and cygnets 1 June 2012

On my way home from a friends house I have to pass the entrance for Watermead park south, so we decided to stop off and exercise skipper.

As usual the water near the car park was full of swans, canadas, coots and mallards. but as we walked round the lake, there was a Swan with cygnets.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100-400mm L lens
1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

 She seemed to be showing them how to beg for bread as she led them into the bank close to any walkers.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100-400mm L lens
1/1000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 340mm

A little further round a Greylag family were performing a similar routine.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100-400mm L lens
1/250 @ f6.3, iso 800, 100mm

 People will insist on taking their dogs close to the side when birds are there and these parents were not happy with a young husky even though it was on a lead. Skipper was back on the footpath, far enough away not to upset them.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100-400mm L lens
1/320 @ f6.3, iso 800, 320mm

This parent came in close and stayed there until the family had passed.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100-400mm L lens
1/2000 @ f6.3, iso 800, 400mm

By way of something different the Ox Eye Daisies are out in full bloom round the lake.

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.