Swanning About

Mute Swan

1/160 @ f5.6, ISO 400, 135mm

Swanning around

water skiing

1/640 @f6.3, ISO 400, 400mm

Swan in the Mist

Mute Swan flying at Watermead Park

1/640 ± f5.6, ISO 800, 150mm

Perfect Landing

A mute swan landing at speed.

1/3200 @ f6.3, ISO 200, 400mm

swanning about

Look at me aren't I Gorgeous

1/8000 @ f8, ISO 400, 400mm

Mute Swan

Swan showing who's boss

1/6400 @ f5.6, ISO 800, 190 mm

Thornton 27 feb 2015

Nothing special today, just the usual common fare.

The water flowing at a good speed over the overspill and these two greylags were happy to while away the day watching it and showing off seeing who could stand on one leg the longest. Either that or the water was cold and they stood on one foot until it got too cold, then switched to the other one.

1/250 @ f7.1, iso 800, 250mm

Whatever the reason it didtn't stop them pausing for a drink while still on one foot.

1/320 @ f7.1, iso 800, 250mm

There are some interesting Mallard Hybrids that can fool you sometimes.

1/1328 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

And of course a Mute Swan female hoping for a feed

1/800 @ f7.1, iso 800, 400mm

All pictures taken on a Canon EOS 7d with EOS 100 - 400 m L series lens

My latest Book release 13 Dec 2014

I'm still having trouble finding wildlife to photograph, I cant believe that a couple of years ago I was taking over a hundred pictures nearly every day. Yet today I haven't taken the camera out of its case for two weeks. there's nothing but a few mallards and coots, swans and canada geese.

I don't like being inactive though so here is my latest book, it is a sequel to "Excalibur's last battle."
and is available on Amazon as paperback or ebook, under my pen name "John Gwynant"

A brief hop at Watermead - 9 March 2014

My first trip out after having my hip replaced was just a short trip to Watermead Park, it was made more difficult by the park authorities having closed one of the car parks over the winter. Anyone with any knowledge of the park knew that the first warm day and the one remaining car park would be overflowing. and so it was. Fortunately we arrived as someone else was leaving and got a reasonable space.

The first thing we saw, but were unable to get a decent picture of were two mink crossing a path between crowds of people and dogs. They seemed unconcerned and I suspect were in mating mode. Now I know they are there I'll keep a look out and see if I can get some pictures worth publishing.

 At an area we call the beaches we stopped to see what was about on the lakes and a Cormorant flew towards us, he was quite low and in no hurry which enabled me to get these pictures.

1/6400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 235mm

Then this black headed gull in spring plumage turned into the wind and was slowed down enough to get focus on him.

1/6400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 180mm

People were feeding the birds and this Mute Swan wanted to make sure he got a share, he seemed to be flapping to urge himself forward.

1/6400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 190mm

I don't know if this mallard got the same idea, but the Gull coming in to land nearly hit her on the head.

1/4000 @ f5.6, iso 800, 170mm

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

Another Good Day - 3rd February 2013

Whenever I pass the Bradgate Park, I look over the wall to see what's moving about.

The first things I spotted were two Fallow deer who weren't moving at all. They were enjoying the sunshine, eyes closed and relaxed.

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/2000 @ f5.6, iso 800, 330mm

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

 The next one didn't seem impressed at having his picture taken and stuck his tongue out.

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/6400 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

Then we moved on to Thornton Reservoir and this tufty became camera shy and dived under the surface. He was so quick only his DA was visible by the time the shutter clicked. 

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/500 @ f5.6, iso 800, 330mm

 Of course some of them weren't shy at all and this female Mallard came for a closer look - or maybe it was to see if I was going to feed her.

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/800 @ f6.3, iso 800, 340mm

I think her partner was jealous though and stormed across the lake towards me - or maybe it was the child standing next to me throwing food to them.

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

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

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

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

 The Mute swan family came in really gently and collected the dropped food. the male came in, only a couple of feet from where I was sitting and seemed to want to make friends - until he realised it wasn't me with the food - they can be really fickle these birds :o)

Canon EOs 7d, EF 100 - 400mm, L, Lens
1/1328 @ f6.3, iso 800, 120mm

Thornton and Bradgate - 19 October 2012

A trip out to Thornton reservoir found little in the way of wildlife. There was a lone cormorant on a post but shielded from the camera by bare branches.
A large male mute swan trying to drown an juvenile, the young one had a neat trick to get away and something I've never seen a swan do before. When the adult jumped on top of him, he went down and swam under water for about twenty metres before resurfacing, he repeated this three times before another adult from the other side of the water came to his rescue. Unfortunately it was  too far away to get any photo's

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/160 @ f7.1, iso 1600, 235mm

On the way back to the car park we spotted this fungus, I cant find it in my books but it looked interesting.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/1600 @ f7.1, iso 1600, 400mm

I was about to get in the car when I saw this black headed gull in winter plumage and it seemed to be trying to tie itself in a knot.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/200 @ f7.1, iso 1600, 400mm

On the way home we were passing Bradgate Park and spotted this fungus at the side of the road. I think it might be a honey fungus.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/250 @ f7.1, iso 1600, 400mm

Looking over the wall we spotted these fallow deer. There was a large white stag as well but he was mostly hidden so I couldn't get a decent picture

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400 L Lens
1/500 @ f7.1, iso 1600, 400mm

The Rut must br near starting but we've not seen any signs yet.

A Couple of common birds 5 October 2012

There's still not much in the way of variety around, but here are a couple of birds I took the other day.

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

This one looks unusual, but a close look reveals it is a Mallard hybrid. The amount of different mallard Hybrids I see they must be the most promiscuous of birds.

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

I always like to see a Mute Swan at full sail, this one was trying to scare off the other birds from food that some children were throwing for them.

Between the showers - 18 July 2012

Even when the rain stops for a couple of minutes there isn't much wildlife about, on a recent visit to Swithland Woods I didn't see a single bird.

A quick dive out to Watermead Park between showers and there were only swans and mallard on the water, that was only for a free feed.

Canon Eos 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/2656 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 390mm

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

Back in the car park a couple of magpies were in residence, I think they must have scared off anything else.

Canon Eos 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/125 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

But not much stops the Chaffinch and here she is having a good feed.

Canon Eos 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

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.

Spring has sprung


What a difference a day makes, we went back to Watermead again, mainly because of the mud on other paths that we use.

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ 6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

First we saw this egg, with two Canada Geese nearby who seemed to be in the process of changing watches

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ 6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

 A bit closer on the same lake, a coot had three chicks who seemed to be getting used to the water, when we passed later the nest was empty and the adults had taken the young away.

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/800 @ 6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

 This Sedge Warbler was singing its heart out in some bushes right by the path, the make a lot of sound for a little bird.

Canon EOS 7d, Ef 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/500 @ 6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

Caught red handed, waterside thief snapped in action, helping itself from a narrowboat.