Blackbrook Reservoir - 13 May 2011

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

We took Skipper for a walk by Blackbrook Reservoir (near Loughborough) where the farmer of the adjacent land seems to be growing a crop of Canada Geese.

On the walk in we saw a duck with a family of chicks, but she was very shy and disappeared into the bushes on the other side of the water. As she was going I caught a flash of light coloured feathers on the side of her face.

Fortunately, when we returned, I was ready for her and managed to get this shot as she again set out for the far bushes.

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

 We identified her as a Mandarin Duck and when we saw her mate, we were certain of our identification.

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

He was swimming a little to the side of his family and keeping a close eye on us. This is the first time we've seen Mandarin here and certainly the first time we've seen one with young. They are beautiful birds, let's hope she manages to raise most, if not all, of her brood.

Watermead park again - 10 May 2011

Blame the Dentist, I had to visit him yesterday and as his surgery is close to Watermead Park I decided to spend the remainder of the afternoon there. But it was worth it, there seem to be a lot less waterbirds about but there are other attractions to take my interest.

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

This Azure Damselfly flew in front of me then posed in the sunshine, it was difficult to get focus on it because a light breeze was moving the stalk.

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

As we walked towards the 'hole in the wall' hide, I peered through the gap and in the opening view I saw a Heron take off and fly away over the trees.  Luckily, when we got to the wall, he circled round and landed in a nearby tree. 

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens

1/1000 @ 6.3, iso 400, 400mm

No apologies for yet another Robin, there seem to be a lot of them about this year. There are three or four males competing for areas of the small car park. This poser sat on a fence post about 6 - 8 feet from the car I was sitting in and helped himself to the dried mealworms I'd left there.

Watermead Park - 4 April 2011

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/250 @ f9, iso 800, 100mm

Close to the Meadow Lane car parks we saw these two enjoying the sunshine, it just looked so idyllic I decided to record it.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ f9, iso 800, 235mm

The mother of these Mallard chicks had her work cut out, she has eleven. It would be nice to think she'll raise all of them, but it is probably a vain hope.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/100 @ f9, iso 1600, 400mm

Robins seem to be everywhere this year, they'll soon be more common than sparrows. This one serenaded us by the crossroads near the car parks.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/3200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

For some reason lots of Canada Geese took to the air and flew towards King Lear's Lake as we were walking past the Worcester Crescent Lake. A few minutes later, they returned and were close enough for this picture.

Thornton Reservoir 3 May 2011

The Reservoir is very low, at the top end it is almost dry. There are beaches all the way round. Having said that there is a lot of wildlife about.

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

These loved up grebe necked for several minutes but didn't go for the dance, I suppose it's a bit late for their mating rituals. They're still nice to watch though.

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

On the edge of one of the beaches, these Terns had a battle with a Herring Gull for the position on the beach. Two against one, they had to win, then they went fishing.

Further round we had a fabulous display by a Heron, but he was too far away for any decent pictures.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/64 @ f6.3, iso 400, 400mm

Perhaps someone can name this tree for me, the collection of young cones caught my imagination.

Panic Over!

The internet problems have been solved, I've ditched Vodafone and gone with three. Their hotspot dongle, allows Maja to do her emails while I'm doing this blog.

A few days ago we went for a walk round Blackbrook Reservoir although there is some litter the water is very pretty, there were a lot of fry near to the bridge and a variety of the common water birds. In the woods above the lake the floor was carpeted with bluebells. As we returned to the lakes there was a bird of prey hovering but it was too far away to identify. The Grebes pictured below caught my eye and I was convinced that they were going to do their dance. But following this head bobbing display, they separated and swam to opposite sides of the lake.

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

problems

i'm having internet problems. typing this on my kindle. might be a week or so before it is sorted and I can post photos again.

Two very different places 20 April 2011

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

This Rabbit, doing a fair imitation of a meercat, was captured in a field close to a water meadows near Maldon in Essex. The area is quite similar to Watermead Park in that it is a collection of lakes formed from gravel workings, surrounded by trees  and water filled. There the similarity ends, the litter surrounding the lakes ruins the countryside and it has to be said, most of it is angling related. There were broken anglers chairs, bits of rod, bait bags a broken reel, beer cans and food wrappers all discarded around the fishing pitches.

Despite this I did get a couple of pictures of Coot and Grebe like this one.

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

I was glad to get back to Leicester (and those that know me will know that I don't make that statement lightly). Watermead Park is so much better and although we can criticise our local councils for many things, we should give them a vote of thanks for the parks around Leicester and Leicestershire and hope that we can enjoy them for many years to come.

The first pond I saw as I walked from the car park had a couple of Mallard with five chicks, three of which are pictured below.

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

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

There was a variety of butterflies racing round collecting the early pollen and lots of blossom. at the far end of the lake, close to Worcester Crescent entrance this moorhen was exploring the small pond in the corner of the park.

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

Another Fishy Tale - 6 April 2011

I'd walked most of the way round the lakes at Watermead and was on my way back to the car-park with not a single worthwhile photograph. Skipper was just ahead of me with his stick, he always selects a stick to carry or for me to throw for him - preferably into the water. He turned to face me and dropped his stick for me to pick up, but as I approached it I caught sight of a Heron on the edge of the lake, to my left.

It was concentrating on something and didn't even notice Skipper. Calling him quietly, I stepped back behind a bush and out of sight and prepared my camera. I took a couple of pictures before the Heron struck at his quarry in the water, unfortunately the photos of the actual strike only showed his back, hidden in the reeds.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1300 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

But when he came up again, he'd caught quite a sizable fish, which he proceeded to eat. I got some pictures but when he repositioned the fish to swallow it I had to move to a better position, he caught sight of me and flew away. Still it was an interesting interlude.


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

I continued on my way back to the car-park, where I again put some nuts and seeds on a fence post and waited to see what would appear.

As usual it was the Robin first and he seemed as if he'd decided to pose for the camera.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

He was followed by another Robin who, after a shouting match, flew back into the bushes. Then a Great Tit and a Blue Tit both were seen off by this bully before I could get their pictures.

Then a pair of Chaffinches came along, the female managed to get something to eat before he saw her off.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/250 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

But the male was quite persistent, every time he landed the Robin chased him away. But he soon came back for another go. Eventually he seemed to develop a strategy, he'd fly in and land on the lowest fence spar, the Robin went into the attack and the chaffinch, instead of flying away, flew up to the post and grabbed a few seeds. Then as the Robin flew up to attack, the Chaffinch flew down the other side of the fence to the bottom spar again, then repeated the process, every time the Robin flew down the Chaffinch would fly up the other side and grab a beak-full.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ f6.3, iso 1600, 400mm

It was fun to watch, but I think the Robin got tired because later he flew into the bushes and didn't even object when the female Chaffinch returned.

A Good weekend - 3 April 2011

It looked as if the weekend was going to be fairly slow, around Watermead a lot of the birds from the winter have gone and we are back to the usual collection - with most of them not putting on a show. On Sunday I was cycle-walking Skipper, he likes that it gives him a good run and being a Border Collie it's something  he needs - lots of exercise.

As we reached the Thurmaston end of the main track, I heard a young mother say to her child, "look he's got a fish!" So I stopped and looked again at the lake, there right in front of us was a Grebe with a fish in its beak.
Before I could get the camera out it dived and shortly after a fish skipped across the surface, but then the Grebe resurfaced with an even bigger fish in its beak. This all happened in a few seconds and I was still astride my bike, but I took what pictures I could and though they're not the best quality I thought I'd show you these two.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/5000 @ f 5.6,  iso 1600, 400mm



Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/8000 @ f 5.6,  iso 1600, 400mm

They were the only pictures I got on the way round the lakes. But when I returned to the Meadow lane car-park I had some time to spare and a few bird nuts and meal worm in a container in the back of the car so I put some on a fence post at the end of the parking area and sat in the car with the camera at the ready.

At first nothing happened, but after about ten minutes a Robin appeared, it's usually Robins that get in first especially when there are meal worm about. He hopped about for quite a while, posing and sometimes seemed to be looking right at me.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/100 @ f 6.3,  iso 1600, 350mm

There was a brief exchange with the male blackbird, who came to investigate the food and took away a beak full.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/125 @ f 6.3,  iso 1600, 380mm

But then it started to rain and the birds disappeared, so I started to pack my camera away and turned to put it in its bag when I caught a movement in the bushes halfway down the car-park. A grey Squirrel popped out and ran down the fence, he looked around then ran towards me - so out came the camera again and I took some photos as he came closer.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/160 @ f 6.3,  iso 1600, 200mm

He ran up the fence, to where the birds had been, and feasted on the remaining peanuts. He stayed for quite a long time, despite the rain and hail. After about fifteen minutes he'd obviously had his fill. he climbed down and disappeared into the undergrowth.

Close ups - Swthland Woods 26 March 2011

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/250 @ F7.1, iso 1600,  370mm

I went back to Swithland Woods today, I wanted to try for some closer pictures of the smaller birds. About a week ago I started seeding a tree stump that was further away from the road than the one in the one in the previous entry, which was right beside the road into the car park.

I set the camera on a tripod, lined it up and manually focused on the stump, then covered the kit with a camouflage cape and put some seeds, nuts and meal worm on the stump. I connected a 5 metre USB cable between the camera and my lap top, then using the remote control program (on EOS Utility) set the camera to live view on the lap top screen.

Then all I had to do was watch and wait, it wasn't long before a blue tit came to look. Unfortunately when I looked at the computer screen he was out of the picture, but he didn't feed because the whole area of the feed was covered by the camera.

After several flypasts, they started to come and the Nuthatch (above) was one of the first. But he wasn't sure if he should eat the nut or play football with it.



Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/250 @ F7.1, iso 1600,  370mm

 I'll let you decide if he finally made is mind up to eat the nut or if he's just looking for someone to pass it to.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/250 @ F7.1, iso 1600,  370mm

When there is food on offer, particularly mealworms, the Robin is never backwards in coming forwards and this one made several visits. He had an argument with the Nuthatch over it, despite there being plenty for all.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L lens
1/250 @ F7.1, iso 1600,  370mm

In between the others this Coal tit made a few visits, but was very shy and tried to keep out of sight, I got several pictures showing just his back or tail as he ducked. The blue tit came and perched in a nearby bush several times and did several more fly pasts, but never came into view of the camera.

Spring is Here - maybe - 14 March 2011

Having not found many birds in the usual places recently, Maja suggested we went to Swithland Woods and put some seed on an old tree stump by the car park. Here are the results;


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

Cheeky as ever, the Robin was the first one at the table, he looks a lot slimmer than when he had his feathers all puffed out to keep warm. He took a mouthful of meal-worms and disappeared.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/250 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Next up was this female Chaffinch, she surveyed the area from a nearby post, before commiting herself.



Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

And where there's a female the male is usually not far away. This male Chaffinch had a walk round the base of the stump before taking his share.


Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/60 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Following the Chaffinches, this Dunnok had a feed on the ground and never tried to get onto the stump. 

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

In spring you cant move far without seeing a Blue Tit and this one made several visits getting second and third helpings.



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



Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/200 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Then along came the Nuthatch, and bullied his way in. I don't know quite how he did it but the picture on the right shows him flying without the use of his wings (although he did spread them a after I took this).

Let's hope this is the start of spring and plenty of wildlife to follow.

Beacon Hill 13 March 2011

I decided to go somewhere I hadn't been for a while, so Maja, Skipper and myself went to Beacon Hill, we approached from Martin's Woods on Deans Lane and walked up through the woods.

It wasn't any improvement from the wildlife point of view, we could hear a coule of rooks shouting at each other and a Peacock calling in the distance but that was all.



Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1000 @ f5.6, iso 400, 400mm

Beside the footpath there was a herd of Longhorn cattle ruminating and this one looked up as we passed, so I took his picture.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/1600 @ f5.6, iso 800, 400mm

From the top of Beacon Hill, you can see Old John on Bradgate Park, (if you click on the picture you'll get a better view) and these were the only pictures I took today.

Quiet Times 10 March 2011

As I walk about the various parks of Leicestershire, I'm struck by how little wildlife there is now. Through the summer, autumn and winter, there has been plenty of choice and even some rare visitors. But now there are a few of the more common birds, although very few Moorhens and I've had great difficulty getting decent pictures.

So below are two common birds that attracted my attention at Charnwood water, Loughborough. This seems to have a good selection of the commoners, probably because it's on the edge of a housing estate and they get fed regularly.

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

Above a male Mallard having a good shake after washing and below a Canada goose having a good loud honk.

Canon EOS 7d, EF 100 - 400mm L Lens
1/640 @ f5.6, iso 400, 170mm