Wildlife Photographic Journals

Down South

I have just come back from a week's holiday with my better half in Lymington, at the bottom end of the New Forest. I didn't get much time to get out with camera but managed a couple of short sessions on some saline lagoons that run along the coast. A few oystercatchers were present that allowed fairly close approach but I thought I would concentrate on some fly shots.

There were quit a few terns moving between the lagoons' islands, where they were nesting, and the Solent where they were going on fishing expeditions. Sandwich Tern (although I only saw one), Common Tern and Little Tern were all to be seen. The Little Terns were out of range so I concentrated on the Common Terns. Fortunately one bird landed by my feet which allowed a potrait.

Even though I was a very distant from the nesting islands, birds will still come over to warn me off. A screaming fly-by

The main problem I encountered was wind and light being in opposite directions but a few shots were still to be had.

I managed a photo of the solitary passing sandwich tern

The highlight of the trip was a very close encounter with a Little Egret which allowed a very close approach, to the extent I had to keep backing away to fit the bird in frame.

A moment of self-reflection.

The spines on this stickleback did not help it from an inevitable fate.