Goldeneye duck have remained elusive to me. These shy birds I have always seen at a distance, except in waterfowl collections, out in the middle of a large lake or far off the beach. I came across a bird at relatively close quarters at the local marine lake which gave the first opportunity to take some photos of a wild bird. Fortunately it was a beautifully marked drake, the only downside was the light conditions were very poor.

A young Great Northern Diver appeared at the local Marine Lake on Friday which I was alerted to early Saturday morning by text (many thanks Steve :)), but it was Sunday before I could get out there to try and photograph it. The bird gave really close views for only a couple of minutes during the session and of course during a torrential downpour which saw everyone running to the shelter of their cars.

The bird was doing some fishing and came up with a small crab which was causing it a few moments of difficulty...

Especially as the crab seem to latch on to the birds tongue.

I have been working on a mini project over the last couple of months to get some curlew shots. They are a very nervous species and have noticed them moving away even when on sand banks well offshore in the local estuary. I managed to locate a flock of birds on a nearby field which conivently has an adjacent car park to allow me to use the 'mobile citroen hide'. Even so it has still taken quite a bit of time spent before the birds have come within sensible photographing range and the light was good enough under the grey winter skies. Having said that I have enjoyed watching them and learning their behaviour. Here are a selection of shots from a 10 minute period, after many hours of watching, when it all came together.

This is the only flight shot I have managed to get so far

I was also treated with watching some birds bathe in one of the puddles in the field.

There have been three Shag that have taken residence up on the local Marine Lake and but conditions have created some difficult shooting. The rough water added some mood to the shots though.

On the local beach there have been some impressive gatherings of Knot and BLack and Bar tailed Godwits.

I am working on a plan for getting close to the Godwits but at the moment have just settled for shots off the seawall as I arrived a little too late on the receding tide.

Sanderling are always fun to photograph as the scurry around the tide line.

Went out for a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon, just staying local. There were only common birds around due to crowds enjoying the afternoon sun. At these times, especially when the light is good, its nice to photograph those 'common' species that are two easily overlooked.

When the light is good and common birds plentiful it is also a good time to practice those flight shots.

There are quite a few sandling on the local beach at the moment so thought it about time to get a few shots of them. Not that this has been an easy task as, although not particularly shy they make a roadrunner look stationary. I love they way the birds move in unison, when in a big group, in time with the incoming waves.


These were my favourite shots out of many taken ...

A bird I have been trying to get a good shot of is the Water Rail. Usually the most you see of this shy bird is a dash of brown through a gap in the reeds. However, I was fortunate recently to have a slight longer encounter with one.

It appeared twice, once with the sunlight,

and briefly again under some cloudier skies

Another bird I have been trying to find it the Purple Sandpiper and finally came across six on a local high tide wader roost, under some sotrmy conditions.

Recently had a couple of trips to the Spinnies Nature Reserve near Bangor in North Wales and very enjoyable sessions they proved to be.

Started off with some Little Grebe

Lots of egrets use the site during high tide when they come in from the local estuary.


This gives some oppotunity for flight shots or in this case landing

Also had some fun with a nuthatch that was visiting one of the feeders and showing that classic pose

The place also offers the occasional close heron view and the colour of the reeds round the lake lives a lovely golden glow to the water

However my favoutire was the Kingfisher as this the first opportunity I have had to photograph one :)

Thought I would put together a small compilation of wader shots for this next post..

A very endearing bird the snipe..

Oystercatcher fly-by

I got close enough to Ruff for some shots for the first time recently..

I am facinated by curlew a difficult bird to get close to.

and some common local shore waders..

Dunlin

Knot

and redshank