Having read all the recent blogs from Old Moor, I decided it was time for another visit to see if I could spot the Spoonbill that so much has been written about! And I wasn't disappointed - even if he was posing as a Little Egret at first! I eventually got to see the spoon bill!
But first, on my way to Wath Ings hide a came across a couple of dragonfly. Common darters?
And a common blue butterfly - there were lots of these flitting around today.
The herons were out in force -this one was just coming in to land.
There were lots of little egrets around.
We just thought this spoonbill was another as he sat there with his head tucked into his wing (as they do!) but eventually he stood up - it's at times like this you wish you had a better zoom on the camera. Anyway here goes!
Plenty of waders around today too. Green sandpiper
and Ruff
And one last one!
Such a lovely place to visit - can't wait to go back already!
See my Flickr photos here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/115745582@N04/
It seems I was lucky then Bob! I got the first shot of it with its bill out almost straight away but then it decided to have its afternoon nap for about an hour! I am so slow at zooming in and focussing in on things that I hardly dare move the camera for fear of missing anything - I knew when it did fly that would be that! I've no idea what scared everything up - the lapwings are always going up en masse and then settling down again! In the event when the spoonbill did fly off, it just did a circuit of the lake and then settled down in the same place again!
Cracking pictures Christine, glad you got the Spoonie.
I popped up at 6.30 on Sunday evening thinking I'd have the place virtually to myself, only to find Wath Ings hide packed as both the Spoonie and a Kingfisher entertained the crowd.
I just managed 10 seconds glimpse of the Spoonie over someone's shoulder, just before it took off for the other side of the lake!
Regards
Ian
Hi Ian - I read about the kingfisher and the spoonbill on Nicola's blog - I live in hopes of getting a kingfisher photo (and have done for over two years now but it never seems to happen! I have seen the occasional flash of electric blue streak past me but that's as close as it gets!) I was half hoping for a kingfisher today but thought the spoonbill was more than compensation for not doing so!
I was lucky enough to see a Kingfisher last August, on one of my earliest visits to OM. My son and his partner, neither of whom has otherwise been birding before or since, were with me to see it.
Needless to say I haven't seen one since!
Fabulous photos - I recognise those branches very well - never a kingfisher there when I'm looking!!!! Great that your son and his partner were there to see it too.
Lovely pics Christine! If they are all on the Lumix 150 then credit to you!!!
Hi Christine, that's a wonderful set of photos! We were very lucky with the kingfisher but I've also had many hours in Wath Ings of not seeing it too, fingers crossed for you on your next visit. :)
Thanks Nicola - I always read your blogs and they always make me want to get back to Old Moor!!
And thanks Cris - yes, the photos were all taken with my Lumix on full zoom!
Hi again Christine, do you mind if we share your photos on our Facebook page and on twitter?
Not at all - it will be nice to see them there - I'm still learning about all this photography stuff!!