Blashford Lakes, Ringwood, again

So, after working 10 days straight, AND the sun coming out for my day off, I decided to head off to Ringwood, and the lakes. However, I'd completely forgotten how far away everything can be from some of the hides and I had a lapse in settings control...so here isa selection of heavily cropped, mightily distant (in some cases), badly exposed pics from today.... with a few surprises thrown in that I didn't expect to see.....

Straight in with a surprise... a Wheatear

A Pied Wagtail

GC Grebe

Pipit and Wheatear (too distant for me to decipher which pipit)

Heron

Egyptian Geese Flyover

Things were mainly less distant from now on...Surprise #2

Surprise #3 considering how chilly it was overnight

Overall there were 3 Red Admiral, and probably 12-15 Speckled Wood, but only one dragonfly which I didn't manage to snap

Little Grebe

It was about here I remembered that bright sunshine can be tempered in the camera's settings... 

GC Grebe

Grey Wagtail

Aerodynamic expertise

Surprise #4 (well it will be if someone can tell me what it is... I've tried lightning it a bit but it doesn't make any colours clearer)

Surprise #5 Well it is for me as I haven't seen one since the spring...Blackcap

Surprise #6, Handsome Beast

But easily spooked

Female Shoveller (judging by bill size)

Surprise #7... my 1st encounter

And then the party started with (drum roll please) The Fun Guys!!