OK, I've been allowed out again, gentle exercise they said.....
So I made good use of my new 24hr access to Brandon Marsh, going in before opening time, but after sun up, trying out the new extender and my new jacket, which I fell in love with the pockets as soon as I put it on.
They are proper pockets, not tiddly things for a pair of gloves or keys, or other tiddly items. The breast pockets are big enough to fit most bird and wildlife ID books, the lower side pockets, I could fit a small packed lunch in and I have started to investigate the inside pockets yet.
I think in total, 13 pockets inside and out!
It was still very cloudy when I arrived, as per forecast, though sun had been promised, and it did arrive, but I wasn't deterred, it was an opportunity to see what life is like there before opening to the public, and the first sighting was a muntjac, though no photo, it scarpered once it clocked me....
I as a little surprised the hides were still open, but relieved, because there is so much foliage that it isn't always easy to get a view across the pools, and with the wooded area being so quiet, not even a robin or blackbird, but I could hear the pools were active.
The fist hide, all to myself, so I set the tripod up to play with the new 2x extender, knowing that AF doesn't work when it coupled to the lens, at the first photos were a great white egret, and from what I later found out, a newly regular visitor.
At 400mm using AF
at 800mm using MF
All the usual waterfowl on the pool, from here, unless specified with 800mm before the photo, all taken using the 100-400 and no extender,
Mr Tuftie
Mr Pochard
Another Mr Tuftie, with weed hanging from the bill!
Could have wiped his mouth before coming up....
On my way to the other hides, the path is often frequented by chaffinches and goldfinches, but the light was against clear identification, so I was pleasantly surprised at getting a clear photo, goldfinches by the dozen in the trees overhead
The snipe were showing well and very active right in front of the same hide as they have been since last November
Splish splash
I was long in the bath....
A shovelor with head above water, gliding graceful past, an opportunity to play again with the extender
More snipe. Talking to a couple of others in the hide, we reckoned there would be around 30 or so snipe just below the hide.
Without any warning, out comes a water rail!
After a trip to the Badgers Tearoom, for a cuppa, it was back to the hides and see if the kingfisher was going to show. As yet at this point, no one had seen the kingfisher...
Guess what, neither did I....
But there were still others to see, like this little egret in the trees
at 400mm
at 800mm
and 800mm cropped
Whilst scanning the pool, I spotted a headless cormorant!
A shovelor that was bragging after seeing off two males!
A cormorant, not the headless one earlier, that was still on the post, headless....
Oi?
That you making that noise?
Am gettin' oud a ere....
A pair of shoveleos doing what shovelors do....
Mr Teal
Oooo!
Look?
The headless cormorant has found its head!
Mr Gadwall
Finally, a black headed gull created a lot of discussion in the hide, is seems to still have summer plumage, or possibly making an early start on the summer plumage.
Because of the distance away from the hide, the extender was used and the image heavily cropped, pushing the boundaries and a good test of clarity, I don't think even with AF it would have been any clearer, certainly not at 400mm.
800mm heavily cropped
Other species seen, goosander, M+F, shelduck, mallard, mute swan, reed bunting, lapwing (they seem to be ten a penny at the moment), canada geese, coot, moorhen, grey heron (seen flying over with large branch in beak, most likely nest building), to name a few, but NO robin, blackbird, blue tit, all three of which are usually commonplace.
They must have gone camera shy, not wanting to get picked out by the extender...
A good day out, and new toys tested.
PimperneBloke said:Looked a super day Mike, with super toys. Excellent clarity on those "extended" shots.... and how lucky were you, Water Rail (still on my not seen list) and Snipe (still on my only seen 100+ yards away list!)
Thank you PB.
The water rail currently is a regular in that spot along with the snipe.
Many reserves (not all) do facilitate 24hr access to members of their parent organisation, and access is either via combo lock, keycard or plain simple key.
Because the trust have many unmanned reserves and many sensitive locations, they restrict access to members only, via the key.
How are things progressing with car?
Germain said:Looks like an excellent bit of gentle exercise and mobilisation ;) So many Snipe and I have to say Mr Teal is looking glorious. I think your Black-headed Gull is getting a head start on Spring - we've spotted a few here going on an early change
Thank you.
The snipe have been there since at least November 2021 and large numbers 30/40 have been consistent, as for Mr Teal, he caught the sunlight just right. The BHG, it was a very balanced undecisive ending, but I'm tempted to say early change to summer plumage based on there's not been a reported sighting previously.
Unknown said:Very nice set Mike and lovely to try out your new extender giving you good reach and that handy jacket with so many useful pockets - as long as you can remember which pocket has which item you need !. What a bonus to get the wonderful shot of a water rail as they rarely show for long (exception was "Walter Rail-ey" at Leighton Moss who used to come to the call for mealies. LOL Thanks for the post with piccies :)
Thank you Hazel. Yes, the extender has proved very beneficial, though not having AF does present limitations, but I can work around that easily enough. As for the coat, I think the fun will start when I explore the inside pockets.....
Walter Railey has been very prominent with the snipe since last November from what I understand.
That'll have to be something I look into then :o)
No news at all on the car, still driving the Nissan Tank hire car....glad it's not my insurance paying for it!!
TJS said:
Hi Mike,
Another wonderful insight to somewhere I've never been and a great selection of photos. Favourites for me would be the Snipe and Water Rail, not seen either for a while.
Thanks for posting,
Trevor
Hi Trevor,
You're welcome and thank you.
There are lots of reserves around the UK worth visiting, and from the photos you've been posting, is making me feel the same, in a positive way of course, and no doubt, one day I'll be venturing down Suffolk way, which is on the list to do....
Linda257 said:Another nice day you had out Mike...easy does it!! Just aswell it was the camera and all the gadgets that done the hard work lol
"Easy does it"?
What terminology is that I ask....
Seriously, it was good to get out and make up for the lost time, and play with new toys of course. I did curtail my usual circuit, a couple of the hides are on mud laden paths, but I'll be in them next time.
i love robins said:Looks like you had a great day Mike, you have some lovely photos there, I liked them all, But the ones that stood out for me was the cormorant that’s got it’s eye on you, the teal and the little egret, the water rail and the gadwall and the snipe.
Thank you ILR.
The cormorant was the third in a serious of photos I took of it, and I think it was the camera shutter noise that encouraged it to look my way, it was only metres away from the hide. The little egret has taken to resting in the same tree, though as yet, no sign of nest building, and the gadwall, they always seem so graceful when swimming....
Wendy S said:Good to see you got out and about Mike, just be careful, love that Water Rail we hear them quite often but consider ourselves lucky to get a view like yours
Thank you Pete.
I'm a stubborn cuss, as I said to one of the nurses when I was in hospital after the big leg op, "You don't conquer mountains by giving in....."
The water rail has been pretty visible with the snipe, but as you'd expect, it doesn't hang around.
Zo Clark said:I think there really good. my favourites you took when you went there Is the cammerant great egret Little egret goldfinch and black headed gulls I get the Black headed gulls at the canal in Autumn and winter nearby so I get to take pictures film and watch them develop there plummage until they get there black heads so I have found out a lot about them. The one in the photo they were talking about I have seen that at the canal nearby aswell. And even taken photos of them some of them develop there plummage earlier or later depending on lots of factors one of them is the timeing each one was born. Weather one was born before or after or at the same time. On the 12 th March 2021 at 12:56 Gloucester and Sharpness canal. only one black headed gulls developed a hood and the rest were in there 1st winter or were still winter adults for example. If you want to see the photos of them I took go to this link. www.inaturalist.org/.../102751644 The one in the photo you took looks more like it’s developing into its summer plumage and with how much of a hood it’s developed so far it’s likely it will of developed it before Spring/ Summer or at least by Spring/ Summer. I think Your a very good photographer. And I hope your enjoying the Big garden Birdwatch.
I think there really good. my favourites you took when you went there Is the cammerant great egret Little egret goldfinch and black headed gulls I get the Black headed gulls at the canal in Autumn and winter nearby so I get to take pictures film and watch them develop there plummage until they get there black heads so I have found out a lot about them. The one in the photo they were talking about I have seen that at the canal nearby aswell. And even taken photos of them some of them develop there plummage earlier or later depending on lots of factors one of them is the timeing each one was born. Weather one was born before or after or at the same time. On the 12 th March 2021 at 12:56 Gloucester and Sharpness canal. only one black headed gulls developed a hood and the rest were in there 1st winter or were still winter adults for example. If you want to see the photos of them I took go to this link. www.inaturalist.org/.../102751644 The one in the photo you took looks more like it’s developing into its summer plumage and with how much of a hood it’s developed so far it’s likely it will of developed it before Spring/ Summer or at least by Spring/ Summer. I think Your a very good photographer. And I hope your enjoying the Big garden Birdwatch.
Zo, thank you. Family commitments of a nice kind took precedence over the weekend, so no BGBW for me this year.
I'm erring on the side of early change to summer plumage, mainly based on no previous reports of a BHG still in summer plumage through the winter so far.
gaynorsl said:Successful day Mike, great pics, all those Snipe must have been a wonderful sight. Such lovely looking birds. Love the cormorant and all the waders really, you are doing your new gear justice, don't overdue it yourself, especially with the new jacket and so tempting to fill up all the pockets!!!
Thank you Gaynor. Those snipe are impressive, and that brood back in November 2021 are my first snipe sighting.
As for carrying lots of gear, even post accident, that's still second nature after trekking over mountains with a large pack, rations for a weekend plus tent and sleeping bag....
I've yet to explore the inside pockets, that'll be when the fun starts....