The last time I was at Burton Mere was November 2021, so a return was long overdue, not helped by the weather.
Just a quick digress, didn't Hazy and Mike enjoy going to Burton Mere?
I've not seen any postings for a while, so I hope they're both ok.
Thursday looked to be a decent day, so it was planned to make the three hour drive, well, almost four actually, after some imbecile decide to to ram into another's vehicle on the M6 just after I got onto the motorway....
I had heard there was a long tail duck frequenting the wetlands, and I hoped to catch a glimpse at the very least, but it was not to be. It had been there in the morning, but I guess it heard I was coming up and fled!
But the pintails were in clear view, and that more than made up for it.
First sighting of the day, avocets from the Bunker Hide
Also very prolific.....
Don't you just love them.....
A buzzard soared overhead as I headed back for a cuppa and bite, before moving on.
Mr & Mrs Shovelor keeping an eye each on what's going on
Mr & Mrs Teal plus the Teal neighbours, with intrusive Canada Geese!
You may also see a broken egg shell just in front of the Canada Goose on the right.
More avocets came in to view, still whilst in the Bunker Hide
After the cuppa and bite, time to move round to the screens and other hides, seeing this lonesome great crested grebe on Woodland Pool
Just as I was about to move on to the Reedbed Screen, the view and light along this ditch just needed photographing. I did wonder whether to use the polariser as well, but in hindsight, the Star 6 was plenty adequate.
Around to the Reedbed Screen, and a couple of little grebes were on the water
Plop!
Missed it!
Though it did emerge with what looked like some sort of crustacean/shrimp/prawn/crayfish creature.
Time for the wet look....
One last pose before moving on
The Bridge Screen and Marsh Covert Hide were very quiet, so it was on to the Bridge Screen, where the long tail had been seen earlier in the morning, but alas, it was not to be. So onto the Border Hide, the views across the pools and with high tide imminent in the next 30 mins or so, the waders looked busy....
A solo wigeon...
No long tail, but the pin tails were very much in view....
As expected, black tail godwits
Even some were sleeping!
Some were flying....
The pin tails came back in to view
Mrs & Mrs PT decided after swimming so gracefully across the water, with the sunlight making photography impossible, to move and moon!
A headless shelduck! Alas poor shelby......
And a shelduck with head....
No weekday visit to Burton Mere would be complete without seeing this big birdie!
"Splish splash, I was taking a bathLong about a Saturday night, yeah"
[Bobby Darin]
A lonesome wigeon, though others were around
and this wee fella was calling for someone....
More black tail godwit activity
more splashin' around.....
"Lookout chaps, I'm coming in....."
And this birdie was on her way back home....
And so was I (but not on board, I had to drive home via the delightful M6) after a good day out....
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Really nice selection of photos and species Mike, love the Bk-Wit landing ! Pity you didn't see the Long tailed duck; I think last time it was there it was on one of the far pools hardly visible without a scope from IMF hide. Even so, you had a lovely day by the looks of it and plenty of birds seen and great that the Avocets are back again.
Michael B said:
Sorry this is the first post in weeks since I suffered excruciating trapped nerve pain in shoulder affecting neck and down the length of my right arm and it will be a bit hit and miss for the next couple of months with 2 operations on the horizon including my long awaited eye surgery. Still got numb fingers from trapped nerve and can't use the camera for a while yet but at least I can now do general chores without pain. After many years of generally good health on the whole I've been falling apart at the seams recently like a worn out teddy bear. LOL. Hopefully by the time I get to LM at end of June I will be the bionic woman ;) A lot of uncomfortable procedures and days to get through before then and recovery time so will be a while yet before I am back here on regular basis. Had my pre-op. eye checks done today prior to lens replacement in May so won't type too much as my eyes are still pretty dilated so struggling to see to type. !!! Sorry I won't be able to catch up with all the posts written during my absence but I will do my best to catch up once I'm out of the repair factory. !!!! Meanwhile, keep up the good work on here forumates. See you soon (literally ! ) XX Hazy
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Regards, Hazel
Unknown said:
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The Bionic Birder - will it be on terrestrial TV or will it be a Netflix special? Get well soon.
Linda257 said:Looked like you had a fab day out watching the birds have fun in the sun...pintails are lovely Mike
Thank you Linda.
Usually the pintails are out of camera range, so it was good to have them nice and close, and with the light at the right angle.
Zo Clark said:I think the photos are cooll. i havnt seen a Buzzard for ages probably partly cause of how the weather has been. Its been cloudy and rainy and windy. But It’s been very warm and sunny today. On a warm and sunny day you tend to see them soaring more often cause of thermals. I call it Buzzard weather when it’s Good weather for Thermals. It was so warm I didn’t have to wear a coat or jumper today. It looks like it was warm and sunny for you today aswell. I find it’s much easyer to get bright colours in photos and other details when it’s sunny. I find blue sky is easyer when it comes to takeimg pictures of birds than white skys. I think the birds movements in the photos were timed verry well with the splashing flying and takeimg off aswell
Thank you.
Often a blue sky will help to increase the contrast, and with near perfect light from the sun, it all helps to make many subjects stand out nicely.
But there are times when too much sun can make photography challenging.
Its good to see you posting again Hazel, and no worries, fingers crossed it all works out for you, and then you can claim the following signature tune, from the old 70's TV series....
The Bionic Woman
Lot to learn