It was a lovely day yesterday so I went to the Wiltshire Wildlife Reserve at Langford Lakes. I didn't manage to get there until mid morning but there were quite a few birds about. Many of them were too far away to photograph so I put the camera away and settled down to watch them from the hides. I saw egrets, cormorants, various gulls (which I am not good enough yet to be able to identify), great crested grebes, swans, coots, various ducks, canada geese and a kingfisher. I was told that a water rail had been calling earlier from just in front of one hide and tantalisingly I did briefly see a feathered back in the reeds which could have been the rail but as I didn't see the whole bird I will not 'claim' that one! I couldn't resist a few photos in the end so here are a few of them. There are more in my gallery and in the wildlife gallery.
Great crested grebe (juvenile)
Coot
Tufted Duck
... and the male having a stretch
A pair of gadwall
On my way back to the car I took a detour round the newly opened streamside walk and saw a very agitated wren, a robin singing its heart out and basking in the autumn sunshine, a dunnock which was preening and fluffing itself up into a lttle ball...
First that feather...
then that one...
Ah! that's better!
All in all, three hours well spent. More pictures next time I go to WWT's "Flagship Reserve".
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/
Thanks for this, Great shots and good info. One to add to my list of must visit places!
Fav's the Grebe and the stretching Duck, Brilliant!
John
For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.
Thanks John for your quick response and kind comments to my very first post. WWT are very proud of their reserve and are about to launch a campaign to raise funds to extend access to a new area of reed beds so that will be interesting to follow. It was very quiet (people wise) out there yesterday but I did encounter some WWT members making a video to present at their AGM in which I shall feature. It was quite by chance that I went into a hide they were filming from and I hadn't exactly dressed as a film star that morning so I shall look a real fright in the video. Hope it doesn't put people off joining the Society! lol!!!
Just had to comment on your lovely pictures. Really love the dunnock. They are such a shy bird and usually move fast beneath the hedges that they can be difficult to photograph. Thank you.
Thanks Brenda, it was lovely to see the dunnock and it preened for ages. It must have been enjoying the sun. I know I was as it was chilly in the shade. In my response to John I should have said my very first thread rather than my first post as I've done lots of those. Will I ever get the hang of this?
Superb pictures. Many thanks for sharing that. I am going to check out how far it is from us as it looks a great place to visit. I suspect it may be too far for a day trip but we will think of something as there are many places in your area we would like to see. Thanks for bringing this one to my attention and well done again on the photos. I can't choose a favourite as they are all excellent.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Thanks for your kind comments Squirrel and yes, it is a lovely part of the country with lots of interesting things to see and do. We are very lucky to have the Langford Lakes reserve only 20 mins from home. In the summer months I usually visit in the evening to see bats so it was good to go in the daytime for a change. I went on a dawn chorus walk there once too. We were guided round the reserve by a birdsong expert and then ended up in the education centre for bacon sandwiches. It was fun but a bit early for me!!! The other excellent place to see birds near here is the NE reserve at Martin Down. A lovely area of chalk downland with a wealth of birds and wildflowers. If you do manage to get down this way sometime please let me know.
Good morning,
Here is the link to the WWT website page for Langford lakes just in case anyone is interested in having a look.
http://www.wiltshirewildlife.org/6UvNEESKHUK1864A2OEz%2Bg%3D%3D/Reserve.aspx
Many thanks for that - saved me a bit of a haul through many to find the appropriate one.
Great set of photos SB!! I too love that last one of the dunnock! Looks a great place to visit and so handy being so close to you!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Thanks MarJus. Yes it is handy, I should go more often. Busy, busy, busy... !