Return

Having not escaped into the country with binoculars and camera for some weeks (busy basically), the day was just too beautiful, too crisp not to get out. Inevitably, Papercourt was my destination and this image of Tannery Lane in the morning sunshine captures the feel of the morning nicely.

This wren, which does have a tail somewhere, just popped up by the side of the path as I wandered along. I have done nothing to any of these images - no cropping, no exposure changes, no messing around at all so this is exactly as the bird appeared. A number of these 'popped' into view along with blue tits, great tits, dunnocks, blackbirds, redwings, fieldfares and of course, robins.

Wren

 The sailing club pit was gloriously free of boats today and as a result, even more gloriously covered in birds, particularly as the small lake behind the clubhouse was frozen over. Great Crested Grebes were present in small numbers along with coot in very large numbers. In amongst them were a few little grebes, a bird that I have found it very difficult to get close to so on this occasion, I used a bit of stalking (sort of) and as this bird dipped below the water, I would move quickly towards the waters edge, stop when the grebe reappeared and then move again when he or she slipped below the waves again (maybe not waves as such). This is the result and actually quite pleasing.

Little Grebe 

Amongst all those coots and occasional grebes, were also gadwall, understated but smart, tufted duck, pochard and a few of these wigeon. I think of these as birds of coastal marsh so always a surprise (it shouldn't be) when I see them inland. This one is a male with that lovely buffy forehead to the fore.

Wigeon

Not sure if this quite works but attempted close up of water droplets almost more than the swan. The water was beautifully clear and this bird and its mate were busy scouring the shallows for food.

Mute Swan

Today was about getting out again, little more than that really. The new year is just round the corner and my aim for that year? Get better as this photography business and also the writing quality so, fewer posts, better quality, hopefully.