 |
| male Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis |
I have visited Arundel Wildlife and Wetland Trust a lot
recently attempting to obtain a decent photo of a Kingfisher. The Sand Martin
hide has become a second home to me for several hours a day, and although there
has been a shortage of exotic species to see, I have enjoyed the tranquillity and
learnt about the habits of Mute Swans, Black-headed Gulls, Coots, Moorhens and the
Kingfisher.
I had invested 10 hours in the hide over a few days then on Tuesday I saw a Kingfisher fly in from the right and land on the tall roosting branch. It stayed for two seconds during which I managed to squeeze off two shots. The first, above, is the best I have so far. I was pre-focused on the tip of the branch, but as I had an 1.4 extender on the 300mm lens, autofocus was slow which I think is why the shot is not as crisp as I want. The hunt continues, without the extender. The second shot follows.
 |
| Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis |
 |
| Great Tit, Parus major |
 |
| Great Tit, Parus major |
 |
| male Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis |
He landed across the lake on the right, halfway up a tree.
 |
| Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus |
 |
| Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator |
 |
| Trumpeter cygnet, Cygnus buccinator |
 |
| view from the Sand Martin hide |
 |
| Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
 |
| Black-headed Gulls - reflection |
 |
| Canada Geese, Branta canadensis |
A flock of thirteen flew in
 |
| Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea |
On Wednesday I attended a work party at Heyshott where we cleared two years worth of growth from a bowl.
 |
| the finished job |
I called in at Arundel WWT on the way home:
 |
| Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos |
 |
| Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus |
I enjoyed watching the antics of the swans, especially their washing technique:
 |
| Mute Swan, Cygnus olor |
reflections in nature:
