A Kingfisher, Swans and Gulls

male Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

to  view  a  Slideshow,  click  here

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: