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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.
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Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis |
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Great Tit, Parus major |
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Great Tit, Parus major |
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male Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis |
He landed across the lake on the right, halfway up a tree.
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Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus |
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Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator |
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Trumpeter cygnet, Cygnus buccinator |
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view from the Sand Martin hide |
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Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
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Black-headed Gulls - reflection |
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Canada Geese, Branta canadensis |
A flock of thirteen flew in
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Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea |
On Wednesday I attended a work party at Heyshott where we cleared two years worth of growth from a bowl.
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the finished job |
I called in at Arundel WWT on the way home:
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Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos |
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Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus |
I enjoyed watching the antics of the swans, especially their washing technique:
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Mute Swan, Cygnus olor |
reflections in nature: