Birtle Lodge, Rochdale - 22.10.18
I'm keen to get out this morning as it's still warm with sunny intervals especially with the forecast for the end of the week of winds coming down from the Artic, but where ? Living close to the edge of moorland there are a couple of local reservoirs that attracts passerine migration at the right time but this morning I'm visiting Birtle Lodge which is slightly further away from the upper moorland and only a couple of miles from the house.
Birtle Lodge is an oasis in lower moorland fringed by some extensive tree and hedge planting and especially good at the right time of year for migrating warblers, but this morning I'm hoping to photograph Goosander that regularly appear in small groups in autumn and winter. Some times difficult to get near I intend using a small portable hide to increase my chances of a closer shot the only downside is this location being popular with dog walkers and often they stop and ask...."are you photographing birds"....doh !
A quick scan I pick up a male and female Shoveler, a new bird for me on this lodge and a small group of about eight Wigeon. On the south side of the lodge the sun is ideally placed behind reflecting some nice colour in the water from the vegetation opposite so out comes the portable hide and I setup behind a tree.
I'm only on site for a couple of hours so I don't have the luxury of stealthily getting into position never the less the Wigeon don't seem spooked and happily continue feeding amongst some Canada Geese. A mixture of female and eclipse males doesn't make for easy identification but much easier reviewing the images later picking out the white side flash which is the wing bar of the male.
It's been a great autumn morning and thoroughly enjoyable, the autumn colours of yellows, browns and lingering greens are a visual feast and along with the location make this venue a jewel in what can some times be a frantic and noisy part of the country.
Birtle Lodge is an oasis in lower moorland fringed by some extensive tree and hedge planting and especially good at the right time of year for migrating warblers, but this morning I'm hoping to photograph Goosander that regularly appear in small groups in autumn and winter. Some times difficult to get near I intend using a small portable hide to increase my chances of a closer shot the only downside is this location being popular with dog walkers and often they stop and ask...."are you photographing birds"....doh !
A quick scan I pick up a male and female Shoveler, a new bird for me on this lodge and a small group of about eight Wigeon. On the south side of the lodge the sun is ideally placed behind reflecting some nice colour in the water from the vegetation opposite so out comes the portable hide and I setup behind a tree.
I'm only on site for a couple of hours so I don't have the luxury of stealthily getting into position never the less the Wigeon don't seem spooked and happily continue feeding amongst some Canada Geese. A mixture of female and eclipse males doesn't make for easy identification but much easier reviewing the images later picking out the white side flash which is the wing bar of the male.
It's been a great autumn morning and thoroughly enjoyable, the autumn colours of yellows, browns and lingering greens are a visual feast and along with the location make this venue a jewel in what can some times be a frantic and noisy part of the country.
Wigeon - (eclipse male)
Mute Swan - male & female
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