Was It Worth It !

Slavonian Grebe - 24.03.2021

Over the last few weeks I've noted one or two Slavonian Grebes around the area but to get reasonable images they really need to be located on a relatively small lake very much like the last one I can across at Brickfield Lake in Rhyl North Wales. One such location caught my attention having seen images was a small lake in Kirk Hallam, a quick check on Google Maps confirmed the ideal location so a trip was planned over to the dark side !

Slavonian Grebe's can be describes certainly in the UK as a very rare breeder with only an estimated breeding population of around 20 pairs found in the very north of Scotland and the Shetland Islands so the possibility of images of a Slavonian Grebe on passage back to their breeding ground is a rare opportunity. 

On arrival I'm surprised to find the small lake is located quite close to a residential housing estate popular with walkers benefiting from a path that circumnavigates close to the lake, but not so much disruption to dissuade the grebe that's been in the area for quite a few weeks.

Before I commit to unloading the gear a decide to do a quick rece, having walked to the far side scanning there's no sign of the grebe and I'm beginning to reconcile myself it may have moved on. Then on the way back on the other side of the lake I locate the grebe, it's right under the bank diving and fishing along the edge, having initially scanned the centre of the lake and it's there all the while right under my nose !

Over the next hour or so I watch and follow the grebe as it's circulates the lake at times giving some very close encounters, far closer than I ever imaged possible occasionally surfacing with a small fish, I missed that shot ! Now around midday conditions have changed, the sun's out, great for sunbathing but not for photography, it's become busy with walkers enjoying the great weather signalling the grebe to seek a quieter location eventually tucking it's head under a wing for the remainder of my visit.

The morning has been a great session the afternoon not so much, the morning providing the only images worth keeping. I've seen two memorable birds in the last few weeks and this encounter will go down as one of the best.

Slavonian Grebe

Lean Pickings

19.03.21

It's been tough and a non productive morning as the GCG's I've been watching aren't performing unlike the previous week so a change of plan as I've located some Scottish Longhorn cattle which I thought would make for some different images.

As I make my way across the field the cattle see me...ok ! they don't show any aggressive tendencies which is always good in fact they seem pretty friendly and start walking towards me, not good as I have a long lens and they are big, very big, frame filling, so I have to retreat. 

What you'll find with Longhorn cattle is they don't do much, they stand, don't move apart from chew, then they lay down so not to many options on composition, anyway after a lot of waiting I've managed some shots before returning to those not very obliging grebes !

Scottish Longhorn

Continental Duck !

16.03.2021

There's been several reports of RCP around the area over the last couple of months, a male I think at Elton later seen a few miles away on a lake in Walkden and several females around the Cheshire boarders but none of the areas being ideal getting images. Then just before Xmas there was a report of a drake at a location quite close that looked promising but then Covid got in the way.

Now some months later I'm surprised to see the RCP is still present on this small lake an opportunity worth having a look. As I arrive the weather is grey and overcast but it soon turns bright sunny morning, sunlight is something that can work if it is behind you, if not, can generate white water that never looks good. 

Well I'm in luck, the RCP is busy catching up with some maintenance and I've managed to position myself into a nice muddy position, sun behind enhancing that vivid orange head and red bill one of the most colourful of ducks in the region. The RCP is going through all sorts of contortions, wing flapping, bill waving giving shots different from the ordinary. Having spent over thirty minuets shooting more shots than I really need I call time. I just need now to get rid of about eighty percent of the 60 meg file rejects generated by the R5 to save clogging up my laptop !

Initially not being in great position shooting some duff images I'm happy with what I've managed, well worth the visit seeing a duck I normally see in southern Spain but I suspect is not a true wild individual, but hey, it's a morning out in some nice weather in a grey period which keeps me motivated and positive.

 Stay safe. 

Red-crested Pochard

Lost & Way Off Course

Fulwood - 15.3.21

Work in progress

Long-tailed Skua

Grebe Time !

Lancashire - 9.03.21

Well looks like I have a work in progress project !

Over the last few weeks I've been searching for a suitable location where I could photograph Great Crested Grebes at the early stage of the breeding season, after a lot of searching with either been single bird, lakes too large, unsuitable lake edge lacking colour or just to elevated to get a low shot, but it's looking like I may have found somewhere ! still not ideal but it's something work on over the next few weeks.

Here's a few images taken on a recent rece visit on what was a very cloudy day, but hey I'm not complaining I just now need to put in some time and see what develops.

Stay safe

Great Crested Grebe