For two solid days it has rained without any kind of reprieve so when it had slowed to a slight spit this morning I was determined to get out and see what my news lens could do in poor light. Last week I bought the Canon 400mm f5.6L for flight and action shots. The bad weather seems to be everywhere in the country at the moment and so I stayed local. Went to Elton reservoir in Bury about five miles from home. The water levels at Elton are extremely low though it is good for the birds as the exposed mud holds plenty of food. As trips go the beginning of this one was poor. First scans of the water revealed nothing more than Mallards, Coots, Canada and domestic geese and plenty of black headed and juvenile lesser black backed gulls. The cormorants that often sit on top of the pylons were also there and crows scavenged at the waters edge. The weather also decided to worsen so after only a dozen yards I was forced back into the car where I sat and waited for the rain to stop. On the far side of the reservoir there where sun brightened clouds so I was sure I wouldn’t have to wait long. Fifteen minutes later the squall passed, the sun came out and so did the birds.

As the sun came out I loved how it made the water glisten. I thought this boat made a lovely little composition.

 

One coot appeared from out of the grass with something quite large dangling from his beak. Later studying the photo I believe it is a freshwater mussel but it is huge and began to attract rather a lot of attention from gulls nearby. Not surprisingly the coot soon lost his meal to a juvenile lesser black backed gull who then had to fly for his life with half a dozen hungry gulls on his tail. Most gulls gave up soon enough but one gull was determined to steal the prize and an extraordinary long chase ensued. Wheeling and diving , twisting and turning the gull tried in vain to shake off his pursuer. Up and down the reservoir they flew sometimes disappearing from view before they came back into sight screeching loudly. In the end the efforts of neither gull where to be rewarded. Flying low back down towards the jetty the gull dropped the mussel and because of its weight it sank quickly under the water and out of sight.

Gulls often pick up the strangest things. I think this is possibly a dogs ball ot something similar?

Coming back into the jetty the gulls also alerted me to the arrival of another bird. A single great crested grebe. At the start of the winter there were many of these birds on the sheltered waters but today few are present. He stayed and fished for a while but he was very wary and never came very close at all. I was getting cold and decided to walk a bit further up the waters edge and that is when I noticed them. A raft of ducks swimming in my direction. Flashes of white I knew instantly what these were and they were a very welcome addition to the days birding.