Psilos Bird Journal
Wednesday January 30th 2008
     
"Tractors and valentines"
 
Shelduck
 
Another bitterly cold day on the mere and there was nothing to inspire me. Nothing was flying about and there was no action to be found anywhere. An hour and a half went by without barely taking aphoto and I was thinking of heading home. But then it seemed fortune favours the brave and onto the scene came a tractor....
Wigeon
Now this was more like it! Up went the Geese and the ducks and they were heading right in my direction. The whoopers stayed grounded. It takes alot to scare them up but the Shelduck, Wigeon and Pintail were very spooked and flying out of there as fast as they could. With a sky full of birds it is difficult to decide which to photograph first and to make the most of the opportunity you have to work very fast.
Greylag geese
Greylag geese
 
Shelduck
Shelduck & Pintail
 
Sadly you cannot work fast enough to take all the shots you want to take. In truth I didnt get all that many as the action was over so very quickly. However I did get something quite magical. An almost perfect heart formation from the Shelducks. The photo below is just how it was. No birds added and none taken away. Right in time for Valentines day.
 
Shelduck
 

Back on the Mere and a small group of Goldeneye had dropped in. The males were busy displaying and the females were busy ignoring them. The light by now had gone but I photographed them anyway as I thought they were cute.

In the end not the best of days. Thank heavens for the tractor but one magical photo did come out of the day so I was really pleased.
 
Goldeneye