Martin Mere

Up to Martin Mere, where we haven't been for a long time. Lots of changes, new hides installed, old ones removed, new paths through the reed beds.

Lapwing

Lapwing

Female Tufted Duck

Usual array of small, flitting birds at the feeders, but the Brown Rats were far more entertaining.

Brown Rat

Brown Rats

Went for a wander through the reed beds. Not much around but a few Buzzards were on posts and roofs.

Buzzard

Saw at least half a dozen Snipe on a little mound. Never seen so many at once.

Snipes galore

Black-headed Gull trailing reed

Woodpigeon snoozing

Tree Sparrow

Martin Mere

Another of our regular visits to Martin Mere. Pink-footed Geese are gathering again.

Eider Ducks

Mallard feeding frenzy

Exotic Ducklings

Pink-footed Goose

Three Flying Ducks (where's Hilda Ogden?)

Pink-footed Goose

Panic over the mere

Female Mallard

Nesting Moorhen

Moorhen fledgling

Cormorant

Grey Heron

Buzzard

Buzzard

Buzzard

Buzzard

Feral Pigeon

Menacing Moorhen

Wildflower

Common Darter

Martin Mere

Stretching the legs around Martin Mere. Ferociously bright sun with cloudless skies. Not good for the photos but we saw some interesting stuff and got to test the new polarising filter for the 500mm lens. Conclusion: can make a big difference but not sure if I like it.

Barn Swallows

A Sedge Warbler was very busy singing from the top of a clump of reeds. Very reliable and entertaining from the comfort of the hide, but it never came any closer, so heavy crops to get a decent size in the photo.

Sedge Warbler

Red-legged Pheasant

Juvenile Moorhen being fed in the ditch

Grey Heron

Sedge Warbler

Birds were frequently seen trying to fly off with sticks that were far too large, and big clumps of nesting material in general.

Black-headed Gull with enormous stick

Female Blackcap

Moorhen feeding juveniles

Black-headed Gull (polariser shot)

Sleepy Mallard

Shelduck (polariser shot)

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker

Sedge Warbler

Martin Mere

An early look around Martin Mere, to stretch the legs after Christmas and stock up on bird food and a nest box. Nothing much about worth photographing in the harsh sunlight but the usual array of geese and swans were on the mere.

Whooper Swan

Mallard

Flying Whooper Swan family

We finally got a willing subject right at the end in the car park. A little too much sun on its white breast but well take what we can get.

Cheeky Black-headed Gull in car park

Black-headed Gull on car roof

Black-headed Gull on car roof