Early September is a fairly quiet time for photographing birds, as many of the migrants have left, and we await the winter migrants arrival. Still it was worth a venture out to Blashford Lakes again, though I did not see the reported Little Stint or Osprey, these three all year round residents of the reserve were worth watching and photographing. First a Great Crested Grebe. And from the same hide,
I spent a couple of afternoons at Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve on the late August Bank Holiday, one in reasonably sunny weather, the other far more overcast. On the first afternoon there were good views of a Common Sandpiper outside the Tern Hide. Further around the reserve, at the aptly named Lapwing Hide, there were a number of lapwings nearby. Finally from the first day was this flying gull. On
When birds come close to the front of the Tern Hide at Blashford Lakes, then nice large images can be taken of the them. This was the case today as a Lapwing patrolled the gravel outside of the hide. The wind blowing its head feathers into a punk like appearance. Also close to the shore was a Little Grebe – swimming along next to the gravel.
On a recent visit to Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve, I had the pleasure to watch and photograph some Common Terns feeding their youngsters at close range. Viewing them from the aptly named Tern Hide overlooking Ibsley Water, the young terns perched on posts only a few feet from the windows. Here is a profile picture of one of the juvenilles sitting on one of said posts. I was also fortunate
Summer is a time of colour for birds – with the adults in their breeding plummage – and the youngsters adding to is as they start to fledge. Perhaps one of the more startling transformations that is viewable in the UK is that of the Turnstone. From a drab white and brown winter birds – the adult breeding plumage is a bright orange. I was lucky enough to see one
Nature is amazing, and often amusing, like this young Starling that today, whilst pulling of an impressive Balancing act – see the video for this, managed to pull of some great expressions that could certainly make it a contender for inclusion in the popular game Angry Birds.
Emperor of the Skies by Chris Atkinson on 500px
The monster in yellow by Peter Atkinson on 500px
Why does it always rain on me ? by Chris Atkinson on 500px
A freezing cold end of January afternoon called for a walk around somewhere coastal & exposed. The place to do that nearby, was chosen to be Normandy Marsh, part of the Keyhaven – Lymington Nature Reserve, where it is really exposed. Armed with a folding seat and my 300mm lens and 1.4x converter, I set off on a hunt for some wading winter birds. As the tide was out, but
