Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve near Haven is run by Hampshire County Council and is open Weds-Sundays. There is a charge for visiting the reserve itself which now has 8 bird hides which overlook reedbeds and fields. There are two sides to walk round, one is a boardwalk through trees, the other a mostly gravel path. Parking is free on the nearby shoreline. The reserve is a breeding ground in Summer
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.
Slimbridge is a Wildlife & WetLands Trust in Gloucestershire. The reserve is extensive and features several hides overlooking both the Trusts captive birds and out of the reserve to local wild birds. Slimbridge is just of the M5 between Bristol and Gloucester, and is open all year bar Christmas Day. Tickets to the reserve can be bought in advance online ( and at the time of writing this saves 10%
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
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
As a visitor to Radipole Nature Reserve on occassions, I have only once before seen any of the Bearded Tits that are resident there. This afternoon was my second fortunate occassion to see and photograph these pretty birds. The only downside being the light was not the best – however seeing these birds is a treat whatever the weather. Here are my best three shots of them. Of course they
A wandering walk from Tuckton, over towards Wick on a dullish but dry day saw me keep three completely different types of picture. Firstly a contrast in size shot of two birds on the river bank. Further round I found a bouy tied near to a post. I took this intentionally to play with Topaz Glow later, as well as some of some reeds which did not work so well.
On a post Christmas visit to Blashford Lakes, to try out a Pro Viewfinder Loupe ( a loupe that fits on the LCD screen on Canon Cameras that enables easier videoing, as it acts as an eyepeice ), I was fortunate to see a very beautiful kingfisher. Not only was the kingfisher fairly close to the Ivy North Hide window, but it stayed around for a fair while, enabling me to shoot some photos of the bird, as well as video it.
The Loupe worked very well and I was able to use my Canon with a 300mm F4 Lens, plus 1.4 x Convertor much easier in video mode, as I could hold it up to my eye to video & not have to have it at arms lengths.
Here are a couple of photos of said Kingfisher.
