A Golden Return

At last the Golden Plover has returned to local areas for the Winter.

A couple of weeks ago there were about 20 at Lodmoor Reserve, now I lost count of how many there are. I don't often count birds anyway.

In order to get these images I was using a a 600mm equivalent lens with a 2 X converter. 

The main flock was still at some distance, hence the poor quality of the images.

Breeding in the Northern uplands the Golden Plover sensibly overwinters mostly in Southern England.

 

Another Lodmoor Reserve Visit.

Some more action from the Reserve at Lodmoor Weymouth.

The Common Snipe were showing quite well and in a position to get some shots.

Grey Heron are always in attendance somewhere on the Reserve.

Canada Geese are also returning in some numbers now and will be observed either flying around or feeding during the Winter period.

This Little Egret was hiding in a small stream of water leading from the main body of the lake.

Black-tailed Godwit

While I was visiting Lodmoor Reserve Weymouth a few days ago I was fortunate enough to see this Pair of Black-tailed Godwits arrive and land on the edge of water at the Northern end of the Reserve.

I was able to make my way through a small tree lined hedge and take many of these images below.

From what I read about the species in general, this appears to be new arrivals from their breeding grounds in Iceland.  They still have some of their breeding plumage. The icelandic birds winter in southern UK.

The flight shots here were taken later on another part of the Reserve as they moved around searching for food.

The female is larger than the male of this species.