A Duck Day - Lodmoor

The last few days have seen the onset of very cold temperatures relatively, with little wind. 

My photographic pursuits have centred around the Reserve at Lodmoor, Weymouth.

The main reason being that everywhere else was or had been flooded from the storms a week ago.

The day didn't start well as I was informed that I had missed a Glossy Ibis by about 15 minutes which had unhelpfully taken flight and left the area. The resident Golden Plover flock had decreased by two thirds and the Green winged Teal was so far away that a photograph was not possible,

Luckly I did find a pair of Wigeon that had arrived at one end of the Reserve and was hurriedly feeding up on grass. A beautiful duck that is always worthy of a photograph.

What is common and found all the year around at Lodmoor is the Eurasian Teal Duck.

Not so common, but generally visits in small numbers is the instantly recognisable Avocet.

However as it was an extremely bright day with low Sun, the Avocet is not the best species to photograph. Even though I underexposed a lot, it was difficult to reveal the eye sufficiently. I may learn this one day.

 

There is always going to be a Robin to practice on and at this time provide some seeds for, because of the extreme gold.

Another regular is the Blue Tit.

In this area of the Country in the Winter the Chiffchaff finds food and shelter easily.

Many Lapwing were observed on the ground and flying around in disturbed flocks.

Mr Grey Heron rests and looks on after a spot of fishing.

 

Bearded Tit - Good Start to New Year

A really good start to 2025 and quite unexpected, based on recent indifferent fortunes.

The 'Bearded Tit' or as the more sensitive call it 'Bearded Reedling' was observed at Radipole Lake Weymouth.

'The British Trust for Ornithology and the RSPB call it Bearded Tit'. So that is good enough for me.

Male

Female

Local Walk - End of Year Post

A final local walk of the year proved to be better than expected.

The very dull overcast weather we have had over the Christmas period was eventually made worse by thick fog rolling in over the Ridgeway from the sea.

However a walk along the usual local areas I go provided a surprise or two.

A pair of Collard Doves are now frequenting a local mini Nature Reserve on the Northern edge of Town.

I have observed this Grey Squirrel before, sitting in this position. 

The last time he was asleep when it was a nice sunny day.

What I did not expect to find was this male Kingfisher by a local bridge. I was stood on the middle part of the bridge and he flew into a small tree on one side. It then dived and I didn't see what if anything it had caught when retuning to the same perch. It dived again and returned to an adjacent perch in the tree.

It then crossed over the bridge in front of me and perched in another tree the other side. 

Both perches it used were quite close and it was undeterred by my presence.

It dived into the water there, caught something and flew off down the river.

Definitely click this image for the full effect.

A lonely Moorhen was creeping about the undergrowth, but then disappeared.

As I remained on the bridge, a Chiffchaff flew into the trees on one side. There is often one or two in this area and this multiplies in the early Spring as they fly over the water catching river flies. 

This Chiffy flew up in the air several times catching flies that were still around in this cold weather.

Along the river walk a brave Cormorant was observed swimming along and diving frequently.

It is only a small river at this point measuring no more than 3 metres across.

Like the Kingfisher above, food is at a premium for it now, especially as the rivers in the area have flooded regularly in the recent months.

A female Stonechat made up the nice group of birds I did not really expect to see.

It wouldn't be Christmas without a Robin being observed.

To all my readers, all the best for 2025.