8th-13th October 2022
Messing about...
I got some new kit so I've been seeing just what it can do. I can't say I'm entirely comfortable with it yet but I am impressed with some of the results. We'll see if it grows on me. Part of me wants to be back with the 7D but this new little box of tricks has a lot going for it.
September 27th: Saltholme
Quick trip North to see if the nightjar was still present.
October 1st: Beacon Ponds, Kilnsea
Barred warbler in the long hedge near the Listening Dish [and reed bunting, wagtail].
October 8th: North Cave
I settled down for a while in South hide hoping for a kingfisher. One flew past but didn't land on any of the perches. I photographed cormorant, tufted duck, shoveler, ruddy shelduck, great black-backed gull, reed bunting and a few mute swans.
From Dryham Lane.
A few Autumn fruits...not sure what the first one is [a kind of cornus?], rowan and sloe.
October 10th: Tophill Low
First visit for a long time. Reserve is partly open. Basically the North end is closed off for now as is the Watton section. Still I saw the redhead smew in my scope on D reservoir and took a few photos in very poor light in South Marsh. Much cropped too. Green sandpiper, snipe and curlew.
I spent a while photographing little grebe [and mallard] in the second North Marsh lagoon.
October 12th: Saltholme
Phil Stead hide for the Yellowlegs. Ruff first, then the yellowlegs.
Walk down Greenabella but no sign of the long-tailed duck. Whoopers and a few flowers including a fascinating, very large prostrate cotoneaster. Good job one of the whoopers was awake!
October 13th: Hay-a-Park Lake
It's like a concentration camp for ducks. Fencing and warning signs everywhere. I remember years ago walking around freely. Anyone who got close-up views of the red-necked grebe almost certainly trespassed. I didn't but I found from the OS map a public footpath that gave views over the lake. Bull and geese discouraged me from going further so I photographed the bird from an extremely long way away.
First picture is the original photo before cropping.
