Drake Shoveler at Par

Just a handful of ducks now remain at Par beach pool including this drake Shoveler.  For some reason this bird has always chosen to stay at the back of the pool until this morning.  I managed to get this shot when it was about ten yards away.  The lens is very close to the water surface, hence the out of focus "boket" effect.  Aperture is F/5.6

The Goosanders have now departed the neighbouring St Andrew's Pool but I took this shot a couple weeks back.  After a review of the images, I overlooked this shot.

Female Goosander at St Andrew's Pool, Feb 2012.

Goosanders at St Andrew's Pool

I checked St Andrew's Pool today for the Goosanders which have been seen here recently.  Goosanders are a regular sight here; last year I counted seventeen females.  Today I saw three females and a splendid drake.  

Add caption

Goosanders at St. Andrew's Pond, Par



Thirteen Goosanders were seen today at St. Andrew's Pond, near Par. 2011 has been an excellent year for this speices in Cornwall, with double figures recorded at several sites.

Porth Reservoir specialities

Ad. male Ring-necked Duck above with female Tufted Ducks.   Porth Res. is a favoured location for Ring-necked Duck and many of the county's 60 or so records have been found here.  Below are three male and three female Goosanders which made a few fly-pasts but failed to settle.  Goosanders are scarce passage migrants and winter visitors to Cornwall.

A quick visit to Chew Valley Lake

I spent a few enjoyable hours at Chew Valley Lake last Saturday while the wife did some retail therapy in Bath. It's the first time in 17 years since I was here last and the quality of birds hasn't diminished. The images below were taken at fairly close range. It was a pity that the Water Pipits and Smew were out of range but the birds below made up for it.