A few shots....

[PeterBirder]

...from this weeks wanderings on the reserve.

I found a Smooth Newt (Triturus vulgaris in one of the small ponds.


Here's the pond.


The pond is so small it dries out in the Summer.
If I'd had the right lens on I could have got a nice shot of the Pied Wagtail on the fence. The dots in the sky are not dust on the sensor but the clouds of insects that have just hatched, great food for some birds but a pain for visitors.


A beautiful male Red Crested Pochard (Netta rufina), one of my favourite ducks.



A male Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flavissima) just returned from his winter holiday in Africa.


Thanks for looking.

[Tordan58]

Re: A few shots....

Nice set Peter. What reserve is it?

Red-Crested Pochard are extremely rare visitors here, first ever confirmed settling was in 2012. Thanks for sharing.

[Olybirder]

Re: A few shots....

That Red Crested Pochard is a beautiful bird Peter. It's also nice to see the Yellow Wagtails. Hopefully some will turn up at Carlton Marshes in the next few weeks, as they did last year. Nice shots.

Ron

[PeterBirder]

Re: A few shots....

Nice set Peter. What reserve is it?

Red-Crested Pochard are extremely rare visitors here, first ever confirmed settling was in 2012. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Tord.

The reserve is the Essex Wildlife Trust reserve at Abberton Reservoir where I am a volunteer. See here:http://www.essexwt.org.uk/reserves/abberton-reservoir
Red Crested Pochard are regarded as "regular vagrants" in the UK with 10-50 records each year. However we have a small regular population in this part of England some of which breed and we see them each year at Abberton.

Regards.

Edit. We also get the occasional Pochard/ Red crested Pochard crossbreeds which I believe are the result of breeding here.

[PeterBirder]

Re: A few shots....

That Red Crested Pochard is a beautiful bird Peter. It's also nice to see the Yellow Wagtails. Hopefully some will turn up at Carlton Marshes in the next few weeks, as they did last year. Nice shots.

Ron

Thanks Ron.
Yellow Wagtails are regulars here and I saw the first one a couple of weeks ago which is early. This one kindly presented itself on the pond in front of the visitor centre viewing terrace the other day.

Regards.

[Zuiko]

Re: A few shots....

Hi Peter, glad to see you are taking advantange of the better weather. Rarely see newts now but they were common when I was a boy. One of the ponds where I used to see them have even been drained and built upon.

Love the pochard and yellow wagtail.

[PeterBirder]

Re: A few shots....

Thanks John.

I can't remember the last time I saw a Newt but they've now been seen in two different ponds on the reserve this year.

Regards.

[tomphotofx]

Re: A few shots....

Lovely set Peter I like the wagtail.

[Zuiko]

Re: A few shots....

Thanks John.

I can't remember the last time I saw a Newt but they've now been seen in two different ponds on the reserve this year.

Regards.

When I lived in Chelmsford we had an ornamental fish pond which eventually we let become "wild." It was amazing the amount of widlife it attracted; we had frogs, newts, diving beetles, water boatmen, whirlygigs (I don't remember if that's the proper name or one we made up) and various nympths.

[PeterBirder]

Re: A few shots....

When I lived in Chelmsford we had an ornamental fish pond which eventually we let become "wild." It was amazing the amount of widlife it attracted; we had frogs, newts, diving beetles, water boatmen, whirlygigs (I don't remember if that's the proper name or one we made up) and various nympths.

There's two sorts of Whirligig. The Whirligig Beetle (Gyrinus natator) and the Hairy Wirligig (Oretochilus villosus) which is nocturnal.

I've never been lucky enough to have any Nymphs in my garden (or even the Shepherds who frequently accompany them).

From Wikepedia.
"A nymph (Greek: νύμφη, nymphē) in Greek mythology and in Latin mythology is a minor female nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing; their amorous freedom sets them apart from the restricted and chaste wives and daughters of the Greek polis."

[banjukes]

Re: A few shots....

I like the wagtail. never noticed the yellow variety before.

[PeterBirder]

Re: A few shots....

I like the wagtail. never noticed the yellow variety before.

Thanks Conor.

I'm afraid you're unlikely to see a Yellow Wagtail in Ireland. They only occur in central and eastern England, eastern Wales and south west Scotland. Their numbers are declining and they are on the "Red List" of birds of conservation concern.

On the positive side you should see Grey Wagtails, (which are grey on the upper parts but yellow underneath) at any time of year while we only see them in winter.

Regards.