One of my favourite places to visit is the Wildfowl and Wetlands trust at Martin Mere, especially in the winter when it is the host of 1000's of Whooper Swans that over winter here before returning to their breeding grounds in Iceland. Sharon has never been so I was really keen to get her there to see these amazing birds, so it was a little disappointing that we were a little early as only a few Whooper families had arrived back. But the visit was still really exciting as we sat and watched 1000's of Pink Footed Geese coming in to land and roost on the Mere after returning from feeding on the surrounding fields. These birds are on a short stop over in Lancashire as they make their way from the arctic to their summer home on the Norfolk coast area.
I also got the opportunity to photograph my favourite Eider ducks and a delightful Mute Swan family who posed lovely and back lit from the setting sun.
A couple of reflective Eiders
A wet Shelduck
One of the first Whooper families to arrive back from Iceland
Another family arriving
Not a lot of room on the crowded Mere
Amazing pictures. Findlay will love looking at this post tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThanks Heather, Findlays blog is an absolute joy to see, it's so refreshing to see a youngster so inspired by the natural world!!
DeleteBrilliant photography Gary.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bob
DeleteA lot of heavy sighing going on over here. Your photos are exquisite, Gary!!! The two top ones especially - the bird looks like it's floating on a pool of mercury. It has an almost surreal quality to it. BRAVO!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, I do like the Eider shots.
DeleteLike my mum said I really did enjoy reading that post, it is one of my favourite reserves as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Findlay, Martin Mere is a great place, I cant wait to get back there once all the Whoopers are back from Iceland
DeleteMM is certainly a good place for bird photography Gary, if sometimes hard to single out subjects beacuse of the sheer mass of birds. Nice to gwet close ups of Eider though and your shot of the serene Whoopers is just great.
ReplyDeleteyour photos are so beautiful, very good work.
ReplyDeleteAn inspiration for any budding wildlife photographer to follow suit Gary. The Eiders are brilliant....and I've 'nicked' one!!
ReplyDeleteLove the lighting on those Mute Swans Gary.
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