WWT Martin Mere

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

Its been too long !!!

Its felt like an age since I last updated my blog, been concentrating too much on other things, and have somewhat neglected my blog, hopefully will put that right and keep it updated a little more.
Lots been going on in recent months on the walking and wildlife front and I will try and summarise it with a few photos. Also lots coming on the horizon, the main project I am workinbg on now is selecting photos to produce as prints to go on sale, as well as getting out with the camera and walking if the rain ever stops!!
One of the most recent highlights was a trip up to the Farne Islands, and to see the amazing Puffins

I have wanted to get some shots of Hares for a long time, and whilst out last week caught sight of one hunkered down in a field on the Wirral

Another shot I have been after for some time, is that enigmatic pose on the side of a tree of a nuthatch, this I got at Pistyll Rhaedr Falls, on the Berwyns in North Wales.





On the walking front, the highlight has to be the trip to Greece to climb Mount Olympus, standing at 2917m or 9570ft, it is one of Europes highest, and was an amazing experience that I will long remember. I went with Sharon and a group of friends, and the two of us can proudly boast that we were the only ones to climb it from sea level to the top. An amazing week in Greece, and a few photos below.


The first is in the Enipeas Canyon on the first day trekking up Olympus, one of the most stunningly beautiful walks I have been on








The team as we are well and truly above the snow line





And successfully at the top





And as we left on summit morning, sunrise over the Aegean from the refuge at 2000m up Olympus.





One of my favourite photos this year has to be the two Mute Swans on Ullswater in the Lake District, they looked so serene on a misty spring morning.





So much more that I havent published, I will get some more up of the missing months in my next post.....