Sunday 14 September 2008

Bridgnorth - Mandarin up close

Garish or what!! One or two Mandarin are regular visitors to the Severn at Bridgnorth and this drake was attracting more than a few admiring glances!!

Some folk are never pleased, it was sheltering under a distant Willow as I arrived.....






And then it was too close!! So, variations on a theme of sheer indulgence - is a brighter, more colourful bird possible?














Photo session over, it was back under the Willow, a quick preen and then 40 winks......






Saturday was vitually imageless! No doubt whatsoever of the highlight however - an amazing TEN Greenshank which dropped onto the main island at VP!! They were well spread out and impossible to record as a group but you can tell from this little taster just how vocal they were!! They didn't stay long though...