Venus Pool - Egyptian Goose action

I was ignoring the solitary Egyptian Goose which dropped in this morning but the Black-headed Gulls were giving him a hard time! Some 'different' poses were in the offing....

While a Little Grebe looked on...

Venus Pool - Little Ringed Plover

The sun was shining down on a Little Ringed Plover this afternoon, a chance for some pics hopefully?Mind the ducks and don't get to near to that Lesser!

Showing off nicely!

There were Warblers to enjoy as well!

Venus Pool - Warblers

Chiffchaffs have been very vocal lately and good numbers on the reserve! Getting their picture taken has proved another matter however! 

The best I could manage with Willow Warbler involved putting up with dense foliage, he nearly sneaked out for this pic!

 Looking forward to a Lesser Whitethroat now and hoping for a cooperative one!!

Venus Pool - Gulls settling in

Nothing much going on of late apart from some new visitors. Gulls now making themselves known and they put the Geese to shame when it comes to shrieking!

Lesser Black-backed Gulls the noisiest and it's lock up your eggs time already!

Other Lessers, know better than to drop in when these two potential residents get going!

Two shrieking has twice the effect...

Time for some attention too!

I tucked a pair of Black-headed Gulls at the bottom whilst they were busy copulating...

Outrageous behaviour but they need a good season to claw back more youngsters after avian flu...

Venus Pool - Little Ringed Plover

Another year tick wader at VP and this time a visitor which will hang around and find a partner! A fairly early Little Ringed Plover...

'Billy no mates' for now?

Patience required sadly...

Venus Pool - Curlew

I missed a Dunlin by minutes this morning but the consolation prize was a Curlew! These are occasional birds of late and this one was showing well despite the dire light...

Showing well!

Until spooked...

It stayed for about 30 mins when this unwelcoming Canada got nasty...

It meant goodbye!

Venus Pool - Great White Egret

I've had several long distance records of Great White Egret since the New Year but none produced any decent images. That was about to change...

The Venus Pool 'regular' had slipped out of the far reed bed and took me by surprise, flying down the middle of the pool!

After flying further away...

A Heron (out of view) had scrambled to steer the Egret off the reserve giving rise to an acrobatic dogfight and 'different' images!

As for the Egret - he will be back....

Venus Pool - Barnacle Goose

An un-ringed Barnacle Goose today at Venus Pool, a smart Goose whatever it's origin...

Distant at first, it paddled over the pool to the shingle island...

Waded into the shallows...

And always good to get a wingflap!

Venus Pool - Redshank

My second Redshank of the year and a much closer bird than the distant Wood Lane one. Here it comes...

Letting sleeping Shoveler lie...

Best foot forward...

Happy on land!

Or deeper water...

Making the most of good light with the last two!

More waders are due hopefully?