Venus Pool - Garganey in a flap!

The light was dire, the weather apalling but amongst other good birds, the drake Garganey was astill present - went almost unnoticed today!

The resident male Shelduck has serious 'anger management' issues and whilst it spends most hours of the day chasing almost everything, the Garganey seems to be the 'little guy' he picks on!

A moment for a breather in front of me!

 Whoops here he comes again!!

Shutter speed in short supply but hey that wind blur looks dynamic - this is ART!

Back to the waders next.....

Venus Pool - Sanderling!

It was hardly a big wader day but with easterly winds, low cloud and drizzle - the omens which looked good at least produced some excitement! Firstly in the form of a Sanderling :-)

Settled at first and busily feeding up as they do.....

Another dash across the mud....

Constantly being moved about by the territorial Little Ringed Plovers!

Will I be safe on the nearest island?

For a moment anyway!

This was the pick of the waders but there's more to come.....

Venus Pool - Redshank

A Redshank had been downed by the rain and present all morning. With so many other things (birds) going on, I eventually caught up with it from the North hide.....

It wasn't doing much!

But eventually ventured into deeper water.....

Striding around the margins....

Eventually giving a nice show of those smart legs!

Caught in mid stride....

What else is showing well today?

Venus Pool - Garganey

After enjoying the 'bonus' drake Garganey  the previous day to brighten up the #BIGday. I had a chance to spend more time with it today (in much better light) from the members hide. A fiercely territorial Coot spoilt things generally but gave the opportunity for a flight shot or two!

It always tried to come back......

 Keeping a wary eye out for the Coot!

Occasionally lit up in the sunshine.....

Plenty of posing opportunities!

And 'feeding' which it did for most of the time!

And yes, it did come as close as you could hope for  :-)

Never mind the BIG day, it certainly brightened up proceedings today!

Venus Pool - Common Buzzard

I'm used to posting a sequence of images but I'll settle for this singleton of Common Buzzard as it circled low in front of the hide. Not quite the perfect angle for a SOS emblem shot but a frame filler worth keeping!

Common maybe, but showing uncommonly well!

Venus Pool - Hirundines

Not a lot happening today but a Hobby sped over the hide at 1.45!! Good numbers of hirundines with a few Swallow, 2 House Martin, 4 Swift and c30 Sand Martin. Nothing else to do so tried my luck at capyriung one or two of the Sand Martins.....

Never easy, just try and lock onto one.....

And hope the servo does the rest!

Oh and a Dunlin briefly present.....

Venus Pool - Dunlin

Waders haven't really got going yet and this was my first Dunlin of the year at VP and for a change, as obliging as they come here!

Feeding like there's no tomorrow!

A rare 'head up' pause!

Spent quite a bit of time under the bank.....

Covering just about every portrait angle!

He seemed to be tagging along with up to 3 Common Sandpipers.....

Which are coming next!