Redesmere Lake

 I had a day off this week and it also just so happened to be a sunny but cold day. It was a sad day as it was the funeral of a good friend of mine. To take my mind off things I headed over to Redesmere in the morning to see if I could make use of the good sunlight. There was plenty around, both on the water and in the trees. Plenty of gulls, Tufted Duck, and Great Crested Grebe, with the odd Kingfisher and Redwing.

Great Crested Grebe in its winter plumage

This Treecreeper was busy picking away underneath the bark

The Tufted Ducks were looking particularly fine in the sun

There are only ever one or two Lesser Black-backed Gulls in amongst the Black headed Gulls. A good size comparison here with the Lesser on the right.

A very good looking Lesser Black-backed Gull

Redesmere

There were quite a few other ducks, geese and gulls at Redesmere last week. Here are just a few of them. Hopefully there may be a few rarer birds as we go into the winter months. It would be even better if there is sunshine like this all the time. Light makes photography so much easier. All that's needed then are the birds.

Great Crested Grebe about to take off

A nice male Tufted Duck

And the female.

Tufted Duck - Redesmere

A lazy Sunday afternoon, and I wasn't feeling too well. I thought I'd try and cheer myself up and go for a stroll with the camera. I headed to Redesmere, just a few miles from home. It's a pretty vast lake and I didn't really know what to expect, as I'd only ever been here in the winter when it is good for geese among other things.
There were lots of the usual gulls being fed by families enjoying the warm sunshine, but it was a small family of Tufted Ducks that caught my eye. There were only three juveniles but they all looked in good condition. No sign of the male though. I guess he was busy down the pub with his mates taking a well earned rest.

Mum, on high alert with the young ones around.



One of the little fluff balls.

One day, when those wings have grown a little more, you'll be able to fly.



Redesmere

With not  a lot going on in my usual birding places, I popped over to Redesmere once again. Only things on note really were a couple of Goosander at the far side. They were too far away for my lens, but they are a lovely bird to see.
I made do with some birds that came closer to me.

Coot.

Tufted Duck.

 

A Mallard having a stretch

 

Redesmere

The light was fantastic at Redesmere on Wednesday. Everything looks so much better in the sunshine, and that goes for photos too. A lot of the work is already done for you. You just need some nice birds to be in the area. I managed to get both.

Great Crested Grebe, gave some very good views.

Tufted Ducks were relatively tame.

A young Mallard.

Tufties

Dozens and dozens of Tufted Ducks flying around Pennington Flash this morning. They seemed to take an age to actually decide where to land, but it was nice to watch them in the early morning sunshine.

Quite obvious from this shot as to why they have their name.