WE ARE IN LOCKDOWN, BUT BOREDOM HAS ALREADY TAKEN OVER, HOWEVER I  DECIDED IJUST HAD TO HAVE A TRIP TO SWITHLAND RESERVOIR, I WAS DOING NO HARM.

Officially under our lockdown rules we are only allowed out to go shopping and for exercise using the car, I decided to mix the two, shop for some bird images and exercise on the Dam wall at Swithland Reservoir, on arrival I found many more birders doing exactly the same, we all kept well apart, social distancing of  20 metres plus, and all being very responsible. I just wish more of our inhabitants would do likewise, we are in lockdown and our case numbers are rising, how can this be if people are being sensible???

I spent the bulk of my time on the Dam, but unfortunately nothing initially came very close but after a while other ducks decided to visit the area but non came as close as I would have liked unfortunately .

All in all it was an enjoyable time and well worth the time, I may venture farther next week, but you can't push your luck too much.

Unfortunately nothing came very close so for the first time I took Nikons advice and cropped the images very heavily and it appears to have worked reasonably well.

This is a bit of a different  post for me with not all the images taken in the last week.

Great Crested Grebe, off the Dam.

This bird was the only Grebe to venture that bit closer to the Dam but was still in excess of 100 metres away.

Male Goldeneye Duck.

Whilst watching the Grebe this duck suddenly appeared nearby, I had not noticed it previously but  a good arrival for me.

Then a quick dive.

Adult Male Tufted Duck {Scaup }

After a short time more ducks appeared and slowly came my way.

He does not appear to have much of a tuft, but love the eye.

Female Tufted  Duck.

The only one I managed a reasonable shot from, the rest all kept away.

Female has the white above the beak, again not much of a tuft.

Mallard Female.

Several pairs came in with the Tufted ducks.

Then she had a quick dive.

Mallard,Male .

A much maligned duck.

They really are a beautifully marked Duck. 

 

 

 

Male Shoveler duck.

These two then appeared, followed by. These were a silly distance away.

This pair.

Mute Swan Adult Male .

Swam past with a Cygnet in tow.

Swam by  following he male then turned around and came back only to then chase back after the adult.

Black Headed Gull.

It appears where ever you go at the moment you find these birds, they are even flying about over our land,

This one took off from between some Tufted Ducks.

And this one had a snooze.

Pair of Wigeon.

This pair then swam in but considerably farther out from me.

SOME MORE RED KITE IMAGES.

These are more of the images taken on my visit pre lockdown, unusual for me to take more than required, I usually prefer to watch the birds, its far more entertaining. Something I have recently learned about these birds, the shallower the V in the tail, the younger the bird, mind to me the tails appear identical.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit as much as I did in the getting of the images. Our lockdown finishes on the 2nd of December, I can ten return to my normal haunts with hopefully some Short Eared Owls,