Photographs

Lesser scaup

Access to my favorite local birding spot, Wilstone Reservoir, has been difficult over th last 6 months or so, during that time some very good birds have shown up, but we have not been to see them or if we did they were in the inaccessible area.

Lesser scaup

So we were please when in early April a Lesser Scaup turned up, and the Reservoir and car park were fully open again.

Lesser scaup

It is not a common bird in the UK, we have only seen a couple before a male on a lake that was never more than a dot in the telescope and a female at Slimbridge that was a lot closer, I Hoped this one would be a bit closer.

Lesser scaup

It never came close enough to the hide to allow for any where near good photos, but did come near enough for recognisable record shots with its entourage of four tufties.

Oystercatcher

These are not numerous but also not uncommon at Wilstone, but they always seem a bit incongruous when we see them on the spit.

Oystercatcher

This one pottered about in front of the hide for the whole hour we were there, always on it's own.

Oystercatcher

I expect it will be off to breed somewhere else soon.

Great crested grebe

A pair of these beauties kept starting up there pairing dance but it never got going properly.

Great crested grebe

Some times it really looked as if the dance was going to get going, but just a tease.

Great crested grebe

I guess the male did not come up to scratch because eventuslly one just swam off and it was all over without the dancing shots I was hoping for.

Lesser black backed gull

Gulls are generally not much appreciated pooping everywhere and nicking chips, but I think the lesser black back is one of the most attractive. This one, on the spit had nesting on its mind.

Lesser black backed gull

This one appeared to be really pecking a stone very hard, but I realised it would have broken its beak if it were a stone, but I could not believe an egg could have survived such a walloping.

Lesser black backed gull

Eventually it became obvious it was an egg, by it's size a goose egg, I think probably a Canada Goose.

Lesser black backed gull

As well as pecking it the bird kept picking it up and carrying it, it didn't look as if it should fit in its widely stretche beak.

Lesser black backed

It seems cruel, but the gull has to eat to survive, and fortunately there are plenty, if not too many, Canada Geese around the Tring reservoirs in my opinion.

Lesser black backed gull

It took along time to break in to the egg the first time, but once the bird had broken through the shell it took out pieces until it could eat the entire contents.

Lesser black backed gull

Sadly we did not see how the egg got onto the spit, I can't believe the bird flew with it in it's mouth, and there certain there was not a nest anywhere near where the bird eat it, we will never know.

Large Red Damselfly

By the middle of the month we have started to see one or two of these damselflies in the garden, but not near the newly cleaned pond.

Large red damselfly

This is one of our most common damselflies, with a fairly long season so very easy to see.

Empertor Moth

This is the time of year when the beautiful Emperor Moth flies, they are very hard to find without a lure so I gave mine a try on the 23rd and attracted 3 or 4 but only one could be tempted to sit still for a photo.They are best attracted in mid afternoon.

Holly Blue

Though there are lots of them around this spring, I have been having a lot of trouble trying to find one that perches where I can take it's photo, this was my best shot so far this year. They are particularly difficult to catch with their wings open.

Holly Blue

This has been a good year for Holly Blues around us, we are seeing them many times everyday, in on particular stretch of hedge we see 3 or 4 at a time.