Photos from Leighton Moss: More water birds

A grey heron hunting in one of the wader scrapes. I don't usually consider non-standard crops - but I thought this one might make a bookmark.

NIKON D200    ---    300mm    f/8.0    1/250s    ISO 100

I love my 300mm f/4 lens, but it works best when the subject is reasonably close. Fortunately while I was photographing the black-headed gulls, a couple of interesting targets swam past the hide.

A great crested grebe surfaced in just the right place.

NIKON D200    ---    300mm    f/7.1    1/320s    ISO 100

It gave up fishing and dried out a bit before swimming back again.

NIKON D200    ---    300mm    f/8.0    1/200s    ISO 100

There were plenty of ducks around (I saw 12 species in all) but the only ones which came close were a pair of pochard. The female was diving close to the hide and she obviously found something good in the mud.

NIKON D200    ---    300mm    f/8.0    1/200s    ISO 100

Two or three more dives washed her face clean again. The male stayed mostly in deeper water, but he gave me a few chances too.

NIKON D200    ---    300mm    f/7.1    1/200s    ISO 100

NIKON D200    ---    300mm    f/9.0    1/200s    ISO 100

Alan

 

Thank you Paul. That must have been very sticky mud!

Alan