Encore at Polemere Nature Reserve

I had 45 minutes break once the carers arrived to attend to Mother so I grabbed the tripod and 100 - 400 lens and took off to the newly found hide at Polemere.  I have no experience of bird photography and have not quite worked out how to get a good shot.  Here are a few examples from today's effort and at least I can work on improving the technique.  How I miss CCC outings where I learn so much!

Polemere Nature Reserve

More views of Polemere Nature Reserve.

Polemere Nature Reserve

I had a couple of hours this afternoon to see if I could find the hide at Polemere Nature Reserve. Perplexed, as I could not see any sign of what I had imagined,  I pulled over in the lane to take a closer look at a pool which had lovely reflections. As I stood on the bank looking at the pool wondering if I had found the Nature reserve. I met a lady in the lane who pointed out the way to the hide only feet away, an amazing hide which was just so comfortable and with reference books, charts and notices. Looking out I could hear the Lapwings distinctive sound which apparently is evident of pre-pairing for the breeding season. I was amazed and fascinated to have found a place like this only 10 minutes from the house and I have now looked up the Website to discover more interesting places and projects in the area.

Polemere is about 6 miles south-west of Shrewsbury: NGR SJ41310939

And then it started to rain again but the Pigeon's still had a bath

The birdbath seems to be a favourite haute of these two pigeons,  even when it is raining.  As I watched through the kitchen window there seemed to a "bird tiff".  Perhaps he had used her shampoo!  However Marianne said the Dutch translation was different, "I think, she expected him to have gone to the office, so she came to the bathroom to freshen up for the milk man. Turns out, he has a day working at home…"

 

Autumn - a visitor to the garden

This mornings lesson for me is to always have one's camera settings ready for an impromptu shot. I had left the ISO set at 500 and therefore in a rush to take this picture of what I think is a Jay there was no time to change settings before it flew away.  I had been called a few minutes before with "there are two Jays in the garden". I hope they will return.