Bad hair day
This was taken at Abberton Reservoir in January. I had just started experimenting with wildlife photography and finding new and interesting places to see wild birds. It was a very cold and frosty morning. I had never been there before and I was excited by the many different species. If you have ever taken the time to watch ducks, or any bird for that matter they take more care in their appearance than you’d think. Clean and neat feathers are clearly important.
I try and get to places like these early and expecting all the birds to be up and happening and people to be still in bed so that I can have the place to myself. I was there not long after dawn and there were still several birds that were asleep waiting for things to warm up before venturing into the water. This Goosander (oh I do hope I have identified it properly – please feel free to correct me) was up and about having a good wash, sliding under the water just enough to refresh himself. When he came back up, the water clung to him like a protective barrier before dispersing. He then shook himself dry(ish).
The nature reserve wasn’t open as yet, so I needed all of my long lens to catch this image from the barrier along the road and a quick fire of several shots from the shutter. The settings were fast in order to freeze the action, and I think it has done so to perfection. I love the wet look hair and the water droplets still in flight. I did think he was posing with this hairstyle so that I could take a photo of him.
The morning bathing created some other interesting shots. Many of which were so very amusing and fascinating. Some I haven’t printed because I am not sure people would believe the duck paddling on his back…
I had also never seen a flock of coots, like this. Most of the coots that I have come across have been on their own or with one or two others, but here were loads. There were dozens and dozens. They were fun to watch. They’d fluff about, have a preen, spread their wings, flap around a bit and head off to another part of the lake. Then suddenly the rest of the flock would follow, in a noisy, busy, agitated, flappy, rabble. It would be quite for a bit and then they would start all over again.
When the reserve finally opened, I was able to get some other photos but nothing that pleased me as much as the ones I had got first thing in the morning. Sun was very warm for January and if you found a spot on the veranda out of the wind you could sit outside and just enjoy the view.
