I left the Reservoir around 6:30pm. Same place still.
Horrible Dark cold windy evening. Took these at around 6pm with a large f/2.0 aperture to let in a lot of light.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51537153925/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51536226566/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51536226111/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51536473943/in/photostream/
http://www.ukbirds.co.uk
Still there, by Cheddar tower. Also an osprey, which it wasn’t pleased to see.
Pectoral Sandpiper was showing well this morning. Seems to be in various places between the inflow at the south-east car park/nearer to Cheddar, and the Axbridge car park, on the shore that includes the sailing club. While I was watching, a photographer got too close and it flew off. So, between photographers and loose dogs it is likely to get disturbed a lot, but was clearly feeding well. A man with two black and white collies was throwing a tennis ball into the water, and the dogs disturbed 2000+ birds resting on the shore close to the Axbridge car park. Grrrr. He left before I could tell him off and get an earful in return! A flock of 30+ linnets mobile, several pied wagtails & meadow pipits, many coots, few diving ducks, were the other ‘usual suspects’.
29-Sep-2021
Still present this morning (per Twitter)
Click on the link for a photo of mine taken on 27th
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAXkyCVXEAc6U3b?format=jpg&name=small
Was reported again this morning. It later flew “in to the area between the sailing club & Cheddar tower, near the cleaning works.” [Axbridge tower?]
It spent morning wandering back towards cheddar tower & then turned the other way, keeping amongst the greenery along the edge. Does seem to be getting a bit more wary as more people arrive.
Also a female pintail with quite a few wigeon & the black swans along that side & at least 50 linnet in various groupings along opposite side. Plus a dunlin flew around over water at one point, whilst we were watching the pec, but disappeared toward the axbridge tower, so don’t know if it landed.
Thank you Jeff, I’m trilled, lets hope he stays around for a few days.
Excellent photos Paul, well done you!
P.Sandpiper still there (more so near sailing clubhouse) despite the heavy winds and rain last night. I was about 15 metres from him and he was walking towards me, he eventually walked past me within 5 metres.
I mistaken a Pectoral Sandpiper for a Dunlin in my previous post…..Yippee this is a first for me…..
Seen between the Cheddar tower and boating ramps this evening I have had several messages correcting me.
I took 50 + photo’s in perfect evening light here are a few more…..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51520930651/in/dateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51521074289/in/datetaken/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcousins/51521636384/in/dateposted/