Venus Pool - 8 Feb 20

Today I made another visit to the SOS Reserve at Venus Pool.

Mute Swans (and occasional ‘wild’ swans) roost here. They can sometimes be seen coming or, as here, going during the day.

Drake ducks are in their finery now. Today it was mainly Shoveler present. Here two are having an argument.

Quite an argument!

A passing drake Shoveler shows the blue, white and green on the upper-wing. And the bright feet!

A different bird not quite in full plumage – white blotches remain behind the bill.

Here the rufous flanks, white breast and pale underwing show well.

And on another bird.

Meanwhile the duck Shoveler formation team passes by. The blue on the forewing is much paler on ducks and hardly notices ‘in the field’.

There is often a gathering of Lapwing. It is always a challenge to capture the essence of these flighty birds.

Another attempt.

The woodland hide and its feeders offer close views and photo opportunities for ever-cute Blue Tits.

And the considerably less cute Great Tit.

A female Chaffinch. The subtle tones and markings of this common species are often overlooked.

Probably the most-wanted bird of the day (other than the no-show Water Rail) was this male Brambling. It will not acquire full breeding finery until April when all the pale fringes to the feathers on the head and back will have worn off and it will become a smart black and orange bird. Note the white belly and the yellow bill (still with a black tip). Not obvious here but very apparent in flight is a white rump, not quite so prominent as on Bullfinch.

A back view of the same bird.

Another bird still to wear off the pale tips to its black head feathers is this male Reed Bunting.

In this view the cross-lighting highlights the pale tips.

And here the pale tips to the chestnut back feathers are visible.

(Ed Wilson)