I go to the lake to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, for interest, exercise and possibly now, out of habit. As I have regularly said it is a place of calm and contentment for me and a chance to connect with nature, but as idyllic as that may sound it still brings with it some challenges; not big challenges and most of them are self-imposed.
The first challenge is making sure I make time to go. The other two are a wish or a hope to see something in particular - a kingfisher, a tern, a baby gosling – and finally there is always a self-imposed challenge to try and get a few good shots on my camera.
This last one splits into two the first of which is hoping that I get some shots that I’m happy with and the other part is trying to get one of those good shots to be of something in particular.
This week what I was after, or rather become focused on, was wanting to get a picture of a wren. Early on in my walk I had heard them singing, surprisingly loud for such a little bird, and while I had caught glimpses of one or two I was never in the right position or quick enough to get a shot.
Then nearing the end of my circuit of the lake I spotted one and started snapping.
The shots I think are good, not great, but did give me a feeling of real satisfaction.
I did also see a kingfisher, but it was already in flight and so just a dazzling pearlescent blue and deep orange flash. It didn’t give me a chance to even raise my camera.
There were however some other shots that I’m pleased with, especially some of a stork that was intently fishing close to the bank and ignored people passing by, and me with my camera.
I was close enough to focus on the stork's reflection, which was amazingly clear
and couldn't resist a bit of post production on this shot
It was too soon for goslings, but I did capture this coot on its nest.
And to show it’s not just birds I take pictures of, a few shots of the different blossom that is adorning the trees around the lakes and the spring flowers on the pathways and riverbank
Long-tailed tits are always cute
Ans as regular readers will know, I like a little bit of word play in these blogs – so can’t help myself but think this shot should be titled “Kite over the moon”
and finally just a couple of crows
I was satisfied with my trip and hope you're satisfied with this resulting blog.
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