Wednesday 25 March 2009

The easy and difficult side of Radipole RSPB















Visited Radipole today, grey light but bird photography can be easy near the visitor centre where the birds are very people friendly.

Great Crested Grebe were close things were easy, but Cetti's Warbler! We heard them everywhere today but they did not seem to raise their heads. Not in our view certainly.

I had forgot about the Hooded Merganser at Radipole but having been told the 'hotspots' to find it we went and had a look and I got some record shots. We then had a coffee returned to the car park and the Merganser was in another hotspot, under the footbridge by the visitor centre, feet from the end of the lens!

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Great shot's in the poor light Mike, you can't get much closer that that!

Paul.

Anonymous said...

Really nice shots Mike. You do get more at Radipole later in the Spring and on into Summer time. Reeds and Sedges everywhere, but you still have to be quick even then. Are planning a look up at Portland Bill.?

Mike Randall Bird Photography said...

Thanks Paul & Roy.
We tend to be down here this time of year although I have been to Radipole in summer and it is great for Reedies and Sedge. I hope to get to Portland although the weather does not sound great for the next few days.
Mike

Linda Yarrow said...

Hi Mike,

Lovely pictures. I must confess I have never been to Radipole or the other one at Weymouth even though I do not live that far from them. I have visions of the nature reserves being overrun with ice-cream slurping tourists. But now I have seen your blog on Radipole, I said to my OH we must visit Radipole and hopefully there will not be any hideous ice-cream slurping tourist tagging along with them their bored whinging whining br..s, I mean children :-)

Mike Randall Bird Photography said...

Hi Lyn
I think I have been to Radipole 3x's now. Locals do take shortcuts through the reserve with it being in the town centre, there are no charges by the RSPB. I would recomend a late spring/summer visit as Roy suggests.
Believe me if people were dragging their kids around I would go no where near!
It is a nice place.
Mike

Chris said...

Wow Mike, I would like to meet this duck one day, it is wonderful and even if the light condition was not that good, these pictures are really great! Congrats, you managed it well... Have a nice week end!

Mike Randall Bird Photography said...

Thanks Chris
Apparently, and we only spoke to one or two but the Merganser has been there some time and probably is not an escapee.
Hope you have/had a good one.
Mike