Thursday 28 January 2010

Castle Howard Lake


Goldeneye










Goosander, very much record shot!


The weather forecast for Sunday here was dry but overcast, well it was very overcast. So much so that the hoped for days birding changed to a visit to York to stock up on spices to make curries (we can only get some at a Chinese store in York) but on the return trip it brightened (only a smidgeon mind) so that we stopped off at Castle Howard Lake.

The wildfowl on the lake were the best we have ever seen at this location. The water was still frozen at both the eastern and western ends. Cormorants, Swans and many ducks were standing on the edge of the ice.

Ducks included Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Goldeneye, Goosander, Pochard. Also Great Crested Grebe.

There was at least three Goosander (two males and a female) and numerous Goldeneye.

Now the light was lousy so this post is to highlight the lows of bird photography, still my best Goldeneye shots to date (just). I wanted to share as the light this last month has been awful, it can only get better soon?

5 comments:

Linda Yarrow said...

Lovely pictures of the Goldeneye, I have yet to see one. The evenings are getting lighter now, so it won't be long, better days are coming, we hope:)

Chris said...

Hi Mike,
You got nice pictures of the goldeneye, congrats... yeh goosander are quite shy bird and very hard to get close to... The only time you can do that over here is when it is rather cold, then they cluster together in hot spot ;-)

Anonymous said...

Yes lovely images of the Goldeneye Mike.

Mike Randall Bird Photography said...

Thanks Lyn, Chris, Roy.
Yes,the Goosanders I have recently seen have steered well clear of man on the far side of the water.

Nature Photography said...

Hey Mike, your pictures are so nice and lovely. I like it so much. Keep it up.