Photography

Recently, we saw a couple of  white and brown ducks  on the pond that we hadn't seen before. We tried to identify them but couldn't find anything similar in the bird books. Eventually we decided that they were domestic ducks who had left home to raise a brood on the pond. Despite looking very different to the mallards they were accepted and could be seen cruising up and down the water with them.

I had my camera with me one day, and while enjoying a cup of tea on the cabin deck I spotted our new ducks, and thought I would get a snapshot. More difficult than it sounds. By the time I got down to the Pond they had paddled away into the reeds. But it was lucky that I'd made the effort to try and get a photo because I stumbled, almost literally,  across Karl, who fishes on the pond, and is also a keen wildlife photographer, and who, like me, was trying to get a photo of these new visitors. Sitting quietly, waiting for a bite, he is perfectly placed to observe and record the local wildlife . We don't have much time to do this, and are usually making too much noise, so are very happy that Karl allowed us to put some of his excellent photos on the blog. Here are a few of them. Click on them to enlarge.

Two new visitors

.........and one of them with a Fallow Deer

 We do have rather too many of these pretty  Fallow Deer in the wood. 

Grass Snake

Kingfisher

Jay

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Marsh tit (red-listed)

Bat, species to be determined , though we know there are Daubentons and Pipistrelles in the wood.

I think this robin has just spotted something to eat.

Not a rare Dormouse unfortunately, just a common wood mouse,    
sometimes known as the long tailed field mouse, but endearing all the same.
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Dragonflies (or Damselflies ) in flight. There are many  varieties, some rare, on or near the pond. 

Buzzard, with beautiful under wing markings.