Friday 28 April 2017

Its all in black and white on Derwentwater.

Male Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba) insect hunting on the shore by the Isthmus.

He was on his own so its possible the female could be on a nest close by.

My mate Les was driving the one-o-clock launch so I went round with him. And as we sailed past Lords Island these other black and whites where on display.

Barnacle Geese (Branta leucopsis) two snoozing one on guard.

Every Spring a flock of Barnacle geese arrive on Derwentwater to nest on Lords Island, its not too certain where they come from, but seeing as any Barnacle geese that winter in the UK always go back to their breeding grounds in the arctic circle, it can only be asumed that this flock is feral having built up numbers from a previously escaped captive pair.


unsteady shots from a rocking boat, and a big lens .

20 comments:

  1. Hello, great outing and birds. I love the cute Wagtails. Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Thanks Eileen,it was a pleasant day, warmish out of the wind.
      Take care, Gordon.

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  2. PS, Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

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    1. My pleasure Eileen, have a good one, Gordon.

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  3. Lovely post and photos ~ this a new bird to me ~ love the bw effect ~ thanks,

    Have a Happy Weekend ~ ^_^

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    1. thank you for that Carol, your comment is much appreciated.Take care, Gordon.

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  4. Lovely series of birdphotos. Have a nice sunday Gordon!

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    1. Thank you Anu, and have a good weekend yourself, take care, Gordon.

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  5. Your Barnacles are interesting Gordon. There are Barnacles breeding freely in the grounds of Blackpool Zoo but as far as I know they never leave even though they could do. Too much food on offer I guess.

    I use a Canon 80D and a Canon 400mm F5.6

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    1. That is news Phil I didn't know that.
      All the best, Gordon.

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  6. I would love to go out in a boat around there -- the birds are just wonderful. (It's very hard to take pictures from a moving boat -- I throw most of mine away, but I would be absolutely ecstatic to get pictures like you show from a boat ... even of our common birds).

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    1. Thank you so much for that Sallie, you are so kind.
      Tak e care, Gordon.

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  7. Those wagtails are one of my favorite European birds. So attractive they are.

    I'm a bit late getting around to visiting and sending along my thanks for sharing with us birders this weekend....been out birding since daybreak!!

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    1. Thanks Anni, yes they are lovely bird to watch, they are so active.
      Take care, Gordon.

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  8. It looks so beautiful and peaceful! Thank you so much for sharing.

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    1. Hi Linda, you are so right it is peaceful especially when the tourists have gone.
      Take care, and thank you Goedon.

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  9. Pied Wags are great - we used to have them in the river than flowed through our village in Somerset.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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    1. Thanks for that Stewart.
      Hope all is well down under, Gordon.

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  10. Derwentwater is a lovely and peaceful stretch water. The Pied Wagtail and Barnacle Geese are superb, cheers Gordon.

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    1. It certainly is Bob and my favourite of the Lakes
      All the best, Gordon.

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A big thank you to everyone for looking in and leaving their comments, much appreciated, Gordon.