Sunday 4th December was a stunning day, crisp, blue skies and sunshine, a great day to play around with photography at one of my local birding patches. Melbourne Pool is an OK place for common ducks and gulls and there is also the chance of something else turning up. I really wanted to try and get some very low level images of water birds and so I found myself lying flat on my belly with the camera, firmly but gently lying on the little stone wall that surrounds the pool. Not as ultra low as I would have liked, but I’m happy with some of the results. So I spent an hour or so here before it was time to head off with my good lady for a nice Sunday Lunch at a local pub. Little did I know at the time, but later in the day a truly MEGA rare bird was identified from photographs, in all places – Derbyshire. More later.
Black-headed Gull – Above 3 images – 1st winter, note the brown feathers on the wing coverts and centres of the tertials. Also note colour of bill – Melbourne Pool, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Black-headed Gull – Above 3 images – Adult winter – Note the scarlet red feet and bill and lack of any brown feathering – Melbourne Pool, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Common Gull – Above 2 images – Adult winter – Melbourne Pool, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Coot – Above 2 images – Melbourne Pool, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Mallard – Drake – Melbourne Pool, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Tufted Duck – Above 2 images – A young drake – Melbourne Pool, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Grey Wagtail – Above 3 images – 1st winter – Melbourne Pool, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
