Friday 22 May 2015

Back to bed ..........




...... well, the reed beds to be precise.

Reed Warblers are at a high level of activity in the reed beds at the moment, flitting about, chasing each other and arguing about territories.

Some birds are still nest building whilst others are feeding their broods.

And they chatter away constantly.

What I have noticed is that on occasions the reed beds suddenly fall silent.

I always look around to see if there is a raptor in the vicinity but have never been able to see one.

Then just as quickly as the silence descended the chattering starts again, very curious.

The South hide at TLNR is slightly elevated which allows you to look down into the beds rather than through them from the side, this greatly assists photography.




6 comments:

  1. Always a difficult species to capture when in the reed bed, nice images John!

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  2. Another brilliant set of images John, great stuff.

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    1. Thanks Graham, plenty of Hobby and a Little Bittern at Lakenheath.

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  3. John, I think I know why they go quiet. Two possible reasons other then avian based predators. The first Grass Snakes and the other possibilities are mammal based from either Otter, Stoat or occasionally Fox. At Quarry Walk the boardwalk gives a chance to look down into the reed bed and when the Buntings and Warblers go silent I often hear water being disturbed and have seen both Grass Snake, Otter and Fox

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    Replies
    1. Now that is very interesting Douglas, I hadn't thought of snakes and ground based predators ..... we certainly have them at the reserve..

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  4. Thanks Paul, they really are cracking subjects.

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