Dungeness RSPB Reserve, UK

[Mick Harris]

Here are a few shots from Dungeness RSPB, a reserve on the south-east coast of the UK. It comprises of old flooded gravel pits of large size on an area of pebbly/stoney land that was once under the sea but is now a mile or so away from it.
All shot with a 7D, 500m f/4.0L 11 + 1.4X.

The first is a Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna ( not easy to get a good exposure I find) a resident here.
IMG_9951 Shelduck by Mick Harris, on Flickr

This is the same bird up-ending to feed.

IMG_9944 Shelduck by Mick Harris, on Flickr

This is a female Goldeneye, Blucephala clangula, that was busily diving for food and spending some time under water.You can see it's eyelid beginning to close in preparation for it's dive.



IMG_9995 Female Goldeneye by Mick Harris, on Flickr

The same bird diving.


IMG_9996 by Mick Harris, on Flickr

A very distant male Goldeneye in the waves.

IMG_9829 by Mick Harris, on Flickr

The female again.

IMG_0001 Female Goldeneye by Mick Harris, on Flickr

Something very commonly seen in the Philippines, as I found out last year ... now scarce in the UK. A Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus.

IMG_9915 Tree Sparrow by Mick Harris, on Flickr

A male Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoennichus) seen near some feeders at the reserve.


IMG_9937 Reed Bunting by Mick Harris, on Flickr

Same again.



IMG_9938 Reed Bunting by Mick Harris, on Flickr

A Great Tit (Parus major) also by the feeders.


IMG_9910 Great tit by Mick Harris, on Flickr

Same again.

IMG_9909 Great Tit by Mick Harris, on Flickr

A nice Mallard drake in the sunshine.(Anas platyrhynchos)

IMG_9849 by Mick Harris, on Flickr

Lastly a male Gadwall (Anas strepara)



IMG_9849 by Mick Harris, on Flickr

[Mick Harris]

Tried but failed to rectify the duplicate post.Will add the missing Gadwall here.


IMG_9954 Gadwall drake by Mick Harris, on Flickr.

[Ely Teehankee]

Nice collection of water birds. I like the Mallard Drake best as the duck seems to have a smile written on his beak. Well done Mick & Mabuhay.

[Mick Harris]

Thanks for looking Ely... I reckon the Mallard was pleased to see me!

Happy birding.

[Neon Rosell II]

Wow! nice beautiful birds on a beautiful day, Mick! Sometimes you wished it was overcast to get an even exposure :-)

[Mick Harris]

Thanks a lot for looking Neon - Happy birding