Whooper Swans locally for a short while

 five fine Whoopers on sailing pit Sunday before inevitably being flushed by boats - recreation and wildlife do not mix on restricted water bodies -- 

RCP and Whooper

the Waters Edge Red-crested Pochard starting to look a bit more drake like and a local Whooper Swan in the gloom

a few from Alkborough today

a latish Wood Sandpiper amongst the waders and here a Sparrowhawk hunting the Goldfinch flock, a flock of amazingly early Whooper Swans, Little Egret and Spoonbill par for the course, and a few of the many irrupting Bearded Tits

Whooper Swans flying to roost

Whooper Swan and light

a local bird that found its way onto Waters Edge briefly on Sunday in the right light

Whooper Swans

appeared to be some flocks coming in off the sea but could have just been birds moving about

local Whooper family

the mucky and murky Humber hardly comparable to the winter ice and snow of Japan but you have to take wheat you get here!

incoming Whoopers

presumably diverted by the recent westerly gales there were 41 Whoopers in 4 flocks on the beach at Donna - Grainthorpe this morning before they all flew off south, three flocks disturbed by a pointless plane flying around the range

Whooper Swan nest

this raised nest in an open fish pond seemed somewhat innocuous particularly in the 24C heat

Whooper Swans arriving

a worse lens test

wanted to try the various lens combinations today but this afternoon at 3200 ISO I was getting 1/100 sec what a day -- the Whooper was a patch drop in -- the harrier performed for about 3 minutes then flew off typical of my arrival -- another day better light tomorrow??? first 8 shots 1DX 400 DO II and 1.4 rest 7D2 with 400 DO II and 1.4 or 2x -- all 1/800 or 1/1000 sec hand held