Mallard Duck Chicks

 These are the first chicks of this year to be seen at Ferrymoor Flash. There must be at least fourteen of them. They have been spotted at several different locations of the reserve. They really look so cute with their specked fluffy down.  Lets just hope they survive or at least most of them. 

Marsh Marigold

 There a a few clumps of this flower growing at Ferrymoor Flash. Being an aquatic plant it can be found close by or actually in the water. The flowers look almost like a large Buttercup. Perhaps this is because they are part of the Buttercup family of plants. This is not to be confused with the Kingcups which have a much larger flower altogether.

Coot

Portrait of a Coot. This bird has been around at Ferrymoor Flash for quite some time now. You would not think so by looking at it, but it is disabled. One of the legs is deformed. Whether this is how it was born or perhaps it was attacked who knows. But it is happily feeding and getting about. It even goes in to the lake for a short while. Many people wany it to be taken away, But this could be the end for it best to leave alone. 

 

Getting Greener

 Walking along this path at Ferrymoor Flash just shows how much we really miss Spring. The lovely green shades of  Trees and Foliage. Shadows on the ground being cast by the overhead morning sun. Even a blue sky to get us in a happy mood. If only it could stay like this and the over management would come to a halt. It would take an awful lot for this not to be one of the best Nature Reserves around.

Mute Swan

 Standing on a small island surrounded by trees this Canada Goose seems to be quite content on enjoying life at Ferrymoor Flash among many others. There is possibly a female close by in a nest sitting on a cluster of eggs. I was very pleased when I captured this photo the sunlight was providing a perfect background.

Horse Chestnut

 Probably better known as the Conker tree these large lush green leaves really stand out at this time of the year. This tree is actually beyond the boundary of Ferrymoor Flash. But when it has flowered and the fruits start to appear it will not be long before autumn is here, and conkers are starting to appear on the path. I can always remember playing conkers back in school days it was  great competition among my friends.

What do you think of the new Background? It out of focus raindrops.

Black Headed Gull

 This Black Headed Gull in winter plumage was flying about with many others at Ferrymoor Flash. Although it is called Black Headed the head of the adult bird is more of a chocolate colour. This one in winter plumage just has a black marking behind the eye.

Hawthorn Buds

 Yesterdays visit to Ferrymoor Flash was after the night before when we had a large down poor of rain. Everything was glistening in the morning sunshine and it gave me the opportunity to capture this shot of Hawthorn Buds. The circles of highlights are out of focus raindrops. Some photographers get this effect by carrying a spray bottle of water but I prefer the real thing. You may have not noticed but part of this images has been used as a background for this website.

Gadwall Male

 The Gadwall nests in low numbers and is on the RSPB Amber list. This bird was happily swimming around at Ferrymoor Flash. I managed to capture this shot through some shrubbery close to the bank of the lake. This helped to isolate the bird in the picture.

Grey Heron

 This magnificent bird was perched close to the edge of the lake on my last visit to Ferrymoor Flash. Standing still in the shallow water wating for a fish to appear. Their orange coloured bill and grey shaded feathers make this bird look so majestic above many of the other waders.

Marsh Marigold

 This beautiful bright yellow flower stands out where it is growing in the dyke at Ferrymoor flash. Also known as Kingcup it is a member of the Buttercup family of plants. It is a wildflower that is native to ditches, lakes and rivers in the UK. It tends to flower between April and August.

Mallard Duck

 This male was sitting on the ground just waiting for me to take a picture of him. I  love those colours that emerald green head and neck. That white collar makes him look like a vicar. Chocolate brown feathers that have a pattern in them. As for the beak that yellow banana colour. With all those beautiful colours and the female always looks so dull and boring.

Sedge

 There is quite a lot of this growing by the waters edge at Ferrymoor Flash. It is a member of the Carex family and is a form of Grass. There are long stalks and a large seed head is produced. Lots of new growth is starting to appear around the reserve now. I noticed a few clumps of Marsh Marigolds with several flower heads on looking glowing in the early morning sun..

Mute Swan

 The Mute Swans are still very active at Ferrymoor Flash. The breeding season is upon us and these birds seem to be chasing each other about on the lake. It seemed very difficult to capture an image of them taking off across the water but luck was on my side the other day and I was successful. Hopefully very soon we will see the patter of tiny feet among them.

Through the foliage

 The foliage and trees are all starting to come in to life again now. I took this picture of Ferrymoor Flash from a short track close to the lake. The sun was shining and a lovely blue sky overhead helped create this image. Clean looking images does not always work shooting through gives much more depth to a picture.

Chiffchaff

 The sound this bird makes is a good give away to its name. I managed to capture this bird in a tree at Ferrymoor Flash on my last visit. This small olive brown warbler can be seen darting through trees and shrubs with a distinctive wagging tail movement. If you stand or sit still on one of the benches you can now hear many birds about down there.

Reflections

 It only takes a little bit of sunshine for the light to produce some magnificent reflections in the lake at Ferrymoor Flash. This particular stretch is not far from the main entrance to the reserve. I always tend to stop at this place and take a short moment to look around and see what images are here  to be captured.

Coot on Nest

 This bird has now built a nest in the same location at Ferrymoor Flash as was occupied by a Coot last year. It is in a fallen tree and fairly well camouflaged. Hopefully we can expect to see some chick's very soon. On my last walk around I spotted at least 10 other nests. If left alone we should see many new families about the area. Especially as lots of new foliage is starting to appear.

The Lake

 So serine and calm on a warm sunny spring day. The lake at Ferrymoor Flash has helped me produce some captivating pictures in the past and still does to this day. The reflections are almost a double image and if the picture was turned upside down would look very much the same. I wonder how much longer this beautiful weather will last?

Moorhen on Nest

 Birds do build their nests in the strangest of places. This Moorhen managed to find a tree that had fallen over the water in the lake at Ferrymoor Flash. Quite significantly hidden and well camouflaged from view. My only concern is that is its such a place that is easily accessible to predators. Lets hope it does manage to survive though and carries on to produce a wonderful family.

Trees in Spring

 I just love the colours of the trees at this time of the year. Here at Ferrymoor Flash there is a variety of different types to be found. It is that time when the buds are starting to burst and just before the green leaves appear. Some of the varieties to be found are Willow, Sycamore, Silver Birch, Ash, Oak and the odd Conifer.

Song Thrush

 This bird was perched in a tree quite close to where I was standing yesterday at Ferrymoor Flash. I love to hear their choral offerings. Numbers of these birds have significantly declined over the past years. It is smaller than the Mistle Thrush with smaller spots. On my walk around early yesterday I spotted several new nests starting to appear so hopefully we can look forward to seeing some chicks soon.

Canada Goose

 Many of these birds at Ferrymoor Flash now. I wonder how many will mate and soon have chicks. On my visits I have not come across the sign of many nests being built. They are a very large goose and many can be found in parks, lakes and very large ponds. Some even by rivers and canals.

Hawthorn Blossom

 These flowers are only about one centimetre in size but look an awful lot larger here as this picture was taken with a Macro Lens. When the flowers dye off a fruit is produced that ripens later in the year, it is known as a Sloe. some people collect these and and make Sloe Gin. Not very tasty as far I know. Many of these bushes are growing at Ferrymoor Flash.

Gadwall

 This bird seems be enjoying life at Ferrymoor Flash. Swimming around to his hearts content.  It is a dabbling duck that is on the UK Amber list of protected birds. I am very pleased that this picture has captured a striking reflection in the water. Hopefully breeding season should be underway at Ferrymoor although there seems to be vey little sign of this so far.

Rose Thorns

 It is quite often that something tells me this subject would make a nice picture. While I was walking round Ferrymooor Flash yesterday afternoon I came across these old and ancient wild rose thorns. You may think well that is not very striking. But in any photo the photographer has a reason for capturing it. My reason it stood out among the other foliage.

Tufted Duck

 A medium sized diving duck but smaller than the Mallard. It has a small crest and yellow eye. A few of these birds can be spotted at Ferrymom flash. It breeds in lowland areas of the UK. I love watching these birds especially when they go under water and normally appear no where near they went under.

Dogwood Flowers

 There is a large clump of this growing at Ferrymoor Flash. Right opposite the second bench. Also known as Cornus it is a deciduous Shrub with striking flower bracts. In winter when the leaves have fallen the stems turn to a vivid red or orange colour. Although this is a plant more often found growing in gardens it is nice to see this here on the reserve. 

Cormorant

 This cormorant likes to perch on this particular post in the lake. A large black water bird with its reptilian neck is often seen with its wings spread to dry out. Although they are not resident at Ferrymoor Flash a very frequent visitor. There are a significant number of wintering numbers. These birds are excellent at fishing.

Pussy Willow

 Known as Pussy Willow these catkins appear in Spring on the Willow tree. Many of these can be found at Ferrymoorv Flash right now. Willow tend to grow near or beside river banks or other sources of water. This one was fairly high up so I had to use a long lens to capture this extreme closeup. The outside of them has a furry look.