Today's shots were taken at Martin Mere, I spent the day there and although it was cold and grey I wanted to wait until the end of the day to witness the arrival of the large flocks of swans and Pink Footed Geese as they returned from foraging to their roost at the reserve.
Sadly the failing light meant I had to leave before the largest flocks came in but I was lucky enough to capture a few shots of small groups pf early arrivals.
As you can see the Whooper Swans came in in small groups, possibly family groups, flying low with great swooping wing beats. In flight they are so graceful with their long necks stretched out before them. I would normally shoot wildlife in colour but because the day was so overcast and grey I decided to try some shots in black and white too. As you can see from the first image it works really well although in the second shot with the small group reflected in the water I think colour works best.
The third shot works well to show that although in flight the swans look really sleek and elegant when they come in to land they actually become awkward and ungainly. The water was quite crowded with a variety of ducks and waders so finding a safe landing spot was tricky, it was amazing to see that there were few collisions as the swans hit the water.
I have chosen these pictures for today because I love to see birds in flight. With smaller birds it is harder to capture the detail because they move so much quicker than larger birds (although some smaller birds like Humming Birds which I have posted before are great because they hover and so it is possible to get get shots while they are in motion).
Large birds such as those in the pictures above fly so gracefully and compared to the way they lumber around on the ground either in the water or in flight they look so elegant. Take the Whooper Swans in the first picture for example, I love the shapes made by the wings, and the way they use every individual element to control lift and direction. They also make it look effortless while in the air but they expend so much energy getting off the ground.
The Cormorant in the second image was flying a bit more quickly and seemingly with greater purpose. he looks so streamlined with his neck stretched forward and his feet tuck in tight against his body.
The final shot is of a small flock of Pink-footed Geese. Again I like the different shapes as their wings flex and bend powering them through the sky. I also like to see the cooperative nature of geese in flight as they fly in sagitate flocks, using an arrow or v-shaped formation to help give each other extra lift and lighten the load.
I love this time of year, not for the cold, wet and windy weather but for the many migratory birds that visit our shores.
Like for example these beautiful Whooper Swans. I am always amazed when I see these birds in flight, they are so big and ungainly yet on the water they are so graceful. These aren't the sharpest images as they were shot through the window of the hide and because it had been raining the glass wasn't properly clear. However it was really nice to be inside in the warm while watching the birds arrive.
Getting wildlife photos is often quite challenging and requires a lot of patience. At this time of year it can also mean sitting around for a long time in the cold. It is just as well that I am a patient person and don't mind a little discomfort in pursuit of a good shot.
I am pleased with these pictures of Whooper Swans taken at the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust reserve at Martin Mere last weekend. They are such majestic and beautiful birds. Even in flight they look great which is surprising given how big they are and how clumsy they look walking on dry land, however if I am to get a good shot of them in flight I need a lot more practice... like I said, it's a good job I am patient.
