Grey lag geese and goslings, little egret, grey heron and lapwing
Two families of grey lag geese are on the water with their goslings. Two little egret and a grey heron are hunting.. Their resemblance to dinosaur is striking. On Sir David Attenborough's 100th Birthday I was watching his Passion Project, his fascination with fossils and dinosaur whose profiles are fresh in my mind.
The long neck of a grey heron hunting looks slender and sinuous. In flight, the neck is drawn-in close, its long legs trailing behind.
The whinnying trill of little grebe sounds across the water. Their heads are deep chestnut colour in the breeding season, their feathers look ruffled. In one of my images the bird is poised to dive, its feet stretched out behind the body. It's an evolution toward the dynamic of diving. With feet set well back on the body, the little grebe is not well-adapted to land. I realise I've only ever seen the birds on the water and it's the first time I've caught their feet in a photograph.
The whinnying trill of little grebe sounds across the water. Their heads are deep chestnut colour in the breeding season, their feathers look ruffled. In one of my images the bird is poised to dive, its feet stretched out behind the body. It's an evolution toward the dynamic of diving. With feet set well back on the body, the little grebe is not well-adapted to land. I realise I've only ever seen the birds on the water and it's the first time I've caught their feet in a photograph.
There are two families of grey lag geese out on the water and swimming amongst the reeds. One brood is rather more advanced. After a while they come to shore and the goslings feed amongst the reeds and vegetation.
No sign of the marsh harrier this morning. Reed warbler and Cetti's warbler are vocal. The serenity of the place is one of its attractions. And I like the patterns on the water, caused by the light wind, the movements of water birds and reflections of aquatic plants with a warm glow of colour.
Are these grey lag wild, or feral and what does feral mean? I know its Latin origin, that's not my question. It's the complex history of geese, grey lag or barnacle, and their origins. Introduced, domesticated and gone wild. Or escaped from collections? Apparently one has to visit Scotland to find wild grey lag geese.
No sign of the marsh harrier this morning. Reed warbler and Cetti's warbler are vocal. The serenity of the place is one of its attractions. And I like the patterns on the water, caused by the light wind, the movements of water birds and reflections of aquatic plants with a warm glow of colour.
Are these grey lag wild, or feral and what does feral mean? I know its Latin origin, that's not my question. It's the complex history of geese, grey lag or barnacle, and their origins. Introduced, domesticated and gone wild. Or escaped from collections? Apparently one has to visit Scotland to find wild grey lag geese.
RSS Feed