Great White Egret & Bittern

A trip to Blashford Lakes on lovely crisp clear day. The photo opportunities were not looking good in stopping off at the first 2 hides, however this all changed on the visit to the 3rd hide where we spotted the Great White Egret (Egretta alba) sitting on top of some trees on the far side of Ivy Lake. Decided to walk right round to the side of the Lake the Great White Egret was on in the hope of getting a closer shot.

On arrival found that it had flown down from its perch and was searching for fish near the reeds on the other side of a narrow part of the lake (so slightly closer). Exposure was not easy with the low sun shining directly towards the camera, though managed to take this one of it wading.

There were also lots of Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

and a Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), which seemed to be acting oddly!

The Great White Egret then flew off towards another hide and I managed to get several reasonable in flight shots.

The bird hide that it had flown towards was of course again on the opposite side of the bank! so walk back around (thankfully to a slighter closer one than before). Did not manage to get good shot here but luckily found the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) was showing as well.

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