Arne RSPB nature reserve

Visited Arne RSPB nature reserve on a pleasant day in early March. The route took us around most of the reserve, starting off with a circular walk across Coombe Heath,  spotting a Dartford Warbler in the heathland (did not get a decent photo). Then headed over to the opposite side of the reserve and Shipstal Beach, where I managed to capture this Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) in flight.

Olympus OM-D EM-5 DSLR & Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 APO DG at F6.3. Image cropped

From Shipstal beach walked over to the hide close to the Big Wood where the Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) could be viewed in the distance.

Olympus OM-D EM-5 DSLR & Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 APO DG at F6.3.

Here also spotted a possible Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). I did not think it is a Curlew (Numenius arquatae) based on the look of it’s bill, the bill being shorter and less downward curved than that expected for a Curlew.

Olympus OM-D EM-5 DSLR & Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 APO DG at F6.3. Image cropped

I also managed to extract a photo from video mode as well for the 1st time. I have not found this at all easy to do before, however this time around as the video was only 1 sec long because of an accidental button press there was only 1 frame available to select, and it looked a reasonable image.

Olympus OM-D EM-5 DSLR & Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 APO DG at F6.3. From movie

From the hide walked back to the car park via Arne Farm.

I have also made a short video of the Spoonbills & Whimbrel

 

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