The weather is pretty undecided at the moment which gives me an opportunity to catch up with some recent shots taken at Pulborough Brooks, the RSPB nature reserve in West Sussex.
The main part of the reserve is a series of low wetland areas which are visited by large numbers of wading birds and water fowl. The distances from the hides are significant and to get the best out of Pulborough you need a spotting scope. A 400mm camera lens doesn't really cut it for getting up close to the main event. That said it does get you close to manage (with heavy cropping) some smaller group shots, such as these dabbling teal.
The most numerous of the various flocks were the wigeon. The first shots are typical of their flocking behaviour.
A few did venture a little closer to the hide which offers a slightly better glimpse of what they actually look like.
If that's the main event, why people as well as birds flock there, the supporting cast is pretty good as well. I was pleased to see a song thrush in the farmland around the site. These are increasingly less common, and there is genuine concern about their declining numbers.
No such worries with this little robin. Indeed I was surprised it wasn't carrying a little 'seed bucket' for donations. We spotted it on one of the paths happily posing for a photographer. We waited until they were finished and then watched as it hopped around and then settled in a new position so that I could take some pictures. 
The pick of the visit though were the fallow deer. We literally almost stumbled upon them resting just over the brow of a hill. 
One final shot, back at the feeders by the visitor centre which is always a magnet for the many small birds. 
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
gdare
4 Feb 2013I think that robin is a winner of a day :yes:
derWandersmann
4 Feb 2013A pleasant wander through the reserve, Words … a little of this, a little of that. Thanks.
Words
5 Feb 2013Darko, for me the stars were the deer, and just possibly the blue tits. 😉
Words
5 Feb 2013dW, my pleasure!
SittingFox
5 Feb 2013I agree that Pulborough can be challenging for photography, although it's a pleasant reserve and there's always the chance of seeing something special there. The fallow deer are great. It's strange how so many in the Southeast seem to be tending towards melanism.
Words
8 Feb 2013Adele, the herd at Pulborough is pretty much comprised only of dark fallows. It was slightly disconcerting to stumble up so close to them. Usually they keep well out of the way of humans. Not the easiest place for bird photography. You really need a super-long lens, 600mm+
serola
14 Feb 2013Excellent deer pictures
Words
17 Feb 2013Thanks Sami!