Great Crested Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) showing off its adult breeding plumage.  FAB.
[ISO 320; 1/400; f/13 @ 300mm and cropped]

Common Tern.

A bit of pointing skywards for this weeks WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY entry.

 

During a recent visit to Stodmarsh, Kent I failed miserably at getting any decent flight shots of a Hobby or a Marsh Harrier but an overflying Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) just managed to get into the frame.

You have to marvel at the distances this species travels from West and South Africa just to find a lake with a floating raft here in the UK so it can breed before its return ticket southwards expires in October.    FAB.

Banded Demoiselle.

Another sign of Spring is the emergence of the Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens). The metallic sheen of the blue-green body and the formation of its distinctive blue-black wing band glistened as  this male soaked up the filtered sunshine. Taken during a visit to Stodmarsh, Kent today.  FAB.