Monday, 5 December 2022

December 2022 The beautiful Kemerton Lake Nature Reserve

 A really special and beautiful place is Kemerton Nature Reserve.  I love this reserve. I have spent many a morning or afternoon there and it always provides something really interesting to observe. The walk to it is also very enjoyable, through the Kissing Gate and into a fantastic woodland with well-maintained rides.

The hides overlook the lake on both sides, so you can choose the lighting direction for photography.

A female Kestrel

As you come out of the wood there is an open space and there is quite often a Kestrel hovering looking out for some prey.

A Coot taking a bath

Coots and Little Grebes are quite common, and they also get quite close to the hides which they have got quite used to.

Little Grebe or "Dab Chick"

This one has caught a Dragonfly

The Little Grebes are a great photo opportunity and can been seen with all sorts of prey.
It was amazing to see Dragonfly's Ovipositing in late November.  What a mild year this has been.

Towards the end of November!

The real star of the show are the Kingfishers that use the perches specially provided near to the hides.

A male Kingfisher on the perch provided.

At one stage it was quite frustrating as you see the Kingfisher fishing from the perch, but the reeds were in the way.  One of my friends asked if they could trim them back a little bit.  The reserve Team duly obliged.  What a place, and thanks so much for the team that performed this operation. 

One lunch time I was watching a late staying Hobby catching Dragonfly's over the lake.  It then landed in one of the trees and allowed me to capture some stunning images.

What a beauty

So thanks to the team that maintain this special reserve and make it such a spectacular place.

My reserve of the year in 2022