Geoff Doré Photography - Nature - Landscape - Travel



Blashford Lakes Showcase

A selection of photographs taken at the Blashford Lakes Wildlife Reserve in west Hampshire.

"Although Blashford Lakes are only about a dozen miles or so from where I live I had no idea how much they had been developed as a nature reserve with hides until I first visited them in April 2009 - more than three years after most of the hides were put in and several years after it was established (the Education Centre itself was actually opened in 1996!).

Since then it's become a regular location for me to visit for photography (or just to watch wildlife) and on many occasions has given me some great photo-opportunities, which I hope are reflected in some of these images (though we nature photographers tend to remember the ones we missed!).

The reserve is best known for its bird life and so most of the images here are of birds (there is a wealth of insect and plant life to photograph too) and are the results of many trips to the reserve and many hours in the various hides (photographers check out my Blashford Hide Guide for more info).

The reserve is a wonderful place to see and - with a bit of luck - photograph wildlife, and I hope the images here show the variety of possibilities there - hats off to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the reserve staff for a great nature reserve."

Click on thumbnail images for larger images + info

(Note - the images have not been digitally manipulated - just cropping and standard adjustments - unless otherwise stated)



Mammals

Fallow Deer

two Fallow Deer whitebucks
                Whitebucks
 Fallow Deer in snow
          In snow


Grey Squirrel


Grey Squirrel


Rabbit

rabbit stretching       rabbit washing       rabbit on alert      


Red Fox

red fox yawning       red fox standing       red fox sitting       red fox yawning       red fox      


red fox in snow

 red fox in snow

 red fox in snow
red fox pair courting
   Courtship play-fighting
red fox pair courting
   Courtship play-fighting


red fox pair courting
  Courtship play-fighting 		red fox pair courting
   Courtship play-fighting 		red fox pair courting
   Courtship play-fighting


Roe Deer

roe deer doe with kid in woodland glade      
          Kid and doe 		roe deer in morning mist      

 roe deer buck by nesting-wall
     
roe deer buck
           
roe deer buck
           

roe deer buck       roe deer buck amongst sedges       roe deer kid amongst sedges
           Kid/juvenile



Birds


Bittern

bittern wading in water bittern wading bittern in reeds bittern wading bittern in reeds


bittern in reeds bittern in reeds bittern wading bittern wading bittern in reeds


bittern in reeds
 bittern walking by tree
 bittern wading
 bittern on alert
 bittern face-on


bittern head in reeds

 bittern standing
 Thru dark window 		bittern walking

 bittern standing

 bittern standing


bittern crouched
 bittern crouched
 bittern head-up
 bittern walking
 bittern in reeds


bittern crouched

 bittern head-up

 bittern head-up

 bittern head-up

 bittern in reeds
Thru dark window


bittern standing tall bittern crouched bittern crouched bittern in reeds bittern swimming


bittern in reeds

 bittern threat display
       Threat display 		bittern threat display
       Threat display 		bittern threat display
       Threat display 		bittern threat display
       Threat display


bittern threat display
   Threat display 		bittern crouched

 bittern crouched

 bittern crouched

 bittern standing on alert


bittern swimming
    Swimming, on alert
 bittern in reeds

 bittern walking through reeds
     Walking thru reeds
 bittern crouched

 bittern crouched


bittern head-up


Videos (links to YouTube)

link to video of Bittern in reeds in front of Ivy North Hide, Blashford Lakes
 Bittern at Ivy North Hide



Black-headed Gull

black-headed gull flying low over water
         Catching fly
 black-headed gull flying low over water
        Catching fly
 black-headed gull flying low over water

 black-headed gull flying low over water
        Catching fly
 black-headed gull flying low over water
        Catching fly


black-headed gull flying low over water
        Catching fly

 black-headed gull plunge-diving for fish
        Catching fish
 black-headed gull plunge-diving for fish
        Catching fish
 black-headed gull taking off from water carrying fish water
     Carrying fish
 black-headed gull flying low over water
        Carrying fish


black-headed gull catching fish
     Catching fish
 black-headed gull carrying fish
        Carrying fish
 black-headed gullcarrying fish
     Carrying fish
 black-headed gull carrying fish
     Carrying fish
 black-headed gull flying low over calmwater


black-headed gull landing on calm water

 black-headed gull landing on calm water

 black-headed gull landing on calm water


Blue Tit

Blue Tit on Wild Parsnip

 Blue Tit on Wild Parsnip

 Blue Tit on Wild Parsnip

 Blue Tit on Wild Parsnip


Brambling

Buzzard


brambling male


 buzzard fly-past
buzzard mobbed by terns
        Mobbed by terns


Canada Goose

canada geese on water in mist canada goose on water with reflection canada goose family on water


Cetti's Warbler


cettis warbler in dense reeds
cettis warbler in dense reeds
cettis warbler on log



Common Sandpiper


common sandpiper walking
      Hunting insects 		common sandpiper chasing flying alder fly
      Chasing Alder-fly 		common sandpiper standing on boulders

 common sandpiper catching insect
      Catching insect 		common sandpiper about to catch flying alder fly
      Catching insect


common sandpiper in flight low over water

 common sandpiper hunting insects
      Stalking an insect 		common sandpiper on alert
common sandpiper chased by swallow
       Chased by Swallow !

 common sandpiper flying low over water


common sandpiper in flight low over water

 common sandpiper on weedy shore

 common sandpiper foraging on shoreline

 common sandpiper flying low over calm water with reflection

 common sandpiper flying low over calm water with reflection


two common sandpipers in flight low over water

 two common sandpipers in flight low over water



Common Tern


common tern landing

 common tern landing on post


Coot

coot feeding chick
       Feeding chick 		coot feeding chick
       Feeding chick 		coot running over water
          		coot on water in mist
    On water near reedmace 		coot pair mating
       Pair mating

coot pair mating
       Pair mating 		coots fighting
            Fighting 		coots fighting
            Fighting 		coot chase
            Fighting 		coot chase
            Fighting

coot chase
            Fighting 		coot wing-flapping
      		coot on nest
            On nest 		coot on log

 coot on nest
     On nest with chicks

coot under attack
    Attacked underwater


 coots pattering across water



 coots fighting
            Fighting

 coots fighting
            Fighting

coot running across calm water



Cormorant

cormorant landing on water cormorant landing on water
cormorant tossing fish
           Tossing fish
cormorant with fish
              With fish


cormorants fighting      
            Fighting

 cormorant taking off from water      



Dunnock

dunnock pair courting
    Male courting female
 dunnock pair courting
    Male courting female
 dunnock male singing
     Male singing



Egyptian Goose

egyptian goose


 egyptian goose


 egyptian goose


 egyptian goose



Gadwall


gadwalls fighting      
            Fighting 		gadwalls fighting    
            Fighting 		gadwalls fighting      
            Fighting 		gadwalls fighting    
            Fighting 		gadwalls fighting      
            Fighting


gadwall in flight      

    gadwall taking flight        

 gadwalls fighting      
        Fighting 		   gadwall taking flight



Garden Warbler

garden warbler with damselfly prey
     With damselfly prey 		garden warbler



Goldeneye

Goldfinch

goldeneye male on water


 goldfinch on dead teasel



Great Crested Grebe

great crested grebe weed dance  
     'Weed dance' 		great crested grebe with reflection
          		great crested grebe juvenile with fish
     Juvenile with fish 		great crested grebe juvenile with fish
     Juvenile with fish 		great crested grebe pair building nest
     Pair building nest


great crested grebe female on nest inviting male to mate   
        Pair at nest 		great crested grebe on nest with eggs   
     On nest with eggs 		great crested grebe on nest with newly-hatched chick on back   
     On nest with chick 		great crested grebe pair with newly-hatched chick   
         Pair feeding chick 		great crested grebe pair pass feathers for newly-hatched chick   
         Pair feeding chick


great crested grebe male in threat pose   
     In threat posture 		great crested grebe male in treat pose   
     In threat posture 		great crested grebe male in treat pose   
       In threat posture 		great crested grebe with fish   
          With fish 		great crested grebe with fish   
      With fish

great crested grebe males fighting   
       Males fighting 		great crested grebe female with three chicks on water   
       Adult with chicks 		great crested grebe carrying chicks  
       Carrying chicks 		great crested grebe carrying chicks   
       Carrying chicks 		great crested grebe pair feeding chicks   
    Pair feeding chicks

great crested grebe carrying chick   
       Carrying chick 		great crested grebe carrying chick   
       Carrying chick 		great crested grebe carrying chick   
   Carrying chick 		great crested grebe carrying chick   
       Carrying chicks 		great crested grebe carrying chick   
       Carrying chicks

great crested grebe carrying chick   
     Carrying chicks 		great crested grebe chasing coot   
        Fighting Coot 		great crested grebe chasing coot   
        Fighting Coot 		great crested grebe splashing   
       (Fighting Coot) 		great crested grebe pair feeding chicks   
      Pair feeding chicks

great crested grebe fighting coot   
       Fighting Coot 		great crested grebe chasing coot   
       Fighting Coot 		great crested grebe chasing coot   
       Fighting Coot 		great crested grebe pair   
       Pair courting 		great crested grebe in threat pose   
       In threat posture

Videos (links to YouTube)

link to video of great crested grebe swimming underwater
   Great Crested Grebe
  swimming under water



Great Egret

great egret       great egret in flight       great egret in water       great egret in water       great egret in flight      

great egret in flight      



Great Spotted Woodpecker


great spotted woodpecker at nest-hole
   At nest-hole 		great spotted woodpecker at nest-hole
   At nest-hole 		 great spotted woodpecker juvenile at nest-hole
Juvenile at nest-hole


Great Tit

Green Sandpiper

Green Woodpecker

great tit on reedmace seed-head
 green sandpiper

 green sandpiper

 green woodpecker



Grey Heron


grey heron in flight with reflection       grey heron in flight with reflection       grey heron in flight with reflection       grey heron in flight       grey herons in flight chase with reflection      


grey herons in flight chase with reflection       grey heron in flight with reflection       grey heron in flight with reflection       grey heron in flight with reflection       grey heron in flight with reflection       grey heron in flight with reflection      


grey heron in flight over reedmace       grey heron in flight with reflection       grey heron in flight       grey heron with reflection       grey heron flypast      


grey heron viewed thru bush
       Thru bush
 grey heron in flight



Grey Wagtail

Greylag Goose

grey wagtail on dead twig
greylag goose with young gosling
      Adult with gosling


Hobby

hobby in flight

 hobby in stooping diving flight

 hobby flyover



Jackdaw


Jackdaw



Kingfisher


kingfisher on alder branch kingfisher on alder branch kingfisher on alder branch kingfisher on dead twig kingfisher on Alder bough



kingfisher flying low over calm water kingfisher on dead twig kingfisher on old twig kingfisher on dead branch kingfisher on dead branch



kingfisher on dead branch


 kingfisher on alder branch


 kingfisher on dead twig


 kingfisher on dead reed


 kingfisher on dead twig

kingfisher on dead branch

 kingfisher on alder branch

 kingfisher diving down from twig tree

 kingfisher on dead twig

 kingfisher on dead twig

kingfisher on dead branch



Lapwing


lapwing 'bad hair' day lapwing flying low over water lapwing flying low over water lapwing flying low to land

 lapwings mating
          Pair mating


two lapwings flying
   Aerial dispute 		three lapwings flying
        Aerial dispute 		lapwing in tumbling flight
        Aerial display 		two lapwings in flight
    Aerial dispute 		lapwing flying low


two lapwings in aerial combat
        Aerial dispute 		two lapwings in aerial combat
        Aerial dispute 		lapwing flying low

 lapwings mating
        Pair mating 		lapwing being chased by gull
        Chased by gull


lapwing being chased by gull
  Chased by gull 		    lapwing flying performing steep banking turn

        two lapwings in aerial dispute
          Aerial dispute 		    two lapwings in parallel flight
            Aerial dispute 		two lapwings in aerial dispute
        Aerial dispute


two lapwings in aerial combat
        Aerial dispute 		lapwing in flight overhead

 lapwing flying head-on

 lapwing in flight low over water

 two lapwings in aerial combat
        Aerial dispute

two lapwings in aerial combat
        Aerial dispute 		lapwing in upside-down rolling flight
        Aerial display 		lapwing in upside-down rolling flight
        Aerial display 		sequence of lapwing in rolling flight display
        Aerial display 		lapwing on shingle

lapwing juvenile
       Juvenile


Videos (links to YouTube)

link to video of Lapwing performing aerial display
   Lapwing aerial display 		link to video of two Lapwings in aerial dispute
Lapwings in aerial dispute



Little Egret

little egret in flight with reflection
 little egret in flight with reflection little egret in flight with reflection
little egret in flight
little egret walking along shoreline


little egret flyby little egret in water with reflection little egret in water with reflection little egret in water with reflection little egret in water with reflection


little egret in water with reflection

 little egret in water with reflection

 little egret in water with reflection
        Catching fish 		little egret amongst lakeside vegetation



Little Grebe

little grebe summer plumage 'fluffed up'
          'Fluffed up'
 little grebe summer plumage 'slicked back'
        'Slicked back'
 little grebe running across calm water with reflection

 little grebe on water with fish      
            With fish 		little grebe summer plumage on water next to wooden post


little grebe summer plumage on water next to wooden post'
          Eating midge 		little grebe male chasing away a coot'
                    Chasing Coot ! 		little grebe adult on water with three chicks
            Adult with chicks 		little grebe adult on water with chick
      Adult feeding chick


little grebe winter plumage on calm water'
 little grebe running/flying across calm water'


Little Ringed Plover

little ringed plover portrait

 little ringed plover broken-wing display
     Broken-wing display 		little ringed plover brooding chicks
      Brooding chicks 		little ringed plover protecting chicks
     Protecting chicks 		little ringed plover chicks with adult
     Chicks with adult


little ringed plover chick
        Young chick 		little ringed plover chasing off ringed plover
       Chasing Ringed Plover 		little ringed plover pair mating
     Pair mating 		little ringed plover portrait

 little ringed plover adult with chick
  Adult with young chick



little ringed plover flying low over water

 little ringed plovers mating
         Pair mating 		little ringed plovers mating
      Pair mating 		little ringed plovers mating
        Pair mating 		little ringed plover portrait


little ringed plover flying past

 little ringed plover preening
          Preening 		little ringed plover preening
          Preening 		little ringed plover wing-stretching

 little ringed plovers mating
     Pair mating


little ringed plovers mating
        Pair mating 		little ringed plovers mating
        Pair mating 		little ringed plover flying low over water with reflection

 little ringed plover portrait

 little ringed plover walking over shingle


little ringed plover chick
    Young chick


Long-tailed Tit

long-tailed tit      


Mallard
mallard dispute
mallards in a row

female Mallard eating juvenile Sand Martin
    Eating Sand Martin !

female Mallard eating juvenile Sand Martin
   Eating Sand Martin !


female Mallard about to grab juvenile Sand Martin
About to grab Sand Martin ! 		female Mallard grabbing juvenile Sand Martin
  Grabbing Sand Martin ! 		female Mallard drowning juvenile Sand Martin
  Drowning Sand Martin ! 		female Mallard about to land on calm water female Mallard about to land on calm water



Moorhen

moorhen perched on top of reedmace seed-head
moorhen perched on reedmace seed-head
moorhen perched on old twig in water


moorhen perched on old twig in water


moorhen walking over frozen water surface
          On ice

moorhen flying
moorhen splashdown
moorhen running over water
moorhen landing on calm water


moorhen landing on calm water


moorhen walking over frozen water surface
   Chasing juvenile Coot
moorhen flying over calm water


Mute Swan

mute swan with setting sun      
mute swan landing on water     
mute swan pair in flight over     

two mute swans fighting
                  Fighting

two mute swans fighting
                  Fighting


two mute swans fighting
                  Fighting


 mute swan landing on water


mute swan on calmwater



Nuthatch

nuthatch      



Peregrine Falcon
peregrine chasing black-tailed godwit flock      
          Chasing godwits 		peregrine in flight in steep turn      

 peregrine in fast flight      

 peregrine fly-by      
peregrine chased by terns   
  Chased by terns

peregrine stooping at duck
      Attacking duck 		peregrine fly-by
                  Fly-by montage



Pied Wagtail



pied wagtail juveniles sparring in flight
        Fighting 		pied wagtail juveniles sparring in flight      
              Fighting



Redpoll

redpoll male      



Redshank

redshank on shingle
        		redshank feeding

 redshank feeding

 redshanks mating

 redshank feeding


redshanks courting

 redshanks mating

 redshank flying

 redshank flying low over water

 redshank cross-legged


redshank catching fly
          Chasing fly 		redshanks chasing fly
          Chasing fly 		redshanks fighting
          Fighting 		redshank on alert

 redshank pair


redshank flying low

 redshank flying low over water with reflection
 redshank flying low over water with reflection
 redshank flying low over water with reflection
 redshank flying low over water with reflection


redshank flying low over water with reflection

 redshanks courting

 redshank preening



Reed Warbler

reed warbler in reeds reed warbler with grub reed warbler reed warbler singing reed warbler


reed warbler in reeds reed warbler singing reed warbler singing reed warbler on twig reed warbler on twig


reed warbler on twig



Sand Martin

sand martins on twig       sand martin landing on twig       sand martin flying head-on sand martins in flight sand martin juveniles flying around stick


sand martins flying around twig sand martins flying around twig sand martins flying around twig sand martin on twig sand martin juveniles on twig


sand martins flying around twig sand martins flying around twig sand martins flying around twig sand martins flying around twig sand martin juveniles flying around stick


sand martins on twig sand martins on twig sand martins flying around twig sand martins on twig sand martin juveniles flying around twig


sand martins flying around twig sand martins flying around leafy sprig sand martins flying around leafy sprig sand martin juveniles flying around twig sand martin juveniles flying around twig


sand martins flying around twig sand martin group in flight sand martin group in flight
two sand martins in flight low over calm water
sand martin flying low over calm water


two sand martins in flight
        Fledgling

 sand martin group in flight


 sand martin juvenile on plant sprig
          Fledgling

 sand martin in flight


 sand martins squabbling over twig perch


sand martins squabbling over twig perch

 sand martins squabbling over twig perch

 sand martins squabbling over twig perch

 sand martins squabbling over twig perch

 juvenile sand martin
        Juvenile


Videos (links to YouTube)

link to video of sand martins at blashford lakes
         Sand Martins
     at Goosander Hide 		link to video of sand martins at blashford lakes
         Sand Martins
     at Goosander Hide



Shelduck

shelduck drake swimming shelduck female flying low
shelducks fighting
             Fighting
shelducks fighting
             Fighting 		shelduck landing on water


shelduck drake dipping


Siskin

siskin male      



Sparrowhawk

sparrowhawk in twiggy tree       'eyes of a killer' - sparrowhawk       sparrowhawk on birch tree      

 sparrowhawk in flight      

 sparrowhawk in flight      



Sparrowhawk on fence-post with Sand Martin prey
  With Sand Martin prey

 Sparrowhawk on fence-post with Sand Martin prey
  With Sand Martin prey

 Sparrowhawk on fence-post with Sand Martin prey
  With Sand Martin prey


Tufted Duck

tufted duck on wooden pontoon tufted duck on wooden pontoon tufted duck female with ducklings
    Adult with ducklings
tufted duck female with ducklings



Water Rail

water rail       water rail       water rail       water rail      



Wood Pigeon


wood pigeon       wood pigeon adult with juvenile      
      Adult with juvenile
 wood pigeon adult feeding juvenile      
   Adult feeding juvenile
 wood pigeon adult with juvenile      
      Adult with juvenile


Wren

wren sunning on log
            Sunning



Reptiles/Amphibians


Adder

adder amongst twigs



Grass Snake

grass snake sunning


 grass snake on bark


 grass snake head


 grass snake swimming
          Swimming




Fishes


shoal of fish
     Shoal of young fish


 Carp breaching
       Carp breaching




Insects/Invertebrates


   painted lady butterfly on ragwort
Painted Lady Butterfly 		migrant hawker dragonfly in hovering flight      
Migrant Hawker Dragonfly 		migrant hawker dragonfly in hovering flight      
Migrant Hawker Dragonfly 		dew-covered spider-webs      
    Spider webs 		black ant milking aphids
Ant milking Aphids



flower-beetle on oxeye daisy
     Flower beetle 		flower-beetle on oxeye daisy
          Flower beetle 		 Pale prominent Moth at rest
Pale Prominent Moth

 Canary-shouldered Thorn Moth at rest
     Thorn Moth

 White-tailed Bumblebee on twig
 White-tailed Bumblebee



Pale Crab Spider

 pale crab spider with honeybee prey on oxeye daisy
With Honeybee prey 		 pale crab spider with honeybee prey on oxeye daisy
With Honeybee prey 		pale crab spider with honeybee prey on oxeye daisy
    With Honeybee prey 		pale crab spider with honeybee prey on oxeye daisy
    With Honeybee prey 		pale crab spider with honeybee prey on oxeye daisy
    With Honeybee prey


pale crab spider with honeybee prey on oxeye daisy
    With Honeybee prey


Raft Spider

raft spider on water lily leaf raft spider on water lily leaf raft spider on water lily leaf raft spider on water lily leaf



Wasp Spider

wasp spider in web

 wasp spider in web

 wasp spider in web
   With caught
   grasshopper

 wasp spider in web



Flowering Plants


reedmace seed-heads
    Reedmace in seed



 ground ivy flowers
      Ground Ivy


 cowslip
      Cowslip


 ivy leafy sprig
      Ivy sprig


 Columbine in flower
      Columbine
Oxeye Daisy

meadow of oxeye daisies meadow of oxeye daisies meadow of oxeye daisies oxeye daisies oxeye daisies oxeye daisies



Fungi


mazegill fungus
       Mazegill Fungus 		Shaggy ink cap fungi
 Shaggy Ink Cap

 Shaggy ink cap fungi
 Shaggy Ink Cap

 Shaggy ink cap fungus
 Shaggy Ink Cap

 Shaggy ink cap fungus
 Shaggy Ink Cap

scarlet elf cup fungus
       Scarlet Elf Cup
 scarlet elf cup fungus
        Scarlet Elf Cup



Showcase started: --- November 2010. Last updated: --- August 2013.


Geoff's Blashford Hide Guide Blashford Lakes Wildlife Reserve web site



Showcases Index Home (Main Site)



All images are property and © Copyright Geoff Doré, All Rights Reserved.


Comments, suggestions, questions - email to:

gdp(at)geoffdore.com



Behind the lens - Geoff Doré



www.geoffdore.com