August 13th 2022, a beautiful day if I remember rightly, looking back at the photos it certainly looked it so, I drove up to Backwater Reservoir, for a change ;) Whatever reason there may be, there wasn't a great deal going on up there, bird-wise anyway so, I headed home after a stroll across the dam and back.
As I drove back onto the farm yard, I noticed a few birds around one of the big puddles left by the recent rain so, I stopped the car and reached for the "big boy", my joke name for the camera with a Sigma 150-600mm lens fitted :)
Suffice to say, I got some lovely shots of beautiful birds from all around the area surrounding us, by the time I got set up a Meadow Pipit was in there and going for it.
I loved the reflection in the puddle.
The look of pleasure, almost a laugh in that last Pipit shot.
It was fabulous to be so close and to watch them have so much fun, enjoying a really good bathe.
There were other birds dropping in the whole time, some clearing off again quickly when they noticed me, still sitting in the car!!!
This Chiffchaff stood at the edge of the puddle for a while, watching the goings on and getting splashed, I guess they are a little bit smaller, maybe checking out how deep it was?
In the end it stayed around the outer, shallower edges of the puddle and enjoyed its own bath.
You have to wonder about the effectiveness of a wash in muddy water right? We don't have feathers though, neither do we get ticks and mites :) most of the time.
The Meadow Pipits were having a ball, making the most of this lovely cooling puddle on a hot day.
That first shot above has a Pipit with a look of "do you mind?" The House Sparrows turned up next, this Cock Sparrow going for it with the Mrs looking on :)
That female House Sparrow looks embarrassed by his show.
There was a real surprise and first for me up next.
A House Martin arrived to collect some of that lovely wet mud, for its home I'd imagine.
A stunning little bird and probably confused with a Swallow by me when in flight so it was nice to see it so clearly.
Greenfinch next! Told you they all turned up for the party, it had been a hot few days, if my memory serves me.
I don't think this young Greenfinch actually had a dip, I have no photos so probably not. A young Meadow Pipit didn't seem to understand what this was all about, hopping back and fore on the edge of the puddle and looking a bit confused by its own reflection.
Happy to see how good looking it was or just happy to have its feet in the cool water, it looked like it was dancing around the edge.
And that was it. Six minutes of pure entertainment and a fab opportunity for me. I still keep an eye on these puddles when they re-form but I've never seen such a show since this.
