Blackwater Valley, Moor Green and Horseshoe lake

***Chocky*** · 14-08-2007, 09:58 PM

Here is part of he lake with geese flying about. Taken in the evening
This is a big lake and there are Swans, ducks, a variety of geese, Crested Grebe, Moor Hens and Coots, plenty of birds and other wildlife.

**rolf** · 14-08-2007, 10:02 PM

I didn't realise it was such a nice place Chocky, thanks for the info.

***Chocky*** · 14-08-2007, 10:09 PM

Yo will like it. plenty of wildlife photographic opportunity hrere

***ladylouise62*** · 15-08-2007, 10:56 AM

It does look nice, and certainly very colourful.

***Chocky*** · 15-08-2007, 11:15 AM

Yes . I found it very peaceful and plenty of activity. We are going there this afternoon weather permitting
There is a hight restriction on vehicular but I don't know if it all day, it was on in the evening

***Chocky*** · 27-08-2007, 10:11 AM

I would like to point out this wildlife centre . I went there recently whilst visitin g my son who live in Yateley Hants. He took me all over the centre....well most of it. It is one of the finest places I have ever been to for wildlife and will be paying frequent visits especially in the fall.
It is well worth a visit . It covers some 90 acres

http://www.blackwater-valley.org.uk/

Here are a some photos I captured whilst visiting Geese flying across one of the lakes , a view of one of the lakes and a Kestrel sitting on a fence of a field Adjacent to one of the lakes

**rolf** · 27-08-2007, 11:55 PM

Looks good Chocky, will try and give it a go in the near future.

***Chocky*** · 28-08-2007, 12:00 AM

I'll be going up to Yateley later, probably in October. I am going to visit as much as I can over the next 20 months, it is really a superb place for wildlife

***Chocky*** · 03-11-2007, 12:08 AM

Monday
I traveled to my son’s house in Yateley Hant's for a few days holiday and photography shoot.
Tuesday
I went to a favorite spot of mine call Yateley Park where I can spend hours taking photos of birds or just sit and watch the activities going on around the lake
This is a very large magnificent lake called Horseshoe Lake, so called because it has a horseshoe shaped island.
A photo below is showing the island.
The amount of birds there is uncountable. I have captured a Kestrel and a buzzard, Swans ducks Stonechats Canada Geese, Snow, Barnacle and Egyptian Geese. Jays, Robins, Goldfinch, Siskins and many, many more. The Downey Emerald Dragonfly and Banded Demoiselles. To name but a few of the wild life species
The first photo shows the outlay and information. The second photo is a lesser Snow Goose. The third is a flock of Canada Geese forth is a pair of Stonechats. The Fifth is a Common Hawker Dragon fly and the 6th is Horseshoe Island in the middle of the lake.

A place to visit. http://www.blackwater-valley.org.uk/...een_lakes_.htm

***Chocky*** · 03-11-2007, 12:08 AM

Wednesday.
Rolf and I met. I introduced Rolf to Matty another member of the TVB and Rolf and I went to Yateley Park for a TVB Site Shoot.
We managed to capture the Stonechat some Cormorants and Wigeons. These are very pretty ducks with slate blue beaks and the male whistles.
Rolf captured many more but I’ll let him tell you.

Yes, nice day out, but unfortunately suffered with overcast weather, not great for the long lens, but still saw a couple of species which were new to me.

The Stonechats were the first, closely followed by the Wigeon, heard first, then captured.

Love the Cormorant colony, looks almost pre-historic.

***Chocky*** · 03-11-2007, 12:10 AM

Thursday
I went to Yateley Park again in the morning whilst my son popped into work.
After lunch my son took me to the Moor Green Nature Reserve. This is adjacent to Yateley Park and has 4 huge Lakes and is a very large reserve. These are disused Quarries.
Here I captured a buzzard flying low chasing off a crow. Red shank also bread here.
Also there are Dear and Foxes during the light hours. At night time there are Pipistrelle Bats feeding along the hedgerows whilst Daubenton’s Bat Feeds low over the lakes
All along the side runs the Black water River which meets up with the White Water River
It all comes under Black Water Valley
The Photo shows the Buzzard and the second photo is sunset over Horseshoe Lake
The 3rd shows Geese flying from Horseshoe lake to the Moor Green reserve lakes

**rolf** · 21-03-2008, 01:38 AM

Here's a couple of Great Crested Grebe which I took there yesterday, plus a Heron and a pair of Goosander.

The main attraction for me was the aerial display and calls of the resident Lapwings.

***Chocky*** · 21-03-2008, 12:24 PM

Very nice captures Rolf.

I will be up that way next week from March 24th - 28th 2008 and hope to take a few more photos. It really is a fantastic place I must also look out for the Goosander.

**rolf** · 27-03-2008, 11:21 PM

From our most recent visit, well worth joining the local Moor Green group, as it gives you access to the two hides, which make life much more comfortable on cold and windy days, plus you can see some breeds fairly close up.

Here are a couple of photos of Beryl and Myself in one of the hides and a couple of shots of a Shoveller Duck having a splash about.

15-08-2007, 10:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
*ladylouise62* Slightly Mad Moderator Info Location: Reading, Berks Gallery: 0 Equipment: Fuji Finepix S7000 A chair :) Posts: 1,047 Join Date: Jan 2007 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	It does look nice, and certainly very colourful.