The National Trust run property at Morden Hall Park in Surrey is near to home, since we moved last November. I have been meaning to visit this place for a while, but circumstances always conspired against me.
Today I finally got around to going and it won't be my last visit either.
There are several paths to follow for walking, mostly on the level as well which makes it easier. Soon after entering the park, I came across a small stretch of water that forms part of the River Wandle. One of the other visitors was aiming his zoom lens towards a tree on the bank on the other side of the river and he advised he was looking at a Kingfisher. It was easy to see and the closest I have veer seen one - so you will have to just imagine my disappointment at having ventured out from home without my 100-400mm zoom. Therefore, severely restricted, I had no option but to shoot with the long end of my 24-70 which was definitely not the correct lens for the subject.
Bringing the correct lens will be one of the reasons I return, though I was to later see sufficient interesting bits to warrant return visits anyway.
The same stretch of water has other trees on the near bank as well and these later played hosts to 2 grey squirrels that were drawn to a small number of monkey nuts left for them by other visitors. Being nearer, these 2 were suitable subjects for my 24-70 and I took several pleasing pics as I enjoyed a closer encounter with squirrels than ever before.
Further around the park, the Wandle twists and turns and creates some nice photo vantage points. There's small weir and 2 old stone bridges just after, there's an old water mill, there was a grey heron that took flight but that turned out to be another missed opportunity for a photo. There's also a decent footpath/boardwalk that leads out through a wetland area that will probably be teeming with wildlife at different times of the year.
and finally, the Kingfisher, for which I apologise about image quality - this is a major crop from my original image as the bird was so small in the original. I will do better when I return with the right lens for the job - lesson learned, though I am old enough and have been a photographer for long enough that I should have known better anyway and gone out fully prepared.
