( 2(50 ) 

 BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY ON A ( ITV LAKE. 



BY 



GEOFFRF.Y C. S. INGRAM. 



The lake here relerred to is situated within 500 yards of the 

 north-east boundary of the City of Cardiff. Roughly half 

 a mile in length, it varies in width from 400 to 650 feet. In 

 the winter it is visited by a large number of ducks of many 

 species, mostl}' Tufted Duck {Nyroca fuligula), Pochard 

 (:V. ferina), Wigeon [Anas pcndope) and Mallard (^4. plaiy- 

 rhyncha). Scaup Duck {N. niarila) and Goldeneye {Biice- 

 phala clangula) in small numbers have frequently been 

 recorded, and there are also records of occasional visits from 

 Common Sheld-Duck {Tadorna tadorna), Teal {A. crecca), 

 Shoveler [Spattda clypcata), Pintail {A. acuta), Long-tailed 

 Duck [Clangula hyemalis), and Smew {Mergus albellus). 

 Coots {Fulica atra) in large numbers, Moor-Hens {Gallinula 

 chloropiis), and Little Grebes [Podiceps nificollis) are constant 

 visitors, and there is one record of a visit from a Slavonian 

 Grebe (P. auritus). 



It was with the idea of trying to obtain some photographs 

 of the birds which were on the lake during a recent cold snap, 

 that my friend H. M. Salmon and I constructed a shelter on 

 one of the five islands which are dotted about at its northern 

 end, and before daylight on December 5th, 1920, we were 

 in hiding and waiting for whatever might turn up. There 

 was a high northerly wind blowing right down the lake, and 

 the only shelter was among the islands, so we were hopeful 

 that we should have good sport. The only birds seen that 

 day were Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Coots, Moor-Hens, and three 

 Little Grebes. They were a httle shy of the " hide," especially 

 the Tufted Ducks, and with the exception of one Little Grebe, 

 rarely ventured nearer than 50 feet. Even with the aid of 

 a 17" telecentric lens the image on the plate at such a distance 

 was very small, and we got no good results that day. The 

 Little Grebe mentioned, came within six feet of us, and was 

 observed to be catching and eating small fish. 



Photographically, our next visit, made on December 12th, 

 was the most successful. A strong and bitterly cold east 

 wind was blowing. We had added to the disguise of our 

 " hide " and were ensconced therein while it was still dark. 

 The splashes of diving Coots, sounded from all around, and 

 before it was properly light, they were feeding within 20 feet 

 of us. They were joined by a few Tufted Ducks and at times 



