Cliff Buckton specialises in nature photography. He used a Canon 70D with a 100-400 lens and a Canon G15 compact to take these photographs (in 2015 and 2016 unless otherwise stated).
Stocker's Lake and Maple Lodge Nature Reserves
Both reserves are in the Colne Valley close to Rickmansworth and Junction 17 of the M25, straddling the Hertfordshire/Hillingdon border. Stocker's Lake is one of the oldest former gravel pits in the area, the gravel having been excavated in the 1920s and 30s, much of which went to build the old Wembley Stadium. The resulting 40 hectare (100 acre) lake is managed as a nature reserve (http://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/stockers-lake) (http://www.fosl.org.uk/) and hosts over 60 species of breeding birds in summer. In winter it is a good place to see migrant ducks escaping the harsh weather on the continent, plus the occasional rarity at any time. There is a good path around the entire lake, five bird hides, and the added interest of the nearby Grand Union Canal with Stocker’s Lock, Stocker’s House and Stocker’s Farm, which has been used as a location in numerous film and television programmes.
Click here to see location of Stocker's Lake on a map
Maple Lodge Nature Reserve is a wetland area created from two old gravel pits and a former sludge settlement area from the neighbouring sewage works. It is managed by Maple Lodge Conservation Society (http://www.maplelodge.org).
Click here to see locaton of Maple Lodge on a map