Saturday 15 October 2016

Walking on Water

Today was the only day this week in which the camera was taken out of the car.  The rain was less threatening, and at times it was a bit brighter than the rest off the week.  The morning group were entranced by a very close male Kingfisher, and while we were watching it I spotted a soaring large hawk.  We watched it for a few moments before it flew off west.  Some of its features seemed to fit a male Goshawk, but experts have checked, and assure me it is only a  dark female Sparrowhawk.    Later, we saw a Little Grebe behaving very oddly - photographs below.  Other birds seen included: Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Snipe, Dunlin, Marsh Harriers, v.distant Bearded Tits, Wigeon, Shoveler, Shelduck, Teal, Pink-footed Goose (one), Little Egret, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting etc.
Kingfisher
 Female Sparrowhawk
 Ditto
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 Different Sparrowhawk in another area of the reserve
 Record shot of Sparrowhawk
 Kingfisher
 Ditto
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Record Shot of Water Rail
 Black-tailed Godwits
 Ditto
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 Little Grebe
 Ditto
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 Walking on Water
 Golden Plovers
 All remaining photos (c) 2016 Jane Robinson
Wigeon
 Magpie
Kingfisher
 Kingfisher

On Thursday we managed to escape into the many hides at Tophill Low during the worst rain. Morning highlight was a pair of Willow Tits outside SMW back-2-back hides and 2 Water Rails from high hide on SMW. In the afternoon a Cetti's warbler was seen by 4 where the Willow Tits had been, and a Kingfisher right over N. Lagoon hide at 3pm. 50 other species seen incl: 80 Pink-footed Geese, the other side of the river Hull, 2 Buzzards, 100s of Redwing, fewer Fieldfare, Little Egrets, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Curlew, Goldcrests, Great Crested & Little Grebes, Treecreeper, Green Woodpecker (heard only), Tufted Duck, Chiffchaff etc

On Wednesday in between the showers at Far Ings we heard: Cetti's Warblers, Bearded Tits, saw lots of Redwings, plus Bullfinches, Heron, Cormorant, Redshank, Lapwing, Pink-footed Geese, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits, etc. No Marsh Harrier.  The  Kingfisher turned up in the afternoon where we saw it hovering at a distant.  Later, Bruce spotted a Cetti's Warbler outside Reedy hide.

On Tuesday we sheltered at North Cave Wetlands.  All the usual suspects were seen!

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