Turtle Dove

 My first visit to Sutton Bank Visitor Centre tonight. I arrived at 1740 and as soon as I got out of my car, I could feel a difference in temperature. When I returned to put my parking ticket in the car I looked at the dashboard display, it read 15 degrees.

I sat at one of the picnic tables, so that I could see both sets of feeders. Shortly after I arrived a couple of birders joined me. They had been there for an hour and had not seen or heard any turtle doves. Another 2 birders joined us and we waited and watched both sets of feeders. After a while the others went back to their cars for some clothes! We continued to watch and wait.

A great spotted woodpecker turned up.

Then this dove arrived

a collared dove.

About 7pm the others left and wished me luck. I continued to sit and look. 7.30pm and my parking ticket expired at 7.40. So I slowly walked back to the car, when I saw a movement on the floor beneath the feeders. A turtle dove.

RSPB Fairburn Ings

 My 8th spoonbill experience walk today. An adult arrived with food which enabled us to see the young begging for food. We also saw a recently fledged bird following its parent as they waded through the water, whenever the adult caught something the young would start asking for food.

Before and after the walk I spent some time at the Pickup hide, near the visitor centre.

The jays did not come very close today.

Walk number 9 on Tuesday

A hot day at Blacktoft Sands.

 

I arrived just before 8am and walked to Marshland Hide, the above photo was my view.

Spoonbill

Is it one of the birds with a nest at Fairburn?

Green sandpiper

snipe

Others waders feeding on the scrape were Ruff. Spotted redshank, Redshank, Lapwing, Greenshank, Black-tailed godwit and Little ringed plover. I then joined Pete in Reedling hide. Marsh harriers were having a squable

Pete pointed out a young bittern in the opposite reed bed. it was just showing its head.

Reed warblers were singing from deep in the reedbed, while this Chiffchaff sat on top of a bush to sing.

Tree sparrows were also active.

Butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies were also on the wing, but they did not settle for long in the gentle breeze.

A couple of hours into my shift I noticed a female Bittern feeding a young on at the edge of Reedling lagoon. Not a brilliant photo due to the vegetation in the foreground.

Is it the same bird I saw earlier, or is it another young bird from the same nest?

Back to Spoonbills at Fairbirn tomorrow.

Spoonbills again!

 2 more Spoonbill Expereince walks since my last post. Some nests still have young in, while other "teaspoons" are out of the next and pestering their parents for food. A young Cattle egret was also on view today,

More spoonbills!

 Another spoonbill experience walk today. Due to accidents on various roads and roadworks in Fairburn Village getting to Fairburn and home again was a bit difficult.

Lots of spoonbill activity at the nest site plus 4 littel egrets were having a squabble.

We were able to see the breeding plumage variation on the birds. A brief visit to the Pickup hide was rewarded with these views.

Hopefuly the traffic will not be a problem tomorrow.

"Two Norths"

 A morning bird watching. First venue was North Cave Wetlands. I arrived just after 7am the same time as the butty bus! I walked to the East hide and then returned to my car for a coat as the strong wind was a touch on the cool side. Most birds were sheltering from the wind. Lots of black-headed gulls with their young. Nothing to see from the turret hide, so I did not stay. 

This rabbit was on the path and just moved over to let me pass!

Coots, gadwall and mute swans from the North hide. Lots of little egrets on Far Lake.

As I walked towards the Dennis Wood hide, I disturbed some insects.

Lots of activity on eother side of the hide. Avocets were chasing away black-headed gulls that close to their youngm while black-headed gulls chased away other gull chicks and in the middle of this common tern chcks were waiting to be fed. Time to go as I wanted to call in at North Duffield Carrs on the way home.

Very quiet here also. Alan Whitehead (duffbirder) arrived and we spent the time chatting before I had to leave.

Swallow tailed moth

 

This moth appeared in my garden overnight. Thanks to Daz for the identification.