Last days of summer, first day of winter!

 As some of you may know, I only have 2 seasons. Winter and summer. Winter starts the day after the clocks change and ends on December 21st, the winter solstice. My summer starts on December 22nd when the daylight hours start to increase and end in October when the clocks change.

My last outing of the "summer" was on Thursday when I went to Blacktoft in the afternoon. The water level is nice and high thanks to the recent high tides and there is water in front of Ousefleet hide.

Lots of wigeon, teal and shovelers feeding in the area.

Next door the ponies were also feeding.

Not a lot of birdlife on Marshland so I went to Xerox, from where I could see lots of teal, gadwall and shovelers. I noticed a bird in the water, and when I looked through my telescope I saw it was a buzzard bathing.

After the bird had finished bathing it flew a short distance onto the nearest island.

after a while it flew off and scared away the teal.

There were no birds in front of First hide so I walked to Townend.

On the way to the hide I saw this small toad.

 Here I could see four snipe on some vegetation.

A redshank was feeding to the left.

Singleton lagoon was quiet, just a little egret and a grey heron. Towards dark marsh harriers came into view as they came into roost in the reedbed.

I counted 16 harriers coming into roost, and saw 5 birds in the air at the same time.

Friday was dog sitting day. On our walk on the moor I saw 10 carrion crows, some of whom seemed to be having a dispute as they were on the ground with their talons interlocked. Several small flocks of goldfinches flew over, but no sign of a grey wagtail.

 Saturday was odd jobs day including baking the cake for Xmas.

Xmas cards and wrapping paper and some presents already bought, so not much more to do.

First job today was to go and get my flu jab at he drive through clinic.

I then went to Nosterfield.

On the way to the lake I saw lots of plants etc, adding a splash of colour to the hedgerow.

Only a mute swan on the water, but on a spit of sand were lots of lapwings, curlews and golden plovers.

I then drove to the other part of the reserve.

The long staying lesser yellowlegs was feeding on one of the islands.

Lots of greylag geese and a few pink footed geese, curlew, mallard and lapwings were also there.

On the way home I called in at Staveley, but the car park was full, so I cam home.

Hoping to get to the coast during the week.