North Cave Wetlands and North Duffield Carrs.

 

Another sunny day, but still lots of ice on the surface of the water on the lakes at North Cave. I started at Crosslands Hide

lots of birds. Wigeon, teal gadwall, mallard, with a few redshank and a black tailed godwit. I then walked along the western edge path, where several siskins were busy feeding. No birds in the first part of the northern hedge, probably due to the fact that the farmer was working in the next field putting up new fence posts. Not a single bird on reedbake lake. A pair of long tailed tits were working their way along the hedge, looking for food. I stood still in the hope that they would get closer for a photo, but they flew straight past me. A female blackbird was feeding on the ivy.

Goldfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit and tree sparrows on the Maize field feeders. The birds would fly to the feeders, quickly get some seed and then fly back to the bushes. The feeders would swing about as the birds landed so I did not try for any photos.

Lapwings and a single redshanks were the only birds on Island lake. From East hide there were more birds to be seen.

In the reed bed below the Turret hide was a bittern.

It was very difficult to see and I doubt that I would have seen it had a chap told me where to look.

I was waiting to see if it would come out of the reeds, but a lady came and sat down next to me so I left!

I walk back towards my car and called in at South Hide. Most of the water was covered in ice, mallard, gadwall, little grebes were on one stretch of open water.

I was concerned about this mallard in the centre of the water, was it stuck in the ice?

Just past the next set of feeders siskin were feeding. I tried to get some photos of the birds in the sun and without twigs in front of them, not easy.

The reserve was now getting busy, so I drove to North Duffield Carrs.

Plenty of water and a good variety of ducks, some teal were feeding in front of the hide.

Lots of wigeon, teal, mallard, pintail and wigeon. Lapwings, redshank, dunlin and ruff. Then a marsh harrier flew over.

Everything then had a fly round until the bird flew away. The light started to fade about 3.30 so I headed for home. Another pleasant day with 3 ticks to take my year total to 95.