Blacktoft Sands and Askham Bog.

 Marsh harriers have been providing visitors with lots of excellent views as they fly close to hides hunting for food for their young. With 10/11 active nests there is always something to watch.

Large numbers of little egrets on site including this young one

this one was having a bad hair day when it was windy.

one little egret has started to perch in this tree outside reception hide.

A visit to Askham Bog on Tuesday.

Lots of bird song, chiffchaffs, willow warblers, blackcaps, but unable to get more than a glimpse of the birds due to the leaves etc.

A wren was singing from the top of a bush

Lots of butterflies

Used my phone for the above picture, the birds were so tame.

Filey Dams

 A few hours at Filey Dams today. A sign that summer is coming to an end for birds is the increasing number of lapwings gathering together.

The kestrels were either on ,in or close to one of the owl boxes.

From the East Hide I was able to watch reed warblers and three young.

The male tufted ducks looked smart in the sunshine, no sign of any females, so I assumed that they were sitting on a nest.

a young pied wagtail was having a rest after chasing insects on the mud.

Rutland Water

 Not the best weather to travel to Cambridge to collect the eldest granddaughter.

I called in at Rutland Water on my way down. It had just stopped raining when I arrived.

Despite the poor weather it was good to watch the ospreys/

The male was sat on the post whilst the female was on the nest before she flew off to feed allowing me to see the chicks.

In front of the hide I saw at least 2 possibly 3 water voles.

sedge warblers were busy feeding young

a mute swan was preening after the rain

One of the many cormorants on site.

Blacktoft at 50 part two.

 

Pete Short cut the 50th birthday cake this afternoon.

Lots of visitors and activities for them and children.

The marsh harriers displayed well for the visitors and a bittern did several food flights.

3 green sandpipers were a reminder that birds who have nested in the far north will soon be returning south. Some adult cuckoos have already started their journey south.

Blacktoft at 50

 Blacktoft Sands open weekend to celebrate the reserves 50th birthday. Activities for children, guided walks and moth trapping.

Excellent views of several key species.

On my way back from Marshland hide I came across a barn owl, hunting near the main footpath.

Spotted redshank, green sandpiper also on Marshland.

Townend had 7 little egrets

Singleton had great white egret

a female reed bunting had food for her young

Marsh harriers were busy hunting for ducklings hiding in the reeds.

young pied wagtails were chasing insects

Day two tomorrow. Will the bittern be doing food flights again?