NDC

 

By the time that I reached North Duffield Carrs this afternoon the sunshine had stopped.

It was a bit breezy in the Garganey hide, due to the damage caused by the recent flooding.

In the field to the left of the hide were 2 whooper swans, 2  egyptian geese, 1 hare and several greylags and canada geese.

All the white birds that you can see in the picture were male pintail. Each male was with a female and this was only about a quarter of the total number on the reserve.

A single goldeneye, a single male scaup, lots of tufted ducks, teal ,wigeon, a few pochard, shoveler and mallard.

In the distance I could see 10 whooper swans who were swimming up and down and bobbing their heads. I expected them to leave on their journey to Iceland but they were till there when I left a couple of hours later.

A small flock dunlin were feeding at the waters edge.

They were joined by a few redshank, but the redshank were very restless as they chased each other about. 2 chiffchaffs singing near the Geoff Smith hide were the only signs of spring.