Bittern and spoonbill at Blacktoft

 

Back on duty at Blacktoft on Saturday. The weather was good when I arrived

This was the view from Ousefleet hide, with the konic ponies close by, Avocets, shelduck, shoveler, wigeon, gadwall, pochard, mallard, teal and tufted duck  were all on the water and I could hear skylark,

Bitterns were booming from at least 3 locations, and later on I saw one fly past reception hide as it flew from Singleton towards Marshland. Some visitors managed to get a photo and they also had some excellent views of a spoonbill as it fed in front of Singleton hide.

Marsh harriers were busy. The male in the photo at the top of the blog was taking nesting material to his mate at the start of the day. I am a little concerned in case the last flood washed out any of their nests. 

Sedge and reed warbler were singing, but they remained hidden in the reedbed. House martins, sand martins and swallows were hunting insects just above the water in front of Marshland hide, If only the sun was still shining.

A grey heron kept returning to the same place in front of reception

It never stayed long. A single great crested grebe was on Singleton lagoon, it is a long time since we had a pair breed in that area,