2 cuckoos at Wheldrake Ings

 

Bluebells in the wood as I drove down the road to the car park at Wheldrake ings.

As I walked along the path to the hides I could hear Blackbird, Song thrush, Cetti's warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler and Whitethroat.

Just before I got to the Tower hide, I heard and then saw a Garden warbler.

A Swallow was sitting on the top of the Tower hide.

I was surprised to see how much water there was on the reserve, as there is very little at Bank island.

I surprised this hare, which at first came towards me.

Then it saw me and started to stand up on its back legs

Then it started to use its front legs as if it was boxing me

Then it realised what I was and ran off!

 My view from the pool hide. 2 Common terns on the far raft and a few ducks asleep on my right.

A pair of Mute swans in the ditch

I could hear Reed warbler but was unable to see it.

I joined Duncan Bye in the Swantail hide. Duncan kindly pointed out a few birds to me and after a while I said that a cuckoo would be nice. At that point, one started calling and Duncan asked if I had one in my pocket! It landed in a bush to the left of the hide.

Over the next few minutes we had excellent views of the bird. it then flew away and shortly afterwards returned and we realised that the bird we were looking at was not calling, and then we saw two together for a few seconds before they flew off.

Another birder entered the hide and I gave him my seat, as I wanted to try to see the reed warbler as I walked back to my car. I did not see a reed warbler although I heard several and a short reel of a gropper.

I came across this Bullfinch just before I got back to the bridge.

A very pleasant morning.