Growing families at Blacktoft

 

On duty in reception hide at RSPB Blacktoft, yesterday.  This was my view from Reedling hide at 8 am.

Young Avocets are on Marshland lagoon and the adults are on duty chasing everything away.

This Little egret was keeping to one side of an island, away from the protective adult Avocets.

This mother duck was escorting its young away from the young avocets.

There were 2 green sandpipers also keeping away from the avocets.

Reedling lagoon is home to several families.

This female pochard has two young

The young cygnets do not appear to be growing very quickly.

This brood of mallard ducklings were been watched by a marsh harrier.

Lots of butterflies on the reserve.

Young warblers are out and about searching for food.

Three red deer stags were feeding just behind Reedling lagoon.

A bittern flew from the reedbed in front of 1st hide to the reedbed in front of Reedling hide.

Lots of visitors were able to enjoy their first ever sighting of a bittern, and one couple managed to see a chiffchaff for the first time, despite them trying at lots of different locations. People usually leave the reserve with pleasant memories.