Hobby and ruddy shelduck.

 After watching the release of the corncrake chicks Stu and I headed for North Cave Wetland.

We walked down the lane to the viewing screen overlooking West Holm. Lots of geese and ducks.

We could just see the heads of the 3 ruddy shelducks. From the Dennis Wood hide we added ruff and dunlin to our day list. As we were walking along the path by the side of the Far Lake a volunteer told us about a hobby hunting over the Reedbed lake. The bird was hunting low over the water and then returned to a tree.

After watching it for a while we walked around to the turret hide. We added more waders to our list. Greenshank, green sandpiper, common sandpiper and spotted redshank.

Then a ruddy shelduck flew in.

A pleasant few hours with a list of 37 birds including 2 year ticks. Stu went home and I called in at North Duffield on my way home and had a chat with Alan Whitehead. I did not see any birds on the scrape.

Corncrakes

 I was present at the release of the last corncrake chicks in the Lower Derwent Valley this morning. 

After medical checks and ringing the birds were released. They will spend a few days in the local area before starting their long journey to Africa. Will they return to the valley next year?

Autumn at North Duffield

A leisurely afternoon at North Duffield Carrs on the 1st of September. The work on the scrape has improved things. A mute swan family was happily feeding.

Muddy work.

Will the exposed mud attract any waders?

Lots of food in the hedgerows.