I checked several locations quickly this morning, in anticipation of rain at any moment (Malcolm)
Imperial rd
Woodpigeon 35
Common Snipe 1
Chiffchaff 1 calling
Stonechat 3 - 1 male and two female types. All these shots from the west side of the road at the roundabout end.
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| Stonechats catching the low morning sunshine |
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| This one has a hairy caterpillar. It is holding it gingerly and it will have to be "processed" before eating |
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| Dunnock |
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| Kestrel |
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| Young Roebuck left with a slightly larger female. |
Middleton Nature Reserve
Just the two main ponds checked. By this time the sun was gone and the skies threatening.Main pond:
Mute Swan female with 6 cygnets
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| All the Mutes and less ducks than of late |
Tufted Duck 20
Gadwall 8
Shoveler 3 were new. 2 males moulting to breeding plumage and a female
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| Shoveler and a Gadwall |
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| Female and male Shoveler |
Mallard 36 but all clustered around the feeding area
Little Grebe 1 trilling
Coot and Moorhen as recent
Chiffchaff 1 calling
"no swimming" pond
Several Teal along the margins
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| Teal, once again showing how the angle of light can alter the colour of the speculum |
Coot 1
South shore - saltmarsh to Red Nab
Shelduck 9 south
Wigeon 100 (exactly, it is always frustrating when you do an accurate tally and it ends up like an estimate) flew from Red Nab to the saltmarsh
Linnet 80
Little Egret 2
In the Nature Park
Redwing 80 south
Chiffchaff 2 - one calling and one singing
Great-Spotted Woodpecker 1 female
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| Great-Spotted Woodpecker |
Heliport - by this time it was high water
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| The Icelandic ringed Oystercatcher was in its favourite spot at the bottom of the southern edge of the roosting birds |
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| You can just make it out, bottom left |
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| One of two Rock Pipits |
Then home before the rain started!