Spent late morning and early afternoon at Cresswell today. Started off in the dunes and the beach to give Bennyboy a good run about. We had the whole beach to ourselves. A bit quiet on the bird front here with only a handful of Twite and Goldfinches in the dunes. A small flock of gulls caught my eye off shore feeding on the surface of the sea. When I was watching them a Dolphin leapt out of the water; not sure what species though.
At the pond there were plenty of birds. Good numbers of Redshank, Curlew and Dunlin as well as Lapwing and Golden plover. There were also a nice variety of wildfowl. Species of rapters seen were 2 Merlins; male and female, Peregrine flying north, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. Only the female Merlin came close to taking a Lapwing but the waders were too alert. The Bitterns were showing as usual as well as a Water rail. One of the Bitterns flew into the reeds next to the other one but was soon chased back to where it came from; very territorial these birds are. These birds are not easy to get a decent photo of from the distance they were today but I've posted a couple. The Lapwings looked splendid in the winter sunshine.
7 comments:
They're not too bad them pics Nigel, a good record...
Thanks Stew. The Bittern was in front of the far reedbed next to the causeway and I was in the hide but they are good enough to keep as record shots. Tom Tams was photographing it from the road so he will probably have some good shots.
"The Bitterns were showing as usual"?
It must be nice to be so blase - or maybe you just have some tame bitterns?
I'm not being blase K but this is the first time Bitterns have wintered at Cresswell pond. The reedbeds here are broken up into four with good gaps between so if they are on the edge of the reedbeds you have a good chance of seeing them. Previous sightings at other sights are usually brief flight views. I must admit that the Bittern that shows the most is a very confiding bird.
Just envious!
I thought I had recognized a Bittern in the first photo. It is so difficult sometimes to get a photo of them for they do not pose, rather most often disappear quickly into the grasses. Great capturing.
Thanks K I would gladly swap a Bittern with some of those Orchids and Blue butterflies you have!
Ann, Bitterns are difficult to capture but wonderful birds to see.
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