Birding , Kyfer, Misty, and Me

Treshnish Isles 2

2012-06-02T15:47:00.001+01:00

The last of the pics from the Treshnish Isles. I left Mrs W sunbathing on the lower terraces while I slogged it to the top of the main cliffs, and it was well worth the leg work.
The first spectacle that greeted me was the huge flat ledges covered in Guillemots

It really was a stunning sight

And then on closer inspection, it was a nice surprise to find these----


Two Bridled Guillemots, apparently there is an increase in these the further north you travel, it was a nice find.


And all the while the Fulmars continued to put on a great areal display, gliding effortlessly on straight unmoving wings.

Fulmar

And then a group of very trusting Razorbills

Don't come crashing in on my patch.

Razorbill

And then also on view a few Shags,

Shag.

They posed beautifully

And one last look at the clown of the sea,

Not really a clown, an incredible bird the Puffin.

Mull hols. post number 3

2012-05-29T21:52:00.000+01:00

Before we get to the Mull bit,this afternoon I did something I very rarely do and that is twitch or try to twitch a bird. A European Bee-eater had been reported near Workington an hours drive from home, too good to miss I thought. Unfortunately I did, miss it that is, or I think the term is I dipped it, which makes me kinda think I'm no good at the twitching game.
Back to Mull, in the previous post one can see a distant shot of White-tailed Eagle taken while waiting for the boat to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles. So this post is a little of what we saw on that trip, and to start off with


Fingal's cave and all the basalt columns that are world famous.

A closer view of the basalt

And now something more pleasing to the eye---- Puffins, sometimes referred to as the clowns of the bird world, poor things.


This looks like good nest material.

Yes we'll have some of that.

And a bit more, make the burrow nice and cosy for the missus and the youngster.


Just checking on the Fulmars, making sure they stay on their own patch.

Fulmar returning to the cliff.

Just a few to wet your appetite more on the way.

A bit more from Mull

2012-05-28T15:42:00.000+01:00

The first evening on Mull, we had settled into Deerside our self catering for the week and after a meal we went for our first ride out.
The weather was quite good, a lovely evening but at this stage we didn't know how good it was going to get. I couldn't believe it when not far out of Tobermory we encountered this little beauty.

The first of our Short-eared Owls.

We just sat in the car and watched as 4 of them flew around hunting.

We continued on our way and it wasn't long before Mrs W shouted stop, at this stage we were along the coast, what have you seen ? says I , well its far out but its black with white wing patches. I vaulted out the car grabbed the camera off the back seat to get a distant shot of this---

Black Guillemot . This is a bird I thought I would have to get at St. Bees, so a journey saved there.


And when we arrived back at Deerside this little chap was waiting for us,	A Whitethroat sitting high up on a telephone wire, I don't think I have ever seen one so far out in the open. It was also a good distance away so this is digiscoped.

The following day while waiting for the boat to Staffa and Treshnish Isles this flew over-----

White-tailed Eagle, it was a good height up but sill looked like a huge flying plank, things became more spectacular as it drifted away when a Buzzard came in to mob it, but by now it was too far away for pics.

And it wouldn't be Scotland without a few Highland cattle.
All for now, but more to come.

First post from Mull

2012-05-21T22:05:00.000+01:00

Drove up to Mull on Saturday arriving at Deerside our self catering in Tobermory at 3pm . After a bit of a walk round the town and then a bite to eat we decided to go for a short drive, the sun was out so didn't want to wast it. We took the road to Dervaig and hadn't been going long when we came across our first Short eared Owls, 5 in all. Unfortunately I was using an SDHC card and the laptop won't accept it, so have had to revert to an old SD card.
So no owl pics yet, but here is a few to be going on with.


Young Rd deer Stag

Great Northern Diver (first summer)


WHEATEAR


Cuckoo new for the year list

Merganser

This laptop is cronick and slow I'll try and persevere, but that it for now.

Nuthatches are now Parents

2012-05-15T19:48:00.000+01:00

I had a short visit over to the Isthmus today just to catch up on the nest situation, with no improvement in the weather I wasn't expecting much activity. It was a nice surprise to look up at the Nuthatch nest hole to find them feeding young.

Nuthatch leaving nest with faecle sac, both parents were doing a good job of keeping the nest clean

The Chaffinches were still hanging around but there didn't seem to be any nest activity,


Male chaffinch.

So I grabbed a ladder and had a look at the nest, it was empty, and no sign of any young having been in it, so I presume the eggs had been predated.

The sandpipers are back on the Isthmus, both birds were about, this one just about to lift off.

And here is another pic from the other day at Hodbarrow

Two Canada Geese flying in with 8 male Eiders as a backdrop.

Terns save the day

2012-05-13T18:54:00.000+01:00

Set out early this morning heading for South Cumbria hoping for the Long-billed Dowitcher which is a visitor from America and has been showing well for about 4 days. Traffic was light and I made good time pulling in at the Hodbarrow RSPB reserve just over an hour after setting out.
The sun was shinning as I got out of the car but the wind felt as if it was trying to cut me in two, this is May and the temps are still well down in the North. I plodded over to the hide and thankfully at this point there was nobody inside, as the wind ripped the door out of my grasp and made an almighty bang. This is the initial view you get when you first enter the hide-------


Its a large area of island gravel beds on one side of a large lagoon

the above pic is highly zoomed and then cropped, to show a few Common Tern and two Little Terns.
As I made my way to the hide I met 2 people coming from it and I enquired about the Dowitcher but my heart sank when the reply was no sign. More people entered the hide and we all gave the area a good grilling but to no avail. It was either hunkered down somewhere out of the wind, or more likely moved on.
Still I was fairly upbeat as the Terns gave me 2 more year ticks so I left the hide and made my way over to the sand dunes, where I found this little beauty----


Wheatear, the slight bluring on the images is due to the fact that the bird was behind some sheep netting, and I didn't want to interrupt its feeding by moving to a different vantage point.

There was also a few Linnets about but they were quite camera shy.

Grouse with attitude

2012-05-10T13:08:00.000+01:00

Pied Wagtail

Well the weather here in Cumbria is pretty dismal and not conducive to going out, but still can't avoid getting wet. Firstly had to take the car in to the garage for its MOT and walk back home , that was the first soaking. then out with the Westies, second soaking, and this will have doubled by the end of the day.
   So I decided to post on yesterdays activities. I went for a ride round in the car stopping off continuously to scan the topography in the hope of finding another year list tic, however this wasn't to be.
    I set off along the A66 heading for Brough then chucking a left and up into Teesdale, the sun was shinning and when I had gained some height it was just great listening to the bird song. Curlews where the predominant bird as regards song. The call of the Curlew and the Great Northern Diver in Scotland are the 2 birds that represent the true "call of the wild" it can make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
          I couldn't resist this handsome Pied Wagtail as he perched on a lime-stone wall.


A smart looking bird.

There was also an abundance of Lapwings and I managed to capture this one having a tug-of-war with an earth worm.

There is only going to be one winner.

Just before I left the county of Durham and back into Cumbria I came across this Red Grouse with attitude.

Red Grouse


They are quite a smart bird.


Here it was using fowl language to make me go away.

Their call really puts a smile on my face.

Shelduck, Willow Warbler, Sandpiper.

2012-05-08T12:29:00.000+01:00

A bit of a disappointing weekend of wandering really, It started off Saturday when I made my way up to the Solway estuary and RSPB Campfield Marsh. There had been reports of a Spoonbill on the salt marsh pool, and I had seen some good photos that one lucky person had taken. It had been seen at 7-30 Saturday morning, I was up there by 8-30 and not a sign. I scanned all the estuary from the pool area nothing, no Spoonbill, not even a knif&fork bill, nothing.

I decided to have a walk along the track from North plain farm up to the hide, a bit of a trek in itself, but the sun was shinning and fairly warm when out of the wind. On the trek up I got another year tic in the form of Sedge Warbler, there was quite a few singing with an occasional appearance but not long enough for a pic. The Willow Warbler above on the other hand was quite happy to perch out in the sun and sing his little head off.
I was carrying all my gear with me so was a little disgruntled on arriving at the hide to find no Spoonbill, just a few Black-headed Gulls which look to be nesting there, they seem to be getting everywhere these days. So I slogged it back to the car, as I was doing so a few Shelduck flew across the track and landed on a flooded area in a field and started to display.


Displaying Shelduck

Its the first time I've seen Shelduck displaying.

I kept checking the estuary-river as I drove past Cardurnock and Anthorn but there was nothing doing, so headed home .
Sunday I headed for Geltsdale in the hope of Ring Ouzel, but although I heard them a couple of times they were at a great distance and out of view, and the same with Cuckoo, this was the first one I have heard this year.
On my way home I stopped off to check out a shingle bed on the River Eden, and found Oystercatcher digging for worms on the far bank, and yet another Common Sandpiper on the shingle.


Common Sandpiper.

So all in all a fair amount of diesel consumed and very little to show for it.

Lesser Black-backed Gull damage

2012-05-01T18:13:00.000+01:00

Had the usual walk by the flash this morning but nothing about apart from female Kestrel, then by 9 I was heading for Kendal as I needed to take my new lens back for a replacement, as the auto-focus isn't working as it should. unfortunately they didn't have a replacement in the shop so will have to have another trip down there on Friday to pic new one up.
In the afternoon I decided to have a walk round Thacka reserve and check if the Otter was out, but unfortunately it didn't make an appearance. At long last though the place was teeming with Swallows and a few House Martins.

One of the House Martins.

It wasn't easy trying to get a photo, the wind was blowing me all over the place and very cold it was too, I also noticed that the House Martins seem to be flying faster than the Swallows.

Now these are the birds that are making everyone angry -------


Lesser Black-backed Gulls

there are quite a number of them at the moment, and they are gobbleing every young water bird they can get their greedy beaks on. Young Mallard, ditto- Coot, ditto Moorhen, and now it seems the 2 Goslings have gone the same way as they are nowhere to be seen.

Lesser Black-back Gull

I'm sure I can see the shape of gosling in its belly.

Sandpiper save the day

2012-04-30T19:01:00.000+01:00

Went up to the Flash with Westies first thing mainly to see how the Graylags were getting on with the 2 goslings, only to find out they had gone . I looked round the whole area and no sign, their disappearance was just as mystifying as their appearance. Ten mins. later I meet Nick and he informed me that they had found their way down to the Thacker nature reserve, now this is a hike of over a quarter of a mile quite a journey for 2 little goslings, plus the parents would have to get them through the fence, at least they are still OK.
Back home I had a quick cuppa before leaving for Soddy and Broughton Moor, plenty of warblers of various kinds but apart from that it was a bit quiet. So after a good tramp around I headed for Siddick Ponds. On the small pond there was a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Swans, on the main pool 2 Herons a few pair of Swans, 2 Cormorant, Tufted ducks, the usual coots and Moorhens, and I thought that was going to be the lot until I found a Common Sandpiper flitting about on the edge of the pond.


Common Sandpiper, Siddick.

It was picking insects from the waters edge.


A very thoughtful Cormorant, shading the Swan from the sun.

It was only the Sandpiper that made the outing worthwhile. Swallows and Swifts added to the year list.

A Sparrow surprise

2012-04-28T16:14:00.001+01:00

Up fairly early this morning, breakfasted then out with the Westies I had just got them out of the car when I spotted a guy with a lab, about to take the same route, so I took a left turn where I would normally take a right to let the guy get ahead of us and in doing so you get a different angle on the Flash. If I hadn't have done so I may not have seen the 2 Greylags with 2 fluffy young. This is strange because there has been no sign of them anywhere near the flash till now, and even when the female was sitting, the area is so open someone would have seen the male on guard somewhere, but no not a sign, strange.

Later I called round to see Keith at Flusco and while He was making a cup of tea for us I was looking through His office window at the feeders and suddenly 2 Tree Sparrows came onto them. Luckily I had my camera with me and fired a few shots off before they disappeared.


The images are a bit fuzzy as they are taken through double glazing

And this cheeky little fellow (a Robin on a horse) keeps coming into the boat work shop on the Isthmus over at Keswick.

Short visit to Leighton

2012-04-25T20:43:00.000+01:00

Out and about with the Westies first thing, with a walk round the Northern part of the patch. I have been in the area most mornings but I have had little or nothing to report. In the last week the only thing of note has been Common Sandpiper, apart from a couple of clutches of Mallard, all of which have been predated mainly by Lesser Black-backed Gull. Roy has seen Redstart, and I have had Blackcap and Willow Warbler up at Cowraik NR.
By 10am I was on my way to Kendal to purchase a new lens for the Nikon, (not a Nikon lens I quickly add) the coffers wouldn't stretch that far, then having done so I continued on to Leighton Moss.
Calling in at Lillian's first I was greeted by the screaming hoard of Black-headed Gulls and little else.


Part of the screaming hoard.

The weather wasn't good, showery and a strong wind blowing, I quickly moved on to the Eric Morecambe Where the was a large number of these showing


Black-tailed Godwits, 500-600 at least


These 2 Little Egrets where at a good distance but looked good as they waded and fed.

There has been a lot more about but not today


Strangely marked Black-headed Gull. seems to have black under chin

Quite a few Avocet about, I think they would have been happier with a bit less water.

One lone Oystercatcher.


And a few Shelduck about

And finally this Blackbird singing its heart out in spite of the miserable weather

Migrant visits the patch

2012-04-14T18:51:00.001+01:00

It was an effort dragging my self from under a nice warm duvet at 5am this morning, but I wanted to be on the patch early. And this to catch the early bird you might think, well no, the reason for this and previous unearthly early starts was in the hope of seeing the latest visitor to the patch, an Otter. It has been with us now for the best part of a week, with John the birder having found it, and also having had the best views of it, usually at first light. Although on the occasion I managed a fleeting glance of it , the time was 12-15pm. So far there has been no opportunity for pics. By the time I arrived John was already on station with his trusty spaniel on its lead, and his wife on another (its the only way he could get her there at that hour), needless to say this morning there was a no show. However all was not lost as John and his wife went to look at the rest of the reserve leaving me on Otter watch with instructions on how to attract his attention should said beast pop into view. The next thing it was John attracting my attention, and to get to his position ASAP. and the reason for his excitement, a Little Ringed Plover had just dropped in, and another for the year list. After a while we made our way up to the remains of the flash, and unbelievably John finds another, fantastic. unfortunately both birds were far too distant for any pics.
Back home for breakfast and a few jobs before heading off to join Les on the Isthmus. The first bird to be heard as I got out of the car was this

Nuthatch one of the pair that was nest building last week

The Great Spotted Woodpecker was knocking 7 bells out of a branch near-by and the male Chaffinch was also singing close to the nest they were building last week. On various parts of the lake viewed from the Isthmus, there was Canada Geese and Greylags, a few Coots and a surprising number of these


Red-breasted Merganser

This time 1 male 2 female

This time a pair.

Next a Pied Wagtail started feeding on the edge of the lake

And looking very fresh and smart.


Looking over to the West from shore side, Causey Pike, with part of the Isthmus and boat sheds front right.

The remains of last years bull rush on the patch. (Great Reedmace)

Real estate on the Isthmus

2012-04-07T23:18:00.001+01:00

Saturday and another trip over to spend the day with Les on the Isthmus. unfortunately the day got off to a sad start, as news came over to us that all the launches had been broken into with windows smashed and the CD players stolen from every boat. So as soon as forensics had finished doing their work, Les had to start sorting repair work out. Carl went over to Penrith to get glass for the windows, while Les set to cleaning all the frames and preparing for the glass. Even so two launches went out before the glass arrived, time is money but it would be a drafty ride to say the least.
Eventually every thing was put right and we could get back to birding, and real estate, yes 3 nests so far one already occupied, and 2 under construction.


Female Mallard all snug and warm in her own knitted duvet sitting on a clutch of eggs.

Nest number 2 in construction, female Chaffinch, she kept bringing nest material then shaping the cup with her body.

The outside consists of moss, lichen, and cobwebs, and she was lining it with feathers.

And nest number 3 also under construction. Right where does this bit go?.

OK pass the next bit up, we are running out of time.

Does my bum look big in this?.

Tight squeeze but it'll have to do.

Sure this is a good idea ?, its looking like rain

And through it all we did have a bit of rain, not too much with a little sun. unfortunately the forecast for the next few days looks poor, so this could slow the listing quest down.

And we shall have snow

2012-04-03T17:31:00.000+01:00

Well here in Cumbria today we have had snow , not a great deal and certainly not the amount Scotland have had. But I got to thinking about the new borns that I have seen on my recent walks when we were basking in Med. temps.


I'm frightened Maaaaa


Day glow ears


Corr, doesn't half make you thirsty this weather.


This is probably nice and warm in the barn now.


but these little fellas won't be.

Oh my god it was colder than I thought.

This is what happens when there is a lack of birds on the patch

Sand Martins on the Patch

2012-04-02T21:58:00.000+01:00

For nearly a week now we have had a Starling like mini roost of Sand Martins coming in at or just before dusk. Tonight it was about 8pm or just after. with a count of about 200.

The first pic. I had zoomed in so didn't get the full flock.


This is virtually the whole flock, try counting them.	By the time I took this shot it was almost dark, and because of the shutter speed I was using I had to lighten it up on the computer.

A lister in Lancashire

2012-03-26T21:47:00.001+01:00

Redshank flying across Conder Creek, Conder Green

Had a ride down into Lancashire again stopping off a various places on route. I had a look round Cockersands and the Abby area, approx. 4-500 Golden Plover in field near Abby, but no Grey Plover to be found, which is what I was hoping for.


Redshank again same place

From the Glasson area I moved on to knott End, where I found the Black Redstart that has been there for a while, and another addition to the year list.

Black Redstart

Black Redstart, a bit closer this time.

It wasn't that easy to keep up with as it kept flitting about from place to place. There was an amazing amount of butterflies about mainly Small Tortoiseshell, but also a few Peacocks.
The spring flowers are everywhere now including this......

Wood Anemone.

Although this weather is just fine for me the little Westies are beginning to find it hard going and tend to cool off in any water they find. They are due for a clip now and have already tried to get in touch with Anne the girl that sorts them out for us.

They are fair enjoying it.

A Cracking day

2012-03-24T18:45:00.000Z

Decided to spent another Saturday with my mate Les over on the Isthmus, however I didn't expect to end up working my self !!. We knew at the start of the day that Les would be doing 2 launch runs on the lake, the first at 11-00 am and the second at 1-0pm. At 10-30 am Mike rang from shore side asking if Les would go across and take a party to Hawes End, this was the start of the work. A launch driver by law has to have 1 crew and as they were short on crew I was volunteered. (every little helps) so instead of 2 trips we ended up doing 7, on the plus side you get paid for birding, in effect.


The Lady Derwentwater heading in to Hawse End as we where coming out Pet driving it.

Greylag Goose coming into land, there are quite a few on the lake now, plus a few Canadas.

Is this your lucky day punk.

Always love the colours the male Mallard, but.....

Look at the wing bars on this female wing equally attractive.

And my mate Les at the wheel as we head back to Keswick landings. what a way to earn a shilling.

There was still a good number of Goosanders about and we saw a pair of Mergansers, quite a few Coot, 2 Cormorant and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. A very enjoyable day.

Leighton Moss

2012-03-23T20:12:00.001Z

Not quite as sunny as yesterday and consequently a little cooler, not quite what was forecast.
Hoping to top up my year list I decided to head for Leighton. I called in first at the public hide along the causeway. There was nothing out of the ordinary and no sign of the Bearded Tits putting an appearance in, the pair of Great Black-backed Gulls have set up residence again in front of the public hide.

Pair of Great Black-backed Gulls viewed from public hide.

Next I had a quick look in at Lillian's hide, but as can be seen from pic. at certain times of the day when the sun is shinning it makes viewing difficult.

Sun in the eyes at Lillian's

For a change I called in at the Allan hide and got good views of Avocet and Little Egret, although at a distance.

Avocets feeding

Avocets

Another good day but only added Chiffchaff to the year list although it is my first migrant of the year. I've had problem loading this post so isn't as good as I was hoping.

Birds of the castle

2012-03-22T22:14:00.002Z

The forecast for the day was good so I had to make the effort and get an early start to try for another go at seeing the Hawfinch. This is about the forth time I have made the trip down to Sizergh Castle in the hope of seeing them but never had any luck. So I thought an early start would give me a better chance, and in fact it was 7-15 when I arrived. It was a cracking morning, there had been a frost but the sun was now well up and all the white stuff was disappearing fast.
I parked up and waited camera at the ready, and as can be seen from the following pics I didn't have long to wait.

Male Hawfinch

Male Hawfinch (you lookin at me ?)

Female Hawfinch

Then a pair came down together.

Female again

And male & female again.

And to finish off they were joined by this Chaffinch.

By just after 7-30 I was done and dusted, an enjoyable and successful morning. Where to next?.

Not good on the West coast.

2012-03-11T22:07:00.000Z

The day started off with an early morning walk with the Westies taking them up to Cowraik NR. On entering the reserve we were greeted by a Great-spotted woodpecker hammering away, but as usual for this wood there was very little about apart from the commoner stuff.
By 10 ish I was making my way over to the West coast, but things didn't turn out as good as I had hoped. I was going over in the hope the Glaucous Gull was still around, well there wasn't many gulls around period so no sign of the Glaucous. Also I had left the sun back in the East of the county, and there was a pretty nippy wind blowing.

A small party of Redshanks braving the wind and tide.

Juvenile Herring Gull.

Black-headed Gull with his summer suite on.

I slowly made my way North keeping an eye on the beach for anything that moved, but there was very little. Parking up at Skinburness I walked to Grune Point, seeing a few Skylarks on the way and also a few Twite. A thousand or more Pinkfeet where heading North it will be a hell of a lot colder where they are heading for. As the tide neared its height the wader roost built up, and a large raft of Scaup drifted up one of the creeks.


Skinburness life boat practising


Skylark with white ring on left leg


Came across this Buzzard perch on a hedge.


Same Buzzard, now being mobbed by 2 Fieldfares

Large areas of Grune are covered in Gorse, most of it in bloom.

Estuary Ducks

2012-03-06T20:43:00.001Z


A pair of Shelduck

Had a look round a local estuary today, making the most of the sun again before the rain that has been forecast sets in. Usually when I'm near the coast I tend to concentrate on waders, but just for a change I thought I would give the ducks chance, and couldn't resist, some giving good reflections.

Eider

An inquisative Teal


I couldn't resist taking more pics of Pintail especially as we won't have them for much longer.

And the water was calm enough for reflections. Above is a pair , and obviously this and below are Male.


What a smart duck they are.

Also came accross a small flock of Tree Sparrows, this being one of them. and it added to my year list.

Swaning around

2012-03-02T20:16:00.000Z

Out and about today and had Mrs Williams for company as it was her day off work.
We caught up with a few Swans and 1 added to the year list


Whooper Swan

Whooper Swan


Bewick's Swan, the smallest of our Swans

Bewick's Swan

Whooper Swan (full reverse engines)


Formation fly-pass, Whoopers


Come on you guys give me some landing space, 3 Whoopers.


Black Swan

Mute

Whooper

Bewick's

For those not familier with our Swans, (and when I say ours, it has to be said that the Bewick's and the Whooper are winter visitors to our shores) The bill markings are the main difference, with those on the Whooper extending beyond the nostrils, and stopping short on the Bewick's. And of course the Mute is totally different.

White wingers and others

2012-02-29T20:56:00.000Z

Its been quite quiet on the patch of late, a few Oystercatchers and Lapwings round the flash area on a good day, but most days nothing and especially now that a flock of sheep have been moved into the area. Things perked up a bit yesterday with Sparrowhawk and Buzzard over at the same time, the later being mobbed by gulls.
I decided I had had enough of waiting for the sun to shine, so after walking the Westies I made a move to do some more serious birding and head over to the coast.

My first stop was Harrington harbour and although there was plenty of gulls about nothing outstanding.


There was a lot of Black-headed Gulls about this being one of them.

Next I moved South to Parton in the hope that the Iceland Gull was still about, and as soon as I walked onto the waterfront I clocked it, at a distance at first.

Iceland Gull

It seemed to be a bit of a loner because if any other gulls came too close it got a bit agitated and move on.


Iceland Gull


Iceland Gull


Iceland Gull

And for the last time , Iceland Gull

I left Parton and headed North to Workington, Where the Mediterranean Gull was on show

Mediterranean Gull (stumpy)

2 Herring Gulls

An enjoyable day , two more to the year list and 1 lifer. Where to next, I wonder.

Ring ring, ring ring

2012-02-23T19:14:00.001Z

Coot, 2 rings on right leg 1 metal, and another that could be pale blue or grey.
Since I posted these pics I have recieved this information about the Ringing of this bird.
The Coot was rung as an adult bird at Redesmere Lake, Cheshire.
And thanks go to Kane Brides for the info. Thanks again.

Same Coot 2 rings on left leg, pink or red over yellow.

A beautiful day today, warm sun and plenty of it, although there was a stiff breeze blowing, but still possibly the highest temps so far this year.

Another sign of Spring getting nearer, Catkins.

And I couldn't resist taking a pic of this little chap, singing his heart out another sign spring is on the way.

Reed Bunting in the hawthorns by the railway.

In the afternoon I had a wander around Cliburn moss where I met Cain Scrimgeour, (Holywell Birding) it was good to meet you at last.