Overhead this evening a Peregrine and Raven.
Ferrybridge
On the way back from Radipole there were several Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Oystercatcher and a Curlew.
Radipole Nature Reserve
I spent an hour at Radipole this afternoon and the main birds of interest were the dozen or so Sand Martins feeding over the reed beds. In amongst them were a few House Martins, Swallows and a single Swift.
A few warblers seen and heard with 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed and 3 Cetti's.
A new duck to add to my list with 7 Pochard on the "canal" water which runs adjacent to Radipole Park Drive. Also here several Gadwall, Mallard, a Great Crested Grebe and a female Emperor Dragonfly laying her eggs.
On the water next to the Centre were more Mallards and Gadwall, plus several Tufted including a duckling. Also 2 families of Coot with youngsters of two different ages.
As normal lots of Black-headed Gulls, several Herring Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 8 Cormorants, 3 Grey Herons and a Little Egret.
Just the 1 butterfly seen a Red Admiral and several Carder Bees on the Blackberry flowers along the edge of the Swannery Car Park.
As I returned to the car there was a family of Mute Swans resting up next to the main road.
Here are a few images from this afternoon.
A female Tufted Duck....
.......and another.
Gadwall
And three more dabbling.
A drake Pochard.....
....not such vivid colours this time of year.
Here a pair with the drake on the right.
An elegant pose of a Cormorant.....
.......and here another stretches its wings.
A Coot with a well advanced youngster.
Compare this one to........
.........the youngsters here which are probably only a week or so old.
A Grey Heron makes its way along edge of the reed bed.........
......where another Heron and Little Egret are also hunting.
Eventually the Little Egret made its way out....
......into open water and started preening........
......only for the wind to undo its hard work!
A Great Crested Grebe resting up.
The wildlife centre to the left and the main water of the reserve beyond.
A Great Black-backed Gull takes off.........
.......and then rests up on the fences to preen.
An adult winter Black-headed Gull.
Just the one butterfly seen a rather worn Red Admiral.
A Carder Bee on a Blackberry flower.
I'm pretty sure this is a female Emperor Dragonfly laying her eggs.