I spent an hour at the North Screen this afternoon and it was great to see 2 female Marsh Harriers having a dispute, whilst a male was close-by. Other highlights here were 1 Little Egret, 4 Snipe, a Water Rail which scuttled across the path in front of me, several Mediterranean Gulls in different states of "head" plumage ranging from winter to full summer and there were also 2 male Stonechats.
Here are a few images from this afternoon:
Radipole lake
Two female Marsh Harriers in dispute.
It got quite heated until one bird flew off.
One of the female Marsh harriers
Here is the male....
...coming into land in amongst the reeds.
Later he was seen sat on top of this tree.....
.....before heading off over the reed beds.
A Marsh Harrier over Radipole Reserve.
One of the 2 male Stonechats here today.
Here's the other male.
I was amazed to see how close I could get.
A male Stonechat
And this Robin was also very friendly.
A lone Little Egret overhead.
A drake Shoveler
A drake Teal comes into land....
...and here are two more drakes.
A pair of Gadwall
And as always 2 Shelducks with their heads under the water.
A small party of Mediterranean Gulls.
Here and adult winter bird has a stretch.
Birds Recorded: Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, 4 Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, 2 male Stonechat, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, 16 Magpie, Carrion Crow, 23 Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and 2 Reed Bunting.
Wakeham
Day 10 and the female Blackcap was up early this morning feeding on the suet pellets. Also 2 Blue Tits and 1 Great Tit. A new species seen on the feeders today was a Dunnock on the suet balls. That makes it 11 species on the feeders now.
Wakeham
Day 10 and the female Blackcap was up early this morning feeding on the suet pellets. Also 2 Blue Tits and 1 Great Tit. A new species seen on the feeders today was a Dunnock on the suet balls. That makes it 11 species on the feeders now.
Female Blackcap this morning.......
.....and again this afternoon in the rain.
She was up early this morning tucking into those suet pellets.
A new species on the feeders today, a Dunnock. That makes it 11 species seen on the feeders.