Short Eared Owl at Worlaby Carrs

When I say 'blowing a gale', thats no exageration. Was so suprised to see this owl flying at Worlaby this afternoon. The usual stonechats were still in attendance and a ringtail was at the far wood.

Great Crested Grebe

Far Ings today. Took shelter in the hide as the wind was too much. Nice that the plastic had been replaced in the hide windows but would have been even nicer if the old plastic had been taken away and not dumped in the side reedbed - quality job !

Tufted Duck

Smew

Smew at Barton upon Humber. It was absolutely blowing a gale today and this bird was nicely tucked into the far side reeds.

Starling Murmaration

A starling murmaration at Barton upon Humber. A fantastic sight with 1000's of starlings coming into roost. They just flew round and round with more joining the pack until they suddenly all fall out the sky and drop into the reedbed to roost. They flew just above our heads many times and we could hear every wing beat and feel the draught they created. One of those magical moments!

Barn Owl at Worlaby Carrs

A visit to Worlaby Carrs this afternoon. The road now has more mud on it than the surrounding fields! This barn owl was hunting the ditch near the wood, lets hope it caught it's dinner. A pair of stonechats were in their usual spot and, while we were there, 6 short eared owls were flying. The cloud filled in and the light was non-existant so we beat a retreat.

Goosander

An excellent bird for a frosty Sunday morning !

Nuthatches

With very little to see in Lincs today, we headed off to Notts and we were not disappointed ! Plenty of nuthatches came to the food we put down, they came down non-stop. Obviously stashing the food away as the visits were constant. We had only been there ten minutes and just poured our first coffee when Karen shouted 'GOSHAWK', sure was. An excellent call.

Far Ings Kingfisher

A visit to Barton this morning to try and catch up with the smew which we failed miserably with. Then onto Far Ings for a coffee in the hide. Was very suprised by all the dogs around the site, none of them on a lead - and we thought this was a Lincs Trust Nature Reserve....... at one time there was six in the car park !

Anyway, as much as we hate pics of kingfishers, when one lands right infront of you it seemed a shame not to photograph it !