Bittern, Far Ings NNR, Lincs

A Rudd for lunch is served !  

We thought there was another bittern in the reedbed as is bird appeared to display to it 

Fishing 

Lots of displaying going on 

Cormorant 

Grey Heron strutting up the bank

An excellent couple of hours in the packed hide at Far Ings. Pleased we got an upstairs seat as most folk in the hide failed to see this bittern at the bottom of the channel. It fished for ages before striking lucky with a rudd which it downed in one. It continued to fish without any more luck before displaying to what we thought was another bittern hidden in the reedbed. It eventually crossed the channel and disappeared into the reedbed. Fabulous !

Rough-legged Buzzard, Stainforth

Can't beat a day standing in the mud on a slag heap in Stainforth !! The weather could have been more kind, a misty murky day but it did clear around lunchtime, just before it started to get dark! The temperature hovered around 2 degrees and with thick, gloopy, slippery mud underfoot, good job we had good coffee !  The rough-leg favoured an oak tree in the distance where it sat most of the morning until it flew across the road over the slag bank getting constantly harrassed by crows. The bird seemed to be constantly flying for around an hour, but never close. Eventually seeming to settle among the scrub on the bankings opposite. But, saw it we did !  A very raggy juvenile rough-legged buzzard and only 15 miles from home. If it stays and the sun shines, definately worth another visit. 

A few hours at a local bird feeding station

Willow Tit 

Redwings 

Blackbird 

Long-tailed Tit 

Marsh Tit 

Lots of Nuthatch 

and two Red Kites 

An excellent mornings birding with a flask of lovely fresh ground coffee to keep us warm !

Roe Deer

One of those walks where we see more mammals than birds with these two roe deer and a fox running for it's life ......spooked by the deer !

Tornado 60163, Babworth Sidings, Retford

A drive over to my old home town of Retford to see Tornado at Babworth, which was due to stop and take on water. The wind was bitterly cold and as the train was ready to depart, the heavens opened with icy rain and sleet. We were freezing cold and soaked !  

Hawker Siddeley Hunter, RAF Scampton

With blue sky yesterday, we could see the Red Arrows practicing from home, looping the skies. So decided to head to RAF Scampton today. We had to wait around an hour before the Reds came out and in that time the blue sky totally disappeared and thick, low cloud had arrived. The highlight of the morning was seeing the Hunter and his Andy Pandy mascot !