Sunday, May 15, 2022

Dunlin and Swifts

 













Quite a few swifts feeding over the water this morning, but afraid no where near the numbers we used to see as kids when the sky was full of them and the screaming as they flew around the houses used to keep you awake. Those days are sadly, long gone. A couple of dunlin and 4 wheatears made up the morning tally. A good morning !

Green Woodpecker

 



Just got the car parked and this pecker flew in and landed at the side of us !  A good start to our walk. 

Bittern and hobbies, Langford Lowfields

 









At least 3 bitterns and 8 hobbies at Langford Lowfield this afternoon. Hobbies were very high, constantly feeding.

Beautiful Araya

 


5 weeks old already. She is absolutely gorgeous xx

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Garganey, Blacktoft Sands RSPB

 












A couple of hours this morning in Marshland Hide at Blacktoft Sands. 
This male Garganey was the highlight. 

Last week's bits and bobs

 


Yellow Wagtail


This looks like a magical path to a secret garden......beautiful


The first fire of the year on Thorne Moors, we believe deliberately started. The burn spreads some considerable distance, but already green shoots are showing. 


Snakes-head Fritilaries in our garden


Sedge Warbler


A lovely evening walk, waiting for our first nightjars and getting bitten alive !


There was a bank of sand here that the sand martins had started to nest in. This bank was destroyed a couple of weeks ago by Sibelco, who mine the sand. The Lincs Trust have become involved and have visited the sand quarry and given advice. The bank being removed was also witnessed by another local birder who also contacted Sibelco. Last week a sand bank was built in this space and signs erected. Lets hope we are not too late and the sand martins can excavate more nests. We walk up this path a couple of times each week so will keep our eyes on things.



Reed Warbler at Messingham Nature Reserve


Just pegging the washing out and glanced up to see a large raptor......red kite, garden tick !


Marsh Violet


Aaaaaah xxxx


Cuckoo, Crowle Moors


Cuckoo Flower, gets its name because it flowers when the cuckoos arrive




Cuckoo silhouettes on Crowle Moors
A Monday walk across Crowle Moors and onto Thorne Moors gave us 35 hobbies, yes 35 !
We kept loosing count !  But it was fantastic !


The railway on Crowle Moors. This was an ongoing project managed by the team I worked in. Infact I worked on this project for a while. This part of the project was completed by volunteers, grown men playing with trains, a train set on a massive level !  But really, this is asking for a de-railment and the line is only 100 metres !  Lots of up and down and zig and zags. Going to be an interesting ride !

Chaffinch


Beautiful blossoms