Buff-breasted Sandpiper, East Halton, Lincs

Went back yesterday afternoon hoping the bird would come a bit closer. We were not disappointed. The cows that had just been put in last Friday (the day we first went) had settled down and were not running and flushing everything. They were nice and chilled at the back of the field, thank goodness. The sandpiper was busy displaying to a little ringed plover, the male was giving him some right stick, flying and attacking the sandpiper. A right stormy threesome ! It constantly walked up and down the waters edge giving us some excellent views. Coupled with a nice friendly crowd, a lovely afternoon.  

Just look at the number of flies !

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, East Halton, Lincs

 

Just down the road for us so seemed rude not to go and look. All the birders were leaving as we got there as a hobby had flushed the bird and it had failed to be re-located. That seemed just our luck but a walk along the field edge (attracting a good 50 cows!) and we soon had it re-found on the third puddle of mud. Very mobile and afraid never close so well pleased with the pics we got considering the distance, heat haze, gale force wind and cattle, there was a lot to contend with. Good to catch up with lovely folk we hadn't seen in a while. A lovely morning all round but glad to be home in the sun and warmth !

Wall Butterfly in the garden

 

A Wall Butterfly in the garden this morning, feeding under one of the composters. A new garden tick for us, beautiful. 

A few birds from this weekend

 

A few yellow wagtails still at Toft, this one having a cooling bath in the blistering heat

Lambs pushing the spoonbills out the way, distant but lovely to see. There were a couple of garganey along that water aswell. 

Spring lambs and spoonbills !

A marsh harrier from a hide at Blacktoft

Kestrel on the wire in a massive heat haze

A few greenshank along the water at Toft, never still

and a few ducklings to make you smile xx

A couple of hobbies this morning

 

A couple of hobbies hawking dragonflies above the reserve this morning

A few from this week

 

Had a 2 hour walk and this roe deer was in exactly the same place 

Reed Warbler

Mandarin at Alkborough Flats

A very distant hobby

Aaaah xxxx