I decided to spend some time trying to photograph red-necked and black-necked grebes near Hatfield Woodhouse at Ten Acre Lake and at Huggin Carrs. I knew Ten Acre Lake well and felt I knew the bird too as it has been coming back for four or five years and continues to be very vocal in search of a partner. But none ever comes which is very sad! Strangely Natural England have closed the well established path up the western side of the lake. It barely encroached on the land and the land was only birch scrub so to close it because it isn't part of the reserve seems silly. Furthermore to provide community police phone numbers baffles me: they should have better things to do than chase birders off a path that is barely two or three meters from the water's edge of a lake that is owned by Natural England! Someone needs priority training!

However the bird obliged as did a great crested who came quite near. My red-necked friend was as loud as ever!Red-necked Grebe Red-necked Grebe Red-necked Grebe Great Crested Grebe

Next I would find Huggin Carrs. Info from Bird Forum helped and I walked from Boston Park back to the main road and down the bridleway opposite the entrance to the Humberland Peatlands reserve. [Why does it have so many names?] I continued for about a mile. The lake seems part of a new development: fishing/log cabins kind of thing. Couldn't see any black-necked grebes so returned to where I'd left my car. Two birders were almost next to my car looking through scopes. They were watching two black-necks so my walk was unnecessary. However I had tried last year to find Huggin Carrs so at least one mystery is laid to rest. The birds were quite distant but a nice record was possible.

Black-necked Grebes Next I drove to Blacktoft Sands telling the satnav to use the shortest route. I thought that might be entertaining and it was but I got there and we saved nearly 5 miles off the 'fastest route.' Shelduck were quite numerous at Marshland and there were avocets and snipe about. Light was poor so I was on ISO about 640 but the images are ok.

Wigeon Shelduck Snipe

Avocet All pictures taken that day.