Morning at Blacktoft Sands RSPB

I never give in. So I tried again for bearded tit and, for that matter, the grasshopper warbler that had been 'showing well'. I saw neither! However the weather was kind and there were good birds to be seen. I saw a decent fly-over by a bittern, lots of marsh harriers and a good number of waders.

Let's start at Singleton hide. A heron was demonstrating just how much bigger he is than a little egret.

Grey Heron & Little Egret However, when the egret flies off he can look most impressive [and very white - it's often easy for this reason to pick an egret out from other incoming birds.]

Little Egret A few minutes in Townend hide produced a sedge warbler that was nesting just to the left of the hide.

Sedge Warbler A marsh harrier flew past with an unusually large prey - a duck?

Marsh Harrier Marsh Harrier I wandered up to Marshland where a slightly comical heron was watching the birders watching him.

Grey Heron Out on the mud four different species of wader were visible. Can you spot them all?

Spotted Redshank Lapwing, common redshank, spotted redshank and ruff. The ruff is facing us near the right hand side. Dunlin were also present along with upto five green sandpipers.

Green Sandpipers You'll spot the second greensand behind the mud bank.

However the visit was made really worthwhile by the spotted redshank who decided to walk and feed in the slightly deeper water over towards where I was. Notice how the light changes between overcast and brighter sky.

Spotted Redshank Spotted Redshank Spotted Redshank

I returned to Singleton to try again to spot a beardie. I saw reed warbler but no beardies this time. Perhaps it was too breezy and the water levels are still pretty high.

This marsh harrier came towards me in better light than I'd had most of the morning.

Marsh Harrier

All photos taken 17.07.12