Blacktoft in the afternoon

If I have a local patch at all then I suppose Blacktoft Sands RSPB is my patch; it's my favourite local reserve anyway. On Wednesday 5/9 the light was really nice when the sun shone. There were periods of cloud especially when the marsh harrier was sighted. The harriers are very quiet at the moment. Suddenly the light cleared - as you will see later.

I'll start where I started: in Townend hide where there were greenshanks, green sandpipers, snipe and teal. The greensands were the only birds close enough to photograph. I found the light had a certain moodiness. Perhaps you can see what I mean.

Green Sandpiper Green Sandpiper Green Sandpiper The marsh harrier came quite close. Female or juvenile?

Marsh Harrier Marsh Harrier Marsh Harrier At Xerox hide a young ruff looked quite smart among the wildfowl.

Ruff

Finally I went to Marshland hide where there were spotshanks, greensands, lapwings, a knot, and greenshanks. One came really close. A birding trip wouldn't be complete at the moment without a greenshank it seems. I try hard to do something diffrent with my pictures of them. The light, as I said, was really nice. Take 5!

Greenshank Greenshank Greenshank Greenshank Greenshank An easterly would be a nice idea, don't you think?