Going down the local!

No, not the pub but an outing to two of what I consider to be my best local reserves: North Cave YWT and Blacktoft Sands RSPB. What got me out of the house? The prospect of seeing a black-throated diver at North Cave on the main lake. The light was good if a little too contrasty and the bird was showing well but initially a little distantly. Slowly it drifted in the breeze ever closer to the hide...

Black-throated Diver

There were in fact quite a few pinkfeet in the greylag flock as well as a range of canada/greylag hybrids. I don't think any can be seen here.

Black-throated Diver

Next it was back West along the M62 to Goole and a drive to Blacktoft. I concentrated on Townend hide as Singleton was closed for 'management work'. We had 4 different birds of prey: peregrine racing up river; marsh harriers over the Trent, four buzzard sightings and a kestrel.

Now kestrels whenever they get anywhere near me they have a sort of GPS device which tells them to hover with their back to me, displaying their tail. Like this:

Kestrel

To my surprise I got better views!

Kestrel

Kestrel

Kestrel

A stroll to Marshland showed how quiet Blacktoft is at the moment. A solitary snipe stirred in the grass.

Snipe

Back at Townend a moorhen reflected on the day's events...

Moorhen

...and a pheasant went a-wading.

Pheasant

It's been a while since we had one of my 'cuckoo photos', a photo of a very distant bird that you can just about make out. Well, here's one. From the hide at Townend a water rail came right out into the open. Can you spot him?

Water Rail

A truly thunderous noise from behind the hide made me think the end was nigh! A giant bird came rumbling at very low altitude over the scrape, scattering every bird as it roared past. As someone said: 'Big bird but doesn't count!'

Sikorsky

The birds did return.

Redshank

I've saved the best till last. The dark clouds raced in from the West bringing rain. The kestrel was still looking for his supper. I was really pleased with this sequence of shots. Let's go reed diving!!

Kestrel Kestrel Kestrel

Going, going, gone!

Kestrel

Update. October and November have been good birding for me but I have worked hard at it! From being a poor year numbers wise I have nearly caught up with my average since retirement. So far this year, 10 lifers and a UK year total of 275.