Two 5-star Birds in one day!*

*according to DOGS [Downesian Ornithological Grading System]

I had a plan. Get up at 4a.m. and drive south to East Leake quarry to see some bee-eaters. So I did. I was in position at the viewpoint by 6.30. I saw the birds [plus great spotted and green woodpeckers] and took a few photos and went home for lunch.

Oh yes, here's the pictures... Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Odd man out! On the same branch as the bee-eater on the next photo.

Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters Bee-eaters

This one is deliberately over-processed to produce an effect. You'll probably hate it! Bee-eaters So I had lunch at home. I mentioned that a Sabine's gull was still at Nosterfield on Flask Lake. [I can never remember which lake is which!] Sheila said I should be able to get there and back in time for tea. I checked on Flask Lake and guessed I could shorten the walk by parking in a lay-by in the village and walking along Flask Lane...

...the bird was miles away on a sandbank out in the lake over the far side. From the left: avocet; great crested grebe; black-headed gull and Sabine's gull! [If you can see it!]

Sabine's Gull [small gull on the right]  I'll zoom in a bit - heavy crop. [To the right of the black-headed gull] Sabine's Gull [small gull on the right] For the next hour and a half it barely moved. I watched a family of wrens. Some birders I know from Barnsley area decided to try to get nearer by going round the lake. I said I would stay put. I spotted my first pyramidal orchid of the year. pyramidal Orchid I could stay, I calculated, until 4.15. Eventually the gull stirred and flew around but always very distantly. Sabine's Gull

Then, according to the camera's Exif info, this happened at 16:10:39...

It came and landed in front of me! What luck! Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Eventually it was time to say goodbye and head home. Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull Sabine's Gull

A great day out.

238 UK 2017