Local gems

18th July - Fairburn Ings, New Flash. I saw the cattle egret on the 17th after a rush from home without camera. It was [relatively speaking] quite close on Spoonbill Flash. Following day I saw it distantly with Sheila on New Flash. Photographed from the road, I gave it, as it were, my best shot!

Cattle Egret Cattle Egret 19th July - Swillington Ings, Alkborough Flats and North Cave. Barry and I headed first for Oulton part of St. Aidan's [or Swillington Ings as I'm used to calling it] to see a caspian tern. Big bird but not quite close enough to photograph. We headed east to Alkborough Flats...

Lots to see from the hide. Waders including curlew, black-tailed godwits, avocets.

Curlew Curlew Avocet Black-tailed Godwit

Any opinion anyone of the identity of the bird in the centre of this next photo? Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits A little egret flew over, a dunlin wandered the shoreline too.
Little Egret Dunlin At first the light was quite poor - dull, overcast sky. For a moment I thought I saw a spotshank and told Barry but in the poor light I changed my mind. This photo has been brightened up in Photoshop. Spotted redshank. Spotted Redshank

Crowd scenes - and introducing the dozen or more spoonbills we saw. Avocets Spoonbill Spoonbill

Nothing like an alarm flight. Avocets Avocets Spoonbill dossier! Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill Spoonbill More wader shots including avocets, godwits and greenshank. Avocets Black-tailed Godwit Black-tailed Godwit Avocets

Greenshanks The little birds in the reedbed were difficult to capture in the steady breeze. Here's a few shots of reed warbler and juvenile bearded tits. Reed Warbler Reed Warbler Bearded Tit Bearded Tit Bearded Tit

We headed over the Humber Bridge to North Cave. I hoped to photograph some dragonflies. A combine was at work in North Field. Combine Harvester Empress dragonflies were ovipositing. Emperor Dragonfly Emperor Dragonfly Emperor Dragonfly Emperor Dragonfly

Emperor Dragonfly Emperor Dragonfly Joke photo amused me... Emperor Dragonfly

Black-tailed skimmer Black-tailed Skimmer Black-tailed Skimmer Four-spot chaser Four-spot Chaser Four-spot Chaser

Common darter

This man means business. Approach with care!! Barry

245 UK 2017