May 26th: Blacktoft
A pleasant afternoon watching the marsh harriers. Taken by surprise when a bittern did a long flight past Townend and still visible as it disappeared in the direction of Marshland. I was a bit late getting a fix on it but a good year tick for me - number 176.
A few of the afternoon's photos.
The bittern.
June 3rd: A brief visit to Saltholme. Very quiet everywhere. Just snapped a couple of pictures at Phil Stead hide. Can't remember what I was hoping to see - but clearly I didn't see it!
June 5th: a slightly more purposeful trip to Scaling Dam to find a woodchat shrike along the Roxby road. Flighty and always distant but a nice bird to see. Followed up with a visit to Lockwood Beck. Couldn't find the spotted flycatchers although I know they're there.
June 7th: All the photos in this final section were taken during a 2 hour period whilst I sat in my car with the driver's window down and camera and bins in my lap. I think it went rather well! Photos from Harwood Dale.