New additions becoming more "Common". 20th April 2012.

Due to the weather and shift work I had not been to "Bev's" for the last week, whilst sleeping after a night shift I was later to find out I had missed a Sandwich Tern there, that makes 2 different species I had wanted to connect with there still awaiting their addition to the site list. 

 The Ringed plovers were still active, although the water level had made part of the scrape water logged, hopefully not to the detriment of the nests.

 A single LRP was still showing well and staying loyal to the end of the main scrape.

 And the joy of finding the Common Terns before took a boost when after the sun came up as I counted 8 birds active all over the lake.

 The Mute Swans were mating still and courting one another.

 There were some baby ducklings present although Bev did inform me that the large gulls had taken virtually all of them the week before. The pair of Lesser Black backed gulls were still showing whilst I was there but hopefully the Black headed gulls and Common Terns would ward them off.

 As a pair of Common Buzzards drifted over the lake I got a shot off of an extremely pale bird, when it banked its white plumage really stood out, not sure if this paired to the usual one that sits on the A1 lights but I had not seen this bird before, and a shame it didn't venture nearer.

 Then whilst waiting for the terns to move closer I heard a Sedge Warbler calling from the rough grassy area adjacent to the river. Once I had caught sight of it I then noticed that there was a pair of them, but I was interrupted watching them as two Wrens were rolling around the undergrowth seemingly fighting to the death until they were aware of my presence and they departed, a third Wren following presumably the fought after female.

 And as my time neared its end, duties calling, I noticed a small wader at the end of the scrape, and as I raised my bins' I was greeted by another addition to the site list, a Common Sandpiper. I grabbed a couple of record shots and then headed for the car....chuffed once again.

Weather takes a "Tern" for the better. 12th April 2012.

 With a couple of hours to spare and the rain holding off I got up to "Bev's Birdland" with the hope that something new might be in, there had been a few bits and bobs from Broom and places fresh in so I was hoping for a tern at least.

 And I was not to be disappointed either, finding 3 maybe 4 Common Terns ranging over the lake and alighting on the nesting boxes at the island. Loudly announcing their arrival as they did circuits along the river before resting on the scrape.

 The LRP was still present along with the other plovers and waders minus the Ruff seen just days before. Then it was time to get to the car as the rain once again started.

Searching the Farmlands. April 2012.

After a few brief tours around local farmland I had a few images of a few species. In contrast to the Skylarks of last year, one in particular chose to pose rather than take to song flight as all the others were.

A couple of Wheatear were seen, both males, although the female seen on the first trip out had moved on.

A few Meadow pipits were busying themselves looking for insects, alongside the pairs of Chaffinch searching out seed.

A few Pied wagtails were seen alongside a couple of Yellow wagtails, but that will change soon when the Pied become more territorial and chase the Yellows off. Nice to see the Yellow Wagtails have returned to add some colour though.

"A Ruff old morning". 8th April 2012.

Despite the dull grey weather I decided to put in a couple of hours at 'Bev's Birdland', and I was glad I did. On exiting the car I could see something distantly on the scrape and thought it was fairly large and so put bins to the eyes and lo and behold I had my first Ruff for the site.

I quickly got my camera gear sorted and headed to the lake, luckily for me the Ruff was busily feeding and only bothered by the harassing Lapwings. I got close enough to get some images and hoped it would hang around. On a couple of occasions it got up flew elsewhere around the lake but would return to the same corner.

Whilst taking in what else was present I noticed the Ruff had returned to the scrape and I thought to myself "that looks whiter than before", it wasn't long before that thought was answered when I saw the whiter bird chase off the original found bird. Excellent two birds and some record shots too.

The Oyc's were still present along with the Ringed plover, Redshank and also the pair of Little ringed plover were still there, with one coming quite close on one occasion, enough to have his mugshot taken. Hopefully next time a Tern would be gracing the lake or another new wader.