Browse by tags

2 September 2011: Marshlands lagoon, Blacktoft Sands This young Water Rail seemed to have an identity crisis! It kept moving up to the Snipe and almost seemed to imitate its feeding action.

2 September 2011: Marshlands lagoon, Blacktoft Sands This young Water Rail spent about 15 minutes out in the open to the right of the new Marshlands hide

Our fantastic week for seeing waders on the reserve continues today with common sandpiper being added to the list, meaning we have now seen 22 different types of wader this week! Todays highlights include 9 curlew sandpiper , 2 little stint , wood sandpiper and those amazing spotted redshank . ...

Phew! The birding just seems to coming thick and fast at the moment confirming that the combination of high tides and an easterly influence in the weather often makes for some excellent birding. A good old fashioned bird list should be the best way to tell you what you are missing! - Peaks as follows...

Todays action includes water rail, young marsh harriers, bearded tits, spoonbills, 12 types of waders and one or two little egrets! Starting at the beginning - water rail. A family of young water rails (adult plus 4 very small young) were seen by many along the edge of townend this afternoon. At a...

So what would you like? Garganey, bittern, black-tailed godwit, barn owl, spotted redshank, water rail, avocet or just a yellow wagtail? Well we have them all and even more! The pair of Garganey that turned up in the storms on Monday were still here today enjoying their time of first lagoon along...

Well Monday was windy at Blacktoft but that didn't stop our wonderful wildlife. A pair of garganey decided to join us on first lagoon offering excellent views from reception and first hides. Then down on marshland there were black-tailed godwits, avocets chicks, snipe, water rail and a different...

Well today started with another sighting of our friendly hare running along the path in front of reception. Then down on marshland, we had a spotted redshank (in full summer plumage), those black-tailed godwits , the noisy avocets (and chicks), sedge and reed warblers along those reeds. This afternoon...

Waders With the wind over the last few days the waders have been in groups in sheltered spots around the reserve. It has turned calmer this afternoon and the waders have returned to feeding, sleeping or preening throughout the lagoons. Highlights include at least 14 spotted redshank hunting in groups...

Wader update Monday 23rd August What a RUFF weekend we have just had a blacktoft sands. Yes there were a lot of RUFF around on our lagoons. Around 55 were present throughout the reserve. This is a very peculiar looking wader. In the breeding season the males have the ruff feathers - appearing in...

Another photo by Rachael Theaker taken on Saturday 14th August. Water rails and their young have been seen on many lagoons over the last few weeks so it appears that they are having a good breeding season. This one was on Townend.

This Water Rail put in some very obliging appearances on Townend lagoon on 19 August 2010. For about an hour it kept coming out, preening, standing about and generally showing off! Image is severely cropped.. small bird, small lens, big distance!

Top watching spot this week is no longer marshland. The lagoon that in my opinion is the best location for watching the birds at the moment looks a bit like this picture. Today the bulk of the 80 or so black-tailed godwits were present there along with up to 14 greenshank . It is also a great place...