It was a good day for a walk around the Scrape yesterday. Not only were a good number of the usual suspect about there were also some birds I hadn't seen for a while, and it was lovely to get snaps of them! First up was a very familiar bird on the stone curlew field:
There were a fair number of lapwings - this was the closest one!
A crow flew by with its usual graceful wing beats.
At first I thought I'd spotted a female reed bunting - on closer inspection it proved a be a meadow pipit!
I've seen these before but not for some time.
These teals gave me a warm welcome to the East Hide!
The bird at the back looks like he means business.
'Ouch!!!!!!'
Well, at least they are both (inadvertently) having a good bath in the process.
Splash!
An incoming oystercatcher making its usual racket.
It's nice to see a shoveler with its beak above water for any length of time!
The dominant duck on the east Scrape was undoubtedly the shelduck, and they were make lots of noise to prove it.
Why can't pintails be more obliging?
At least the wigeon posed nicely, complete with dripping beak.
The ringed plover finally emerged from its hiding place behind Post 4.
I'm pretty sure this is an immature great black-backed gull as that beak looks formidable.
My hunt for snow buntings on the beach finally yielded this beauty near the Sluice.
They are so beautifully marked.
This young mute swan poses atmospherically.
Gadwalls are one of the six common duck species to be found here in winter (the others being mallard, teal, wigeon, shelduck and shoveler). I always think they are a subtly beautiful bird.
It's lovely to see tufted ducks returning - a sure sign Spring is coming!
A redshank on the west Scrape.
Even the shelducks scatter when the Canada geese are on a mission!
I couldn't leave out this elegant little egret.
Just as I was coming up the the crossroads I saw this tree creeper - my first one of the year!
If I'm going to see any of Minsmere's star species it's generally this one. I was more than happy to see him floating past Bittern Hide!
Finishing with a graceful fly past.
Enjoy!
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Cracking photos Clare, I do like the oyster catcher flying in and the Shoveler, the Snow Bunting is a great capture too, as is the Treecreeper.
Lot to learn