Thankfully, after yesterday’s rains, today Old Moor blossomed. I’d describe it as peaceful except today was also the day that the young black-headed gulls chose to take their first flutters around the place. Cue frantic squawking parents and (slightly higher pitched) anxious squawking youngsters. Ah well, we’ll miss them when they’re gone!
Here’s what else was seen around the reserve today…
It was also a day when seventeen black-tailed godwit fed, preened, scratched and fluttered within a few metres of the Wader Scrape Hide.
In fact the godwit seemed so unusual that more than one visitor asked, “What ARE those birds with the long beaks?” Those longer legs (above the 'knee'); the broad white wing stripe; and (if you can see it) the black-tail, all mark out this bird as a black-tailed godwit.
I’m glad to say there are still plenty of young ducks around (and yes, the shelducks still have nine quickly-growing young). Among the youngest at the moment are the pochard ducklings.
Even the worldly-wise, twitch-hardened birders at Wath Ings today couldn’t help but be charmed by the sight of a nest of coot chicks hatching before their very eyes. "Ow many now?" "Three, no, wait up, another, and a proper tiddler an' all!"
No less captivating were the little egrets hunting just in front of us. These birds and the redshanks are drawn to a patch of flowering pink amphibious bistort where young fish take shelter.
Add to all that, bearded tit; a (probable) juvenile bittern exploring; two peregrine; a barn owl; oystercatcher with young; swift and sand martin; and more sightings of jay at Old Moor than I can remember for a long while, and you have the picture of the day.
I’ll end tonight’s blog with one of the slightly more mature coot chicks learning how to take care of itself. This youngster stood behind its parent and – even though it is mostly covered in down and not feathers – watched and then copied the exact preening behaviours of the adult.
Until next time.