Strangely Old Moor’s sightings book was a bit sparse today. It was almost as if many of the regular birders were distracted by events near Fairburn Ings!
Here’s what was recorded today…
After the departure of (most of) the black-headed gulls, in August Old Moor is a calmer place. Spring birdsong is replaced by the begging calls of youngsters wanting to be fed, and it’s only when the lapwings sense a threat, is there much noise at all.
Lapwings in the skies above the Mere today
Returning waders come and go and today a ruff could be seen close to the Family Hide. It did its best to sleep but was awoken by those bothersome lapwings every now and again.
Ruff on the Mere today
Meanwhile, on the Wader Scrape, there was a good chance to compare common and green sandpipers as they fed along the edges.
Like Ant and Dec, to avoid confusion, common and green sands always stand this way round!
But the star of the show was still very much that great white egret. Today it could be found on the Wader Scrape for most of the morning and then relocated (for a kip) to the safety of the ‘spit’ between the willow pool and the main marsh at Wath Ings. Far from camera shy, this impressive heron preened and posed and strutted only a short distance from the hide!
Make sure you get my best side!
So, to finish tonight’s ramblings, here’s one last pic of the GWE swaggering to its temporary roost.
Until next time.
Wake up Susan and get a load of these legs!
Hope the GWE is still there tomorrow am when I get there.