.......I failed to see bitterns, otters, bearded tits and all sorts of feathered goodies. Whatever was left for me to snap? Quite a lot, as it turned out!
The woodland was a hive of activity:
Robins were all over the place. I found myself in a very Monkeycheese mood and kept snapping the most obliging ones.
Mrs Blackbird was very busy hunting under dead leaves.
'Now, what shall I dig up next?'
These swans were clearly not feeling companionable.
Necessary repairs were going on at the South Hide. I'm sure this gentleman won't mind appearing on the Community!
Mrs Teal made a quick visit.
There were three marsh harriers about at the Bittern Hide - two males and a female.
Did I detect a little competition going on?
The standard of flying was impressive!
A different kind of showing off at the side of the hide. What a stunning magpie.
This beauty flew out of the grass near the adder trail and tried to disappear into the woodland. It finally managed it after I took this!
I liked the effect of the twigs on the fleeing jackdaws.
A variety of birds were having a communal preen.
There were loads of common gulls about - more than 400.
What is it about the great black-backed gull? It just dominates the air.
This coot was minding its own business at the side of the Mere.
All hell breaks loose as two crows gatecrash the preening party. The smaller gulls scattered!
They caw raucously in triumph. I love crows!
Another lovely robin poses on the way back to the Visitor Centre.
A beautiful threesome - blue tit, goldfinch and greenfinch.
These two greenfinches do their best bouncer impressions.
I couldn't resist finishing with these two!
Hope you enjoyed these.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
that's a beautiful photo of the robin Clare, looking forward to the rest of your pics :)
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Regards, Hazel
Thanks, Hazy - here you go!
Wow Marsh Harriers - wonderful shots of the female and Green Woodpecker too plus all the other beauties .... what a great start to New Year !
Great captures of the Marsh Harriers Clare, as of the Robins too, they seem very comfortable with you around. Great crowd of gulls minding their own business until the crows turned up, now why would they decide to land in the middle of them I wonder, must be easy food there. They are such huge birds, I get them now and again in the garden and all the other corvids vanish pretty sharpish.
Lot to learn
Hi Gaynorsl I think Clare's title for the pic is correct. Crows are mischievous. I see Jackdaws start an argument and other pairs arrive from far and wide then crows come and join in and chase them round the trees crowing.
I also see them hassel Buzzards, just for the fun of flying. I know they are seeing off predators but they often just happen to be passing and divert to chase the Buzzard and hassel them sometimes out of sight till they are specks in the distance, other times giving up quickly.
Looks like you had a great day, Clare, a great collection even if there are no Bitterns, Otters or Beardies!
Kind regards, Ann
That makes me smile Naturalist, I love the idea that birds are mischievous, they have such a hard life most of the time that they deserve some "off time"!!
Sorry post vanished......
Gaynorsel, I think crows life here is not so hard as other areas, cold yes, but there is always plenty of food on tap at the free range pig farms a short flight away round here. When you go to Minsmere if you run along the road from Weselton to Blythbugh and into Wlaberswick you will see masses of corvids and guls on the pig fields. (Had some lovely views of pewits beside the road to Walbersick on Boxing day.) I dont know what that does to the predator prey balance in the area, when they come home to their nesting territories.