On one of the wet days this week (take your pick) Robin Budgen had his first walk around the reserve. Despite the weather I know that he had a great time and one of the highlights was this female Sparrowhawk that come up at his feet from the edge of the reeds near the chicane and landed bedraggled on a gate.
The white feathering is not all that unusual on a female Spawk.
He also managed to grab a shot of an already wet Water Vole as it sausaged across a channel. Water Voles do not hibernate and they will come out to restock their larders on milder days and as most days will have been classed as just that, it is not surprising that one or two have been seen going about their business...
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Howard Vaughan, Information Officer
Great pics. The sprawk looks like a first-winter male to me, seems quite petite ... and is growing one nice blue-grey tail feather.
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Lovely photos. I'm pleased he enjoyed his first explore of the reserve.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.