After all the Kestrels on the drive to the reserve arrived to hear there were quite a few Snipe about along with lots of mud and puddles. On the walk down the side of the boating lake saw that there were lots of the usual suspects on the water gulls, BH & LBB, tufties, pochard, gadwall, geese, mallard and a single Goldeneye, to far out to get a decent shot.
At the first hide everything was at a distance with the water levels still high. BH Gulls, Cormorant (for PB), Teal, Shoveller, Lapwing, etc.
Some of the gulls were bombing other birds, the life guards were busy with their whistles.
At the next hide the Snipe were showing well, I counted 48 amongst the Lapwing but one of the wardens had counted 60. I think there are 12 in this picture.
Plenty of Teal about looking bright and colourful.
Snipe all over amongst the Lapwing and headless Teal
Then out of the scrub next to the scrape a Muntjac wandered out to feed.
Back to the Snipe
The sun decided to come out briefly to shine on the righteous
I think this shot has 18 Snipe.
There were also lots of Little Grebes about but that's another story
There was also some big American bird doing a fly past.
Tony
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wherryman/
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Nige Flickr
Tony T said:
Cracking photos Tony.
That last bird, looks like a Boeing KC135 air-to-air refuelling aircraft, which were based on the Boeing 707.
Mike
Flickr Peak Rambler
In reply to Mike B:
I assume the "Big Bird" was going into RAF Lakenheath a US base which is about 12mls up the road. I drive past the airfield when I go to RSPB Lakenheath Fen.
In reply to PimperneBloke:
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Regards, Hazel
In reply to tony:
Tony T said:I assume the "Big Bird" was going into RAF Lakenheath a US base which is about 12mls up the road. I drive past the airfield when I go to RSPB Lakenheath Fen.
Could be, or Mildenhall, both still host the USAF.
Definitely coming in to land, the undercarriage is almost down, so it's a good few miles away from touching down.
In reply to HAZY:
Thanks Hazel, my maxim is .. if you spot one snipe keep looking for more. We have lots of Muntjac and Roe deer around my area and at Minsmere we saw both Red Deer and Muntjac. We used to get Muntjac in our garden but I think I've deer proofed the boundary now, it took awhile though as I thought I'd managed that 5 years ago until it snowed and I found their foot prints leading to where they were getting round the side of the garage. There must be a few hundred Lapwings at Lackford.
Lot to learn