Saturday 28 May 2011

Fairburn Cuckoo display

A few piccies from a little while ago. I had been down the A1 to RSPB Fairburn Ings to try and catch up with a Common Crane that had been knocking around for a few days. I dipped out on the Crane but I did catch up with some aerobatic cuckoos down at Lin Dyke.

Cuckoos displaying

Prior to this shot one had also landed on the wires near the bridge.

Cuckoo male

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Tawny Owlet Rescue

I found this bird on Sunday morning with my 3 year old daughter on a YWT reserve and was alerted to its presence as it plummeted into the undergrowth after it was blown out of a tree in the high gusts of wind that we experienced recently. It had become tangled in thorns and did not look at its best.

Tawny Owlet pre rescue

Tawny Owlet pre rescue

After freeing it and getting a little begging call, presumably wanting to be fed, it was soon roosting quietly in a low branch, almost on the woodland floor as young Tawny Owls often seem to do.
Tawny Owlet post rescue

Tawny Owlet post rescue

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Spoonbills at Coatham Marsh

I had a very brief encounter with a family of four Spoonbills that I caught up with at Coatham Marsh TVWT on Friday evening. I arrived on site at 18.11 and was alerted to them very quickly in flight. They circled for a short while and kept dropping down into the pools before being spooked by a train and flying strongly north at 18.19.

The quest to get some decent on the ground (or in flight come to think of it) piccies continues!

Spoonbills

Spoonbills

Spoonbills

Bigger pictures if you click on the images to get to flickr.

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Frampton phalarope

I had a good day out at RSPB Frampton Marsh down on the Wash yesterday!

Red-necked Phalarope juvenile