Summer Waders

I had a superb couple of hours checking out the waders at Blacktoft last night.
I went to marshland hide to start but the sun was almost straight into the hide with not a lot to look at.
The walk back to Townend was pretty uneventful with just whitethroat,sedge warbler and reed warbler.
When I got to the hide the sun and light was perfect although the waders were pretty distant.
A good selection including avocet,snipe,redshank,spotted redshank,greenshank,green sandpiper,lapwing and ruff.
The tide was coming in and after a while the waders came closer to the hide and one particular ruff was spectacular in its summer finery.It also had some rings on each leg, I would welcome any advice on where it miht have come from.
I have checked out a couple of sites on the net but I'll put a couple of shots on BF to see if anyone knows any more gen.
I was pleasantly suprised by the amount of waders on show.
(in total contrast to Paull tonight where there were hardly any).

Spotted Sandpiper

I was on my way to Blacktoft today when news of a spotted sandpiper came on the phone.
A quick diversion and I was there within half an hour of it being found.
Quite distant at first and at one point looked as though it was going to fly away.
It then settled and appeared to go through a routine of island hopping occasionally giving fantastic views as it landed on the island nearest the hide.
A good supporting cast in the form of medtierranean gull and green sandpiper along with a showy stoat and a good crowd in the hide made for a very enjoyable evening.

A Trip To The Seaside

With a lack of target birds around just lateley I thought I would pay a visit to Bempton Cliffs for a shot at the seabirds.
My plan was to get there for dawn with a hope of some good effects of orange sun on white birds.
It almost payed off but for a big black cloud just in the wrong place at the wrong time.The cloud eventually passed but the light had gone from orange to pale yellow.
Back to the birds and it was a real spectacle with what appeared to be good numbers of most species, especially puffins.
Even the herring gulls looked quite dazzling in natural surroundings.
There were plenty of meadow pipits and the odd whitethroat amongst them plus a couple of sedge warblers near the visitor centre.
As the sun rose it became a little harsh for photography but as a spectacle there is nowhere better.
Puffin

Puffin

Puffin

Puffin

Puffin

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Razorbill

Juv Pied Wagtail

Gannet