11 May 14 Visit to Woolston Eyes
11th May 2014
Although rain had been forecast I made my way to Woolston Eyes NR, my local reserve. It was raining when I started out but it eased off and although the sun didn’t exactly crack the heavens there were some bright patches.
There had been a few interesting birds been seen recently, Mediterranean gull, Garganey, little gull and great white egret. I wasn’t expecting to see any of those so I wasn’t disappointed when I didn’t.
At the first viewing screen a couple of male ruddy duck could be seen , along with pochard, Canada goose, shelduck and the obligatory coots.
I then made my way to the John Morgan Hide and although there wasn’t anything unusual or exciting there’s always something to see. On the scrape in front of the hide there were mainly black-headed gulls, shelduck, Gadwall, mute swan, greylag geese, lapwing and Canada goose.
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
There were a few lesser black-backed gulls flying around and one flew onto the scrape carrying an eel, better than a chick anyway.
Lesser black-backed gull
Lesser black-backed gull
As usual the shelduck and the black headed gulls were being their usual selves but unusually the gull was chasing the shelduck!
Shelduck and Black-headed gull
Shelduck and Black-headed gull
Plenty of displaying and mating to be seen.
Black-headed gull
Although thee gulls were quite noisy most of the morning it was nothing compared to when a marsh harrier made an appearance on the far side of the pool opposite the hide.It certainly got the gulls excited!
I did manage to get a photo which isn't very good due to it being so far away but there isn't much you can do about it.
Marsh harrier
thanks for reading.
Andy
There had been a few interesting birds been seen recently, Mediterranean gull, Garganey, little gull and great white egret. I wasn’t expecting to see any of those so I wasn’t disappointed when I didn’t.
At the first viewing screen a couple of male ruddy duck could be seen , along with pochard, Canada goose, shelduck and the obligatory coots.
I then made my way to the John Morgan Hide and although there wasn’t anything unusual or exciting there’s always something to see. On the scrape in front of the hide there were mainly black-headed gulls, shelduck, Gadwall, mute swan, greylag geese, lapwing and Canada goose.
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
There were a few lesser black-backed gulls flying around and one flew onto the scrape carrying an eel, better than a chick anyway.
Lesser black-backed gull
Lesser black-backed gull
As usual the shelduck and the black headed gulls were being their usual selves but unusually the gull was chasing the shelduck!
Shelduck and Black-headed gull
Shelduck and Black-headed gull
Plenty of displaying and mating to be seen.
Black-headed gull
Although thee gulls were quite noisy most of the morning it was nothing compared to when a marsh harrier made an appearance on the far side of the pool opposite the hide.It certainly got the gulls excited!
I did manage to get a photo which isn't very good due to it being so far away but there isn't much you can do about it.
Marsh harrier
thanks for reading.
Andy