Sparrowhawk hat trick

The Grey Partridges spent most of today in the garden having dust baths and generally mooching around

Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover at Pennington Flash

Redshank, PF

Redshanks and Lapwing, PF

Lesser Black-backed Gulls, PF. These two birds kept having a tiff with the result that one would fly off causing the barrel to spin. It was hilarious watching the remaining bird trying to keep its feet!

Black-tailed Godwits, PF

XXX

Three different Sparrowhawks today. Early this morning a female was drifting over HGF. At Pennington later on a female was sharing a thermal with a Buzzard and a female Kestrel - all three very close together at one point and low - it would have made a cracking photo! In the garden this afternoon a male dropped in and posed in an apple tree for a minute or so.

xxx

Three pairs of Black-necked Grebes were on HGF this morning. The Wigeon flock is down to six birds - otherwise nothing much to report. At Pennington, one of the six Little Ringed Plovers present seemed to take exception to the presence of its larger cousin - a Ringed Plover. Three Black-tailed Godwits were asleep on the spit with a busy and stonking White Wagtail buzzing around. Pied/White wags are often difficult to separate - this was a nailed on very smart looking bird - no ID issues here. Comming out of Horrocks Hide I heard the familiar sound of a Blackcap singing and soon spotted the bird.

xxx

In the garden this afternoon the Grey Partridges were present for most of the day with a Yellowhammer, a Chiffchaff and 3 Reed Buntings also present. Quite chuffed with the Chiffer - don't see many of these. This evening a flock of 23 Linnets were in the south hedge at HGF.