Things were looking more optimistic when I parked up at Alkborough as I could see a group of bird watchers/photographers who obviously had their sights on the beardies. I was delighted that a flock of approximately twenty soon arrived and provided challenging photography as they fed on reed seeds, clinging to the stems of the reeds which then swayed from side to side. Isolating birds for the reeds was difficult and they were also somewhat against the light. After a while I went off to chase up some reported stonechats and to have some lunch. I then returned to the fray to find that the birds had moved to the other side of the path and were perfectly lit. Although I have seen and photographed bearded tits before I have never had such prolonged and close contact. It was a real privilege.
Although my main focus was on the bearded tits there were other birds about. Skeins of geese periodically flew across and the call of curlew rang across the marsh as the flew over the reeds. A heron flew over and and an egret lifted off the lagoon. From the hide I saw mallard and teal quite close and a group of whooper swans were on the far side of the lagoon. There were teal and shelduck and I could hear the magical whistling of wigeon from another, nearby, lagoon.
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Julian's Bower with the flats behind. |
Alkborough Flats |
Bearded Tit, male |
Bearded Tit, male |
Bearded Tit, male |
Bearded Tit, male |
Bearded Tit, female |
Bearded Tit, male |
Bearded Tit, male |
Bearded Tit, female |
Bearded Tit, male |
Bearded Tit, male |
Bearded Tit, male |
Bearded Tit, male |
Bearded Tit, male |
Bearded Tit, female |
Reed Bunting |
Stonechat, female |
Stonechat, male |
Stonechat, male |
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