DOING BIRD AT ELMLEY

I had agreed to play cricket in a testimonial match for Tony Rickson on Friday afternoon at Bobbing Court so I took the opportunity to visit the RSPB  reserve at Elmley in the morning.
On the approach road there were plenty of redshank and lapwing in evidence and a few yellow wagtails.At the farm young swallows were abundant hawking around the barn and orchard area.Reed and sedge warblers were also plentiful in the reed beds along the track.From the hides it was obvious that the avocet population is booming with chicks of all ages in evidence.

AVOCET CHICK not more than a day or two old.

WAIT FOR ME MA!

AVOCET IN REFLECTIVE MOOD

AND ONCE AGAIN.

REDSHANK

ANOTHER AVOCET CHICK quite independent at a tender age.

THREE SPOONBILLS Circling high over Elmley,later ther were five together.

ELMLEY IS A GOOD PLACE FOR BROWN HARES,also stoat and weasle were seen.

TEN SPOTTED REDSHANKS were on the flood nine here and one other.

The other one resplendent in summer black plumage

SPOTTED AND COMMON REDSHANK side by side.

AVOCET BOOKENDS.

UP AND AWAY TO SEE OFF A MARSH HARRIER.

A very obliging LAPWING by the farm track.
The cricket was fun,though the game was lost and I survived to tell the tale.
An old chesnut about the difference between a weasle and a stoat.
A weasle is weasily wecognised but a stoat is stoatally different! on that note I bid you all good day.