May 2012 - Lakeside & other Birds

Tuesday 29th: After finishing at work, a short drive down the road to Lakeside to put my camera through some more tests. Yes, another lovely warm evening. People around, enjoying the late afternoon sun.

This is a photo of contemplation. The Sikh is sat on the pebble beach communing with nature.

A Coot on her nest, resting in the warm sunshine.

A Black-headed Gull, unusually resting and quiet!

Great-crested Grebes often take to Donny Lakeside.

Suspect that this is a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

We get our far share of Herring Gulls too.

Close by, a clutch of Mallard duckings explored a sheltered cove under the watchful eyes of the parent Mallards.

Getting home I took advantage of the sunny and warm evening by sitting in the garden. In the conifers a few feet away was perched one of the Blackbird fledglings that had hatched a couple of weeks earlier. It was waiting to be fed by the male and in between feeds would close its eyes for a moments rest.

Sunday 27th: An early morning midday to Hatfield Moor (North) to test my new camera. Warm day with clear blue sky - great to be out in the countryside! While driving down the narrow country lane, between farms, several Turkeys jumped out in front of the car forcing me to slam on the anchors! Curious, a couple wandered straight towards the car, peering at me all the while! Then joined by others, they wandered into the adjacent ploughed field. This is the first encounter with wild Turkeys that I have experienced. Usually they are on my plate!

Friday 25th: The female Blackbird is not at all worried by the presence of us in the kitchen - she is too trusting! Both Mel and I can get to almost touching distance of her! In fact she tends to stand around if the bowl is empty and flick her wings in order to get our attention.

There's all sorts of wildlife in the garden. This green Weevil with orange legs provided a test of close (macro) photography by Mel.

Wednesday 23rd: Occasionally, a passing Greenfinch will stop off in our garden - probably on it's way to Sandra's!!

Tuesday 22nd: The Blackbirds and House Sparrows are regularly coming into the kitchen for live mealworms throughout the day. The male Blackbird predominately collects a beak full and feeds the fledling Blackbirds,while the female mainly feeds herself! The birds have young to feed and are not at all shy about dashing in to get a beak full of mealworms.

 

 There are still plenty of Frogs in the garden. Most are in and around the pond as is the one below.

Saturday 12th: Mel and I went over to Elizabeth's house to do some gardening and all the time in the front, this cheeky Robin would nip in between Mel and her trowel to grab a tasty morsel. A very confident Robin, it wasn't put off by the constant movement of us and noise!

 

April 2012 - Lakeside & Hatfield Moors (south)

Sunday 15th: Woke up this morning to bright sunshine so decided to get a few hours, first at Hatfield Moor and then down at Lakeside.

Male Chaffinch under feeders at Hatfield Moor.

Female Greenfinch.

Male Greenfinch.

This Linnet was one of a small group of 6 that flew from the adjacent field to perch on nearby saplings.

Quite a few Oystercatchers around the Moor today.

Above: two photos of a female Reed Bunting. Unusual as females don't normally develop the back cheek banding as the males.

As ever, the Reed Bunting was at the feeders.

This Chiffchaff was very obliging!

Greylag Geese and Goslings.

Above: Can you spot the Little Ringed Plover amongst the Shelducks and Tufted Ducks?

Above: Two pairs of Teal.

Lakeside: After a couple of hours at Hatfield Moor, I drove down to the Lakeside to see if anything new has turned-up.

This Common Coot pair were into nesting.

 Above: two photos of Mallard ducklings. I counted 14 in all. Wonder how many will make it to adulthood.

This Great Crested Grebe pair were clearly in the mood!

 Mallards.

 House Sparrow.

Tufted Ducks.

May 2011 - Lakeside Little Gulls!

Wednesday 2nd: This afternoon was wonderfully warm, so much so that I was out on the island at Lakeside...with no coat on! Makes a change to have a warm sunny day amidst these past weeks of rain! I'd set up my scope at the edge of the island so that I could get a good sweep all around the lake area. The Willow Warbler that I had just had a close encounter with was continually singing and did for the entire hour I was there. The Warbler was most obliging and perched openly so that I got some good photos.

Sweeping the lake, there were the usual Black-headed Gulls with their summer plumage fully blossomed. But there on one of the buoys was a Tern! Good views of it through the scope and photos too. Eventually (when I got home),  Mel and I decided that it was a Common Tern and not an Arctic Tern as I had first suggested!

As I swept the scope further around the lake, three (out of place) gulls came into view. These I had not seen before but in the scope could easily identify them as Little Gulls. These are the smallest gulls known and are about 25% smaller than a Black-headed Gull. Usually only found around the coast, they do come inland occasionally, with reports of Little Gulls at Old Moor RSPB too. Immediately recognisable by the jet-black plumage of the head and neck, whereas the chocolate-brown of Black-headed Gulls, end at the back of the head. The three Little Gulls were identified as two adults and their offspring - one 2nd year gull, as can be seen from the incomplete black plumage around the bill. Two of my photos have been published on the doncasterbirding website and that is where the immature gull was identified as a 2nd year gull.

2nd Winter Little Gull.

Two adults and 2nd winter Little Gulls.

Black-headed Gull and Little Gull for comparison.

Two femaleCommon Coots were also nesting at the lake. One of which was being attended by a male, Great Crested Grebes were there and I counted 2 pairs but there are more around in the marina. Loads of Mute Swans, about 35 and Mallard along with Tufted Duck and some resident Canada Geese.

Maiting 7-spot Ladybirds

So in the space of an hour, I had three summer species of bird, one of which, the Little Gulls was a FIRST for me!