Wednesday 12 October 2016

Big Waters and Howdon Wetlands October 2016

Naughty me, haven't done a blog for nearly a month (hooray, I hear you all shout) but have again been extremely busy.  Just did 3 trips to Big Waters for normal Sunday Wander and at least 5 trips to Howdon whilst Colin B was away.  Nothing extraordinary to report but really enjoyed the wanders around Big Waters with the guys and the complete opposite at Howdon Wetlands of peace and quiet with not another human seen or voice heard.  Just sitting there watching up to 20+ Herons taking in the rays, 50+ Curlews wandering around, the ever increasing Teal numbers, occasional braces of Snipe whizzing around and much more.  At Big Waters you go on a bad day and see some great stuff and on a day when you should see things there is nothing there but there is always the company and inevitably you eventually see something.  Last Sunday was such a day, very quiet then when we got to the hide there were 3 Great Crested Grebe, Shoveller and plenty of other wildfowl with loads of Gulls then (of course) Alan J picked up a Med Gull in the middle of many gulls just bobbing around.  Anyway here are a few pictures and a short video of the last few trips out

Big Waters Main Hide on a glorious day
 Grey Heron patiently waiting for his opportunity
Love it when the Canadas arrive, lots of vocalizing
 The gorgeous Mallards
Bike Riders with no bells and Dog Owners with no Leads
Both are equally as dangerous
Then the Big Boys arrived
 Lots of Swan on Swan action
 Med Gull departing from Big Waters
 "Thats Right, there IS a bloody Sparrowhawk behind us"
 Migrant Hawker (I Believe)
Just some of the Curlews at Howdon Wetlands
 ...but there is always a Billy No Mates
Look closely at the White Blobs which are Grey Herons
...and even more on the island
 Elevenses yum yum
Finally a short video showing Med Gull at Big Waters, Teal at Howdon Wetlands
and a lot of Gulls trying to feed on a flock of small fish which a few Cormorants
are snacking on


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