The Oystercatcher - Marsh Lane

Couldn't resist some images of these great Oystercatchers at Marsh Lane this morning!

Mixed Bag at Marsh Lane

With a rather "doubtful" weather forecast again, I decided to head towards Marsh Lane Reserve, where the hides are close enough to be able to dodge the showers. Arriving at 0645 I headed for the car park hide where a male Wheatear posed on the fence at the side of the hide. Unfortunately, the light was poor and I couldn't get a fast enough speed to avoid camera shake! All of the expected bird species were present, but no sign of the Little Gulls from yesterday, or indeed any passage Terns. Two year ticks were obtained in the form of a Sedge Warbler and c12 Swifts. A full list of sightings can be found at the end of this post.


Wheatear

Great Crested Grebe

Blue Tit

Linnet

Gadwall

Black meets White

Bullfinch

Common Tern

Dabchick

Redshank

Ringed Plover

Willow Warbler

Record shot of my first Swift of the year!

Todays Sightings:

Song Thrush; Blackcap; Wood Pigeon; Lapwing; Black Headed Gull; Chiffchaff; Wren; Wheatear; Mallard; Tufted Duck; Cormorant; Shelduck; Canada Goose; Redshank; Coot; Oystercatcher; Greylag Goose; Mute Swan; Gadwall; Teal; Little Ringed Plover; Great Crested Grebe; Common Tern; Pheasant; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Rook; Blue Tit; Chaffinch; Reed Warbler; Reed Bunting; LBB Gull; Dabchick; Ringed Plover; Black Swan; Moorhen; P; Willow Warbler; Swallow; Magpie; Stock Dove; Dunnock; Bullfinch; Great Tit; Linnet; Blackbird; Goldfinch; Sedge Warbler; Greenfinch; Treecreeper; Skylark; Swift; Buzzard; Sand Martin; Jay; Kestrel.

A Pleasant Start to a Very Unpleasant Day!

One of my "bogey" birds is the Dotterel and I was keen to get one onto my life list. Reports of one being present with a number of summer plumaged Golden Plovers, near the Oxfordshire village of Balscote, had me heading south after my night shift finished at 0600hrs this morning. Of course my keenness to see the Dotterel was further challenged by the arrival of rather inclement weather in the form of heavy rain and wind! Good progress was made, despite the conditions and at 0700 the Dotterel was in my scope! The supporting cast of c20 summer plumaged Golden Plovers more than made up for the soaking I received!

The Jackdaw

Some say evil, some say mischievious but how many see its beauty?