Mostly Local

Well, it's been a while again - don't know why I leave its so long!.... probably time and laziness (the latter being more probable). Anyway, a couple of mates David Gray and John Hague and I decided to try the 10k challenge (this is how many birds you can see within 10 kilometers of our homes within a twelve month period); this will be the very first time I have compiled a year list. There is a £20 bet on this challenge on who will see the most species, and the winner will donate the £60 to the charity of their choice. I must admit it does take you to places that you don't go to very often. So apart from a couple of twitches for the Belted Kingfisher [no images] up in Lancashire, and the Eleonora's Falcon down in Kent, I have mostly been fairly local, checking out local reserves, reservoirs and any 'birdy' places to try and see as many species as possible within a 10k radius. Wish me luck!

The Brambling above was one of several hundred found at Barton in the Beans (not by me) last winter. The flock also included Greenfinch, Linnet and Chaffinch and was quite an impressive sight!

Grey Wagtail at Thornton Reservoir with his lunch.

The images above and below are of a very confiding Cetti's Warbler at Wanlip Meadows

Again, above and below, images of Bittern at Cossington Meadows

Little Ringed Plover feeding at the outflow at Thornton Reservoir

Chiffchaff , again at the Thornton Reservoir outflow

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Thornton Reservoir

Grey Wagtail - one of a pair that were also feeding at the outflow of Thornton Reservoir

Gadwall at Groby Pool

Tufted Duck snoozing at Thornton Reservoir

Reed Bunting at Groby Pool

If you want really good views of Nuthatch, the feeding rock at Groby Pool is the place to visit

 

Can't beat a Grey Wagtail, can you? ..... wherever they pop up!

Coal Tit in my back garden

Ruddy Shellduck which was found with a pair of Egyptian Geese in late February at Cossington Lakes

This Mute Swan at Thornton wasn't a happy bunny if any other bird came into the 

vicinity - especially the Canada Geese!

The Resident Mandarin Duck at Thornton Reservoir which always takes

 a fancy to the female Mallards

Mallard drake at Swithland Reservoir

Common Gulls having a bit of a chat at Thornton Reservoir

Male Blackcap in the garden, seen mid February and visited our garden for at least

 42 days, feeding on sunflower hearts

Moorhen checking out it's reflection at Bagworth Heath

This was the twitch for the Eleonora's Falcon at the end of May at Worth Marsh 

in Kent - and what a great reserve this is!

This is just a general catch-up of my exploits in the UK - but I will be doing a post next of our recent trip to Iceland and Greenland..... as soon as I've downloaded the rest of the images  (getting a bit lazy in my old age)

As always, thanks for stopping by and I hope you are all keeping well