Avocets

Wednesday 28th May 2008

Another day's leave, and a return to very wet weather. Despite the mist-enshrouded hills, that didn't stop me going to Hawling to year-tick a Quail which was calling in a cereal field at 1.00pm near the minor road off the A436 at SP057217. I spent the rest of the afternoon at Upton Warren, in Worcestershire, where Avocets are the star attraction. I saw 10 adults in total plus a brood of four young on the Flashes Pools. The weather seemed to be improving when I got there, but when the inevitable rain started again, the youngsters retreated for cover under the body of one of it's parents (photo above and movie below). Other highlights were two Common Sandpipers, three Little Ringed Plovers, a Redshank and two Common Terns. A Cetti's Warbler, several Reed Buntings, Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, a Little Ringer Plover and a Ruddy Duck were at the Moors Pools.

(More photos of Avocets below, bottom two of Common Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover respectively)



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