Gropper at last!

With all and sundry getting shots of the Grasshopper Warblers at Dormans Pool, some of which are brilliant, the temptation to join the throng and get my own pic has been difficult to resist. However, the disturbance caused there has put me off more than a little and so I was determined to find my own obliging individual, a plan which finally payed off this morning when this little beauty posed for me in Hargreave's Quarry...

This was the pic I'd been after for a while so was chuffed to get a chance at last.

Yesterday, news was leaked of a Hoopoe which had been visiting a farmyard for the previous three days. A quick dash to the site was rewarded with this shot, in poor light but not too bad really...

New RSPB hide faces the right way scoop!

The new Phil Stead Memorial Hide was finally opened yesterday after what seems an age of procrastination over signing insurance / lease documents.

At 23k, it seems a lot of cash to pay for a portacabin stuck on a concrete plinth but is actually very nice when you get in and, the biggest surprise of all, it points the right way! All other hides on the reserve point south / east.... directly into the sun!!

Looking out onto the 'Bottom Tank' is also a bonus as the water levels can be controlled welll here (given some rain) so should prove perfect for wader watching and photography.

Two Avocets were the first birds to visit yesterday, albeit briefly, as the 'newness' of the hide attracted lots of visitors = disturbance.

Stayed just long enough for a couple of shots......

Finally caught up with Garganey.

This is perhaps the worst photo I'll ever upload on here but it was my third attempt to add this Drake Garganey to my year list...... that's my excuse anyway!

The marshes seemed full of common migrants today, with Yellow Wags, Reed, Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers all over the place. Whitethroats are finally in and what maybe a new / different Cetti's sang from Hargreaves Quarry.

Still dipping on Marsh Harrier though..... maybe tomorrow :-)

Springtime... yeah!

Spring must finally have arrived..... Four species of warbler seen now, Swallow on the year list and Whimbrel overhead this evening.

Love it when the warblers arrive. Willow singing on Long Drag today makes you believe spring migration is really here and, who knows, a rarity might even be on the horizon.

Watched chiffys having a territorial battle too. So distracted by each other they completely ignored me, my camera and even the dog charging about didn't stop them....