Amwell and Rye Meads visit

 Started at Amwell in good light. Not too much of note from the Viewing point so wandered off to check the path towards Hollycross Lake. On the shingle at the end of Tumbling Bay came across a Canada goose on a nest with a single gosling already hatched. Made to a few pleasant shots with reflections. Also, a Great crested grebe showed well for a few photos. Plenty of sedge warblers about but still no cuckoo for me although one was present earlier in the morning. A Little Ringed plover dropped down in front of the Viewing Point before I headed back to the car, encountering a fox in the field near the level crossing.

Off to Rye Meads: coffee and crisps and a flyover Hobby. Camera settings still set for the fox so all wrong. A female blackcap dropped into a nearby tree. Checked the pond dipping area for water vole: none present before I scanned the lake and in amongst the Black headed gulls, a solitary Mediterranean gull. A very distant shot below. Plenty of sedge and reed warblers calling but not showing too well. A male blackcap was more visible along the recently opened seasonal trail but note: all hides closed until 17th May at the earliest. Took the path to the new Kingfisher hide, very impressive hide it is, too, but was held up by a family party of Canada geese sauntering along the path just in front of me. I wasn't allowed to pass them!

Had a pleasant chat with several members of staff before heading home to process (for process, I mean delete) over 250 photos, a few that worked below.

Species list for the morning: A for Amwell, RM for Rye Meads. No abbreviation means both sites.

1. Great crested Grebe (A)
2. Cormorant
3. Grey heron (A)
4. Mute swan 
5. Greylag geese
6. Canada Goose 
7. Mallard
8. Gadwall
9. Pochard (A)
10. Tufted duck
11. Red kite (RM)
12. Common buzzard (RM)
13. Hobby (RM)
14. Pheasant (A)
15. Moorhen
16. Coot
17. Little ringed plover (A)
18. Black headed gull
19. Mediterranean gull (RM)
20. Herring gull
21. Lesser black backed gull (A)
22. Common tern
23. Wood pigeon
24. Collared dove (A)
25. Swallow
26. Pied wagtail (A)
27. Wren (A)
28. Dunnock (A)
29. Robin
30. Mistle thrush (A)
31. Blackbird
32. Blackcap
33. Whitethroat (A)
34. Sedge warbler
35. Cetti's warbler
36. Reed warbler
37. Chiffchaff
38. Great tit
39. Blue tit
40. Long tailed tit
41. Magpie
42. Jackdaw
43. Carrion crow
44. Starling
45. House sparrow (RM)
46. Chaffinch
47. Goldfinch
48. Linnet (A)
49. Greenfinch (RM)
50. Reed bunting
51. Yellowhammer (heard A)

    

    Blackcap, male

    
    

    

    male Reed warbler

    
    

    

    Family portrait

    
    

    

    Tough route march when you just a day or two old!

    
    

    

    You shall not pass!

    
    

    

    very high, circling Common buzzard

    
    

    

    Common tern

    
    

    

    Peacock

    
    

    

    Sedge warbler

    
    

    

    Distant Mediterranean gull

    
    

    

    Magpie

    
    

    

    female blackcap

    
    

    

    Fox at Amwell

    
    

    

    Little ringed plover

    
    

    

    Sedge warbler

    
    

    

    Greylag goslings taking cover.

    
    

    

    Lesser black backed gull

    
    

    

    Yet another, distant sedge warbler

    
    

    

    drake pochard

    
    

    

    Grey squirrel

    
    

    

    Canada goose with pleasing reflection

    
    

    

    Series of Great crested grebe shots in good, reflective light.

    
    

    

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    

    Canada goose with one gosling. More to hatch.

    
    

    

    Posing robin

    
    

    

    Vociferous wren

    
    

    

    Female BHG massaging male's neck to encourage regurgitation of food for her!