No Didn't See It

After working in the garden and get the car nice and clean in the morning Lesley and me decided on just popping over to Blithfield for the afternoon.
First port of call were the hides around Tad Bay, this being a new area for us as generally we stick to the cause way and dam areas even though we are members of the WMBC. Headed down from the visitor centre and the first hide we found was in a very sorry state, so much so we decided it was cleaner to sit on the floor in front of the hide, here we could look up to the top end of the bay (also noting a better hide further up, as I said we are new to this area). There were quite a few LRP around in total we counted 9, plus plenty of wild fowl, Black Headed Gulls, Coots, Great Crested Grebe and Cormorants.  We carried on around the lake towards the cause way we came across a mixed Tit and Warbler flock, of interest were quite a few Willow Warbler plus a Blackcap.
On a fallen tree I noted what I think maybe young Beef Steak bracket fungi developing, this is a really nice fungi which when cut bleeds blood red, but is edible if you fancy giving it a go, trust me I am scientist.

Young Willow Warbler

We then drove around to the cause way and parked up on the opposite side from the ice cream van, Lesley being rather heavily pregnant decided to stay in the car and have a kip while I went for a wander.

Plenty of Yellow Wagtails around both juveniles and adults, with one group having a female Wheatear for company. Feeding around the edge of the water or around the sheep in the grass.

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

Winter adult Yellow Wagtail (first time I have seen one in winter colours)

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail

Out on the lake were a small group of Common Terns, well I thought I could see a black bill tip (note to self next time don't leave scope in car boot).  On the waters edge were a few Common Sandpiper no matter how hard I tried I couldn't turn them into Green Sandpipers.

Along the fence line there were plenty of Goldfinch feeding on thistle seed heads.

Juvenile Goldfinch

Adult Goldfinch

Getting back to the car (and to explain the tile) speaking to a fellow birder found out we had missed in Tad Bay the Black Necked Grebe, Osprey and Garganey.

Oh well better luck next time, still was nice to be in the fresh air and all that, after all its about what you see and not what you don't.