Blithfield Visit

Sunday's plan was for a spot of afternoon lazy/easy birding with a drive down to Blithfield for a spot of safari birding, just driving along part of the reservoir and seeing what we could find.
Looking from the cause way it didn't look to hopeful, making our way along the edge of the reservoir the first bird we saw was a Little Grebe feeding quite close into the side (never seen a Little Grebe here before), as we continued our way along the edge of the reservoir trying not to wake the little one in the back of the car we soon found quite a few Ringed Plover, I have a weak spot for all waders and these fellows are always good to see. In with the first group were a few Dunlin and then we found a lone Little Stint which was the icing on the cake.

Juvenile Ringed Plover

Adult Ringed Plover

Dunlin

Juvenile Little Stint at Blithfield

Juvenile Little Stint at Blithfield

Didn't drive too far around so didn't see anything else wader wise, but did see the Artic Terns feeding out in the reservoir. Back at the car park there were plenty of Yellow Wagtails in with the Jersey Cows and a group of Linnet feeding on the shore line.

Yellow Wagtail Blithfield Reservoir

Walking along the cause way to get an ice cream we picked up Great Crested Grebe and Cormorant, and Lesley saw what might have been the Shag, it appeared to be smaller than the Cormorants and had the right browny colour but only having a distant arse on view we couldn't be certain. Around the shore near the ice cream van/hut there were quite a few Pied Wagtails adding to the Wagtail mixture.

Black Headed Gull

Great Crested Grebe at Blithfield

Getting back to the car we added a lone female Wheater to the list which was posing nicely on the fence posts.

Female Wheatear at Blithfield

Inner Marsh Farm

Well this was our first trip out as a new family after the arrival of little Gemma aka mini Gronk.
Being only 13 days old and the year approaching fast it was time for her to make a start on her year list.
With fingers crossed for the Spotted Crake still being there we made our way down to the hide, looking across to the new area it looks to be coming on nicely so probably not too long to wait before it fully opens to Joe Public.
The water levels were way down but there was still quite a bit to be seen plenty of Ruff were on show plus the odd Black Tailed Godwit, and a year tick in the shape of a Curlew Sandpiper, pity it wasn't in range of the camera but was good to watch this wader through the scope.
On the insect front there were plenty of Dragonflies around and Common Darter managed to grab a shot of a pair on the stairs to the hide.