Cetti's Warblers

I have been wanting to get some shots of Cetti's Warbler for a long time -- today taught me a valid lesson; I left the camera in the car intending to walk a long way and count the wildfowl -- within 5 minutes I heard a male Cetti's singing but not the typical song with the staccato ending but a regular and more melodic series of phrases -- stood looking where it was singing it appeared in the back of a bush showing quite well for a Cetti's then another bird was below it; the male (it was singing) slightly duller and greyer on the upperparts and distinctly more grey toned on the underparts was wing waving and tail flicking constantly as it moved close to the second bird that was brighter more russet on the upperparts particularly the rump and whiter on the underparts; it was only giving the chink call  and was also wing waving and tail flicking - they remained within 20 cms of each other but with no apparent aggression the male singing and the second bird, a female?, dropping lower down until she was walking in the leaf litter; they both then came out into the open, right in the open! on the outermost low twigs of a dead hawthorn in full view for at least a minute -- never leave the camera behind!! -- before the female? flew across the track and the male followed -- I went back for the camera but the action was over although both birds were still around and the male later went into a typical song regime singing from different parts of his territory --I am assuming this was courtship display, BWP says it can occur at any time from September to April, rather than aggression -- the female was ringed on the left leg and as far as I know none are ringed on the Humber but I have seen a few locally with BTO rings so where are they coming in from? Work in progress -- some duff images here of the male

Greenland White-fronted Goose

Saturday late morning chatting birds over the phone with ND when he says there's an adult White-front just dropping in with Greylags; landed out of sight at Alkborough and he failed to find it later -- this morning did not seem a great prospect for birding but with some sun midday headed to Alkborough to look through the Teal and hope for the AGP coming in! -- with a gale blowing the hide was the only option then the torrential rain set in and a lone goose flew towards the hide -- I blasted off a few shots in rubbish light but they confirmed what we thought an adult Greenland White-front only the second record fro the site following a party of 6 in January 2012 -- it landed into the gale with Greylags but almost immediately they flew and taken by the gale disappeared east -- then one of those things happens that never does happen the light improved for a few minutes and in those minutes the GWF flew back past the hide allowing some rather improved shots --

Spotted Redshank

Water Rail

one of the most under-recorded species in the county -- we have no real idea just how many winter around the local pits but it could be in the region of 50 birds

Whooper Swans moving west

a party of 8 Whoopers over Waters Edge this morning moved off west up the Humber; four cygnets and 4 adults -- otherwise a very quite, cool and drafty morning - a Bittern and Willow Tit were the other notebook entries

Hen Harrier

keeping their distance which is probably a good survival strategy

bird action around the seals

Grey Seals

not much action and just too many people for me

2cy male Marsh Harrier

another distinctive bird with these oddly barred grey primary coverts -- rusty tones somewhat exaggerated by the late afternoon sun

local Peregrine

the local pair had a go at a Redshank this afternoon; put it down in the Humber but it kept diving and got away -- the only Little Auk of the day had the good sense to turn back east before attracting their attention