Common Cranes, Quest, video

Grus!

After finding a Temminck's Stint in Quest pit on Saturday, I go and find these two monsters in there tonight! They showed really well for an appreciative audience all evening, and the Temminck's was also still there too. They even did some bugling for us as well. Nice. Common Crane, 17th May 2010.

Interestingly, the female has what looks like a blue ring on its left leg...

Mellow yellow

Yellow Wagtail, Broom, 12th May 2010.

Dunlin duo

Dunlin, Broom GP, 12th May 2010. These two chaps were very accommodating this evening.

Nightingale video

Nightingale, Sandy, 10th May 2010

'Little' Ringed Plovers

A nice selection of Tundra Ringed Plovers at Derek's this morning. The local Ringo's really didn't like them though and chased them all over the shop.

The variability in their plumage is quite startling. The top bird was in almost summer plumage, with the next bird down still quite wintery, with another inbetween. I presume tundrae moult later than hiaticula.

Cute ass

Anas acuta. This pair of Pintails were on a track-side puddle this evening. Gorgeous light, and gorgeous birds. Rookery, 6th May 2010.

Ears of wheat

A really lovely Greenland Wheatear on the dung near Ashwell, 3rd May 2010. Shit-heaps really are great places to watch birds in the spring.

Calidris conundrum

Dunlin, Derek's, 2nd May 2010. Probably schinzii in my opinion. There were four other birds also on site this evening, all with longer bills, duller plumage, and all sticking together - alpina?