Glorious Bluethroat
Photo taken from six feet
Photo path side
Feeding on flooded grass
Last shot before journey home
Spot the bird
Video (Steve Black)
Since I started birding the Bluethroat was always one of the species I'd drop everything for (well almost). I certainly didn't expect a text from the Squire at 7.15am on a February morning "Fancy the Bluethroat ?" I'd only just thawed out from Draycote so didn't even check the bird news that evening. A quick check on Twitter revealed positive sightings & photos so after dropping Dusty at his footy match I was off to Alcester where the Squire was waiting in his battle tank of a new car. I think the Squire was getting his own back from Cornwall as his new foot down style on the roller-coaster roads of Lincolnshire certainly got the stomach churning. I was relieved to get some air as we got out of the car at Willow Tree Fen. We were very hopeful of connecting when a birder called to us from his car "you won't need your scope lads, it's at your feet".
We quickly marched up the 400 yard gravel patch where a dozen birders had stunning views in previous ten minutes. Surely not........ there were no worries as after about ten minutes the bird, a first winter male, showed brilliantly along side the patch and came within six feet at times taking no notice of its audience.
It was a fantastic experience only lessened by the freezing wind. On occasions the bird fed on the flooded grass to the left of the patch clearly showing it was very much at home.
After a brilliant hour we made the short drive to Deeping High Bank to see the reported Great Grey Shrike right next to the bridge. With frozen fingers & toes it was back in the mobile tank for drive back home. Quite a day.................
No comments:
Post a Comment