Sunday 24 June 2012

Stone Curlew


A trip up to the Weeting Heath NNR to see Stone Curlew was a success, even if the birds remained a little distant. A pair remained more or less on view the whole time feeding along the perimeter fence to the right of the field. Another put in a brief appearance further down the field, but soon dissappeared over the lip of the hill not to re-appear while we were there.

Elis in action at Weeting photographing a Red-legged Partridge.
The Red-legged Partridge in question

We followed this up with a visit to the Welney Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.
Welney WWT
There we saw the famous Whooper Swan pair that remained in the UK when one of the pair damaged its wing and couldn't fly. Its partner being so bonded with it that it too stayed behind when all the others had left. The pair bond being stronger than the urge to migrate. A touching tale.
Whooper Swan with damaged right wing
The faithful mate
We saw a couple of Redshanks and Lapwings and a single Curlew here, but the highlights wader-wise were a trio of fly-through Avocets and a fly-by Black-tailed Godwit.
Avocets
Black-tailed Godwit
Elis and me in the hide at Welney WWT

In the car park a Little Ringed Plover watched over three small chicks.
Anxious adult Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover chick
Parent and chick together

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