Hadnall - Whimbrel sorting Leatherjackets

It's easy to go a whole year without seeing Whimbrel in the Shire and this was my third for the month! A nice find and patch tick for Ian Baggely :-)

A composite sequence of events...

Probe and catch Leatherjacket...

Toss and eat it!

Repeat...

but I wont bore you! It was coming ever closer until flushed!! A few images from the Scottish Highlands to follow in due course... watch this space!

Lossie estuary - Osprey floundering?

After briefly seeing two Ospreys in quick succession distantly down the river, it wasn't long before the tell-tale flushing of the gulls indicated one was returning and this time - much closer!!

After hovering briefly, it drifted downriver...

Before turning and once more hovering right in front of me!

Is this really happening?

It drifted upriver a bit before taking me by surprise and plunging in the now quite shallow water! Emerging with a flatfish, probaly a Flounder which are commonly caught here...

I was hoping it would double back and fly over me but no such luck, it carried the fish over the river!

And eventually out of sight over the dunes...

Catch of the day and an excellent moment to witness!

Lochindorb - Black-throated Divers came close!

It's a bit of a ritual, start or end the day at Lochindorb! I've never seen anything rare there but you have to put some hours in... In the hope that what happened today... happens...

Parking the car at the roadside pull-in opposite the island castle, I soon picked up the pair of Black-throated Divers for the 2nd day running. They are fairly fresh in and seem to spend most of the time cruising the loch...

After a minute or so, they reappeared midway across...

 Then, separating slightly, coming ever nearer...

Typical, by this time the light started to get worse!

But how can you complain when these amazing Divers come close?

Surfing the waves (note the iridescent 'colours' trying to appear!!)

And then full frame close!

I'd like to say it doesn't get better than this but of course the light could be better :-)

One day, another year maybe? They drifted back out towards the middle - time to move on...

Lochindorb - Mountain Hare!

Talk about being in a high risk situation, this Mountain Hare was scampering along near the Common Gull colony and obligingly paused for a few seconds as I stopped the car...

What a gorgeous creature, they seem few and far between here nowadays!

A turn of the head, alert as ever...

Keep running...

Venus Pool - Whimbrel

Having had distant views of the Whimbrel at Noneley last Saturday, nice to see one drop in at the old patch (cheers Dawn) despite the fact I couldn't get down there until late morning!

It was still there, having befriended a Greenshank (also the first for the year) but annoyingly distant on the back of the island in front of the Memorial hide...

Eventually, spooked by a rampaging Oyk, it flew, calling constantly...

Unbelievably, a lucky Jim moment was to follow as it landed on the shingle island in front of the hide!!

Clearly in no mood for more hassle from the Oystercatcher, it hung around and posed...

Hard to pick a favourite but maybe this one?

One or two images of the Greenshank to follow...

Venus Pool - Greenshank

Why should the Whimbrel get all the attention... Here's his best mate - a Greenshank...

It took some doing to isolate the shank without the Whimbrel in the frame!

Setting off and risking more affray with the Oystercatcher!

Happy landings indeed, just as well they were simply tired and having a breather on migration. We're talking serious mud deprivation at the moment!

Venus Pool - Common Sandpiper

A Common Sandpiper has been present for the past couple of days but usually very distant down by the relocated Sand Martin box (presumably as there's some mud there?) Today was my lucky day as it came within range for some decent images despite the dull conditions.

A quick flight across the pool and here it comes...

Initially appearing a bit wary...

But then, best foot forward, searching for small insects...

Just one brief moment in the open, free from clutter!

But it didn't last long!

A little light relief from Osprey vigil, at least two reported over Shropshire airspace today but no joy here...