Having completed my work at home, I was keen to be out again and decided on a routine visit to Alkborough, a flood plain along the Humber. With the threat of imminent thunderstorms, there would be a couple of hides to shelter in if necessary. The morning started out grey and misty, later becoming warm enough to generate some heat haze and luckily no rain. The reedbeds had plenty of calling warblers - Sedge, Reed and Cetti's providing constant song as I walked the wetland paths. Sedge Warbler. Reed Warblers were flitting about carrying food. These two youngsters, deep in a hawthorn were awaiting the parent bird. At the first pool, all the birds were distant and the majority were Avocets, around 150 or so. Sharing this shallow water were a number of Shelduck, a Grey Heron, a Little Egret and sixteen Black-tailed Godwits. At this site, waders often move between pools when flushed by Marsh Harriers and the arrival of more Avocets also brought in five Redshank and seven Spotted Redshanks. The Spotted Redshanks were still quite black in appearance but sadly landed at the far side of the assembled waders. Spotted and Common Redshanks asleep at the back. Whilst checking even the furthest away birds, I noticed a Little Gull was among the few Black-headed Gulls which was an interesting bird for the wetland. A couple of the resident Water Rails showed really well, coming out of the reeds to investigate the cut area. I continued my walk along the fields where Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were seen. I too was watched from one of the fields by this confiding deer. Throughout all the wet areas I counted nine Spoonbills, a regular summer visitor here and some smart adult birds among them. This site is well known for its Bearded Tit population and I've found plenty on previous visits. Whether they are quietly feeding young birds I'm not sure but, I heard very few calling and only managed to see one wet and worn looking adult. No shortage of Reed Buntings though!
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