A topsy turvy day at North Cave Wetlands

This is one of the windiest days I can remember, gales with sudden, violent gusts blew over the reserve. The hides whistled, creaked and howled. Moorhens rode waves, Redshanks flew backwards, a Kestrel failed to hover, despite trying hard, passerines kept a low profile. Only the Jackdaws seem to enjoy riding on the wind like kites. And there were lots of people about for a change - monday mornings have been very quiet so far.

  There were quite a number of Shelducks in the reserve today: a few on the grassy areas south of Dryham Lane, and large flock on a mudflat on Reedbed Lake. A variety of other ducks about as well: Wigeon, Teal, Pochard (top shot) and Tufted ducks.

  On the main lake, a motley crew of Cormorants, an Oystercatcher and Lapwings sat on the raft facing the raging wind.

Pair of Shelduck

View of Main lake

Flock of Shelduck on Reedbed Lake

Goldfinch

Bird List

1. Black-headed Gull        
2.  Blackbird        
3.  Blue Tit        
4.  Canada Goose        
5.  Carrion Crow        
6.  Common Gull        
7.  Coot        
8.  Cormorant        
9.  Feral Pigeon        
10.  Fieldfare        
11.  Gadwall        
12.  Goldfinch        
13.  Greylag Goose        
14.  House Sparrow        
15.  Jackdaw        
16.  Kestrel        
17.  Lapwing        
18.  Long-tailed Tit        
19.  Magpie        
20.  Mallard        
21.  Moorhen        
22.  Mute Swan        
23.  Oystercatcher        
24.  Pochard        
25.  Redshank        
26.  Reed Bunting        
27.  Robin        
28.  Rook        
29.  Shelduck        
30.  Shoveler        
31.  Skylark        
32.  Snipe        
33.  Starling        
34.  Teal        
35.  Tree Sparrow        
36.  Tufted Duck        
37.  Wigeon        
38.  Woodpigeon        
39.  Wren