My swallows are back and BHM news.

Am pleased to say that my swallows have returned.  Strictly speaking of course they are not actually mine, but they do spend much of their time flying around my garden.  They raised at least 3 young last year and gave me a great deal of enjoyment.  However, today an imposter has appeared and so 2 of them have spent most of today chasing each other while the other looks on.

The following photos are taken from a TV screen so not the best of quality but great to see anyway.

when she left the box there were 4 chicks to be seen

being fed

plus a few more mouths being fed

On Black Hole Marsh a pair of moorhens have been feeding their 3 young

There are 2 mallard families, one of which did have 13 ducklings

and some proud canada geese showing off 7 goslings and another pair with 3

Some sedge warblers are singing and displaying well

and this reed warbler was caught by the ringers this morning

Our oyster catchers still make good subjects for photos

and a reed bunting posed nicely by the path to the tower hide

Finally earlier this week the marsh harrier was hunting opposite the tower hide

A late post - G S Cuckoo

Sorry for this late posting but I did eventually manage to get up to Beer Head to see the great spotted cuckoo last friday.  It was not long long before sunset by the time I got there and thankfully it was still sitting in the same place.  I was lucky enough to get some great views of such a beautiful bird before it flew off toward the woods a fair distance behind.

Patience rewarded - 1 Osprey!

 I was just about to give up today and go home for tea when suddenly everything flew.  My hopes were high and sure enough within 2 minutes there was this unringed beauty hovering up the river from the tower hide. I do love an osprey and can't believe that on a Sunday afternoon there was no one else there to see it!

Even one of the oyster catchers had a go at it

and as an after thought here is  the iceland gull (though a bit distant) from 2 days ago

Just waiting patiently

Have finally got around to posting some new photos as many of you have been asking for some.  I had been waiting for something a bit different but what with the weather and the lack of anything new this was not to be.   So far I've missed most things of interest this year including yesterdays brief visit by a spoonbill but hopefully that is about to change over the next few weeks.  These photos were taken in the last few weeks and mostly from Black Hole Marsh apart from this sparrowhawk which was in front of Seaton Marsh hide

and one of 2 shovelers on Seaton Marshes

This pair of  oyster catchers were flying up and down the river last week

and these wigeon were taken from the tower hide

while this gadwall has been present on Seaton marshes for a week or so

This heron held this pose for sometime!

One of the few teal still on Black hole marsh

and a little egret on its sixth fish of the afternoon

and another meal! 

and finally these 2 beautiful med gulls were on the estuary last week entertaining us with their displaying, flying and constant calling to each other.