Little crake and others

These were taken yesterday of the little crake on Black Hole Marsh.  As you can see they are pretty poor photos but it was right at the back of Black Hole Marsh and way too far for my camera really but as it is such a rare bird I thought I'd put them on my blog anyway.  I was lucky enough to have good views yesterday morning thanks to Ian M.  Tim White has the best photo I have seen so far on his blog.  As far as I know it has not been seen again since early this morning.

I was after seeing the little stint today but needless to say it was rather busy in the island hide so was out of luck.  Still here are a few more photos from this week.  One of the 3 ruffs that have been present lately is regularly close by

The one remaining curlew sandpiper

the 3 greenshank

and the water rail near the tower hide.

Curlew sands and another BHM update

The 3 ruffs and the 3 greenshank still remain along with the usual green and common sandpipers, dunlin, ring plovers and a dozen or so lapwing.

The 8 curlew sandpipers from last night had become 6 by the time they returned to BHM from the river about 3.15pm having been absent most of the day.  They were never particularly near but being such beautiful birds still deserve top billing.  The 4 below are with a dunlin.

This turnstone has been present for at least the last 3 days which is quite a rare bird for us here

and a wheatear was showing well on the tramline early in the morning 4 days ago.

The same morning one of the spotted redshanks chose to fly toward the Tower hide and land in the water reasonably close.

Black tailed godwit numbers continue to grow and being such beautiful birds deserve another photo.

My local swallows have had another brood of 4 thus making a total of 9 altogether.  I shall miss them when they are gone they are so entertaining

Some poor pictures now taken of todays marsh harrier that appeared to be being mobbed by godwits and they seemed to give it several attempts.

Lastly 2 of our popular residents.  Predictably one being the kingfisher

 

 and the second being the often overlooked heron.  I always think they look so ungainly and even a bit evil but here this one looks quite delicate and graceful.  Don't suppose it would if a water vole swam by!

How lucky am I? Spectacular birding on the Axe

I am so lucky to live across the road from such spectacular sights as this.  I was just cycling down to the tower hide and as I turned the bend I saw a hovering osprey take a dive down into the water.  Thinking I'd probably missed it catching a fish I arrived to find it had been unsuccessful and watched it being chased off by one lone rook.  It soon returned only to be attacked from above by a buzzard which it soon shrugged off and started its search for a meal.  It did not take long for it to succeed as you can see. 

Osprey, mackerel fishers and BHM

I'll start with the best pictures taken today from Black Hole Marsh which show just a few of its inhabitants and when I finally managed an improved photo of the ruff.

one of several green sandpiper

and the 2 greenshanks

Some dunlin 

and a snipe with a common sandpiper

There were plenty of lapwing several close to the island hide

and the usual black tailed godwits though this one was a bit wind swept.

Gold finches close to the island hide.

Now I move on to the not so good photos as the birds were all rather distant for my camera.  The last few days with all the mackerel about in the sea there has been quite a bit of activity.  Cormorants have been trying their luck though sometimes the fish have proved a bit too large.

Crows have been grabbing the whitebait

and the gulls have been trying their luck too.

and finally suddenly with no warning from the gulls the osprey was on the river, dived, caught a fish and headed up and off over the main road in the direction of Axminster again all in a matter of seconds.   As you can see it was rather distant but clearly visible and yet another great moment to see.