Restharrow Scrape.

After popping in to see the Dartford Warbler at the "Sandpit" and a nice little party of Tree Sparrows (not photographed) I popped into the hide at the Scrape and took a few easy piccies.

Female Teal

 

Drake Teal

Pairof Shovelers

Drake Shoveler

Coot

Drake Pochard

Drake Pochard - an infrequent visitor to the scrape.

Cormorant

Cormorant and Moorhen.

Tufted Ducks

Drake Tufted Duck.

a few Gadwall grazing.

Three Wigeon grazing.

Glowing in the evening sun

Evening sunshine at Restharrow Scrape brings a warm glow to the birds and vegetation. At the moment the main species to see is the Eurasian Teal with a few Gadwall and Shoveler dotted around. After watch Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch for the RSPB Garden watch this was a real change.
 

Restharrow Scrape (Phone photo)

 Restharrow Scrape (Phone photo)

Restharrow Scrape, with group of Gadwall and Teal (phone photo)

Restharrow Scrape, big island with mainly Teal(phone photo)

Restharrow Scrape, Teal (phone photo)

Drake Teal

Drake Shoveler, sleeping

Drake Teal

Duck and Drake Gadwall

Drake Teal and Drake Gadwall

Duck Gadwall preening

Drake Gadwall

Drake Gadwall Preening

Drake Teal, having a shake

Drake Teal,

Drake Teal, scratching

Drake Teal, preening

Back end of a Eurasian Curlew

Eurasian Curlew

Duck Teal

Duck Teal preeing

Back to the only winters day so far

I have a rotten cough and cold at the moment.This along with the One Day International v South African followed by the Calcutta Cup meant it was a rather sedentary date, punctuated by a few leaps up in the air and loud cheers. A good day for England supporters. I did have the chance to have a look at a few photos I took on the 21st Jan when the Restharrow Scrape was mainly frozen over.

Restharrow Scrape

A slipping and a sliding Coot.

A couple of Dabchicks with the wind up their tails

Eigeon and Gadway graze on the nearest island.

Drake Shoveler looking good.

Some of the 300 or so Teal on the edge of the ice.

Drak Mallard looking rather smart.

A few Herring and Great-black Backed Gulls gathered at the back of the scrape.

Greylag Geese

Back on the Blog trail - Ducks and Drakes.

It has been a while since I last posted on this blog. Soon after the last post I flew off to Paraguay and had a really enjoyable birding trip. When I got back I managed to have a mishap carrying a small chest of drawers upstairs, fell backwards from somewhere near the top and knocked myself out when I headed the wall at the bottom! Fortunately Pam was there and when I came round she was arranging for the ambulance.  Although I was lucky, and the scan and x-ray showed I hadn't done any serious damage, I have been extremely surprised at how long it has taken me to feel back to normal and have the inclination to go out and take photos and then sort them out, and post them. We did have a week on the Scilly Isles, but I largely took it easy as I didn't have a lot of get up and go. Now I hope I'm back and fully ready to return to normal. I've still got hundreds of pictures to sort out from my Paraguay trip and a few from the Scillies, Today I had a look at the Restharrow Scrape at Sandwich Bay and wasn't surprised that the water level was high and the there were around 400 Teal on  view.

The island in front of the hide is one of the main resting area for the Teal flock, and the air is full of their tuneful whistles.

The drakes are now largely in their smart breeding plumage, and if there is some fine mild weather it want be long before they are chasing the ducks around.

Although there are a good number of Teal, other waterfowl are in short supply. I counted around 16 Shovelers today, an increase on the number reported earlier in the week. Most of the drakes are looking very smart.

I did notice this chap who could do with a bit smartening up. He did spend a lot of time preening so there was a definite intention to join the pretty boys in the near future,

There were around half a dozen Gadwall just in front of the hide.  Although they are not particularly colourful I think the are one of the more handsome ducks.

Even when they are up-ending the subtle vermiculations and the jet black rear end are very distinctive.

Of course there are Mallards around, and as is normal a small gang of males were on the look out for some action.

If you've got an itch scratch it!