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

Restharrow Scrape

 Restharrow Scrape, Sandwich Bay B.O. 

Some of the 480+ Teal, at the far end of the scrape.

 Usually at this time of year Teal are the most numerous Duck, but t is possible to find several other species. Today there were four Shovelers, but no Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Shelduck or Tufted Ducks or any others.

Looking towards the observatory in the distance

There were however a good number (if any number is good) of Greylags, noisily engaged in a spot of R&R.

 A lone Brent Goose appeared at the far end and enjoyed a  fresh water bath.

The Brent wandered on to the island and the vanished while I was scanning elsewhere.

A group of Curlews flew over.

And around a dozen dropped in for a rest,

 A Group of Curlews at the far end.

Not many gulls today, just one Common Gull and a few Black-headed Gulls, the local Herring Gull flew over without dropping in.

 The closest Teal dozed by the bank, until the drake woke up, and seemed to cough up a pellet.

 In the bright sunlight the drake Teal looked extremely handsome.

 The Stonechat was intent on photobombing my attempts to photo the Teal

Now the the Duck 

Now a solo.