Welney Whoopers

Yesterday I went to Welney Wetland Centre with my family. It was a lovely day after a very wet system passed through Norfolk. Much of the Ouse Washes were underwater, and aprt for the main hide all the reserved was flooded and closed off. This winter swan numbers are relatively low, yet. Still, Welney delivers and the experience, especially for my family, was superb. Not the best photography conditions out of the main hide, but can't complain. Whooper Swans are always beautiful, and in yesterday's light they looked even better.

I find the young birds very delicate and pretty too

Only when this bird took off

I noticed it is ringed. It's an Icelandic bird ringed at Welney in December 2014 - thanks for the details Kane!

Check those red-eyed Pochards!

Because of the flood, every dry square inch was occupied by roosting birds

BIG numbers of Black-tailed Godwits

One of three Great White Egrets on the reserve:

Sorry for the crooked panorama

Tree Sparrows on the visitor centre feeders were actually a Norfolk tick for me (if I kept a Norfolk list)

Nice, relaxed birding to end the year - roll on 2018! A good way to start 2018 would be Ross's Gull...

Ashdod - hot and humid

Ringed this morning at my site in Ashdod. Not too many migrants around but 5 Common Kingfishers ceratinly added colour and flavour to the morning. One was adult which is unusual - about 95% of the Common Kingfishers that reach Israel are young. Adults are easily aged by an arrested primary moult.
A quick look at the Ashdod ponds was quite productive but I was too hot and sticky to get my camera out. All I wanted was to close the car windows and let the aircon chill me down a bit. Anyway, shorebird numbers are growing slowly; 'highlights' were 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Temmick's Stint, 1 Curlew Sand and 3 Marsh Sands. Still waiting...