A Bad Decision

Well, that was the weekend that will be remembered for a Hudsonian Godwit. A really bad decision not to go on Saturday 25th, as the bird flew off Saturday afternoon, obviously disappointing the Sunday twitchers, me included. Hopefully it will either be – re-discovered on route to the far north, or it will return in the autumn with the Black-tailed Godwits on route south. Either way will do me. So my weekend was spent basically at Attenborough Nature Reserve on the outskirts of Nottingham. A great reserve often pulling a good bird or two at this time of year. The weekend was to be no exception.

On Saturday morning, at around 08:00 hours, the mega went off on my pager, what could this be I thought, ******* Hell, a Hudsonian Godwit, in Somerset. Surprisingly it didn’t seem to take too long to talk ourselves out of going! there and then, but to wait till Sunday. What a mistake that was. So the rest of Saturday was spent at Attenborough, trying to photograph Cetti’s Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler, two difficult warblers to photograph as both can be notoriously skulking, however, I don’t think I did too bad though? Plenty of common migrants about and Garden Warbler, was a year tick, along with Grasshopper Warbler.

Sunday26th April and a visit to nearby Willington Gravel Pits, all the time keeping fingers crossed that a trip to Somerset would be in order, no such luck, Pager quiet, the Godwit appeared to be long gone. A first summer Little Gull, a Whimbrel and a Cuckoo were all year ticks. Great to hear the Cuckoo, at least it feels like Spring has really arrived, but not many Swifts around yet? Checking the pager, just in case, and I noticed a Night Heron had been discovered at, Yep, Attenborough. So change of plans and we decided to salvage something out of the weekend. A cracking adult Night Heron was on view in trees  viewed from the main path just past the Tower Hide. So my weekend of year ticks moves the list along to 183. Just to rub salt into the wound, the Great Blue Heron was still on the Isles of Scilly – Mmm maybe a twitch is still on the cards…

Night Heron – adult summer – Attenborough, Notts – Tony Davison©

 

Grasshopper Warbler – Above 5 images – Attenborough, Notts – A rather “Showy” individual – Tony Davison©

Cetti’s Warbler – Attenborough, Notts – Tony Davison©

Grey Heron – Above three images – Adult – Willington GP, Derbyshire – The nearest I got to a Great Blue Heron! – Tony Davison©

Great Crested Grebe – Willington GP, Derbyshire – They are stunning birds – Tony Davison©

Common Tern – Willington GP, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Tufted Duck – Drake – Attenborough, Notts – Tony Davison©

Sedge Warbler – Attenborough, Notts – Tony Davison©

Common Whitethroat – Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Cowslips – Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©