Despite some very cold nights recently, the day time temperatures this weekend reached a balmy 10 degrees and it was quiet spring like. One of the spring time spectacles, near where I live, are the snowdrops at the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Reserve of Dimmingsdale. In todays afternoon sunshine, they were quiet spectacular.
Birding my local patch over the weekend has resulted in a few good year ticks – Saturday morning (16th Feb) I found a pair of Shelduck, a really good bird for Staunton Harold Res and also an adult Yellow-legged Gull roosting on one of the marker buoys. Sunday (17th Feb) morning was spent searching the woodland that fringes the south eastern edge of the reservoir and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit and Woodcock were all added to the year list. Also a pair of Goldeneye still present as was the adult Yellow-legged Gull. A small flock of 48 Wigeon and 13 Pochard were also noteworthy.Not a bad weekend with some good local specialities.
Mute Swan studies in early morning winter sunshine – you can't beat "The Crack of Sparrows" !! – Tony Davison©
Snowdrops at Dimmingsdale Reserve, Leicestershire. Tony Davison©
Great shots as usual.