Finally..........

....made it out for a walk outside of the local patch! I had a couple of days off to repair a bit of a DIY disaster, which went better than expected, thankfully. So we had a free day and got out early to Swillington Ings (St Aidan's) hoping with it being a week day it would be fairly quiet, which it was. 

The sound of the Gulls as we got out of the car was deafening! My husband spotted one of the Little Owls in the dragline compound - a good start to the day. 

Too distant for my camera but the Little Owl is on the fence

Mallards and a Rabbit under the feeders

I heard the first of many Sedge Warblers as soon as we got near the water along with Reed Buntings, Lapwings, a Common Tern flew over and Sand Martins around the sand bank. Everywhere we walked we could hear the Black- headed Gulls, they nest all over the reserve and eventually you get used to the noise. I saw my first  Swifts of the year (now I just need them back on the patch). 

Lapwing

Grey Heron

Reed Bunting

Walking around the main lake to the causeway, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Robins, Blackcap were singing. The view back towards the visitor centre was lovely, the weather was perfect for walking (and we got back in the car later just before it rained too).

Chiffchaff

The Swans were showing off around the edge of the causeway, we could see Shoveler, Shelduck and Gadwall.

Gadwall

Mute Swan

Walking between the reedbeds I saw movement in the reeds over the water -  a Bearded Tit, one of those birds that I always have trouble seeing and it just popped up in front of me! Then as we walked by Astley Lake, lots of pinging and there were at least 4 Bearded Tits in the reeds next to us - what a joy, we watched them for a few minutes, I gave up trying to get a good photo they were constantly on the move. They quite made my day!

Turning back towards the visitors centre a  Grasshopper Warbler was reeling, Meadow Pipits, Linnets and a Wheatear were along the path. A chap kindly pointed us in the direction of Whimbrels so we took a detour and found them easily, a life bird for me! Today was definitely going well!

Linnet 

Meadow Pipit

We stopped for a tea before we left and just sat a while soaking up the atmosphere. I didn't realise just how much i'd missed getting out, I love my little home patch but it was really good to be somewhere else for a while!

St Aidan's

The day after Adel Dam we headed over the St Aidan's. It was a beautiful day and straight off we saw a Green Woodpecker by the dragline and a Great Spotted flew to the feeders by the visitors centre.

We walked down to Bowers lake, dragonflies and butterflies everywhere. By the lake a flock of birds flew in the bushes in front of us - Bearded Tits, after missing the showy one earlier in the year there was no mistaking these, around 6 of them in and out of the reeds following us along the path. Such beautiful little birds!

There were a lot of Common Terns all over the reserve, I could happily watch them diving for fish all day long.

Pochard (thank you David!)

Common Tern

Wren

A Greylag nursery, there were around 20 young geese together

Stonechat

It was a good day for Dragonflies too. I'm not sure all the Id's are correct.

Common Blue

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Common Darter?

Banded Demoiselle

Common Blue

Blue-tailed

And then there were Butterflies............everywhere! In places you were surrounded and it was lovely (really pleased my daughter wasn't with us this time, the hysteria would have been a touch overwhelming!)

Small Skipper

The only Painted Lady we saw and a rather worn one too

Small Skipper

Gatekeeper

A worn Meadow Brown (thanks Louise)

Meadow Brown

Small White

Giant Horntail (?) and Soldier Beetle

Five-spot Burnet Moth

Another good morning!