Hearing about some obliging Water Rails at Attenborough Nature Reserve, I left work early on Friday 9th March and with still decent light despite the bubbling cloud, I was gob-smacked by just how unwary the birds were. Three in all, with a little patience I was able to get some amazing images of this normally retiring species. A supporting cast of Greater Scaup, Little Egret, Dunnock and Robin, made for a pleasing early spring birding afternoon.
Water Rail
Robin
Dunnock
The beginning of March saw the so-called 'Beast from the East' arrive, bringing snow and sub-zero temperatures. This was largely over-hyped by the media, although it was bad enough for me to stock up the feeders. Seeing a few flocks of thrushes gathering locally, I realised it was time to bring out the bletted apples.
Throwing these out on the morning of 2nd March, it wasn't long before a Fieldfare was munching away, just a few metres from my kitchen window. He defended his fruit against all comers, especially other Fieldfare. I was able to get some unusually close images, showing the beautiful markings on this bird.
As a point of interest, the Dutch name for Fieldfare is Kramsvogel, a name derived from Old Dutch and relates to their love of rotten apples!
