A Cacophony of Oystercatchers

I've been out on my first longish bike ride for a while today, and by heavens my legs are really feeling it. I've ridden about 28km today, and inevitably my destination was RSPB Langford Lowfields for my first visit of the year.

It's been a lovely day, although there's still a marked chill when the sun disappears behind a cloud. It didn't stop there being a lot of butterflies about, mainly small tortoiseshell, although I did see a comma flee from my bicycle as I scooted through Stapleford Wood on the way.

I didn't see any sand martins while I was there, although they have been reported and there were plenty of midges and other irritants in the air for them to eat. The most notable sights I saw were;

1) A lapwing on Phase 2 enganging in a tumbling courtship flight.

2) A very angry mute swan engaging in an endless pursuit of a canada goose across the water on Phase 2. I have no idea what this goose had done to bring about this water rage, but even when the goose took to the air to get away, the swan followed it. They are probably still at it now, five hours later, in the dark.

3) A trio of oystercatcher that took to the air with a supersonic blast of furious piping, circling the Phase 1 reed bed like it was an aerial Indianapolis 500 for waterfowl. They are very striking flyers even without the noise; their sharp black and white markings really stand out, and they fly very fast too.

All in all, it was a lovely ride. It's a pity the warm weather is going to arrive when I'm at work.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 31.03.16

First cowslips in bloom for me

One legged goose

Oystercatcher island

Looking for food

To the water's edge

Feeding together

In hot pursuit

Redshank

Redshank and passing mallard

Chest puffed out

Over the reeds

Female reed bunting

Look over there!

Blossom

Info

The lovely beach hut