Saturday 25 April 2009

Gripping Gropper

Prior to the arrival and brief stay of the great white egret I had been treated to some fantastic views of "reeling" grasshopper warbler in the scrub that surrounds Arcot Pond.

This particular bird was "reeling" (singing - it's song is very much like the sound of a fishing reel being wound) out in the open, sitting on brambles.

As the bird sang it would flutter its wings and bob its' tail - cracking!

Today was perfect - warm, sunny and still. Four birds were heard along with two lesser whitethroat, one common whitethroat, two sedge warbler, blackcap, willow warbler and chiffchaff.

Summer has finally arrived in Northumberland.

After the GWE had departed we stuck around for a bit chat with several local birders who had arrived a few minutes late - luckily for us the drake garganey flew out of the reeds and onto the pool - only my second in Cramlington, so a great record and a magic end to an amazing morning at the pond!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thats an absolute beauty of a photograph, I'm stuck with a 200mm at the moment so it's really difficult to get decent shots, but hopefully will be in uni in septemeber and they rent out all sorts of equiptment for free, again I like that shot, cheers Cain