RSPB Fairburn Ings

We rolled up at Fairburn Ings RSPB around teatime, first stop Pickup Hide where this Grey Heron fished successfully.Heres the pond where we spotted Tufted ducks, Mallards, Coots with chicks & a Great Crested Grebe. A group of Goldfinch busied themselves on the feeders, this one took time out from feeding to pose for us before it returned to the necessary business of refuelling.

We ambled along the wooden walkways from pond to pond where damselflies darted back and forth before resting on lush green foliage. I think this is one is a Blue Tailed Damselfly.

Then I spotted this whopper of a dragonfly. It zipped around & before it conveniently settled nearby to provide us with a wonderful view, I was delighted! Many thanks to Rambling Rob for helping me identify this as a Black Tailed Skimmer.

On an info board near the pond, Common Darter's are regularly sighted here, it's not the same species as the one above, but similar & Ive kept it for future reference.

A couple of tiny moths on Ox Eye Daisies

We watched Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings dart over the reedbeds, with food clearly visible in their beaks. The Warblers initially landed on tall reeds in clear sight before they promptly dropped down to disappear amongst the foliage presumably to feed their young.

Over at Lin Dyke Hide were Lapwing, Mallards, Mute Swans, Shelduck, Pink Footed Geese & 6 goslings emerged from the water to feed on the grassy margins, the group appeared to take turns to ensure that one or two of the flock kept guard at all times.

At the furthermost end of the water 10 Cormorants settled in the branches. In the mid-distance 3 Grey Herons sat amongst trees the edge of the water. Without the bins, at one point I thought made out a fox coloured shape that skulked around the edge of the water, I kept an eye out but it didn't re-appear.