Turned out better than expected

I was out with Paz on Saturday and the forecast of thundery showers prompted us to head to Blacktoft Sands, it proved a good move for as well as staying dry when the single thunderstorm and two heavy showers passed through we saw some good birds, after inspecting the catch of Moths from the night before we headed to Marshland Hide where two Spoonbills were stood preening and a female Garganey accompanied some Teal, a few Avocets were still present plus there were a good few returning waders present on the reserve including Ruff, Black Tailed Godwits, Spotted Redshanks, Greenshanks and Green Sandpipers, a big surprise in the morning was a winter plumaged Black Tern that passed through. There were plenty of young Warblers, Water Rails and Bearded Reedlings in the reed edges and the young Marsh Harriers were quite entertaining and a (hepatic or maybe just a juv) Cuckoo was flying around. It started to brighten up mid-afternoon and we decided on a change of scenery and as Paz had never been before we went round to Alkeborough Flats, it was not too much different from Blacktoft really with a good selection of Waders again, a couple of Little Gulls accompanied them, six Spoonbills were present and some juv Bearded Reedlings showed really well.

some of the Moths, Garden Tiger

Ruby Tiger

Swallow Prominent

Early Thorn

Buff Ermine

Poplar Hawkmoth

and Old Lady which was roosting in Marshland Hide

the Spoonbills

the Avocets still launching themselves at anything threatening

a row of Common and Spotted Redshanks

and the Konik's

you're not sitting here

I'll sit over here then

sitting out the thunderstorm

three Shanks

Black Tailed Godwits at Alkeborough

plus a Little Gull

and six sleepy Spoonbills

juv Bearded Reedlings showing well