Spoonbills, Goosanders, Little Egrets, Godwits, Sandpiper and Greenshank (plus Parasitic Wasp) at the Otter Estuary nature reserve and along the river Otter - 17th March 2026

I visited the Otter Estuary nature reserve for the second time on Tuesday during my week in Devon

The two Spoonbills were feeding in front of a Little Egret

A Dunnock perched in a bare shrub

Group of Black-tailed Godwits feeding near the bridge in the centre of the nature reserve

I found a creepy Parasitic Wasp creeping around in one of the bird hides

I went for a walk along the footpath at the edge of the river Otter and came across a pair of Goosanders

a second female Goosander was in the water a little further upstream

Back in the nature reserve, a Black-tailed Godwit was feeding in the mud

Two Little Egrets were stepping daintily around in a shallow pool

A Common Sandpiper was standing in shallow water at the edge of the mud

A Greenshank was wading through the water while looking for food

Another Little Egret was walking around in shallow water near the coastal end of the reserve

 

Another birding visit to Walthamstow Wetlands on 29th April 2024

I had a such great time during my previous visit to Walthamstow Wetlands a few days before that I decided to go there again on 29th April with the hope of seeing the Black-necked Grebes once more.

There was a lone Sandpiper at the edge of a reservoir

A couple of Starlings were looking for food

A Ladybird was crawling around in the vegetation as I stopped to eat a sandwich

and then the summer plumaged Black-necked Grebes appeared again!  I was so happy!

Further round the reservoir two pairs of Tufted ducks were resting at the edge of the water

Six Common Terns were standing at the edge of the reservoir

A Great Crested Grebe was getting blown around in the wind

General view of Lockwood reservoir

Greylag geese led their goslings away from me!

On the other side of the Wetlands a pair of Great Crested Grebes were riding out the choppy waves

Birds and wildlife at RSPB Rye Meads at the end of September

I visited RSPB Rye Meads in Hertfordshire again towards the end of September.  Below are photographs of the birds and wildlife that I saw during that visit - including my first Water Vole!

White Domestic duck

Female Common Darter dragonfly

 

Green Sandpiper

Grey Heron and Little Egret

Little Egret with lovely yellow foot and reflection

Green Sandpiper with an itch

Little Egret moving on - watched by a Grey Heron

Little Egret standing tall behind a Green Sandpiper

Dance manoeuvres by a Little Egret

Emerald damselfly on red Hawthorn berries

View over the lagoon from one of the bird hides

Paddling Little Grebe

Comma butterfly

Male Common Darter dragonfly

Close view of Little Egret balancing on a horizontal beam

Great White Egret inspecting a pair of Gadwall ducks

Great White Egret stretching out its long long neck

Great White Egret picking up stick near a drinking Canada goose

My first ever sighting of a lovely Water Vole