An Introduction to Barney

I took a rash decision earlier in the week to take on an undisciplined 9 month old dog, Barney.   (I actually don't need any more challenges as things are at present!).

Barney can be beautifully behaved but he has episodes of very challenging behaviour.  Everything goes into his mouth as shown in the first image.   He has been allowed to be top dog and it is going to take a while for him to comprehend fully that that doesn't work round here!   He is the great, great, great grandson of our existing Golden Retriever, Boo.   Thankfully he is respectful of her advanced age (13+).   He is a good looking specimen.............

Lazy Otter

Sadly the exposed nest made by a pair of Great Crested Grebes hasn't survived but there are plenty of summer visitors around.   There don't seem to be many House Sparrows around these days, so it was lovely to see this or these males confirming at least one of them is collecting nesting material.   A less cluttered background for one Whitethroat, and some food caught by another.   I had heard a Sedge Warbler several times but this was the first sighting this year.   I shall use a field guide to identify the duck coming into land........

New Sightings this Year

The first sighting of some Swallows happened this morning at Bottisham Lock!   Two of them were chasing one another at such speed - and after a long trip to get here too.   I expect they are thinking of nesting behind the grill on Bottisham Sluice.

I had first sightings too of a Whitethroat and a Blackcap, affirming the beginning of Spring.   Both lovely birds, full of song.    Cherry Blossom, near the car, also heralds Springtime.

Meeting Boo

Yesterday we had a visit from a little person who is now walking and met Boo, our dog, for almost the first time.   Of as much interest was the dog flap!   This was also the first day his father had seen him walking with both hands behind his back!

Chiffchaff at Milton Country Park

Always enjoy listening out for the song of the first Chiffchaff each Springtime.   I'm pretty sure this is a Chiffchaff but I didn't get to hear any of its song which would have been confirming.

Another heralding of Springtime is Apple Blossom.   I must go into the garden again and see what fruit blossoms are blooming here now.

Waders at Snettisham

At last some images of the Waders from last Friday's visit.   By a long way the largest flocks of Waders were Knot, plenty of Oystercatchers, and a few Avocets which are always a delight to see.   There were a few Brent Geese (which I do know are not Waders), but they were also feeding on the mudflats so are included.

Plenty more Knot............   Much of the time they are feeding on the mudflats, then as the tide comes in quickly, they take off in large flocks, filling the skies with crowded displays of agility.    The lower images are taken when the flocks of Knot swoop over the shingle beach to spend time on the fresh water lagoons, and elsewhere.   That is the opportunity to get closer images of the Knot.

 Then a few other birds were recorded - Oystercatchers, Avocet and Shell Duck

Snettisham - not Knots

I went to Snettisham early yesterday morning in tribute to a friend with whom I had last visited Snettisham.   He died on Monday.

There will be photographs in the next post of Knot and Oystercatchers which in their tens of thousands passed overhead as the tide came in obscuring the mudflats on which they had been feeding.   In this posting are Black-Headed Gulls, Ringed Plovers (and I'm wondering if she is sitting), Oystercatchers, unusual Mallards and the closest I've ever been to a male Pheasant.