I made a morning trip to Alkborough with my son. He has superpowers that I don't. A few years ago I stopped hearing the sound of crickets and grasshoppers, while for him they are hard to ignore and that helps spotting them, especially crickets. There was also the lure of another attempt to see the Glossy Ibis that has been settled there since the middle of May.
We got to Alkborough about 9:30. On the walk to the first hide, Marsh Harriers and Bearded tits were in evidence. I was very pleased that the reeds have been cut in front of Prospect hide. A group of waders and ducks were assembled in front. Water rails 'peeped' and squealed. Two people in the hide informed us that several water rail chicks had been seen. A Spoonbill flew and landed to the right of the view, but it didn't stay long.
Avocets and Black-tailed Godwit.
Redshanks, Avocets and Black-tailed godwits.
A greenshank woke up and started preening.
Juvenile Bearded tit.
We took the circular walk that includes the Trent bank. Plenty of fresh Peacocks were feeding on teasels, with them skippers. I got some Small Skipper and possibly an Essex Skipper too.
Small Skipper.
Roesel's Bush Cricket. I would have never spotted this species without my son coming along as he zoomed on it following its song.
Female Great Diving beetle. It waddled on the path, it was lucky that I didn't step on it!
Eristalinus sp. very noisy and numerous in a damp patch by the path.
As we joined the Humber bank, we spotted the Glossy Ibis on the pool, feeding with about 40 Little egrets and Black-headed gulls. The views weren't great, with the sun behind it, but it wasn't too far and we were content with having seen the ibis.
Glossy Ibis feeding.
Rudy Darter. Many Ruddy, Common Darter, a Brown hawker, an emperor and Black-tailed skimmer and a blue-tailed damselfly comprised the Odonata list.
Conehead cricket sp.
Essex Skipper.
View of the River Trent.
Greylags, mallards and a few Black-headed gulls rested on an island.
Flowering rush.
View of the pool with the flowering rush.
I made a morning trip to Alkborough with my son. He has superpowers that I don't. A few years ago I stopped hearing the sound of crickets and grasshoppers, while for him they are hard to ignore and that helps spotting them, especially crickets. There was also the lure of another attempt to see the Glossy Ibis that has been settled there since the middle of May.
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