Migrants at North Cave Wetlands

I had an early morning trip to North Cave wetlands. It was overcast, breezy, and quite cold compared to earlier in the week, not ideal for photography, but there was plenty to see. From the viewing area I watched a pair of Shoveler preening, it is the furthest I have seen this species from water. A male Reed bunting fed on the ground for a while, and a pair of Swallows passed by. I carried on to East Hide. The raft was teeming with feisty Black-headed gulls courting, mating and fighting. A Greylag sat on her nest, closely guarded by her mate. The noise was deafening at Turret hide, with more Black-headed gull action. A pair of avocets fed near the hide.
 More migrants at the end of the north path: a group of chirruping Sand Martins with a few Swallows amongst them flew low over Reedbed Lake and Far Lake. A Blackcap and a Chiffchaff sung around the western path. I arrived at Crosslands, where there were three Yellow Wagtails, a large flock of Avocets, Little Ringed Plovers and a Ruff, a bird that I hadn't seen in a long time.
 A total of 51 bird species altogether.

Drake Shoveler

Male Reed Bunting

Black-headed gulls mating. They take their time, the male sitting atop the female for minutes, which makes it easier to photograph.

Greylags on nest

Black-headed gull city

Avocet feeding

Displaying Black-headed gull

Marsh Marigold by the dragonfly ponds

Coot nest building

Lapwing and black-headed gulls on a sandy field.

Ruff feeding

Ruff

Little Ringed Plover

Cormorants

A pair of Mediterranean gulls in the main lake, displaying together, amongst the hundreds of Black-headed gulls.

Male Reed Bunting