Autumn migration at Alkborough

An overcast day, breezy at times but mild I headed to Alkborough Flats. For a change, I parked on the Paddock cafe and walk around the Countess Close and the woodland on the ridge overlooking the flats. 

The amazing view from Julian's Maze. Trent Falls, whitton Sands and the flats themselves.

I watched the main lagoon and I could see four Spoonbills and plenty of birds, which was promising as a start of the trip.

Julian's Maze

Posing Woodpigeon.

I climbed down the cliff and headed towards the hide. It was busy and very animated with birdwatchers. Avocets, a Spotted Redshank, eight Spoonbills and a few Black-headed Godwits were present. Four Pintail were feeding in the distance. There were plenty of Shoveler and Teal, still in eclipse plumage.

Pintail.

Spoonbills with shoveler and Avocets.

Spotted Redshank amongst Avocets and Shelduck.

Spoonbill standing near the hide.

A clip of six of the spoonbills feeding. They seemed to be rounding up fish and didn't show any aggression between them, at some point most of them gathering close together. Is it communal feeding on a good spot or cooperation to feed on shoals?

It was hard not to watch the Spoonbills as they are fascinating, but at some point they decided to move on and all but one flew west, possibly to Blacktoft. Soon afterwards one birder noticed an unusual wader. It was a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper - a UK lifer for me - it gave great views, feeding quite close to the hide (top shot and below), at some point in the company of a dunlin.

A Marsh Harrier flushed the birds. The landscape at Alkborough always makes for great marsh harrier photos.

The Avocets, about 150, came back and settled even closer than they were before.

I had spent quite a long time in the hide and decided to head towards tower hide for lunch. There wasn't really much about, but I heard Cetti's Warbler singing, calling Bearded tits and Water rails along the way. Swallows hunted by the floodbank ahead of me.

Lacewings ready for winter inside tower hide.

This plant was flowering by the water, need to ID it at some point.

The cows on the pasture by tower hide.

I ended up returning to the main hide after lunch. A 100 strong flock of Black-tailed godwit alighted and mingled with the Avocets, which were resting.

More waders, this time Dunlin and Ruff arrived, over 20 Ruff which allowed to see the size differences between males and females.

The curlew sandpiper was still about.

And while checking the curlew sandpiper photos I realised that there were not only shelduck loafing about, but three Garganey, my first this year, were also about.

A final bird, a Little Grebe

the dull weather meant that there were not many insects about. A Migrant Hawker was the only dragonfly seen.