Happy Osprey to Me!

We had a great afternoon on Saturday, a real Birthday treat for me, we finally got time to get down to Upton to see the Osprey that has been delighting the crowds!

We went to the Moor Pools first, only to have just missed him fishing, so we went around to the flashes, where he perches to have his lunch!

We had great views from the Avocet hide. It's brilliant to see such a magnificent bird on our patch. We have had great views up in Scotland in the past (Loch Insh) but to see one on your own doorstep is fantastic!

He never got really close, so the photos are all from a distance, but I'm happy!

A little bit indulgent with all those, but it's not every day...........

So that was the Osprey, others worth mentioning, were the Snipe:

Green Sandpiper:

Performing Lapwings:

Magnificent Curlew:

In addition a Pintail was also a first for us at Upton. A Hobby did a quick fly past the hide, I might get a photo one day!

Sadly we missed the Redstart that had been around the hide just before we got there, never mind!

We went back on Sunday, in the hope of seeing the Osprey fishing, but that didn't come off for various reasons, though we did add a Dunlin to the weekend list.

We popped around to the Water Rail hide hoping for the Kingfisher, but alas he was being shy today! Although just before we left at 5:30 the Canada Geese and the few Greylags gave us a great show by leaving in dribs and drabs then coming back enmasse, we just love that noise:

Our UK year list is creeping up, add 1 for the Osprey!
So our full list for the weekend:

Blackbird
Black-headed Gull
Blue Tit
Buzzard
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Common Sandpiper
Coot
Cormorant
Curlew
Dunlin
Goldfinch
Great Crested Grebe
Great Tit
Green Sandpiper
Greenfinch
Grey Heron
Greylag Goose
Hobby
Kestrel
Lapwing
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Osprey
Pied Wagtail
Pintail
Reed Bunting
Robin
Rock Dove
Snipe
Starling
Teal
Tufted Duck
Woodpigeon

Bye for now.
We'll be off the air for a couple of weeks.. Going to Sri Lanka tomorrow night!! So hope to add a fair number to our life list!