Fairburn Ings in Summer

I took a birding morning out to Fairburn today... saw some great birds and the place was brimming with butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies.

Here's my birding ticks...
Pick-Up Hide
Gadwall (female), Dabchick, Coot, Shoveler (female) and Moorhend (legging it across the decking on the approach to the hide).

Pond
I got a fantastic view of a Reed Warbler hopping around the reeds of a tiny pond just after the first metal gate on the way to the main hides. I could have watched it for hours (in fact there were 2 flitting around).

Gravel Pit
Greylag Geese (a small flock in fact), Black Headed Gulls (everywhere), Shelduck and Greenfinch (around the path and shrubs, not on the water obviously). There was also another Goose of some kind... pink and white bill, pink feet, pale brown... no idea what it was.

Bob Dickens Hide
Black Headed Gulls (cf 200), Great Crested Grebe (some on the next), Canada Geese (cf 30), Mute Swans (cf 100), Moorhen (some on the nest), Lapwing (just the one) and 2 pairs of Tufted Ducks.

Village Bay Hide
Cormorants (quite a few flying over the whole reserve too), Coots (some on the nest), Black Headed Gulles, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard (with chicks), Pochard, Ruddy Duck, Mute Swans, Heron and Tufted Ducks.

As I wandered around I kept seeing various LBJs... possible Willow Warblers among others... but the habitat is quite varied and my call recognition isn't nearly good enough so I'm afraid, except for the Reed Warbler it was a frustrating LBJ day. There was also one bird I caught a quick glimpse off... black cap, brown bird with a call like a trumpet charge... ba baaa ba baaa... but haven't been able to ID it. But it's all about learning, it would be no fun if there wasn't constantly new things to learn and when I think what I can recognise now compared to 2 years ago I smile and know I'm getting better and better all the time. I did, for example, hear numerous Yellow Hammers and even though I didn't see one I was very content to know I'd picked out they were there.