I made another trip up to Redcar Tarn on Friday and spent some time talking to someone who, unlike me, could actually identify the gulls with some degree of confidence. My Lesser Black Backed juveniles from my earlier visit were probably Herring Gull juveniles so I have edited the posting.
This time the wind was reasonable, and it was not raining, so I walked right round the water.
On the island were a couple of Oystercatchers. Several juvenile gulls, probably Herring Gulls were flying around. The Lesser Black Backed Gull was noticeable with its slate grey back compared to the light grey back of the Herring Gulls.
Who knows what feelings are going through a female Mallard when it is surrounded by several males during this time of year? It will be governed by its hormones which will control how it feels but it looked as though it was suffering as one after the other mounted it and pushed its head under water. Let’s not get to anthropomorphic.
I loved the way the Rooks strutted along the edge, picking up seeds as they went.
I don’t know what prompted it but the Canada Geese, every so often, would start calling at the top of their voices.
Both Moorhens and Coots surprise me with the size of their feet. I guess they allow them to spread their weight over the floating vegetation as they walk about ponds. Which is a bit different to raptors that also seem to be hatched with big feet but they use them to keep hold of their prey while they despatch it.
Across the other side of the road Pied Wagtails were running along the stone wall disturbing and catching flies as they went, and in the field on the other side of the wall were Alpaca.
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