{"id":1531,"date":"2017-05-18T21:40:58","date_gmt":"2017-05-18T21:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marfell.me.uk\/wordpress\/?p=1531"},"modified":"2017-05-19T20:32:12","modified_gmt":"2017-05-19T20:32:12","slug":"thursday-at-denso-marston-nature-reserve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marfell.me.uk\/wordpress\/thursday-at-denso-marston-nature-reserve\/","title":{"rendered":"Thursday at Denso Marston Nature Reserve"},"content":{"rendered":"

I had a very pleasant walk along the River Aire today at Denso Marston Nature Reserve. There was lots of bird song but I am not good at identifying it but I did recognise Blue tit, Great tit, Blackbird, Robin, Long tailed tit, Jay, Jackdaw, Wren.<\/p>\n

As usual you can click on the image to see a larger version on flickr, and with these you can find a few other photos too.<\/p>\n

\"Nuthatch\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Quite soon I heard, and then saw 2 if not 3 Nuthatch signing and chasing each other around a few trees.<\/p>\n

\"Goosander<\/a><\/p>\n

A family of Goosander were paddling down river.<\/p>\n

\"Grey<\/a><\/p>\n

There were also quite a few Grey Wagtail. I did not see any Dippers. \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n

\"Great<\/a><\/p>\n

I did hear Woodpecker chicks and spent a while walking up and down 10 yards or so of the path trying to work out exactly where they were. I did see several holes that looked likely candidates but no little heads peeping out. I did see parents with food for them but they didn’t let me see where they were taking the food.<\/p>\n

\"Roe<\/a><\/p>\n

I saw Kingfisher flying along the river and one of them looked as though it might have been carrying a small fish. I decided to rest on one of the benches and keep an eye\/ear out for more Kingfisher. Across the river a patch of earth looked to be in the shape of a deer – then it lifted its head and looked at me.<\/p>\n

\"Roe<\/a><\/p>\n

I quietly followed it along the river for a while and was rewarded with being able to watch it eating leaves.<\/p>\n

\"Buzzard\"<\/a><\/p>\n

At the same time a Buzzard (or is it Kestrel?) was circling overhead. I decided on Buzzard because of its size but the wing shape and colouring is more Kestrel like. Buzzards should have a dark patch at the inner front of the wing and dark tips to the wing feathers. I have spent hours watching Kestrels and it didn’t say Kestrel to me, but I am happy to be persuaded. Ok. Edit… I have been persuaded. The fingers and feet did it. It’s a Kestrel. Thanks Andrew.<\/p>\n

\"Roe<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Roe<\/a><\/p>\n

The Deer gave me one last look before going further up the river bank out of sight.<\/p>\n

\"Roe<\/a><\/p>\n

I then spotted some movement and from the colour and size thought it might be a female pheasant until I got a closer look at it. Another Deer. This one with antlers.<\/p>\n

\"Roe<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Pair<\/a><\/p>\n

A couple of weeks ago I saw 3 male Mandaring Duck further down the river near Esholt but this male and female were near the West entrance to the Reserve.<\/p>\n

\"Goosander\"<\/a>