First godwits, redshank of 2013

On 18 February 2013, again to the nature reserve where once Baillon’s crakes nested.

Near the entrance, grey lag geese in a still partly frozen canal. A reed bunting singing.

In the next canal, two Canada geese and about ten male and female tufted ducks.

In the next canal again, over ten gadwall ducks, and Canada geese.

In the southern lake: shovelers, teal, and a great crested grebe.

And Canada geese again.

And grey lag geese.

In the northern lake five shelducks.

Many mole hills.

Near a muddy island in the northern lake, eight black-tailed godwits. Probably just back from Africa. They are the first ones I see this year. They are cleaning their feathers.

Yesterday, someone saw 250 barnacle geese here. Today, I see just one, swimming with Canada geese.

Coots are performing mating dances.

On a muddy island close to the southern shore of the northern lake, a redshank. My first one this year. Just back from wintering in Spain?

On a muddy island further away a northern lapwing and a sleepy common pochard.

A great cormorant sits there as well. At first, it dries its wings.

Later it just rests. Its white head shows this is an adult in spring plumage. Five sleepy teal, common and black-headed gulls around it.

A male and a female gadwall take a rest.

A male teal cleans its feathers.

In the northern meadow, over 100 coots. Behind them, two hares. Already boxing like real March hares, though it is still February. On the whole meadow I count six hares. Behind the hares, two Egyptian geese.

A dunnock, sitting on a fagot, sings.

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